Post 272: Glitches

Stardate:70701.1650
Title: Glitches
Author: RJ Gilmore
Scene: Quarters/Holodeck
Time: Following "By the Sea. . ."
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*That's it.* Captain Gilmore thought as the lights in his quarters blinked on and off again. This was the sixth time in the past hour. *Enough.*
He tapped his badge. "Zanh! What in the hell is wrong with my ship?"

[Apologies, Captain. It seems that the engineering staff is having a bit of excitement today. They're trying to return the wiring to the specifications you requested. There have been a few brown-outs in different systems.]

"Well, see what Salvek has to say about this. He's getting sloppy."

[Salvek is off duty, Captain. So is his wife. You ordered rest for the away teams.]

"So I did." Gilmore remembered now. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Well tell whoever is left down there to get it together. A man can't read in the dark."

[Aye, Captain. Zanh out.]

Gilmore tossed his book aside and rose slowly from his chair. He was relieved that the visiting nurse Dr. McBrayne had assigned to him was only stopping in three times a day now instead of staying all the time.

He had been prescribed some beginning physical rehabilitation. It included short walks at different times throughout the day in order to help build his stamina.

He realized he was hungry, and went to the replicator. He attempted to order a dish of his favorite pasta, but found that the doctor had set dietary restrictions on what his replicator would provide. He pounded his hand once against the wall in frustration.

"Lock a man up and then feed him salad all day? Even prisoners eat better than this!"

He gave up on the idea of eating for now, figuring that it was time to get his afternoon exercise over with.

As he walked through the ship he realized pretty fast that he could not do so without being stopped every half meter by someone. An ensign who wanted to tell him that they were glad he was better. A lieutenant saying that they hoped he would be back to full duty soon. The interaction irritated him. He would return to quarters and walk in place if he had to, just so he could be left in peace.

[T'Ana to Gilmore.]

"Yes, Lily?" He knew that she was off duty but even so the tone of her voice surprised him.

[Uncle, if you do not come to the holodeck to walk with me on the beach soon, I will come down there and get you!]

"Lily, I'm tired."

[You need to get out! You can take a nap afterward. Seriously, I'll come get you if you don't.]

"Very well." At least on the holodeck he might have a chance to walk with only Lily and not have to talk to everyone else on the ship.

When he reached the holodeck she was waiting for him. She smiled and linked her arm in his.

"Remember when you used to come visit this house on Earth, Uncle RJ?"

"How could I forget." Seeing this house stirred up many memories for him.

The two walked for a little while before Gilmore began to feel tired again.

"I'm still not myself." he admitted with a shrug.

"It's OK. I'll take you back to the house, you can have a nap before you go back to your quarters."

Gilmore observed that Lily seemed to be acting strangely, but thought it best not to ask why. Women were beings that he gave up trying to understand years ago. It just didn't make sense to try.

But he did observe with a great deal of aggravation that the chef from Seven forward seemed to be around her a lot more than he had in the past. When did this start?

Gilmore gave the man the evil eye as he walked through the kitchen and saw the way he was watching Lily. He would have to have a chat with MacDougal if this kept up to find out his intentions were toward his "niece".

"Which bedroom should I use?" RJ asked as he slowly climbed the stairs.

"Any one you want, Uncle," Lily called, clearly distracted. So distracted that she forgot to tell Gilmore that the first bedroom at the top of the stairs was already occupied.

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Captain Gilmore
Commanding Officer
USS Independence