Title: Star Trek-Infinity: Separation Anxiety(MISC) Author: Charles Rando (trando@worldnet.att.net) Series: MISC Rating: [PG] Part: NEW 2/3 Disclaimer: Paramount owns the characters in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and Peter David owns the Selelvian race (see his book, Strike Zone). "Angel" is the property of Sarah McLaghlan. I'd like to think that the characters I've invented and the story are mine. :-) Summary: The Infinity says goodbye to an old friend and hello to a new one, but it isn't long before trouble strikes again... and Captain Rando is nowhere to be seen! Go to part one Go to part three Return to the fourth season archive CHAPTER TWO First officer's log- Stardate 50002.1- The Infinity has been called away from the Bromden station on an assignment to investigate a disappearance of several freighters in the Kovalus system. Because Kovalus borders the Federation/Cardassian de-militarized zone and is also just a few light-years away from the Badlands, Starfleet Command is concerned that the Maquis might be responsible for these disappearances. And considering our record of past engagements with the Maquis, it's imperative that we're on guard during this mission. The Infinity was traveling at warp five to the Kovalus system and was still hours away. The senior staff, now off duty, had decided to meet in the Middle Ground for an informal conference on a specific subject. Commander Witherell stepped through the doors of the lounge expecting the worst. Instead, he found the rest of the senior crew chatting amiably amongst themselves. Remley, Marit, V'gel, Williams, Johnson, Neddek� again, he noticed that the Captain was not present� but Starfleet regulations did allow the captain of the ship to exert his control from wherever he or she saw fit. Which meant that rule-wise, there was nothing he could do about the Captain's absence. But then, that wasn't the subject of this impromptu meeting. The rest of the bridge crew noticed him and waved and called out various salutations. They all seemed to be in a good mood, but Witherell was ready just in case. "So," he said as he sat down at the table. "I hear some of you wanted to speak with me about the new Counselor� and that makes me wonder� is something wrong already?" Across from him, Remley and Marit exchanged glances. Witherell steadied himself. "Here it comes," he thought. "Actually sir� it's the reverse," Remley said. "As far as I can tell, none of us are having problems with her." "No one important anyway," Williams interjected, crossing his arms across his chest. "She won't mind her own damn business." "Well, she is responsible for the mental health of the crew," Witherell pointed out to the science chief. "But I'm not sure I understand, Evan� if you're not having problems with her, then why did you ask us all here to talk about it?" "Well� that's the thing, sir," Remley replied, his face scrunched as if he was trying to figure out how to proceed. "It's just that� usually, when a new person comes on the ship� it takes a while for them to fit in and become part of the family, you know?" Marit nodded. "When I first came on the Infinity, I felt like a fish out of water, to coin a human phrase. It was like everyone knew everyone else except for me. It was very uncomfortable." "I think we've all felt that way at one point or another," Witherell reassured the young Bajoran. "We're either the new officer on the ship, or we have to get to know someone new. It's not an easy process� it never is." "Logically, that would seem to hold true," Neddek replied, "which is why this case is so� intriguing." Witherell shook his head. "I'm not sure I understand," he told them. "Now if you want me to be a mind reader, I'm sure I could figure it out in just a few seconds�." "I think the problem is that everyone is already feeling comfortable with the new counselor," V'gel explained. "And only a few days have gone by since she first came onboard." "Speak for yourself," Williams muttered under his breath, loud enough for only V'gel and Remley to hear, and only because they were sitting right next to him. "Well it HAS been known to happen," Witherell said with a small relieved smile. "Doctor Thakur is a very personable young woman. It's not surprising that she would make this ship her home so quickly, or that she would make you all feel at home with her." "But that's the thing, sir," Johnson spoke up for the first time. The chief of OPS usually liked to stay quiet until he knew exactly what he wanted to say on a serious issue. Witherell looked at him expectantly. "I mean, we just beamed Counselor Kassal over to Bromden station� I know for me� I feel like I've known Doctor Thakur for years� but she hasn't been here for years. Counselor Kassal was." Witherell nodded, beginning to understand why everyone at the table was so concerned. "And you're afraid that by getting to know Doctor Thakur� by accepting her into our family� we're attempting to replace Sonja? Maybe even forgetting about her?" "That's hitting the nail on the head, sir," Remley replied as Lorin returned to the table with their drinks. "I mean� she's the newbie� heck, she's not even Starfleet. Shouldn't we be making her life a living hell?" "Hey hey hey," Lorin protested, "you're not going to be treating her any different than me, are you? I mean if you start being all uncomfortable around her just because she's the new girl in town, I'm