"Command Decision"
(Previous Post: Serena's 'Operational Refusal')
===================================
Stardate: 60313.1400
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
After her conversation with Commander Rikar,
Lieutenant Serrena returned to her station and looked
over the board. The ANUBIS was still attached to the
dock inside the secret intelligence base and
everything appeared well... then her mind drifted back
to the meeting. She kept a close eye on David but he
seemed somewhat miffed as to Captain Simmons telling
the CEO that his services were still *not* required.
She was generally concerned about David and what this
might do to him.
"Computer, locate Lieutenant Dawson." the COO said.
=/\= Lieutenant Dawson is in Holodeck One. =/\=
Serrena turned to Sabrina.
"Commander, may I be excused?"
Sabrina looked up from her padd. "Something wrong?"
"No... just that I... need to check on something."
"Should you have said 'someone'?" Sabrina added with a
grin.
"I just want to make sure that he doesn't have a
relaspe Commander. From the reports I've read, he's
been doing better... but since James told him that he's
still... benched for a better word..."
"Say no more. Would you like me to have Ensign Brady
meet you down there?"
Serrena's brow crept up her forehead and Sabrina
laughed.
"I couldn't resist. Dismissed Lieutenant."
=====================================
"And for another thing"... left jab, right jab, strong
arm uppercut, "he *still* leaves me on the god damned
shelf!" David roared as he straight on nailed the
heavy bag.
"Well... probably it was for th best, eh" Vinnie said,
"youse have been a real pain in the ass lately."
David glared at him. "Look who's talking" as he went
to the suspended bag. His timing was off because the
more he tried to concentrate, the more angry he became
because he was being asked to take part in the
mission... just not what he or where he wanted to be.
"Concentrate!" Micky barked, "youse is hitting that
bag worse than mah mudder."
David worked himself into a good rhythm letting the
balls of his fists slightly make contact and let the
bag banging off the circular pedistal do the rest. As
he continued with his workout, he never heard Serrena
enter.
"Nice... violence you need to stay away from and here
you are... in a boxing gym."
David never looked her direction or said a word. Micky
looked up from taping Vinnie's hands.
"Hay... David... youse knows tha' rules... no dames in
the gym."
"Dames?" Serrena said as David's concentration was
broken.
"Dammit!" he barked and looked at the COO. "A woman
Serrena... meaning you."
"I suspected that" the COO replied, "just that I've
never been called a dame before."
"David... I'm warning youse..." Micky said.
"Keep ya shirt on ol'man... she's a friend." and he
looked at her, "at least I thought she was."
"And just exactly is *that* supposed to mean?" Serrena
asked crossing her arms across her chest.
"You're a smart woman Serrena... figure it out..." David
said as he crossed the gym, turned on a lamp behind
him and from Serrena's point of view, danced back and
forth.
Serrena studied David from across the gym and his
footwork was superb for a man of his size. She could
respect his disciplne for keeping himself in
shape... but it was that shape that had most of the
crew worried. David was rock solid... hell... no human
had *ever* dented a door of solid duranium like he did
back on the AVALON. Bu what were the lesser of two
evils here? Keep a eye on his workout regiments? See
what new tricks he had learned or was working on? The
one thing that Serrena didn't like was the fact that
he got the jump on her when he attacked her and the
captain in the infirmary. A mistake she had
made... but would never make again.
"You'e draggin ya left foot... pick up the pace ya big
lummox!" Mickey shouted from across the gym. David
stopped and looked back.
"You're still here?"
"Yes... I first wanted to congradulate on completing
your C.O.T. training."
David smirked. "What the hell's good is it if I'm on
leave? I took it so I could be able to give you,
Sabrina, and the captain a break..."
"*Who* said we needed a break?" Serrena countered,
"you know something David... your problem is that you
think everyone needs you. Yes, you're a intricate part
of this crew, but as you can see... we can get along
fine without you."
David's hazel eyes darkened. "You're pushing it." he
warned.
