Getting To Know You
Bob Martens
Bob skimmed over the next batch of personnel files and sighed … once again, all of them were highly qualified but most had a "rap sheet" a mile long. Most were minor infractions, but usually there was some larger infraction that had resulted in disciplinary action and … this assignment.
"So we're getting highly skilled, but also unwanted, crew. Makes sense when you consider who their commander is," Bob sighed. He looked though Davidson's bio again and saw it, as clean as day. "A temper," Bob said to himself, "and he ended up assaulting his commanding officer. Isn't that just great. Looks like I'll be speaking with him at some point about the incident."
'It will be interesting to see how this group of individuals will be able to come together through all of this,' Bob thought to himself. 'So many individuals. I hope that Tank find enough to work wit here or else we are going to be in for some interesting times.'
Bob stood up and walked to the door, with a reassuring sound the doors parted and Bob stepped out into the hall … only to almost get run over by a crewman carrying supplies to that area. Sparks flew a little further down the hall, reminding Martens that this was still an active work area.
A piece of hull was moved into place as he was watching, blotting out the view of the hanger from inside the ship. It was both reassuring and disconcerting at the same time.
"Sir," an unknown ensign said as he evaded people on the deck. "Lt. Commander Davidson has requested your presence on the bridge."
Bob nodded solemnly, looks like he would be having that discussion sooner rather than later. "Thank you Ensign … "
"Embridge, sir."
"Embridge. I'm headed there right now."
With that, Ensign Embridge took off down the corridor, obviously getting back to whatever duties he was assigned. Most were pulling double shifts to try and get work done since they were not able to pull from the base's reserves.
Bob stood in front of the bridge doors, to no avail. For maybe ten seconds he stood there until someone was kind enough to let him know that they were currently out of commission. A young female lieutenant pointed him to an access panel that was opened on the wall and bid farewell.
"A little tight maybe, but nothing I can't manage."
A head popped out on the bridge, looked around and then the rest of Bob's body followed suit. Swinging his legs onto the solid deck, Bob nodded in the direction of the only person currently there … Lt. Commander Davidson.
"I knew you'd look over my bio as soon as you had a chance," Davidson said as he turned away from his captain. "It was going to come up at some point, but I wasn't exactly sure when it was going to happen, but you've forced my hand … in a sense."
Bob was taken aback at the phrase 'forced my hand'. "I'm not sure what you mean, Lt. Commander … I was going to bring it up at some point, but I don't think any of us are blameless here. We all have our marks, and the scars to prove it."
Davidson turned around with a phaser in his hand, not pointed at anyone or anything, but there nonetheless.
"You don't get it! Assaulting an officer … not to mention your commanding officer!? That should get you kicked out of the Fleet, but not this time … oh, no. There is always another way to get what you want, right … sir?"
At this point, Bob was a little concerned with where this was going. He dropped his hand ever so slightly as to allow himself the quickest access to his small personal phaser he had on his self at all times.
"Normally, I would agree. Someone obviously saw something in you and decided that you deserve another chance."
"Another chance … really? You don't believe that. There is always a price for things like this, always an expectation that you will scratch the back of those who need it. That's the way it works, that's the way it has always worked."
'Cover … right there,' Bob thought as his eyes hit the single chair in the middle of the room. It would only last for a single burst, but it would be enough. All he would need is the opportunity to get there. 'Just move slowly and don't threaten him at all.'
"So they make you strike a deal … and then you wait. You do as your told. You move on and accept whatever fate comes to you."
'They?' The word stuck in his head. "Who made you strike a deal?" Bob asked, hoping that maybe he would get an answer.
"They do … they always do. They strike it but they don't tell you everything you need to know. They don't tell you what the price is."
"Who, commander!?" Bob finally yelled as he crept into position.
Davidson turned and locked eyes with Bob. "No. This is not how it works, captain. You've been meddling enough, and it is time to end this."
A split second later and it wouldn't have worked, but it had just been enough time. As Davidson's hand shot up to fire, Bob had already put himself into a roll behind the chair. Completing it and pulling his own personal phaser up, he fired off a shot and hit Lt. Commander Davidson firmly in the chest, knocking the man back and into the helm console.
Moving and thinking quickly, Bob darted from behind the chair and quickly made it way to the helm console where Lt. Commander Davidson was unconscious, but alive.
Tapping his commbadge, Bob really hoped that it would work like he wanted. "This is Captain Martens, I need a security detail up on the bridge yesterday. Bring restraints."
"Aye sir," was all he got on the other end before he turned back to Lt. Commander Davidson and jumped back as the other man shimmered as the transporter dematerialized him. Which transporter it was and who was operating it was a mystery … but within ten seconds Davidson's body was gone.
The security detail popped its head into the bridge about ten seconds after that.
Bob took a seat in his chair and let his heart calm down before he got back to work. He checked his roster again and saw that Lt. Commander Davidson was off of it … along with the whole of his bio missing from the database.
Leaning back into his chair, a huge sign was let go and Bob tried to clear his mind. It didn't work.
Sincerely,
Bob Martens
http://bobmartens.net
@boblmartens