"Mind Games And Other Headaches"
[Previous post: 'Operational Games', written by the deviously talented Serena Switt]
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Stardate: 60313.1110
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Lea sat on the corner of the main biobed looking a little depressed. Serenna probably didn't mean to, but what she had said had pretty much torpedoed the Assistant CMO's good humour. From the very beginning Lea had hoped that she would be assigned to the ANUBIS's medical department. She wasn't certain why, but the ship felt like home and Lea had worked hard to prove herself worthy.
"I have been working all morning," Susan said stepping into Sickbay. "Want to go get a bite to eat together?" The Cns's search of the large room brought Mei to where Lea had been sitting. "What's wrong?"
Lea forced a shaky smile to appear on her face. "Nothing," she said avoiding making eye contact, "I was just thinking too much."
"Lucky for you I am an expert in 'thinking too much'," Susan replied sitting on the bed next to Lea. "So tell me what is on your mind."
Normally Lea would not have said anything. Her experience inside the Dominion had taught to keep to herself. But that had been in a different place and different time. The old Lea would have probably snapped at the Cns for trying to intrude in her personal space. Being defensive about anything dealing directly with her had been a natural defence mechanism. The more docile and compliant Lea though felt no need to hold any information back; especially not to someone she considered to be a friend.
"It's a long story," Lea said prompting Susan to place her arm around the Assistant CMO's shoulders.
"Those are usually the best kind," Susan said with a grin.
"You came to the ANUBIS knowing that you had been assigned as its Cns," Lea began. "I was rescued from a horrible fate and kind of just took over the position. The CMO needed help and I was more than willing to lend a hand."
"So what's the problem?" Susan asked, knowing that the question would serve to have Lea talk more about what had been bothering her.
"I was never *assigned* to the position of Assistant CMO, at least not officially," Lea explained. "I thought that I could prove myself though my work and dedication."
"From what I have heard other say and what I have seen, I would say that you did just that," the Cns said. It was clear that something was troubling Lea but Susan could not figure out what at this point in their conversation.
"I thought I did," Lea continued. "I also thought that having Cpt. Simmons request that I be there at the senior staff meeting meant that I was in for sure."
"So what is making you believe otherwise now?" Susan asked.
"Something that Serenna said. Dr. Nguma is not going to be there at the meeting, so it is my job to report on this department's status."
"So you think that you have been asked to be there only to give a status report instead of as an official member of the senior staff? I think you need to have more confidence in your own skills and value," Susan said jumping off the bed and standing directly in front of Lea. "I am sure that the CO and ExO are aware of all that you have done. Your name even shows up on my official report about Lt. Dawson."
"My name, why?" Lea asked, worried that she had done something wrong.
"Because I think that your presence onboard the ANUBIS is appreciated by many people, not only Lt. Dawson," Susan said while pulling Lea off the bed and onto her feet. "Come, I haven't had breakfast and there are a few things that I want to talk to you about."
"Talk to me? About what?"
"About this new mission. I want to know what you think it will be about. I am still new to all this cloak and dagger stuff and I want to hear what you think we will be heading into."
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Stardate: 60313.1130
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Cafeteria
Serenna and Talia arrived to find Lea and Susan sitting at a table laughing. The loudness of their hilarity immediately drew the hybrid's attention to them. "You two sound like you are having fun," Serenna said to the grinning pair.
"We were just trying to figure out what our next mission would entail," Susan replied while looking at the little girl hiding behind the leg of the Ops officer.
"Right now the debate is between us being sent into Ferengi space to research some questionable deal or being asked to infiltrate a Cardassian outpost," Lea explained in more detail, unaware of Talia's presence.
"I don't see what's so funny about either scenario," Serenna pointed out looking a little disturbed that the two women had found something amusing in these rather dark missions.
"We were just trying to imagine what some members of the crew would look like as Ferengi or Cardassian," Susan said while trying to coax the little girl out of hiding.
"The moment I pictured David with big Ferengi ears I was unable to hold myself," Lea added.
Serenna grinned as she pictured the large engineer dressed as a Ferengi trader with the lobes to match. The oversized ears made the image a memorable one that would be imprinted in the Ops officer's mind for a while. "I think that you two *dressed* as Ferengi females might prove to be more amusing to the male contingency of the crew though." The laughter came to an abrupt stop as Susan and Lea realised the folly of their little fun.
"Okay," Susan nodded. "Let's hope that we don't have to do the Ferengi thing. On another subject, who is that adorable child?"
"This is Talia," Serenna said sitting the little girl into a vacant chair. "She is Lt. Cmdr. Enaii's daughter and Cmdr. Rikar's adoptive daughter. I have offered to take care of her for a little while so that our ExO could complete her work before the meeting."
"The more the merrier," Lea said with a bright smile. "We haven't ordered yet, but now that we have you here with us, how about we throw caution to the wind?"
"What did you have in mind?" Susan asked, a playful smirk forming in the corner of her mouth.
"Andorian chocolate fudge ice cream with sparkles," Lea said sending a wink towards the ILO's daughter.
"Make it a double scoop with mint sparkles and I'm in," Susan said bouncing up and down on her chair.
"Guess it all depends on Serenna," the Assistant CMO said shooting a playful glare at the standing hybrid. "She is our superior and in charge of our guest of honour."
The Ops officer sighed. She had promised Sabrina that she would take care of Talia. Although this did not fit in what she had planned, the Ops officer could not see the harm in indulging. "Waiter, 4 double scoops of Andorian chocolate fudge with mint sparkles."
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Tiffany Rose {lady_tiffany_rose@mail.com}
Ensign Lea Summers 2005 post #108
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS ANUBIS
