New School

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 4:52am by Lieutenant Alexandra Alves MD & Emilie Temple & Veronica Kiley
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:29pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 5 - Education Centre

ON:

It was the afternoon in Pandora-time and Emilie Temple was finishing her work for the day. She was into her seventh month of her pregnancy, her belly was quite big now and the strain on her legs was palpable. She had spent most of the day sitting down when possible, though the little one growing inside had started moving a fair bit lately and this caused her some discomfort. Still, she had managed to put in a full's day work at the Education Centre where she worked. They had planned a brief field trip for the kids to the Entertainment district of Paradise Outpost, and started to prepare the teachers for her inevitable absence. Emilie felt like she had just started this job, and was now planning to leave it. If only for a few months.

Turning off the light in her office, she waddled over to the Junior Play Area, where her daughter Katrine was boisterously playing in a pit of multi coloured plastic balls, throwing in the air and yelling "HAPPY NEW YEAR" for some reason or another. Emilie lowered herself into a chair and smiled, deciding to let Katrine play for a little while longer.

Like if having to take over a whole medical department and preparing the medical aid to the planet wouldn't be enough, Alexandra had to deal with another issue, making her daughter settle down successfully in their new environment, enrolling her to school, trying to find her new friends, and end her utter despair (or rather her acted-out utter despair) over these changes in her life. Her first prerogative was to meet Emilie Temple, the chief educational administrator on board, aka the head teacher, who also happened to be the Captain's wife.

Right at the scheduled time, the doctor and her daughter walked through the Recreation Deck, and quickly found the Education centre. Veronica seemed very reluctant to attent this meeting, but her mother was keen on her to accompany her. Afterall, this was all about her. She also knew that the kids are soon going for a field trip to the station, which she didn't want Veronica to miss.

"Please, for my sake, try to behave at least for a short while.", she begged the girl, as they stood at the entrance of the office.

"I wanna play soccer, and not go to meet boring people in boring places.", Veronica complained.

"Ms. Temple is anything but boring, and your new school is going to be great.", Alex tried to assure her, but apparently without much success.

With that, the doctor walked in to the Centre, with Veronica closely following her. "Good afternoon.", she greeted the teacher with a friendly smile.

Emilie looked up from her spot and gave the officer a vague stare. "Afternoon." She said slowly, as it began to dawn on her who the woman might be. "Oh my! Lieutenant Alves? I'm so sorry, we have a meeting now don't we?"

"Yes, yes, we have.", Alex replied with an awkward smile, a bit taken off by the woman's reaction. She couldn't help but look at her belly, and try to take a few mental notes regarding the apparent state of her pregnancy, which indicated that Pandora will welcome a new, little passenger in about two months. Meanwhile, Veronica looked at her mother with a face telling her that the teacher is 'not only boring, but weird as well'.

"I'm sorry, my mind has been elsewhere." Emilie sighed heavily. She reached out a hand for the Doctor to help her to her feet. Once upright, she spoke quickly to one of the daycare nurses about watching Katrine, then turned back to Alexandra and her daughter. "And you must be, Veronica, correct?" She said, looking at the Lieutenant's daughter.

"No worries.", the doctor replied with a gentle smile, as she helped Ms. Temple get to her feet, "Glad to meet you."

Meanwhile, Veronica didn't seem to be as jovial as her mother. She folded her arms and avoided looking either her mom or the other lady in the eye. When the teacher asked if she's Veronice, she hesitated to reply for a few seconds, then, slightly tilting her head, she uttered on a low, emotionless voice, "Correct.", then a second later, adding, "Probably."

"Wonderful." Emilie responded after a moment. "Well this is the junior play area of the centre. We can take a tour of the senior section if you'd like. There's a study room, art space, library, science lab, and hydroponics bay." Emilie started to waddle through the corridors, "As we're close to the Holodecks, we take frequent classes in there. Mr. Tisar runs a music shop, and you're free to pick up learning an instrument if you'd like. And being on an operating starship, we sometimes take field trips to active departments onboard and see the crew working."

"Ah, sure.", Alexandra replied, as they started their little tour, "Sounds wonderful.", she said on a joyful voice, looking at her daughter, who walked by her side silently, apparently keen on maintaining her 'I'm cold as ice' persona. "If you plan on making a field trip to sickbay, please notify me beforehand.", she turned back to Ms. Temple, with a sarcastic grin, "So, I won't schedule any autopsies or rectal surgeries for that day." That was the kind of witty black humor her daughter quite appreciated, and she hoped it might break the ice somewhat. "Music shop sounds awesomely cool. I took piano lessons when I was a child."