"What's the problem? Can't accept the truth? You know
something David... you really surprise me with your
ineptibility. A man as smart as yu are can't see past
his on buldging ego."
David's sinews in his arms, back, and chest
tightened.... and he started breathing hard.
"Ah... that's it. You're about to attack me again
aren't you?"
"And get thrown in the brig? Forget it!" David hissed.
"Coward" Serrena added.
David slowly turned. "Serrena... I think its best that
you leave now."
"Or what? You're goning to run and tell Sabrina that
I'm picking on you..."
"Serrena... leave me..."
"*I'M* the second officer of this ship!" the COO
hissed, "I can be wherever I want to be and right now
that's here..."
David wheeled on his heels... and Serrena disappeared.
He looked left... then right.
"She's not that damned fast" David said outloud as
instinct told him to duck, but he lashed out and
caught the incoming medicine ball.
"Holy..." Vinnie said, "that ball weighs 200 big
ones... and she hefted it like it was nothfin'"
David wheeled in the direction and there she was.
"Good. I'm very proud of you."
David slammed the ball on the floor. "You mind telling
me what the hell is wrong with you?!"
"You didn't loose your temper... which is a very good
thing. I wanted to make sure of it."
"Why?" David asked, "so you can go running to Sabrina
and tell her I lost it again?"
"No" Serrena replied, "this mission has the
possibilities of testing your resolve David.
Everyone's for that matter, but *you're* the only
uncontrollable factor here with your out of
control..."
"Tell me something I *don't* know Serrena" David
snapped, "I'm doing everything damned possible and
still people fear me."
"Why?" she asked.
"What the hell do you mean why?! What have I done that
has everyone side stepping me everyehere I go? What
did I do that was so wrong that I have not one, but
*towo* friggin' security officers following me?! I
can't go no where on this ship but main engineering
and even down there, I can't do anything because its a
intricate part of the ship and no one wants me near
anything beause they fear I might snapped and take the
ANUBIS with me."
"Would you?" Serrena asked.
"HELL NO!" David snapped, "as much as I dislike this
floating hunk of prehistoric metal and bolts, I
wouldn't blow her up. Not only would I kill myself,
but everyone else. And why would I do that? After
*all* the damned work I put into repairing the damn
thing after the last mission? I may look like a fool
to you Serrena... but I'm not."
"I never said you were a fool David." she replied.
"*And* for the record, I'm not a coward."
"That remains to be seen" Vinnie said, "you got punked
by a dame."
Serrena turned and faced Vinnie who stood up and
smile.
"Come on sweetheart... make my year."
Serenna slowly walked toward the towering Italian and
stopped just short of the heavy body bag. With a
ferrel yell, she turned and placed a beautifully
executed roundhouse kick on the bag, sending it flying
out the window. David, Micky, and Vinnie looked at the
hole in windowpane...which was no longer there. David
looked at the COO.
"Remember this David... in order to command, you
*first* must command yourself. That all your
fears... all your hate, anger, passion... everything
that makes you you could be the vesy same thing that
destroys you. Once you msater it, then everything else
falls into place. Later on, I'd like to discuss a
possible 'cover' for you. The Black Hole... 1800?"
"OK... I'll be there."
"Then I'll let you get back to your workout." as she
went to pass Vinnie, she grabbed him by the scruff of
his collar, "and if you *ever* call me 'dame' again,
I'll remove your tongue and *feed* it to you."
"Whoa" Micky said, "where'd youse find her David?" as
he watched Serrena walk out, "I could use one of
those."
David shook his head, "Trust me Mick... its best you
left that one alone" the CEO said pointing to the
busted windowpane.
"Um... I think you're right. Alright youse...g et
downstairs and fetch that bag... then after that, I
want 200 big ones."
David looked at him. "It wasn't my fault!"
"Youse right... 300." Micky said.
"Damn you Mick" David grumbled as he headed outside
for the bag.
===================================
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" 2005 post #117
Stardate: 60313.1400
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Holodeck 1
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