going to be insulted!" "She's got a point," Witherell told them. "I don't remember anyone being uncomfortable around Lorin when she first came onboard." "If you want my opinion, all of you are just incredibly easy to get along with," Lorin said, setting down the last drink. "So stop complaining. It's not that you're purposely trying to replace Sonja� in fact, I bet that if you really thought about it, you'd realize just how much you're really missing her right now." "But we shouldn't have to think about missing her to miss her," Johnson protested. "I mean, that doesn't seem fair� does it?" Lorin shook her head and leaned against the edge of the table. "But the problem is, you're thinking so hard about how you don't miss her, that you're forgetting that you do. Does that make any sense?" There was silence, and then Remley replied, "Not really�no." Lorin shrugged. "Oh well," she said to Witherell, "I gave it my best shot." And with a final smile, she turned and walked away. "Maybe she was right in one aspect� we're thinking too much about the new counselor being here," V'gel said. "Maybe we don't want to think about Sonja being gone." "So we're denying that we're in denial?" Remley asked. "Damn, if any ship needs a shrink, its ours. That's the screwiest thing I've heard in a while." "Denial isn't just a river on Earth," Marit reminded the big security chief. She patted his arm. "Maybe it does make sense after all." "I think the only thing that any of us can do is just try our best to make sense out of this situation," Witherell told them. "I know I'm still trying. We'll all figure something out sooner or later� but the important thing is that we try� and that we continue to make Doctor Thakur feel welcome on the Infinity." "Commander� it would be a whole lot easier to make sense of everything� if� well, if the Captain was here with us too," Johnson said. Witherell nodded at the young lieutenant. "I feel the same way, Chris. But until the Captain decides to come out� there's little we can do. Starfleet regulations do state he can run the ship from wherever he wants to run it. Until then� I think the best thing any of us can do is just leave him alone and let him heal. If he needs us, he'll come to us." V'gel crossed her arms across her chest. Her talk with the captain would have to wait, it seemed. "Um� Commander, just out of curiosity," Remley began, "you've told all of us to stay away from the Captain, let him come to us if he needs to talk and all that� but has anyone told the new Counselor this yet?" CHAPTER THREE Doctor Thakur was, of course, at that exact moment in time, heading towards the Captain's quarters. "Witherell to Thakur," her comm. badge blipped. Another person might've had difficulties using Starfleet technology like a comm. badge. Thakur, however, had studied up on such matters weeks before she'd come aboard the Infinity. The last thing she wanted, being a civilian on a military vessel, was to be surprised. She tapped the comm. badge like a professional. "Thakur here, Commander. What can I do for you?" "Doctor, where are you right now?" Witherell asked. "Well, right now I'm on deck two, Commander," Thakur replied. "Um� can this wait, Commander? I'm kinda busy right now." "That's what I was worried about, Doctor," Witherell's voice continued. "I just wanted to warn you� if you're about to pay a visit to the Captain, I suggest you wait. He's not in the best of moods right now." Thakur scowled. "Is that an order, Commander? Because in case you forgot, I'm not technically under your chain of command." "It wasn't an order, Doctor, like I said before, it was a suggestion," Witherell answered. "I just don't think�." "Your suggestion is noted, Commander," Thakur clipped. "Thakur out." The nerve of the man� trying to interfere with her duties on the ship. And after such a positive first impression� it just went to show that you couldn't trust these military types. Continuing on her way down the corridor, it wasn't long before she arrived outside the Captain's door. She pressed the door chime and called, "Captain? This is Doctor Monica Thakur, your new ship's counselor?" Seconds later, Rando's voice replied, "What can I do for you, Doctor?" The Captain sounded tired and completely uninterested in her presence. Thakur blinked. "Well� um� I just wanted to meet with you� get to know you, Captain. If now's not a good time�." "It's not," Rando's voice told her curtly. And with that, the comm. line was closed. Thakur stood outside the captain's quarters with surprise. She hadn't even removed her finger from the door chime. She thought about it, and pressed the chime again. "Captain?" "What is it, Doctor?" Rando's voice snapped. "Well, I just wanted to know� if now isn't a good time�" "Later, Doctor." And the comm. line closed again. Thakur pressed the door chime again. "Captain�." "Not now, Doctor!" Rando exclaimed. When he continued, his voice was low and threatening. "If you don't leave now, I'll be forced to call security." And the comm. line closed one final time. Thakur shook her head in disgust. Sure, serve on a Starfleet vessel. It'll be a great career decision� the first of your kind� a civilian psychiatrist on a military ship. She couldn't help but wonder if it was too late to just go back to Bromden� and that's when the red alert siren went off. ******************************************************************************************** "What's