"At the Principal's Office"
(previous post was the emotional "Differences Of Opinion")
-------------------------
Stardate: 60323.0950
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Counselor's office
Susan had just sat down at her desk when the door chimed. Half hoping
that it was Lea... or even David, Susan called enthusiastically, "Come in!"
The door slid open, but the blonde woman standing there was not Lea.
"Lieutenant Commander Enaii." Susan said, fighting to contain her
surprise, "What brings you here?" she looked skeptical for a second, "Not a
counseling session?"
The woman gave a kind of half-smile, half-scowl at the idea. "No.
Koneki wishes to see you."
"Admiral Koneki?" Susan asked in disbelief.
Enaii nodded, "I am unaware that there is another Koneki."
"Now?" Susan asked, wondering why on EARTH the Admiral would want to
see her. He'd never requested to see her before. She had the uncanny
feeling she had been called to the principal's office.
Once again, Enaii inclined her head.
Seeing no other option, Susan made her way quickly to the office of the
admiral.
-----------------------
Susan sat fidgeting in a corner of the waiting room with a cup of mint
hot chocolate sitting on a side table being completely ignored. The
friendly woman with the big smile asked politely, "Can I get you anything else?"
Susan was thinking about requesting a site-to-site transporter when the
door to Koneki's office slid aside and she heard a request from the location
of the woman's desk, "Send Ensign Mei in."
Ensign Mei swallowed hard and walked briskly into the admiral's office.
-----------------------
The admiral was sitting behind his desk examining a PADD of some sort.
Susan stood and waited obediently for him to finish. Eventually he looked up,
"Ahh, ensign Mei. I don't believe we have met."
He stood up and moved around his desk to shake her hand - something the
ensign found most disconcerting. "As I recall, I was required by circumstances to send Lieutenant Commander Nabus to greet you and welcome you to the station on my behalf?"
Susan nodded, remembering the Andorian clearly... and how she'd
abandoned the new ensign a few seconds into her greeting to go and control some
security breach. Susan decided it was better she didn't mention this to
the admiral.
"I do wish to apologize for that unfortunate occurrence." he said as if
he had read her mind.
"I trust you are enjoying you stay onboard the ANUBIS?" he asked as he
sat down once again behind his desk.
"Very much so, thank you sir." Susan was still standing at attention.
"Please, have a seat Miss Mei." Koneki gestured to a chair and Susan
didn't hesitate in accepting the offer, well aware that this man was the 'big
boss'.
Koneki looked down at the PADD he'd been busy with, "I called you in
here because I have a few questions regarding your report."
"Did I fill it out correctly?" Susan asked hurriedly.
Koneki seemed amused and nodded slowly, "Yes, yes. There is no problem
with the report I just wanted more... details. On certain characters. You
understand?"
Susan nodded, though she had no clue what he was talking about.
"This character... Matt. You explained him as Zulot's right-hand-man."
Susan nodded again, even though she wasn't sure it was a question.
"You also mention that he knew Niema Sol from some previous time... yet
you do not give any details of this acquaintance."
"I'm sorry, sir." Susan apologized hurriedly, "I didn't realize those
details were important."
Koneki battled to control himself from smiling as he said slowly,
"Relax, ensign. I'm not about to hand you a court martial. I was merely
curious, that's all."
Susan took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, sir.". then she realized that she
was apologizing for apologizing and felt her cheeks turn red. "umm...
Matt... that is, Matthew... he had no last name. He and Sol... I mean, Niema... had apparently worked together as pirates of some kind - or mercenaries - or both."
Koneki raised an eyebrow, "Pirates? Intelligence places Sol as a
joyrider since her father's death. Are you certain?"
Susan explained in as much detail as she could what had transpired
between her and Matt and what she had interpreted it meaning. When she had
finished, Koneki nodded, wondering if this may have been some of the false Intel that Enaii had referred to or just a very clever cover on Niema's part.
"And there was no trace of the real Niema Sol?" he asked, though he was
certain Susan would have told him if there had been.
She shook her head, "Thank goodness, no. Though apparently Matt did
sent her an invite."
Koneki nodded slowly, that much was in the report. However, this Sol
character may be worth looking into as an ally of some sort... after
all, wasn't there a saying that went 'your enemies enemies are your
friends?' he'd think about it.
"There was another thing I wanted to ask you about."
Susan knew what it was going to be before Koneki opened his mouth.
"Lt. David Dawson. Captain Simmons says in his report that you were
concerned about him, yet in your own report you make no mention of
him."
Susan shrugged, "I was mistaken. Mr. Dawson was simply deep in
character." She gave a small smile, "I am not used to working with such convincing actors."
"And it is your opinion now that he was simply 'acting'?"
Susan considered her answer, she didn't want to get David into
trouble... but she didn't exactly want to get herself into trouble either.
"I am... uncertain" she decided on the safest answer, "I believe that
*he* thought he was acting... but there may have been a bit too much
enthusiasm.
Koneki let himself smile, "Like when he cuffed you to a chair for
example?"
Susan also smiled, "Yes... and when he downed a whole room full of
Cardassians."
Koneki shook his head in mock horror, still smiling slightly "Complete
overkill."
He then became completely serious, "Yes, I see what you are saying.
Alright." He turned around in his chair and said "That will be all, thank you,
Anna."
Susan froze.
Anna?
Her mother's name.
Had Koneki simply read her name wrong in the file? Seen her mother's
name instead of her own?
Or had Koneki been thinking about her file?
Or had...
had Koneki known her mother?
Susan wanted to ask, but before she got up the courage to open her
mouth Koneki repeated, "You're dismissed, ensign."
Maybe Susan had just been hearing things?
At the Admiral's command, she scuttled out of the office and back to
the safety of her counseling suite.
--------------- 2005 post #249
Stardate: 60322.1000
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section A, Level 6, Administrative Wing Waiting Room
Stardate: 60322.1005
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Admiral Koneki's Office
Tallulah Habib {thabib@eject.co.za}
Ensign Susan Mei
Head Counselor
USS ANUBIS
---------------
"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own." - Adam Lindsay Gordon
