Lost Sheep

Posted on Thu Sep 19th, 2024 @ 3:18pm by Captain Malcom Llwyedd & Petty Officer 1st Class Kipp Lak & Cadet Senior Grade Abigail Gordon
Edited on on Thu Oct 3rd, 2024 @ 9:16pm

1,248 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Interlude 1 Gamma Quadrant
Location: DS18 Commander's Office

[ON]

Malcom was sipping his mango green tea when his door chimed and Kipp walked in, holding a PADD. Malcom set his cup down and waited. Something was coming.

"Sir, it appears that we have one more person that you need to meet," Kipp said.

Malcom grinned. "Just one? Kipp, you're slipping."

His yeoman smiled his smile that meant he was being pleasant but something was serious. Malcom sat up a little straighter.

"Ok, who is it?" He asked.

"It's a Cadet Senior Class," Kipp said.

"Cadet? Ok, now we have seen everything. Send them in," Malcom said and waited for the newcomer to arrive. Maybe it would be something easy.

In stepped the cadet in question, a young woman accidentally bumping into the door frame as she did so "Whoops!" she exclaimed. Abigail was holding onto the end of her long dark braid as if it were an item of security. She moved towards the desk, Pausing to thank the Yeoman. "Thank you for escorting me in."

Kipp nodded. "My pleasure, Cadet," he said and then quietly exited the room.

She turned back towards the Captain to address him.

"Uh Greetings sir, I'm Senior Cadet Abigail Gordon. I am a little bit lost right now. Perhaps you can help me in not being lost anymore?" A smile appeared reaching her green eyes.

"Cadet Gordon, I would say you were more than a little lost. However, now that I am aware of your existence, you're found. Why don't you have a seat," Malcom said and waited for the Cadet to comply.

"Can you tell me how you ended up by yourself in the Gamma Quadrant?" He asked.

Taking the indicated seat, Abigail released her braid putting it behind her shoulder. She adjusted her seating, still feeling a bit nervous.

"Well, you see, sir, I was to be on the USS Constitution and my transport was a little bit late to make the connection, so girl lost.. until the ship was to come back, " resisting the urge to grab hold of her braid Abigail moved her hands to her lap, intertwining her fingers,

"I decided to do a little bit of exploring the station when to my shock sirens started blaring."

Her eyes widened as Abigail recalled the vivid memories. "There were explosions, and people were running and screaming; it caught me flatfooted. I didn't know what was going on. Then someone grabbed me by the upper arm, pulling me along and telling me I needed to run. I was so scared, I did run!"

She took in a breath, trying to calm down her rapidly beating heart, "The lady who grabbed me, I don't know her name, and I don't know how long we had been running and dodging the other panicked people, we almost made it to a hiding place when-" her face started turning a dark shade of pink. "I-I tripped, I fell and next thing I saw a weapon trained on me, the lady had disappeared being swept by the rest of the people trying to escape." Abigail shivered remembering how frightened she was. "going through a holographic scenario definitely doesn't completely prepare a person for a real situation."

Malcom listened to the Cadet recite what had happened to her. It was a familiar story, having spoken to many of the remaining Starfleet personnel stationed on DS18.

"No, it doesn't. A hologram, even with the safety protocols turned off, is something that you can control. Real enemies are incontrollable. I'm sorry that you had to go through that. I encourage you to seek out one of the counselors available and get help to process those events. It helps," Malcom said. "But I think a little work will also help. I'm going to assign you here on the Firebird. Our medical staff under a lot of strain with all the medical cases they are dealing with. I imagine another set of hands will be most welcome," Malcom said, smiling. "Oh, that reminds me, you might know my wife. She's a Professor at Starfleet Academy in the Medical Department. Her name is Commander Jenna Difrino."

"Woah, she is your wife!?" Abigail latching on that piece of information, her hands moved from her lap to where she was clasping them together under her chin all starry-eyed. "I've wanted to personally speak to her but well... there are so many of us cadets. She is brilliant, talented, and such an inspiration, beautiful. I-I wanted to get her autograph." Abigail's cheeks going pink. The cadet was having a fangirl moment.

Malcom laughed, really laughed for the first time in many months. "I think that I can guarantee an autograph. I'm not surprised that you want one. She's definitely the more capable person in our marriage. When the Firebird gets home, I usually invite the crew to our home. It's just south of San Francisco on the coast. I'll make sure to put you on the list," Malcom said. "But back to business. I think that I will have you meet with Nurse Beddite. She's our Chief Nurse and an all around great person. After you speak with her, she will probably want you to meet with our new CMO, Commander Kataxes. I'm also going to have you bunk with Ensigns Djokovic and Gazo. They're actually Senior Cadets like you so you might know them. What questions can I answer for you?"

Taking in all that the captain had spoken of, and grinning hearing his laughter, Abigail sought to come up with some questions. At the moment she could only come up with a couple,

"First Question: does this mean I can start right away? " feeling rather eager in getting her hands into working once more.

"Second Question, if I have any other questions for you, uh can I send you a message asking you? Well wait maybe that would only be something I could or shoul be asking whoever the deparment head is. But if it is allowed, may I message you if I have a pertinent question?" Abigail was rather serious about this matter.

"Of course. I think the CMO will be happy to have you jump right in. Also. you'll learn that our ship is pretty small compared to the other classes of ships. Most of us have been together quite a while and we get along well. I'm no different. If you have questions, let me know. I have confidence that you'll do well here. I'll have Yeoman Lak show you to your new quarters." Malcom stood up and extended a hand. "Welcome aboard the Firebird the best ship in Starfleet."

Abigail stood up to shake Captain Llwyedd's hand. "Thank you sir!" with a gleeful grin giving his hand a rather enthusiastic pump, realizing that it was probably a bit too much, she released it. "Sorry sir, just a bit excited, and maybe I know one of them, it's all good though," Abigail said, giving a little bit of an excited quiet squeal.

"Alright then, Cadet. You are dismissed," Malcom said with a shooing motion. He watched the young cadet bounce out of the room. "I wish I had that much energy," he said and turned back to his PADD.

[OFF]

Captain Malcom Llwyedd
Commanding Officer
USS Firebird NCC-88298

Cadet Senior Grade Abigail Gordon
Nurse Trainee
USS Firebird NCC-88298

 

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