Thread by @jedwashere

“He said yes!”

Captain Raffi Musiker rolls her eyes at Lieutenant Elnor’s pronouncement. He is looking at a list of Starfleet personnel announcements with wide, excited eyes. Raffi remembers that feeling, vaguely.

1/?

#canonwelder #StarTrekOnline

“I figured he would,” she says evenly, taking a sip from her drink. “You don’t turn down the Enterprise.”

Elnor frowns at her. “Does that mean you’d have taken that command if they offered it to you?”

2/?

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Raffi shakes her head. “No.”

“But you just said -”

“Let me clarify,” she says, holding up one finger to forestall him. She takes a deep breath. “I know myself, Elnor. Command, I can do. But…” She closes her eyes. “I can’t be a symbol.”

3/?

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“I disagree,” Elnor says bluntly. “Your struggles make you a perfect symbol to represent the Federation and its struggle to live up to its ideals… and its successes in doing so despite the obstacles facing it.”

4/?

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Raffi laughs. “You really think that?”

He frowns. “I wouldn’t say it otherwise.”

She laughs again. “Sorry, just… I don’t see how what you’re saying applies to me.” Her expression hardens. “In times like these, they need better Captains.”

5/?

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His frown softens. “In times like these, Starfleet needs Captains like you most of all.” His expression turns quizzical. “But… you still would not want the Enterprise… would you?”

6/?

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“Honestly?” Raffi laughs. “Nah. Legacy’s a fine thing… but I never envied Seven the pressure of THAT chair.” Her expression hardens. “But… I do need to get out there again.”

“You do?” Elnor asks.

7/?

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“There’s too much at stake now to just sit on my ass,” Raffi says fiercely. “Borg, Dominion, those freaky Undine things…”

“The Undine are a sentient race, not ‘things’,” Elnor points out.

She waves a hand airily. “Not the point.”

8/?

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“No, the point is that there are many threats and you will find a way to end up fighting them,” he says, crossing his arms. “Likely by taking command of a starship.” He nods, a resolute expression on his face. “I want to be there with you.”

9/?

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She blinks, taken aback not by his candour - so very familiar by now - but by the raw emotion of the sentiment.

“You’re not a cadet anymore,” she says gently. “You don’t need me to keep an eye out for you.”

“No,” he says. “But you need me.”

10/?

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She shakes her head. “When’d you get so…”

“Serious?”

“Depressing.”

He smiles. “I’ve been told I’m ‘grim’ and ‘over-serious’ a great many times. I think being ‘depressing’ is another way to say that.”

11/?

#StarTrekOnline #canonwelder

“Well,” she says after a moment. “Okay. When I get a ship, you’ve got a spot…” She grins at him. “Lieutenant Commander.”

“I am not a Lieutenant Commander yet,” Elnor says, frowning. “I have remained a Lieutenant for four years…”

12/?

#StarTrekOnline #CanonWelder

Raffi rolls her eyes, and Elnor blinks, the meaning catching up to him in a heartbeat.

“Oh,” he says. “Thank you. I am grateful - if a little confused at the gesture, and I also feel as though I am undeserving…”

13/?

#StarTrekOnline #CanonWelder

“Don’t worry,” Raffi says. “It’ll probably get worse.” She chuckles. “We live in… very strange times.” She leans forward. “But you’re not undeserving, Elnor. Never think that.”

“I will try to take those words to heart,” he says.

14/?