New Assignment

The room was dark, and her red eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, and her lifemark seemed to be nothing more than a void of blackness, showing from behind the small tanktop.  The screen on the laptop lit up.

"Di-rector Hexas.  How may – I help you?"

The Trill, an elder one with greying temples and obvious stress wrinkles, spoke quickly.  "Ah, Ensign Dru'lik'trowany'rysh'wonkynorkstra.  You have been recalled by Starfleet.  They are offering you an assignment aboard the UFS Arcadia."  It was extremely unusual for anyone to use Rish's full name in any case, but Director Hexas preferred it this way.

"Di-rector.  I h-ave finished my stud-ies here.  I know of this, Ar-cadia.  Quantum slip-stream drive?"

"Yes; I suggest you take the opportunity.  They have Starfleet's best and brightest," Hexas said with a smile.  He didn't particularly dislike Rish, he just preferred that students finish their studies and not linger.  Rish had been lingering for at least a month and a half so far.

"Yes... yes... most ex-cellent.  Better understand-ing of the uni-verse."  Rish trailed off.

Director Hexas looked at her strangely.  He never did feel totally comfortable around the strange alien.  Their species had been Federation members for over 10 years now, but no one had ever paid attention to them until their sudden rush to join Starfleet after the wormhole net was established.  Rish was an enigma to him; the red eyes and the tattoos seemed to... wake an apprehension in him.  It completely contradicted Rish's whole attitude: Just a young officer and ensign, eager to learn, eager to pursue the old profession of scientist.

"Ensign?"

Rish snapped back to reality.

"Ensign, shall I tell them that you have accepted?"

"Yes Di-rector.  Yes please!" Rish blurted out in rapid succession.

"Good, I've sent the message.  Alright.  You have been assigned.  You have been granted three weeks of leave prior to your assignment it seems.  Have your things packed.  Lingering is not a good trait; be ready for subspace transport to Earth at twelve-hundred hours tomorrow."

Rish smiled with glee, which kind of startled Hexas.  Some people just... weirded him out.

"Get some sleep, Ri'Shan'Likana'thrikortrunky'a; I've got to take my rounds of administration."

"You know, Di-rector, you may call me Rish."