First Morning [Mahak]

[Kali Reyes]

[Deck 15 - Kali's Office]

Today was personnel day and that's where Kali really shined. If she couldn't spend the day up to her elbows in grease, she was going to keep her hands busy with meetings and complaints.

Complaints were her favorite. She got to play mediator - though this time Mahak was scheduled to join her so he can get a few hours in with crew dynamics. He was still relatively new, but he learned fast.

While she waited for her second, Kali sipped at her coffee and checked on her messages. Right on the dot, Crewman Jones came in, coffee in hand.

"Good morning!" she greeted.

"Morning, Chief." He sounded surprised. "You've got your own coffee?"

She paused from her typing to set the mug down. A flash of dark eyes and rough hands took her out of her professional element for a moment, but she quickly recovered and grinned at him. "I got up a little early today."

"Oh." Jones looked his own coffee, coincidentally the right blend and cream Kali liked in her own - and that was because it was meant for her. "This uh... gonna be a constant thing then?"

Jones was young, younger than her. He was still technically enrolled in the Academy, but went enlisted to get an early start on the field. She took pity on his difficulties settling on the starship, he kind of latched onto her in response, and made it a routine to bring her coffee every morning just to see her and chitchat.

She had forgotten about that. The bruises along her throat just barely covered by her collar, her glowing demeanor, the conservative ponytail she wore, it was kind of obvious what made this irregular morning for those that knew her long enough.

"It might be," she answered weakly. James flinched at that. Poor bastard. The knock on her door saved the awkwardness. "Come in!" Kali said loudly and then considered James with an apologetic grin. "There anything else? I won't leave you hanging. I can drink more coffee-"

That satisfied him and he eagerly handed it over. Then he dithered about as if waiting for her to sample his cup over the mug, and she did just for his sake.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Passageways]

Mahak marched down the long gray p-way, fingers curled, each step a precise 30 inches. His uniform was crisply pressed and pristine, his boots shined within an inch of their lives. Some habits die hard.

"Mahak!" Lester, an amiable and fit human that he occasionally boxed with, came jogging up beside him. "You've got a bit of a bounce in your step this morning. That means that--"

"I know what it means." Mahak answered evenly. "But your folksy observation is inaccurate."

"I don't think it is," Lester said. He was a pilot and was a bit too sassy for Mahak's liking. "I think the rumors are true."

"Rumors?" The Vulcan stopped and half turned to the human.

"Woah, big guy," Lester held up his hands. "Just saying. If someone can knock the rough edges off of you more power to her."

"I know not of what you speak," Mahak told the other man. "But I do know how to knock off rough edges--in the boxing ring."

"Alright, point taken. See you around, tough guy."

Mahak was very careful not to hold in or excessively hit Reyes's door chime in reaction to Lester's teasing. To do so would be unseemly. But he was more than a trifle annoyed at the human's jocularity.

[Kali Reyes]

[Kali's Office]

The doors slid open for Mahak. James saluted him in greeting while Kali raised her cup. "Impeccable timing!" she said cheerfully. "You'll make a great second yet."

James smiled at her. "He's a Vulcan. They're all punctual."

"Which means he's got an edge over me. I'll have to watch my back," she quipped fondly. "We've got individual meetings and crew evaluations today, Mr. Mahak. Do you want to play the good cop or bad cop?"

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"Enlisted personnel do not salute one another except during certain ceremonies," Mahak told James brusquely. "This is not one of them."

"Good morning, chief," the Vulcan told the woman with whom not a few hours earlier he had been romping through the perfumed gardens of Eros. "I intend to present to the crew in question a fair and balanced evaluation that is frankly based on there abilities and development."

[Kali Reyes]

James colored in a mixture of shame and irritation at the cool dress down.

Kali hid a grin behind her cup. "Bad cop it is."

"I was just trying to show some respect," James said, albeit out of turn, but Kali was usually lenient with that. She wasn't so sure Mahak would extend the same courtesy. "Since Chief Reyes decided to make you her acting Chief should she be absent."

"Or dead," she pointed out and then regretted it. James looked at her in a way that implied she kicked his puppy.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"Crewman James, personnel evaluations require the department head and one other senior crewmember, not two. Leave us."

