Cmdr, Clifton / returning home

[Steve Bruin]

   *** USS Odyssey / Clifton's cabin ***

:: Clifton entered his cabin, glad to be back home and looking forward to seeing Bruno again.  As he entered through the doors he heard a familiar, female voice speak. ::

Kathy:  Hello, I heard you were going to be back abaord soon.

:: The young woman was Lt. Kathy Sylvestri, an up and coming science officer and the person he had asked to take care of Bruno back when this whole affair had first started.  It was funny in a way that their mission had spanned several weeks in the other dimension, yet here in this universe only 5 days had passed. ::

Clifton: with a smile : Hello Kathy, looks like you cleaned up the place a bit while I was away ... thanks. 

Kathy: Yes I did, and I found this.

:: With something of a disapproving look on her face she handed him a case containing a holo-disc program, and it was one whose title she found inappropriate. ::

Kathy: Shaking her head : "Female Romulan Gladiator Love Slaves", you ought to be ashamed of yourself, taking part on programs like this.

Clifton: Well ... I just purchased it for the redeeming, social value.

Kathy: Handing him the case : Yes, I'm sure a program like this is just filled with social value.

Clifton: Oh, and thanks for taking care of Bruno while I was gone.

:: About that moment Bruno ran from the bedroom, full speed and almost leapt into the air at the joy of seeing Clifton again. He smiled and rubbed Bruno's underbelly while the slime devil went almost crazy with happiness.

Kathy: Oh, about that.

:: Somehow Clifton had expected a bit of bad news in regard to his pet, after all it was usually characteristic of his clawed companion. ::

Kathy: Somehow he escaped one day, I don't know how because I locked the door when I left.  Anyway he found his way to Mister Roselli's cabin a few doors away.  He shredded one of his chairs, ate three boxes of cookies, one dozen raw eggs, one head of lettuce, one batch of celery and an entire 5 pound bag of brown sugar.  Safe to say, you'll be hearing a few complaints from Mister Roselli very soon.

Clifton: Yeah, I imagine so.  Well, thanks for taking care of him.

:: Kathy smiled and said that it was no problem, she then quickly left in order to get back to her own affairs. Once he was alone with Bruno, Clifton dropped on to the sofa as his buddy climbed into his lap. ::

Clifton: I missed you, ya know.  Three whole boxes of cookies? Are you a Denebian Slime Devil or a farm pig?

:: Now having his first real chance to unwind, he reflected back on the mission and how Morgana had enticed him to help her by offering him the one thing he could not resist, a chance to get his old life back.  Had it not been for Johanna's quick thinking the evil Morgana would have succeeded, there weren't many people in the galaxy that could con him, but Morgana had been able to read his inner thoughts and offer him the one thing he had not been able to refuse.  Luckily Johanna had exposed her and the vile Morgana had admitted that she never intended to do anything for him.