<USS Avalon> "Scuttlebutt"

"Scuttlebutt"
By: Lt. FC. Melanie Redgrave and Ensn. Paul Laurents
 
The diagnostic stats, scan results, and staff reports that were normally  
displayed on the computer screen had been replaced by recipes and replicator  
menus. Redâs latest music program played softly in the back ground, as 
Melanie  
tried to find something to make for her dinner with Elijah. Heâd been sweet  
enough to make allowances for her eating preferences, and she wanted to find  
something that would meet him half way. 
 
A light knock at her door made Melanie look up. She smiled faintly as Paul  
walked in and helped himself to the chair in front of her desk. âShifts about 
 
over, Mel, how about coming out with us for a drink.â 
 
Melanie smiled as she leaned back in her chair and relaxed a little. âCanât 
 
tonight Pauly, I 
have other plans.â
 
Paul looked over at Melanieâs computer, tiling his head to the side.  â
Dinner plans?â 
 
âIâm making dinner for Elijah.â 
 
A warm smile spread across Paulâs face. âThatâs sweet of you Mel. Making  
dinner and taking it down to him. You gonna make enough for everyone?â 
 
Melanie didnât know what Paul was talking about so she looked at him as if  he
âd just turned purple and grew a horn between his eyes. âThere isnât an  
everyone, Pauly, itâll just be me and Eli.â 
 
Now Paul was the one who looked confused. âHow are you going to manage  that? 
From what I hear itâs pretty full down there and I donât think theyâre  
likely to let you in.â 
 
âDown where? Into what? What in the bloody hell are you talking about?â  
Melanie asked. 
 
Paulâs eyes widened. âYou mean you havenât heard?â 
 
âHeard what?â 
 
âLieutenant Dareth and a bunch of others are locked down in a quarantine on  
deck thirteen.â Paul told her. 
 
Melanie blinked and then quickly turned to her computer to check shipâs  
reports. The red light, annoying klaxon, and jerky movements of the ship had  
told 
her there was something going on, but since forensics wasnât normally  needed 
in a battle she hadnât really been paying attention. Sure enough there  were 
the calls for engineering, science, and medical, and the cataloged entry  for 
a high level quarantine field. 
 
âBlood hell.â 
 
âIâm guessing that if you hadnât heard the scuttlebutt about the 
quarantine  
then you havenât heard the stuff coming down from medical either have you?â 
Paul  asked cautiously. 
 
Melanie braced herself for more unwanted news. âOut with it Pauly.â 
 
Paul tugged at the collar of his uniform. âWell, word around the replicator  
is that youâve been spending time with Commander Skyler, Nurse Lewis, and  
Lieutenant Marksbury.â Paul waited for some kind of confirmation but Melanie  
wasn
ât giving any, so he went on. âWell, see I was thinking that if thatâs 
true  
then you might want to know that from what Iâve heard, Marksburyâs in sick 
bay  and sheâs in bad shape.â 
 
âBlood hell.â Melanie hissed as she pressed the heels of her hands into her 
 
eyes, and then rubbed her face. 
 
âSo, looks like your plans are dashed.â Paul said in a sweet voice, trying  
to ease the mood. âWanna go get that drink?â 
 
Melanie looked up at Paul and then after a long moment simply replied, âGo  
away Pauly.â
 
After Paul left, Melanie checked in with someone in sick bay who confirmed  
that Marksbury had been beamed in, in pretty bad shape and was now unconscious. 
 Why did things always have to get worse before getting better? This was 
going to  hit both Skyler and Elijah pretty hard, and to be honest, though she 
barely knew  the other woman, it wasnât making Melanie feel very good either. 
 
There wasnât much she could do for Marksbury, she wasnât a doctor, but she  
could offer to sit with her once she was allowed visitors. For now Melanie had 
 to see to her sister and Elijah. After making a quick stop by her quarters 
to  replicate two large baskets of food and drink, Melanie headed for deck  
thirteen.

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