James stared at the both of them, open mouthed, until he blinked and began slowly moving toward the door, as if he expected to be recalled at any moment. When he never was, he exited in disgust.

"Now," Mahak asked Reyes. "Chief, please impart to me how many of the crew we are evaluating, the terms of the evaluations,  and so forth."

[Kali Reyes]

Poor James. "He's never going to bring me coffee again, is he?" Kali mourned as long as possible, but not too long. She had two coffees to gulp down before they got cold.

But that was kind of another reason why she wanted to do the evaluations as soon as possible. Mahak was deadly efficient at his job, but he could be seen as 'accidentally' caustic dealing with the more easily offended humans. She was hoping to be a big girl and see if she could curb his iciness in a more productive direction.

"On second thought, you're being the good cop," she regarded him before returning to her console. "I wanna see how you can handle diplomacy. Keeping the ship efficient is one thing, but the social aspect is another..."

Now she knew what was wrong. She was acting a little too professional. Overcompensating. She flashed him her typical flirty grin. "I uploaded today's appointments to your PADD. Just five for the morning. If you wanna sit down while we wait for Crewman Takeuchi..."

She gestured to the two chairs. One for him and the other for the evaluee.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"Since diplomacy is an exercise in logic I can find no fault in your decision, Chief." Mahak's voice was iron, his eyes tiny pieces of black flint. "I will be fair and compromising."

He sat and went over the appointments. Mahak did not see any crewman or woman that would pose a significant problem for his abilities. He was looking forward to the challenge.

The door rang and Mahak put down the PADD and bade whoever it was to enter.

Crewman Takeuchi was a Japanese woman with short, lush dark hair, inquisitive and mischievous eyes, and an endearing habit of covering her mouth when she giggled. She was also hugely pregnant, and had considerable difficulty waddling over to the interview chair.

"Good morning, crewman," Mahak told her, making no move to get up and help the pregnant lady. "Sit. Thank you. Crewman Takeuchi, explain your current duties aboard the Discovery."

[Kali Reyes]

Kali made to stand when Takeuchi had to maneuver carefully into a chair, but she laughed sheepishly and held up a hand.

"I'm getting really used to it, Chief," she said sweetly. Kali smiled and sat down once she was settled in. Takeuchi turned to address Mahak. "Maintenance. I was in charge of rotating and replacing the pipes for the antimatter chamber."

Eight months pregnant and still stubborn. Kali tapped her stylus on the desk. "Ms. Takeuchi has been transferred to first shift relief the last four months due to her pregnancy. Starfleet regulation clearly states-"

"Chief, please," Takeuchi said desperately. "You can't make the transfer permanent! After the baby's born..."

Kali grimaced. "Look, if it had been any other duty, I might. But you know the health risks. Starfleet prohibits pregnant officers from anything associated with the warp core to avoid possible contact with radiation. And that ban goes up to a full tour year after the birth. That's just to be safe. I'm really sorry, Kaori."

She tried to be gentle. Takeuchi was ready to burst into tears. "I was supposed to take my certification! This transfer will kill my prospects! I can't pause my career for this child! I can't."

Kali looked to Mahak for support.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

Mahak listened to the back and forth with a raised eyebrow. It simply didn't make sense to him. When Reyes looked at him for support the Vulcan spoke up in a clear and concise manner.

"You also cannot pause your health for your career. In order to ensure that you and your child continue to thrive you must take a safer duty." Mahak appeared and sounded quizzical. "I fail to see how your career is more important than your child. And you humans say that Vulcans are callous."

[Kali Reyes]

Execution was flawless. The follow-through not so much. Kali cringed at the same time Kaori's maternal hormones wildly swung out with a howling sob. She wondered about installing a buzzer in her desk so she could tap it every time Mahak made someone cry. Maybe a fail horn.

This was going to be a long morning.