Emilie paused on the doctor's suggestion, "Yes, we'll find a more appropriate time to visit. I especially want to show some of the younger students the Sickbay, so that they aren't afraid of going there." They continued walking and eventually came to the study room. "Mr. Tisar is a wonderful teacher, I'm sure he could help you learn any instrument he has available."

The study room was a peaceful space, quiet in atmosphere. The room was light blue with a series of small 'pods' scattered around; some with desks and monitors, others with large sprawling floor cushions, a couple with stools for group discussions. There were a few kids using the study room at the moment, either working on a project or reading quietly. One student was laying back watching a film through a headset.

"Senior students have free access to this room for whenever they need." Emilie explained in a hushed voice. "It's a space where you can use your time as required, away from the rest of the ship. Some students find it more beneficial to be in such a space, rather than in a classroom or even their family quarters. It's a place just for you. Students are trusted to respect other's study time, and clean up any mess you make."

"Oh, that's definately useful.", Alex nodded. It seemed, Ms. Temple was not the one to apprieciate darker humor. Nevermind. "We can show them, there's nothing to be afraid of in sickbay. Except for crazy doctors like myself.", she added with a slight laugh.

Looking around in the study room, Alexandra immediately realized how truly useful this place is, and how it can provide a child with the opportunity to study outside the four walls of a classroom. It was the perfect place for someone like Veronica, who was not exactly the type of stay in line and sit in one place for long. Since the girl still opted to stay silent, her mother decided to ask her opinion regarding the place. "Looks cool, isn't it?", she turned to Veronica.

"The classroom on the Benecia was much much better.", the girl replied, folding her arms, and looking at her mom like if she were a traitor.

"Don't be silly.", Alex shook her head, then turned back to Ms. Temple, "The educational facilities on the Benecia were satisfactory, but compared to this, well... they're quite... obsolete.", she said, after finding the right word.

"And this isn't a classroom." Emilie added, trying to keep her tone light. "It's just a study space. Our usual classrooms are a little different to this. But tell me, Veronica, what is it that you like to do, in your free time?"

The girl contemplated on the question for a few seconds. She had to decide if she should drop her defensive shields or keep playing the fake ice cold demeanour. Eventually, she shrugged and decided to loosen up a bit. At least, for the moment. "I like playing soccer.", she replied on a subtle voice.

"Ah." Emilie nodded slowly. "Well we are very close to the holodecks and I'm sure there are many programs with soccer pitches available. We take physical activity very seriously as we always ensure the students are exercising every day. I think we could work in a soccer session with everyone at least... once a week?"

These words sparked some interest in Veronica, or at least, she became a bit more willing to listen to the teacher's words, as she was now explaining a topic she actually enjoyed discussing.

"As a doctor, I wholeheartedly agree on that.", Alexandra replied to Emilie, when she described how much emphasis they put on physical exercising, then turned to her daughter, "You see, you can even have soccer buddies to play together with."

"I'm a much better player than any of them.", Veronica said, completely sure that's the utmost truth.

"Well you could always help to teach the other kids how to play." Emilie suggested gently. She then gave a heavy sigh, her legs and feet starting to feel the effects of her long day again. She leaned on a nearby desk and smiled apologetically to the others. "Gees, it doesn't get easier second time around."

"I can teach them.", Veronica said with a shrug, "If they want..."

The doctor quickly jumped to help the ailing woman, and gently placed her hand on Emilie's arm. "Are you okay?", she asked on an empathic tone, "How do you feel?" She almost reached for a tricorder, but realized she wasn't equipped with one. A doctor's work never ends, she thought in herself, as she seized up Ms. Temple's condition. "I'll remember it, if I'll ever have a second time.", she replied with a smile, and glanced at the curious eight-year-old onlooker standing nearby.

"Just tired." Emilie stated wanly, "I just need to rest a bit. Tell you what, I'll gather the enrolment packet from my office while you two keep looking around the Senior section. Feel free to visit anywhere you wish. I'll have everything ready for when you get back?"

"Sure.", Alexandra nodded with a smile, "Feel free to visit me in sickbay if you experience any problems.", she then advised. Turning to her daughter, the doctor asked, "Well, let's take a look around."

"I'd rather be playing soccer.", Veronica folded her arms, "This place is boring."

"Don't be silly.", her mom replied, shaking her head, "I'm sure we can find something exciting. You can even meet some of the kids, and make friends."

"I don't need friends."

Emilie smiled a little as the two departed down the corridor, listening to their conversation. It was clear that Veronica was just at that age now, but her attitude was just a veneer put up in defence. Emilie hoped that once she settled into her new school that Veronica would find her place on the Pandora. She also hoped that she could be as patient and understanding as Doctor Alves when Katrine gets to that age. Though Ems was thankfully she had several years before she'd have to deal with that problem.

OFF