Free Star Trek by Glenn Hauman

CHAPTER
1
    L ense focused.
    The sickbay of the
da Vinci
was quiet, with Vance Hawkins the only patient in, being treated for a fractured ulna and torn ligament injury sustained during a security drill. Dr. Elizabeth Lense was ignoring him. She continued to sit in her office and stare at the computer screen on her desk.
    Emmett, the Emergency Medical Hologram treating the injury, closed the tricorder. “You are free to go, Mr. Hawkins. Your injury will be fine by the end of the week. May I suggest that you be more careful next time?”
    â€œSorry. Occupational hazard.”
    â€œYes, well, perhaps a change of occupation might be better for you. You’ve visited sickbay more than any other member of security. You may wish to consider a less hazardous line of work.”
    â€œWhat? And give up show business?”
    â€œI’m sorry, I don’t quite get the reference.”
    â€œNever mind. Doctor, is there anything else I should do?”
    â€œNo,” Emmett said. “Avoid overuse of the arm, and general rest should be fine.”
    â€œDoctor?” He looked past Emmett and addressed Dr. Lense.
    â€œHmm?” Dr. Lense looked up, distracted.
    â€œIs there anything else I should be doing for my arm?”
    â€œNo, what Emmett said is just fine.”
    â€œOkay. Thanks. And thank you, Emmett.”
    â€œYou’re more than welcome. Always happy to see you. Not happy to see you hurt, of course, but—”
    â€œI know what you meant, you big lug. Don’t use too much electricity.”
    Emmett watched him leave, then said, “Dr. Lense, I’ve filed a full report. Is there anything else you need me for?”
    â€œNo, Emmett. Switch off, but reactivate if anybody else comes in. Is that clear?”
    â€œYes, Doctor.” Emmett vanished.
    â€œGood boy,” she said to the empty air.
    She went back to her terminal, tapping occasionally at different places on the screen. Eleven minutes later, her communicator beeped.
“Gold to Lense.”
    â€œGo ahead, Captain.”
    â€œDoctor, I’d like to see you in my ready room.”
    â€œCertainly. I can be up by the end of the—”
    â€œNow, Doctor, if you don’t mind.”
    Lense hesitated. “All right. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
    â€œThank you. Gold out.”
    Resigned, Dr. Lense got up to leave—abandoning the problem she had been working on and was so close to solving.
    She didn’t see that by moving the red nine to the black ten, she would free up the ace of clubs.
    Captain’s Personal Log, Stardate 53661.9.
I’ve just summoned Dr. Lense to my office. Actually, “ordered” is probably the correct word.
    I hate to actually pull rank on my crew. The fact that I have just done so merely indicates to me that my course of action is an appropriate one.
    Because of the nature of that action, I am going to record the transcript of our upcoming conversation here. Should it be necessary later, I will transfer it to an official log entry, although it’s my hope that can be avoided.
    Times like this, I wish Rachel was here. She always reads people better than I do. It was good to see her, Daniel, Esther, and the twins—not to mention Esther’s new beau, Khor, son of Lantar.
That
meeting went off without a—
    The doorchime just rang. Starting transcript now.
    TRANSCRIPT STARTS
G: Come.
L: Sir.
G: Come in, Doctor. Have a seat.
L: Thank you.
G: A drink?
L: Nothing for me, thanks.
G: Congratulations, Doctor. You’re the first officer on board the
da Vinci
I’ve actually had to call in for a performance review.
L: Really, sir.
G: Yes. And would you like to know why? [Pause.] It’s because I know almost nothing new about you—nothing that isn’t already in your official file.
L: I see.
G: I never see you outside of meetings that I call. I don’t see you in the mess hall. I don’t see you interacting with the crew,