:ON:
Gwen sat in her office, and looked over her list of things she
still needed to do. Right at the top of the list were a couple of
personnel issues she needed to take care. Ensign Melody's duty log was
cause for concern. Before she went and talked to Melody, she wanted to
talk to Ratch to see what was going on. Talking to Lt. Muerta wouldn't
be a bad idea either. Gwen chose to talk to Ratch first.
"Computer, locate Lt. Ratchet."
The computer responded with her usual tone, "Lt. Ratchet is
located in the Holodeck 1."
Ratchet was off duty and on the holodeck
practicing for the up coming match. She soared across the field,
dressed in dark blue Ravenclaw robes, trying to kick the butt out of
Slytherin. There was nothing greater then seeing that look on Draco
Malfoy's face when he lost. She was trying out more new moves - some of
them were really great and she really wanted to master them in time for
the match.
She caught the quaffle as it was tossed to her, leapt to her feet
on the bar of the broom then jumping rammed it into the farthest goal
before landing on her broom again. It was just cool.
Gwen stood up and headed to the holodeck. She hoped that
Ratch would be in the good mood because she was probably playing
Quidditch. Gwen really didn't like confrontations like this. But it
had to be done.
When she arrived at the holodeck she opened it up, and walked in.
She stood by the entrance and watched the performance.
Ratchet was enjoying her self a lot. She
adored this game and was glad now that playing it would not be regarded
as a waste of time but a thing encouraged by the Commodore.
She came in towards the score area, quaffle under her arm, ready
to try out again a new move. The first two times she had not gotten
it. Suddenly she tossed the quaffle into the air. It had barely left
her fingers before she was jumping off her broom, grabbing the handle
and whacking the quaffle with its tail towards the goal hoop. It just
made it in. She grinned happily exchanges high fives with the rest of
the Ravenclaws as the crowd roared its approval. What she would give
right now for Hogwarts to be real.
Gwen grinned and watched. She waited until Ratch noticed
her. Though, she did contemplate, just ending the program without
giving the doctor any warning. She decided against that. It could
possibly put her in a bad mood. Gwen was sure that her conversation
would put the Doc in a bad enough mood.
It was several minutes before Ratchet
noticed that Gwen was down there. Reluctantly she called a halt to the
program, freezing it in mid game. She hoped it was Gwen about something
Quidditch related, hoped Gwen had seen her last goal.
As soon as the program was frozen she glided down on her Firebolt.
She did not want to risk anything happening and made sure it was
frozen. Her team was winning.
"Hey sir. Anything I can do for you?" she smiled. "Getting ready I
am. Practicing hard."
Gwen grinned, "Nice flying Ratch. We're definitely going
to win for sure."
Ratchet returned the grin. She was so happy
that they were doing something she so enjoyed.
"Thanks sir" she straightened her robes. "And thanks for having
this. I really love Quidditch and am so glad for a chance to play
against other real players. Holograms are just not the same.
"Well, you should thank the crew of the Intrepid. They are
the ones who challenged us.
Gwen's face turned more serious, "Unfortunately, I didn't come
here to talk to you about Quidditch."
Ratchet tilted her head, curious at the
sudden change of mood.
"Oh?" turning more serious now though underneath there was still
that good mood that always came with playing one of her favorite games.
"What is it sir?"
And she could not think of anything for Gwen to come to her about.
Nothing at all. Everything seemed fine to her and she had not gotten in
trouble since the days when Q had been aboard.
"I have not let Tafv wonder the corridors. He is always with me
when I take him out."
"As acting XO, part of my duties including randomly reading
over the crew's duty logs.
"One of the logs I happen to read was by Ensign Melody. It
appears that there is some trouble going on in sickbay. I wanted to
come talk to you to find out your side of things before going to talk
to Melody.
"Now, I'm not saying anyone is in trouble. I just need to get
some facts.
"The first issue is that of games. You starting to take after
Tru?"
"What games?" Ratchet blinked confused. She
did not think there was any trouble in sickbay, not as far as she knew.
Melody was okay though Ratchet felt the AMO did not like her much
though she was not sure why.
"Take after Tru sir? I don't understand."
"Have you taken to playing games, like Tru does? He tends
to bring his games onto the bridge. Even though he's been threatened
many times with scrubbing the entire ship with a tooth brush."
"No sir" Ratchet said. True she did play
games at times while in her office and on duty but things were so quiet
in sickbay it made no difference and she made sure the game playing did
not interfere with her work.
"What makes you think that sir?"
"So, you don't play games at all then?"
"Yes I play games sir" she admitted - how
could she not. Didn't she have a right to do what she wanted off duty.
"Never ever interferes with my work. I don't know what makes you
think otherwise sir? I have never allowed anything to interfere with my
sickbay work sir."
"Well, Tru would never claimed that his games interfere
with his work. And, so far, his work performance has never faltered
either. Which is one of the reasons he's never been written up for his
gaming on the bridge.
"Ratch, I just had to make sure that you weren't letting the games
affect sickbay. You don't need to worry about being in trouble.
You're not."
"I do not allow anything be it games,
bagpipes or anything affect my work in sickbay" Ratchet said a little
annoyed. She was none to happy with this line of work.
"And I do not see what gave Ensign Melody such an impression sir.
I do my duty - always have. There have never been any problems from me
sir and there never will be sir."
"Well, Ratch, you have to remember that Melody is quiet
young. This is her first assignment on a starfleet ship. She doesn't
know what the duties of a CMO are. She may see you in your office
playing games and think that you should have other work to be doing.
Or playing your bagpipes.
"It's not that you're doing anything wrong, it's just that she may
have a misconception about what your duties may be.
"For her species, she is still in adolescence. Do you remember
what it was like when you were an adolescent? Trying to figure out who
you are and where your place in the universe was?"
She sighed. She wasn't in the mood to deal
with these untrue accusations. She was off duty and wanted to get back
to her game, not sit here arguing about this.
"Has she ever seen you play games or have a game padd with
you? Not just in your office or in sickbay, but ever?"
"I don't think so sir, but I don't know."
Ratchet tried to think back but it was hard to be sure. She played not
just in her quarters but when off duty in the officers lounge and well
everywhere permitted.
It was possible but she could not be too sure. "I mean she could
have seen me in like the officers lounge or such sir but I can't be too
sure. We don't spend off duty time together sir. "
"Well, I'm sure she has. I know I have. She could easily
mistake a PADD for a game PADD. Plus, you don't seem to spend a lot of
time in sickbay. For a new medical officer, this could seem wrong.
I'm not saying it is wrong. I don't believe it is. That's your
discretion."
"Thanks sir" Ratchet shrugged. "I am just
startled because well I did not think there was any problems but then,"
she just shrugged again. She really did want to get back to her game.
"Ratch, that's why I'm trying to explain to you why Melody might
think the way she does."
Ratch nodded, "She could have come to me
before this sir."
"Well, she might not feel comfortable talking to you.
"Anyways, I'll let you get back to your game." Gwen headed out of
the holodeck to let Ratch get back to practicing.
"Thank you sir" Ratchet smiled. "I hope that
clears everything up sir."
:OFF:
Lt. Cmdr. Gwen Marqusa
AXO/CSec/Tac
USS Eagle
Lt. (Doctor) Ratchet
CMO
USS Eagle
