"That Is What Friends Do"
[Previous post: "A Big Surprise In A Small Box"] ###
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Black Hole Lounge
The VIPER Maintenance Chief had been most grateful for the help Uxtar
and Derek had provided in testing the two interceptors. Since drinks
had been waiting for the two pilots upon their return to NEW
ALEXANDRIA, Derek had *logically* concluded that their communications had been
monitored. Whether or not that had been the truth had not been
important since the offer had been one that the half Vulcan and Hirogen had been unwilling to refuse.
Over the hours that followed the one drink offered by the Maintenance
Chief had multiplied into several, the three men disposing of a full
bottle each. When the bottles of Saurian Brandy had been emptied the
two pilots had decided to carry on their celebrations in a more
*friendly* environment.
It had not taken long for the Sec/Tac and FCO to take full advantage of
the genuine selection offered in the ship's crew lounge. Under normal
circumstances but would have been more careful not to over indulge but
since they had returned home and were under the protection of NEW
ALEXANDRIA, Derek and Uxtar seized the moment.
"You know," the Hirogen said slightly blurred, "You are not a bad
pilot. If you had been, we would not be here talking about it."
"How do you figure that?" the Vulcan hybrid asked in reply, his own
voice having displayed a certain level of sluggishness.
"If you *or* I had not been good pilots, we would have become one with
the universe," Uxtar said as he downed the content of his glass in one
swift motion. "Actually, we would have become one with an asteroid
first, then the universe."
"Well," the half Vulcan smiled, "I think that's worth another round my
friend. Waitress!" Derek called out waving the woman who had served
them countless time over the last hours.
The Hirogen Sec/Tac and half Vulcan FCO sobered up almost instantly
when they saw the ship's CMO walked into the lounge and head for one of the
corners of the room. The Hunter instincts of Uxtar as well as the
logical and analytical observation skills of Derek had made it one
thing perfectly clear; something had been wrong with Doctor Summers.
"Do you think it's because of Enaii?" Uxtar asked having been made
aware as Chief of Security that the ANUBIS' CMO had been called to help on
resolving the mytery surrounding the ILO.
"As caring as I can imagine her to be simply because of her chosen
field I doubt that Doctor Summers would react in such a way had something
happened to Lt. Cmdr. Enaii," Derek replied having switched back to his
Vulcan mode without any effort. "Logic dictates that the cause of her
visible sadness must be something else, something that she is likely
the only one to know about."
"Let's change that," the Hirogen said has he reached for one of the
drinks the waitress had brought to them and emptied it in one swallow
as he walked away to join the ANUBIS' CMO.
The sight of the Sec/Tac followed by the FCO had been enough to make
several patrons of the Black Hole Lounge stop in mid conversation as
they watched to see what had triggered the unexpected move. A simple
glare from the Hirogen though had been more than enough to make
everyone dismiss their curiosity in favor of a safer course of action.
"Is everything all right?" the Hirogen asked as he sat next to Doctor
Summers. As he looked at Lea, Uxtar could see that she had been crying
prior to her entrance into the lounge.
Lea tried to explain what had happened but the simple recollection of
the feelings she had experienced and how they had come crashing down
sent the CMO into another crying fit which she desperately tried to
hold back. Through the sobs Uxtar and Derek were able to pick out unrelated
elements of what had happened, but one name, which had come out several
times, had identified the culprit. Whatever had happened it seemed
that Lt. Dawson, the ANUBIS' CEO, had been right in the middle of it.
###
[Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.] 2006 post #152
Stardate: 60344.1030
Mark Hutchings {h172mark16@fastmail.us}
Ensign Uxtar
Chief Security Officer
USS HATHOR
