"Diversion"
(Previous Post: Tiffany's 'For The Sake...')
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Stardate: 60309.1100
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Engineering Department, Section 4
"Once again, you simply amaze me with your talents."
Elan said as the robotic arm made the final connection
in installing the mock plasma coil.
David shook his head, "Elan... you do know you're not very forthcoming" the former CEO of the USS ANUBIS said as he placed the tools back in the kit.
"Whatever do you mean?" the big Oltharian said with a smile as David rolled his eyes.
"Its hard for you to be forgiven isn't it my friend?"
David saw a sadness flash across his eyes. "David, again..."
David held up a cautionary finger, "Apologize one more time and we're fighting for sure. For the past week you have apologize more and more."
"Does that bother you?" Elan asked as he and David headed for the storage locker.
"No... well... in a sense no, but it gets boring. Everytime I see you, you feel that you owe me a debt of gratitude when its me that owes you. You saved what could have been a *real* ugly situation."
Just then, Commander Foley and Lieutenant Commander Vasquez turned the corner.
"Just the men I needed to see. Elan, a moment of your time please." Foley said.
"What can I help you with Commander?" Elan said as NEW ALEXANDRIA's CEO led him away as Mimi looked at David.
"So... how are you doing?" she asked.
"As well as can be expected" David replied.
There was a silence between them. "David... look... I wanted..."
"Don't" David said, "it wasn't your fault, I'm fine... don't have my job anymore, but I'm fine."
"I feel partly responsible for pushing you so hard." Mercedes said.
"Well... it wasn't like you held a phaser to my head" and he could see a sadness cross her face as well.
**Maybe I ought to take up counseling** the CEO thought as he placed his hands on Vasquez's shoulders.
"Look Mimi... you know the history we have. Sometimes we're like... star crossed lovers, sometimes we're like matter and anti matter. But that's what makes us us. We argue, but its expecxted because the both of us are too damned stubborn. Always wanting more, always willing to push the envelope a little bit further. Just this time... my heart decided I needed a few days rest." he added with a wink and she hugged him tightly.
"David... where would I be without you" she said.
"Probably still here if I decided not to remain with my friends..." and his commbadge bleeped.
=/\= Allyson to Lieutenant Dawson =/\=
They exchanged glances. "Why would she be calling you?"
"Hell if I know" David replied tapping his badge, "Dawson here."
=/\= Please come to Admiral Koneki's office immediatelty =/\= and the connection was closed.
"Well... when the boss comes callin'..."
"I know... I know." as he started off, she took his hand.
"Dinner... my place... 1900... I'm making Entanadas" she added with a playful eyebrow wiggle.
"Um... I'll get back to you" and he left remembering what happened the last time they had entanadas... which would be such a bad thing... then his thoughts drifted to Lea.
"Get your head in the game" David told himself as he reached the lift pod.
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Stardate: 60309.1135
Setting: Admiral Knoeki's office
As David entered the anteroom, Allyson smiled at him.
"Afternoon Lieutenant."
"Allyson." David said.
"He's waiting" she nodded at the door and David crossed the room and they opened before he got there.
"Come in Lieutenant" and he entered. There was a small table set up near the statue of ANUBIS... with a perfect view of the starship ANUBIS. The flag officer waved him over.
"Have a seat" and David was impressed. He looked at the spread. Steak and southern style smashed potatoes, green salad, and iced tea... along the the biggest dinner rolls you ever saw.
"Damned replicator never does them justice, so I tried it myself. Got the receipe from your mother." he said with a nod, "Well... don't just stand there, sit... eat."
Now... this was odd. Since his arrival, David had always been at odds with the CO of the intel base. He tried to choke him, strangle him, even kill the flag officer... have had several run ins with him... but lunch with the Admiral?
"Admiral... forgive me if I seemed..."
"Suspectful? I wouldn't blame you" Koneki said, "but I thought this would be a good way for us to kind of bury the hatchet. Now sit... I'm hungry."
David sat and tried the potatoes. Not bad as he coughed.
"What" Koneki said as he eyed the CEO.
"Oh... nothing... um... well prepared..."
"But?"
"Too much salt. The idea is to load it with cyanne pepper to mask the salt."
"I'll have to remember that" the flag officer said as they ate and made small talk. Afterwards the Admiral reached into his pocket and placed a small black box in front of the CEO.
