This is a short vignette focusing on Lieutenant Angela "Treasure" Barrows and takes place before the events of "Son Rise--Sun Set."
Looking down, the young, slightly pudgy, dark-haired human standing on the transporter pad immediately recognized that the Deltan woman wearing red trim and the three gold pips of a commander standing next to the transporter technician was most likely the First Officer. Coming to attention, the young officer, herself wearing the gold trim of the operations branch, formally introduced herself. “Lieutenant, junior grade Pamela Riddell reporting aboard, Sir.”
“Welcome aboard the Perseus, Lieutenant Riddell.” The Deltan woman smiled. “I’m Commander Anara Rysyl, the First Officer. I see that you’re our new engineering officer. Your department head is Lieutenant Barrows. You’ll report to her…”
“Barrows?” Lieutenant Riddell interrupted. Quickly remembering to whom she was speaking, the junior lieutenant apologized, “I’m sorry, Sir. But I knew an Angela Barrows at Starfleet Academy. We were in the same flight…”
Anara’s smile growing wider, the Deltan XO replied, “Lieutenant Barrows’ first name is Angela. Looks like the two of you are going to have a class reunion.” Returning to business, the commander smoothly picked up where she was interrupted, “As I was saying, you’ll report to Lieutenant Barrows after you’ve been assigned quarters and have cleared medical. Crewman Foltz will escort you to your quarters and then to sickbay. From there you can make your way to Engineering. I’m sure Treasure’ll be glad to see you.”
*********************************************************************
A broad grin crossed the junior lieutenant’s face as she entered the pristine engineering section as she spotted her old classmate. Striding over to the console behind which the chief engineer stood, Lieutenant Riddell snapped to attention just as if she were a first-year plebe.
“Lieutenant, junior grade Pamela Riddell reporting for duty, SIR!” Immediately after belting out the final ‘SIR’, a broad grin broke out on transferee’s face. “Hello, Angie…long-time no-see.”
“Pammy?” An equally wide and toothy grin appeared on the buxom blonde chief engineer’s face. “Is that really you?”
“Yep. It’s me.” Pamela responded. “So…chief engineer…who’d have thunk it?”
“Tell me about it.” Treasure chuckled, her gentle laughter dying as the XO cleared her throat.
“Well, I’ll leave the two of you to your reunion; I have to report to Captain Hobson.” Anara announced; a beatific smile on her face. Her smile vanishing, the Deltan first officer then pointed out in a slightly disappointed tone, “Oh…I almost forgot…I didn’t see your name on the roll for the Bridge Officers Qualification Exam Course that I and Mr. Miller are teaching. Did you perhaps forget to sign up, Treasure?”
“Oh…” The blonde lieutenant exclaimed as she quickly concocted a cover story, “I didn’t know. I was so busy getting situated and all and you know how the engines on these Intrepids are…”
“I see…” The empathic Deltan replied, maintaining a straight face. “Well…perhaps the next section…”
“Oh yeah.” Treasure quickly promised, “You bet.”
**********************************************************************
Holding her tongue until Anara had safely exited engineering, Treasure heaved a breathy sigh, “I can’t believe she let that slide.”
“Let what slide?” A curious Pamela asked.
“My not taking the Qualifications Course.” Treasure replied, explaining, “Captain Hobson’s big on getting all us department heads qualified as bridge officers, but I ain’t in no big hurry. I’m happy just being an engineer—I don’t want that third gold pip—too much damned work to it.” Her smile returning, the buxom engineer placed her arm around her friend’s shoulders, “It’s good seein’ you again, Pammy. Let me show you where everything is and where you’ll be posted an’ then when we get off shift, you can join the rest of us at Andie’s Place and we’ll party hearty!”
“Sounds good to me!” The slightly chubby junior lieutenant chuckled. As the pair walked together, Pamela asked in a conspiratorial tone, “So…Angie…how did you get the name Treasure?”
************************************************************************
Entering the Perseus’s recreational lounge, dubbed Andie’s Place by her crew, Captain Christopher Hobson, his first officer by his side, raised an eyebrow as he spotted his chief engineer, laughing and urging on, along with the rest of her crew, a crewman chugging down a beer.
“Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!”Downing her beer, Pamela, with a triumphant flourish, held up her mug as Treasure, bringing her fingers to her lips, whistled. “Way to go, Pammy!”
Her psychic bond with the captain making her exceptionally sensitive to his emotional moods regardless of the stoic expression that he normally wore on his face, Anara inquired; a concerned look on her face. “Do you want me to break it up, Chris?”
