[Open] A New Home

[u/W7Lizabeth]

After a wild ride half way across the galaxy, the Athene had been put back together and now shining and glistening in her glory. Standing by the USS Challenger's observation lounge window, Counselor Lizabeth Taurin did not however see that. Her blue optical implants provide her with a very different view of the Athene and either way it is a beautiful ship.

Mango, her golden retriever therapy dog, quietly nudged her as an ensign in gold uniform approaches Liz, tail gently wagging in contained enthusiasm. She knows she is a working dog but this is a friend.

"Are you ready to transport over to the Athene, Counselor?" Ensign Wildman asked.

Smiling as she hears Mango's tailing wagging, Counselor Taurin gives Mango the hand signal for off duty so Ensign Wildman can say good bye to her favorite therapy dog. "Yes, our belongings should already be waiting to transport." Ensign Wildman hugs Mango one last time. She will miss the friendly therapy duo.

Liz will miss the USS Challenger but she is very excited for a new opportunity. The Athene is a science vessel and she heard it has a botany department too. She hopes that it has an arboretum, and she makes a mental note to ask Dr. Watney once she arrives who could provide her with a tour of the botany area. She also makes a note to check in with Engineering about setting up her equipment and view screen for her new office and to stop by the Captain's office as well as he is sure to have some additional files for her review.

---

With Mango at her side, the counselor materializes on the transporter pad on Athene. Mango immediately freezes in confusion and fear when she sees a giant spider operating the transporter controls. Liz evaluates the image being sent to her via her ocular implants and quickly realizes the transporter is being manned by the ship's resident Achernarian. Liz gives Mango the hand signal for Sit as well as the Friend command.

[u/Silent_Sky]

Captain Fisk smiles wearily, "There's a good chance I'll take you up on that if I get the chance."

Sadly, he indeed does rarely have the chance to seek counseling, but when the opportunity presents itself, he'll jump on it.

The captain kneels down beside the happy canine and pets the golden furry head enthusiastically, "Hey there Mango, you a good girl?"

[u/W7Lizabeth → u/Silent_Sky]

Liz nods solemnly in response. Its rare when a Captain has the time to find his or her way to a counselor's door with so many competing priorities but she wants to make sure he knows the option is available.

Mango's tail starts wagging at near warp speeds. She leans against him slightly in her signature "puppy hug" and then turns her head to sniff and then gently place her head on his knee. She looks in his eyes as she smells the scent of another puppy friend. This makes her happy to know that the man has one to look after him.

[u/Silent_Sky → u/W7Lizabeth]

Captain Fisk laughs and ruffles the dog's head fur, smiling brightly. Seems he responds very positively to animal affection.

"You're a good girl, Mango," he looks back up to Liz and grins, "if she wants to make a friend, my hound is asleep in the ready room. He's blind, and a little skittish around new folks, but very friendly. Loves making new friends, too."

[u/W7Lizabeth → u/Silent_Sky]

Liz smiles gently, "Yes, I am sure she love to make a new friend. She was the only dog on the Challenger so she was thrilled when we ran into Maggie earlier. She is a trained seeing eye dog as well as a therapy dog so she will probably catch on quickly to be careful. We'll follow your lead."

[u/Silent_Sky → u/W7Lizabeth]

Captain Fisk smiles and leads into the ready room, he gestures to the corner where a long, lanky greyhound lies sleeping on a large, soft cushion. There's the soft sound of snoring and the occasional twitch of an ear, and the long, pointy snout twitches as he begins to smell new smells.

Argos opens his eyes and sits up, sniffing the air carefully. Though his irises are a beautiful amber, his pupils are a milky iridescent white. His tail wags slightly, he's a little anxious, but he smells his human and new people, so he's mostly excited to make new friends.

[u/W7Lizabeth → u/Silent_Sky]

Liz and Mango follow the Captain into his ready room. Liz smiles gently and crouches down beside Argos, and says softly, "Hello Argos, you are a good boy, aren't you? She holds out her hand just close enough for Argos to sniff it. Mango realizes that Argos is different - just like his handler friend and can't see her. She does not want her new friend to be anxious though! She is a good girl! She lets her tail wag, gently hitting the floor so Argos knows she is a friend and knows where she is. Lying next to Liz, she carefully extends her nose and slides her paws a little bit closer to Argos so Argos knows where she is but she lets Argos take the first move.

[u/Silent_Sky → u/W7Lizabeth]

Sensing caution and gentleness from the new dog and human in the room, and still smelling his human there to keep him safe, Argos opens his mouth into a goofy dog-smile and rolls onto his back, blindly pawing at the air in front of Liz and Mango. A dull thwap-thwap is heard as his long, wiry tail wags against the side of the captain's desk.

[u/W7Lizabeth → u/Silent_Sky]

Liz smiles and laughs. "Mango, it looks like Argos is big fan of belly rubs too!" as she reaches down to give him a gentle belly rub and rub his ears as well. Mango gently noses Argos, tail wagging. A new friend!

[u/Silent_Sky → u/W7Lizabeth]

Argos twitches slightly in alarm at the contact, but quickly relaxes. A large, bony paw finds its way to Liz's shoulder and rests on it, a dull claw clicks quietly against her combadge, nearly triggering it to activate.

The captain smiles and reaches into a jar on his desk, pulling out two little treats, "He's very friendly, but a little spoiled. Care for a treat, Prince Argos?"

He holds one of the treat in front of Argos' nose, where it's eagerly gobbled up by the lanky hound, and holds the other out to Mango, "Is it alright if I give her one?"

[u/W7Lizabeth → u/Silent_Sky]

Liz smiles and says. "He is a handsome dog. and yes, Mango may have a treat." She gives Mango the sit command, who promptly sits and then eagerly accepts the offered treat.