"When One Feels Alone"
(Previous post: Jessica and Tallulah's 'Dangerous Stuff')
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Stardate: 60313.1200
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Engineering Deck, Section 3-A
"For the umpteenth million time, no... if you try to bypass the lateral arrays you're gonna fry the ablative armour generator" David huffed, "and leave the HORUS *completely* vulnerable for all to see."
"Who's gonna see us?" Lieutenant James Saunders, the HORUS' aCEO said, "space dust? Besides David... there's not a living soul around for *four* parsecs! It'll be a cake walk."
"And your captain is gonna have your ass when you can't get the generators back online for the trip home." the former CEO of the ANUBIS said.
"He does have a point Jimmy" Lieutenant Commander Mercedes Vasquez said, "we want to remain incognito."
"This will be the perfect time to test this theory! Jeez... are both of you scared?"
"Hey... like I said, its your ass... and its not my ship."
"Well... at least we *have* one" Saunders said eyeing the massive engineer and gesturing to himself and Commander Vasquez.
"That's enough Lieutenant" Vasquez said and she looked to David who shrugged.
**At least he took it well... but he did always have this thing with burying what he was feeling and blowing up about it later** she said to herself. She was going to ask him how he felt but when she looked again, David was gone.
"Damn you Jimmy... sometimes you don't know when to keep your damned mouth shut."
"I like shutting his high and mighty ass up every now and again" Saunders said, "mister 'I'm so perfect' with a 99 percent rating on his last inspection. Just once, I'd like to..."
"Lieutenant... return to the HORUS." the CEO of the HORUS said.
"But Commander..."
"Dismissed" she snapped and her thoughts returned to David.
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Stardate: 60313.1210
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Corridor leading to the Cafeteria
"Well... that went over well... that's two less times from yesterday that I've been reminded I no longer have a job" David huffed as the lift came to a stop and he stepped off. He had been having a few good days. His sessions have been going well... as far as Susan has told him. But it seems that the rest of the crew has kept their distance from the engineer. Maybe he really had done it. Laughter and giggling brought him from his thoughts as he saw Serrena, Maya, Susan, Prav, Talia, and Lea. He approached their table.
"Looks like you guys are having way too much fun."
"David" Maya said, the first to see the imposing engineer, "pull up a chair."
David's eyes immediately met Talia's... and he saw what he always saw... hate.
"Maybe some other time." he said as Talia leaned closer to Serrena.
"Make him leave... now!" the little girl hissed as Serrena shook her head.
"David is our friend Talia... and a real good friend of your Mommy."
"My mommy said he's not to be trusted." she growled as she pushed her bowl of ice cream away.
**No respect... even from a four year old** David thought.
"Well... sorry to interrupt" the CEO said and turned to walk away.
"Talia" Maya said, "that wasn't very nice. David is a very nice man."
The daughter of the ANUBIS' ILO and ExO rolled her eyes as Prav wiped the ice cream off his trousers with a linen.
"Maybe I should go talk to him" the Enarian marine commander said.
"NO" Lea said a little hurriedly, "I'll go" and she got to her feet, "David... wait" she said as she chased down the massive engineer.
"Geez" she said after catching him, "you *really* need to learn to take smaller steps. Easy on us little folk to catch..." and she could see the dispair on is face, "David... is everything OK?"
He stopped and looked at her, "Is everything OK? Is everything OK?! Oh yeah" he said and walked off and she followed, "everything is perfect. I have a 4 year old who says I'm not to be trusted... I wonder where she heard that from?!"
It didn't take a warp physicist to figure out who David was talking about.
"David... she's only being a mother..."
"Mother?!" David said, "*this* I know Lea...but to tell her I *can't* be trusted..." and he stopped. They had been walking for a while and ended us at the umbilical to the ANUBIS
"I give up..." the CEO said, "no one feels safe around me... I have security officers and marines following me wherever I go, having to sit in on those dreadful ass sessions... and not having my job..." as he stormed off through the link from the base to the ANUBIS.
