Posted by Commander Balfor Kolar (Executive Officer) in Meeting the XO—dining hall

Posted by Commander Balfor Kolar (Executive Officer) in Meeting the XO—dining hall

Posted by Commander Balfor Kolar (Executive Officer) in Meeting the XO—dining hall
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
After leaving Sid’s office, Shirazi did as she’d said she would. She sought out the XO. He was sitting on the bridge in the big chair. She recognized Kolar from her last time on the Olinski. He’d been promoted since then. Walking up to where he sat, Thone paused and cleared her throat for his attention. “Excuse me, Sir, the Captain suggested I report to you. Shirazi Thorne, new CMO to the ship.”

Would he remember her?

—Thorne, CMO

“Comman…” Balfor paused, the instinct to call her by her former rank was strong. Failing that it seemed inappropriate to call her by the diminished current rank as it did not reflect the respect he held for her. Choosing an odd middle ground. “Shirazi,” He held his arms out. “I’d welcome a hug, if you don’t find it inappropriate.”

Kolar

His welcome brought a smile to her face as she slipped into the embrace. “It’s really good to see you!” She said, squeezing him happily. When they parted, she took a moment to take him in, her eyes traveling over every inch of him. “Well, command suits you! How long have you been sitting in the big chair?” He looked a little older, but not much. As he’d always had an air of confidence about him, Shirazi didn’t notice a big difference there except that the confidence seemed more relaxed now.

Kolar smiled from the corners of his mouth to the corners of his eyes. “I don’t think where I sit is classically called the Big Chair, I would say the more accurate term is the chair next to the Big Chair.” He chuckled a little.

She looked from his uniform to hers and back again. The last time they’d seen each other, he’d been science and she’d been command. Now they wore each others colors as they’d traded professions—now SHE was medical and HE was command. Life was a funny old thing.

—Thorne, CMO

“It was a matter of necessity, you created a void that needed to be filled.” He paused, “Actually your replacement was quite competent and friendly. But back to back losses of an executive officer was bad. I don’t feel the ship could have sustained three in such a short period of time. So,” He looked at himself. “I decided the best person for the position was me. The Captain agreed.”

“Lets talk about you… I see you’ve returned… I’m sure there is a lot there to unpack.”

Kolar

Not wanting to ‘unpack’ her personal business on the bridge, Shirazi continued to smile but had a better ideal. “I’d love to sit and catch up with you, but not here. Are you free for dinner? I’m still checking in and setting things up, so I can meet you at any time.” She hoped he would take her up on the offer. Coming back to the Olinski was difficult and to immediately have a friend that was willing to spend some time with her would make the transition easier.

—Thorne, CMO

“Well you know how busy my social calendar is.” Which if she remembered was devoid of activities, “but I’ll cancel a few things and move another around.” He smiled softly. “1700 hours?” Kolar was the only person who though 5pm was a good time for a social dinner. It might explain why he was socially inept despite is calm, tolerant and friendly nature.

Kolar

Shirazi raised a white eyebrow. “1700? That might still feel like business hours. Why don’t we say 1900 and no uniforms allowed?” She knew Kolar needed a little nudge here and there in social situations, but that didn’t bother her a bit. She actually found his lack of knowledge about it quite endearing. “I’ll meet you in the lounge then and ply you with liquor and good food to loosen your tongue about what’s been happening on the Olinski while I’ve been gone.” Aware they were starting to get curious looks from the bridge crew, she nodded once and headed for the exit. “See you tonight.”

—Thorne, CMO

Kolar wasn’t a fashion icon. His non-uniform choices were pretty limited to prayer robes of various of thickness and colors. The robes themselves were pretty fancy and probably were appropriate for many settings but after a while it would get repetitive. But as he had mentioned he was not a social butterfly so the number of people who saw him out on multiple occasions was limited so in a way his clothing choice paralleled his social choices.

Kolar didn’t quite wait at the lounge instead arriving at her door a few minutes before 7pm. In a deep red pray robe he held a small plant in his hands.

When the door chime sounded, Shirazi was putting on her earring. She walked to the door just as it slipped into place. As it slid wide, she spotted her dinner companion and true to their agreement, he was not wearing a uniform. “Cmdr, you’re right on time. What have you got there?”

