All Along the Watchtowers - Part Two

Posted on Sun Oct 31st, 2021 @ 3:44am by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Commander Sokanon It'kla

Mission: Mission 116: All Along the Watchtowers - Part One
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1400Hrs - October 25th, 2393

Division Admiral Thomas Lasky was sitting at his desk, he had his boots off while he did his paperwork, he smiled as he found that he greatly enjoyed his assignment to Vanguard, the fact that his spouse sometimes spent time in her husband's company while on duty made for a more enjoyable experience, what helped was that this woman was another version of Torilla from another reality and now he had come to know his spouse rather intimately, how she thought and how she felt about various subjects.

Lasky was now no longer the last Lasky as he had four young children and one of them was his daughter, the apple of her father's eye, a child he had named for the woman who should have been his protégé as Jake Yamaguchi had been his comrade from their early days together on the Courageous before Jake assumed the command of that ship and Lasky had left Starfleet service after the end of the war, citing a desperate need for a break.

Lasky lifted his head before he turned in his chair. He regarded the display on the bulkhead behind his desk, it was indicating the present status of his command and now many of the ships under his overall command were filling up nicely. He still had several that needed skippers and while he was assured that skippers would soon be coming, he was also told that at the present time, he would need to make do with what he had to work with at the present time. Mostly more of the usual drivel that he had known about since he had been first assigned here.

Lasky had no meetings this afternoon so it was a surprise when the door beeped at him. "Enter," he called out and in walked a Caitian female he was acquainted with. "Sokanon, this is a suprise... I'm not overdue for my physical... Am I?" as he frowned at her.

"Not that I know of," Sokanon answered in her usual deadpan tone of voice. "I am here for a different matter entirely," she commented.

Lasky raised an eyebrow as he indicated the chairs across from him. "Take a seat and then you can explain why you desire my time and attention this fine afternoon."

The Caitian female did as she was bid. She regarded Lasky. "Could I have a blank PADD?" she inquired. Lasky nodded as he presented her with one, she quickly called up a file from her personal database which she then presented to Lasky.

Lasky accepted the PADD in silence, he read it over quickly and then slowly re-read it, this time paying much more attention to what was being displayed and what he was reading. "From women's eyes this doctrine I derive," Lasky commented aloud.

Sokanon knew that Lasky was a very serious fan of Shakespeare and he had a rather interesting habit of using Shakespeare's nomenclature in his everyday speech, this was something she found oddly interesting as he had never bothered her with his presence.

Lasky finished reading it before he shifted his attention back to Sokanon. "Have more than thou showest, Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, Learn more than thou trowest, Set less than thou throwest." he commented. "You wish to depart medical and come work for me..." he commented as he placed the PADD down onto the tabletop, face up. "You have three things in your favour but two major concerns against you. Can you name them.?" Lasky peered across at the comely Caitian female.

"The things going against me... My Lack of command time, period and my lack of Executive officer time."

Lasky saw no need to prolong this but he hoped that Sokanon would not hold the matter against him for refusing her. "Both correct," he responded quietly. "Why should I take you?" but before she could answer, he added. "If it because of your time in medical or in spite of it?"

Sokanon opened her mouth to respond, to say something when Lasky quickly raised his hand. "That didn't call for an answer Sokanon. I respect that you had the guts to come in here and say this time my face... and I can understand why you want out of medicine... It's old, it's dull and it gets really old... But..." as Lasky locked eyes with the Caitian female that he had once considered dating. "but that's... Not what you want... is it honey?"

"Honey..." Sokanon answered softly. "You've called your spouse that..." she suddenly sounded unsure of where this chat was presently located and where it was located.

"It's a term of affection for a female friend. Usually, one who's younger than oneself... Which you are." Lasky explained softly. "Younger then me, I mean."