"David... listen to yourself..." Lea said, "I never pictured you as a whiner."
Davis stopped dead in his tracks as Lea burst into laughter from the look on his face.
"What's so damned funny?!" he demanded.
"Priceless... the look on your face..." and she saw his face tighten into a deeper frown.
"Aww... you look so cute" and her eyes met those golden hazel eyes of his.
**Damn you David Dawson** Lea said to herself as her smile widened, "I'm sorry... I couldn't resist."
"Go ahead" David huffed, "might as well tread all over me... everyone else is."
"Oh stop" the aCMO said, "listen to you, you big baby. Come on... let's go for a walk."
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Stardate: 60313.1250
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Holodeck 1
The moon was full as it rose over San Fransisco bay as David and Lea walked along the beach.
"Now... isn't this better?" the aCMO asked.
David didn't say much... but he kept looking over his shoulder.
"Expecting someone?" Lea asked.
"No" the CEO said, "just that... oh, nevermind."
"No" Lea said stepping in front of the CEO, "talk to me. What's got you so jumpy?"
"I don't do jumpy" David said stepping around her as she quickly cut him off.
"Oh no you don't... David" and she took his hand in both of hers, "talk to me."
David sighed, "Its this.... not knowing... I don't know from day to day if I even deserve to wear this uniform anymore."
"How can you say that?" Lea asked, "you're a seasoned officer..."
"Who has no job" David added.
"You're well liked and respected by the crew" Lea picked off on her fingers.
"Who's scared of me" David smirked.
"*Must* you be so negative?" Lea asked, "you're still here. Your friends are her to support you... but mostly, so am I." she said with a light smile.
David turned and approached a small dune and sat. Lea approached and sat next to him.
"Its just hard Lea" David said above a whisper, "when the three people you served with... call friends even... basically... hang you out to dry."
"Now..in there defense, wouldn't you do the same as they have if you were attacked."
David cut a glare at her that could have cut a hole throught the ANUBIS through its ablative armour. "*That's* not fair."
"But its the truth" Lea countered, "and you have to accept it."
"How can I?!" David exclaimed, "when I don't remember. And I'm reminded on a daily basis that I can't go here... I can't go there. At least you have free roam of the ship. Me? I got shadows everywhere I go."
"Give them time David... they just want to make sure..." she tried to say before he cut her off.
"Yeah... when I'm set to retire."
Lea sighed, "You are making this out to be something its not."
David looked at her, "Ok Doctor Summers, what's your diagnosis?"
"Look at what you've accomplished" the aCMO said, "you're the chief engineer of a ultra secret ship..."
David was about to open his mouth as Lea steamrolled.
"As I said before, you're seasoned, well known and respected. What more can you ask for?"
"My job back?" he said as she leaned on his arm.
"Then show them that the David Dawson that they know is still here... not what they saw in the infirmary."
The air was sweet and salty as the gentle breeze whipsed sand along the shore as the moon rose higher and higher.
"Have you been perusing through my holodeck file?" the CEO asked.
"No... I just like being here when I was at the Academy... just that it happens that you're from here as well makes it just that much more special." as Lea's comm badge bleeped.
=/\= Simmons to ANUBIS senior staff... come to my ready room please. Simmons out. =/\=
Lea got to her feet and brushed the sand off her pants.
"You coming?" she asked.
"Why? I'm no longer the CEO... that kinda moves me off the senior staff."
"Oh come on" she said grabbing his hand, "I'm pretty sure that the captain and ExO could use your input."
Lea started off down the beach as David looked around again. This felt strange... not the fact that where he was he could look further up the beach and see his home back on Earth... but something about this...
"Its like... I've seen this before... been here recently... but how?" he asked himself as Lea shouted from down the beach.
"Hurry up or we'll be late!" she shouted as he started off after her.
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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 #111
