Pacifica #111"
By: Melissa Jarvis, Chief Security Officer, [RNPC]
Samantha Carter, Security Officer, [RNPC]
Stardate: 58205.29 0300
Melissa had not been able to sleep so she decided that she might as well get some work done. She sat in her temporary office and looked at several security reports. Shoving them aside she decided that she was going to take a walk about the ship. She had not done much patrol of the ship since becoming the Chief of Security and decided it would be good for her to get back into the habit.
She got up from her makeshift desk and walked out into the hallway. Since deck 5 had been evacuated security had taken over what would have been the family quarters on the ship. It was already still configured as a brig from their recent transport of prisoners to Rura Penthe. On her way to the turbolift she ran into Lieutenant Carter. "Good Evening Sam," she began with a smile, "What brings you down here so late at night?"
"Good evening Chief," Sam said with a smile. " Just looking if everything is secure on this deck."
"I was just about to take a trip around the ship," she said.
" Mind if I join you then." Sam asked. "It isn't much fun, strolling in the corridors alone."
"Sure, the more the merrier," replied Melissa. The two of them entered the turbolift. "I never sleep well right after an attack. It takes me a couple of days to get over it." Melissa paused as the doors of the lift closed, "Deck 10," she said.
"Me neither," Sam responded. " Its funny but I always seem to have the feeling that whenever I go to sleep after an attack I miss something, you know. Besides us security officers are hand picked for our endurance! She grinned.
The doors opened with a hissing woosh and they stepped out onto a mostly deserted deck. With Miranda's being closed there was not much activity here tonight.
"I do not sleep much normally anyway," said Miranda as the headed towards the mess hall. There were a few people in the mess hall, however, everything was peaceful.
" Well at the academy we had this bet to see who could stay awake the longest, and still perform their duties and even do their homework."
"Did you win," she asked with a smile as the made their way towards holodeck 1.
Sam grinned and she glanced at Melissa. " What you think?"
Outside holodeck one Melissa stopped and nodded to the guard posted there, "How are things going Ensign,"
The guard, who clearly had not expected company stood up straight, "All is quiet Sir. There has been medical staff in and out regularly but that is all." The guard did no even understand why they needed him to stand here anyway. It was boring work.
" Smile Kareem," Sam said with a chuckle, she knew from experience how boring guard duty could be. Having looked around at the holodeck Sam and Melissa moved on. Despite the attack the ship was fairly quiet only the a soft vibrating could be felt below their feet. They walked back towards the turbolift. As they stepped in Sam leaned against the wall. " Deck 16"
"What were your experiences Chief, at the academy?" Sam asked.
Melissa smiled, "I spent a good portion of al last year training with the Klingons. That was a eye opening experience," said Melissa, "I tended to keep to myself most of the time."
Sam nodded. " Yes Klingon people are nice, despite they are some what smelly. I hated the academy," Sam replied from the bottom of her heart.
Melissa smiled as the stepped off the turbolift onto deck 16. "It wasn't *that* bad," she said.
"You know in every class there is one cadet who is being picked on. Well my fellow cadets decided in year 2 that it would be me. I guess that's why I am too eager to please everybody. My grades were ok you know but because of this I got a problem with the teachers, cuz I felt they did not do anything to help me with it."
I guess that's why I sometimes rebel." Sam grinned. " No offence of course."
Melissa chuckled, "None taken."
"So during that year and even the next one I buried my self in my books, creating a finesse for finding out information, that's also why I fancy Intel more then security."
Melissa stopped and looked at Sam. She had known that Sam was not completely happy in Security, "You know, Charles is no longer here. There is no reason that you could not go back to Intel." Melissa paused, "Not that I do not value you in Security, because I do. DO you think you could be happier in Intel?"
" Honestly I don't know, I like the security but somehow I miss the excitement of finding out secrets. It's difficult to explain Ma' am. Sam walked towards a open hatch and peered in side.