going on?" Witherell demanded as he stepped on to the bridge, the rest of the senior crew right behind him. "Sensors are detecting a Lethian freighter that's come under attack by Maquis ships," Lieutenant Marchitto replied, getting up from the command chair to make way for Witherell. "How many Maquis ships?" Witherell asked, calling up the sensor logs on the console next to the command chair. "Ten, sir," Marchitto replied smartly. "All Peregrine class." "Ten Peregrines against one freighter," Remley commented, "those Lethians don't have a chance." "Not unless we help," Witherell concluded grimly. "Set a course for the Lethian freighter, Ensign," he told Marit. "Maximum warp." "Course set, sir," Marit replied. "Our E.T.A. is a little over ten minutes." "Not much time to plan," Witherell said, glancing to his right where Marchitto had taken her seat. Over the last week, she had become his de facto first officer. "Perhaps we should alert the Captain," Marchitto suggested. Behind them, V'gel piped up, "It might be a good idea, sir. I mean, it's fine for him to run the ship from his quarters while everything's ok� but when the ship's at red alert�." "Commander, I'm not sure if this is the best course of action to be taking right now," Remley interjected. "I mean, I respect the Captain as much as anyone on this ship� but I know he's not himself right now. If he's not careful, he might make a mistake� and then we'd lose him even more." "But at the same time," V'gel argued, "if he succeeds, it might be enough to bring him out of his shell. This might be the perfect opportunity to get the Captain's mind off of Sonja and back on to his duties." Witherell glanced at Remley for a rebuttal. "It's your decision, sir," was all the big security chief could say. Witherell nodded and let out a sigh. Raising his hand to his comm. badge, he gently tapped it. ******************************************************************************************** Rando growled when his comm. badge chirped. "Doctor," he said crisply, "I thought that I�." "Captain," Witherell's voice cut him off. "There's a Lethian freighter about four minutes away that's under attack by the Maquis. It's ten against one, sir� we could use you up here." "I'm sure you can handle it," Rando replied, once he realized what was going on. He had been slightly surprised� and disappointed� not to hear Thakur's voice on the other end of the comm. line. "Captain, there are innocent lives at stake here� we need you up here. You are the commanding officer of this ship," Witherell told him. "And you, my first officer, are an experienced soldier," Rando retorted. "I'm sure you'll think of something." "And if we don't?" Witherell shot back. "All those Lethians will die� and I'm not sure that even the Infinity can stave off ten Maquis ships without casualties. We need you up here, Captain." "I'm sure you can handle it, Commander." Rando was just about to close the connection when Witherell said, "Captain, we've seen enough loss today� won't you come to the bridge and help us insure there aren't any more?" Rando fought back the urge to curse at Witherell, considering that the Betazoid was most likely on the bridge and the entire bridge crew would hear him. Slowly, he stood from his seat, making his way through his darkened quarters. "I'm on my way, Commander." ******************************************************************************************** Thakur tapped her foot as she waited for the turbolift to arrive. She knew that during a red alert, all non-essential crew members were supposed to report back to their quarters� but she couldn't do that if she couldn't get to the right deck! Then, finally, the doors slid open and presented her with an empty turbolift� her route to safety. "Doctor! Hold that lift!" a voice behind her called. Thakur turned to see a man she'd only seen from Starfleet records walking briskly towards her. Captain Rando. He was dressed like he'd just thrown his uniform on. His comm. badge was askew, and his collar was empty of pips. His eyes were drawn and shallow, and his face was unshaven. "Captain Rando," Thakur managed to get out, "I� I�" "I need to get to the bridge," Rando told her, sidestepping past her and on to the lift. "Deck one!" he ordered. Before Thakur realized what was happening, the doors were closed and the lift and Rando were gone. She could do nothing but wait for the next lift to arrive. ******************************************************************************************** "Estimated time of arrival?" Rando barked out when he entered the bridge. "A little over two minutes," Lieutenant Remley replied. He gave Rando a smile. "Good to see you back, sir." Rando didn't respond but instead made his way around to the command center. Witherell shifted his seat to the left to make way for his Captain. "Any ideas, sir?" Witherell asked. "Ten ships against one� they'll have us surrounded and be pounding us before we can get off a shot," Rando said. "We need to balance the odds a little." "We have two runabouts at our disposal, Captain," Remley reported. Rando shook his head. "Two runabouts and the Infinity wouldn't be enough against ten Maquis ships� at best it would be a stalemate. We need more power than the runabouts can provide. We need another starship." He stood suddenly. "Commander, you have the bridge. Mr. Remley, come with me." Rando began to make his way towards