<<NRPG: Just a small thingy to bring Eve to the end of the lunch break. This takes place before 'Reports'.>>

USS Grail: Thank Q - Lunch Break part 2

by Lt. (jg) Eve Mallory - Chief Science Officer

Eve left Ten Forward still feeling relatively cheerful, and headed for the turbo-lift. She was still reeling from the earlier surprise of being named as R'Laurent's replacement. That made it easier; all she had to do was to appoint an assistant, and leave the running of the department mostly up to her, while she was busy with her own work in Lab 14.

She entered her new office, and called up the reports she'd worked on yesterday. Then she told the computer to compile both hers and R'Laurent's into a coherent whole. There was a *beep* from the door.

"Come!" Eve called, and the door slid open. Her eyes widened in shock at the sight of the figure in the doorway.

"Ensign Karen Blake, reporting for duty." The woman came to a stop in front of the desk, hands clasped behind her back. Her face was expressionless.

"Reporting for duty?" Eve repeated. "You've been assigned here?" *What the hell is going on here?!*

"Not exactly," Blake replied. "I requested the posting."

"Requested." Eve repeated again in a monotone. "Why?" *Didn't you cause enough problems back on Earth?*

"Personal reasons."

Eve was on her feet now. "Don't give me personal!" She exploded. "What the *hell* are you doing here, Blake? Did Starfleet send you to screw with my head again?"

Blake didn't answer, instead bringing a PADD out from behind her back. "I have just finished checking the inventory," She said.

"There is a Thoron Emitter missing." She handed the PADD to Eve who scanned it.

"It was there when I checked the stores last night," Eve mused. staring at the readout.

"I know," Blake replied. "I saw the readouts."

Eve looked up at that, but whatever she was about to say was interrupted by the computer.

[Science Department report compilation complete. Do you wish to download to PADD?]

"Yes."

[Download will take... Warning - Unauthorised Access to Science Lab 14 is taking place - Warning]

Eve felt a cold trickle down her back. "Initiate Anethscine Gas in outer chamber!" She yelled, racing for the door.

Blake followed her, but Eve left her behind, moving with a speed beyond human capability. She arrived at the first door in minutes to see it closed.

"Computer, remove gas from outer chamber." She entered the code into the padd.

The door slid open to reveal... nothing.

"Computer, did anyone attempt to use the retinal or voice scanners? What code was entered into the padd?"

[Code used is registered to Lieutenant (jg) Eve Mallory. Retinal scan was attempted, but retinal differences were outside of allowed band]

Blake came up behind her, out of breath. Eve turned to face her. "Stay by the outer door until you're relieved. I'll let you know who's coming; if *anyone* else comes down here without prior confirmation, stun them." She handed Blake a phaser. "I'm meeting the Security Chief now, so your relief shouldn't be long."

Mallory headed back to her office, picked up the PADD with the newly downloaded report and the newly completed inventory, then headed back to the Turbolift. She entered, gave her destination, and read through the report during the trip.