Lt Alex Storm - The Beard Was Better
Karen Morris
((USS Artemis, Deck 4, Storm’s Quarters))
Alex sat lounging barefoot on her couch, her fingers clenched the edges of a PADD, and her eyes swept across line after line of a holonovel. Her knees scrunched up, her jaw clenched, and her finger moved to sweep the lines upward to read the next paragraphs, when a foghorn blared at her from across the room at her computer terminal. Well, in the silence of her mind, it felt as loud as a foghorn. She juggled the PADD between both of her hands until she got a grip on it and set it down.
Storm: Computer, turn off the alarm.
The computer, unmoved by the sway that her holonovel had over her emotions at that moment, beeped cold acknowledgment.
With a sigh, she asked...
Storm: How long until my appointment?
Computer: Five minutes.
Storm: Maybe I should just cancel it.
Computer: Would you like me to contact Doctor Bancroft and tell him you are unwilling to come? Or would you like me to reschedule?
Alex’s feet slipped over the edge of her couch, and her toes burrowed into the carpet. If she didn’t show, she wouldn’t put it past Roy to go all ‘search and rescue’ on her. Though he would be doing the searching, and she’d likely have to rescue him … from herself in her jovial irritation at his summons. Her eyes sparkled at the thought.
Storm: He can remove me from duty for not showing up, though.
Alex paused and groaned loudly as she stood up.
Storm: Okay, Fine. I’m going. Don’t send him any messages, and don’t reschedule.
Her eyes glanced at the door, and then down at her bare feet, and then back to the door. With a glint that she couldn’t squelch, she strode through the door of her quarters sans shoes.
(( Primary Sickbay, Deck 7 – USS Artemis-A ))
Five minutes later, she stepped up to the sickbay’s doors - which graciously parted for her - she imagined with a slight bow in acknowledgment to her presence along with their greeting of an accompanying whoosh. She stepped inside. Her feet felt the cold of the tile floor. She drew her toes inward. But as the cold assaulted her feet, the disinfectant odor that permeated the room laid siege to her nose. But a voice broke through her reverie.
Bancroft: Response
She glanced in Roy’s direction, and her graceful smile fell just a little. Alex gave him a polite nod.
Storm: Good afternoon, Doctor Bancroft.
Bancroft: Response
Storm: Oh. It’s nothing much. It’s just … you shaved your beard off.
Bancroft: Response
Alex shrugged.
Storm: I dunno. I kinda liked it.
Bancroft: Response
~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2