Lunch Break

Posted on Tue Jan 31st, 2023 @ 5:03pm by Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels

Mission: Evacuation
Location: Ship's Mess

Tony had finally shaken of her shawow, Sky. As she had promised to be a good girl as she had a bite to eat in the mess. She felt so uncomfortable as if everyone on the ship knew what happened with the captain and that she now was basically without a job on the ship and a very uncertain future.

Diane had picked out a quiet corner to grab a quick lunch between tasks. Being the acting executive officer and head of the ship’s intelligence department left her with little idle time during the day. In short, she was not particularly happy with the arrangement but she was determined to do both to the best of her ability until Commander Stoffels could resume work. This was, after all, part of the second officer’s duty.

After she selected her lunch Tony started to look for a place to sit and soon spotted Diane sitting alone. Her eyes narrowed as she zeroed in on the new first officer. With a clang she sat down her plate on the table. "Happy now? Did you cook this up between you?"

Diane looked up at Tony from a PADD she was perusing, "No," she replied simply in her normal tone. "Also, for your information, this was Captain Carey's decision all on his own based on your behavior."

"No he actually didn't." Tony said in a flat voice. "He asked me up to the bridge to take command of the ship while he went down to the planet. I took your advice and told him that I was not sure I was up to the task. The captain did his very best to convince me to do it but I held firm. Then he relieved me as first officer telling me he would not work with a first officer who doubts herself and he would look for someone else. Is that what you had in mind? To ruin my career, well congratulations commander, you succeeded."

Diane set the spoon down she was using for her soup. Then she set the PADD down that was in her other hand. She folded her hands in front of her and rested them on the table. All of this was done in a deliberately precise manner. Then she looked Tony in eyes and explained, “You know me well enough to know that I don’t have starship command as an ambition. NO one is trying to ruin your career. You need to find out why you’re suddenly doubting yourself and rectify that situation. I would suggest going to sickbay and getting a thorough looking over. Then a good long chat with a counselor if nothing physically wrong is found.”

"You bitch." Tony kept her voice soft. "I listened to you once and see how that turned out. I will not be doing so again. You had me doubt myself and when I asked for help I was fired. I am not making that mistake again."

She didn't react to being called names. Heavens knows she'd been called far worse for the mere fact she worked in Starfleet Intelligence. "Well then," Diane's expression brightened sarcastically, "If you're not going to listen to me anymore, get up and leave. At the very least get some help from someone. You are very clearly not yourself."

Tony's mind still felt filled with cotton balls she just could not come up with a good sharp reply. All she could do was indeed get up and get out before she would completely lose her temper. Why was the whole world turning against her right now.

Diane called after seeing the confused expression on Tony’s face. “Are you all right?” She asked with genuine concern in her voice.

"I..." Tony stared ahead blankly for a few seconds. "I...don't know."

"Tony, please," Diane spoke with sympathy, "Go to sickbay, just get checked out. You're really not acting like yourself, you realize that, don't you?" She was already thinking of alternate ways to get Tony to sickbay, unfortunately nothing not involving security readily came to mind.

"They can't find anything wrong, Diane. Everybody thinks it's in my head, that I am making things up." She rubbed her eyes. "I think I will go lay down for an hour or so."

Diane let out a small sigh of exasperation. Relenting, she answered "Fine, a nap, then go to sickbay. Please, Tony, don't make me order you," she warned in a gentle, sympathetic tone.

Tony nodded still looking slightly dazed and left.

Diane watched her leave and knew at that moment she would, at some point, have to order the Commander to sick bay. She sighed wearily.