Intellectual Jet Lag

Posted on 09 Jun 2014 @ 7:23am by Lieutenant Oren Idris Ph.D.

742 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: DS9, Docking port
Timeline: MD03 - 0900hrs

[ON]

"I can't believe it's been a year," the static-filled voice spoke over the comm system as Oren walked through the crowded promenade of DS9 on his way to the docks. "Yeah, I know, time flies when you're having fun," Oren joked, approaching the dock master. "I'm about to board my new ship, I'll call you when I get settled okay?"

"Don't forget like you forget to reply to messages!"

"I won't! And those messages never arrived." Oren argued, "I love you. Bye!" Cutting off the connection without waiting for a reply, he placed his communicator into his jacket pocket before smiling at the dock master.

"Good morning! Could you please direct me to where the Galileo is docked?" he asked politely in his usual, cheery tone. The dock master - a tall, brutish looking man with rolled up uniform sleeves, sized Oren up.

"And you are?"

"Dr. Oren Idris," the El Aurian replied, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. He motioned to the paDD in the man's hand. "I'm on the manifest," he added confidently.

The NCO looked at him skeptically. "Right...well, doctor," He emphasized the last word, making Oren think he wasn't using the title seriously. But Oren was used to it. His looks often get him mistaken for an adolescent human, so not being taken seriously wasn't foreign to him. "The Galileo isn't here anymore. She left like....three days ago."

"No it didn't," Oren said automatically, frowning.

The man looked taken aback. "Yes...it did." He repeated, speaking more slowly now.

"But...you..." Oren sighed, confused. How could the Galileo have left? It didn't make any sense.

"Okay...listen, I'm sure you're incredibly skilled at you job," Oren said, not wanting to be misunderstood. "But I believe you may have made a mistake. The Galileo has to be here."

The NCO sighed and Oren could tell he was getting frustrated with his insistence. "Okay, listen, it's a ship. I'd notice if there was an extra ship in my docks. And there isn't."

"But I was supposed to board it! Please, can you just check one more time? It would have arrived today. See?" Oren dug through his bag, pulling out a paDD with his assignment boarding instructions. He handed it to the officer, giving him his best slightly pathetic, desperate smile.

The man shook his head, muttering something about civilians that Oren decided to not comment on. He watched him, impatient, as he read through the paDD.

"Wait...."

Oren perked up, hopeful that he'd been right and the NCO was just really bad at his job.

"This order is dated three days ago."

Oren frowned. "What? No, see? That's today." The short scientist pointed at the stardate.

"No. It isn't. Are you alright, sir? Do you need to go to Sickbay?" The NCO asked, concerned.

Oren didn't reply, reaching into his bag again and taking out his planner paDD. Once it loaded, Oren was still perplexed with the date. "Wh..." he began when the NCO, who'd been standing at his side, reached over and pressed the 'update' button on the main menu. Immediately, the date changed and Oren personal correspondence updated once the paDD's system synched with DS9's. Sure enough, he was three days late to the Galileo and he had 47 unread messages.

"Oh..." Oren frowned, then looked up guiltily at the NCO. Seeing that the man trying not to laugh, Oren rolled his eyes.

"I travel a lot. And, believe it or not, the entire Universe doesn't run on UFP time."

"Whatever," the NCO said, shaking his head. "So...can I schedule you for the next shuttle that can take you close to the Galileo?"

Not wanting to give the man the pleasure such an action would undoubtedly provide, Oren shook his head. "No. No, thank you." He cleared his throat. "After a day like this, I'd rather not subject myself to traveling on some shoddy, half-recycled tin can you people are trying to pass as a shuttle. No matter how many vaccinations I have. So, I'm going to a private company, where they treat people as...you know, people," he finished ungracefully.

"Yeah, you do that." The NCO nodded.

"I hope you have a good day," Oren told him, throwing his paDD into the bag and starting to leave the dicking port.

"Already there," the NCO called back, making Oren just walk faster.

[OFF]

Oren Idris, PhD
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

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