"Mutual Understanding"
(Previous post: The Bosslady's 'Command')
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Stardate: 60323.1730
Setting: BLACK HOLE lounge, upper level, officer's mess
Excerpt from Tallulah's 'Climbing Trees'
"I know it's my job to say all this, but if I'd wanted a professional session I would have called you to my suite. I genuinely feel bad about what happened at TANGIERS ORBITAL. I just want you to know that. And I want you to know that - whatever's eating you - you can *talk* to me. I won't eat you or turn your brain inside out." She looked up and smiled, "After all, I'm just an ensign. I'd have to be at *least* a lieutenant before I could do *that*."
End excerpt
David smirked as the ANUBIS' counselor tried to lighten the mood between the two of them. He leaned forward.
"Then maybe you should ask the captain for a promotion" the CEO replied and Susan laughed, whiched cause the corners of the CEOs mouth to turn up.
"You should smile more often David. You have a beautiful smile." Susan said.
"You making a pass at me Counselor?" David asked.
She laughed. "No... just making a comment." and she decided to switch gears, "What are you reading?"
"Skems on the MERCURY" he replied, "trying to get a understanding why a GALOR class warship would attack a mid range light attack cruiser."
"And what have you found?" Susan asked.
"More damned questions" David said dropping the padd on the table and Susan could see the sinews in his arms tighten.
"David... calm down. We'll find the answers you're seeking, but why don't you call it a day. From what T'Reni told me, you maybe want to take it slow since you just been back to work. And ome more thing... don't be too hard on your staff. They really care for you."
David couldn't argue, because he was beat. "I guess you're right" and he stood, "good night Counselor."
"Night David" and as he exited, she smiled. It was a first and with David's condition, she knew it would be small steps at the inset.
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Stardate: 60323.1900
Setting: USS ANUBIS, David's Quarters
For the past two hours, David read and re-read the skematics of the USS MERCURY. As he read he made notes. Why was a mid range light cruiser out on its own. True enough, she packed enough of a whallop in the weapons department, but to go toe to toe with 2 GALOR Class warships. He knew that the ANUBIS alone could handle 2 Carddie ship and never break a sweat, but was Captain Arlington a fool? The more he read, the heavier his eyes became...
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Setting: DREAMSCAPE
The battered bridge of the ANUBIS again. The smell of charred flesh and chaos flooded the CEOs nose. He glanced around and there he was.
"Death. Destruction. A beautiful thing is it not?"
"Are you mad?!" David asked, "what is so wonderful about death and destruction! It causes pain... hurt... sorrow..."
"It fuels the fires of *revenge* David... for you to be able to kill your enemies in one fail swoop."
The CEO felt the shroud of death surrounding him. It was cold and unwelcoming as he heard a whipser in the dark."
"David... help... me... so... cold"
David searched frantically gor the voice that called out to him. He stumbled over a body.
"Jordan... its ok. I'm here."
Jordan's body was bloodied and frail. And he shivered. "So... cold... help me..." and his body morphed into that of his captain.
"Oh God... not you too Sammi" as she shivered violently.
"Dav... don't... let... Talia..." and her green eyes stopped moving, her pupils dialating."
"Don't you see?!" the dark voice bellowed at the CEO, "death is abudant! It is everywhere... and it has effected you on more that one level. *Don't* you think its time that you strike back?!"
Tears streamed down the cheeks of the CEO, "I'm only one man... I can only do so much." as he clutched Sabrina's body to him and a hand touched his shoulder. he looked up and saw his face, ashen... aglow with hatred. The eyes dark and forebodding with red rings around the irises.
"Then let me help you... he said as he placed his hand on top of David's head.
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Stardate: 60324.0730
Setting: USS ANUBIS, David's Quarters
The CEO woke with a start looking around his quarters. The skems of the MERCURY in his lap and his skin clammy. He looked at his hands and they were trembling.
"No time for that" he said as he shook them and headed off to start his own personal investigation. This was a Marine ship, full of marine officers and enlisted men and women. Commanded by a Starfleet captain, executive officer, and second ExO. He needed to see things from his brother's perspective and who else better to talk to that the ANUBIS' Marine commanding officer, 1st Lieutenant Pravat.
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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 #277
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
