<USS Avalon> "Work to be Done"

Work to be  Done
 
 
 
        Laney was headed toward the shuttle bay when  a man in civilian 
clothes stopped her. He was about a head taller than she, with  dark hair that 
was 
a little long, green eyes, and a full mustache and  beard. She didn't usually 
go for men with facial hair, but it worked on  him.
        "Excuse me," he said, his voice clearly  accented British. "I am 
completely lost. I'm supposed to have quarters on Deck  24, but I can't find 
them."
        Laney laughed. A week alone in her shuttle  had given her plenty of 
time to examine Avalon's layout. Of course,  even if she hadn't, she'd have 
been able to tell him what she did.
        "Yeah, I'd say you're lost---because there  aren't any quarters on 
this deck. You're on 19, not 24. Only thing here is the  shuttle bay and the 
arboretum."
        He laughed, shaking his head. "I can't  believe I got off on the 
wrong deck. I don't know how that happened. It's not  like this is my first 
time 
on a Starfleet ship."
        Laney's curiosity was piqued, and she would  have liked to stay and 
discover what this guy was all about. But Admiral  Ketchum had given her an 
order, and she didn't want to give him any reason  to start questioning the 
sense 
of having her on board. 
        "Turbolift is right over there," she said,  pointing. "Just tell it 
to take you to Deck 24."
        "I know. I thought I had, but apparently not,  eh? Listen, thanks."
        Laney watched as he brushed past her and  headed for the lift. 
Shaking her own head, she walked into the shuttle bay.  Farraday wasn't in 
sight 
when she got there.
        "Hey Chief, you still here?"
        It was then she noticed that Einin's  hatch was open, and she walked 
over as Elijah Farraday walked out with another  crewman in tow.
        "Chief?" she said, one eyebrow held aloft in  question. 
        "I'm sorry, Ensign. I was just showing  Veronica the cockpit of your 
shuttle---hope you don't mind. Don't worry, we  didn't go in the back."
        The other woman looked appropriately  apologetic. "I've known Eli far 
longer than you have, ma'am," she said. "He gets  excited every time a new 
shuttle comes aboard, even if it's a class he's seen  before."
        "I see," Laney said, not really mad that he  had taken the girl 
inside. Instinct told her that Farraday fancied this girl  something fierce, 
and he 
was just trying to show off a little. 
        "I would, however,  appreciate it if you asked next time, Chief."
        Farraday nodded. "Of course. Sorry," he said  again. Then he realized 
the two women were both looking at him  expectantly.
        "Where are my manners? Ensign, this is Yeoman  Veronica Pageant. 
Veronica, my new boss, Ensign Delaney Scott."
        The women shook hands in greeting. "Welcome  to Avalon, Ensign. Keep 
this one in line, will you?" she said, poking  an elbow in Farraday's 
direction.
        Laney grinned. "I'll give it a shot. Now, I  hate to run you off, but 
Eli and I have work to do. I've been to see the  admiral, and he'd like us to 
start bringing the shuttles over from Izar  Station."
        "Which reminds me, I better go see him  myself," Veronica said. 
"He'll be wanting the services of his executive  assistant before long, no 
doubt."

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