"Shadow Effects"
(Previous Post: Matt's 'Who's Team...')
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Stardate: 60323.1245
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
David sat looking at his console monitoring the warp engines and matter/anti matter flux capacitors since the ANUBIS was traveling at warp speed... but all that was a cake walk to the engineer. What really had the engineer's attention was the final logs of the senior staff of the USS MERCURY. She was a ship David admired... an old Gundam-Class. The thing he admired about the ship was the lines, lean and menacing, with her warp nacelles she looked like a eagle in flight right before it dove in after its prey...
..but it was the MERCURY that fell victim to a vicious and vile attack.
David paid particular attention to Captain Jonnathen Arlington's final orders... all hands abandon ship. But why was only one pod jettisoned into the coldness of space and that said pod carrying his little brother Jordan. David sat back and rubbed the pendant of brotherhood Jordan made for both of them when he was a kid.
**I swear to you Jor... those bastards are going to pay for you death in their blood!** David said to himself when Maya startled him.
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excerpt from Jessica's post: 'Multitasking...'
"David," the Shillian said, finally mustering enough will power to speak instead of just thinking about it. "I am happy that you are staying." "I would not get my hopes up if I were you Maya," the Chief Engineering Officer snarled back, "I am here only for this mission and because there is a possibility that I will get what I want by the end of it."
end excerpt
Maya blinked at the CEO and returned to her duties and David sighed inwardly. He knew Maya's gesture of appreciation for his remaining a member of the crew was a genuine one, but at the moment all he cared about was getting to where the MERCURY entered her death throes and where his brother floated in a escape podd for days before he closed his eyes for the last time. He felt his blood boiling, stood and headed for the lift.
"Going somewhere Lieutenant?" Lieutenant Commander Serenna asked.
"Yes... off the bridge Commander" David replied without looking at her.
"I don't remember you asking to be excused David." she replied.
Before the CEO could reply, Sabrina stepped down from the command chair.
"Lieutenant, my ready room" she said as David loomed off behind her.
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Setting: Captain's Ready Room
Sabrina entered and went to her desk. The captain's private office looked spartian as the CO hadn't had time to decorate it to her liking, but as David glanced around he could see it taking shape and form to his former lover's likeliness.
"So... how you holding up big guy?" Sabrina asked as she sat behind her desk.
David folded his massive arms across his chest. "I'm doing fine Captain. How are you doing?"
"How I'm doing isn't important David. I just thought I'd remind you that there's a certain protocol we follow around here. Now... I know you didn't mean to snapped at Commander Serenna did you?" she asked as he looked into her emereld green eyes.
"No Captain... I did not" he grumbled.
"Sit down Dave" she said and as he sat. The CEO tried to make eye contact with his new CO, but couldn't.
"Dave? Is something wrong?" Sabrina asked as she crossed her legs, "ever since we came back to NEW ALEXANDRIA you haven't been yourself."
**Which is a *extreme* understatement** she thought to herself and quickly scolded herself for thinking negativly about him. So much has happened to David in the past few weeks that she was amazed that he hadn't totally lost it. And she was hoping for his sake he did not.
In the mind of the CEO, he tossed around her question but every time he tried to answer, a flash of the nightmarish hell he has endured the past few nights popped into his head.
"It's the MERCURY Captain... well... mostly Captain Arlington's order to abandon ship. Something about it doesn't make sense."
"How so?" the ANUBIS' commanding officer asked, "I can see the wheels in your head spinning."
David stood up and began pacing. Sabrina shook her head and for the life of her couldn't understand how James could put up with David's pacing, *but* the good thing about it was that when David paced, his mind was at work trying to solve a problem.
**Good... pace away Dave** Sabrina thought as the CEO began talking.
"The MERCURY has 24 decks... the bridge on deck one, the marine command center on deck 15. 14 decks seperated the two areas..."
"And?" Sabrina asked.
"How the hell did Jordan end up in a escape pod from the bridge? When from the info we received said otherwise. From the MERCURY's internal sensors, Jordan was in a turbolift. How was he the *only* officer to get off the ship?"
"We'll try to ascertain those answers when we get there" and she stood and approached him, "I'm not going to make you any promises Dave. The trail could be cold by the time we get there..."
"You think it already isn't?!" he huffed, "its been weeks Sabrina. Weeks! Weeks since the MERCURY was destroyed. Weeks since my brother was murdered. And now we're to believe that there are survivors?"
"Think about it Dave" Sabrina said, "in your report you said it yourself. Zulot said he never kills his victims."
David's eyes narrowed at the CO.
"OK... I retract that statement, but if the MERCURY's crew is still out there..."
"I know... I know" David said running his hand over his bald scalp, then he started clenching his fists, "dammit! I swear..."
Sabrina took his clenched fist into her hands, "Relax... we'll get to the bottom of this. *This* I promise you."
For the first time, David looked into Sabrina's eyes. The one thing he could always tell was when she was either lying to him or telling the truth. He saw no lies. Saw no deceit. The captain's door chime rang and she let go of his hand.
"Come" she replied and Serenna entered.
"Captain... I'm not disturbing you two am I?"
Before she could reply, David spoke. "No Commander, you are not. I was leaving" and as he headed for the door he stopped, "Serenna, I... apologize if my action of earlier was disrespectful. I'm..."
"Apology accepted" the new ExO replied, "let's try *not* to make that a habit Lieutenant."
"Aye sir" and David looked at Sabrina and the CO winked at him before he exited. When the doors closed, Sabrina sighed.
"Problems Captain?" Serenna asked.
"No..." and she pursed her pink lips, "we *need* to think of something that's goning to keep him busy. A busy David Dawson is a less problematic one."
"Agreed" the ExO replied with a nod, "which is why I came to see you."
"OK" Sabrina said, "what's on your mind?"
"Commodore Simmons."
Sabrina chuckled, "still missing our former captain?"
"No... remember our little meeting before we informed David that he was being removed from active duty?" the first officer said as she drape dher arms behind her back.
"Dammit" Sabrina said, "I knew it was something I was forgetting."
"Apparently James never returned David to active duty. But you said it yourself Captain. A busy David Dawson is a less problematic one."
"Suggestions?" Captain Rikar asked.
"We return him to duty... per se."
"Why do I get the feeling that this *isn't* going to be good?" Sabrina said as she returned to her seat and she motioned her ExO to do the same. As Serenna sat, she sat back and steepled her fingers.
"The one thing I've noticed Captain and I'm sure you noticed it as well, but whenever David is in his domain he can be counted on. Now true enough, the death of Jordan has been the catalyst for his behavior as of late. Do you or do you not agree?"
"No arguments from me there" Sabrina replied, "go on."
"I've also noticed that he has been eating up a lot of his time since we got back to NEW ALEXANDRIA studying the feeds and all information we got on the MERCURY."
Sabrina slowly shook her head, "A prepared officer is a officer that's prepared. Are you suggesting that we..."
"I'm not suggesting anything Captain. Only giving you options as to what we can have him do. Unless you feels he's ready to assume his duties as the chief engineer."
Surely this was something Sabrina overlooked. Just across the deck from her office was the observation lounge that James, Serenna and herself met to decide David's fate. It was decided, but never rectified. She laughed inwardly as another one of James' left over duties was now hers.
"I tell you what" Sabrina said as she stood and Serenna did the same, "I'll think about it and get back to you. We have a few days to decide before we reach our destination."
Serenna nodded. "That's why you're the captain Captain."
"Ugh... don't remind me" Sabrina replied as they both returned to the bridge.
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Julian Knight(d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #263
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
