From: mgoto@indiana.edu (Masako Goto)
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 22:24:09 -0500
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: The Starry-Eyed Doctor
<<NRPG>>
Warning: This is more like Gratuitous Character Development for my NPC
rather than my PC. I doubt very much that you will miss much if you don't
read this post. :)
<<RPG>>
SD 90728.0253
-------
Sickbay
-------
MD 14.1331
The news came as a surprise to Melissa Fielding, who had been busy
taking inventory of the medical supplies. She wasn't senior officer on this
vessel, which also meant that she was mercifully and blissfully unaware of
highly confidential information about the senior staff.
She rather wished that she had known about this one, though.
So Captain Bell was Gone.
She hoped that the stressed-out woman would be sure to get the
medical attention she needed. Some people in the military seemed to think
that they were indestructible.
The kicker, of course, was the announcement that had just come from
Commander Brennan. He was now the Commanding Officer of the CHESAPEAKE. It
suited Melissa just fine.
Except just one thing.
She thought he was the Most Beautiful Person to appear in her life.
She wasn't sure that this was a Good Thing, or even a *Legal* Thing.
She had no doubt it was somehow Immoral. One wasn't supposed to haave a
crush on one's superior officers.
Not in her book, anyway.
"Mmmm." Melissa sighed. She counted up the tricorders, entered the
number, and went to the next box. Her eyes took on a rather dreamy
expression. "Just think," she said aloud. "The Most Beautiful Person in
the whole world, and he has to go and take command. I mean, command is a
Dangerous Proposition. Who knows what might happen...?"
"I'd hardly call it a Dangerous Proposition," said a familiar voice
behind her. "I mean, I think it's much more dangerous to have someone in
command who isn't stable... and Commander Brennan is *very* stable."
"Derek? What are you doing here?"
"I came looking for Dr. Ledoux. I have a favor to ask of her."
"A favor? What makes you think she'll go along with it? You're not
going to play a joke on that poor superior officer of yours, are you, Derek?
I know you..."
"I wouldn't do anything like that," protested Derek innocently.
"Well, not *now*, anyway," he amended. "I've seen her limits, and believe
me, I don't want to cross them again. Look, where *is* Dr. Ledoux?"
"She's busy," said Melissa. "Reports or studying or something like
that, I'm sure. I must say that there's more legitimate work to do here
than there ever was on the USS WASHINGTON."
Derek bit his lip.
"I'll have to see her sooner or later," he said grimly. "Look,
please give her a message next time you see her, okay? I need to see her
about something *really* important."
"Okaaaay..." Melissa looked doubtful. "Why don't you leave her a
message or..."
"Because it's confidential," said Derek in a low whisper. "I have
to go... Anne's expecting me back in my office by now, and I don't want to
make her suspecious..."
"Suspicious?! What *are* you doing to her, Derek?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. It's just her way..."
"All right, all right, I'll give Dr. L. the message." Melissa was in
no mood to pursue an argument. "Derek," she said on a sudden impulse, "has
the CHESAPEAKE ever been, you know, in a *dangerous* situation before while
you were here?"
"No," said Derek firmly. "The only 'dangerous' thing that ever
happened, as far as I was concerned, was when the Counselor went
rat-hunting. That was the one and only time. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason, really..."
"You're not *afraid* or something, are you, 'Lisa? I know you've
been on WASHINGTON for a good bit and all that, but..."
"Derek, I saw plenty of danger on the NEBULA, thank you very much.
I just wanted to be prepared, you know, in case... well, that is..."
For once in her life, Melissa turned scarlet.
"Never mind, 'Lisa," said Derek reassuringly. "I'm not one to
pry... unlike some *other* people." He winked at Melissa. "I have to go
back to Science now... you going to be okay?"
"I *am* fine, Derek," said Melissa. And, in stark contrast to Anne
Murray's assurance of same, Melissa really *did* look fine. "Just call
it... puppy love."
"Puppy love?" Derek looked at his cousin speculatively. "On whom do
you happen to have a crush, Melissa?"
"That is for me to know and you to find out," said Melissa. "And if
you *should* find out, which is highly unlikely, you'd better not breathe a
word of it to *anyone*, or you're History, Mister."
"Gotcha," said Derek with another wink. "But remember, love is a
wonderful thing, but only if it's two-way."
"Thanks a bundle and a quarter, Mr. Counselor," said Melissa
sarcastically. She moved on to the next box. "I thought you were leaving?"
she prompted, loooking at her timepiece.
"Oh. Right." Derek had momentarily forgotten about the time, not an
uncommon occurrence when he was with Melissa. "Have dinner together
tonight?" he asked.
"Sure... Ten-Forward okay? I'm on a slim-down diet."
"SLIM-DOWN?!"
"My vauults are getting *very* messy," explained Melissa. "I think
it's this little bit of fat right..."
"Uh... don't show me, I can imagine it, thanks..." Derek headed
toward the door. "See you in Ten-Forward at 1900, then?"
"Sure, Derek."
Melissa watched the door close behind Derek, then went back to the
supply boxes. She was still thinking about Commander Brennan and the
terribly risky position into which he had put himself by assuming command.
It truly was a Difficult Thing to have a crush on a commanding
officer, thought Melissa. Not only was it Immoral in her book... it also
(if history showed anything) tended to be short-lived.
Respectfully submitted,
Masako Goto
Lt. Melissa Fielding, MD
Staff Physician
USS CHESAPEAKE NCC-31813
mgoto@indiana.edu
<<NRPG>>
Takako: Of course, I think you'll do a *super* job as CO, and so does
Melissa... but she's also rather wary of her Beautiful Officer
heading up the ship; more visibility, in her experience, equals
higher risk.
Matt: Just as a question... can you give me a summary of Betazoid psionic
abilities, please? (Since you play one... <G>)
Melvin: Still think Derek's Mr. Bland? :)
Jim: How's Engineering these days?
Lynnaea: I hope you're doing well!
Fabian: I wonder if there's any way in which Oz could meet Derek...
Chris: I shamelessly borrowed a supply room from Sickbay for this post... I
hope you don't mind. (If you do, you know where I am... <G>)
James: How are you these days?
Naomi: How are *you*? :)
---------------------------------------------------------------
LT Anne Murray, Ph.D. CSciO USS CHESAPEAKE
CMDR Alex Vivnakovekovitch Hartigan XO USS NEBULA
LTJG Susan Lansing CSciO USS VICTORY
LTJG Elizabeth Peterson, MD aCMO USS SAM HOUSTON
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thought for the day: Which is worse, having unique quirks that
may be considered insane, or going totally
nuts and being crazy, with no control?
-courtesy of Chris Mayberry
---------------------------------------------------------------
Go to messages for
July 1997 or latest