Processing

Posted on 17 Aug 2025 @ 10:33pm by Commander Adrienne Holt

527 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Assignment: Arawyn
Location: XO's Quarters

Adrienne was alone in her quarters. She'd spent the better part of the past couple of days in her office, getting to know the officers under her command.

Her quarters still felt alien. Spartan. She hadn't spent any energy or effort into personal touches. She didn't want to. She had very good reasons not to. With sparkling water she got from the replicator, she sat down on the couch. And sat. And breathed. She closed her eyes. Her nostrils picked up the scents that were present in new surroundings. Chemical. Sterile. Striking. Her ears noticed the sound the bubbles made in her glass.

Recognizing the signals, she put down her glass on the side table, sat up straight, her legs tightly together with one hand on each knee.
Stress had been high. Stress to get to know everybody. Stress to rise to expectations her age and record expected. Stress to hit the ground running in a completely new environment.

Getting to know many people. Each with their own quirks, habits, scents, noises. Her brain needed time to process all that. Experience in life has taught her how to do that. Apparently she hadn't spent enough time meditating the last couple of days.

Her hands started shaking on her knees. The chemical scent made her feel nauseous. The continuous humming of the deck plates above and beneath her made her lose balance and focus and-

Her eyes snapped open. Forced open by years of training. A few quick strides made her rise from the couch and reach the viewport. Breathe. That's all she had to focus on for now. Putting her hands against the cool surface of the viewport, she let the coolness spread through her. Spreading over the pulsating hum. Spreading over the sickening chemicals. Somewhere along the way, she had once again closed her eyes. When she felt the coolness reach the center of her brain, the center of her imbalance, she opened them once more. Slowly this time.

The view was phenomenal. Empty space. The vastness and the emptiness brought her quiet and comfort. The coolness settled over the triggers that had accumulated over the days. It would be a good crew. She'd make sure of that. If anyone would fail, it would be her. It would be because she hadn't helped them reach their full potential.

With her hands still in contact with space, she took in a few breaths. She followed the air as it made its way through her body. The air met the coolness, mixed with it, spread the calmness through the rest of her body.

Just as she felt sure she was in control once more, her console beeped. The tone indicated the it could only from Corbin.

Confident steps, steeled by calmness and composure once more, made her reach the desk. Reading the assignment only took a moment. As did the included orders to distribute the assignment to the necessary people. Swiftly. Efficiently. Unaffected by the overwhelm that had hit her only moments before.

She'd had to catch some rest before making sure the crew lived up to the CO's expectations and made this a first assignment to remember.

 

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