Stardate: 60405.1500
Title: Smug Sarcasm
Author: Executive Officer Abigail Winters
Time: After "Drawing The Line"
Scene: USS Relentless/Bridge


There was something much more dangerous than someone who said they wouldn't stand with you and fight on your side. There is that person who pretends to be on your side and waits until you are distracted to stab you in the back. Abby made her way from the science lab to the bridge with that threat in mind.

The Captain had gone to his quarters to get dressed and Abby had been arranging for certain precautions to be put in place. All communications were being rerouted to the USS Horizon where they could be monitored and lost if need be. Maxine had also made it so that no one could beam off the Relentless and all other exits had been secured. Abby had set up a program so the computer would notify her if there was any unusual clustering of staff in one particular area.

Abby reached the bridge before the Captain.

"Commander Winters" A voice said behind her.

Abby turned to see a very young male Ensign.

"Yes?" The XO asked.

"The report you wanted Commander." The Ensigns hand shook as he handed Abby the pad. The XO glanced down at the report it was a systems check for the communications array and it was very sloppily done.

"Is there something wrong Ensign?" Abby tried to assess the best way to handle this situation.

"No I mean yes. I'm not sure Sir." The Ensign came to a halt and his eyes seemed to be examining his shoes.

Abby tried to cast her mind back and remember how it felt being an Ensign. However, her memories were clouded probably due to some elaborate self-protection mechanism. She took a deep breath and tried to arrange a smile on her face that wouldn't scare the Ensign into crying.

"Ensign?" She quickly looked at the signature on the pad "McGee, why don't you tell me what's on your mind and then perhaps we can work it out together."

McGee briefly looked up before returning his eyes to re-examine his shoes. Abby suddenly had an image that she wasn't in fact dealing with a crew member instead this was one of her future teenage children she was coaxing information out of. A shudder passed through her and she briefly glanced around the bridge. Her eyes locked with the Captain and for a moment it seemed that a look of understanding passed between them. Then the Captain gave his usual infuriating smile, winked and turned away. Abby tuned back to the Ensign.

"Well, it's just that some of the crew were saying that we were working outside the federation rules and my recent teaching in the federation academy told me we shouldn't do that and that we should leave rather than be part of an illegal act."

Abby sighed, she understood why the federation training was the way it was but it just made her job all the more difficult.

"Well didn't the federation also teach you that not every situation is covered by federation rules and that Captains have the ultimate responsibility to interpret them?"

The young Ensign thought for a moment.

"Yes Sir"

He seemed to brighten now that the responsibility had been lifted from him.

"Well then you have no cause for concern and this report really needs some work before you give it to me again. If you need some help look at previously submitted reports."

A blush crept up the man's neck. The XO patted him on the arm as she headed for her 'little boss' chair.

"So young and so easy to influence." Alex smiled as Abby sat in her chair next to his. "Nicely handled you do the nurturing parent thing very well."

Abby had to stop herself from growling at the Captain.

"Abby don't sulk it was a compliment"

The Captain looked very relaxed in his chair.

"I'm not sulking I'm planning your downfall."

Abby felt quite ruffled being in such close proximity to the Captain.

"Excellent well can you look over these reports whilst you plot."

Alex handed Abby the report but instead of getting on with something else he continued to look at her. She tried to ignore him but after a full two minutes she couldn't help herself.

"Something I can help you with Captain?"

Abby's eyes flicked between the report and the Captain.

"No just wondering."

A smile crept onto his face; he knew she wouldn't be able to just let it go. The XO struggled on in vain as she read the report for another full minute.

"Something in particular you were wondering about?"

Abby could have kicked herself the minute the words were out.

"Well you're an attractive woman" Alex paused and Abby could feel the pulse throbbing in her neck. "And yet you don't seem to handle compliments that well."

"I'm sorry if I had realized it was going to cause this much trouble for you I would of sent flowers and chocolates as a thank you." Abby lowered the report.

"Now I don't believe sarcasm was mentioned on your list of talents Abigail."

"Well I don't believe I saw smugness written on yours Alexander."

There was 30 seconds of silence and Abby was berating herself for stepping over the line when the Captain started laughing.

"I can see our missions are going to be fun."

Abby stubbornly tried not to smile but in the end she couldn't help herself.

"Well it will certainly be interesting."


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Lt. Commander Abigail Winters
Executive Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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