He glanced at her hairline as her hair rustled back into place over her ear and thus the ear-ring. He mussed to himself about the difficulty and confusion attached to dress codes and what level of dress is attached to what type of evening out. He did a quick calculation earrings, modest, not romantic…

“It’s a Mudavian Cactus.” He reached out so she could take it from him. “House warming gifts are typical of many cultures when a person changes residence. It can go weeks without water, requires little light, but if you water it regularly and let it access great amounts of light it changes colors.” He smiled.

Kolar

She wasn’t good with plants, but it was a nice thought that was very appreciated. “Thank you. Just let me set it inside and we can head out.” She found the nearest surface for it and walked back to the door. “Okay, all set. Let’s go.” As the two walked away from her door, it closed automatically. She hadn’t known what to wear—it wasn’t a date, just dinner with an old friend, so to be on the safe side, she’d chosen gray slacks with a sheer white blouse and one of her prettiest bras beneath it. For her, it was casual but nice. Simple earrings and low heeled shoes completed the outfit along with the left hand glove and blue wraparound glasses.

(he can’t see the bra through the blouse can he??) YES, HE CAN, BUT THERE IS STILL A LITTLE MYSTERY Kolar had the same comfortable smile on his face. “That is an attractive outfit.” He gestured at himself with a hand. “I don’t have a wide selection of clothes to wear. There are times I envy the broad number of clothes that the female gender get to access. Of course there are other times the convenience of a narrow selection group out weighs the enjoyment from the diverse choice.”

“This is nice. I’ve been looking forward to it all day. I haven’t had a good meal with good company in several weeks.” They continued to walk to the turbolift. Once inside, Shirazi asked the question that had been on her mind since they’d met earlier in the day. “So, how do you feel about me being back on the Olinski knowing I was once her first officer?”

—Thorne, CMO

“The statement that its going to be a ‘good meal’ suggest your memory of the replicator systems on the Olinski isn’t quite what it should be.” He slid both hands into the sleeves of his prayer robe, effectively making his hands disappear.

She chuckled. “Actually, I do remember the food being quite tasty here. This is a big ship and the menu was always highly varied.” The he continued.

“I have no issues with your return. I wasn’t notified, but were I consulted I would have welcomed it wholeheartedly. Quality officers are advantageous in any role. I surmise that you current position is only transitory anyway.” The lift opened. He nodded slightly forward so she could lead the way.

“If you are trying to determine if you have a rival on the ship, I can assure you that it won’t be me.”

Kolar

While the lift carried them to deck 5’s Observation Lounge, Shirazi tried to ease whatever tensions her questions might have brought up. “It seems my arrival wasn’t expected by Si…Capt Parker, either. And I didn’t think you would have a problem with me being a former first officer here as we’ve always been friendly, but I wondered if there might be some…” She stopped and tried to phrase her thoughts accurately. “You know what? Never mind. It was a silly question so forget I asked.” Just then the turbolift doors opened and they stepped out onto deck 5.

—Thorne, CMO

Kolar had always felt Sidney and Shirazi had a good professional relationship and it made sense they would call each other by their first names when off-duty a justification that blinded him to other minor clues that someone of his intelligence and experience might have put together to a different conclusion if he had a more unprofessional mind. Kolar paused. “I certainly could forget it, figuratively or metaphorically.” He had an excellent memory so literally it would take a traumatic brain injury for him to forget it in such a short period of time.

“However, it clearly has some sort of emotional content for you.” His voice continued to be calm, almost melodic. “I have no ego for you to bruise. What is your concern? You can speak plainly.”

Kolar

Shirazi took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “How about we get our food and sit before I try to answer that one?” She chose a fruit salad with yogurt and nuts on the side and a glass of iced tea. While Kolar filled his dinner order, she found a small table by the window and sat down.

Kolar had a small salad and hasparat root encrusted lamb. It was a spicy dish that caused him to eat sparingly. A good way to keep his intake down. Nowadays one could just have the calories taken out of food, but Kolar didn’t like that self deception under most cases. Discipline on what a person ate was the same as discipline in other facets of a person life.

Once he’d joined her and they were both settled she began again. “I’m pretty sure the question I asked you was actually something I’ve been asking myself. I’m the one who has confused feelings about returning to the Olinski.”

—Thorne, CMO

He took the plate and bowl off the tray and ordered it squarely in front of him. “You were the person who chose to leave and return. It is likely your reasons for both occurrences would have more resonance for you.” Kolar methodical placement of his plate and utensils proceeded his meal.

