Showing Initiative

Posted on Sat Mar 22nd, 2025 @ 7:59am by Ensign Mercy Mourne & Commander William Gerhard

Mission: Remnant
Location: Deck E - Senior Officer's Quarters
Timeline: Evening day 406
2280 words - 4.6 OF Standard Post Measure

William dried his hair with the hand towel that hung next to the wash basin in the restroom before stepping back into the main room. The room was dimly lit, since they were still running on limited power, and he made his way over to his closet and pulled a pair of sweatpants out and put them on. After coming off duty, he'd stopped of in the gym for some weight training, before meeting with Lexi as she went on shift. He knew based on the look she gave him that he would need a shower before she got back, and given there was no hot water, he'd taken a quick cold shower to wash the sweat off. Cold shower's didn't tend to bother him much, though he was starting to miss the luxury of having on. He sat down on the bed and leaned against the bulkhead as he grabbed a PADD and powered it on. William wasn't a big reader, but Lexi had recommended The Count of Monte Cristo in an effort to increase his literary knowledge. So far, William hadn't been able to put the book down. As he leaned against the bulkhead to settle into his nightly routine, he heard the chime from his door sound.

"One moment," he called out before he set the PADD aside and quickly strode back over to his locker and grabbed a clean tank top and threw it on.

Mercy fiddled awkwardly in place a moment. She had come off shift and changed into more comfortable clothes, which were old but clean. Suddenly she had wished she had made more of an effort. She hadn't even bothered to brush her hair. But she had promised herself today was going to be the day she pushed herself out of her comfort zone and just asked the Commander what had been weighing on her since her conversation with Maddi. The younger ensign was ambitious in a way that Mercy had never really been, really Mercy was just grateful to be here. But maybe that was why she was still an ensign in her 30's.

When she heard the call from William she nearly turned around and ran for it, but instead she rooted her feet to the spot and waited. "N-no rush sir, it's not an emergency."

William heard the faint call and thought he recognized the voice. He reached the doorway and pressed the button to open revealing Ensign Mourne who seemed to flinch when the door opened. "Ensign Mourne, is everything alright," he asked even though she had said it wasn't an emergency. While William had been trying to be more accessible to the rest of the crew since his promotion to XO, he was still trying to get used to being called upon at all hours of the day.

“Ah, Commander, thank you, everything is fine really. I’m sorry to trouble you in your down time but I was wondering if I could speak to you a moment?” Mercy spoke a little faster than normal, a sign of her slight anxiety stepping out of her comfort zone.

"It's no trouble at all. Please," he said before stepping aside and gesturing into his quarters with one hand. He gave her a reassuring smile as she stepped over the threshold. "Still on low power down here," he offered at the lighting, but he padded over and switched on the small camping lamp Lexi had procured. He then gestured for her to have a seat while he took his desk chair and rolled it over closer to her.

Mercy smiled at the camping lamp. “Feels like being back at Tycho and pretending with my brothers we were camping in the living room. Hard to go really camping when the only places you can sleep are in a bubble.” The momentary assertion of a fond childhood memory seemed to help Mercy calm her nerves a little. She took the offered seat and then shot William a slightly wobbly smile.

“Sir, uhm… I appreciate this is going to be an odd question out of the blue, but I was wondering how I was doing?”

William offered her a reassuring smile as he took his own seat. He took a moment to mull over what she was asking him. "Well, I would say you've been doing a fantastic job helping us try to solve this energy crisis, but I suspect that's not entirely the meaning behind your question," he said before giving her another reassuring smile. William had dealt with Mercy's kind before, people who are scared of their own shadows. But, he had learned long ago that patience and asking probing questions usually got them to come out of their shells. This was also one of the few times they had interacted in a non-professional setting, which was definitely uncharted waters for both of them.

"Yeah no, I mean no sir. You're correct in your suspicions." She fiddles with an imaginary piece of lint on her trousers. "I... well sir, can I speak frankly?" mercy wasn't actually sure she knew how to be very blunt, not without being incredibly awkward. However she appreciated the Commander's time and didn't want to waste it. "I'm worried I haven't got a goal to work towards. And I.... I used to just be happy working in labs and sending money home, but I can't do that anymore and I'm not sure I want to be an ensign forever." She had been thinking a lot about that recently. What did she want now that their paths had been so drastically altered? While she didn't want to share all the reasons she wanted to progress she had decided that maybe out here, it would be okay to work for her own purposes now.

William nodded as he listened to her explanation. He was fairly certain she was not alone in their thinking. William's own promotion was only given due to their current circumstance. Being lost in space was certainly not a boon to one's career growth. It was even something that he and the captain had begun to discuss. Keeping people occupied was one thing, but it was human nature that people would eventually get bored with their repetitive assignments. But, if there was any department that had an edge out here it was the Sciences. Every lightyear they traveled was new to them.

"I can understand where your coming from. Being so far from home doesn't really present many opportunities for career advancement. I'm no scientist, but you do have the advantage over the other members of the crew. All the new species and planets we've encountered so far must present quite the challenge," he said.

