Answers

Posted on 14 Jan 2013 @ 11:49am by
Edited on on 14 Jan 2013 @ 12:21pm

2,975 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 02 - Resupply
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Stone's Quarters
Timeline: MD 16 2100 hours

Jeremy caught the ball nanoseconds before Sidi's jaws clicked on empty air. He landed and followed the hand where the ball was, his front lowered and ears perked forward. Jeremy tossed the ball in a different direction, bouncing it off the floor and then the wall. He barely managed to avoid fangs as he snatched it again.

Sidi barked as he landed again, rebounding off the wall. He ran around the back of Jeremy, tangling Jeremy's legs in the lead. Jeremy turned to disentangle himself, once again throwing the ball, this time against the back wall of the turbolift. It came to a stop as he tossed, the doors opening. Jeremy dropped the lead as the ball went out the doors. Sidi rushed out after it, following it as it bounced off the wall and down the corridor.

==^==Lieutenant Stone, incoming subspace for you==^==

Jeremy frowned unsure who would be sending him a message this late. Sidi came back to him, shoving his hand with his snout as he dropped the ball at his feet. Jeremy tapped his commbadge. "I'll take it in my quarters." He inputted the code as he snatched the ball from the floor. Sidi barked once as Jeremy inputted the code to open the door while the officer transferred the call.

Sidi followed him in, whining as he watched the ball still in Jeremy's hand.

The terminal at his desk indicated the waiting subspace call waiting to be answered. Jeremy placed the chair near the door, constantly tripping the sensors. The kennel and contents sat in the middle of the living area, waiting to be put away. Jeremy frowned at that, trying to consider where he might place the kennel in the quarters. He considered the size of it and Sidi's needs. The bathroom seemed like the best choice. He figured it just might fit next to the sonic shower.

"Canine nutritional supplement number twenty-two," Jeremy said to the replicator as he removed the lead and dropped it on the counter. The packet of beef flavored bone shaped biscuits appeared in the replicator and Jeremy grabbed them before ordering a large ice tea for himself.

Sidi sniffed at the packet, conflicted. He wanted his chew-ball but there was also more food-smell. Good food-smell. His mouth watered at these. He liked them very much and it always seemed to make the others happy to give them to him. He liked it when he could make them happy and get one of the beef-treats. He whined as Man-smell moved away from him.

"Sit" Man-smell said, holding one of the beef-treats. Sidi noticed his ball had been put away and that made him sad. he liked playing with the ball. He wanted more of the ball. But he sat on his haunches, looking at the beef-treat, waiting for it. Man-smell tossed it up in the air and Sidi jumped, catching it neatly, almost expecting Man-smell to try to snatch it away. Another game like when he would snatch the ball before Sidi could get it.

Jeremy rolled the top of the package as he turned to his desk, letting Sidi crunch the biscuit to nothing while he answered the subspace. "Chief!" he said, coming as close to smiling as he had since arriving at Galileo.

"Jeremy," Alexander said turning back to the screen. Jeremy recognized the Chief's office behind him and his smile faded. He glanced over to see Sidi was exploring their quarters, his nose working double time. "You're looking tired. What time is it there?"

"2100, sir," Jeremy answered with just a quick flick of his wrist.

"Oh, Jeremy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll call back tomorrow."

"Interrupt me, sir?" Jeremy asked, frowning. He wasn't aware of being interrupted. "I've just returned to my quarters."

Alexander smiled but in that patrician way Jeremy remembered. "2100 hours, you have just finished clearing your milk glass and are about to prepare for bed. I'll call back tomorrow. I'd hate to interrupt your schedule."

"No," Jeremy said, "I'm..." he checked the chrono. That explained the vague unease that permeated him since leaving the Arboretum. "I've got a late Bridge shift tonight. The Galileo is launching offworld tonight."

"Off-world?" Alexander asked, smiling now. "That's gotta be something, a starship launching from a land port. I've never had the pleasure. I envy you the experience. Make sure to take notes, it's something you'll want to remember."

"Yes, sir," Jeremy said, looking at the edge of the screen. It reminded him of his conversation with Lt. Coleman and the neural interface to his PADD. It was something he still had to look into, as well. He also had a manual to read on the PADD, music to listen to from Meridian and...training to go through as a K-9 handler. Not to mention finishing reports for Holliday and his normal duties. He realized just how much of a work crush he was under.

"I'm returning your call, Jeremy," Alexander said. "The answer is no."

"No, sir?" Jeremy asked. He scowled as he looked up at the screen. Alexander appeared serious.

"Your question, about your position here as my assistant?" Alexander prodded, his voice full of patience. He was a man who had grown accustomed to Jeremy.

"Yes," Jeremy said, remembering the subspace call he placed this morning. He remembered how important it was to him to get off the ship and return to a place and life he knew - one that was comfortable and routine. "It's been filled?"

"Not permanently, yet," Alexander said, "Though Skeogh is doing admirable as a temp. But that's not the whole point of my answer. I'm telling you, no, I'm not going to let you come back here."

