"Welcome to the ANUBIS"
Previous post was "The Healing Process"
###
Stardate: 60325.2140
Setting: USS ANUBIS
Nico left sick bay not having a clue what to do next. He began by wandering the corridors of the ANUBIS, exploring her. It wasn't long before he realized that this was no ordinary starship. It seemed much larger and more advanced than any he'd seen thus far in his short Starfleet career. He entered a turbo lift not knowing where to go next, when his stomach rumbled audibly. Realizing he hadn't eaten in over two full days, he decided where to go.
"Mess hall.", He growled at the computer. The lift whirred to life and whisked him to his destination in mere seconds.
He strode into the lounge expecting the stares of others. It was something he had grown used to and was not disappointed. He located the nearest replicator and ordered.
"Herring in sheepskin coat, one large bowl of borcsh, hot, a triple order of shashlik, two servings of zapekanka, and two prostokvasha very cold."
A second later his meal materialized on a tray before him. He was somewhat surprised that the computer had no trouble replicating his order. Usually he needed to program several of his culinary favorites himself. He lifted his feast and sought out a table away from the others in the lounge. Not only was he in no mood for company, but he was also aware of his smell. Having spent so much time in prison, then fighting on the planet, he was in desperate need of a bath.
He ignored the stares of gawkers and pretended not to hear their comments. I wasn't hard to do. The aroma of his feast reinforced his hunger, and soon he was lost in his meal.
After cleaning his plate, and slugging down the last of his prostokvasha, he was considering going for seconds, this time with some fine vodka to wash it down, when a male voice addressed him from behind.
"Excuse me sir"
"What is it!", Nico snapped at the young security officer, who took an involuntary step back.
"Are you one of the rescued crewmen of the MERCURY?" the security officer inquired.
"I am." Nico answered, "Ensign Nicodemus Rostov, USS MERCURY. Is there a problem?"
"Not exactly," the security officer replied. "It's just that I have not yet been briefed on the status or clearance levels of the MERCURY crew. I'm not sure you are allowed free run of the ANUBIS yet."
"I see. I also see at least six other rescued MERCURY crewmen in this lounge, yet you have not seen fit to question *their* clearance levels."
The security officer looked around and relized Nico was correct. Then looked back at Nico. "Well, I just want to make sure that you are... um... where you are supposed to be."
Nico looked the security officer in the eye. Even though he was sitting, he was still eye to eye with the standing officer. "Are you sure that you weren't checking to see if the Nausicann was going to cause trouble in your precious mess hall? I assure you, I have caused all the trouble that I am going to today. Maybe tomorrow we can renew our conversation and I can provide you with some of the Nausicaan trouble you are so concerned about. Now unless you need to interrogate me further, I would like to get to the bottom of a pitcher of Russian vodka and find a place to get some sleep. Would that be acceptable to you, *sir*?"
"That's fine, ensign. I'll only ask that you steer clear of any secure areas, for your own safety, of course."
"Great. It's good to know that the ANUBIS security team is so concerned for my well being." Nico answered. dryly.
Nico sighed as the security officer walked away, no doubt proud of his fearless confrontation with the big scary Naussicaan.
"Welcome to the ANUBIS.", Nico thought to himself.
###
Jammie Thouin {lone-gunman@att.net}
Ensign Nicodemus Rostov
USS MERCURY
### 2005 post #379
"The problem with the world is that everyone is a few beers behind."
-Humphrey Bogart
