Stardate: 61021:1930
Title: The Grand Tour
Author: XO Abigail Winters
Time: Current
Scene: Starbase 9 / USS Relentless
Abigail was on her way to meet the new counsellor and give him the grand tour of
the Relentless. She moved along the busy corridor of Starbase 9 dodging the many
people that came into her path. As the XO turned off the busy route heading
toward the berthed ship she was surprised when someone stepped in front of her
blocking her way.
It took a couple of moment for the face to register in her brain- Commander
Frank Burgle.
“Well, well, well – look what we have here boys.” The Commander spoke to the two
men that stood flanking him.
“If it isn’t the mouthy Relentless XO. I hope you are keeping out of trouble on
my station this visit Abby?” The familiarity with which he used her name made
her skin crawl. Ordinarily Abby would have used some kind of witty sarcastic put
down. However, given her current, out numbered and out muscled position, she
decided it wouldn’t be wise.
Frank moved around her forcing her to back against the wall to avoid physical
contact. The Commander put his arm by her head and leaned in.
“Are you not going to talk to me? And there was I hoping we could further our
relationship.” The men behind him chuckled.
“Frank, I can call you Frank can’t I? Only seems right now that we are equally
ranked, by the way how long did it take you to get to commander?” Abby couldn’t
resist the dig and she saw a vein pulse in his neck.
“You really should watch yourself or…”
“Or what?” The unexpected voice was that of Captain Khavok who was accompanied
by Maxine, Yonatan and Laurence.
“Frank I have been meaning to catch up with you. Walk with me.” The request
startled the Commander and he struggled to find an excuse to avoid it.
Frank looked to his goons for help but they weren’t the brightest crayons in the
box and were of no help. Reluctantly Commander Burgle fell in-step with the
Captain. The goons went to follow the two retreating figures, but Abby stepped
in their path
“I think you can walk with us back to the Relentless.” They looked at each other
and then the crew standing behind the XO and just nodded their heads in assent.
Once back at the ship Laurence offered to keep their guests ‘entertained’ for a
while, whilst the others went back to their departments.
Abigail made her way to the bridge where Clayton looked bored.
“Anything to report?” She asked with a smile.
“Three major enemy engagements of which I managed to win all, a particularly
nasty asteroid on a collusion course with us, which I skilfully avoided all by
myself and then an attack by a giant squid - Sushi for dinner. Other than that
dead quiet.”
Abby laughed. The door to the bridge opened.
“Ensign Em’rys Kelerai reporting for duty, sir.” He addressed Abby.
“Welcome aboard Ensign. I’m Commander Winters.” She smiled at the man to put him
at ease. She had read his record and had pondered what kind of counsellor a half
human, half Vulcan would make. Like most things she guessed time would tell.
“Shall I give you the tour and tell you a little of our adventures so far.” The
Ensign nodded and they headed off the bridge. As they walked Abby gave a brief
outline of their troubled beginnings, then described the progenitor site, the
device they had recover, they alternative universe and finally the sentient
Relentless.
“So you can see the Relentless is in great need of a counsellor. Seeing another
version of myself made me think a lot about the possibilities of things we might
encounter.”
“Like what?” Em’rys asked seeming genuinely interested.
“Well different versions of ourselves, some displaying some our less attractive
qualities, or perhaps seeing people who have died in our universe.” The
Counsellor nodded.
The tour had bought them to engineering. Kal was bent over whatever he was
working on, his blond hair covering his face.
“How goes the Relly interaction project?” The Commander asked. Kal did not seem
to be surprised to hear her voice even though he had not acknowledge their
arrival. Instead he looked at Abby with a mischievous smile.
“It’s a work in progress.” Kal’s answer was evasive. The Commander introduced
the CEO and the new Counsellor.
“So tell me more about the progress.”
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Commander Abigail Winters
Executive Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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