by Ensign Shayne Todd
80709.17
Concurrent with A Fate Worse than Death
-= Earth =-
80709.17
Concurrent with A Fate Worse than Death
-= Earth =-
With an average size duffle slung over her shoulder, Shayne approached who she thought would be the one that would get her in the right line to transport to the Serendipity. The Lieutenant looked all official with his oversized padd and laser pointer.
"Excuse me?" Shayne asked as she strode up to the man. "Where do I go to board the ship I've been assigned?"
"Orders," he stated in a less than enthusiastic tone.
"Flight Control Officer, USS Serendipity," Shayne replied calmly.
"Your written orders," the man sighed.
"Oh, right." Shayne reached into her bag and produced the padd that contained her Starfleet Assignment Orders. "Here ya go."
"Hmm," the Lieutenant nearly snorted. "Down the corridor, fourth transporter padd on you left."
"Thank you," Shayne retrieved the padd.
"Mmm hmmm," the man replied. "Next?"
-= Transporter Room =-
"Next!" Came the call from around the corner as Shayne made her way down the wide hallway. She saw another young man standing behind the transporter control console, also looking like he would rather be anywhere else other than here.
"I guess that would be me," Shayne said after looking around the area and seeing no one else waiting to be magically whisked away to some exotic locale.
"Orders?" came the same stagnant statement as the previous officer she'd encountered. Shayne waited patiently for him to read the contents of the padd. He then began pressing a series of buttons on the console. "USS Serendipity, this is Starfleet Assignment Corps Transporter Area Four, requesting permission for one to transport aboard. The name is Todd, first name Shayne, rank Ensign. Please confirm."
[This is the Serendipity, permission to beam one aboard granted.]
"Acknowledged," the man replied, having gone through this procedure more than a thousand times just this shift. "Step on the pad please."
"Sure thing," Shayne frowned. She expected more excitement... more pomp and circumstance... more something from Starfleet.
"Prepare to energize." This was the last thing that Shayne heard before she left Earth.
-= Serendipity Transporter Room =-
"Ensign Todd," the chief nodded to her as she stepped off the pad.
"Unless I'm wearing someone else's underwear," Shayne replied with a smile.
"Funny," came the reply. "Listen, you were due three hours ago. You better hustle or you'll miss the bus."
"Bus?" Shayne asked with a confused look on her face. "What bus?"
"You don't know?"
Shayne shook her head. "Apparently not."
"You're on the list to be on the Alchemy, it'll be leaving any minute," the chief explained. "Figures."
The chief quickly explained that her name was on the list of officers that would be departing the Serendipity. He told her the shortest route and how fast to get there.
-= Alchemy Bay =-
"Wait for me!" Shayne yelled as she ran as fast as her legs would carry her. "Don't leave without me!"
Two officers standing outside the craft looked at her like she had completely lost her mind.
"Whoa, whoa," one of the pair stuck out his hand. "Where do you think you're going?"
"In there," Shayne replied between gasps after she had skidded to a stop just short of mowing them down.
"I don't think so," the second stated firmly. "Just who are you anyway?"
"Todd," she panted. "Ensign Shayne Todd.... I just... came aboard... and the... trans...porter chief... told me... to come here."
"Really?" the first man asked in disbelief.
Ensign Shayne Todd
Flight Control Officer
USS Someplace
Flight Control Officer
USS Someplace