"You have such a way with words," Kali teased once Takeuchi left. "But a little more tact next time. All those hormones make them emotional landmines. Be gentle." Amusing as it was, scuttlebutt was going to hear about this, and probably start painting Mahak as the Vulcan that made pregnant women cry.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

The Vulcan took in her criticism and nodded firmly. It was true that dealing with people was not his strong suit. "I will remember, chief. I see that next we have Crewman Jackson. He should be...here he is."

A towering Klingon and human hybrid walked into the office, rigidly military and intimidating. "Chief, Crewman M'Rell Jackson reporting as ordered, Chief!"

"Please sit, crewman. Would you like some refreshment? Crewman Jurn's mother recently sent him her recipe for dog sausage. I'm told the replicator does it well and that it's a Tellarite delicacy."

The hybrid blinked. "Crewman, this one does not require freshmen, crewman!"

"Perhaps a more comfortable chair to sit on, or some tea?"

"This one is really quite fine, crewman."

"So be it. This, as you know, is Chief Reyes. She'll handle your evaluation from here." Mahak said, and glanced at Reyes with raised eyebrows, as if to say, How was that?

[Kali Reyes]

Kali's smile turned indulgently smug. "Thank you, Mr. Mahak," she told him as he announced the next crewman.

She knew how to deal with Jackson. He had an odd speech pattern, but who didn't? And he was an officer with a no-nonsense attitude when it came to small talk. This was, quite literally, level one for someone like Mahak.

So when the Vulcan turned up the saccharine accommodations, Kali choked hard on her coffee. Widened eyes zeroed in on Mahak as Jackson stiffly took a seat.

How was that?! Kali could only stare back. Was this his attempt at another joke? Kali wasn't sure, but boy did she sure kept her scrutinizing gaze on him until Jackson let out a light cough.

"Chief."

"Jackson," she said curtly, which helped balance out the awkwardness for Jackson. He visibly relaxed while she pulled up his evaluation paperwork. "If you don't mind, Mr. Mahak will be here to provide feedback on your performance."

He sat up in attention. "Understood, ma'am."

"I transferred you to Security two months ago. How is it? Better than tactical?"

"Yes ma'am."

As Kali tapped away at the screen, she wondered what to do with this freaking Vulcan who, she discovered, was pretty freaking adorable if this wasn't a ploy to make fun of her. "Your record is top notch, but there are a few things we need to address. Can you explain the extra breaks you've been taking during second shift?"

To her surprise, Jackson averted his eyes and his cheeks colored. "Yes," he replied, albeit reluctantly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Soooo?"

"This one will not say!" he said gruffly. "Not in front of females!"

Oh boy. She managed to school a neutral smile. "Would you tell Mr. Mahak for my benefit?"

It took a minute for him to consider. "This one will."

Kali sighed and pointed her stylus at Mahak. "Be yourself." Because she really didn't want to fill out extra paperwork over why Jackson suddenly got into a fistfight with her Vulcan. It wasn't even lunch yet.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

Mahak's confusion was growing and growing. Why a strapping and virile half Klingon male would be so insecure in his masculinity. But such emotional beings were both illogical and petty by nature.

"Excuse me, chief," the Vulcan stood and walked over to Jackson. He leaned over while the Klingon murmured to him.

Mahak nodded. His face was unperturbed.

The Klingon paused, and continued whispering.

"I see, Jackson. Any bleeding?"

"Only when I sit down."

"That must hurt."

"...yes."

"Thank you, crewman." Mahak walked back over to Reyes and sat. He leaned over to her.

"I think that given Crewman Jackson's exemplary service records we can forgive some minor bending of the rules so that such exemplary service continues. Don't you, chief?"

[Kali Reyes]

Whatever they were whispering sounded extremely gross or extremely interesting. Kali tried to mess with her console to look busy and keep the tension down for Jackson.

When they finished, Kali was quite surprised by Mahak's recommendation. "Uh... Well." Jackson stated at the bulkhead behind her so hard it probably made a hole from its intensity.

"Accepted." Jackson noticably relaxed as she made a note. It was his turn to be threatened by her stylus. "But only for this quarter. I expect any future breaks to be cleared by Medical. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am!"

Once Jackson concluded his evaluation, Kali folded all of her limbs and regarded Mahak curiously. "One out of two isn't bad. Thoughts so far?"