“No.” Hobson replied with a slight shake of his head. “Andie’s is a place to unwind. As long as they don’t get out of hand and as long as they’re just drinking synthehol, let them have their fun.” Taking his first officer’s slight nod of the head as acknowledgment, the newly-minted captain asked, his voice edged with just the slightest hint of concern. “Who was that woman with the mug? She must be one of the new transferees.”
“She is.” Anara confirmed, “Turns out she’s an old Academy classmate of Treasure’s.”
“Hmmmm….”
“Chris…I know that ‘Hmmmm’…” The lovely Deltan gently prodded, “You only make that particular noise either when there’s a problem or when there’s going to be a problem. What is it?”
“That depends on Treasure.” The coolly analytical Hobson replied. “I think though…” he paused for a moment before deciding to continue, “…that Lieutenant Barrows and I are going to find out a few things. She’s going to find out what sort of person she is and I’m going to find out whether I have a chief engineer or not.” Seeing the perplexed look on his first officer’s face, Chris guided her towards the door to the Captain’s Mess. “Come, Anara, our game was supposed to start five minutes ago. We shouldn’t keep the others waiting.”
***********************************************************************
As the neo-rock sounds of Jason Phillips and the Maia Threes blared from the engineering section’s speakers, Lieutenant Angela Barrows wandered from station to station, checking on her crew. “How’s it going, Anson?”
“Not bad, Treasure.” Lieutenant, junior grade Anson Riley, the New Albion born assistant chief engineer responded. Then, after pausing for a second, he added somewhat hesitatingly, “Well…there is one thing…but I let it slide this time…figured it wouldn’t happen again.”
“What is it?” The blonde chief engineer inquired.
“Well…” Anson began, and then halted.
“Go on…” A now concerned Angela prompted.
“Well…it’s probably nothing. First day and all…but the new girl…Lieutenant Riddell…”
“What about Pamela? I see her over there at her station monitoring the flux matrix.”
“Now…yes.” Lieutenant Riley responded, “But she was five minutes late for her shift and when I checked her station ten minutes ago, she was absent. When I asked her why she was away from her post, she said that she had to go to the head.”
“It happens.” Treasure replied with a laugh, “Is that all?”
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, the assistant chief shook his head, “No. When she left her post, she left it unmanned and the matter—anti-matter ratio began to deviate. It was a slight deviation—nothing serious and I corrected it immediately, but…”
“It shouldn’t have happened.” A suddenly very serious Treasure declared, completing her subordinate’s thought. “I’ll talk to her about it.”
*********************************************************************
“Hey Pammy!” Treasure smiled as she approached her friend’s station. “How’s it going? Settlin’ in ok?”
“Yeah. Just fine, Angie.” Lieutenant Riddell grinned back. “Something I can do for you?”
“Yeah.” Treasure replied in a friendly tone, “I heard that you left your station a while ago…”
“Had to go to the head…” Pamela responded, “You know…when you gotta go…”
“You gotta go.” The chief engineer laughed, “I understand. But you forgot to get someone to watch your console...” Angela pointed out, her laughter fading.
“Oh…” the chubby assistant quickly exclaimed, “I must have forgotten. I’m sorry, Angie…I won’t let it happen again.”
“That’s all right.” Treasure replied, her smile returning, “But you gotta remember, these new engines are very tricky…you gotta keep an eye on ‘em all the time.”
“I’ll remember that, Treasure.” Pamela smiled back, “I promise.”
“Good enough for me.” The buxom blonde grinned, “You need anything, you just holler—you hear?”
“Sure thing.” Pamela answered back, adding, “Andie’s Place after shift?”
“You forget, Sugar?” Treasure responded, “You’re in charge of Dog-shift tonight. You better get some sack time—ya’ll never know when Hobby’s gonna pull a surprise inspection here.”
“Oh.” The young junior lieutenant exclaimed, “I’m sorry—I forgot. Thanks for reminding me.”
“Anytime, Pammy.” Treasure waved as she moved on to the next duty station.
Quietly watching as the entire tableau played out from his secluded location near one of the Jeffries tubes, Captain Hobson stroked his chin knowingly as he made his mental notes. After a few more seconds of quiet observation, the captain, his facial expression giving no hint as to his reaction one way or the other to the scene he had just witnessed, turned back, exiting the way he came. Exiting the Jeffries tube the next level up, Chris nodded his head once at the Deltan woman standing next to the opening.
“So…Chris?”
“I think that I shall conduct a surprise general inspection of Engineering during Delta shift.”
“Aye, Sir.” Anara answered back, entering the time on to her padd, “0130?”
