"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood..."

Posted on 23 Jun 2026 @ 2:02am by Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD & Lieutenant Kristin Emerson PhD, Counselor

1,048 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Time After Time
Location: Counselor Emerson's Office
Timeline: Prior to Red Alert in Time After Time

// Dr Kris Emerson's Office //

Kris Emerson sat back in the chair, relaxed and attentive. The hum of the air handler a soft accompaniment to Riah’s monologue. Riah sat in one of the club chairs. During the early conversation, she had removed her shoes and pulled her socked feet up under her.

“I just needed to run this by somebody, need someone to listen and tell me I’m crazy, because I know it’s crazy, but it’s all I can think about,” she was saying.

“I don’t hate being CMO, I just wanna be somewhere else a lot of the time. I miss Baylee, the little cat we nursed for so long in Sickbay, with the cleft palate. She recovered so quickly after the surgery, and it was such a joy to see her actually drink and eat properly. Baylee, and the little dragon critter, were what really pulled at my heart to think about this. So it’s been on my mind a while now.” She shifted to sitting on one foot and the other knee pulled into her chest, heel secured on the front of the seat cushion.

“I care about people, without fail, but people are able to act in their own best interests health wise. Animals, wild or domestic, common or totally alien, are just at our mercy. I am so burdened with their welfare.

I wanna help every cat in the feline community on this ship, feral and adopted. And there are a lot.” A wide gesture with both hands indicated the metaphorical size of that community. “There are also four little dogs and numerous guinea pigs and pet rats. Four birds. The dragon. And that’s what we know about. How many people on this ship are hiding a pet. And then there’s the animals we have in the labs. Snakes and lizards mostly, but we encounter animals everywhere we go, we just don’t talk about them.” Again, she shifted, putting both feet on the floor and leaning forward, elbows on knees.

“There is a space for veterinary care in the Science Department. They use it mostly for storage right now. But it’s got an exam room, a surgical suite, diagnostic scanners, space for drug creation and dispensing, and kennel space, too. It’s not a new thing. There are dedicated veterinary staff on most exploratory ships of this size.” She paused to breathe and sat back in the chair. “I’m sorry. I’m going on and on, I guess to convince myself and someone else that my heart is worth listening to.”

“Of course it’s worth listening to,” replied Kris. “What does the part of you that thinks you’re crazy have to say?”

The doctor shrugged. “That I have a dream job right now. What I’ve wanted for years. What I’ve dreamed of: being the head of the medical department on a Sovereign class ship, to have the title CMO of the USS Arawyn. Who in their right mind would exchange that to be a vet in the Science Department?” came the quick reply.

“Is that all? You had a lot more to say in defense of following your heart than you have said in favor of the idea to stay as CMO.” Kris uncrossed her legs and crossed the right over the left this time. Riah returned to the cross-legged position on the seat cushion and thought a moment before going on.

“People need me, but … I’m good at what I do, but … I have helped create and lead a family in Sickbay. I’ve got access to the leadership of this ship I would likely lose if I shifted from the head of a Department to being a specialist in Science. I wouldn’t have to change uniform colors -- that’s a plus.” Riah laughed. “People will be disappointed in me. Think I’m nuts. Think there’s some other reason than it’s my heart’s desire. Think I’m hiding something. That there was a falling out between me and the command staff, or between me and the senior medical staff. People will have as many stories as there are ideas. I’ll have to either debunk those stories or live with them as part of my new position.”

Her shrug felt hopeless, her disappointment palpable, the challenges of following a dream insurmountable. “I guess I just sort of talked my way out of it.”

“Maybe, maybe not. If this is the first time you’ve actually vocalized these thoughts, you may find indeed that it is a pipe dream, but, what if it’s not? If the preoccupation returns or increases, what will you do then? Just one step. Not the whole gambit, but the next right step to deciding,” asked Kris.

“Well, mmmmm. I wanna say write about it, but there are pages and pages of that in my journal. I guess maybe find out if it is even possible. Bring it up to Cmdr Batenburg. I wish I could talk to Steve Remington about it. Get his feel for it, but Batenburg is my go-to higher up. Geez, as I said that, I just realized what a big step I’d be taking. I’d be answering to Steve Remington, instead of having Batenburg’s ear – no pun intended. I better just quell this thing. Count the blessings and birds I have in the hand and write veterinary work off as a choice I could have made 10 years ago. A life choice I didn’t choose. We all have them. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I took the one most traveled by. That has made all the difference,” she quoted slowly. “That’s from a poem by an early 20th century poet, Robert Frost. It’s always been a favorite.” She sighed as she unwound her legs and placed both socked feet back in her boots. Thanks for listening Kris.”

“Any time, Riah. But don’t give up on your heart. You may not choose option number 2 over option number 1, but because of your heart, you have those options.”

Riah smiled. “Thanks Kris.”

~~~
LtCmdr Riah Amberlyn, XMD
Chief Medical Officer
&
LT Kris Emerson, PhD
Senior Counselor

 

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