"And Away We Go"
(Previous post: Tallulah's 'Alone...')
====================================
Stardate: 60319.1800
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Main Engineering Upper Deck
David sat in one of the alcoves working on the dermal
communicators he was asked to create before they
embarked on the mission to the TANGIER'S ORBITIAL.
After several hours of work he headed for Sickbay
=======================
"David... its good to see you" the newly promoted CMO
said as he brushed by her headed for a biobed.
"Here" he handed her a chip that was no bigger than a pip.
"What is this?" Lea asked.
"The communicators the captain asked me to make. I've
field tested them as much as I can so let's get it
in..."
"Wait... wait a minute. Shouldn't we..."
"No" David said.
Lea smiled. "I'm the CMO... I say we wait for the
captain..." and like that Captain James Simmons
appeared as his Andorian self.
"I think these antennae are a pain" James said.
"I think they make you look cute Captain." the CMO
said.
"Flattery will get you *everywhere* Doctor" James
replied as David rolled his eyes.
"Could we *please* get on with this?!" the former CEO
snapped as the captain looked at him.
"Anxious about someth..." and he cut him off.
"The communicators that you asked me to make are
ready, but we need a live test..."
"Well... since I'm here, I'll go first..."
"No" David said, "My creation, I go first... besides... I'm the expendable officer if something goes wrong" he said lying down on the biobed. Lea winced at the comment as James sighed.
"Very well... I'll wait"
"David..." Lea interjected, "where am I..." she
started to ask as David thrusted a padd in her
direction without opening his eyes.
"Its all there" he said.
Lea and James scanned the padd.
"Looks simple enough. Right behind the right ear." the
CMO said.
"Pretty cut and dry" the captain replied as Lea
giggled.
"A CO with a sense of humor. I like that" the CMO said
as David lifted his head.
"*Before* I'm 100 Lea" David said dryly as the CMO
sighed.
20 minutes later it was installed and another 20
minutes after that, the captain's was installed.
"So Lieutenant... give me the rundown."
"Simple" David replied, "run your finger along the
ridge of your ear..." and David waited for him to do
so. Once he did, David crossed the room and rounded
the corner.
=/\= Can you hear me Captain? =/\= David said over the
link.
"Loud and clear Lieutenant" he said as Lea looked
around. She could see David, but his lips barely
moved.
"How..." Lea said as David ran his finger over the
ridge of his ear.
"Slight of eye" he said, "once the comm is activated
you can speak with your mouth closed and no one will
be the wiser. The only one that'll hear you is the one
you contacted. But there is a downside to this."
"And that is?" James asked.
"It has a limited range. No more than a hundred fifty
meters. I wanted to piggyback it off our regular comm
badges for a broader range..."
"A good thing you didn't." James replied, "I only want
the comm badges used as a means to locate if any of us
are in danger... not that I'm expecting any."
"Expectations *can* happen" David replied tersely
crossing his arms... a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Well... let's get the senior staff down here and get
then up to speed. I want a debrief by the both of you
afterward. Doctor, get one of your nurses to install
yours before the rest of the staff. I'm headed for the
bridge."
He nodded to both officers and once they were alone,
Lea hugged David.
"I wanted you to know I'm here for you and I'm
sorry..." but David stepped away from her.
"Sorry isn't going to change anything." David said as
he placed the rest of the dermal communicators on a
tray.
"I'm going to take a nap. Call me once you're done" he
said and exited.
=======================================
The senior staff was gathered around the table... minus
the former CEO. James wanted to talk to them before he
was summoned.
"Briefly I wanted to catch everyone up to speed on a
potential situation we might have."
"What's that Captain?" Rixx... or to the rest of the
Pravat asked.
"It's David. For those who don't know, a week or so
ago, his brother was found in a escape pod by his
cousin. By the time he was found, it was too late."
"No wonder he's been in a sour mood" Pravat replied.
"For one I don't blame him" Serrena said.
"Agreed" James said moving on, "and I want all of us
to keep a eye on him during this mission. This goes
without saying, but keeping your own covers
safe... just let's make sure that he doesn't fall back
on his old devices."
"Far be it for me to be a spoil sport, but if he's
*that* much of a danger to this mission, I say leave
him behind." Lieutenant Commander Enaii said as she
swiveled her chair to face the captain.
"Being alone is the *last* thing he needs" Sabrina
countered, "with all that has happened to him..."
"We *must* concern ourselves with the safety of the
away team. Not some loose cannon." the ILO hissed.
"A loose cannon that has always been there for us
every time on our away missions." Maya reminded her,
"Captain, if I may, I'd like to volunteer to keep an
eye on him."
"I wouldn't suggest it Maya" Nieme Sol said across the
table, other wise known as Ensign Susan Mei, "if you
haven't heard it was rogue Cardassians that attacked
his brother's ship."
"Exactly the reason he should be left behind!" Enaii
said.
"Susan" James said, "has he shown *any* positive
progress?"
"From his last two sessions he'd had with me he has.
I've tried to steer clear about him talking about his
brother's death, but its been him to talk about it.
And Captain, this is as open as you can get... and
David has been a hard nut to crack."
James drummed his fingers on the table. The new
Andorian captain sat forward.
"He goes. As I told him earlier, I'm not expecting any
trouble, but his skills might come in handy." and he
looked to his executive officer, "let's get him in
here."
===================================
Kreddar Brell strode casually through the promanade
occasionally glancing around. He was taking in the
sights and sounds as many of the people there moved
out of his way. Once again Kreddar, or David thought
to himself, he was the largest individual there and
he liked it that way.
**So far so good** as he made his way to the guest
center.
"Good afternoon sir. Checking in?"
David tapped the device under his tongue to make his
voice deeper. "Kreedar Brell" was all he said as the
blonde smiled.
"Yes Mr. Brell. We have you listed here. I can have
a..."
"Point me in the direction and I'll find it. Also,
make it noted I *do not* wish to be disturbed."
The look on his face said it all. She nodded.
"Understood sir" she said handing him a chip and he
walked off.
"Oh my God" she sighed, "he was scary" she said to the
Bajoran woman working next to her.
"I say... but that voice... and that body... he is..."
and they both giggled.
====================================
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
"A Starfleet officer...that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #159
Stardate: 60319.1830
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 60319.2100
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Obs Lounge
Stardate: 60320.1600
Setting: VEGA SIGMA, Northern New Arrivals Centre, promenade
Julian Knight {d_dawson_1@yahoo.com}
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
