07-27-2024, 12:14 AM
Taking the offered seat, Beka took in Robin’s mood and was relieved to see that she wasn’t in any trouble. She laughed along with the jokes, and took the praise with a nod and appreciative smile.
I guess it all went better than I thought it did!
But when the small black box appeared, the redhead was suddenly quiet.
"Second Lieutenant Beka Sydesh, it's my privilege to promote you to the rank of full Lieutenant."
Beka took the box and held it in her hands for a moment, and then as Robin carried on speaking she flipped it open.
OK. Did not see that coming… And Chief Doctor? Did the Cardassians hit her over the head or something?
“You don't have to take the title if you don't want to. The pip is yours regardless. I'll still be CMO so I can take a lot of the weight off you, because ultimately the buck stops with me. But there's no one I'd trust more to have my back," the CMO finished.
“Thank you, truly. And I mean, good job you don’t want this back, because it’s definitely mine now and I don’t want you taking the chance to change your mind.” Sydesh grinned as she switched the pips at her collar, the black box disappearing into a pocket.
She was silent for a moment.
“But I do want you to be very sure about the offer you’re making,” Beka said eventually. “Because I’m going to take it. I’m just… I’m not convinced I should? I know I’m good under pressure. It’s probably an emergency specialist thing. The more pressure I’m under, the busier Sickbay is, the higher the stress levels, the more alive I feel. Like, I wasn’t worried about whether or not I could cover for you, because even pressure I put on myself counts.”
There was a smile on her lips.
“But it’s when all that’s off that I’m a problem. It feels like half the crew is still whistling at me. I made Ghost Rider synonymous with being publicly dumped. Shall we go through the long list of senior officers that think I’m a liability? Even the one who dragged me off a hostile space station had some choice names.”
She shrugged.
“None of that is going to slow me down. I am who I am, and there’s not a lot I can do about it now. They’ve been holding that stupid bomber jacket over my head for so long it’s just funny at this point. But I don’t want it reflecting badly on you. I will try to be better, I really will. Holding high office is a pressure all of its own. I’m just worried I won’t be able to wear it anywhere near as well as you do.”
Beka’s concern was genuine. She had nothing but respect for how easy Robin had made the transition to CMO look, and she really didn’t want to be the cause of any problems.
“Hopefully I get a little leeway for being your handy attack dog,” the redhead joked. “Because yeah, people do occasionally need a good hard kick where it hurts. But I will screw up sometimes. We both know that, and I’ve been so grateful that you’ve had my back. I just… I know this sounds bad, but I just need to know you’ve thought about what happens when I’m Beka Sydesh at the wrong time.”
She lapsed into silence, hoping silently that she hadn’t just talked her way out of the promotion that she would be grabbing with both hands if given the chance.
I guess it all went better than I thought it did!
But when the small black box appeared, the redhead was suddenly quiet.
"Second Lieutenant Beka Sydesh, it's my privilege to promote you to the rank of full Lieutenant."
Beka took the box and held it in her hands for a moment, and then as Robin carried on speaking she flipped it open.
OK. Did not see that coming… And Chief Doctor? Did the Cardassians hit her over the head or something?
“You don't have to take the title if you don't want to. The pip is yours regardless. I'll still be CMO so I can take a lot of the weight off you, because ultimately the buck stops with me. But there's no one I'd trust more to have my back," the CMO finished.
“Thank you, truly. And I mean, good job you don’t want this back, because it’s definitely mine now and I don’t want you taking the chance to change your mind.” Sydesh grinned as she switched the pips at her collar, the black box disappearing into a pocket.
She was silent for a moment.
“But I do want you to be very sure about the offer you’re making,” Beka said eventually. “Because I’m going to take it. I’m just… I’m not convinced I should? I know I’m good under pressure. It’s probably an emergency specialist thing. The more pressure I’m under, the busier Sickbay is, the higher the stress levels, the more alive I feel. Like, I wasn’t worried about whether or not I could cover for you, because even pressure I put on myself counts.”
There was a smile on her lips.
“But it’s when all that’s off that I’m a problem. It feels like half the crew is still whistling at me. I made Ghost Rider synonymous with being publicly dumped. Shall we go through the long list of senior officers that think I’m a liability? Even the one who dragged me off a hostile space station had some choice names.”
She shrugged.
“None of that is going to slow me down. I am who I am, and there’s not a lot I can do about it now. They’ve been holding that stupid bomber jacket over my head for so long it’s just funny at this point. But I don’t want it reflecting badly on you. I will try to be better, I really will. Holding high office is a pressure all of its own. I’m just worried I won’t be able to wear it anywhere near as well as you do.”
Beka’s concern was genuine. She had nothing but respect for how easy Robin had made the transition to CMO look, and she really didn’t want to be the cause of any problems.
“Hopefully I get a little leeway for being your handy attack dog,” the redhead joked. “Because yeah, people do occasionally need a good hard kick where it hurts. But I will screw up sometimes. We both know that, and I’ve been so grateful that you’ve had my back. I just… I know this sounds bad, but I just need to know you’ve thought about what happens when I’m Beka Sydesh at the wrong time.”
She lapsed into silence, hoping silently that she hadn’t just talked her way out of the promotion that she would be grabbing with both hands if given the chance.