Post 408: Observations Part Two

Stardate: 70822.1700
Title: Observations - Part II
Author: Ensign Rada Dengar
Scene: Rada's Quarters
Time: Following "As Planned"
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Rada had encountered a problem which he could see as being the first link in a chain of events which could result in disaster; he had been invited to a surprise party!

Rada believed that being invited to a party, particularly for someone he really didn't know, could only mean one thing. It meant that someone was 'encouraging' him to be more social and to get to know the crew better and involve himself more. This meant that he would undoubtedly end up having a lot of chances to mess up in front of the people he'll be working with since a party is always only the start, quite soon he'll be invited to go rock climbing in the holodeck or to join some sporting team for a game he can't play and of course he won't be able to say no. This will mean he'll be spending more and more time interacting with people which inevitably means more and more chances to thoroughly make an idiot out of himself which is of course Rada's ultimate definition of disaster.

This was however only what happens for an 'ordinary' party, surprise parties were much, much, much worse. If you run into someone on the way to a normal party you can say things like "Yes, I'm going to the party, how about you?" or "I'll see you there," but it is never this easy with a surprise party. First of all there's the risk that on the way you'll run into whoever it is that you're avoiding and they'll figure out what you're doing making you look like an idiot however the problem is never that simple, you also risk running into someone and not knowing whether or not the party is for them.

That way you either look like an idiot if you don't tell them about the party and it turns out it's not being thrown for them hence proving that you have no idea who the party's for or you run into the person the party is for and by mentioning it to them you look like an idiot who doesn't know who's who if you're lucky or else like a bastard if people assume you knew who the party was for and just felt like ruining the surprise.

Rada thinks in a panic *No, I have to stop this now. The social nature of this ship is out of control. It's bad enough that Kellyn wants me to call her by her name, listen to me she's even got me calling her that in my head now! I'd only just arrived and I already found myself drinking with a Klingon who also happened to be a Lieutenant Commander, if I hadn't taken precautions I'd probably be dead by now.*

This was a reference to a medication that Rada had taken prior to going to Seven; it was an Angosian formula which prevented alcohol from having half the effects it normally had. Typically this formula had been used for the purposes of under cover work so that you could be seen drinking without getting drunk. Rada had decided to use it believing that if he was seen drinking real alcohol and he was able to keep his usual act up then people would be persuaded that it was not an act at all. The plan didn't work as well as Rada had expected since drinking with Lt. Cmdr. Maak had meant drinking more than enough to compensate for the effects of the formula.

*And that was only the start of the journey! What will I do? I need to somehow convince them that I am living life here to the full already, how did I ever get involved with Starfleet? Their idea of a good life is one of adventure whereas I'd trade a life of adventure for a month of true relaxation any day. The easiest way to convince them would be to live life to the life to the fullest but since that is precisely! what I' m trying to avoid it obviously won't work. No one will believe me if I simply tell them that's what I'm doing either so my only option left is to trick them*

Rada then began to think about how people would know how he was living his life. *How do they know what I do? Even I don't keep track of my daily activities so I can't see.* Then it hit him.

*That's it! Someone who lives an interesting life will inherently want to talk about it, I can't really tell anyone about a life I don't have, but I can make people think I lead one by making people think I enjoy talking about my life! All I have to do is keep an extensive personal log, then whey see how much space my log takes up in the ship's memory bank they'll make the assumption!* Rada thought with excitement and using logic which could probably get him committed on Vulcan.

Ensign Rada Dengar
Engineering Officer
USS Independence NCC-90791