“0130. Now…” Chris inquired, changing the subject, “Who’s on for bridge tonight?”
A smile crossing her face, the lovely Deltan responded, “You’re teamed up with Lieutenant Nor against me and Lieutenant T’Pren.”
Excellent.” Hobson exclaimed, a slight grin crossing his face, “Lieutenant Nor is a very good partner and T’Pren a skilled opponent. It should be a good game.”
**********************************************************************
“And then someone called out, telling her to show ‘em the twin moons of Bereleya and she did!” Pamela laughed as she sloshed the beer in her mug.
“That’s our Treasure, all right.” Ensign Val’rane chortled, his antennae twitching in amusement. “So what happened next?”
“Hell, what do you think happened?” Lieutenant Riddell responded as one of the others at the table refilled her mug. “She got busted for indecent exposure and had to walk two weeks worth of punishment tours!”
“Tellin’ tales outta school again?” Angela asked as she joined her fellow engineers in the crew’s lounge. Her smile quickly vanishing after she took a swig from the beer mug supplied to her, the chief engineer reminded her old friend, “Thought I told you that you had Dog Watch tonight, Pammy?”
“Don’t worry, Angie.” The slightly plump junior lieutenant replied, “I was just goin’ to head to my quarters after this beer. Why don’t you join us?”
“Well…all right.” The North Star born chief engineer reluctantly agreed, “But just this one drink and then you better go and rack out.”
One drink soon led to another and then another until, the buxom blonde looked at her chronometer. “Damn. It’s 0130! Girl—you better get your ass down to Engineering right now!”
“On my way!” Lieutenant Riddell replied as she swayed out of her seat.
Watching as her friend staggered out of the lounge, Treasure turned towards Ensign Val’rane. “Chrisi? Ya’ll are drinkin’ synth-hol, aren’t you?”
“Of course.” The Andorian junior engineer responded. “You know the Captain’s rules regarding alcohol and duty personnel…”
Picking up her friend’s mug, Treasure sniffed the contents. “Frak…I was afraid of that. She dropped an ethanol tablet into the pitcher. Rising to her feet, the blonde engineer felt herself sway just a bit. “Hell. You guys are goin’ to sickbay for some sober-shots an’ then you’re all hittin’ the hay.”
“What ‘bout you?” Ensign Val’rane asked, slurring his words.
“I’ll be ok.” Angela answered back; I didn’t have that much to drink.” Her face taking on a disappointed look, the now disconsolate woman explained, “I’m headin’ off to Engineering. I just pray I get there before Pammy manages to frinx things up again.”
***********************************************************************
BURDEN OF COMMAND
“Welcome aboard the Perseus, Lieutenant Riddell.” The Deltan woman smiled. “I’m Commander Anara Rysyl, the First Officer. I see that you’re our new engineering officer. Your department head is Lieutenant Barrows. You’ll report to her…”
“Barrows?” Lieutenant Riddell interrupted. Quickly remembering to whom she was speaking, the junior lieutenant apologized, “I’m sorry, Sir. But I knew an Angela Barrows at Starfleet Academy. We were in the same flight…”
Anara’s smile growing wider, the Deltan XO replied, “Lieutenant Barrows’ first name is Angela. Looks like the two of you are going to have a class reunion.” Returning to business, the commander smoothly picked up where she was interrupted, “As I was saying, you’ll report to Lieutenant Barrows after you’ve been assigned quarters and have cleared medical. Crewman Foltz will escort you to your quarters and then to sickbay. From there you can make your way to Engineering. I’m sure Treasure’ll be glad to see you.”
*********************************************************************
A broad grin crossed the junior lieutenant’s face as she entered the pristine engineering section as she spotted her old classmate. Striding over to the console behind which the chief engineer stood, Lieutenant Riddell snapped to attention just as if she were a first-year plebe.
“Lieutenant, junior grade Pamela Riddell reporting for duty, SIR!” Immediately after belting out the final ‘SIR’, a broad grin broke out on transferee’s face. “Hello, Angie…long-time no-see.”
“Pammy?” An equally wide and toothy grin appeared on the buxom blonde chief engineer’s face. “Is that really you?”
“Yep. It’s me.” Pamela responded. “So…chief engineer…who’d have thunk it?”
“Tell me about it.” Treasure chuckled, her gentle laughter dying as the XO cleared her throat.
“Well, I’ll leave the two of you to your reunion; I have to report to Captain Hobson.” Anara announced; a beatific smile on her face. Her smile vanishing, the Deltan first officer then pointed out in a slightly disappointed tone, “Oh…I almost forgot…I didn’t see your name on the roll for the Bridge Officers Qualification Exam Course that I and Mr. Miller are teaching. Did you perhaps forget to sign up, Treasure?”
