"Rumor Mills"
(Previous Post: Jammie's 'Training Patrols')
====================================
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section E, Engineering Deck
Stardate: 60327.1000
Lieutenant Commander Mercedes Vasquez sat at her work station reading over the diagnostics from the USS HORUS and smiled.
"I got you David" she said as she got up to go see the bases CEO. She entered his office and plopped the PADD onto his desk.
"Tell David he'll have to do some serious work if he expects to catch *this* proficiency report..." her voice trailing off as she looked at her superior oddly.
"Jack? Are you listening to me?"
Commander Jack Foley, NEW ALEXANDRIAs chief engineer shook his head. "No Commander, I wasn't. I was busy reading over the estimated repair time to the ANUBIS..."
"David has yet to learn that each time your ship disembarks from home base you don't have to bring it back scratched or dinged up."
"That's the least of his worries" Foley mumbled.
"And that means?" Vasquez asked.
"I'm shocked Commander" Foley replied, "that information this good hadn't gotten to you yet."
"What the hell are you talking about" she asked pulling up a chair, "c'mon Jack. Dish. You know how much I love gossip." she added with a wicked grin as Foley handed her a PADD.
"No gossip this time Mercedes." was all he said as her eyes skimmed the PADD.
"WHAT?!" she bellowed, "court-martial?! David?!?!"
"Calm down Commander" Foley said as he peered out of his office, "it's true. Looks like he's stepped off into it big time."
"What have you heard?" the Hispanic engineer asked.
"You see it there. Insubordination, theft and destruction of Starfleet property, and murder... is what I heard he's facing." Foley replied sadly. His thoughts drifted back to his former CO, Captain David Dawson, Sr. How much he enjoyed serving under the senior Dawson and watching his son and namesake make his own niche' in the universe... all to be washed down the drain due to his insufferable temper.
"I don't believe it" Mercedes replied hotly, "I mean murder? Who did they say he killed?"
"I'm not certain, but I think it was Commander Enaii. Anyway, I expect your report on my desk no later than 1200 Commander. I got to meet with the boss so the deck is yours."
Foley stood to leave as Mercedes read and re-read the PADD. Her lips tightened as she stood and left.
====================================
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section G, Level 1, Containment Area Alpha
Stardate: 60327.1010
As the CEO of the USS ANUBIS picked over his breakfast, his thoughts drifted in and out. David had been in confinement for days on end it seem and it brought his mind to a question that had been nagging him for hours...
Why hadn't any of his crew mates paid him a visit?
"Am I hated that much?" David asked himself as his thoughts drifted to his crew mates. Of course he'd seen Serenna, Susan, and Lea. Even Lieutenant Commander Ryan, the JAG envoy had seen him more than the ExO, CMO, and Counselor. But what of the others?
Maya... with her excessive talking and idle rambling... how it grated the CEOs nerves but David would pay a year's salary... if he were getting paid to hear her speak of anything. Pravat... last he heard the marine commander was peeved at him. Why he didn't know.
"Unless Richard did it to me again" David grumbled.
But the one person he thought for sure would come see him never showed. The one man the CEO had a kinship with, a 'brother' in engineering per se.
"Elan" David said speaking of the Oltharian engineer and FCO. There was T'Reni... Ken Yates... Karen... Tony... *none* of his staff had come to see him. He sighed noticing he wasn't hungry anymore when a shrill voice brought him out of his reverie. He shook his head.
** *Anyone* but her,** the CEO thought.
"I order you to let me see him!" Commander Vasquez barked.
"I'm sorry Commander" O'Reily replied, "but Lieutenant Dawson is to have no visitors."
"I'll have your ass in a sling Mister O'Reily" she growled.
"I've heard it before" the Irish security officer said with a nod.
"Danny" David said from his cell, "5 minutes. Hey... I haven't been an asshole in the past 3 hours."
O'Reily smirked, "But how quickly that changes with you" and he mumbled something under his breath, "oh what the hell..." and he looked at Vasquez, "5 minutes Commander"
O'Reily stood and exited but left the forcefield engaged. Vasquez approached his cell. He looked like hell.