"Right." Mercy frowned slightly, and pondered for a moment. Perhaps she shouldn't complain, the Commander was right in a lot of ways but it didn't stop the gnawing itch in the back of her brain telling her to try more, do more, be better. "Yes maybe you are right sir, I probably shouldn't complain. I guess I just have started wondering recently if there was an opportunity to do more. But everyone is so busy, and maybe I should just focus on doing my bit?"

"You misunderstand my meaning," he offered before continuing, "What I meant was that there are plenty of opportunities for you prove yourself, so what's stopping you?" He could tell by Mercy's expression that she was now getting what he truly meant as he watched her mull over his question. Mercy had already shown in their staff briefings that she was a capable and diligent scientist, but William knew that what she needed was guidance on how to come out of her shell.

“Oh.” Mercy made a thoughtful noise, her gaze dropping as she worried at a loose thread on her sleeve, pondering over the Commander’s words. “I get nervous when I have to talk to people, especially the senior staff. I’m always worried that I’ve said too much. Or not enough. Or that someone will figure out I don’t belong here.” She glanced up at Gerhard and winced. “I suppose it’s me who’s stopping me. Need to work on my confidence but… how do you start with something like that?”

“Well for one thing, no one here thinks that you don’t belong here,” he said with a thoughtful smile. “Everyone here has earned their place and then some. I know for a fact Lieutenant Darru has the utmost confidence in you, as do I.”

Mercy blushed at that, ducked her head to try and hide it at the mention of Darru’s confidence. There was a stab of guilt and worry that came with it. While she appreciated the kind words, she was worried that she might let the Vulcan down. William’s vote of confidence only added to that fear. As such her face was mostly hidden for what came next.

William leaned back in his chair and thought for a moment before speaking, “Not many people know this, but i wasn’t always in the position that I am today. My time in Starfleet started thanks to a magistrate’s gavel.” When he saw her eyes widen at this revelation he continued, “I had a pretty troubled childhood, and was facing a lengthy stay in a correctional facility. The magistrate gave me a choice: prison, or Starfleet service.”

After a moments hesitation Mercy looked up and tilted her head. Curiosity predictably got the best of her although her there was clear surprise on her face. “Did you regret your choice? When we were first lost I mean.” Mercy had spent a little of her own Tim lost in regrets, had pulled in on herself in lots of ways.

He pondered her question for a moment. In all honesty, he had never given it much thought. He'd been so focused on his job and with the constant changing parameters after they were first lost, he'd never had the time to actually sit down and think about his current state of affairs. But, he also knew that he wouldn't be where he was today had it not been for the choices he'd made when he started his career.

"To be honest, the thought never crossed my mind. Then again, with how chaotic it was I didn't have much time to think about it. I tended to focus on my work. But I think I had made the decision long ago when I was still enlisted that this would be my career and purpose. I don't have anything waiting for me back home," he said before continuing, "But I wouldn't be the person that I am today had I chosen the other path. So that's the question isn't it? DO you stay on the well used road, or do you take the road less traveled, no matter how uncertain the future might look?"

Mercy thought that over for a few moments, the silence stretching out awkwardly after he had finished speaking. Eventually she she huffed out a quick sigh and then shrugged. “I think no matter what we would prefer, we’re on the road less travelled. So we might as well make the most of it.” She then stood and straightened the hem of her shirt. “Thank you for your advice sir. I should let you get back to your evening.”

"Of course," William said standing and accompanying her to the door way, "I hope I was able to help in some way? We are all having to make adjustments to our new roles, and I'm not immune to second guessing myself."

Mercy smiled warmly and nodded. “It’s given me some food for thought. Thank you for sparing me a moment , I appreciate you are off duty, so sorry for disturbing you.”

He nodded in response and offered her a reassuring smile. "One other thing, Ensign. If you ever need guidance, you know where to find me. And you can be assured that what is said between us will stay between us," he said before pausing to give a reassuring nod, "You have my word on that.”

Mercy hesitated a moment. She almost wanted to ask him advice on what it was like being romantically entangled with another crew member. But perhaps now wasn’t the right time. Besides she was hardly romantically entangled, that would be the dream. Right now she just had one sided feelings for someone she wasn’t sure would ever see her as more than a diligent coworker. So she simply smiled. “I… thank you sir, I will bare that in mind.”

William pressed the button on the bulkhead to open the hatch and stepped aside as he watched her head down the passageway towards the turbolift. As the door closed behind him, he found himself returning to his thoughts. If you would've told him that someday he would be being sought after by junior officers for mentorship, he probably would've laughed. Not many people had figured William as someone they could come to for help and guidance, outside of their regular duties. It was a true testament to how far he had grown and developed not only as a person, but also as a leader. He just hoped that he would be able to do right by those who sought his council, but he assumed that that self doubt would always be present in himself.

Mercy glanced back as she left, giving the commander a small wave, before disappearing into the turbo lift. It might be barely perceptible to those around her but she felt a little taller, a little lighter.

 

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