<USS Avalon> "Avalon or Bust. Part One"

"Avalon or Bust. Part One"
By: Ensn Melanie Redgrave

    It was raining again in Pittsburgh. Melanie liked the rain, it was 
comforting because it reminded her of London. She listened to the dancing of 
the 
rain drops on the windows across from her as she looked down into her 
microscope. 
She still hadn’t been able to find a link between John Doe and the Klingon 
but she knew it had to be there somewhere and Melanie was banking on it being 
in 
John Doe’s stomach contents. She loved these kind of assignments, the 
challenge of it, the uncertainty of it, the need for it to be done soon or else 
risk 
losing the Klingon who was due to leave Earth in three days. Melanie didn’t 
hear the sound of the lab door open, nor did she hear Commander Quincy clear 
his 
throat, so when her CO touched her shoulder Melanie jumped a mile high off 
her stool. 
    "I didn’t mean to startle you, Mel."
    Melanie tried to smile as she attempted not to look as if her heart were 
in her throat and her stomach in her feet. "No need to apologize, Quinc. I 
should have been paying attention to more then just the rain and the fibers in 
my 
scope." 
    Commander Quincy smiled warmly at her and Melanie wondered like she often 
did if the smile was due to something she’d done or just because the 
Commander liked her soft English accent. 
    "Do you have a moment, Mel. I’d like to talk to you." 
    "I always have a moment for you, Quinc." Melanie turned on her stool and 
stood up so she could walk over to her desk where she offered the commander 
her chair and a cup of coffee. When the commander refused both Melanie picked 
up 
her coffee mug and then sat on top of her desk as she watched Quincy retrieve 
a padd from his jacket pocket. She knew what was on the padd and although she 
wanted what it requested she didn’t want to see the look of disappointment in 
her commanding officer’s eyes. 
    "What is this, Mel?" 
    Melanie put her cup down as she looked Quincy in the eyes. "It’s a 
request for a transfer." 
    "I know that, Mel. What I’m asking is why was it on my desk this 
morning?" 
    "Because I’m requesting a transfer to the forensic science department 
aboard the Avalon." Melanie answered as if what she was saying wasn’t already 
on 
the padd that Quincy held. She knew what questions he would ask, she’d know 
the moment she’d made up her mind that she had to follow her lead even if it 
meant leaving a job she loved. 
    "Why the sudden need to be on a star ship?" 
    Her answers where practiced so she made sure not to answer to quickly. 
"Everyone has to do their time on a ship, Quinc. Avalon had an opening and 
since 
I’m up for a change of assignment in a few months I thought I’d put in my 
request now."
    "A few months being twelve, Mel, and even then it would have been a move 
with in the department here. By transferring now you could push back your 
chances of promotion, which you would have gotten when you did get you new 
assignment here." 
    Melanie knew that Quincy was only trying to make her see the sense or 
lack there of in her choice when it came down to her career, but her move to 
the 
Avalon had more riding on it then her career. "I understand that, Quinc. 
Really I do. It’s just something I need to do. It’ll be for the best in the 
long 
run." Melanie watched as Quincy just looked at her a moment and it made her 
uneasy, which she had never felt around him before. She watched his eyes and 
held 
her breath until she saw what she wanted; his understanding. 
    "Your mind is made up about this." 
    It was more of a statement then a question but Melanie nodded her head 
anyway.
    "Alright transfer approved pending the approval of the Avalon’s CO. You 
should be on the ship by the end of this months rotation." 
    Quincy pressed his thumb to the padd and then pulled out a stylus from 
his pocket. Melanie watched as he signed her request and smiled as she fought 
the urge to hug him. 
    "You’ll be missed around here, kido."
    Melanie stood giving in to her impulse and hugged the older man quickly 
and then smiled when he hugged her back. "I’ll miss you guys too, Quinc." 
    The rest of the day went quickly as Melanie finished the tests she’d been 
running. She’d managed to proved that John Doe had meet with the Klingon, or 
at least had had a  meal with one, now all she needed was a warrant to search 
the meat locker on the Klingon‘s war bird. She loved the feeling she got when 
a hunch paid off, but this time the feeling was over shadowed by the thrill of 
her pending new assignment and the dread of having to tell her mother she was 
leaving Earth. She would just tell her mother the same thing she’d told 
Quincy, this was for the best for her and her career in the long run. Melanie 
just 
hoped her mother believed her as easily as Quincy had.

Other related posts: