<USS Avalon> "The Detrimental Delegate"

“The Detrimental Delegate”
by Junior Lieutenant Gregory Orton
& Ensign Lexie Daros



Lexie was checking on an analysis she was running just to check out the equipment and ignoring Tivan who was glowering from the other side of the lab. Her head still had a bump from the accident and she wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone. Well, anyone except Gregory who was standing near her elbow and was the best thing about the day. "I heard about the delegation that came aboard. Rydyns? Know anything about them?"

"They just achieved warp speed last year. Amazingly, though, they have already solved all the variables that it took our scientists decades to iron out. They already have the ability to go warp three," Greg Orton shifted against the console and resisted the urge to look over her shoulder, "The Federation, it appears, is desperate for allies. I don't think they're going to have much to offer us, but orders are orders. They'll be observing all the departments from what Commander Sierra tells me."

"So I should expect them in here? Wonderful." She gave a significant glance in Tivan's direction. This was just what she needed with him glowering and pouting and generally being a male pain. Maybe she should order him out and not let him back until the delegation had been through. "Get back to work, O'Neal or get over here and tell me why you aren't." She sighed and turned to look at Greg. "Are you going to end up working a lot of extra hours because of them?"

He smirked, "Of course, but I'll be here with you. Security has dispatched an officer to every place where they will be. Benevente is on the bridge, Vayle in medical, I'm in here, and so on and so forth. So, you'll pretty much be sick of me and security by the time you're sick of them."

She laughed and would have done something more, but they were after all in her lab and not alone. "I doubt I'll get sick of you, but I might get sick of them before it's over if they make pests of themselves. And then again...maybe I will get sick of you and just not want to see you when we're off," she teased. "How's that?"

"I'm a security officer, it comes with the job," Orton stuck his tongue out at her playfully, "all I know is that they're going to be asking multitudes of questions with no real knowledge of this department. You're going to have to walk them through every routine, every procedure, and every analysis and explain it as if they were five."

She sighed and leaned back against the desk. "This day just gets better and better. Hang on a minute." She stepped across the room and spoke to the three that were attempting to studiously ignore her and Greg. "We're going to have company and I want everyone on their best behavior. Or you can count on pulling extra hours cleaning this place by hand. With a toothbrush," she said, looking straight at Tivan. All three nodded and she walked back over to Greg. "As long as they stay away from O'Neal, things ought to be fine."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I was at the Academy with him," she replied and waited to see if he'd notice that while she was an Ensign, O'Neal was a Warrant Officer.

Orton folded his arms, "What makes me think that there is more to this story than meets the eye?"

"Because there is?" She considered briefly. Tell him or not? She shrugged. He was going to be here until the delegation left and considering she'd like him to be around for longer than that, she might as well tell him. "I went out with him back then and he tried..." She lowered her voice and made sure her back was to the others. "He didn't want to take no for an answer."

"He's a man. Especially at that age, good Lord. You can't hold that against him. We all do stupid things in our childhood and we all wish we didn't do them; sometimes other people have to forgive for life to move on," he was trying desperately not to overshadow her plight with hollow words of forgiving fancy, but he felt like he should defend the guy no matter how much of a scum bag he really was.

"I didn't report him. He had the same problem with another female on his first assignment. She's the reason he got demoted. All I have to do is work with him." She lifted one shoulder. "Besides, I broke his hand, so I don't think he'd try it again with me."

Orton picked up a PADD and tapped it hesitantly, "prone to fits of rapid anger, got it." He smiled at her.

She smiled. "Only with certain people. Others, bring out a much more fun side." She liked him. He was intelligent and interested in everything and fun to be with. She didn't want him to think she didn't want him touching her. "Like you, for example."

"Well, I'm glad at that, I assure you. I'm not a fan of pain in any forms," Orton walked around the table and leaned against it into the most obvious flirtatious pose a male of his species could muster. He smiled at her again - he enjoyed doing that - and tilted his head down. "So, what fun are we talking about?"

Out of nowhere the doors swished open and a man, no doubt a member of the delegation, walked through the door with an armed security guard. The man nodded at Orton and then took off to somewhere else; Orton wished it were he that was leaving. The man straightened and addressed Orton and Daros, "I am T'tek, I am the liaison to the 'fowerensical' department. Whatever that may be."

Orton fought the laughter.

Lexie straightened and bit back the reply she had been about to utter. "I'm Ensign Daros and I'm the Forensic Science officer aboard Avalon." She nodded politely, unsure about the protocol of shaking hands with him.

"Forensics?" The man replied.

"Yes, the study of evidence to assist in the solving of a crime or in certain other instances." She motioned around the room. "This is the Forensic Laboratory and those are my team." She indicated each in turn. "Warrant Officer Tivan O'Neal, biochemistry. Petty officers Hadria Teath and Drake Mabry, linguistics and weapons respectively. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them." This was going to be so much fun. Explaining forensics to someone who had no idea?

The man looked appalled, "You humans certainly are barbaric things. In the little time we've had contact with you the talk has been of nothing but war and violence." He shook his head, "this is definitely not something I think that my people should associate with. And, you, who are you?" He almost glared at Orton.

"I'm the security officer liaison to this department. Since crimes are security business, we need someone to bridge the gap between the two sections. I'm also here as a security assistance to Ms. Daros," Orton's voice wavered slightly - he wasn't one for idle chatter and he would rather have sat in the corner.

"What are you currently working on, Ms. Daros?" The man blew of Gregory all together. "Anything barbaric to study?"

"We don't engage in barbarism. We study evidence in an attempt to help solve problems. At the moment, we are engaging in some tests to ascertain the efficiency of the department and our skill at analyzing certain data."

"The fact you have to solve problems that resulted in crimes is barbaric enough."

"If the Federation was composed of entirely perfect beings, then I would agree with you. However, until that is attained, there will be a need of people to examine evidence and come to conclusions regarding it." She motioned to one of the machines. "For example, with this we can analyze a person's DNA through either blood or saliva or epithelial cells left on items they might have touched."

The delegate looked highly unimpressed, "Interesting."

"Or Petty Officer Teath can analyze documents and not only tell you if they were written by the same person, but she can tell you a great deal about the person just by the style and words used."

He nodded.

Petty Officer Mabry can tell you what weapon was used to make any injury or damage to furnishings or structure. He can also tell you what setting the weapon was on at the time and it's likely state of efficiency." She nodded toward O'Neal. "Warrant Officer O'Neal can analyze any chemical or substance and tell you what it is comprised of and where it might be obtained if it is something rare."

"How convenient."

Orton watched as the young gal fought a losing fight with the delegate. He wanted to step in, but he didn't have the nerve to and he didn't want to step on her toes. So, he let the onslaught continue. She was doing the best he could, that much was obvious, but the man just wasn't biting. "It's truly an amazing department."

"No doubt." More sarcasm dripped from his voice.

"There are some who are interested in the value of science and knowledge and some who are not. I do my job the best that I am able and am satisfied that I contribute to Fleet and the Federation. If others do not see that contribution, there is nothing I can do."

"I think I've observed all I can here." With that the delegate sauntered out the door where another security officer picked up in pursuit.

"What the hell was that?" Orton asked, coming out of his corner and his shell.

"I think he just wanted to see if he could bully me into cowering." She shook her head and looked at the closing doors. "Not a very friendly individual. I don't envy security any."

"Not a very nice guy at all. Just let it blow away, no need to worry about something that is blatantly not your fault," Orton took a step back over to Lexie where he was before he was interrupted by the delegate, "you said something about fun...?"


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