"Look at you" she said, "you could at least make yourself presentable."
"Why?" David replied, "I'm a prisoner. Might as well act and dress the part."
Her eyes narrowed, "What the hell's gotten into you David. You... sound different."
"Maybe because I *am* different Mimi" David replied, "let's see if you're all cheery if you're locked up all damned day."
"Is it true?" she asked.
"Is what true?" David replied.
"Your charges" she snapped, "what the hell else would I be talking about..."
"Look Mimi" David said sitting up, "if you came down here to chew my ass I have none left. Sabrina beat you to the punch..."
"Did you do it?!" Vasquez asked again.
"No" David replied, "I didn't. It was my brother..."
"Don't blame Jordan's death for this David. I've *told* you repeatedly that your temper will..."
"This has nothing to do with Jordan" David replied hotly, "you hardly knew Jordan. But this is something completely different. The brother I was referring to was Richard."
That stopped Commander Vasquez in her tracks. "Richard? That's your middle name..."
"*And* also the first name of my twin brother."
"When did you have a twin?" and David smirked at her.
"Hello?" the CEO replied sarcastically.
"But... you never mentioned anything about a twin."
"Why should I?" David said, "you weren't dating him. You were dating me."
"David" Vasquez said and she sighed, "is there anything I can do to help?"
David leaned back against the bulkhead above his bed. "Can you prove SDS exists?"
"SDS?" Vasquez asked quizzically, "what the hell is SDS?"
David explained in shorten detail what SDS was and some of the theories he along with Serenna were in proving his innocence. Vasquez snorted.
"And you expect Koniki to believe that? David... *I* have a hard time believing it..."
"Because" and David ran his hand over his scalp. It was starting to get stubbly, "when it comes to me you act like you have a stick stuck up your ass."
"I beg your pardon?!" Vasquez hissed, "so what are you saying?"
"I just said it" David said standing, "ever since I came to this hell hole and saw that you still were alive, you've critique me for *everything*. You're pissed that I get better proficiency ratings than you. Even after being re assigned to be *your* aCEO and I make a few modifications to the HORUS' warp drive, you *and* Captain Harris bit me in half." the CEO said as he felt a dull pain in his temples. He guessed that inhibitors were working...but the pain was coming more frequently.
"...so everything with you has been to hell with me."
"I have never had a 'to hell with you' attitude..." and David cut her off.
"Mimi, you've never been a good liar. Matter of fact, you're lousy."
Her eyes narrowed. "Pigheaded to the end." and she sighed, "what am I gonna do with you?"
David shook his head. "Nothing. Its all in fate's hand... unless Susan, Maya, and lea come up with an explanation."
O'Reily re entered the brig. "Commander" he said and she nodded and turned to leave. She paused before exiting.
"David... how long until your trial?"
The CEO shrugged, "70 hours... give or take."
"I'd like to be there for you... if possible."
He shrugged again, "Knowing Koniki?" he said and she nodded.
"I'll see you soon" she said blowing the CEO a kiss. David nodded as she exited.
"Women" O'Reily said, "pains in the ass the whole lot of 'em"
"Not entirely" David said thinking about a couple of women that could fit that category. He wouldn't dishonor the dead and speak ill of Enaii, but even in her death she's paining the ANUBIS' CEO because of her life mate. And that lead to another question... what caused her death and how was he responsible? The last time he saw his CO, her emerald green eyes were cold and lifeless. And each time she looked at him, he could feel anger, hatred. Ever since he asked her for her hand in marriage, the rift between them had grown further and further apart. Now it looked like he'd never get the chance to prove to her that he didn't kill Enaii...
...or did he? ...and it hit him.
"The security feeds on the ANUBIS! How could I've been so dumb?!" he said reaching for his badge but remembering that it had been removed after the preliminary.
"Dammit" David said looking to O'Reily.
"Danny, contact Commander Serenna for me."
The security officer complied, but shook his head.
"Says she's busy..."
"Then get Commander Ryan down here..."
He nodded. Seconds later he glanced in the CEO's direction.
"15 minutes and she'll be here."
David nodded as he mapped out his latest thoughts.
====================================
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 #446
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
