Meeting the Mysterious Exec

Posted on Fri May 1st, 2009 @ 4:17am by

705 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Location: SOO's Office/XO's Office
Timeline: Current

After Commander Lane had left his office, Brendan thought now would be as good a time as any to contact the XO. So he checked his computer to see if she was still on board and as luck would have it, she was. Tapping his commbadge, he said, "Lieutenant Dernah to Commander Arkham. Forgive my interruption, but I was wondering if you would have a few minutes to meet with me?"

Hearing the Strategic Operations Chief's page, Arkham groaned a little and shifted in her chair uncomfortably. It had been a long and unnecessarily difficult week on the aging officer -- with losing her kidney and Catherine leaving, stress was beginning to take its toll on Arkham. Dark circles under her eyes and the slightest whiff of smoke around the officer hinted that she was not doing well.

"You look like hell," Harwood said, entering the Executive Officer's office. Leaning on the door, Harwood smiled softly. It was one of those rare times that Arkham swore she could see that sweet young girl whose innocent belief in the goodness of people she'd destroyed so many years ago. "Not sleeping well?"

Arkham smirked. "Do I need to dignify that with a response, Captain?"

"I didn't come here to bicker, Rowena," Alex said softly. "...I'm going to assume that in these past three days, you...anyway, your shift is over in several minutes, and I'll make dinner while you catch a bit of sleep. You need a bit of sleep, Rowena."

"I haven't been able to--"

Alex smiled softly. "I know. But she's leaving, and you know that. And you need to stay tough, for your crew."

Arkham chuckled a little. It had been a long time since she'd seen Alex Harwood like this. "You're being awfully sweet tonight, Alex. All right. Head to my room, you know how to get in...please don't let Coltan or anyone else see you. I trust you've already brought your things in and made yourself at home?"

Harwood only smiled.

"Of course," Arkham said coolly. "I'll see you in a bit, then. You're right, I do need sleep. I just have one thing to do."

As Harwood left, Arkham tapped her commbadge, growling a little. "Make it quick, Mr. Dernah. I'd like to be off to bed soon."

"Oh, I'm sorry Commander. I will be right over," Brendan said. And in the next few seconds, he appeared in a shimmering column of lights. "Was that quick enough for you, Commander," he said with an infectious smile hoping that he hadn't frightened the poor woman to death.

Arkham frowned a little -- not one easily surprised or happy when it came to suffering surprises, especially when exhausted, she tried--quite successfully--to hide her complete displeasure. The sooner this was over, the sooner the old officer could go to bed for the night. Looking the young man over once, Arkham said, "Welcome to the Archimedes. I am Commander Arkham. You best hope that you will not find yourself in my office again, because no one ever enjoys their second visit."

"I understand, Commander. And thank you for the welcome," Brendan said. "And, please call me Brendan."

"How are we looking in Operations, Mr. Dernah?" Arkham said coolly, her steady cobalt gaze taking in all his nuances and mannerisms, almost as if slowly dissecting his very soul. Rubbing the skin grafts along her ruined jaw tenderly, she said, "Well, Mr. Dernah? I'm waiting."

"Everything looks to be in order. At the present moment I am reading up on the Citadel's primary races. And I was wondering if you or Commander Kremmer could use an extra set or eyes, ears or hands down on the surface?"

Arkham eyed the young man suspiciously, with one eyebrow--the left--cocked, giving her a look of great gravity. "I am not going back down to the surface as of right now. And I will not speak for Mister Kemmer. Ask him. Anything else?"

"No ma'am. I'm sorry, Commander for disturbing you. I'll take my leave then if you don't mind?" Brendan said with genuine distress.

"Dismissed," Arkham said coldly, looking back down at her paperwork.

"Yes, ma'am!" Brendan said before turning on his heel and marched out of her office.

 

RSS Feed