Melissa resumed walking down the corridor, "Well, when you decide what you want. I will support you in whatever decision you make."
Sam arched an eyebrow. Sometimes she did not know what to think of Melissa. "Ok," she said calmly as she closed the hatch and followed Melissa. The corridor was dimly light to preserve energy and not much was heard. It seemed that this deck was secure as well.
"If you had not chosen to become security Ma’am," Sam asked politely. "What would you have done?"
"I really do not think there is another job for me. When I first entered the Academy I had considered being a pilot," she confessed, "but I am happy where I ended up."
" You know it is never too late to change. Your saying that you have never ever dreamed of being in the Big Chair?" Sam asked with a chuckle.
"No way Sam, I work for a living." Melissa chuckled, "I want to be in the thick of things, not secured in a chair on the bridge.
"Sometimes when I am alone I dream of taking a shuttle and just fly away into the sunset, but then when I wake up...... Sam grinned again. "Chief...." Sam said now hesitantly. " What will happened when we die, do you think we have a soul?"
They walked in silence as Melissa pondered the question. The conversation had gotten much deeper than she had expected. "I don't know what will happen," she said, "I believe that how you live your life when you are alive is what is important. I am not going to worry about what happens when I die. When I meet my death I will do so having lived a life of honour and that is what is important to me."
Sam nodded silently. " It's just I wonder with the war and such if we are making a difference.? I don't want to become just a name in a history book but I guess I want to be a part of those who made it happen. Sounds weird isn't it?"
"No Sam, it does not sound weird," said Melissa, "It is a goal to strive for."
"How did we end up with this conversation? " Sam then said with a grin. "Something more light-hearted now, if it is non of my business than say so ok. Do you think that you will ever end up married and such?" Sam knew she was reaching for a sensitive point in this case. She knew that Melissa and Atwood were once involved and that she had been the other woman so to speak.
Melissa looked sharply as Sam. She was a but surprised by the question, "As you know," she began, "I had once considered it, however, now I do not think I care to go down that road. My career is what is important to me now."
Sam flushed. "I'm sorry."
"I do not know what your experience with Charles was Sam, but mine was a pure mistake. He was such a domineering influence. I lost my sense of self. All because I thought I loved him. I will never give up who I am again."
"I thought that as well, big mistake hey!! Sam said bitterly. "No more men for me ever!! she exclaimed.
Melissa laughed and gave Sam a look of pure evil. "Don't swear off men completely," she said with a wink, "They have their uses." Melissa chuckled, "I just am not going to let a man get in the way of what I want again, that's all." Melissa paused again, "Listen Sam, in a way, I should thank you. Charles' betrayal reminded me who I was and opened my eyes to what a terrible person he was." Melissa's thought went back to the day she found them in bed together. She was one fragile moment from killing them both. "I'm glad I didn't do it." she said.
"Did what?" Sam said.
Melissa kept a neutral expression on her face even thought she was instantly mad at herself for letting that slip out, "Nothing, I almost did something really dumb when you and Charles came back, It's not important."
"I knew about it." Sam replied calmly.
Melissa blinked, "You knew about what," she asked tentatively.
"When the Captain ordered me to transfer to your department I knew that you and Charles were a couple once and me being the other woman I knew that well....... you know. So I checked all the security logs." Sam said softly
Melissa was embarrassed, "I thought I had covered my tracks."
"Not completely Chief, that’s one advantage of having an intel back ground." Sam said looking at Melissa.
"You could have and probably should have reported me right away," said Melissa.
Sam shrugged. "Why should I? You had every right to be angry. I'm glad that you didn't pull the trigger. Besides that's the past, we need to look at the future now."
Melissa sighed, "Yeah, it's looking like a great future," she said without much enthusiasm. "Thank you for not telling the Captain."
"Hey," Sam said with a smirk. "Women amongst each other should be able to resolve these things right?”
Melissa smiled and nodded, "Let's go check deck five and call it a night."
Sam nodded and stepped into the turbo lift. "Deck five".