They did not have a particularly close relationship prior to her departure, he wondered what kind of relationship she wanted now. “You did not include me in your decision making in either case. If you would like me to comment on it, you will need to be more forthcoming.”

Kolar

There was nothing like a Vulcan to state the obvious, but Kolar was doing a bang up job even as a Bajoran. Usually, Bajoran’s were a little more compassionate than he seemed to be, but it was what it was. After taking in a deep breath to center herself, Shirazi poked a grape onto her fork and looked at the man across the table. “I didn’t consult anyone before I left the ship—not even the Captain.”

“That would suggest an emotional decision.” Kolar said flatly, a circumstance beyond her control she would relate to friends. “If it is too personal, I don’t want to force you into a disclosure that would make you uncomfortable.”

She thought back to why she’d done it. Sid had changed. The two of them were not getting along on a personal level OR a professional one. Every decision that needed making back then they had come down on opposite sides and she knew it was bad for the ship and crew. The intimacy that had been so successful between them was totally overshadowed by whatever he was going through and no matter what she did, the chasm between them increased.

“I was involved with someone on board back then and it went bad.” She chewed the fruit thoughtfully. “I honestly don’t know what happened, but one of us needed to leave the Olinski. He wouldn’t, so I did. That’s why I have mixed feelings about being back.”

—Thorne, CMO

“I didn’t know you were in a relationship during your previous tenure…” Kolar blinked for a moment… then another moment. “You hid it well.” He pursed his lips.

That was good to hear. He was exceptionally observant and if he didn’t know about her and Sid, chances are no one else did either.

He stopped his ritualistic meal preparation and rested his hands on the table. “Shirazi,” he glanced about to be certain no one was listening. “Your privacy is your business, I have no need to intrude,” Nor did he have to the math was easy enough and the list of males still on the ship that were before was not nearly as large as one would think. “You asked me how I feel and that is not the question you need an answer to. This ship is still a welcome home for you, if you are willing to make it.”

Kolar

She chewed a chunk of pineapple as he spoke. “You’re right, of course. Being back brings all those things back to my mind. While I was gone and spending time at the Institute, I didn’t think that much about it all. I was too busy learning medicine. But now, being here again where it all took place…” She shrugged. “Forgive an old friend her ramblings? These things aren’t problems, they’re just…memories that don’t have satisfactory boundaries yet. They feel incomplete.” Lifting the glass with her gloved hand, she sipped the iced tea.

“Let’s start over, shall we? Let’s talk about you. Were you promoted to XO right after I left?”

—Thorne, CMO

Kolar returned to his meal prep, lifting his fork to eat a small corner of his lamb. “No, actually I declined the position when you left…” He paused. “Well thats not completely accurate, I did not apply. Sidney and I had a discussion after the fact and he questioned why I did not.” Kolar chewed calmly.

“The fact is, I wasn’t certain I was ready or if I wanted the promotion and the position. I don’t think its a secret that I have never sought out rank or authority.” It wasn’t his personality. Kolar was quiet, methodical to the point of being calculating, but he wasn’t unemotional. He was also pretty well known as a pacifist. Which would was completely contrary to the ass-kicking he gave to the Tholians a few weeks ago. He took no joy in it, but if he was going to be responsible for the safety of the ship he was going to do a good job at it.

Kolar.

“I think you would have done well when I left. But I understand not feeling ready for a position. Over my career in Star Fleet there have been many situations I would have chosen to put off. Of course, that wasn’t an option—I just had to face them head on and do the best I could. I almost always had my shipmates to help, though.” She continued eating bites of fruit from her plate. “Have there been any major changes here? For instance, is there someone special in your life now?”

—Thorne, CMO

“That is complementary, thank you. But your believe would have needed to be mine as well for there to be success. And even at this moment, I would argue that all things having equal value, I am a superior science officer than an executive officer. However the difficulty is that the two things aren’t equal.” He tilted his head.

“The point is moot now anyways. I am the first officer and the way promotions work, I will never be a science officer again.” He paused and looked at Shirazi. Well he surmised that wasn’t always true.

Balfor smirked and chuckled a little as he chewed. “I haven’t had a relationship of merit in a long time.” He then paused. “I had a brief dalliance, it failed as all my relationships tend to.” He stared off for a moment. “I tried hard, perhaps too hard. I think I’m innately… ‘unlovable’” He held up a hand to stop the automatic protest. “I don’t think I don’t have romantic value, my personality traits aren’t that make people ‘love’ me.”

Kolar