"Sir?" Jeremy asked, his eyes finding the bottom edge of the screen. "I thought I performed well as your aSec? Didn't I?"

"Jeremy," Alexander said, lowering his voice. Raising three children gave him an idea of how to handle Jeremy. In some ways, he needed to be treated in the same manner. "I couldn't have asked for a better assistant chief, at the end. Skeogh is having a hard time of it because the department came to get used to your ways and now they're trying to readjust again. It's not a matter that I don't believe in you and your capability. It's because I believe in you that I have to say no."

Jeremy's lips pressed tight. "But, Chief," Jeremy said, almost whining. "I don't understand. If I performed that well why can't I come back?" Something nagged at him but he continued to stare at the bottom of the screen. "It's...been difficult. I'm not able to be a chief. I'm best as an assistant. I'm best as your assistant."

Jeremy missed the light sigh from Alexander. "Jeremy, I spoke with Mulgrew."

Jeremy scowled now but didn't look up. He swallowed hard.

"He's worried about you. He told me that things didn't go well in your conversation yesterday."

Jeremy's brows furrowed. "I..." his hands closed into fists. He glanced at the heavy bag. It taken some time to get it cleaned of the blood. His hands still showed the damage from he could only speculate was from yesterday. He knew it was a bad day but he didn't remember speaking with Mulgrew at all.

"You're not taking your medication, Jeremy? We've talked about that several times. I know you don't think it's necessary but you do so much better when you keep on it. And counseling. Jeremy, you were so conscientious about that."

"Chief, I...ran out of meds and got them refilled yesterday. And I...I started counseling again tonight. She's...young and...I don't know. I like Mulgrew, I should be able to stay with Mulgrew." Jeremy said, looking around, trying to figure out what was bothering him. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, the door was still open as it should be, his quarters were in their proper place. Except for the large kennel sitting in the middle of the living area.

"Jeremy I-" he stopped as he watched Jeremy stand and move out of view of the screen. He sighed, he recognized the look well. Some other thought had gotten into his head and pushed out all other considerations.

Jeremy looked around the living area. He'd already glanced in the bedroom and found it empty. The door to the kennel was closed so Sidi hadn't gone in there. "Sidi?" he called standing in front of the desk. His quarters weren't so large, there weren't that many places for him to hide. Where could he be? He grabbed the package of treats, expecting to see Sidi coming out for one. "Sidi?" he asked, not hearing Alexander calling for him on the screen. Jeremy frowned. Where was he? There wasn't any place in the quarters for him to hide. Jeremy went to the bedroom and checked on the other side of the bed.

Absently he called up his wrist PADD and transferred the call to it.

"Jeremy?" Alexander asked.

"He's gone," Jeremy said. "He was just here now he's gone." He left the bedroom, scrubbing his head. "Where could he go?"

"Who?" Alexander asked. "Jeremy, what's happening?"

"I've lost him! How could I have lost him? We're on a ship! We're in my quarters!" Jeremy spun around searching his quarters again. There was the lead on the counter (where it shouldn't be - it was not a proper place to put it) and the kennel proving it all happened, Sidi existed. But now he was gone as if he had just been a figment.

"Lost who?" came the voice from his wrist.

"Sidi!" Jeremy said, exasperated. He went and looked behind the couch. He opened the kennel and looked inside, maybe he put him away and didn't remember it. That was a possibility.

"This was a mistake!" he said, rubbing his head again. "They should have known it was a mistake!"

"Jeremy, listen to me. That's an order."

Jeremy stopped and lifted his wrist to look at the screen. "Sir?" However, as he did his eyes landed on the doorway. The open doorway. He left his quarters open! "The door, Chief. I left the door open!"

"Yes," Alexander said. "I remember that you get upset when you're in a closed room. But, Jeremy, that's normal for you. Why does it upset you now?"

"Because," he said, moving out of his quarters and looking down the corridor. "Sidi was able to get out." He pulled the PADD off his wrist and activated the screen, enlarging it. He minimized the subspace call and brought up the security system, quickly inputting Sidi's ident as well as his own. Immediately he saw that Sidi was still located on Deck 2. Jeremy shut down the system, bringing Alexander back up while he turned right.

"Sidi?" Alexander asked, perplexed. He hadn't realized how much he should have been concerned. Mulgrew only said that Jeremy was very upset, very angry and had suffered a breakdown and regression. But apparently it had gone further. "Okay, Jeremy, I'll see what I can do about helping you to come back."

Jeremy stopped as he came around a corner and saw Sidi standing next to the door to the Mess Hall, sniffing at the bottom, his tail wagging happily.

"Sidi heel," he commanded. Sidi's head came up and he turned, quickly, trotting back to Jeremy, his tongue lolling and seeming to grin. Once at him, he danced on his hind legs finally reaching up to wrap his front paws around Jeremy's waist. Jeremy stood stiffly as Sidi pressed his head against Jeremy's chest.

