TBC - Guardians

Posted on Mon Feb 29th, 2016 @ 6:49pm by Chief Petty Officer Frederick Nau & Commander Ashley Kennedy

Mission: Strange Entertainment
Location: Near Officer's Mess
Timeline: Current

CPO Frederick Nau spotted Commander Kennedy in the corridor nearest the Officer's Mess, and ran up to her. "Commander, I've heard that this young person named 'Lady Sare' from Bellatrix has been brought on board, and is to stay. What's the story, if I may ask?"

Commander Kennedy didn't break her brisk pace as she looked sidelong at Nau. She sized him up - as she did with everybody who spoke to her at an unexpected time - then turned her head back to look where she was going. "The captain's put her in my charge," Kennedy replied, without alluding to her private misgivings about this unusual assignment. "She's been through an awful lot and we want to help her as best we can."

Nau shook his head in agreement. "Well, if you need any help with her I'd be willing to give it a shot. If you'd be all right with the idea?"

The first officer stopped in her tracks and turned to Nau. She sensed an opportunity and was figuring out how best to take advantage of it. She was by no means keen to shirk a duty given to her, but she could see no reason why delegation - an important part of her job - couldn't be used in this instance.

"What kind of experience do you have in this kind of task, Chief?" she asked in a tone that she consciously tried to soften.

Fred smiled back at Ashley. "Well, from what she's been through, it *sounds* like she could use a firm, not *hard,* Paternal hand to help guide her for a while. And in my travels I've dealt with all sorts of women. And before you say anything, I believe I could do a good job. And if possible, I think there's someone that might be able to lend a hand." Fred finished that last sentence with wider grin.

Ash looked him up and down, her mind assessing the option and finding no problem. Someone doesn't rise to a senior NCO in Starfleet without being of good character, plus he would have had to deal with his share of troubled ratings in his time. "Okay, Chief, you're on," she said after a moment. "Who do you have in mind to lend a hand?"

Fred grinned again. "Someone, a female, that the Lady Sare could ummmm, 'look up to?' "

"Are you suggesting," Ash said, looking up at the chief and jutting out her jaw, "that she couldn't look up to me?"

"Oh no, not at all." Replied Fred, a smile on his face. I was thinking of someone, female in particular, that she could 'look up to' with her eyes, someone that would be like an authority figure and tall. Someone that she would 'have' to listen to. I.e., Samantha Summers."

Ash almost continued her feigned irritation by asking if he was implying that she was not an authority figure, but opted against it. Her first thought was that Summers would fit the bill nicely, and seeing as Nau was taking an interest in a job that Ash herself thought she wasn't well suited to, why stand in the way? "Very well, Chief," she said after a moment. "That sounds like a plan."

"And now," Sighed Fred, "We go to ask for her help. Shall we?"

"Ah, you go ahead," Ash said, gesturing down the hallway. "I've got some other things to attend to, but if you have any trouble don't hesitate to let me know about it. I have a bit of authority around here, you know," she added with a wry smile.

Fred smiled at her last remark. " I'll remember that," He replied with a wink. Fred watched Ash walk off and then started the walk to Summers' quarters.

OFF

Chief Petty Officer Fred(erick) Nau
U.S.S. Farragut

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