The Wordsmith

Posted on Tue May 20th, 2025 @ 7:07am by Commander Grace Vetur & Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele & Crystal Steele

1,848 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Riversong Station

On the Ontario, in their quarters, Madelyn had just finished putting up a set of bookshelves. She dusted off her hands looking at a job well done. Both she and Crystal place the few books that they had upon the upper portion of the shelves. Madelyn tisked, seeing the bare shelves that were there. Looking at her daughter, she remarked to Crystal.

"Those shelves look sadly barren, and the books we have look very lonely. What do you say, we go acquire some physical books to keep the others company. " Madelyn grinning.

Crystal wrinkled up her nose towards her mother. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist going book shopping."

Madelyn laughed, for what her daughter had just mentioned was oh so true.

"And Mom just a reminder you can't buy all of the books in the store." Crystal giving a playful stern look at her mother.

This set Madelyn to laughing once more. "And the same goes for you too my lovely daughter. You are guilty of such as well."

"No, I'm not, I am innocent!" Crystal protested, trying to hold a straight face.

"Yeah, yeah, sure you are. Okay, lets go." Madelyn heading for the door.

Arriving on the station, Madelyn made a beeline to the bookstore she had come across while she and Crystal were waiting for the Ontario to arrive. The name of the bookstore was The Wordsmith. There inside resided books which were on oaken shelves, with different genres upon them. There were books had the scent which were reminiscent of old books finely crafted. Madelyn loved that smell. Taking a deep breath when she and Crystal stepped inside, she smiled. Now to peruse the shelves and decide what she wished to purchase.

Although she planned to spend most of her time on the Ontario, Grace needed to do some exploring. Since Riversong would be a semi-regular stop, she wanted to see what the station had to offer, and find something to take back to the ship to brighten her office and quarters. She was tickled to find a bookshop selling new and used books. She enjoyed the feel and smell of a real book--when she had the time, which wasn't as much as she had as first officer. Still, any time to herself was appreciated.

She decided to do a walk around the store first to see what was where, then go to her favorite sections and browse.

Don Quixote and Count of Monte Cristo, one other book she found was the Scarlet Pimpernel. "Eureka, I found them finally!" Madelyn called out to Crystal. “And they are in the classic bindings!"

"That is great. I found a cook book, do you think we'll be able to have a kitchen on the Ontario?" Crystal coming to her mother's side. "And I found one that shows how to make sushi. I am definitely getting this one, too."

"We will have to see when we get to our quarters." Madelyn giving a fond smile to her daughter. "And I can see that you're going to be busy learning your cooking skills."

Once she had a general look around, Grace went to the history section. She was looking for anything that piqued her interest, but she hoped to find something about how common people lived during the pre-industrial era. Medieval, if possible. Or perhaps the renaissance, as many worlds had a renaissance. She found a lovely book on life in a medieval village in western Europe on earth. Then she found one of folk tales from the same region. Both were just what she was looking for. Then she found one about the history of jazz. It was enough for now. With a pleased smile, she headed to the front to make her purchase.

Finding several other books she wanted to purchase, Madelyn and Crystal went up to the register. There was another woman in front of them, Madelyn noticed the books she had in her hand. "Those look like lovely books to read. Jazz? Do you play?"

Grace turned to look at the two behind her. "Violin and cello, but I also like to listen to jazz. Do either of you enjoy music?"

"I play the violin as well as the Celtic harp. plus, the ocarina. And poor Crystal has to listen to me play." Madelyn teasing her daughter.

"I play the piano, and I sing." Crystal added with a smile. "I am glad that we've got that portable keyboard that will keep me practicing. What's your name? And I am Crystal and this is my mama Madelyn. She's an engineer."

Grace smiled. "I'm glad you have a portable keyboard to practice on as well." Grace smiled at Crystal. "My name's Grace and I guess you'd say I tell people what to do."

"Grace, your name sounds familiar to me," Madelyn dredging up the information. She raised an eyebrow with an unspoken question. Could Grace be the CO of the ship they were supposed to step foot on?

"That sounds like you are in command of a ship or station. You do have that look of confidence, and command. My mother told me that I do need to pay attention as to how people hold themselves." Crystal remarked.

"She's right that you should pay attention to people and how they act and behave. You can learn a lot about someone that way," Grace said, impressed. "I wouldn't say I have an air of confidence, but I do command a ship. But only for a few months now."

