From: Masako Goto <mgoto@indiana.edu> Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 18:39:06 -0500 Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: A New Pair of Hats
SD 90824.2257
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Melissa Fielding's Quarters
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MD 15.1710
"You're kiddding me, right?" LCDR Melissa Fielding said, her eyes
crossing and uncrossing in dizzying fashion.
"No, I'm not kidding, Melissa," said LT Derek Fielding patiently.
"And do you mind? That's disgusting!"
"You're just jealous," Melissa informed him, rolling her eyes in
opposite directions simultaneously. "You just wish you could do it, too."
She suddenly fell over backwards.
"See what happens when you do that? How do you feel *now*? I bet
you're sorry you showed off!" Derek couldn't help giving his cousin a little
dig. "I don't show off, so I don't fall over... and *I* don't run over my
First Officer, either!"
"*That*," said Melissa with dignity, "was as a result of bad
timing... not mine, mind you. I've never executed such a perfect landing
before or since, *including* the Olympics. And as for my falling over just
now, *that* was to express my great shock at the news of your Ascension into
Senior Staff-hood."
"Why?" Derek was suddenly apprehensive. "You really don't think I'm
ready for this job? C'mon, tell me, 'Lisa!"
"Oh, it's not that. Here, have a grape."
Derek obediently took a green one from the bowl.
"Take two..." Melissa slid the bowl closer to him. "I don't want to
eat too many of those. They're very good... Anyway, I figured you might not
like all that horrid paperwork that senior officers have to do. I know you
turned down the post when we were on the USS WASHINGTON."
"That was then," said Derek slowly. He ate a grape. Yes, it was
delicious. "This is now. WASHINGTON didn't need my help; it already had a
good CSciO, and an excellent aCSciO, too. I was happy enough to do my own
research and to keep an eye on things. Now, though, I'm the most
experienced person in the department -- except for Lieutenant Sereh -- and I
think I should try to lead them. I'd been doing enough of *that* recently,
anyway, what with Anne losing her mind and all..."
"Oh, you mean she wasn't *always* that irritable?"
"No, not always..."
"So." Melissa grabbed an orange from the bowl and began to peel it
meticulously. "Tell me about those carbon currents."
Derek wasn't surprised by the sudden change of topic; Melissa had
the habit of talking about whatever it was that fascinated her in any given
moment. He merely smiled and assured her that there was no danger, that the
current was already dissipated, and that they had some marvelous connections
with other outposts on this here ship.
"Odd, that we never made use of that earlier," he mused. Then he
reconsidered. "On the other hand, maybe not. Anne liked to do things all
on her own. She told me of a former shipmate of hers who was like that,
too. Never trusted anyone else to do anything for her."
"Two Anne Murrays on one ship?" Melissa shuddered. "That sounds
ghastly, if you ask me."
"Well... this other one was apparently something of an enigma.
Elizabeth Wilson was her name. She was one of the most conscientious and
meticulous people in the Operations department on the ship, Anne said. But
very reserved, very quiet. Didn't like to talk with most people, much
happier with comoputers. Something about being judged. I still don't know
how they managed to communicate with each other."
"Common enemy," murmured Melissa, biting into her orange.
"What's that?"
"When you share difficulties," said Melissa calmly, "you grow
closer. That's why the kids who were on my gymnastics team and I are such
good friends. You know, there are *very* few experiences that bring people
together more than seven fractured ribs."
"Melissa, you never told me you broke seven ribs!"
"Guess why I quit when I was sixteen," said Melissa. She began to
peel an orange. "This one is for you, by the way. Anyway... yes, I was
getting tired of all the fractures. Besides, medical school beckoned."
"True." Derek accepted the orange. "So... you think I should turn
down this CSciO position or what?"
"Nah." Melissa popped another orange section into her mouth. She
chewed thoughtfully. "Just be sure you know what you're getting yourself
into, is all. I did the CMO thing for six years before I decided I didn't
like it. I wouldn't want you to do the same thing."
"Soemhow, I think you don't regret becoming a doctor."
"No, I think it was a wonderful idea. Being Chief Med is something
completely different, you know. Let the gifted administrator take care of
the paperwork, is my philosophy. Dr. L. is *excellent*. I'd trust her to
keep everyrhing in tip-top shape, and she'd cheerfully do all the mean nasty
things CMOs are supposed to do -- including taking care of people you really
don't like very much -- and she's a nice person besides. Me, I think I'm
nicer when I'm not Head Honcho."
"Really. You are so modest."
The next thing to hit Derek was a pillow.
Respectfully submitted,
Masako Goto
LT Derek Fielding, Ph.D.
CSciO
USS CHESAPEAKE NCC-31813
mgoto@indiana.edu
<<NRPG>>
All: If you all think I can go away for a whole week and precede it by a
dinky post like this... you're right! ;) I'll be working at the high school
bookstore for the next three days, then I'm going back to school on
Thursday. My suspicion is that I won't get much posting done, if at all,
until possibly Sunday. You may now cheer. :)
Takako: Does the word "euthanasia" mean anythuing to you? I'm seriously
getting sick of reading about how *incompetent* the command staff thinks
Wilson is. Is there a way she can get poisoned by accident or maybe thrown
out of the airlock? Doesn't Sian want a volunteer on whom to test the Borg
virus? *Anything* so I don't have to keep reading it... :(
Matthew: Carbon currents on hold until I figure out what is supposed to
happen with the Corellians... ;) I put the outpost thing in there so that
forty parsecs won't sound too weird; sorry if it's not a viable solution...
Melvin: Sereh is aCSciO as of 15.1730 or so, I think...
Jim: Please tell me if you want Derek down in Engineering for any reason;
also, if you'd like to tell me when would be a good time MD-wise, I can get
him to visit... ;)
Lynnaea: How's Rice treating you?
Fabian: Goodness, Oz seems to speak well with the Science Department...
he'll have to pay a visit to Karen sometime... ;)
Chris: Catherine has Melissa's respect and *then* some... and, of course,
our little friend is probably preparing flashcards even as we speak... first
series: "Cushing's Syndrome" "epinephrine" "hypertension" "cortisol" ;)
James: Hmmmmm... how do you define Auxiliary Department? I mean, is it part
of the Counseling Department or not? DIRCOUNS wants to know... ;)
Naomi: Did you want us to keep sending to your old address?
Greg: Here's GCD in its purest (?) form...
Trevin: So... tell me *all* about what ShipOres is on about... ;) Seriously,
though, what exactly *are* the contract status, anyway? Did ShipOres
actually *lease* some planets from the Corellians? <Masako is shocked>
But then again, his brain never seemed to function properly first thing in
the morning. Getting up puts a lot of stress on the mind as well.
-from "USS NEBULA: Morning Has Broken" (Mary Ann F. Harrison)
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Thought for the day: If you could have one wish, what would it be?
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