Location: USS Paso Robles, Counselor Office

Zara was sitting at her desk, just completing her last round of counseling sessions, when she noticed a new report coming in across her inbox. 

It was a message from home, indicating that a Trill symbiote needed a host. And they wanted her to return home in order to be joined with the Trill symbiote. However they knew that she couldn’t return home, so the current symbiote was willing to meet with her, traditionally the symbiote would prefer to stay on the home world until they could be joined. But a few Trill doctors were coming all the way from the Trill Homeworld to meet up with the USS Paso Robles.

The symbiote was new barely 100 years old, and Zara would be his first host. The symbiote institute had debated about putting the symbiote into a young host. However there was no suitable contenders at the moment. Zara was the only potential suitor. 

She wasn’t sure what to think of the news, part of her was nervous. A part of her was excited. It was a strange sensation knowing that real soon her life would change forever. She hoped she was ready for it. From what she read in the reports though the host body transition would be intense on her. And plus the fact that the symbiont had never taken on a house before, it would be a little more challenging.

Zara was initially considered but rejected for joining because she refused to put her Starfleet career on hold in order to join with a brand new host but now it sounded like they didn’t have really a choice and they’re willing to accommodate her special request of staying in Starfleet, and learning how to co-habitat with her symbiote. Initially the symbiote institution was unwilling but now it sounds like they’re more willing to, especially since they’re getting desperate to find a host. 

Currently the Paso Robles was heading to the Talvath System. And a trail shift would be joining them while in route, and then they would have a couple guests to come aboard and work with Dr Chen. Apparently they’d already gone to the process of talking to Starfleet command. But since she hadn’t heard from her own captain, she wondered if he even knew. She decided she better inform him. She left her office in made her way to the ready room and the bridge she wasn’t sure where he was at the moment. 

She then tapped on her combadge. =A=”computer where is Captain Gutierrez?”=A= 

=A=”Captain Gutierrez is on the bridge”=A= called out the ships intercom system through her combadge.

Zara then left her office and started to head towards the bridge. 

Location: USS Paso Robles, Bridge

Zara walked onto the bridge, she saw Renato just sitting in the command chair. He noticed her immediately, but she continued her approach. 

“Counselor what brings you to the bridge, I thought you had another appointment coming up?” Renato asked, he wasn’t expecting her for at least another hour and a half. 

“That appointment got rescheduled, but I would love to have a moment of your time sir.” Zara said as she waited for the captain’s response. 

Mira was not on the bridge at the moment, so he looked over to Jaxon. “Lieutenant Thorne, you have the bridge.” With a simple nodding of his head Lieutenant Thorne walked over to the command chair.

“I’m all yours counselor would you prefer the ready room or the conference room?” Renato asked, allowing her the choice to choose their location. You would assume that she would chose the conference room because it’d be less intimidating. 

“You’re ready room will be fine sir.” Zara said, and she followed him into his ready room. She wanted him to feel comfortable, because she is very easy to make an unusual request of him. 

Renato was surprised by this sudden move, he knew it must have been something big if she purposely chose his ready room. He walked in with her in motion with his hand for her to have a seat on the sofa since this wasn’t a formal meeting they didn’t need to report in. 

Renato walked over to the chairs on the other side of the desk and then turned it around to face a sofa and then he motion for her to have a seat on the sofa. “What’s on your mind counselor?” 

Zara appreciated the warm sincerity from the captain. “The trill symbiote institution is requesting to come aboard the Paso Robles. I don’t know when Starfleet was planning on letting you know but they’re already in route.” 

Renato is a little surprise, wondering why they were coming it was unlike them. “I’m assuming they’re coming for you?” Renato asked, knowing that she was an unjoined Trill, but wondering if something happened and they needed to do an emergency procedure to save the Trill Symbiont’s life.

“They are captain, apparently the symbiont, can’t find a suitable host. They understand that we’re on a time-sensitive mission so they are requesting to be aboard a small medical team and they will work with Dr Chen in order to get this procedure completed.” 

They might have to refer to the EMH and have Dr Chen on standby because I’m not sure how well where she is and symbiotic life forms and transplantic surgeries.” Renato said, thinking it’s probably time to have a conversation with his doctor and bring her into the fold. 

Renato tapped on his combadge. =A=”Captain Gutierrez to Dr Chen please report to the ready room.”=A= Renato called out as he tapped on his combat again to end the call. 

Aria heard the hail and headed to the captains ready room, once she had handed off instructions. She paused outside the door and rang the buzzer, waiting for permission to enter. 

“Come in Doctor.” Renato called out, as he waited to see the door swish open. He was still sitting in the guest chair and Zara was sitting on the sofa he was debating if he was going to put her also on the sofa or if he should rotate the chair so they can all talk at angles least so that way they can face each other.

Aria walked over to the captain and stood at attention. “You wanted to see me, Sir.” She replied. Aria reflected, in her mind, that it wasn’t that long ago, the captain wasn’t happy to be in sickbay. She always felt that when she was called to the captains ready room it was in line with being sent to the principals office. She hoped this wasn’t bad news or she might have inadvertently done something. 

“Please doctor have a seat on the sofa.” Renato suggested is emotion with his hand for to have a seat.

“Yes Captain.” Doctor Chen took a seat on the sofa, feeling a little more confused, wondering what was going on.” 

“Hello Doctor, I realized we haven’t known each other long but I’m going to need something from you.” Zara hinted towards to Aria. 

“Oh?” Aria replied. She figured it had to do with her being a physician but she wasn’t quite certain what. “What would that be?” She asked as she looked at her.

“The Trill Symbiont Institute is rendezvous with Paso Robles, and I need you to help them transplant a symbiote into me.” Zara simply said, just trying to read how Aria would respond.

Aria’s eyes widened. This was not in any fashion what she thought was coming but after seeing Zara she should have had an inkling. As a doctor it fascinated her. Taking a moment she looked directly at Zara. “Whatever you need, I am willing to help out.” 

“That’s the spirit doctor, because they’re going to be utilizing sick bay I would like you to work with them in full cooperation.” Renato suggested to her.

“Of course, Captain.” Aria said immediately. “I will do whatever I can to aid them.” She felt like he was asking but he was the captain and this was her position, a job she loved, how could she say no?” As soon as they arrive I will introduce them to sickbay and help where I can.” The scene fades away, with the three of them talking.