Jeremy went to a knee, bringing Sidi down to his paws. "Don't do that," Jeremy said. "You are not to wander the ship without me. You are not to leave the quarters without me!" He didn't hear the note of near panic in his voice, but realized he sounded angry.

Sidi looked up at him, his brown eyes questioning, wondering what he might have done that was so wrong. He just went exploring, following smells. That's what they wanted him to do. That's what made them happy and when they were happy they gave him the ball! He came forward, nudging Man-smell. Man-smell had his ball and Sidi wanted it. He wanted t play.

"Jeremy?" Alexander said, peering out of the screen. "You have a pet?" The surprise in his voice caught even Jeremy's attention.

"No, Chief. He's a security dog, tasked with patrol and detection. I don't have pets. I am told I am unable to make the connections necessary for interpersonal interactions." He ruffled Sidi's fur as he spoke. "Sidi is a member of my department. Not a pet. Just a security dog."

"And he's staying in your quarters?"

"Yes," Jeremy said, checking to make sure Sidi wasn't harmed. Jeremy didn't see any wounds or blood, Sidi didn't appear sensitive in any areas, except to Jeremy's checking. "Commander Holliday thought I should be a handler. He..." Jeremy stood and looked at Sidi. "No, Sidi, you won't get your ball. You were bad, you shouldn't have left our quarters. You can't be wandering around on your own. You were a bad dog. Bad, bad dog."

Alexander laughed, no, he can't make connections he thought. "Jeremy. I'm going to let you go so you can take care of your personnel issues. I'll call you again in a few days, check on how things are going. But," he paused, "I'm going to stand firm. I'm not going to let you come back. You need to give it a chance there. Work things out."

Jeremy blinked. "Chief?" He spoke as he stood, patting his thigh to get Sidi to heel and follow him back to his quarters.

"It's the best thing, Jeremy. Give it a good try. You have to understand that things will be hard in the beginning. Those people don't know you yet. It's a period of adjustment for all of you. Just like it happened here. Do you remember how many problems you had here?"

"No," Jeremy said, glancing down every other step to make sure Sidi was still with him. He stopped and frowned. "I...they...it wasn't bad. Was it?"

Alexander chuckled. "That depends, you consider torches and pitchforks bad? Jeremy, everyone here wanted to have you shot out of a torpedo tube! You threatened to arrest the station commander's daughter within hours of starting duty - for littering when she missed a refuse bin."

"No," Jeremy said, "it wasn't for littering...she..." he searched the hallway, before bringing up the wrist PADD again to flow through the screens. "She got hostile and assaulted me."

Alexander sighed. "Yes, but it started over littering. That was only the first thing. The first month here I spent more time covering for you than doing anything else."

Jeremy saw the open door of his quarters and strode in. "You did? Why didn't you say anything?" he blinked as he came into his quarters and checked the time, not wanting to be late for tonight's duty shift.

"I did. Every day. Multiple times a day. Jeremy, you thought I hated you in the beginning, you were in my office so much."

Jeremy frowned. "Sir, I have nothing but respect and admiration for you. You were...you are one of my biggest advocates. I..." he stopped as he swallowed. "I'm trying to be the Chief that you are."

It was Alexander's turn to blink and be quiet for a few moments. Jeremy grabbed the chair from the door and put it back at the table, noting the door closing and Sidi on the proper side of it. "Jeremy, that's good to hear. I appreciate it. But, you need to be your own Chief. You're not me. You're not wired that way. Be your own chief, Jeremy."

Jeremy closed his eyes and shook his head. Sidi wrapped his front paws around his waist again, his nose nudging the pocket with his ball. "Sir, I don't know how."

"Yeah, Jeremy, you do. You're still a force to be reckoned with here. You left quite a mark in ways I could never dream. As I said, Skeogh is having his own problems trying to live in your shadow. You can do this, Jeremy. It seems I'm not the only one of your superiors that has faith that you can."

"I don't understand?" Jeremy said.

Alexander chuckled as he shrugged. "Maybe not right now. But, I tell you something, it's a good idea. You and that working dog. It's something I wish I had thought of doing. It's a great idea. Having security dogs." he smiled, unsure if Jeremy would understand the context of emphasis, even though he knew that his former aSec would pick up on it in some manner. "I'll call in a few days. And Jeremy?"

"Yes, sir," Jeremy said, disappointed he was being denied the transfer request despite the reason why.

"You should learn to live with a closed door now. Unless you want to keep chasing your personnel through the hallways."

"Yes, sir," Jeremy said, glancing over to make sure the door was closed. Sidi whined as he pawed at Jeremy's pocket. "I think you're right."

"Goodbye, Jeremy. I'll talk to you in a few days."

Jeremy hit the disconnect button ending the call. He went to the living area and considered the gear transported into his quarters. All for Sidi. He considered it all again. He stared at the kennel, taking in the wired, caged front of it. That was where Sidi was supposed to be kept? Jeremy shuddered. He hated cages and didn't think Sidi would be too fond of it either. But...he sighed again...rules were rules.

RSS Feed