Posted by Lieutenant Commander Siegfried Abel (Chief Medical Officer) in Lounge - Dinner and Discussion

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Siegfried Abel (Chief Medical Officer) in Lounge - Dinner and Discussion

SNIP

Abel shrugged and said “The Foundation is fine. I just have to keep trying to find the right people for the various positions. People who share my vision… not who is just after a lucrative job with a fancy title.” He took the bottle and filled his glass. As he did, he glanced at Lissi and said “You are, of course, having the same troubles I would think; are you not? You are dealing with Klingon politics after all. Finding allies to look out for your interests and handle the day to day operations of your house is important. You have been addressing those needs, haven’t you?” he asked, his question being said in such a fashiopn as to ensure that she was, indeed, spending all the necessary time finding those trustworthy individuals.

Abel, CMO

Lissi nodded. “House K’Tash has been Second to House Rosh since before my grandfather. They have had our Voice in Council and have looked after the defense of my position as well. Lator has seen to every one of my ascension rites since I was a child so he could stand in witness when I came of age. And House Pretor has been running the daily House issues since I was born. So we have at least them as allies when I go back. And I have no doubt Lator has been gathering allies in the interim awaiting my return.” She sighed. “I think my biggest concern is being forced to stay longer than I desire. I know I’ll need to stay for a couple years to at least be sure it’s stable when I come back to the Fleet. But I don’t want to have to retire early because of it.”

After another sip of wine, she laughed. “And I have no doubt there will be a line of marriage suitors awaiting me as well. Other Houses vying to either topple or join me with a union. I think I’m looking forward to that least of all.” She shook her head. Wanting to change the subject, she went back to him.

“So do you have folks in mind for the positions that need filling?” She laughed a moment before taking another handful of dinner. “And if you ever want me to help out, I hope you’ll just say so.” She didn’t use the word ask because she knew it wasn’t in his nature to ask for help anymore than it was in hers.

Lissi
CE

“Well…” he said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin and pushed the plate away slightly, “… I used to allow others to select candidates and then I would interview and make a final determination. But that hasn’t exactly worked out, so now I am doing my own headhunting. I have a couple of candidates I am talking to. We’ll see how it goes.”

Able, CMO

Lissi smiled. “Well, then at least you will know who is honestly behind things and not just making sure they pass on someone else’s review.” She sighed and leaned back taking a long draw from her drink. “I wish more people had your vision, Able. The universe would be a much nicer place.” She smiled. “Though I imagine it’s a catch 22. If the universe was a nicer place, such things as you have wouldn’t be so vitally necessary.” She knew he was a kind man deep down and wished others could see it. She knew better than to draw attention to his works. But she hoped, someday, others would know just what a special person they had served with.

Lissi
CE

Abel shrugged and said “The Universe is a nice place. It’s sentient beings that tend to throw a wrench into things.” and he smiled at her. “And without them, I wouldn’t be here, so you have to take the good with the bad, I guess.” and he took another small drink.

Abel, CMO

Lissi smiled and held her glass up in a toast position. “Then here is to sentient beings. For it brought us both here.”

“So besides your life’s endeavor, what else would you like to talk about? Surely you have other hobbies? Or a holo program you enjoy?” She smiled lightly and took a sip of her drink. She wanted to know more about him. More about what pleased him. More about how she could be a part of his life.

Lissi
CE

Abel shrugged and said “Right now, I just don’t have the time for hobbies. Although when I did, I very much enjoyed classical cinema from Earth. Humans had such a marvelous way of conveying nuance and subtext… I wonder what happened to them?” and he smiled and chuckled.

Abel, CMO

Lissi smiled. “Now I didn’t see that coming. I’ve never seen old earth movies. I would imagine they stopped because technology allowed them to do things like actually live within their fantasies and not just watch them. Probably where holodecks came into vision. Why do you find watching the classical vids more than living them out? Isn’t it boring because you cannot choose what occurs and it never changes?” She wasn’t teasing him. Her question was genuine curiosity. She couldn’t imagine taking one of the stories she had been a minor character in and just watching it unfold while sitting still. To be even a small part of another crewman’s holonovel had been a fun experience.

Lissi
CE

Abel smiled and took a drink, and shook his head. “Far from boring. If you control the narrative, then you already know what you want to happen and how that will come about. Just watching a story unfold? Not knowing what may happen? That is exciting. Plus, there is something about those old… ‘films’, they used to call them… that just seems to resonate much deeper than a simple holodeck program or vid.”

Abel, CMO

Lissi smiled. “Ok, now I admit you have my curiosity piqued. Is there one of these ‘films’ you recommend I watch? I’d love to see what your passion is about them.” She had considered each person on the holodeck changing up their responses would be enough difference to keep things interesting. But there were still only so many ways one could respond in each given situation. It meant that occasionally the responses to the story were unknown, but it was still somewhat predictable. He was suggesting that there was no way of knowing because you had no say in the choices. So you had to rely on the characters, themselves, to unfold it before you. The idea, till now, had seemed ludicrous. But now, it seemed a curious thing that had her mind wondering more than it should.

Lissi
CE

“There are a few, but a personal favorite is ‘The Maltese Falcon’. Really fantastic classic film from early twentieth century Earth. Engrossing in way that you wouldn’t believe.”

Abel, CMO

Lissi smiled. “Well, perhaps we both need to slow down a moment. I would love to see the movie if you would share it with me.” The look she gave him was only for him. She cared deeply for him and wanted nothing more than to get to know him better. Perhaps the most detestable thing about the so called possible suiters she had been mentioning before was the fact she had her interests in someone else. Someone not Klingon but, to her, as powerful, smart, cunning and intelligent as anyone else she knew.

“I’m sure I can manage to figure out a day off on the same day you were so we could make a night of it with no worries of duties the next morning.” The idea of watching a movie with him and not having to rush through it because of work the next morning sounded like a version of Suto’vo’qor* she could enjoy.

Lissi
CE
*Sto’vo’kor in the Klingon language