"Cat and Mouse"
(Cont'd from Francois' "A Little Bit...")
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Stardate: 60299.1515
Scene: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
David stood, arms folded across his barrel chest as Lea moved from one area of Sickbay to the next. His eyes never left the aCMO as she bantered somewhat aimlessly about the 'what needs' and 'what nots' of Sickbay when she called to him he never heard her.
"Lieutenant?" she said again shaking David's arms which was more like shaking the side of a shuttle.
"Huh?" David replied, "you say something?"
Lea shook her head. "I asked how long you thought it would take to complete your repairs."
It was David's turn to shake his head, "Not more that a couple of hours. Give me a minute and I'll be back" and with that, he exited.
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Stardate: 60299.1520
Scene: USS ANUBIS, David's quarters
The massive CEO of the USS ANUBIS entered his quarters and quickly removed his blazer. He went to his closet, removed his engineer's vest and put it on, grabbing his kit on the way out the door.
**At least if they call, they can't get to me that easily** he thought as he headed back to Sickbay.
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Stardate: 60299.1520
Scene: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section E, Engineering Lab 1
Lieutenant Commander Mercedes Vasquez paced the floor like a caged tiger. Commander Jack Foley, NEW ALEXANDRIA's CEO shook his head.
"Mercedes, you're going to wear a hole in the floor if you don't sit down."
"I'm going to wear a hole in his *ass*" she growled, "dammit Jack, this is *completely* uncalled for. He told me 1300....he's over 2 hours late!"
"Maybe he's in the middle of something Mercedes. The ANUBIS did come back with..."
"Bullshit!" the second in command of the engineering department and CEO of the HORUS snapped, "he's doing this on purpose!"
"Mercedes...that's enough. You're getting worked up over nothing. Let's call him and see what's taking so long." Foley said tapping his badge, "Foley to Lieutenant Dawson."
No response. He tried again.
"Foley to Lieutenant Dawson." Again nothing and Mercedes gave him the 'I told you so' look.
"Computer, locate Lieutenant Dawson."
=/\=Please specify=/\=
Foley's brow knitted together. "Computer, there's only one David Dawson assigned to this base."
"Allow me" Vasquez said, "Computer, is Lieutenant Dawson on the base?"
=/\=Negative=/\=
"That means he's still on the ANUBIS" she said, "locate Dawson on the ANUBIS."
=/\=Lieutenant Dawson is in his quarters."
"Now I know where to find him, his ass is mine!" she said storming out of the engineering department with Commander Foley in tow.
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Stardate: 60299.1545
Scene: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
"David....you mind if I try my hand at counseling?" Lea asked.
David's eyes drifted to the aCMO momentarily, "As long as you don't try to dig too deep" the massive CEO replied.
"I've noticed that you haven't been your... chipper self since I was rescued."
David looked up from the panel above the biobed. "I have a chipper side?" the CEO asked.
"You know what I mean David" lea replied tersly, "I'm serious. Its like you're... distracted. And in our... training exercises, you always seemed focused."
David wiggled the phase torch in his hand. "And this isn't being focused?"
"Only because you're playing cat and mouse." the aCMO replied.
"And just what in the hell is *that* supposed to mean?"
"This rambling search for work... when you know that's why this base has a engineering staff. To aid and assist in the ships' engineering staff..."
"Honestly Lea...I never really trusted the staff on a base. Sure, they can repair what's wrong with a ship, but until you get your space legs under you, you can't really tell."
"That's the biggest bunch of crap I *ever* heard" Lea said laughing, "you really expect me to believe that?"
David shrugged. "Believe what you want *Counselor*, that's my story and I'm sticking to ith" he said replacing the panel and then lying on the biobed. "Test it."
Lea looked at him. "Excuse me?"
David looked up at her and smirked. "Test it. You're the one that said that you have to use a tricorder to get the proper readings. So... test it."
Lea shook her head and grabbed a tricorder just in case. She activated the bio monitor above David's head and it read clean across the board... except...
"David... I'm reading..."
"Yes yes... the nanites... I know..."
"I'm not talking about the nanites. You have a 12 percent increase in neuropath firings in your hepacampus. Let me do some..."
"OK" David said sitting up, "test over... it works..." then he froze.
"David?" David what's wrong..." Lea said as the CEO stormed out of Sickbay.
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Stardate: 60299.1600
Scene: USS ANUBIS, David's quarters
Commander Foley and Lieutenant Commander Vasquez stood outside David's quarters.
"First he ignores us, now he won't open the door. I am *so* gonna kill him!" as Foley shook his head and laughed.
"For a woman who's completely over someone you sure as hell don't act like it."
"That's besides the point Jack... and you know it."
Foley shook his head again. "Mimi... ever since you saw that David decided to take the assignment on the ANUBIS you've been salavating."
"Salavating?! Are you mad?" the engineer asked quizzedly.
"No... quite sane thank you" Foley pressed on, "you have this affinity for David and for the life of me I don't know why."
"Why?" she asked, "I'll tell you. As the CEO of the ANUBIS, I expect him to follow protocol."
"What protocol?" Foley asked.
"Incoming ships with heavy damage... the CEO of the ship is to report *immediately* to base engineering with a report of damage! This is not first year Academy stuff Jack."
"Mimi... listen to yourself... you're grasping for straws. There were de briefings, and he had to get his staff in action. *This* you should know as the CEO of the HORUS."
"Admiral Koneki expects nothing less." she repiled hotly.
"I'm sure Charles can afford David a few moments to gather his thoughts."
"Now who's grasping for straws" she replied dryly.
"Come with me Commander. We're done here."
"No we aren't..." and Foley glared at her and she stormed off. As they waited for the lift she shook her head.
"I'm going to find you David...and when I do you're gonna wish you found me first!" she hissed as Foley stifled a chuckle. The doors closed and a split second later, the hatch to Jefferies tube 21 epislon opened and David came out of it and sighed.
"Dodged that bullet" the CEO said to himself. But Lea did touch a nerve. He remembered his counselign sessions with the ANUBIS' former CNS, but he was back on Starbase 555. He believed he needed to talk to someone. And who better esle that his somewhat personal counselor. David entered his quarters and triple tapped his badge.
"Computer... locate Commander Rikar."
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Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"A Starfleet officer...that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be."
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation
Spacestation Deep Space 9
2005 post #048
