" Duty "
(Previous Post was Julian's "Once Upon A Time")
==========
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Corridor
Stardate: 60326.1130
The young woman made her way through the corridors of the ship… not entirely certain if her intended destination and where she would end up being would end up being the same. The CO's thoughts were in such an impressive level of disarray that the redheaded woman could hardly believe that she had been able to put 1 foot in front of the other without tripping over herself.
The visit of the ship's CMO had served to remind the young woman that despite her personal and professional hardships she still had a great number of duties to perform… or at least give the impression to those around her that she was trying to accomplish them. Having spent a large part of her career as a Starfleet officer under the title of counsellor meant that the redheaded woman knew all too well the ultimate conclusion of the self-destructing path that she had been on. Depression was nothing more than a self-perpetuating black hole that would not only consume the young woman as an individual but would likely drag down all those who cared enough to stay by her side in an effort to help. In order to go against this downward trend the CO had to act… and she had to do it now. Of course the journey back would be a long one, but it was a journey that Rikar had to successfully achieve for the sake of her daughter… if not for her own sake.
As she made her way to the ship's Sickbay the young woman reviewed all of the things that had been pending her return to a more active role in the running of the ANUBIS… or the appointment of a new CO. Rikar had been most grateful for the actions of her ExO who had filled in the gap in command, but the redheaded woman had been even more happy that the half Human, half Romulan woman had not decided to declare the young woman unfit for command and remove Sabrina from her role and responsibilities… even if only temporarily.
One of those things that had been put on hold was the impending court-martial of the ship's CEO… Lt. David Dawson. Although the young woman had realised that she had been somewhat harsh in laying the entirety of the blame for the ILO's death on his shoulder, the CO had not been ready to simply dismiss the man's repeated insubordination. Whatever outcome had come of David's rash actions could not be used to condemn or condone the fact that he had disobeyed orders and acted on his own misplaced recognition placing many lives in danger in the process.
In time the young woman would have to officially deal with him and the disciplinary actions that would be forthcoming but for now the redheaded woman had been more than happy to concentrate of less stressful matters… or so she believed.
==========
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 60326.1135
With a renewed sense of purpose coursing through her veins the young woman entered the ship's medical facility, responding to the wish of the MERCURY's CO to see and speak to her about something apparently urgent… at least that had been the impression the ANUBIS' CO had obtained from what Ens. Summers had said. Quietly approaching the resting man, the redheaded woman wondered if she would have to return at a later time, Captain Arlington appearing as if he had been sound asleep.
"You can come closer… I am not sleeping. I was just making sure that my eyelids did not have any holes in them." The MERCURY's CO playfully announced as he opened his eyes and met the gentle smile of the young woman which had been displayed on her pink lips.
"I can come back later… Doctor Summers mentioned that you needed to speak to me but I am sure that it can wait." The young woman offered, acting at that moment more as a CMO than a CO. If anything had come out of the hardship that she had recently endured, Sabrina had learned to be somewhat more empathic to the emotional needs of others… or at least she tried to be.
"No… what we have to talk about needs to be done here and now." Arlington said in such a way that the ANUBIS' CO immediately understood that the ship's CMO had not been as forthcoming with the man's condition as she might have needed to be.
"Your crew is safe and on their way back home…" Rikar explained expecting that this had been the reason why she had been asked to report to Sickbay with such urgency.
"Thank you… and as hard as it has been for them all I know that they will all be able to pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives and careers… but there are 2 members of my crew who I am less certain of." The MERCURY's CO explained, each breath he took and word he spoke growing more difficult than the previous.
"I will personally take care of them… may I ask as to who they are and why you believe that they will require more personal attention than the other members of your crew?" The young woman inquired, expecting the man on the biobed to name 2 young ensigns who had been likely too frail and inexperienced to make it through without additional help. The ANUBIS' CO had been only partially correct in her assessment.
"It's about Ensign Rostov and Ensign Uxtar… I would like for you to accept them on your crew." Arlington said without delay or holding back anything. As far as he had been concerned this needed to be resolved with the utmost expediency.
"The Nausicaan and Hirogen?" The young woman gasped as her eyes opened to their fullest making it almost seem possible for her eyes to drop out and fall onto the bed where the man was.
"As I mentioned to your Doctor, I have not had the chance to see very much of your ship and crew, but what I did see has made me believe that both of them would be welcomed as members of your crew. You and I both know that despite Starfleet's general acceptance of other races there are certain that are not as graciously accepted… and those 2 deserve better than to be bounced from one ship to another until they can find a crew that would be ready to work with them." Arlington said as he leaned back against his pillow obviously unable to hold his head up any longer.
"Very well… I will do everything I can… but the final decision will be theirs… I will not force them to become part of my crew if they do not wish it." The young woman agreed knowing that Arlington had not been in any shape for an argument or even a lengthy debate as to the good and bad of his request. After all the ANUBIS was a large ship possessing a larger than normal diversity amongst the number of races, so Rikar had to grant at least this… the ship and its crew would likely have the best odds to be accepting of a Hirogen and Nausicaan… or at least so she hoped.
==========
Sabrina Jones {sabrina_sweet@hotmail.com}
Captain Sabrina Rikar
Commanding Officer
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501
"We are Grey, we stand between the Candle and the Star, between the
Darkness and the Light" 2005 post #397
-Entilza Delenn, Babylon 5
