USS PATRIOT: Various ("I don't even know")

From: Matt LaRocque (larocque.matt_at_gmail.com)
Date: Wed May 23 2007 - 14:39:11 PDT


=/\=
"I don't even know"
Con't from "Catching Up"
=/\=

Location: USS PATRIOT
Stardate: 2422 [2.7] 0523.1737
Scene: McClellans Quarters

Kel McClellan sat in the perpetual night he had created and let the
complexity of nothingness wash over him. The past months he felt as
though he had faded slowly into oblivion, into a sense of nothingness.
He couldn't pinpoint why he felt as though he was a phantom, a mere
ghost of the man he was. He shrugged off the notion, he much preferred
self-destruction to introspection.

Kel left the holodeck leaving the computer to terminate the sensory
deprivation program he had running. He entered the turbolift and
ordered it to ascend to Deck 2. He thought back to the last shore
leave and his incident on the rock face as the doors opened. He
entered his quarters and executed a Fozbury flop onto his
chesterfield. The treacherous landscape of the Canadian Shield proved
too treacherous, and he needed an emergency transport to prevent his
mortality.

He remembered the thoughts that raced through his head as he plummeted
toward the forest floor. It was like a lucid dream, a memory from his
youth. He was a right bastard back then, evil, opportunistic. A
product of his father. He staged a break and enter with his two
compatriots from those days, poisoning a pack of guard dogs and
causing fatal injuries to an elderly woman over a safe that contained
nothing more than old photographs. It wasn't why Kel was eventually
caught, but it sure took the wind out of his sails. He felt like a
ghost then too.

The quarters were darkened, illuminated however dimly by the various
external influences that were in or around SB1. Kel reached out above
his head and feeling the neck of his antique Gibson, he carefully
brought it in close to him and started strumming a tune. He became
more and more involved in the song as time passed, eventually rising
to his feet and thrashing on the fragile stringed instrument like it
owed him money. Reaching a crescendo, he stopped with a suddenness and
returned the guitar to its stand.

He stalked his quarters for a few minutes, searching for a small
wooden box. He found it on his bookshelf, behind his text on ancient
Roman society. He tucked the box into a shoulder satchel and made his
way to the keel shuttle bay.

=/\=
Scene: HRC
Time Index: Shortly after Taylor's

The guests at the party were in the midst of dining on their rations
and Kel was still having the occasional chuckle with Daniel and
Catherine about the prank. Truth be told, Kel preferred making food
instead of choosing a replicated suggestion. It gave him the ability
to be creative, go with the portions and measurements that he found to
be appetizing while he was still bringing his meal to life. Besides,
replicated barbecued steaks just struck him as a crime against all
things good and righteous in the Universe.

"You know, I always admired the Apple Crumbles they pack in these
things." Kel shared with the couple while he opened his dessert
portion. "This one time in my last life we ran out of food rations two
weeks before we were scheduled to port. We came across some old
wreckage from Maquis shuttle and found a few Starfleet issue R-4s in
the haul. The chicken alfredo tasted like raw slugs and the salad
portion had dissolved into a fine, inedible powder. But the Apple
Crumble, divine."

"Good to know that if I'm ever forced to eat outdated field rations I
can still look forward to dessert." Daniel jested and all three shared
some laughter. It was at this point Helice walked by.

"Glad to see that we're having a good time. Is everyone enjoying their
rations?" She asked with the warmth you'd expect from mom as you were
tucking into Thanksgiving dinner.

"Oh yes!" Catherine giggled, "We were just discussing how excellent
the desserts are."

Helice observed the contents of their rations and smiled in agreement.
"Apple Crumble does hit the spot doesn't it although I'm more partial
to the cheesecake. Kel, have you introduced yourself to our new crew
member yet? I'm sure you could start getting acquainted with her
technical know-how." Her smile crept up to her eyes and Kel couldn't
help but grin, himself.

He gave a quick glance to his friends and shrugged in jest, "No rest
for the wicked." He left his seat and took his finished ration to the
waste receptacle where he crossed paths with Maverick. "Major, be sure
to let the cook know he owes me a meal." He mentioned half-jokingly in
passing.

"You and the rest of the people here." The marine retorted.

Kel broke into yet another grin as he continued in his search for the
new crew member. He read that she was Caitian earlier in the week, and
wondered how she was settling in since she didn't have any clearance
whatsoever. That thought was soon interrupted however when he nearly
walked right into the new crew member.

They had spent some time talking, mostly discussing food and drink in
the absence of both. After some talk about their past and their
experiences in the Academy, Kel excused himself from the party and
returned to his quarters only to fall asleep on his couch reading a
digital copy of "The Prince".

=/\=
NRPG: I can't believe I've tried to spend the better part of the week
trying to make this post not suck. Anyway, I'm back online, so I'm
ready to go for the next mission assuming I remember how to tell a
story between now and then.

Hoping I'm super busy for this next one, the bars here are just too
hot and tempting and I don't start work until Monday. I should add a
late hello to our new crew as well. I'm just going to hit send now and
stop thinking about this one, better to publish something than
nothing. I don't even think it's cohesive with the timeline, but this
one was like a gargoyle or something. Just need to get it out there
and move on.

Matt LaRocque
Lt. J.G. Kel McClellan
Strategic Operations Officer
USS PATRIOT NCC 5781-A

From HyperNews_at_youth.net 


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