A Normal Day At Work

(Part 4)

Bruce Sommer

Commander Scott approached the Science Department Security Section, her adrenalin flowing, wondering what happened to Ensign Jacobs - the Security Officer on duty. As she stopped in front of the door, she allowed herself to be retina-scanned. The computer acknowledging presence, the doors slid open. The computer started to squawk at the entrance of Synergy, her brown firelizard, but she overrode it.

Inside the room she took in the presence of the computer terminals scattered about the room in a fashion the designers thought to be aesthetically pleasing. The cabinets holding the computer diskettes appeared to be in order. Typing at one terminal was the new Ship's Computer Programming Specialist, Lieutenant Joshua O'Halloran, assigned to the USS Saratoga during their last stop at Starbase Five.

At another terminal was Ensign Christopher Edwards, busy as always she thought sarcastically, sleeping on the job. Even now she could hear his gentle snores drifting across the room above the furious typing being performed by Lieutenant O'Halloran.

"Ssshhh," O'Halloran whispered, arching an eyebrow at the drawn phaser, putting one finger to his lips. "He's had a rough night. Sometimes I wonder at that amount of work you put on these greenhorns. By the way, is it customary for one to have their pets accompany them on snipe hunts?"

"Snipe hunt?"

//Snipe, isn't that an animal that Synergy tried back on Beta Orionis V?//

"Old twentieth century boy scout term," O'Halloran replied, logging off and shutting down the terminal.

"Since when does a Computer Programming Specialist tell the Executive Officer where she can bring her friends?" Heather frowned at O'Halloran, sticking the phaser into her pants pocket. Heather did think it was funny though, that someone who had spent all his time on Starbase Five should be calling Edwards a greenhorn. But in some ways he was right. She guessed it was his conscientious and naive manner which made her think so. "I think you've grown too soft on Starbase Five... Mr. O'Halloran. In a few months that could be you at that terminal."

"One can only hope," he laughed, his dark skin glowing under the room lights. "Before he fell asleep, he seemed to mention that he found what he was looking for, and that after he finished up he would log off and rest his eyes."

Synergy, on her left shoulder, snorted with mirth. //Do the people under your command always fall asleep once they get the job done?//

Heather, reaching around and stroking his warm, leathery skin, gave him a dirty look, walked over to a nearby terminal and called up Edwards' file once again. <Cut that out! I'll talk to you later.> She carefully read the data, as it scrolled along the screen, along with his comments and recommendations, and chuckled. "Well, I can tell this is one planet that Ensign Edwards is going to genuinely enjoy. If I didn't know better, I would say that his choice of a planet was biased."

"Who knows how fate works," Joshua replied. "Maybe it's karma on old Thomas Jefferson here."

"Maybe it is," Heather laughed, walking over to the intercom and punching the button. The realization that there was no response brought the flood of memories as to what was worrying her back into her head. "Lieutenant, how long has the intercom been inoperative?"

"Search me," he replied, rising out of his seat to join her. "I've had no reason to use it, but..."

"AND WHERE IN THE HELL IS ENSIGN JACOBS?" Heather yelled bringing her fist down hard on the nearest table with a resounding crash, causing the startled lieutenant to jump and stumble back. Christopher, meanwhile, rolled his head, mumbled to himself, and let out a deep snore.

"He was at his post when I came in," he stammered, shrugging his shoulders. "Isn't he there now?"

"I'm afraid not," she whispered to herself. "Well, I guess Arbos II it is. I'd better alert the Captain as to the details."

* * *

Ensign Edwards woke up in the Science Department Security Section. His head was pounding, as if with a hangover, the only trouble being he couldn't remember drinking any alcohol the previous night. As he blinked his eyes and shook his head, his blurred sight returned to normal. He heard the sound of the hum of a terminal and a quiet voice in the background.

Looking around, he saw Heather speaking into a terminal, Synergy perched on top of it. He was about to ask her what had happened the night before, but it came out a squeak as he fell out of his chair.

"I see you finally decided to wake up," Heather said with a smirk still facing the terminal. "Hard night?"

"Beats me! All I remember is finishing my report and logging it in the computer. After that, nothing. I guess I must have fallen asleep."

"Then maybe you can tell me where Ensign Jacobs ran off to," Heather walked over to him and pulled him effortlessly to his feet. "He was supposed to be on duty this morning, you know, to keep transients from sleeping on the computer terminals."

Christopher flushed a deep red at the comment before replying. "But he was on duty last night. I remember talking to him before entering this area. I remember trying a new tact on him against the idea of 'phaser control' in Starfleet."

"That again?" Heather smiled. "I swear you've been on that tact ever since I threw you out of Auxiliary Control. And besides the second amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights has no jurisdiction in Federation space. So Ensign Jacobs was here when you arrived, and Lieutenant O'Halloran was logged as coming in before you. Damn!"

"I give up," Christopher said as the doors to the security section opened. "What's going on?"

"I'm afraid we're about to find out," Heather looked over to Lieutenant Senior Grade Rally, and two armed security guards, as they entered the room. "Status, Lieutenant Rally?"

"There's no sign of Ensign Jacobs anywhere on the ship. We've conducted a phase one search - nothing," Berl stated as he pulled out a pair of force manacles. "I'm afraid Mr. Edwards, since you were the last one, as you yourself said, in the vicinity of Ensign Jacobs - I'm going to have to place you under arrest."

"Is that really necessary, Lieutenant?" Heather stepped between them.

"Commander, don't make me quote regulations. Ensign, if you will put your arms in front of you, we'll be taking you to the brig."

"Whatever you say, Berl," Edwards complied exposing a pair of bruises encircling his wrists.

"TJ!" Heather gasped, Synergy took off from the terminal and flew around the room at her agitation. "What happened to you?"

"You got me," he stared in shock at the blackish-purple blemishes. "Like I told you, I don't remember much from this morning."

"Lieutenant," Heather growled. "Are the manacles still necessary?"

"Don't worry Commander, we'll have Medical take a look at him when he's confined. Murder is a serious charge."

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