by Ensign Landry Steele
80709.23
Following Full Confidence
-=Deuterium Storage, USS Alchemy=-
80709.23
Following Full Confidence
-=Deuterium Storage, USS Alchemy=-
The Alchemy was well on her way.
The bridge was abuzz with activity as the very interesting and Dane also noted, very hot new helm...chick...was being shown the ropes of handling the unholy beast by resident flying ace February Grace.
If he were a betting man, Dane would wager that when Todd was at the helm instead of Grace, that the conversation between her and Chief of Sciences Dabin Reece would prove very entertaining.
The ship had just completed her first transwarp jump. Without so much as a mometary fluctuation in the artificial gravity, the engine had powered down to standard Warp, allowing it to recharge for the next jump, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
If all went to plan word was that new chick was going to get to try her hand at the controls for that one.
For the first time in his career with The Alchemy Project, Dane was actually interested in what was going on up on the bridge.
So where was he?
He was giving the other new chick, Vox' 'plant' so to speak, the freaking grand tour.
"Deuterium storage." Dane grunted, as he put in the access code to disable the alarm system and showed her, just as he was instructed to, every inch of the ship.
He had every intention of carrying out each of TC Blane's orders as close to the letter as possible, hoping that it would keep the man off his back and allow him to do what he now viewed as his 'real' job here; being eyes and ears of the Admiral. "You should never be in here unless you have a security escort."
"So this is where the magic happens?" Landry was trying to hold on to her sense of humor for all she was worth, but it wasn't working out well. Her tour was almost over, and she was really ready to see it end.
It had apparently been either a cruel twist to her knickers by the moody Fates or else someone's idea of a hilarious joke. Either way, she had been, in one day, assigned to a post which contained not only one, but two, count 'em, two of Jonas Vox' worst nightmares.
The infamous Ensign Washout as tour guide? Fun.
*I guess this is the Karma I get for changing Vox' afternoon coffee to decaf without telling him.*
She only felt better after realizing that this must be even worse for Dane than it was for her.
"Not without Security. Got it. Are we done now? I would like to get to the bridge and start getting to know Commander Blane a little, if I can, since he will be my direct boss. Unless we've missed something important, oh, I don't know, like the toilet paper holders in the aft lavatories."
Dane growled as they stepped out, and he punched in the code to secure the room, not realizing there was someone else present.
Immediately an alarm sounded on the bridge...
"Deuterium Storage again?" TC Blane looked up at Zander disapprovingly. "What's going on down there today?"
"I intend to find out, Sir," Zander wondered why Zanh Liis hadn't taken more care with the alarm, how was he supposed to help her keep her whereabouts quiet if she insisted on setting off the damn alarm...
-=Back in Storage=-
"DANE!"
Zanh Liis shouted, ripping off her gloves and once again taking the music playback devices out of her ears. "What the hell are you doing in here?"
"Captain?" Dane quickly input the code to once again silence the alarm. "What are you doing,"
"What I am doing in here Ensign is none of your damn..." Zanh stopped, realizing that Dane was not alone. "Hey, you. I know you. We've met before," It took her, as tired as she was, a moment to put her finger on just where. Then she threw her gloves to the floor in disgust and began shaking her head. "No, no no. You. Off of my ship."
"Sir?" Landry stepped back, and looked up, and up at the Amazonian Bajoran.
"You. You're his assistant. What are you doing on my ship?"
"My work at the Home Office is directly related to The Project, Sir," Landry said, using the exact verbage that Vox had told her to in an attempt to diffuse this situation. "He wanted me to see her for myself, spend a little time working with the Sera's crew."
She held her hand out to Zanh in her best attempt to make a good impression, though she knew that Zanh's first impression had been sealed the moment she offered the woman a cup of coffee at what was, apparently the really wrong time back at TI.
"Yeah, he wants you to become familiar with The Project," Liis' eyes were narrowed to burning slits, the intensity of which caused even Dane's strong stomach to lurch. "With me, you mean. With the way I do my job." She did shake Steele's hand, but one could hardly call it a friendly gesture.
She grasped so tightly that Landry was sure that her fingers would come back twisted and dangling in the wrong direction.
"What department did he put you in?"
"Op...er...ations?" Landry offered, wincing as she bent her aching digits, grateful they were still in working order.
*Well, that's a mercy anyway. I will have Blane watching every move this little girl makes and she'll be crying to go home in two minutes.* Liis thought.
She surprised Landry next with the fact that she did actually know her name.
"Well, Ensign Steele, I suppose since he sent you directly there is nothing I can do about it for the time being. But I want you to pay attention to everything Commanders Blane and Salvek say, and above all else," She leaned closer and whispered something to Landry that Dane couldn't distinguish.
*Damn, second time today I had to miss out on the good stuff...* he thought.
Landry nodded, pasted on her best smile and then stood at attention. "May I be dismissed, Sir?"
"Dismissed." Liis responded, and then she poked a finger into Dane's chest. "You too, bright boy. Next time be sure the room is clear before you turn on the damned alarm."
Zander Blakeslee was now standing by. "Problem here, Captain?"
Before she answered him, she gestured for Landry and Dane to move along. As they disappeared up the corridor, Zanh finally spoke, her expression one of sincere concern.
"Might be, Zander. Might be."
-=In the corridor=-
"Is Zanh Liis always..."
"Such an insufferable bitch?" Dane responded quickly, cutting her off. "Oh, yes. Welcome to Hell, Steele. You just met the Innkeeper."
Landry rolled her eyes. "Cristiane?"
"What?"
"Stop whining."
-----------------------
Ensign Landry Steele
"Intern"
Operations Department
USS Alchemy NX-53099
Ensign Landry Steele
"Intern"
Operations Department
USS Alchemy NX-53099