"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Previous was "Executive Expectations
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Setting: USS ANUBIS, Mei Quarters
Susan braced herself and entered her quarters.
They were dark.
And quiet.
This was the usual state to find her quarters in. It shouldn't have
been eerie or strange or made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
But it did.
She squinted into the darkness wondering which would be more frightening, seeing the ghost of Enaii or seeing the strange woman who had decided to make herself a part of Susan's life: Lindsey Donavan.
She saw neither and eventually plucked up the courage to order "lights"
Her room burst to brightness. It was completely normal. Just as she had
left it (minus the occupant). Breathing a sigh of relief, Susan made her way
to the bathroom, planning a nice shower or maybe a relaxing bath. As she
passed it, however, her consol suddenly came alive.
=/\= Ensign Mei, you have received a high priority message =/\=
"gah!" Susan jumped about a foot away from the thing, holding her hands
in front of her as if to ward off some attacking villain. It took her a
beat to realize that the sudden voice had been that of her computer and another
second to realize what it had said. Dropping her defensive gesture (and
feeling rather stupid), Susan sat down at the consol.
"Commence playback"
She told the computer.
=/\= Please enter security clearance =/\=
Raising her eyebrows, Susan did so. **High priority?**
Before she had time to muse over who might be trying to contact her on
a high priority channel, an image appeared on her screen. An image that
made her heart sink and her stomach twist at the same time.
Admiral Drake Mei was sitting at his desk in his office in Susan's
house on EARTH. He looked concerned. Susan immediately panicked. Something must be wrong. Why else would he have sent the message high priority? She
chased away memories of how David had said he'd found out about his brother's
death and tried to get control of her emotions. Her father was on her screen,
so he couldn't be dead, could he?
[/\] Hey, pumpkin. [/\] the old man suddenly grinned, putting Susan's
mind at ease [/\] Oops, don't think I should've said that. Don't know who's
screening this message. [/\]
Susan found herself sincerely hoping that it wasn't the large Nausicaan
sec/tac. She didn't think she could ever look him in the eyes again if
it had been.
[/\] at any rate, I thought a high priority message was more likely to
get through to you. [/\]
His eyes flickered to something off screen and he nodded before turning
his attention back to her, looking concerned [/\] I know we didn't leave
things very well. And you're probably unable to contact the outside world - or
universe - from wherever you are. I just... [/\] he smiled faintly, [/\]
well I had to go to the Academy on business and I ran into a friend of yours
- a Vulcan by the name of T'Marni. [/\]
Once again Susan's stomach sank and her heart twisted. Had something
happened to her old academy roommate? The admiral continued.
[/\] She's lecturing there now - alien physics or some such complicated
thing. She wanted to know how you were... and I had to tell her that I
had no idea. You can guess that she wasn't at all impressed with me. But
then again, when are Vulcans ever impressed? [/\]
He smiled, but his eyes looked sad, [/\] To tell you the truth, I don't
blame her. On the shuttle on the way home it struck me that I've been a
rotten father. For all I know, you could be dead - or dying - and I
wouldn't know. And you'd think that I didn't care. So here I am, biting down my
sometimes insurmountable pride, and trying my darndest to find out
where you are and how you are. Please, if there is any way you can, any way at
all... contact me? [/\]
The old man smiled [/\] I love you, Pumpkin... I mean, Ensign Susan Mei
[/\] he smiled again and her screen went blank.
She sat staring at it for a good few minutes before she realized that
she had a lump in her throat and her eyes were moist. She swallowed and
sighed. She wanted more than anything in the world to tell him that she was
okay, but how could she without compromising the security of the base?
"Susan?"
She jumped. She'd been so involved in her father's message that she
hadn't heard the door chime or open. She turned around slowly to face her
visitor, knowing already who it was and wondering if she'd simply been there,
hiding in the shadows, the whole time.
"Hi, Lindsey. How can I help you?"
The woman was standing in the doorway, holding a chocolate cake.
Susan groaned.
--------------- 2005 post #477
Stardate: 60327.2100
Tallulah Habib {thabib@eject.co.za}
Ensign Susan Mei
Head Counselor
USS ANUBIS
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"Life is mostly froth and bubble,
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in your own." - Adam Lindsay Gordon
