Clifton speaks with Miss Ogelthorpe / no tags

[Steve Bruin]

*** USS Odyssey / Guest Quarters ***

:: Clifton glanced over the data on the PADD he held, he went over a few final details and made certain to get into character.  At the moment he was heading toward the guest cabin of Miss Ogelthorpe, the woman who had beamed aboard at the same time as the miserable witch named Silva.  Having already checked Miss Ogelthorpe's personal record he had found that she was no more of a criminal than any other Federation citizen.  He had also made a few discreet digital inquiries about her past, some were to former employers in which he led them to believe he was a personnel director for some company to which Miss Ogelthorpe was applying for employment.  The other inquiries were to a few friends in Starfleet Security who could access records not generally known (due to the fact that they were available only on the Galactic Deep Web) , in both cases he found that Miss Ogelthorpe had never been involved, or even suspected, of anything more serious than violating a local noise ordinance at a graduation party years before when she had graduated from college. ::

:: Still though, he wanted to speak with her personally and ask a few questions, his only real reason for wishing to see her was to gauge her personality for himself, possibly also to flirt a bit with her too.  He knew she wasn't married, but that didn't mean she wasn't in a relationship, if that were the case then he would move forward and focus on nothing more than his professional duties. ::

:: He stoped at the door to her cabin and rang the chime. ::

:: Her voice answered through the comm. ::

Cynthia: =/\=  Yes, who is it? =/\=

Clifton: Security Chief Clifton, ma'am.

Cynthia: =/\= Is there a problem? =/\=

Clifton: No, I just have a a few questions.  We're running security checks on all civilians onboard, it's really just routine.

Cynthia: =/\= Okay, just give me a minute to get something on.  =/\=

:: A moment later the doors slid open and there stood Miss Ogelthorpe in a bathrobe and slippers, her hair was still wet and she looked to have just stepped out of the shower. ::

Clifton: Oh, sorry if I caught you at a bad time. I can come back later if you wish.

Cynthia: No. I just finished a bath and was sitting back reading an old story from a long time ago. 

:: She stepped back and motioned for him to enter, pointing at a vacant chair she offered him a seat without saying a word.  Clifton sat down, adjusted the PADD in his hands and cleared his throat. ::

Clifton: An old story, huh? Of what kind?

:: Cynthia took a seat on the sofa and adjusted the front of her robe. ::

Cynthia: An old detective story, Nero Wolfe to be exact, I suppose you've never heard of him but he was ... 

Clifton: Interrupting her : A fictional detective from the mid twentieth century, created by Rex Stout back in the days of pulp fiction. The mid nineteen-thirties to be precise, and he's one of my personal favorites. 

:: Seemingly impressed that anyone these days still enjoyed the antiquated detective stories from that far in the past, Cynthia flashed a smile toward Clifton. ::

Cynthia: I didn'tthink people these days even read E-books any more, much less old detective stories like Nero Wolfe and Ellery Queen.

Clifton: Oh yeah, I'm a big fan.  In fact I have a few programs for the holodeck that are in that old detective story vein.  No Nero Wolfe, I'm afraid, but a few more like Pat Novack.

Cynthia: Sounds like fun, if I have time before we reach my rendezvous, then by all means let's take a trip back to New York City in Nineteen Thirty-Seven.

Clifton: By all means, if time permits we shall.  Very well then, down to business.

Cynthia: Yes, you had some questions.

Clifton: Yes.  

:: Looking down at his PADD as if he were fumbling for information, Clifton spoke.

Clifton: Now, you were headed for the Aldeberran Colony, correct?

Cynthia: Well, not precisely.  I was to disembark at Aldeberran and then get a shuttle to one  of the colony planets.  My new job will be running a civilian transport company that moves between Federation and non-aligned planets.

Clifton: Still looking at his PADD.  Okay ... yes I see that now.  The Lahman Transport Company, owned by a civilian corporation on one of the non-aligned planets called M.E.R.  Hmm, I wonder what those letters stand for?

Cynthia: I don't know, but once I get started I can find out and let you know.

Clifton: So ... your basic job will be ..?

Cynthia: Management, over several human employees, some synths and quite a few robot ships that move cargo and personnel between planets in that region of space.

Clifton: Both Federation planets and otherwise, I suppose.

Cynthia: Yes, I am sure that is so.

Clifton: You said synths, eh?  Have you ever worked with them before?

Cynthia: From time to time, I've always found them to be trustworthy and fully deserving of constitutional rights.  Even though I'm sure a lot of humans would disagree with that viewpoint.

:: Okay, Clifton had learned one thing very clearly.  Miss Ogelthorpe was one of those people who objected to the fact that synths were not granted rights that were equal to those of a Federation citizen. For his part, Clifton saw no reason that such rights should be granted toi any form of life that was synthetic and not organic.  Of course, right now was not the time for a debate on such matters.  He was satisfied that Miss Ogelthorpe was no criminal.  He made small talk for a few minutes and then politely left.

Cmdr. Clifton

Security Chief

USS Odyssey