<USS Avalon> Old Faces - Ensign Kyle Fenner

Old Faces

by Ensign Kyle Fenner

 

Kyle crouched, staring into a small alcove off the Jeffries tube. Filling the 
alcove was the satellite computer responsible for the science quarters section 
of the ship.  It was the same computer that was responsible for the lengthy 
series of crazy malfunctions in that sectin of the ship.  ?I hate the cold.?

 

Sara, crouched next to him, shivered.  ?Me too, but computers hate heat. Guess 
who wins??

 

?Operations to Ensign Fenner.?

 

?Finally.?  Kyle tapped his communicator.  ?Go ahead.?

 

?The scheduled downtime will commence in twenty seconds.  Operations out.?

 

Kyle and Sara began Kyleoving the panel that protected the computer.  Just as 
they finished, the computer?s indicators winked out.  They Kyleoved the panel 
and were assaulted by a blast of cold air.  The cold dry air mocked the flimsy 
uniforms while they ran a tricorder over the machine.

 

?It?s dead.?  Kyle glanced at the PADD lying on the floor.  Did the other pick 
up the slack??

 

Sara shivered.  ?Yeah, the port-side is sharing duty with starboard number 
two.?  She unseated a card from the computer.  ?Let?s get this done and be out 
of this cold.?

 

?Yes ma?am.?

 

*      *      =A=      *       *

 

The small hill stood alone in the open grassland, rising up towards the sun 
that shined down on four people dozing on an enormous blanket.  The only sound 
was the wind gently moving through the grass.

 

?Eight hours of this won?t be enough,? said Der?kur.

 

?Hm?? asked Kyle.  ?You?re right, this is wonderful.?  He turned his head 
slightly, brushing his face against Tracy?s.  ?I suppose we should get the food 
ready sometime.?

 

?No,? said Sara, ?let?s go swimming first.?  She tickled Der?kur, and then ran 
down the hill giggling with him close behind.

 

?You okay??  Tracy sat up and looked down at Kyle; concern lined her face.  
?You were quiet at breakfast, and Sara said you were withdrawn today at work.?

 

Kyle sat up and stared down the hill toward the stream.  ?This morning, at 
breakfast ? I saw someone from the Tomlinson.?  

She pulled him back, cradling his head in her lap.  ?Is that bad??

 

?I'm part of the reason his fiance was killed.?

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