From: Kim Toussaint (kimtoussaint_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Feb 04 2008 - 11:09:56 PST
"Providing a Diversion"
( Continued from Ran's "New Responsibilities" )
_______________________________
Location: GS2
Scene: Daisy's ready room
Stardate: 2.8010204.0950
Time index: an hour before the crew leaves
________________________________
"The stubble's hot." Daisy teased weakly before taking another bite of sausage.
"Lara would disagree." Drake mused, watching Daisy consume a breakfast big enough
for three people. "You're really going to do this?"
She took a sip of juice and swallowed. Then, she replied with a shrug. "The interview in the
arboretum? The show? A perfect diversion for when you guys leave. The reporters,
the civilians, they'll be watching me...."
Drake sighed awkwardly. "Isn't it embarrassing, though?"
Daisy grimaced. "There are more important things at stake here than my personal feelings
or my 'ego'. " Then, she changed the subject. "How is Lara?"
"I talked to her last night. She's doing well." he smiled. "What about you? Have you
talked to Captain Kenta?"
Daisy's face darkened and her silverware clunked loudly against her plate as she began
to destroy a pancake. "Why would I have spoken to Captain Kenta? I'm sure he's
a very busy man."
Drake smirked. "Did the pancake do something wrong?"
"Well, if it did...." Daisy grinned weakly. "I'm not going to bother explaining. I'm just
going to enjoy myself with this lovely breakfast and walk away, going on about my
business because, apparently, that's what people do these days. They come together
for a bit and they wander off the minute there's a problem without bothering to try
and explain or...." a piece of sausage was knocked off of Daisy's plate as she shredded
another section of pancake. She quickly picked it up and gave Drake a look of warning
that he'd better not laugh. Then, she scarfed down a bite and muttered, "Or, you know,
say 'good bye' or things like that."
He smirked again. "How unfortunate for the pancake."
She swallowed and glared at him. "Shaddup".
Chuckling, he added. "You'll probably hear from Captain Kenta soon."
"I'm nolonger concerned about the comings and goings of Captain Kenta." Daisy
insisted firmly. "He's gone back to his life and I've gone back to mine."
"Right." Drake laughed openly. "The life you completely changed because you were
trying to impress him..."
Angrily, Daisy picked up a biscuit and threw it at Drake's head. "Shaddup"
Drake laughed and brushed crumbs out of his hair. "Fine, fine....what about this
reporter?"
"It's not that god-awful Trell person...." Daisy assured him quickly...scarfing down
another piece of toast. "It's someone from Earth....a Clooney St. George..."
Drake's mouth dropped open and he sighed, enviously. "Oh, my Gods, I've seen
him...he's GORGEOUS..."
Daisy rolled her eyes and groaned. "Get the hell out of my ready room. I have
to finish eating all of this so I can put on a good show for the croud...."
Laughing, Drake stood up. "Ma'am! Yes, Ma'am!"
As he left the ready room, Daisy threw another biscuit. It bounced through
the doors and onto the floor of Ops. Drake found a couple of junior officers
staring at him, wondering why the Commander had been throwing food.
He grinned sheepishly and assured them. "Honestly, she loves me. Adores
me. Can't live without the pleasure of my company...."
They looked at each other, back at him and then went back to work
without saying a word.
__________________________________________________________
Location: Arboretum
Scene: Coffee shop
Time Index: As the crew leaves for ANDARA
__________________________________________________________
Daisy always looked to find the good in everything bad. Kate's mistake
and the publicity that followed, she knew this interview would distract people from
seeing what her crew was really up to.
Clooney arrived like the media darling that he was. He gave her a warm handshake
and said, "Thank you for seeing me, Commander."
Zel Rohan arrived a moment later. Security teams kept the crowd a distance away.
They whispered among themselves, speculating whether or not they'd get to see
Daisy do this infamous "Transformation" they'd heard about.
"The first thing I'd like to address, whenever you are ready...." Clooney began
politely, "is the allegation that you, as someone with a shape-shifting ability,
would empathize or have sympathy for the Dominion. How do you feel
about statements like that, Commander Davidson?"
"It's very hurtful to me." Daisy admitted. They sat next to each other on stools
in the coffee shop. Zel waited quietly for his turn to speak.
"As I understand them, the Dominion is a very harsh master that forcibly occupies
worlds and responds to rebellion by genocide or worse. They dominate people
with horribly creative punishments and terror. Those worlds that survive or
ones made to surrender their freedom. I could never empathize or have
sympathy for a civilization capable of that. "
Clooney nodded politely, then he flashed her a boyish grin.
"You do a good job of making them sound evil. However, I've met Yedarans and
Tirogorans that argue they are protected by an exceptionally powerful military to which
they don't have to contribute. The Dominion don't share a lot of information about
their economy but it can be assumed by their fleet they have a highly advanced and
expansive industrial machine that benefits the worlds they occupy. Their medical
technology is highly advanced and those worlds that accept their rule are kept relatively
safe from plague or famine. "
Daisy chuckled weakly and replied with a smile. " Indeed. When it comes to worlds
that have been dominated for literally hundreds of generations, the concept of
personal freedom as you and I understand it probably seems quite strange, indeed. "
"And by endorsing this war, are you saying we should be trying to force 'our concept'
of personal freedom on worlds such as these? Are you hoping to see entire civilizations
molded by Dominion influence undermined in favor of Starfleet values? Do you
consider it appropriate for Starfleet to go venturing into Dominion territory and forcing
our way of life onto the civilizations there?"
