"The Show Must Go On"
(previous post the intriguing "Sam")
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Stardate: 60321.1910
Setting: TANGIERS ORBITAL, Simmon's quarters
Susan stepped into the Captain's quarters and immediately sat herself down
in an armchair not unlike the one in her own suite. The room was dimly lit
and the captain rubbed his eyes as he sat down opposite Susan.
"Alright. What is it?"
Susan felt a stab of guilt at her obvious intrusion into his sleep, but she
quickly shook it off. "It's David." She cut to the point. Then she looked
around worriedly, "I mean... Mr. Brell"
The captain actually smiled at her concern, "Don't worry, I've set up
security against spies in here. What about David? Has something happened?"
Susan fidgeted with the hem of her dress, wondering for a second if she'd
been foolish, "No... at least... not yet."
Simmons narrowed his eyes, "But you're worried?"
Susan nodded. Briefly she explained what had transpired in the last few
hours. The CO of the ANUBIS looked interested when she told him about the
plot against the Federation but remained silent until she reached the end of
her account of David's attitude.
James gave a low whistle, "You've certainly had an eventful few hours."
Susan nodded. That much she knew. She watched as the CO got up and paced,
"And you believe that this means that he's lost control of himself again..."
Susan knew Simmons was recalling the attack in the sickbay. She nodded.
"I should know better than to question a counselor..." James began, his
intended firmly in mind, "but are you certain that he wasn't merely playing
the part? Some operatives prefer to become fully immersed in their roles..."
"Stanislavsky." Susan stated.
"What?" the CO was genuinely confused.
"Stanislavsky was an ancient EARTH director. He directed his actors to
'become fully immersed in their roles'. I took drama courses, Captain. This
was no Stanislavsky Method Acting. He was on the edge. Way more on the edge
than Brell should have been"
Simmons appeared to consider this, "It's understandable..."
"Perfectly." Susan stated before thinking. However, James appeared to
contemplative to be concerned about protocol. "But that doesn't make it any
less dangerous."
James looked up at this, "You believe he's dangerous?"
"I do. If not to the mission, than certainly to himself..."
"How so?"
"Well... I don't know how long these guys are going to put up with him. If
he takes too many chances, they may decide that he's not worth the
trouble..."
Simmons nodded in understanding. "I understand what you're saying, Ensign.
Nevertheless, there's not much we can do about it. Now he's in the game,
taking him out could cause more problems than risking leaving him in. I know
he doesn't have a good track record - at least as far as you know him - but
I know that he would never compromise a mission for his personal reasons."
Susan listened to the captain, the more he spoke the more she started to
realize that there was no easy solution. She sighed, "I know that under
normal circumstances he wouldn't. But these guys killed his brother. His
*only* sibling. These aren't normal circumstances..."
"I *understand* that, ensign." James was beginning to sound irritated, "But
there's not a hell of a lot we can do. It was a risk bringing him on this
mission in the first place, but that decision was made. He's here now, with
or without his personal problems. I trust that he will be able to control
himself..."
"Like he did in sickbay?"
There was silence for a minute before James said quietly, "That was out of
order, ensign."
Susan looked down at her hands, "I'm sorry. I'm just... concerned."
The CO sighed and sat down opposite Susan again, "I know. But bare in mind
that this is your first mission. You may be over-reacting slightly." before
Susan could say anything, he held up his hand, "That said, you're the only
way that we have of keeping control of David. You're in there with him. I
know that this isn't exactly text-book, but consider it a baptism by fire."
Susan wondered if her face had gone as white as it felt it had, "You want
*me* to try and control *him*?"
Simmons smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry ensign, but we simply can't pull
him out. It would be too dangerous. However" James said decisively, "I will
inform the rest of the crew when I can and I'll see what they can come up
with. There may be a better solution. In the meantime, however, the show
must go on."
He walked over to the door, indicating that Susan should leave, "I
appreciate you informing me of this." He stated, "And for your sake and the
sake of the mission, I hope that he was merely in a temporary bad mood.
Perhaps he'll have cooled down by 2000?"
Susan raised her eyebrows skeptically, but merely said, "Perhaps." as she
moved towards the door, **there's no harm in hoping for the best...**
--------------- 2005 post #201
Tallulah Habib {thabib@eject.co.za}
Ensign Susan Mei
Head Counselor
USS ANUBIS
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"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own." - Adam Lindsay Gordon
