<USS Avalon> "Those Precious Seconds"

 ?Those Precious Seconds?
by Lieutenant Commander Ja& Lieutenant JG Gregory Orton
The security offices had returned to normal and the pace had gone from
frantic and insane to timid and almost boring. People muttered and moved
slowly from job to job hoping on the off chance that something would spur
andsupply them with something other than staring at the ceiling to pass the
time. Reports were being filed early ? not that Javan was complaining ? and
the contents were just repeats from the one prior.

Javan, in an effort to tame his growing anxiety on the new mission, sifted
through and read every five submitted to him. New personnel had come aboard
and received their security clearance and physicals from medical. Sierra
knewhow it was, the usual when coming aboard.

He?d tracked down the engineer on the promenade and issued what he needed to
and got out. It was back to the desk job, which of course wasn?t what he
liked. There was something more fulfilling in carrying a phaser compression
rifle around then shuffling PADDs out to his staff. There was something in
the firepower. 

?Sir, do you have a moment?? Orton?s kind eyes peeked into the room. Javan
was starting to like having him around. 

?Of course, Greg, come on in.? Javan smiled a professional welcome, but kept
up his cement demeanor. He tapped and sealed a PADD he?d been staring into
for the past half hour and locked a gaze on the newly entered Lieutenant.
?What can I do for you??

Orton leaned over and put the data device on the table, the familiar sound
ofmetal on metal arising from the contact. He slid it with a grinding
cacophony of sound across the tabletop to Javan?s outreached hand. ?We have
anew security officer on board, an Ensign Michael Bailey.?

Javan nodded, but knew nothing of a new assignment. ?When did we receive
him??

?Right as we left Zeta Reticuli VII, I believe. Then again, I wasn?t paying
that much attention in the briefing this morning.? A smile spread across his
face and he seemed to intone a red flush in his cheeks. ?There?s a new girl
that we checked in as well and she?s, well, let?s just say wow.?

The Lieutenant Commander grinned, ?Savannah Eckstein, I know. She radiates
like the sun.?

The young security officer took a more passive stance, ?Do you think that if
I asked her out that she?d say yes? She seems to have an interest in me, but
I haven?t had that much luck talking to her as of late, but I?m still
pushingto get assigned with her when we reach the Allegiance.?

?You shouldn?t be asking me about relationships, but more importantly I
wouldn?t bother going after Eckstein. I already have a date with her
tomorrownight.? Javan grinned as Orton?s face drained of color, but he
didn?tseem to care. ?Should?ve asked her faster.?

?You sly bastard.? Orton said with a grin.

Javan only nodded.

Orton moved towards the door, but hesitated before stepping through. ?Just
don?t do anything that I wouldn?t do.?

?If I did what you do, Orton, I?d never get any action.? He tossed the PADD
across the room back at the fleeing Lieutenant. ?You?re a good man, Greg,
you?ll find someone.?

Orton smiled and shook his head, ?Not if you find them first.?

Javan laughed.

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