Ensign Richard Matthews – Breaking and Entering, Technically, Yes. Pt. 2
Matthew Gough
((Starfleet Headquarters, California))
Richard had the portal open to the main directory. Scanning over the different links, he scrolled down to the bottom then back up to the top of the screen. Then he slowly scrolled back down until. There! He clicked, scrolled up and down again looking for a specific link designated by an icon. Clicked again. Repeating the process a few more times.
Matthews: And there.
Student: But I want to do the Enterprise!
Teacher: We’ll assign ships at random if you don’t behave.
Matthews: Hey, kid, look up the Vigilant.
The kid just gave him a dirty look and turned back to his friends. Arguing over lesser ships, in his humble opinion. Richard just shook his head. Kids today. If he was to mention the Darwin, would they even focus on how cool that type of ship was. Or would they make fun of the look? Like he and a few of his friends had also done when they had been transferred to her.
Eh, it was the kids, they were the problem! Richard told himself. Unwittingly joining the ranks of old people who unreasonably blamed the next generation for everything.
Computer: Warning, error, incorrect access -
Richard jabbed a button, cutting the computer off. Then he thumbed the volume down, way down, and put in the access he’d ‘borrowed’ from another old friend that he knew was currently at Starfleet today. He’d have to look them up too, later, bring them a surprise gift as a thank-you/sorry. Not that he’d tell them thank you, or sorry for using their access like this. But still. For his own peace of mind.
Student: Don’t you know how to use the computer?
Richard glanced down at the kid. Then choosing to not get into a fight with a child. Turned back to what he was doing. Using the access with higher clearance. He was able to move forward. A quick glance around to make sure no one was snooping on him. Including annoying kids who didn’t know to mind their own business. And Richard quickly got to work with his search.
Student: But I don’t want to do the Chin'toka! I want to do the Enterprise!
Student: No I want to do the Enterprise!
Richard spared the small fight that was brewing a quick look. Annoying. But the kiddos were providing excellent distractions. That was, they were providing excellent distractions if Richard needed it. He didn’t though. He was just being paranoid. Still -
Matthews: You guys should do the Astraeus. Their captain is a cat.
As the small group of kids dissolved into more shouting. Now with a large vocal outcry for the kitty ship. Richard pulled out a small camera. Working quickly, he started clicking the button. Talking pictures of the display screen as he scrolled through and navigated between different files under the science department's space time anomaly division. There was a lot. Way too much for him to stand around reading now.
He’d take pictures quickly and as unassumingly as possible. Get out of there, Head off to get Ezra’s gift, which he planned to be a gift for Lady, and take a peak at the files along the way. Maybe he’d pre-game before the party! Mind, pre-gaming for Richard meant getting a head start on snacking. He wasn’t a drinker. But now that he thought of it. Grabbing a bite to eat before heading to the club was perhaps smart. Chances were they wouldn’t serve food.
Teacher: Okay now, Okay now, children, children please -
Student: I want to do the cat ship!
Student: No, I want to do the cat ship!
Student: I want to do the Enterprise!
Teacher: QUIET!
Even Richard froze at that loud command. He turned his head to watch the teacher, a young woman, flush in embarrassment when all eyes turned on her. She waved, said ‘sorry’ to everyone and started to herd her class away. It was the perfect time for Richard to make his exit as well. Making sure to log out and do a quick little trick to cover his digital tracks. Richard made to head in the opposite direction of the loud group of children. Who had started up with their argument again. Yes, it was the long way around to get out of there. But he couldn’t pass up the perfect distraction. And he didn’t want to risk someone remembering him with the rambunctious group of kids that everyone was watching and chuckling at.
Matthews: Oh my nerves. I was not built for cloak and dagger stuff.
NT/END
_________
Ensign Richard Matthews
Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A238908RM0