"To The Point"
(Previous Post, "The Morning After")
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Stardate: 60299.0825
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section D, Level 5, Primary umbilical connection to the USS ANUBIS
David stepped onto the base and causally made his way to the engineering department. He received odd looks from the other base members and staff. He smiled and kept onward to his destination.
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Stardate: 60299.0830
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section E, level 4, Main
Engineering Control Center, Commander Foley's Office
David walked into the officer of Commander Jack Foley, NAs chief engineer and was greeted with a smile.
"Lieutenant Dawson... right on time."
"Morning Commander" David replied as Lieutenant Commander Mercedes Vasquez entered.
"I sent taylor and Lewis after..." she stopped when she saw him, "and they reported to me that he dismissed them."
Foley's eyes went from his assistant and the CEO of the SCARAB to David. "David... did you dismiss the security detail?"
"I sure as hell did" David replied, "and if you want to know why" he said glancing in Mimi's direction then back to Foley, "I was eating breakfast and I don't need no one over my shoulder or bird dogging me."
"That's not why they were there..." Foley said.
"Then why?" David replied.
"To make sure you'd showed up" Vasquez replied dryly, "it did take us all day just to get you here yesterday."
"And you say that as if its *my* fault when you knew that I was busy on the ANUBIS."
"More like hiding." he said icyly.
"Well... excuse me if I'm a working engineer... not one who kissed ass to become one."
"YOU SELF CENTERED SON OF A..." she bellowed.
"Dammit!" Foley exclaimed slamming his hand down on his desk, "that's enough! Out of both of you!" he said standing, "now... what ever personal agenda you two have are over. I'm not going to listen to you tow pick and bitch back and forth every time the ANUBIS comes back to port."
Vasquez looked at the base CEO like he slapped her.
"Yes Mercedes. Up until 2 weeks ago, we didn't have this problem. Everything with you was ok. Then the ANUBIS comes home, along with David and the rest of her crew and you completely flip."
David's mind wandered...
=======================
Setting: Dreamscape
David glanced around. He was still on NEW ALEXANDRIA... but where.
"Hello?" the CEO said and heard his voice echo.
He looked around.
"Computer... where am I?"
=/\= Section E, Level 7 =/\=
"How..." David thought, "I was just in Commander Fol..." his voice trailed off as he sae someone enter repair bay 1.
David quickly followed and saw the person round the rear end of a shuttle. David picked up his pace to the front side, turned...
...and nothing.
"What the hell?" he said outloud and felt a hand on his shoulder. He quickly turned
"Pop?!" he exclaimed
**Hello son. Its good to see you again.**
"What are you doing here?" the CEO asked.
**Things sure have changed since I was last here** Captain David Dawson said, **but I'm glad that you're here. Just be careful son.**
"Careful?" David said, "Pop... you're not making any sense."
**Remember what I told you about time son... make sure yours here is worth it. Now... mine is up...** he said with a smile and started to disappear.
"No... NO!!" David exclaimed.
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Stardate: 60299.0843
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section E, level 4, Main
Engineering Control Center, Commander Foley's Office
"No? Did I hear you right?" Vasquez said, "you see my point Commander. Defiant to the end and I'm not talking about the ship."
David blinked and looked around. He tried to get a grip on what happened. One minute, he's arguing with Mimi, then next he's talking to his father 3 decks up. "How in the hell..."
"David?... David... are you alright?" Foley asked.
"I was..." and he looked around, "I'm fine sir."
"Youn sure?" he replied, "I'll ask again. Why are you out of uniform?"
David looked down at himself. "How am I out of uniform?"
"Um... engineering department's blue now. Now the old mustard anymore." Vasquez said.
"I like the old mustard. Blue is not my color." the CEO replied
"OK... OK" Foley said before Vasquez could start on another one of her tirades, "mustard's fine. At least he'll be easier to find now ifd he plans on playing hide and seek from me again" Foley said, "and I'm not too particular on the color change either. Doesn't do a thing for my eyes."
"I agree" David said.
"Remind me to tell Susan no more home made pecan pies for you Lieutenant."
"You did teach me that a engineer has to be true to his word just like he's true to his craft. It *doesn't* do a thing for your eyes." David said.
"Touche'" Foley said, "now Mr. Dawson, your assignment for today. I need you to work with Lieutenant Fairborn. The new drones we're distrubiting across the base needs a once over..."
"Commander... did you ever get my report on the drones that nearly destroyed the ANUBIS? I hope that these aren't the same ones..."
"*If* you were to read up on the specs, you'll see that the old drones have been eliminated." Vasquez said with a scowl.
"Gee... maybe I'll get around to it *after* I keep my ship in one picec... since it was half your brainchild to create that piece of crap ship in the first place."
"Hey... is that a insult?" Foley asked.
"Take it as you get it Commander. No disrespect, but *everyone* knows what I think of the SCARAB class line."
"Well... that's neither here nor there" Foley said with finality... seeing Vasquez getting ready to go off again, "anyway... after you and Elan give the drones the once over, report your findings to Commander Vasquez."
"And *now* the bird dogging begins Lieutenant" Vaqsuez said.
David sighed. "Commander... how long..."
"A couple hours...half a day tops Lieutenant and you'll be back to your repiars on the ANUBIS." Foley said.
"Aye sir" and he turned to leave.
"One more thing, "Vasquez said, "I want on the hour reposts on your progress... after that, I'll need you to accompany me to the SCARAB for..."
David grabbed the Pureto Rican engineer and kissed her. He felt her melt in his arms and when he let her go she almost hit the deck. But she felt that the kiss was cold.
"What... what the hell was that for? Why'd you kiss me?" she asked.
"For the desired effect I was seeking." David said as he headed for the exit.
"And that was?" she implied.
"It shut you up didn't it?" he said, "I'll be on level 7 Commander."
Foley burst into laughter as Vasquez scowled.
"You find this funny?!" she said looking to her superior.
"Maybe I need to keep David around. That's the most quiet I've see you been since he first arrived." the CEO of NEW ALEXANDRIA said heading out of his office.
"Damn you David" Vasquez said, "this is *far* from over."
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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." 2005 post #061
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
