"Something's Better Than Nothing"
Previous was "Doors Wide Shut"
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Sickbay
Susan put her back against the closed door and folded her arms, unable to believe that not only had the HATHOR been attacked, but it had been privy to a hostile takeover without them even noticing. By the expressions on the other women's faces, it was plain to see that similar thoughts were going through their heads.
"We're going to die!" Lea declared in a hushed voice with all the shrillness of a scream. Okay, so maybe not that similar. The doctor's eyes darted around the small room and Susan could see claustrophobia setting in.
"We aren't going to die." Elizabeth said testily to her superior, "They probably don't even know we're here."
Ignoring the ensign's tone, the CMO gasped, "No, I don't mean that they'll kill us. I mean we'll suffocate! Or go mad! Or kill eachother and eat the bodies…"
Susan decided it was time to step in. She unfolded her arms and took the few steps necessary to place her hand on her friends shoulder. "Lea, take a deep breath and calm down. We are not living in ancient times. We have a replicator and plenty of air."
"The walls are closing in…" Lea replied.
Susan glanced at the aCMO before sitting her friend on the bed, "Lea, you have been in this room for hours arguing. A few more isn't going to make a difference."
"But" the doctor said, "We don't know for sure that it will only be a few hours. It could be days…"
"With this crew?" Susan pointed out. "It will probably be over in minutes."
"Shouldn't we be helping… or making ourselves useful in some way?" Halliwel asked from her position near the closed door.
Susan paled at the thought of the three of them facing a troop of armed Breen.
"Don't be ridiculous" Lea seemed glad to get back to something other than panicking ie: arguing with her assistant. "What can *we* possibly do? Even if we could get out?"
Susan bit her lip in thought while Elizabeth replied, "Something's better than nothing."
"Not if we get killed!" Lea argued.
"We must just be careful!" Elizabeth insisted.
Susan's eyes moved to the ceiling. In her childhood she had spent a lot of time reading. Being an only child, her imagination had been her most trusted companion and she had spent hours exploring the old house she had grown up in. There was one adventure, however, that had always remained very prominent in her mind. It was the adventure she had undertaken when she had one day found herself grounded and restricted to her room. She had wanted to explore, but at the same time avoid making the floor boards creek and thereby alerting her father to her explorations. The plan she had come up with had inadvertently changed her life.
Remembering a holonovel where the heros had escaped by climbing through the air vents, she had climbed up through a trap door and discovered the secret room known as the attic and filled with all kinds of treasures. Susan would never forget that adventure because it was in that attic that she had discovered that her mother – who had left when she was five years old – had been a starfleet officer. And, that she had had another child. A little boy who was older than Susan but of whom Susan had never known.
That day had been the day Susan had decided to join Starfleet. Now she found herself in the same situation. Restricted to a room and unable to be detected escaping. She noted the irony and the weird way life had of coming full circle before interrupting the doctor and her assistant who were still bickering.
"Don't you two ever read?"
She was met by two pairs of confused eyes. "What does reading have to do with anything?" one asked, "Susan, you are being very random today." The other stated. But then their eyes both followed hers up to the ceiling where an air vent was plainly visible. Very soon Susan was facing two slightly mischievous grins.
"If it gets too dangerous, we can always come back." Susan stated.
"It is, after all, much better than being sitting ducks." Lea agreed.
"And some attempt at helping is better than nothing." Elizabeth declared.
--------------- 2005 post #572
Stardate: 60331.2010
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
