"A Quiet Time"
(Previous Post: Mark's 'Clearing The Way')
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Deck 3, Main Engineering
Some of the tension had died down on the main
engineering deck as the USS HATHOR increased its
speed. Elan stood in the middle of the room as the
engineering department gathered around. The giant
Oltharian smiled as he brought his hands together.
"There are times when I find myself at a loss for
words, but this is not one of those times. As my
assistant would say, I tip my hat to each and every
one of you for your hard work and diligence. Although
this is only a shakedown cruise, I am pleased and
honored to serve with you all."
The engineering staff came to a small roar as the CEO
approached the aCEO.
"Is there a problem Ensign?" Elan asked David after
slightly bowing. David never got used to the
Oltharian's gestures which always surprised him some.
"No Commander... nothing's wrong."
"Come now David. We've served together long enough for
me to see something's bothering you."
David sighed and looked over his shoulder. Elan's brow
crept up his forhead as he wonder why David was
looking all around.
"Its Garrity." the aCEO replied.
"Young Mr. Garrity?" Elan asked, "is there a problem between you two?"
"No... but," David paused, "I noticed him staring at me at times."
Elan sighed, which passed for a shrug due to his enormous size.
"Could be curousity David. You *are* a bit of legend." The minute Elan heard the words, he wished he could have swallowed them as David looked at him oddly.
"Legend?" and the aCEO chuckled, "that's a good one..." and David paused, "wait a minute... what do you mean *legend*?"
"Well..." Elan's eyes darted back and forth in his head as he tried to come up with a suitable answer, "I only say that as to the dedication to your craft and your work."
David shrugged, but could still feel the blue eyes of Ensign Brian Garrity burning a hole in his head, "If you say so" as the aCEO removed the pocketwatch left to him by his father and looked at it, "Damn... Elan... I promised Lea that we'd meet for lunch..."
Elan raised his hand, "Say no more. I believe I can handle things until you return. And please tell the Healer thank you for getting me back on my feet so soon" as the Oltharian bowed again and David left.
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David got a table in the back of the mess hall as he put the finishing touches on lunch for him and the HATHORs CMO.
"Hmmm" David said, "lightly tossed Bajoran salad, grilled Alaskan salmon with a light lemon, and Mom's famous sweet potato souffle'" he said with a nod as he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Looks good... mind if I joined you?" Garrity said as he sat in the spot reserved for Lea.
"Ensign, this isn't" David said as Garrity tore into the salmon.
"Wow!" the young officer explained, "this is awful" as he spat the fish back onto the plate, "I hope you weren't planning on serving that garbage to anyone."
David felt the sinews in his neck tighten as Garrity took his finger and poked the souffle'.
"And what in the hell is this?" the warp core specialist asked as it collapsed on itself. Just then Lea entered and saw David. And there it was again.
**Oh no** the CMo said to herself as she quickly crossed the deck.
"David" she said wrapping her arm around his and as she looked at the table, it was a complete mess. Her eyes shifted to Garrity, "and you are?"
"Ensign Brian Garrity. I work in engineering with Lieutenant Dawson here."
"A pleasure Ensign" Lea said.
"*IF* you only knew" David mumbled as his glare
intensified on the Intel agent.
"Well, if you'll excuse me I believe I'll go get
something more... pliable with the pallette." and he
looked at Lea, "and I suggest you do the same."
As Garrity walked off Lea looked up at David. He could
see his right eye slightly darken. She quickly ushered
him to a chair.
"David? What's the matter?" she asked.
"Its him!" David growled, "I take the time to prepare
lunch for us and he ruined it!"
"Calm down... its OK" Lea said patting him on the
shoulder, "besides... we could always get something
else."
David glanced at the CMO.
"Come on... I'm hungry" and she pouted, "you wouldn't
want me to starve to death would you?"
David sighed and stood, "No... I wouldn't. I already
carry the burden of killing one member of this crew. I
don't think I could handle two."
As David went to the replicator, Lea wondered where that thought came from. David brought back Lea's favorite. A tossed salad mixed with mandarian oranges and dried cranberries."
"What a memory" she said with a smile and it vanished
just as quickly as it came, "are you going to eat?"
"Suddenly I'm *not* hungry" David said as Lea traced
the aCEOs line of sight to one Brian Garrity.
"Is he giving you a hard time?" Lea asked.
"No... its just..." and he paused, "never mind."
"No" Lea said after taking a drink of Risean spring
water, "go on. Tell me."
David frowned, "There's something about him I don't
like... and trust."
"It can't be that bad" Lea said looking at the ANUBIS' CEO.
"It is" David replied, "all he does... has done since he arrived is stare at me."
"Could be one of your many fans" Lea said and David
arced his eyebrow at her.
"What is it with you people today? David asked.
"Us people?" Lea said, "whom are you referring to?"
"Elan... he said that I was a bit of a legend. And
here you are saying that I have fans." David said.
"Well..." Lea paused, "you are."
David frowned again, "I'm no legend Lea."
"Not in so many words, but look at what has happened to you. We don't have to go into great detail, but some still look at that as a way of cheating death... and for all intents and purposes you cheated death David."
"But just to stare at me?"
"Oh come now" Lea said, "you never had an officer pay special attention to you when they first joined your department?"
"Elan's" David said dryly as Lea noticed her small slip up.
"David... I'm sorry."
"Don't be" David said looking at the CMO, "another pot
hole in the universe which is my life."
Lea took David's hand in hers. "Then I guess I'll become a patch work artist."
David smiled slightly, "I never got a chance to thank you Lea."
It was Lea's turn for her eyebrow to creep up her forehead, "For?"
"Saving my life. And believing in me."
"You don't have to thank me David" Lea said, "saving
your life is a part of my job. Just as you love
tearing a part a warp plasma coil and fixing it. And
we always believed in you David."
"We?" David asked.
"Yes. Me... and you" she said with a wink, "surely you
don't think that I did all of that myself. A lot of it
came from within you."
"Thanks anyway." David said.
"You're welcome anyway" Lea said with a smile.
From across the room, Starfleet Internal Affairs officer Lieutenant Brian Garrity punched information into a PADD as his eyes never left David Dawson and Lea Summers.
"A budding relationship... I must make a note of looking into Dawson's past loves. This could prove to be very interesting." he said to himself as he was
imputing the information for his next move against David.
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as
Lieutenant David Dawson
and
assistant Chief Engineer
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #554
Stardate: 60331.1145
Setting: USS HATHOR, Deck 2, Mess Hall
Stardate: 60331.1210
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
USS HATHOR NCC 74211
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
