| Date & Time: | Day 04, 0839 |
| Location: | Science Lab |
| Written By: | Lieutenant Rhys Bennett Lieutenant JG Alexandra Ortega |
| Post Date: | 02/20/2026 |
| Episode: | Ep. 1 – Fool’s Errand |
Rhys Bennett had finally managed to find the time to go down to the only science lab on the station where he began unpacking things into the small makeshift office that had been set aside for him. The Chief Science Officer hadn’t anticipated things to be such a mess as they were, and he certainly hadn’t expected for it to be such a small part of the station either. He found himself sighing heavily, “I suppose this will have to do,” He mumbled.
Rhys didn’t have many personnel underneath him, this wasn’t exactly a scientific outpost even if he wanted to pretend otherwise. “This certainly isn’t what I had in mind,” He added as he walked around the room looking at the various work stations and the bulkhead computer consoles. “I’ll make due,” He concluded. Rhys then sat down inside the small office that had been specifically for him to work out of.
Alexandra had been back and forth on her decision regarding what the Captain had offered her, at least for the past four days. She really wasn’t sure who to talk to about it and as such she walked into the science lab. Alex did consider talking to the station’s assigned counselor, but she didn’t completely trust Counselor Choyi, not yet anyway.
She found the Chief Science Officer busily doing something in the small office that he was working in. Alex took a step forward and gently knocked on the panel next to the entry, “May I come in Lieutenant?” She asked.
Rhys hadn’t expected a visitor, “Certainly,” He said and looked around before finding something for her to sit on. Rhys got up and grabbed the small stool and stuck it across from his desk, “Please have a seat.” Rhys didn’t know much about Alexandra, they’d met during the senior staff meeting four days earlier. That was the last he’d really spoken to her.
“How can I help you Miss Ortega?” Bennett asked.
Alexandra Ortega felt out of place on the station, it wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind when she first joined Starfleet, but this assignment made sense. At least, she thought it made sense now that she was caring for her much younger sister. “I know you’re not a counselor but I need some advice.”
Rhys raised a brow and quit doing what he had been doing, which was trying to get his files transferred onto the workstation. This seemed quite important and he didn’t want to not pay attention to what the more junior Lieutenant had to say. “All right,” He began to say, “What’s on your mind?” He did find himself wondering if she would have been better off going to the counselor for this. “I’m not a counselor, but I’ll try my best.”
Alex smiled weakly, “I’m not looking for a counselor,” She answered him. Though, Alex had considered it at one point. “I wanted your thoughts on what the Captain offered me,” She began, “He offered me the position of Chief Strategic Operations Officer.” Alex felt as if she were far from the right choice in the matter.
The science chief wasn’t sure how to answer that question. He didn’t know she’d been offered that position and he knew very little about her. He leaned back in his seat as he considered the question carefully, “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question without some more details.” He told her despite feeling guilty for responding in such a way. Then, Rhys began thinking about what sort of details he really needed.
“I suppose, I need to know what your thoughts were when he offered it.” Rhys answered as he quickly pulled up the young woman’s service record. That was when he’d discovered she had only been an officer for two years, which he was certain the Captain knew. She also lacked any formal security or intelligence training.
Alex shrugged, “I don’t feel like I’m qualified for it,” She answered then she caught a glimpse of what he was looking at. She had expected as much, but she didn’t argue with him trying to learn more and gather information. “I mean I was glad he considered me for the role, but I just don’t feel ready for it.”
Rhys wasn’t at all surprised by her answer as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. He closed her service record just before doing that, and listened to what she’d said to him. It made sense that she would feel this way, “Well you don’t really have much in the way of experience just yet. This is also a big opportunity that you need to carefully consider.”
Alexandra knew it was a huge decision and one of those rare opportunities. But, she also wanted to get there on her own with her own merits. She wasn’t sure if this even interested her, though it would take her from being a pilot. That thought only served to cause her to question whether or not she was ready to pilot anything at all.
It had been a shuttle accident that killed her parents and orphaned her sister temporarily. That was an important distinction for Alex as she thought about it. “Well, I chose to become a pilot before my parents died. Sometimes I wonder if that was a mistake too,” She added. Alexandra was happy in Starfleet, and she’d never considered a job change before now. When she added to it that there was an opportunity thrown into her lap it made it harder.
Rhys nodded, “I think we’ve all made mistakes in our lives. Ten years ago right about the time I left for Starfleet I began dating this girl I’d met while I was starting the Academy. I thought we were going to get married, then she just up and left. I lost contact with her, and haven’t heard from her since.” He sighed heavily, “I should have tried harder, or not dated her at all.”
Alex listened to his explanation and she smiled warmly, “But, you took the risk.” She pointed out, “You took the risk and yeah it didn’t work out, but you still took the…” She hesitated.
Rhys smiled when the younger officer caught onto what he was trying to get her to realize. Rhys had dated a young woman who was his age ten years earlier and lost contact with her, but that was hardly his point. When she fell silent he nodded slowly, “You see Lieutenant Ortega sometimes we have to take the risk even if its uncomfortable.
“You say you’re not ready to be the Chief Strategic Operations Officer, but at the same time you’re nervous about whether being a pilot is the right choice.” He told her softly, “I think the part of you that’s debating on making the move is the part of you that’s afraid to get behind the panel of a shuttle or a runabout.”
Alex listened to him, she considered what he was saying, and she nodded her head slowly. Was that what she’d been doing? It was a question that she’d asked herself a dozen times over the past three days and she still didn’t have an answer for it. The young woman considered what he was trying to do then realized she needed to stay a pilot. The Captain did give her this great opportunity, but she wasn’t qualified for it.
She paused, “I think I should stay in my current role,” She said finally. “The Captain will understand my decision.” She smiled, “I think I’m trying to use this opportunity to keep myself away from the thing that killed my parents.”
Rhys wasn’t a counselor, but he nodded regardless, “I’m glad the Captain considered you for the position. And, I’m glad you considered it Lieutenant Ortega, but it sounds to me like your mind was made up three days ago?”
Alex nodded, “Yeah, I think it was.” She answered him. Alex stood up, “So what made her vanish like that?”
Rhys shrugged, “I don’t know,” He answered her sadly, “I think she was afraid of commitment maybe? It could have been anything really, but I don’t really talk about it. That’s probably one of my more painful memories. I’m not even sure where she went to.”
Alex frowned, “I’m sure you’ll find someone out there,” She told him. “Thanks for your help,” She added as well. “It really did help even if it made you think about something painful.” She turned and left him in his office. “I’ll leave you to your work, I gotta talk to the Captain anyway.”
Rhys nodded, “No problem Lieutenant,” He said to her and watched as she left. He went back to his work, his thoughts returning to Cassie once more. He’d not thought about her in eight years, and it wasn’t something he wanted to think about in that moment. But, now he was sitting there staring at his blank monitor wondering what ever happened to her. Rhys swallowed hard and tried to renew his focus on the files.