Artemis: Crew Evaluations
Dori
“Hi Patricia.” Samantha said cheerfully, walking into the XO’s office. She nodded to Destiny, who was sitting on a chair off to one side, working on a PADD, who got up and left. “I understand we’re not leaving you alone.”
Patricia nodded, sipping her tea and taking a deep breath.
“Yes. Did you hear the whole mess? They sent me a message last night. So now Emma and I have permanent transporter locks on us and not being left alone.” Patricia wrapped her hands around her mug. “Scared the hell out of me Sam, I don't mind telling you.”
“Destiny sent me a report.” Samantha said, sitting down and putting her stack of PADDs to one side. “But if you want, you’re welcome to tell me yourself.”
Trish’s knuckles turned white, she was gripping the mug that tight.
“Message said next time I won’t be so lucky.” Trish took a deep breath. “Sam, I was so scared...” She shuddered. “It brought everything back, the explosion, saying goodbye, the funeral.. Everything..”
Samantha took her hands and wrapped them around the hand holding the mug. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you. Besides, the shields are up, and they can’t beam you off with the shields up, or beam on. If we have to, we’ll surround you with marines any time we have to take the shields down, or put one of those portable shields we take down to planets around you. Whatever it takes. I know it’s scary, but that’s what they’re trying to do, because they know they can’t do anything else.”
“That’s true. I’m just glad everyone here has my back.” Trish swallowed hard. “But oh god Sam, for a minute there, I thought that they had gotten Emma...”
“I... ah... may have done a little background research on that woman from the agency who tried to turn you two away. If she’s involved, it’s highly unlikely she will target Emma, or let anyone else hurt your daughter.” Samantha said. “One thing she seems to care genuinely for are the children.”
Trish snorted and slowly put down her mug, and took Sam’s hands in hers.
“Not much of a redeeming feature, but it’s something. Oh Sam, what if it is her? What if she can do something to take Emma away from me?”
“She can’t. If it is her, she was arrested and is a fugitive from justice. No one can take Emma from you now, least of all someone who’s on the run after escaping Starfleet!”
Trish’s greatest fear was showing through.
“Are you sure Sam? Really, sure?”
“Yes. I saw the adoption papers. They’re fully binding. Legal. She’s your daughter.” Samantha replied. “I know you’re afraid of losing her, but you know what it’s like being on board a ship. It’s extremely difficult to get someone who belongs on it off of it without anyone knowing.”
Trish slowly nodded and then gave a small, slightly hysterical laugh and seemed to relax a little.
“Can you tell I’m a new parent?”
“Just a little.” Samantha said with a smile. “Don’t worry. We’re all pretty much making it up as we go along. You just have a little more to think about.”
Trish just snorted again and then gave her friend a smile.
“Truer words never spoken. Thank you Sam.” Trish took a deep breath and calmed herself down. “Okay, let’s get to work.”
“I made a list of all the crew evaluations that need to be done to bring us up to date.” Samantha took the top PADD off her pile. “Raefer and I used to do it at night in our quarters, after the girls were in bed. So we’re not really very far behind. Just a week or so. About a dozen names I guess. I have their files on these PADDs. We’ll have to check for any write ups or commendations over the past year, that kind of thing. The department heads are good at making our job pretty easy by this point.”
Patricia nodded and opened up the padds to get to work.
“How’s my replacement going? She’s ruffled a few feathers I hear, but she’s doing good.”
“I haven’t had any complaints, and trust me, I would be.” Samantha said. “It’s too early to do a proper evaluation on her yet. I know Bela’s keeping a close eye on her. That’s all for now.”
“Well that’s good then. I realised she had a point, I was doing a bit too much for everyone, and I wasn’t really doing my people any favours by not rotating them through other departments.” Trish shrugged slightly. “But we live and learn.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Samantha agreed. “Don’t let it get to you. The Operations department does have its own job to do as well, and you made sure they knew how to do it. Okay, we have a few engineers to go over.” she pulled out the file for the first one.
Several hours later they had finished a bit over half of them when Trish leaned back in her chair. She looked at her friend.
“I’m famished, some lunch?”
“Yes!” Samantha said emphatically. “You would not believe how hungry I am. I usually snack half the morning away and here I am, ignoring my stomach.”
Patricia stood up and moved to the replicator, quickly programming it for lunch.
“What do you fancy then?”
“A burger and fries.” Samantha replied. “And a cola.”
Trish got the food for her, and the same for herself. She sat the two trays down on her desk and smiled at Sam.
“Burgers and chips sound great.” Trish sat down and picked up her burger. “Except I have mine with pineapple and beetroot.”
“Pineapple I might be able to live with, but not beetroot.” Samantha said. “The thought of eating beetroot makes me feel a little green.” she picked up a fry and took a bite, then gave a closed-mouth smile.
“Its the Australian in me.” Trish grinned at her friend, pleased to have a moment of normalcy between friends.
“Of course it is. You guys are all nuts.” Samantha teased. “Putting beetroot on perfectly good burgers.”
“And fried eggs as well. Don’t forget that.” Trish grinned. “I”m so glad Emma isn’t a fussy eater. That way I can ensure she has a great variety of foods to enjoy. Plus it helps her Mum is an awesome cook.”
“Everyone eats fried eggs on everything. My dad used to put them on burgers he grilled at home.” Samantha said with a grin as she dug into her sandwich. As soon as she could, she added “he made sure to cook the yolks through, though. Otherwise we always made a mess with them.”
“Personally I like runny eggs, but I never eat them when on duty, because of exactly that.” Trish grinned at her as she bit into her burger. “We’ll have to have a good old fashioned Australian BBQ once things have settled down. The kids will have a great time on the property, without all the deadly distractions the Australian outback.”
“Maybe we can do it at my family’s farm. Iowa is a lot safer than the Outback.” Samantha suggested. “Or did you mean here on the ship?”
“Here on the ship.” Trish’s smile faded slightly. “Only place I feel really safe at the moment.”
“I’m sorry.” Samantha said, looking down at her plate.
Trish reached over and put her hand on Sam’s.
“Don’t be. I have to accept that it is my new normal for a while at least.”
“At least for the next short while, we’ll be deep in space. Going back to Earth will be more than just a jaunt.” Samatha said, giving her friend a small smile before helping herself to more food.
Trish nodded and picked up her burger again.
“True. Now, eat up. We’ve still got a few reports to do.”
“Yes ma’am.” Samantha said, and they began eating without conversation.
About ten minutes later they had cleaned up and they got back to work.
End