Madelyn was realizing that the woman they were talking to, well, Crystal was interacting with was the CO of the USS Ontario! "Crystal I think that we're talking with-"

Crystal cut her mama off, "Oh I think that you have confidence and you do know how to talk to people not making them feel small, Miss Grace-" she paused realizing she had spoken over her mother. "Sorry Mama, I didn't mean to interrupt you. "

Madelyn wasn't angry with her daughter, she looked at Grace with some amusement in her eyes. "Would the ship you are in command of, be the USS Ontario?"

Crystal was silent after her mother's question.

Grace hadn't expected the woman to make that leap. "It is." She turned to Crystal. "Even captains need to remember that cordiality is important."

"Grace, if I am allowed to call you by first name here. I had scanned some of the details on the Ontario and had read the name of the CO, Just didn't remember your last name, so I took a chance." Madelyn grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, what if you were wrong?" Crystal asked with a teasing smile.

"Well then I would be blushing furiously." Madelyn laughed, looking back at Grace.

"It's fine. This is not the Ontario and I am not on duty, so I don't expect anyone to know who I am." She purchased her books and arranged to have them sent to the ship. Then she stepped aside for the other two. "Am I correct in assuming that you will be assigned to the Ontario?"

"Indeed, you are correct. I have been assigned as the Chief Engineer for the Ontario. And I am looking forward to getting acquainted with the ship." Madelyn purchasing the books. "And as time goes on, meeting the crew, whomever I end up coming across."

"Really? I admit, I did not check my messages from Starfleet." Grace couldn't help smiling. "I put that off until this evening. Welcome. Is it just the two of you, or do you have more family here?"

"It is just the two of us." Madelyn giving an answering smile. "And I don't blame you for wanting to wait until the evening to check messages. Earlier, when the Ontario arrived I got someone to take us to have an outer tour of the ship. I have to admit I was excited to get that view. And the same for Crystal."

Grace nodded. "I do appreciate older ships like the Ontario." She turned to Crystal. "What do you think of moving to a new ship?"

"Just as long as I am with my mama, I am quite happy. Besides just the opportunity of meeting new people, and seeing the sights I wouldn't want to miss it. It has been very educational." Crystal giving herself a hug as if to contain her excitement.

That was quite a grown-up response for someone as young as Crystal. "Good. I hope you and your mother will feel at home on the Ontario."

"I hope so as well. Meeting you like this is making me feel comfortable, you are a person just like everyone else. And you are the first CO I got to meet before going on a ship." Crystal having a shy smile, reaching out for her mother's hand. "I like you, and you are not scary."

Grace laughed. "I'm glad I'm not scary, although I have met some captains who are. But when I do, I just smile and leave as soon as I can."

"The one captain that I met, thankfully it wasn't on the ship that we were assigned to but he was scary, he looked at me like i was just an insect, and he made a mean comment. Mama and I left really quickly."

Madelyn was nodding, "He just wasn't the nicest man. I made certain a scene wasn't caused, I took us out of the situation. A derogatory comment about my daughter I didn't enjoy, and did the best thing of leaving."

Grace had no patience for men like that. "I hope you reported him. If nothing else, it can be a mark on his record."

"I did report him, he thought he could cow me but it didn't work out. And I did have witnesses as well. The one thing I truly don't like, is someone trying to use their rank to throw their weight around and bully someone. I don't take kindly to that either." she drew in a breath to fend off the irritation she was feeling.

"I agree. I'm glad you are well and away from that situation." Grace picked up her books. "I should get back to the ship. I only came on the station to get some books." She smiled at Crystal. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

Then she smiled at Madelyn. "And I look forward to working with you. I hope you both enjoy your time on the station."

"Thank you, and I hope I get to see you again." Crystal having a cheery smile as she beamed at the woman she met. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Grace."

"I plan on doing some more exploring Grace, and look forward to being on the ship with you and the crew." Madelyn replied, gathering her books. "Crystal, let's get the books sent to our quarters and take another tour of the station."

A Post By

Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele
Chief Engineer
USS Ontario

&

Crystal Steele (NPC)
Daughter of Madelyn
USS Ontario

&

Commander Grace Vetur
Commanding Officer
USS Ontario

 

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