Posted by Lieutenant Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in And The Tony Goes To

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in And The Tony Goes To

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in And The Tony Goes To

(snip)

Roman stood up when Rand shot up from the ground, the action startling him slightly. He wasn’t usually in the lab until 0700 and he hadn’t realized she got to work so early. Then again, he supposed it made sense, that’s how everything was usually ready by 0700. “I’m sure the Captain won’t mind your lateness just once,” he said. Generally he had a policy of forgiving one late day once in a while. It was habitual tardiness he detested.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand looked at him and it was probably true, just once, but Cpt Rogers hadn’t been on board very long and now was not the time for poor impressions. Surely he understood that. She looked a little helpless. “I’m supposed to be in the cargo bay to get the current supply manifest from the quarter master right now. It takes half an hour to collect the reports from all the departments and labs, another 20 minutes to compile them for your review, with 10 minutes for travel and messed up turbolifts, to be back here by 7. That gives me an hour to go over all the reports with you, write down all my observations, collect those notes, prepare them, get them signed by you, then take everything and compile it for the captain, breakfast for you and the captain, drinks for the bridge crew and have everything in Cpt Rogers’ hands by 0800. I’m late.” And then another thought occurred to her, “And I’m not in uniform yet.” She looked sadly at Nibbles, glad the small mouse was okay. The observations and notes were technically done in her free time, she was required to do it, but she enjoyed it. She’d have to sacrifice that time right now and try to make it up later. She stopped on her way out the door, “Thank you, Cmdr.” It was said all kinds of awkward and he probably had no idea that she was thanking him for helping her. He probably didn’t see how he had, but he had helped her.

Yeoman Rand

Roman found himself staring dumbfounded at the door for a moment after she left. And then, he headed to his desk to get to work, unsure what else to do. It was only a few moments later that the ensign crew returned to the labs, silently doing their jobs in hopes their previous mistakes had been forgotten.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

An hour and a half later, 30 minutes later than her normal time, Rand reappeared in the lab. Her PaDD hanging at her side, stack of reports clipped to it. Now normally, Rand asked Alden’s preference for breakfast location, today she just brought it with her. She set the food down in his usual spot. The lab teams had switched at this point and so no one that had been around earlier was currently in the lab. She did several curious stares-Rand was never late.

She placed the first stack of reports in front of him without preamble. “Over night lab reports.” Then she moved away to collect the observation notes, so she could quickly compile them to add to the lab reports. Nibbles and Mushu followed her movements, expecting attention, of some kind, or at least food…

Yeoman Rand

In the time she had been gone, there had been certain.. gossip about her. Roman had, of course put a swift end to the act of gossiping. But could it be true…? Then Rand herself entered, with his usual breakfast, and his usual report stack. “Thank you, Rand,” he said, grabbing the stack of reports. He made no mention of her tardiness - he had already known she would be. Quickly going through the reports and signing off, he returned the stack to Rand.

The science crew was quite stunned. Whispers like “She was late, and he didn’t say anything!” Or “I wonder what’s up? She’s never late.” And “Doesn’t she usually ask where he wants his breakfast? When did the eating in the lab rule get laxer, anyway?” A stern stare from Alden was quick to stop them dead, and return them to work.

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand had run back to her quarters, and quickly cleaning up, having no time for a shower, donned her uniform, minus her tartan sash at her back. Her hair was coiled into the messiest messy bun that had ever been seen, instead of the perfectly coiled braid it was usually pinned into. And although she was within uniform regulation and neat she was disheveled for her, and it was noticed. The comments followed her at every stop she made. It flustered and bothered her because she knew on a ship this small the gossip would spread and continue until something else grabbed the crew’s attention.

Taking the finished science reports from Alden she replaced them with the supply and personnel requests and also the discipline reports (which was zero for the previous day). Then she moved toward the spare computer terminal and inserting her key rod and connecting her PaDD she finalized the science department report. She took that report and added it to the stack Alden was working on. She removed the food from the tray and set it on the table. It was actually in a travel tin rather than a plate making it easier for Alden to take the food to wherever he decided to eat. It was the best solution she could think of when she requested the meals for the day. She heard the lab crew talking. She didn’t speak to them or defend herself. She didn’t even look at anyone. She didn’t speak to Alden either unless necessary, simply responding to his words with either a nod or a ‘Yes Sir.”

Yeoman Rand