“Oh…” The blonde lieutenant exclaimed as she quickly concocted a cover story, “I didn’t know. I was so busy getting situated and all and you know how the engines on these Intrepids are…”
“I see…” The empathic Deltan replied, maintaining a straight face. “Well…perhaps the next section…”
“Oh yeah.” Treasure quickly promised, “You bet.”
**********************************************************************
Holding her tongue until Anara had safely exited engineering, Treasure heaved a breathy sigh, “I can’t believe she let that slide.”
“Let what slide?” A curious Pamela asked.
“My not taking the Qualifications Course.” Treasure replied, explaining, “Captain Hobson’s big on getting all us department heads qualified as bridge officers, but I ain’t in no big hurry. I’m happy just being an engineer—I don’t want that third gold pip—too much damned work to it.” Her smile returning, the buxom engineer placed her arm around her friend’s shoulders, “It’s good seein’ you again, Pammy. Let me show you where everything is and where you’ll be posted an’ then when we get off shift, you can join the rest of us at Andie’s Place and we’ll party hearty!”
“Sounds good to me!” The slightly chubby junior lieutenant chuckled. As the pair walked together, Pamela asked in a conspiratorial tone, “So…Angie…how did you get the name Treasure?”
************************************************************************
Entering the Perseus’s recreational lounge, dubbed Andie’s Place by her crew, Captain Christopher Hobson, his first officer by his side, raised an eyebrow as he spotted his chief engineer, laughing and urging on, along with the rest of her crew, a crewman chugging down a beer.
“Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!”Downing her beer, Pamela, with a triumphant flourish, held up her mug as Treasure, bringing her fingers to her lips, whistled. “Way to go, Pammy!”
Her psychic bond with the captain making her exceptionally sensitive to his emotional moods regardless of the stoic expression that he normally wore on his face, Anara inquired; a concerned look on her face. “Do you want me to break it up, Chris?”
“No.” Hobson replied with a slight shake of his head. “Andie’s is a place to unwind. As long as they don’t get out of hand and as long as they’re just drinking synthehol, let them have their fun.” Taking his first officer’s slight nod of the head as acknowledgment, the newly-minted captain asked, his voice edged with just the slightest hint of concern. “Who was that woman with the mug? She must be one of the new transferees.”
“She is.” Anara confirmed, “Turns out she’s an old Academy classmate of Treasure’s.”
“Hmmmm….”
“Chris…I know that ‘Hmmmm’…” The lovely Deltan gently prodded, “You only make that particular noise either when there’s a problem or when there’s going to be a problem. What is it?”
“That depends on Treasure.” The coolly analytical Hobson replied. “I think though…” he paused for a moment before deciding to continue, “…that Lieutenant Barrows and I are going to find out a few things. She’s going to find out what sort of person she is and I’m going to find out whether I have a chief engineer or not.” Seeing the perplexed look on his first officer’s face, Chris guided her towards the door to the Captain’s Mess. “Come, Anara, our game was supposed to start five minutes ago. We shouldn’t keep the others waiting.”
***********************************************************************
As the neo-rock sounds of Jason Phillips and the Maia Threes blared from the engineering section’s speakers, Lieutenant Angela Barrows wandered from station to station, checking on her crew. “How’s it going, Anson?”
“Not bad, Treasure.” Lieutenant, junior grade Anson Riley, the New Albion born assistant chief engineer responded. Then, after pausing for a second, he added somewhat hesitatingly, “Well…there is one thing…but I let it slide this time…figured it wouldn’t happen again.”
“What is it?” The blonde chief engineer inquired.
“Well…” Anson began, and then halted.
“Go on…” A now concerned Angela prompted.
“Well…it’s probably nothing. First day and all…but the new girl…Lieutenant Riddell…”
“What about Pamela? I see her over there at her station monitoring the flux matrix.”
“Now…yes.” Lieutenant Riley responded, “But she was five minutes late for her shift and when I checked her station ten minutes ago, she was absent. When I asked her why she was away from her post, she said that she had to go to the head.”
“It happens.” Treasure replied with a laugh, “Is that all?”
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, the assistant chief shook his head, “No. When she left her post, she left it unmanned and the matter—anti-matter ratio began to deviate. It was a slight deviation—nothing serious and I corrected it immediately, but…”
“It shouldn’t have happened.” A suddenly very serious Treasure declared, completing her subordinate’s thought. “I’ll talk to her about it.”
