<USS Avalon> "Advice"

Advice

by Ensign Vevay Davis

Grinning from ear to ear, Vevay bounced into the Security Offices, at least
half an hour early but who's counting. The previous shift were just
beginning to wind down, finishing up reports and getting things ready for
her shift to start. She smiled at a couple of people she'd seen around, they
nodded but no one smiled back.

"I told you the correct procedure for compiling a duty roster, did I not?" a
shrill male voice cried from behind her.

Turning to the source of the shouting, Vevay saw a tall Bolian waving a PADD
under an already stressed-looking crewman's nose. The poor girl looked like
she was almost in tears as she stammered a response that Vevay didn't quite
catch.

"Child," he sneered. "You will get nowhere with an attitude like that."
Throwing the PADD back at her, he leaned in close, bringing his face within
a centimeter of hers. "Now go away and do it again. There is no way that I
will ever show Sierra something of such obvious sub-standard as this."

The girl ran, the PADD clutched to her chest, tears already streaming down
her face. Feeling bile already building in throat, Vevay stepped up to the
blue-skinned man.

"How dare you speak to another Security Guard like that," she growled.

Raising one eyebrow at her, he sneered. "And who are you to question how I
treat the fodder?"

"Ensign Vevay Davis and she is not fodder, she's enlisted crew."  What a
total prick, she thought. Folding her arms across her chest, Vevay glared at
him.

"Enlisted means fodder." Peering down his nose at her, he wrinkled his nose.
"Please don't tell me you actually believe that the fodder have use other
than to do the jobs that we, as officers, are too good to do?"

"There is nothing that we are 'too good to do' as you so succinctly put it.
We do what needs to be done. We're no better or worse than anyone else on
the team." Vevay wanted to smash his head in already and she'd only met him
five minutes ago.

"Oh please, we're officers. That means better. You must be new here, you
will learn." He smiled snidely as he offered her his hand. "Ensign Fothen
Tress, a name that has become synonymous with efficient running and high
standards of professionalism within this department. You would do well to
take a leaf out of my book, Davis, and learn to distance yourself from the
fodder."

"Er, no, thanks for the advice but I do believe that I'll stick with my own
policies on that regard." Eyeing the hand but not taking it, Vevay backed
away, thinking of heading to the locker room to grab her stuff.

"Arrogant, aren't you?"

"Excuse me?" she said, her voice dangerous and low.

"I said that you are arrogant. You refuse the advice and help of a seasoned
officer that knows his way around this ship and how things operate."
Glaring, he grabbed at her arm, trying to stop her from leaving.

"I reject the out-dated and stupid opinions of a stuck-up prick that doesn't
know his ass from his elbow." She shrugged out of his grip and marched into
the locker room, yanking the door to her stuff open.

"Your tone is just as disrespectful as that crewman's," said the whining
voice of the Bolian. "You should be graceful and accept that I am the
superior officer here, purely on experience alone."

"I have two years' experience already, so don't throw that one at me."  Why
am I arguing with you? Turning to face him, she pointed a finger at him,
waggling it up and down. "You are the one that's arrogant, not me. One day
you will need the help of some of the enlisted crew and they'll just sit
back and laugh because you were so mean to them."

"Don't be ridiculous, if I need something from one of them, I will order
them to do it." He looked at her as if she had twelve heads. "Foolish human,
I can tell already that you won't fit in here. It makes me wonder if you
have ever fitted in anywhere."

Saying nothing, angry tears grew at the edges of her eyes. That had been
mean, plus it had struck a chord with something inside her. Sweeping past
him, Vevay stomped into the outer office. Maybe he was right, maybe she
wasn't going to fit in here after all.

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