<USS Avalon> Log-Passing of the Baton

Passing of the Baton

-Dodge Thomas



 

 

 

"Will you please stop your incessant babbling?!?" Leila Criswell gritted her 
teeth and growled under her breath.

The Binars continued to murmur in their native tongue. They paid her no regard.

Leila sighed, a strong note of futility intertwined with frustration.

Dodge watched the transaction with a feeling of detached desperation. The 
Binars were not meshing well with the rest of the engineering staff. At first, 
it had not been a problem. The two of them simply avoided contact with everyone 
else. However, as of recently, crew interaction had become necessary...and it 
had become a problem.

He glanced at the chronometer. Twenty more minutes before their shuttle docked. 
They would be missed. Their efficiency was near one hundred percent, and 
despite the fact that they didn't get along with the rest of his staff, even he 
could recognize talent.

The issue of their unsocial behavior was going to be a quickly resolved one. In 
fifteen minutes, their shuttle would dock, removing their problems and his. 
Apparently, they had personal reasons to return home, and Dodge didn't question 
them. In fact, he was somewhat relieved that they were leaving, although he 
felt somewhat ashamed about it.

Their skills would indeed be missed, but the problems that they presented him 
and the rest of his staff, as well as their 'personal' issues had been enough 
to persuade him to letting them go.

He knew the Binars would continue to work until the last minute unless he 
intervened, so he did.

"You two have all of your stuff packed?" He asked politely, trying to start a 
conversation.

"We require--"

"--little 'stuff'. Possessions are--"

"--pointless."

"We're going to miss you here."

In the background, Leila snorted harshly, then shuffled away to work behind the 
warp core.

"That is a fact--"

"that we seriously debate."

"Well, I am sorry to see you go. Your skills and experience are remarkable."

One of the Binars beamed pride, the other displayed serious suspicion. 
Apparently, it was difficult for them to hide emotions. Dodge smiled inwardly. 
His job was done.

"Ensign Thomas, please have the Binars report to the main shuttlebay."

Dodge nodded, tapped his combadge in an affirmative response, then followed the 
two Binars out of engineering. The short walk to the shuttle bay was a silent 
one, and Dodge once again got the vague impression that the Binars were 
planning something on the scale of galactic domination. It must have had 
something to do with their odd expressions, their shifty eyes...but then, that 
was discrimination. Dodge mentally slapped himself.

?As I said, you will be missed.?

?Goodbye Ensign Thomas.?

?We appreciate your condolences.?

The shuttle?s doors closed, and with that the Binars were gone.

 



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