"Homework"
(Previous post: Serena's 'Operational Changes')
===============================================
Stardate: 60314.0500
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Dawson's Quarters
Sleep once again escaped the former chief engineer of
the USS ANUBIS as he sat, contemplated, ran back and
forth through his mind the assignment Ensign Mei gave
him... to express his feelings in words. It was a
helluva lot easier just to convey them verbally, but
oh no... one task after another.
"Well... I guess this is as good as its gonna get"
David grumbled, stroking his now haggard beard... which
he decided needed to go. After showering and shaving,
he stood before his closet and looked at his clothes.
It felt funny putting a uniform on... and not being
able to perform his duties... so he elected to dress the
part he's supposed to play on TANGIER'S ORBITAL. He
looked into his full length mirror.
"Different..." he said as he placed the vocal
enhancement chip in his mouth under his tongue making
his voice even deeper than it was. He picked up his
padd and sat at his desk and re read what he composed.
Why I Am Mad... he glanced at the title and went
deeper in. It was mostly obvious... he didn't have his
job, but Susan instructed him to go deeper than just
'I don't have my job anymore'... so he listed the
reasons why.
First, Captain James Simmons... commanding officer of
the Federation starship ANUBIS... his friend, mentor
since they both were engineers at a time... a man he
greatly respected... basically took his only reason
for being on this tub away. David shook his head. Its
amazing... the tasks he's asked to perform and the
miracles *this* man asks of him... and he simply looked
the other way. Sure... the security feeds showed David
attacking his captain, but he has no memory of it. So
how could he blame him for actions he has no
recollection of? But then again... this isn't the first
time James had to remove David from active duty due to
his temper and/or actions stemming from that. But
still, in the end to him, the end didn't justify the
means.
Next up... Lieutenant Serenna, Operations chief and
second officer of the ANUBIS. The *only* woman on the
entire ship that has known David longer and knows what
he's capable of... as a engineer and a Starfleet
officer. His former Academy classmate, David has mutual
respect for the Romulan/Terran hybrid. A woman who's
as complex as where they find themselves now... which
David admired. Here's someone of dual heritage, one
friend, one foe... and it amazes him how easily Serrena
bridges the gap of her duality on a daily basis. How
she can simply 'turn it on or off' as one of their
classmates noted about her... but then again, he never
expected to be stabbed in the back by her. And to find
out that it was her who suggested to James that he be
removed from active duty.
"'As your friend'" David rumped as he thought back
to the explanation she tried to hand him when he found
out that he was being benched again. David was certain
that Serenna would understand where he was coming
from. All the talks they had in the past, the help she
had given him with meditative therapies to curb his
fiery temper... only in the end to slap him in the
face.
"I'd rather her just shot me and get it over with"
David growled as his grip on his Ratkijino mug
tightened... but he quickly released it remembering the
last time he started to put the grips on a mug of the
hot brew.
There were others he was pissed at... Lieutenant T'Reni
his former assistant and now CEO of the ANUBIS,
Lieutenant Ken Yates, the warp power specialist and
now aCEO.
Bobby... Rhonda... Jeremy... Staci... basically the
entire engineering department because not one of them
fought to keep him in his rightful position or even
pleaded to the captain... but he saved the best for
last.
Commander Sabrina Rikar.
David stood and paced. This was the one the perplexed
him the most. How... of *all* people in the universe
could she turn her back on him?
"Me dammit!" David said as he looked at the holoimage
of Sabrina and himself in happier times. All that they
had been through. He sat and slouched and closed his
eyes...
==================
David paced and made sure everything was perfect. The
wine was chilled, and dinner was almost ready. He lit
the candles as his chime bleeped.
"Come" he said as the doors opened and his jaw hit the
floor. There she stood... dressed in a pinkish peach
sun dress that matched the color of her lips, sandals
to match and polish on her toes the same color as her
dress.
"Well... at least we know that you are color
coordinated Commander." he said with a smile as
Samantha grinned.
"Thank you Lieutenant" Lieutenant Commander Samantha
Rikar replied, "the troubles I go through to make a
good impression."
"You make that easy" the CEO of the AVALON replied as
he escorted her to her seat.
"It smells wonderful in here. What are we having?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you" he replied with
a grin and went off to his makeshift kitchen and
brought back a platter and sat before her and lifted
the domed top.
"David... you remembered" she said as she looked at the
plate. Rock lobster tail, grilled to perfection,
scallions, a baked potato and a mixed green Bajoran
salad.
"And for dessert" he said lifting the dome off the
smaller platter, Samantha giggled.
"You better make sure you eat *everything* on your
plate" she said with a wicked grin.
"And why's that?" he asked sitting across from her. Her
answer was simple and it came just as quick as she
traced his leg with her foot up to his knee.
"You're gonna need the energy for later..." she said
wiggling her eyebrows.
"Well..." he said cutting a large chunk out of the
steak he'd prepared for himself...
======================
"Dammit" David said as his fist thudded his desk. He
really hated long term memories. He stood and paced
again as he thought more about Sabrina. For the life
of him he couldn't understand why. Her! Of all people!
She no longer trusted him. She didn't feel safe around
him. He paced faster and faster repeating those
statements and he stopped... and sighed.
"Guess actions speak louder than words" he mumbled
thinking back to some of the exploits she had to save
his ass from. But that was foreshadowed when she tried
to kill him. The reason that half his heart was now a
BORG implant and he had trillions upon trillions of
miniature robots, or nanites swimming in his blood.
**But it wasn't her fault** his mind reminded him,
**everyone was in that confused dream state for days.
But in all, remembered who stayed by your side during
the duration of your recovery**
"Yeah... only to find out that 7 months later she's
married and has a child. And she totally turned her
back on me then..."
David felt his blood pressure rise. He massaged his
temples and slowly sat on the couch in his greeting
area. He couldn't fault Sabrina for her past. The only
thing he could fault her for was not being in his life
anymore the way he wanted her to be. She was the
*only* woman he'd ever loved. He spent a many day day
dreaming and thinking about the life they would have
and that he'd finally would be able to advance his
family's name and his bloodline... but that would never
happen. Then he thought back to the other day when
they bumped into each other...
==Flashback....excerpt from Sabrina's 'Friction'==
"Hi David... finished another session?" The former Cns
inquired, knowing that starting a conversation with a
question was normally the best way to break
the ice. Unfortunately the glare that the imposing
man shot in the direction of the redheaded woman
clearly indicated that it would take far
more than a simple question to break down the wall
that had materialized the moment the CEO had seen the
ExO. David still held Sabrina dear in his
heart, but he could not so easily forget or forgive
the decision that she had supported to see him removed
from official duty as the ship's CEO.
"Checking up on me *Commander*? Are you or James
worried that I won't follow *your* instructions. Bet
you would like nothing more than to see me drummed
out and court marshaled." David snapped.
"David? That is completely unfair and uncalled for.
*We*, as your friends, did what we had to… not
because we wanted to, but because it was the only
way available to us to insure that your career be
saved. Remember, you attacked James and for that he
could have easily had you locked up in the
brig until the end of time."
David's eyes narrowed, "And like I have been
saying... I don't remember ever laying a hand on
James." The imposing engineer growled, forcing himself to
regain control of his emotions, an action which
actually took Sabrina by surprise and which
proved that despite everything else that had happened,
David was making a genuine effort to see this through
and end in a positive way for him.
"I know David..." Sabrina said as she took a step
closer to him and he stepped back.
"If you will excuse me Commander... It's late and I
have a lot of work to do in regards to my becoming
comfortable with my cover identity." The CEO
offered before he turned around and left without
giving the ExO a second glance.
==end excerpt==
David sighed. He really stepped into it that time. She
was only concerned for him and his well being and he
acted like a complete ass. He stood and spoke into the
air.
"Computer, locate Commander Rikar."
====================================
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" 2005 post #132
Stardate: 59021.1815 (Almost two years ago)
Setting: USS AVALON, David's quarters
Stardate: 60314.0530
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Dawson's Quarters
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
- taken from Satires of Juvenal.