*********************************************************************
“Hey Pammy!” Treasure smiled as she approached her friend’s station. “How’s it going? Settlin’ in ok?”
“Yeah. Just fine, Angie.” Lieutenant Riddell grinned back. “Something I can do for you?”
“Yeah.” Treasure replied in a friendly tone, “I heard that you left your station a while ago…”
“Had to go to the head…” Pamela responded, “You know…when you gotta go…”
“You gotta go.” The chief engineer laughed, “I understand. But you forgot to get someone to watch your console...” Angela pointed out, her laughter fading.
“Oh…” the chubby assistant quickly exclaimed, “I must have forgotten. I’m sorry, Angie…I won’t let it happen again.”
“That’s all right.” Treasure replied, her smile returning, “But you gotta remember, these new engines are very tricky…you gotta keep an eye on ‘em all the time.”
“I’ll remember that, Treasure.” Pamela smiled back, “I promise.”
“Good enough for me.” The buxom blonde grinned, “You need anything, you just holler—you hear?”
“Sure thing.” Pamela answered back, adding, “Andie’s Place after shift?”
“You forget, Sugar?” Treasure responded, “You’re in charge of Dog-shift tonight. You better get some sack time—ya’ll never know when Hobby’s gonna pull a surprise inspection here.”
“Oh.” The young junior lieutenant exclaimed, “I’m sorry—I forgot. Thanks for reminding me.”
“Anytime, Pammy.” Treasure waved as she moved on to the next duty station.
Quietly watching as the entire tableau played out from his secluded location near one of the Jeffries tubes, Captain Hobson stroked his chin knowingly as he made his mental notes. After a few more seconds of quiet observation, the captain, his facial expression giving no hint as to his reaction one way or the other to the scene he had just witnessed, turned back, exiting the way he came. Exiting the Jeffries tube the next level up, Chris nodded his head once at the Deltan woman standing next to the opening.
“So…Chris?”
“I think that I shall conduct a surprise general inspection of Engineering during Delta shift.”
“Aye, Sir.” Anara answered back, entering the time on to her padd, “0130?”
“0130. Now…” Chris inquired, changing the subject, “Who’s on for bridge tonight?”
A smile crossing her face, the lovely Deltan responded, “You’re teamed up with Lieutenant Nor against me and Lieutenant T’Pren.”
Excellent.” Hobson exclaimed, a slight grin crossing his face, “Lieutenant Nor is a very good partner and T’Pren a skilled opponent. It should be a good game.”
**********************************************************************
“And then someone called out, telling her to show ‘em the twin moons of Bereleya and she did!” Pamela laughed as she sloshed the beer in her mug.
“That’s our Treasure, all right.” Ensign Val’rane chortled, his antennae twitching in amusement. “So what happened next?”
“Hell, what do you think happened?” Lieutenant Riddell responded as one of the others at the table refilled her mug. “She got busted for indecent exposure and had to walk two weeks worth of punishment tours!”
“Tellin’ tales outta school again?” Angela asked as she joined her fellow engineers in the crew’s lounge. Her smile quickly vanishing after she took a swig from the beer mug supplied to her, the chief engineer reminded her old friend, “Thought I told you that you had Dog Watch tonight, Pammy?”
“Don’t worry, Angie.” The slightly plump junior lieutenant replied, “I was just goin’ to head to my quarters after this beer. Why don’t you join us?”
“Well…all right.” The North Star born chief engineer reluctantly agreed, “But just this one drink and then you better go and rack out.”
One drink soon led to another and then another until, the buxom blonde looked at her chronometer. “Damn. It’s 0130! Girl—you better get your ass down to Engineering right now!”
“On my way!” Lieutenant Riddell replied as she swayed out of her seat.
Watching as her friend staggered out of the lounge, Treasure turned towards Ensign Val’rane. “Chrisi? Ya’ll are drinkin’ synth-hol, aren’t you?”
“Of course.” The Andorian junior engineer responded. “You know the Captain’s rules regarding alcohol and duty personnel…”
Picking up her friend’s mug, Treasure sniffed the contents. “Frak…I was afraid of that. She dropped an ethanol tablet into the pitcher. Rising to her feet, the blonde engineer felt herself sway just a bit. “Hell. You guys are goin’ to sickbay for some sober-shots an’ then you’re all hittin’ the hay.”
“What ‘bout you?” Ensign Val’rane asked, slurring his words.
“I’ll be ok.” Angela answered back; I didn’t have that much to drink.” Her face taking on a disappointed look, the now disconsolate woman explained, “I’m headin’ off to Engineering. I just pray I get there before Pammy manages to frinx things up again.”
***********************************************************************
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