Daisy smiled sweetly. "I don't recall saying we were doing any such thing."
Bored, Zel Rohan pulled a couple action figures out of his coat pocket. One was obviously
Daisy and the other was obviously Thomas Varn. Wanting attention, he began making
the two figures hop and dance along the surface of the coffee bar.
Daisy turned, amused. Then, she said to the reporter, "He's like a child, this one. It's
really no surprise he sells toys..."
Zel shot Daisy an annoyed look. Then, he smiled for the holorecorders.
"My introduction, please?"
Clooney grinned. "Of course, excuse me." Then, he flashed a row of perfect white
teeth to the holorecorders.
"We bring you toy saleman Zel Rohan - offering a rather controversial variety of war toys..."
"Action figures." Daisy corrected him quickly.
Clooney raised an eyebrow. "Well, they are basically war toys.....there's a 'Commander cat
woman' who is obviously a parody of yourself, Commander Davidson...."
Daisy grinned weakly, politely. "And the 'Wingboy' action figure - inspired by a member
of my crew...."
"That Varn fellow..." Zel interjected.
"As well as action figures of Changelings, Jem'Hadar and Starfleet officers from various
worlds...." Daisy added, cutting off Zel.
"I'm surprised you are endorsing these, Commander Davidson." the reporter chided her.
"Some might consider them undignified."
"Oh, I wasn't going to at first." Daisy admitted with a dry grin. "I have to admit I was mortified at first
and considered doing Zel Rohan some serious bodily harm..."
"What changed your mind?" Clooney asked with a smile.
"Those of us some of these action figures were based on have a say in whether or not they can use
our likeness. We stipulated that half the profits from these toys must be distributed to various charity
organizations assisting with families of Starfleet officers and GATEWAY citizens that were lost during
the recent attacks...."
"How does that work, exactly?" asked the reporter.
"My XO and my Ops officers will be meeting with Zel Rohan regularly and coordinating the financial
distribution...." Daisy began.
"That would be Lt. Commander Kor and Lt. Commander MacNeil, correct?" Clooney asked again.
Daisy nodded.
"And what sort of working relationship have you had with Lt. Commander MacNeil since her
rather unfortunate interview that began all this publicity?" Clooney asked, smirking.
Daisy laughed weakly. "I'll admit things were strained for a bit. For her breach of ethics
in sharing that information, her medical license was suspended for six months and she is
now working as the Operations officer of this station. " Daisy's smile broadened a bit and she
added. "Once again, though - every cloud has it's silver lining. Lt. Commander MacNeil has
thrown herself into her new position with admirable dedication. She is well on her way to
becoming a more highly valued member of this crew than ever before. And the currency to be
raised by these action figures will hopefully benefit many people. "
Again, bored....Zel Rohan waved his Commander Cat woman action figure to get their attention.
"An announcement, if you please."
Daisy groaned weakly and pasted a polite smile on her face. "Yes, yes...I haven't forgotten."
"What's this?" asked Clooney.
"I asked the Commander to help us expand our line to include some plush cats - you know -
for the kiddies to snuggle with at night - and she promised to let us all see her do her thing
to promote the new line.....it should be here next week...."
Clooney saw Daisy lower her eyes. She pressed her lips together tightly. Then, she managed
a weak grin and thought of her crew and the 'diversion' they needed to sneak away from
the station undetected.
Clooney felt guilty over Daisy's discomfort and started to protest. "Well, I hardly think that
it's necessary we ask the Commander of the station to put on a performance....."
"A promise is a promise." Daisy sighed. She put down her coffee cup and backed away from
the stool, painfully aware of everyone staring at her.
The croud began chanting "Catwoman! Catwoman" and it made her feel ashamed.
Her eyes glistened slightly and Clooney grimaced awkwardly, realizing how awkward Daisy
felt being put on display like this.
Then, suddenly, there it was. A flash of blue light filled the room and Daisy's uniform collapsed
into a heap. Beneath her clothing, she began squirming in her feline form.
Zel Rohan hopped down as if to retrieve her. The reporter grabbed his arm. "Let me."
Gently, he picked up the cat for the crowd to see. They all "ooh'ed" and "ah'ed" before finally
bursting into a round of applause.
Clooney felt embarrassed for his own profession at that moment and gently rubbed Daisy behind
her ears. He whispered an apology before handing her over to a security officer and turning
back to the Toy Salesman....
"Perhaps you'd like to tell me more about how these action figures are made?"
______________________________________________
NRPG:
You guys left for ANDARA while Daisy distracted what media darlings remain on the station and the majority of the Civilian population. I"ll leave it to you to sort yourselves out on the surface. I only got the time to post today because Patrick was up all night doing school work for his class tomorrow. He got the week off from work - but still goes to college. LOL
Anyway - I'm back to my vacation and you guys sort out your away team and whether or not you took any additional NPC's with you - like a medical doctor to work in Kate's place while you have Kate doing other things. LOL
Peter - I hope you enjoyed my scene with Drake. I also hope everyone Enjoys Clooney St. George. *Sniggers*
Kim Toussaint AKA Commander Daisy Byrne Davidson, M.D.
Commanding officer of GATEWAY STATION
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Sep 08 2008 - 03:10:28 PDT