=Deck 14= =U.S.S. Chimera= As the minutes approached 2000 hours, Rick watched what would be the last of the modifications he would be a part of that day. Some work would take place when the Chimera shipped off the next day, but for the time being, they had done all they could. Rick was knelt down, looking at the relays leading up to the warp coils when he heard footsteps stop behind him. “Does everything meet up to your specifications, Ensign?” an unidentified voice said from behind him. When Rick turned his head, still kneeling, he noticed that it was the marine lieutenant that he had trouble with a couple days prior. The lieutenant ... Knight was it? ... had no emotion on his face as he looked down at Ensign Rodgers. “I guess it’ll have to do,” Rick said. “I’d say that there are only a few engineers in the fleet, or the marine corp for that matter, that would approve of such changes to a ship in such little time. But, I have to admit, you and your guys did well.” Rick stood, wiping his hands off on the legs of his pants. Knight just looked into Rodgers eyes and shook his head. “To be honest, when Captain Garsha told us of this idea, I had my doubts as well,” Knight said. “But when you’re given an order, you follow it out. No questions asked.” Rick turned to close a couple of the panels along the wall. “If there’s a possibility that this ship is at risk, I’ll ask questions,” Rick said, turning around to face Knight again. “Only a fool wouldn’t. That doesn’t mean that I still won’t follow orders and do what I’m told.” Rick watched as a couple of other crewmen from the base were closing panels. “Now I guess I’ll have to try and help keep this ship together with these modifications,” Rick continued. “I suppose you’ve heard about the injuries that engineers from this ship and the base have suffered because of these changes.” Knight was still stoned-face as he kept his eyes on Rick. “Injuries are part of the job, Ensign,” Knight said. “I know that,” Rodgers said. “I may be still kinda new to this job, but I did spent almost my entire life on starships. I’ve seen crewmen, including my father, suffer injuries. But I also know that the injuries that we’ve suffered the past couple of days are greater than normal. From what I’ve been told, some of those injuries were pretty serious.” Closing the last of the panels he was responsible for, Rick smiled at the marine. “But, like you said, that’s all part of the job,” Rick continued. “Now if you’ll excuse me ...” Rick started down the corridor when Knight turned to follow. “I just spoke to Gomez a few minutes ago,” Knight said. “He said that you were an all right fellow. We’re having a surprise going away party for him over on the base tonight. No synthol allowed. I was wondering if you’d like yo join us since you are his friend and all.” Rick was caught surprised at the invitation. He almost wanted to say no since his relationship with the base marines hadn’t been the best. Still, this was for Gomez. “Sure,” Rick said. “Sounds like fun.” “Very well,” Knight said. “It starts at 2100 hours. Just ask for me when you arrive on the base and someone will show you the way.” With that, Knight walked away. - - - - - - - - - The next morning, Rick felt like crap. He had a headache and his stomach churned. As he looked into the mirror in his quarters, he realized that he looked as bad as he felt. He went into the party with no intention of drinking. Before last night, his only experience of drinking was synthol, and he drunk very little of the fake stuff. Hector Gomez, though, had a way of talking a person in doing anything. Thankfully, Gomez wasn’t there when Rick graduated from the academy. If he was, then Rick may have never made it to the Chimera in the first place. “Computer, coffee,” Rick said, standing, barely, next to the replicator. “Black and strong.” The desired drink appeared. As he had done the morning before, he sniffed at the drink before consuming it. He imagined that he’d be doing that for awhile after the little ‘accident’ with the replicators. He sat down as his small table/desk when he heard the chime of the door. “Come,” Rick said, not caring who it was. “Hey, man,” Hector Gomez said with a smile on his face. “Don’t tell me you’re just waking up?” Rick just grunted as he took another sip, not bothering to look at his friend. “Wasn’t that a blast last night or what?” Hector said. “Those guys ... I’m gonna miss them.” “Uh, huh,” Rick managed to say. “And you...,” Hector said, pointing at Rick as he sat in a chair. “I didn’t think we were ever going to drag you away. Jenna and Maria were all over you all night. Man, that was fun.” Rick remembered the women in question, but not much else. In fact, he remembered very little after he started on his fourth glass of Andorian Brandy. Hector tossed a couple of pills on the table next to Rick. “Take these,” Hector said. “I picked them up from sickbay. They will help subdue your hangover.” Rick placed his half-full mug on the table and looked at the tiny white pills. “My brother once told me, when it came to drinking, ‘If you do the crime, then you should do the time’,” Rick said before taking the pills and placing them in his mouth. “The hell with my brother. If he wants to suffer, fine. I’m sure the hell not going to.” Hector laughed. “Lets go down to the mess and grab some breakfast,” Hector said as he stood. “I’m hungry.” “I don’t know,” Rick said. “I don’t think my stomach can handle food.” “Sure it can,” Hector said, pulling Rick up by his shoulder. “It’ll do you some good and you’ll feel better eating something solid. That is unless you want to grab some more brandy ...” “No thanks,” Rick said, looking in the mirror as he combed his hair before heading for the door. “I’d prefer some eggs over any more alcohol ... ever.” Ensign Rick Rodgers Assistant Engineering Officer U.S.S. Chimera and Ensign Hector Gomez Assistant Engineering Officer U.S.S. Chimera