"Click Your Heels Three Times and Say There Is No Place Like Home"
(Previous Post: "Full Circle")
---
Stardate: 60322.2215
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Corridor
The mission to the TANGIERS ORBITAL had been
officially closed for over half a day now, but to the
Shillian woman the official status of their
Intelligence gathering mission had not been set until
the ship had fully docked at NEW ALEXANDRIA. Once
back at their base of operations, the ship would be
able to replenish its supplies, effect all of the
required repairs, but most important, those who had
been slated for transfers could do so, namely their
former Chief Engineering Officer Lieutenant David
Dawson.
Despite all of the efforts made by numerous members of
the crew to have David Dawson change his mind, the
decision of the Chief Engineer had remain unchanged.
The only chance left, at least as far as the Chief
Science Officer could see, was that Admiral Koneki
would find a way to make Lieutenant Dawson see that he
had a home and a family here amongst the entity that
was the ANUBIS. Not holding too much stock in that
possibility, the Shillian woman decided to seek out
emotional comfort in the only way she knew how.
As an unofficial student of humanity, the Chief
Science Officer had noticed that people went about the
search for comfort during times of distress in a wide
variety of ways, some enjoying physical and
potentially dangerous activities in the holodecks
while others ate an amount of food that would most
certainly have them end up in Sickbay by the time they
were done. Since the scientist had never been one to
take part in violent physical activities not
overindulge on any type of foods, the Shillian had
been left with the one thing that had always managed
to make her feel better. So with what she needed to
do clearly set in her mind, the Shillian scientist
headed off the ANUBIS and towards the Zoology Lab
located on the NEW ALEXANDRIA base.
---
As the Chief Science Officer headed down the narrow
passageway she noticed two familiar figures a few
steps ahead of her and with little effort caught up to
them.
"Mind if I join you?" The Shillian asked, peeking her
head ahead of the massive body of the Oltharian in
order to be able to see both the giant and his
companion.
"We would be honoured, but…" Elan replied with a
gentle smile while the woman whom the Chief Science
Officer had seen sitting at the Flight Control station
looked back at the scientist in a way that seemed
almost unnatural.
"You are Annie right? This was your first time on
board the ANUBIS right? So how did you find it? I
mean the manoeuvrability of the ship as compared to
whatever else you had been piloting before. Aside
from the compulsory Flight Control classes at the
Academy I never piloted anything and I can only guess
that the ANUBIS, because of its size, is somewhat
demanding in that department." The Shillian blurred
out not allowing the Oltharian to finish his sentence.
The scientist seemed more than happy to take full
advantage of the opportunity to think about something
other than what had been on her mind, which in this
case had been the enigmatic new Flight Control Officer
"… we are heading to the Administrative Level." Elan
added, completing the sentence that the Chief Science
Officer had inadvertently interrupted by her
enthusiasm in finding out more about Annie.
"I'm heading to the Zoology Lab, seeing all those
little animals relaxes me and right now I could use
some relaxation. What about you Annie, what do you do
when you need or want to relax? I mean the only time
I saw you during our last mission was when you were on
duty, so I was just curious if we shared any
interests. I know that it can be difficult for new
officers to settle onto a ship where they do not know
anyone, so maybe we could find something in common to
help you feel more at home on the ANUBIS." The Chief
Science Officer continued, her words coming out of her
mouth at a rate of speed comparable to high warp.
Just as the group of three officers stepped out of the
umbilical connection and onto Section D, Level 5 of
the NEW ALEXANDRIA complex, the attention of the
Shillian scientist was diverted by a never before seen
Ensign who had been heading the other way. Officers
of all size and shapes called this secret base home,
but something special had caught the curiosity of the
Shillian woman. Responding to her scientific
curiosity, the Shillian excused herself from the
company that she had been keeping and went back into
the narrow passageway after the woman.
"Excuse me, can I help you? You seemed lost? Well, I
do not mean lost as not knowing where you are but
rather lost in the sense that you are not entirely
certain as to where it is that you are going. Also I
could not help but noticing the items that are
strapped onto your back, are they weapons of some
sort?" The Chief Science Officer asked, her quizzical
gaze hovering between the woman and the swords on her
back. Prior to their return to NEW ALEXANDRIA, the
crew of the ANUBIS had received a transmission
indicating that they were to expect a new senior
officer and although there had been no direct proof to
support the theory that this person had been the new
officer in questions, her hesitation and the baggage
that she had been carrying had increased that
possibility to more than a mere coincidence.
"Ensign Doratheva," the Edo/Betazoid hybrid said
snapping to attention, acknowledging the rank of
Lieutenant Commander displayed on the collar of the
woman. Eva had no intentions of making a bad first
impression despite her thinking that the woman
standing in front of her at that precise moment had
not been behaving as she had expected someone of her
rank to. Then again little of what the new Assistant
Chief of Security had encountered since her departure
from EARTH could have been described as typical or
expected. "I have been assigned to the ANUBIS as its
new Assistant Chief of Security and Tactical Officers.
I would be most appreciative if you could direct me
to Commander Rikar or Captain Simmons," Eva said,
hoping that the woman would stop looking at her as she
had been doing.
"The Captain was ordered to report to Admiral Koneki,"
the Chief Science Officer explained, "so I am afraid
that the only one left is Commander Rikar who will
likely be on the bridge while the final stages of
docking are completed. If you would like I could take
you there and introduce you to the Commander. I had
wanted to go see the Zoology Lad and see how the
monkeys have been doing but I can always to at a later
time."
Remembering the incident in the Arboretum, Eva grasped
the opportunity to send the Lieutenant Commander on
another errand which thankfully had been on a
completely different heading as to the one that she
had been on. "Maybe it would be a good idea for you
to check up on the monkeys now, last time I checked
crewman Barrington had been speaking about performing
experiments on them. I believe he said that these
were to evaluate their responses to pain."
Terror formed on the face of the Shillian Scientist
who turned around and rushed back onto the base
without as much as thanking or apologizing to the new
Ensign who had no idea whom the woman had been but
thankful that the encounter with her had ended.
---
"To see the world in a grain of sand, 2005 post #237
Stardate: 60322.2225
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Umbilical Connection
Jessica Solarik { maya_992003@yahoo.com }
Lieutenant Commander Maya
Chief Science Officer
USS ANUBIS
and a heaven in a wild flower.
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour."
- William Blake (British, 1757-1827)