the rear turbolift. "Captain, may I ask where you are going?" Witherell called after him. "We're going to separate the ship� even the odds out a bit." Rando shrugged. "Something I've always wanted to try." "Captain, are you sure that's the wisest choice of action?" Witherell demanded. "Shouldn't we discuss�." "The time for discussion is over, Commander," Rando replied curtly. "You wanted me to lead the ship into this battle� well, I'm going to lead it into battle. I say we're going to separate the ship, we're going to separate the ship. Captain's prerogative." "But sir� we've never�." Witherell tried to say. Rando ignored his first officer and entered the turbolift. Remley followed faithfully behind paused only to give Witherell a sympathetic look. "Battle bridge," the Captain called out. CHAPTER FOUR "I want you to send Lieutenant Maiser to the saucer section," Rando was saying over the comm. line to engineering. "I want you watching the fusion reactions on the warp core, and him watching the ones on the saucer." "Understood, Captain," Neddek's voice replied. "However, if I may offer a warning� the Infinity has not undergone a saucer separation in over two years." "I am aware of that, Neddek," Rando replied. He adjusted himself in the captain's chair on the battle bridge. It was slightly less comfortable than his seat on the main bridge, but he found it actually fit his mood. Just like the dim lighting did. "I'm trusting you to keep everyone under control. Rando out." "Captain� sir," the young officer at OPS spoke up. Rando fixated his attention on the nervous young man. It probably wasn't the best way to soothe the junior officer's nerves, but Rando was acting purely on instinct. He didn't have time to deal with his own emotions, how could he be expected to deal with those of his crew? "What is it, Mr. Slater?" he demanded. "Captain, we're less than a minute away from the battle," Slater, an ensign, reported. "It'll take us time to separate sir� suggest we drop out of warp and� um� go the rest of the way at impulse." Rando glared at the young officer. "Have you ever participated in a saucer separation, Ensign?" he asked, placing heavy emphasis on Slater's rank. Truth be told, Rando had never participated in one himself, but we wasn't going to say so now. "Um� yes sir," Slater stammered. "On my last posting, I�." Rando cut him off. "CONN, drop us out of warp. OPS, tell the saucer to prepare for saucer separation." "Aye sir," Slater and the young woman at the helm replied. "Weapons and shields will be ready to come online as soon as separation is complete," Remley reported eagerly. It was almost as if he was hoping to lighten the Captain's mood. It didn't work. "Raise shields and arm weapons as soon as possible, Lieutenant," Rando ordered him. He turned his attention back to Slater. "Prepare to initiate saucer separation on my mark. Three� two� one� mark!" The viewscreen of the battle bridge came to life, showing the underbelly of the Infinity's saucer slowly lifting off of the neck of the warp drive. Although Rando couldn't actually hear them, he could imagine the huge docking latches the held the ship together retracting into the warp drive. He felt a sense of excitement course through his body� until he remembered he didn't want to feel that right now. Or ever again. "Shields are raised, Captain," Remley reported. "Commander Witherell says he's all ready to go." "Ahead full impulse then," Rando ordered. "Take us into the fray." "'Boldly they gallop, one man leads the way, shouting a charge, into the fray,'" J.W.'s voice quoted. "Now is not the time, J.W.," Rando snapped at the Prophet. "I just thought I'd stay behind on your half and help," J.W. replied, somewhat hurt. "I suppose I should've stayed with the saucer section� but I figured I'd be appreciated here." "I'd appreciate it if you assisted Mr. Remley with keeping our shields up," Rando told him. "And keep quiet." "Yes sir," J.W. replied, still sounding slightly offended. Deep inside, Rando couldn't help but blame him. ******************************************************************************************** "Calabretta to Witherell." The Betazoid tapped his comm. badge. "I've set up a temporary sickbay in the Middle Ground like you wanted. I'm hoping that we don't have to use it, though." Witherell nodded, even though he knew the doctor would never see it. "So do I, Matt� so do I. Don't worry� we'll have you back in your own sickbay in no time." "Just my luck the separation roster placed me on the saucer section today of all days," Calabretta said. "Middle Ground out." "Approaching the Lethian freighter, Commander," Lieutenant Johnson called out from OPS on the main bridge. "The Captain is hailing the Maquis vessels� no response." "Wasn't really expecting one," Witherell replied, his attention focused on the tactical station. Since Rando had taken Remley with him over to the warp drive, Witherell had decided to take his place behind the guns. "Get ready for some evasive maneuvers, Kynten." "I was born ready, Commander," the young Bajoran replied. She flashed a grin at Johnson. "Commander, the warp drive has begun attacking the Maquis!" Johnson called out a second later. "Well, we shouldn't let them have all the fun," Witherell commented off-handedly. "Take us in, Ensign. Full impulse." "Full impulse, aye sir," Marit replied. And Kevin Witherell steeled himself to go into battle again.