"What's this?" David asked.
"Open it and find out" Koneki said.
David opened and found two gold pips on a red field.
"OK... I don't get it."
"I was looking over your final COT training exercise and your final exam, and I wanted to be the first to congradulate you Lieutenant. You passed."
David's brows shot up his head. "Wow... I don't know what to say Admiral..."
And with lightening fast percision, the Admiral produced a small hand phaser and shot the box out of David's hand and it dissolved into dust.
"Not bad for a old man wouldn't you say Lieutenant?"
David glared at the flag officer and felt his blood boiling, but he bit his tongue to control his anger.
"What's the matter?" Koneki asked, "are you pissed? I know I'd be if someone shot something out of my hand."
David folded his arms across his massive chest.
"Oh come David... I know you have something to say... that sometimes smart assed attitude of yours because I've done something you didn't like."
David never moved. "Is there a point to this Admiral?"
Koneki stood and went to a wall unit and replaced the phaser and faced David. "Only this... just as you can earn something around here I can take it away. Now" he nodded over his head to the ANUBIS, "there's a bunch of officers and crew that look up to you over there on that ship. And if there's a officer I'd like to see in command is one that is confident, strong, and sure of himself in his thoughts and actions. There was another man that served under me who had all of those traits. His name? David Dawson."
David watched Koneki paced behind his desk.
"Now... your father had this... edge about him David. Tough as nails hard nosed son of a bitch. Someone I would trust with my life. So I made him my exec..."
"Forgive me for interuptng Admiral, but we do know this story." David said feeling the sinews in his back tighten.
"Yes... we do. But I bring you back to those times to prove a point to you." and he walked around the desk and stood in front of him, "as *long* as you have that nasty temper you'll *never* go any where in *this* organization. Not as long as I'm running the show. Now, as your commanding officer I have to say I was appauled by your actions. You brought shame to your father's name..."
**HOW DARE YOU!** David's mind screamed, **MENTION MY FATHER LIKE THAT YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!**
Koneki stopped talking as David stood there with his eyes closed. His breathing was deep and rhythimic... his mind drifted to a breathing exercise Serrena reminded him of.
**Take your anger, hatred... all you negative feelings and channel them away... push them out of your body through deep breathing. Let every breath cleanse your soul**
And David opened his eyes.
"Well... I'm waiting Lieutenant."
David continued breathing slow and easy before he answered. "Admiral, if you feel that I do not deserve my COT award, then fine. I can accept that. If you're disapponted with my actions of late, I apologize. I do not remember much of what transpired, but I am working on bettering myself. And on a more personal note, I feel I haven't brought shame on my name *or* my father's name because I am my father's son. You may not have ever seen my father loose his temper, but I have. So if anything, I'm remaining true to the name. Now... in saying that, it doesn't go well with interaction with my fellow officers and crew and my friends. Even with your staff here. So do as you wish Admiral..." and David leaned forward to go eye to eye with the flag officer, "but know this sir... I know what you're trying to do..." and he stood up.
Koneki nodded. "Very well..." and he reached into his pocket and handed him another black box. David opened it to see it was just like the one before.
"But" Koneki said, "we'll await your final report from Ensign Mei, Captain Simmons, Commander Rikar, and Lieutenant Serrena before I decide to make this official..." Koneki sat and looked up.
"On a more personal note David, you have all the potential in the world to make it as far as you want. Hell, maybe even one day you might find yourself sitting in this very chair, on this very base, wearing these" he said pointing to his pips, "but until you contain the beast within..."
David nodded. "Understood sir..." and his badge bleeped again.
=/\= Mei to Lieutenant Dawson =/\=
David pulled his pocketwatch from his vest pocket. "Dammit, excuse me sir... I'm late" and he tapped his badge, "Sorry Susan... I had a meeting with Admiral Koneki. I'm on my way, out."
"David" Koneki said as he turned and the CEO looked back.
"I do have faith in you son" and he nodded. "On your way" and David left. When the doors closed, Doctor Wallin came out of a secret enterenceway.
"Are you sure that's going to work Admiral?"
"I need to know... and what better way than to bring him out slowly. We aren't shooting for now, but when its all said and done, he'll wear those pips and when he does...."
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Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" 2005 post #101
