Food and tears

Posted on Thursday October 27th, 2022 @ 9:50am by Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware
Edited on on Thursday October 27th, 2022 @ 10:05am

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Science lab
Timeline: During Shore Leave

OOC:- Disclaimer: All views mentioned are in no way what so ever. Based on any incidents that have taken place in the Pegasus fleet. It is all fictional and no insults to anyone in the fleet was ever intended.

[ON]

-Science Lab-

Penny’s Chihuahua the Wee Ones psychotic behaviour. Had finally been put down to his diet. The small dog's tiny system was very delicate. Aboard her last vessel the replicators. Had been able to process his food correctly. But the Oberon was a different and newer ship.The replicator system was completely different.This was why the food had set him off.

The first problem was the Chihuahua was a picky eater. He hated fish , peppers , tomatoes, cheese and carrots.So it had to be meat or chicken. Penny worked hard on the food program. It took her ages to get a foodstuff. He would not just sniff or pee over. But actually eat.

Finally she thought she had the correct one. The Wee One ate the whole thing up. Penny smiled.

Success! Then Wham!! The Wee One started yapping. He wanted another bowl.

“ Yip yip yip yip yip” He barked

“ No. You've had enough.” She said

“ Yip yip yip yip yip” He barked

“ Please.” She said

“ Yip yip yip yip yip” He barked

Penny started to cry.

Niali’s day was going well, her bridge shift and meeting with the Captain had gone well, she had worked out and was taking Puss a walk. She remembered her promise of help to Penny so she had ascertained her whereabouts and had walked into the science lab. The scene was one of distress, Puss jumped down off Niali’s shoulder and sauntered towards the yapping dog, Niali said to Penny in a loud tone that overshadowed the incessant yipping. “Penny, hey what’s going on, why are you crying?” She put her arm round her.

Penny looked at Niali and started crying even harder.

“ Yip yip yip yip yip yip “ The Wee One barked

“ Everything has gone wrong. My career , my job , my life. I can’t even feed my wee doggie” Penny cried

Puss jumped down from Niali’s shoulder and actually hurried to Wee One’s side. He looked down at the empty bowl and then at Wee One. This went on for a minute or so until,Wee One sat down and stopped yipping. Puss licked him on the nose and they laid down on the floor together. Niali smiled “come with me Penny” she ordered. She picked up the now sleeping pair and the four of them headed to Niali’s quarters. Once there she put the still sleeping pair gently down in Puss’s basket and began to make some tea. “Sit down Penny and tell me your story?”

“ Ever since I was a wee bairn this opening below my nose has always been a problem. I would always spoil things by opening it at the wrong times.At the the academy I was able to control myself. But once graduation came. I started using it again without thinking. I was so proud to be the youngest Chief Science Officer in Starfleet history.Then then ooh…..” Penny begun to cry again.

Niali let the silence hang for a few minutes whilst she made the soothing tea, then handing it to Penny she sat down opposite her. “Then what happened?” She asked quietly.

Penny took a shaking sip.

“ This is good tea. I ruined everything. We where on a joint mission and the I was asked to join medical. You see I have this odd thing in my head. Much like Dr Edgeware where if I see things. I remember them instantly. I believe it’s called a photographic memory. That’s how I was able to study and pass two big subjects at the academy. Science and Medical. There was this Chief Medical Officer from the other vessel. She took a dislike to me. Anyway. We had this wee Alien creature that was nay on the medical files. I got a bit carried away. It was a dream come true to discover something. She took exception to my excitement and put me on toilet cleaning duty. So I called her something that no lady should say. The Captain got involved. Tore me down a wee strip. I was ordered to apologise and refused………” Penny started to cry again.

Niali thought for a minute. It seemed very unfair and drastic to ruin Penny’s budding career owner enthusiasm and an insult. “I what way did you get carried away Penny?” She asked gently encouraging the young woman.

“ I started to look into its bone structure and how it evolved. Another officer and I started talking. I brought up some information about a historical file. When the crew of a well famous Starship devolved. I got really excited then this wee banshee. Got angry and put me on toilet cleaning duty. I forgot myself and insulted her. She went to the Captain and I stood my ground. Next thing my collar is lighter by a pip and I am off the vessel. If I had only kept my mouth shut. Then to cap things off my Nan said she could not take the Wee One. Her own doggie and he dinna like each other.The last time they met there was a wee scuffle. The Wee One crabbed his tail and would nay let go. I had to phaser stun him in the end…..” Penny said

“Right,” said Niali, “Penny none of this sounds right, you were a Lieutenant. You were studying an alien creature as you should have been, you were enthusiastic, maybe a little more than enthusiastic, because of this you were rude to a superior officer and got totally demoted and moved? None of this sounds right at all at the risk of repeating myself. May I ask what exactly you said to her ?” Niali waited.

Penny lowered her head and whispered.

“ I questioned whether her parents where humanoid. Plus I kind of compared her to a smelly Orion bog slug. During the mating season when they smell even worse then usual. Who would not be able to run a large party of drunken naked sexually aroused Romulans. Even if she had instructions. Then I gave the Captain a piece of my mind. Telling them how he was more interested in results rather then keeping the crew safe. That is when he was not busy shining his medals.”

Niali sniggered then shuddered, “wow Penny, you didn’t hold back. Did you apologize?” She asked. Had you had any warnings prior to this, anything else on your record?”

Penny shook her head.

“ Not at first. They made me though. But there was a prior incident. But I dinna think it was that bad.I kind of voiced my opinion about Orions and Klingons. There was nay on the ship at the time otherwise I would not have my head now. But the Captain said as a department head and Lieutenant. I should nay of said that.So I was given a strike one.” She told Niali

“Look Penny, do you mind if I ask my Aunt to speak to those involved, I would but I am only a Lieutenant Commander and she is an Admiral and knows absolutely everyone. What happened to you seems most unfair and an abuse of power. Yes, you did wrong, very wrong mouthing off like you did, but, maybe we can rescue some of this. So long as you told me the truth.” Niall laughed and pointed towards Wee One and Puss who were playing together. “Would you look at that, Puss distracted him.”

The Wee One ran round Puss who seemed to follow him. He gave an excited yip and the game continued.

“ No. it would not work. Unless this Aunt was a 9ft tall slavering twin jawed armoured Xynomorph. They will never change their minds. My Grandmother tried and that’s why my collar is missing pips.” Penny replied

Niali sighed and then suddenly hugged Penny feeling the young woman’s bones through her uniform. “What you need Penny is a friend.” She smiled. “and that is me.” She pointed at Wee One and Puss who were now engaged in some less than savory licking. “Our pets are friends so should we be. Now, Penny what would you like to do about all this……what would make you happy?”

“ Could you perhaps ask Mr Edgeware or even the Captain if perhaps I could be fully assigned to Science. I am nay good as a medic. This is where I belong in a science lab. But Edgeware will never agree he hates me….sniff…..sniff…..” Penny said

Niali laughed and managed to stifle it as a cough. “I am sure he does not hate you Penny. Hate is a very strong word too often used. I think he finds you a little …….” She wracked her brain for the right words “A little excitable. I will have a word with him.” Niali put her arm round her. “Anyway we seem to have solved one problem. “She pointed to Wee One and Puss happily snoring curled up with each other tail to tail.

Penny looked at the Wee Ones dish. He had eaten everything and had turned back into a normal dog. For now.

“ Och. Success thank ye.” She said smiling.

“I will recommend you for science also Penny, and we will see how you go in that position.”

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Niali Korial
Executive Officer/Chief Counsellor
USS Oberon.

&

Ensign Penny McTaggard
Science/Medical
USS Oberon