Back Home Again

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate 11403.28)

 

John stood on the transporter dais of the USS Avenger, awaiting transport back to his

home ship, the USS Challenger. While the covert mission had turned out to be a success

(aside from the disruptor burn on his right leg), he was glad to be getting back on board

the Challenger. Routine duty in engineering would be a welcome change, he thought to

himself as he stood on the pad. The transporter chief of the Avenger looked up from his

panel. "We have received acknowledgment from the Challenger, sir," he said. John

nodded. "Energize," he said, and the Challenger engineer shimmered out of existence.

 

He materialized in the familiar transporter room of the Challenger, and nodded to the

transporter chief. "Welcome home, Lieutenant," said the chief as Randall stepped off the

dais. "It's good to be home, Chief," replied John, smiling at him. The two men exchanged

small talk for a few moments until the door swished open, and in walked the executive

officer of the Challenger, Commander Erica Rinax. "Welcome back, Mr. Randall," she said,

striding over to him. "How was your trip and your mission?"

 

"Hello, Commander," replied John, smiling at her. "Let's just say it was a very rewarding

mission, and I hope I never have one like it again." The first officer raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

she said. "Did the Admiral have you bouncing through hell and high water?" Randall nodded

and grinned. "That would be an apt description, Commander," he answered. "Are you ready

to get back to duty so soon?" asked Rinax. "I've heard there are a few repairs just waiting with

your name on them, or did you want to get some chow?" John dropped the grin, and became

serious upon hearing of the repairs. "Well, if the repairs are dicey, Commander, I'm ready to go

on duty, of course," he said.

 

The first officer shook her head. "I don't think we are in a rush," she said. "I was heading for

some chow, if you'd care to join me." John smiled at her. "I would like that, then, Commander,"

he said. Rinax informed the bridge of her status; when she finished, John looked at her.

"Permission to swing by my cabin and drop off my bag, ma'am?" he said, then his right leg

chose that moment to slightly buckle underneath him. He hoped the first officer hadn't noticed,

but his hopes were dashed a few seconds later. "Then we are off," she began, but broke off when

she noticed John's slight stumble.

 

"Your right knee," she said, her eyes sharpening as she looked at his leg. "Everything ok?

Would you like me to carry your bag?" At this, John was so surprised he actually let Rinax take his bag. It was the most concern the executive officer had ever shown him. He looked resigned as he answered, "I was hoping anyone wouldn't notice, Commander; I was slightly injured during the mission. Thank you for the offer, though." She nodded, and they began to walk out of the transporter room, Randall limping slightly on the right leg. "What happened?" she asked as they went out into the corridor, heading for the turbolift. Randall frowned again. "Well, the mission ended with the team I was part of having a firefight with a group of Romulans. Would you like me to give you a formal full debriefing, Commander?"

 

This time, it was the first officer's turn to frown. "Yes, I would suspect that is in order," she said, taking a PADD from her belt. She made a few adjustments on it, then nodded to him as they reached the turbolift. "Deck 3," said John, and the lift took them there. They exited the lift, and, as they reached the door of his cabin, Rinax handed him his bag. John took it inside, deposited it on the sofa, and came back out. Rinax nodded to him. "We'll start the debrief in a moment," she said, but John held up a hand, and she raised her eyebrows. "Commander, I first have to tell you that Admiral Baldwin has classified this mission top secret before I go on," he said, and Rinax nodded. "Then we better debrief in your cabin, or in the conference room," she said, and Randall nodded. "Yes, ma'am, either is fine with me," he said.

 

"We'll have food delivered to the conference room," she said. "Let's head there; it has better recording equipment, and you can pull up star charts or anything you need for visuals." John nodded. "Aye, Commander," he said. "Permission to change my uniform?" "Granted, I'll wait here for you," she said. John nodded, went into his cabin, and headed for his bedroom. He quickly changed into a new uniform, relishing the feeling, and rejoined Rinax. They walked back to the turbolift, and stepped inside. "Bridge," snapped Rinax, and the lift sped away. They arrived, and exited the lift; they made their way along the back of the bridge to the conference room. Rinax made a call to the mess hall to order them food, and John sat down, relieved to stretch out his leg, but took pains not to let it show.

 

The first officer sat down across from him. "Computer, new file: Randall debriefing. Begin recording, please." "Working," said the computer, and the first officer nodded to him. John took Rinax through the entire mission, leaving nothing out. "So, the admiral now fears there may be some sort of Vulcan-Romulan collusion here, and that's why he classified this as top secret, in my opinion," he finished. Rinax was silent for a few seconds, obviously digesting what she had just heard. She then looked John squarely in the eyes. "The captain will have to be informed about this, Lieutenant," she said. "I'm glad you are back, and are relatively safe. After you eat, I want you to report to sickbay for a full physical workup. You do not go back on duty until you do." John looked at her a moment, then nodded. "Yes, ma'am," he said, and she nodded. The food arrived, and the two officers ate in silence.

 

John left the conference room, and Rinax informed him she would accompany him to sickbay; she needed to see the doctor herself. They rode the turbolift to deck seven, which housed sickbay. The two officers exited the lift, and made their way down the corridor to sickbay. Rinax went to find the chief medical officer, Dr. Gretchen Hanson, and John went over to a medtech, telling her of Rinax's order. The medtech nodded, and gestured him to a biobed, telling him she would be with him shortly. Randall went over and sat on the bed. The medtech arrived a few moments later, and took John through the examination. When they got to his right leg, the medtech removed the sparkling bandage, and her eyes widened at the rainbow of colors accompanying the huge darkened area on the engineer's leg. She looked up at him. "What is this?" she asked. John said, "Er, a disruptor burn, Doc." She shook her head. "I don't even want to know, do I?" she said, and Randall gave

a small grin, shaking his head.

 

"I thought as much," she said. "Lie back on the bed, and I'll be right back." She left, and John stretched out on the bed. A few moments later, the medtech returned. She sprayed a solution onto his leg on the area of the burn, and John's leg began to feel better almost instantly. She then wheeled a cart over on top of which sat a machine. She placed John's leg into the open tube directly underneath a glass plate. She switched the machine on, and a purplish-looking beam played over the area of the burn. "Make yourself comfortable, Lieutenant, you'll be here for about fifteen minutes," the medtech said. "I'll be back to check on you."

 

John lay on the bed, and his leg continued to feel better and better. After a few minutes, the medtech returned, took a look at his leg, and switched off the machine. "All right, you're done," she said. "You are hereby released for duty, Lieutenant." John swung his body off the bed, noticing his right leg was pretty much normal now. "Thanks, Doc, and see you later," he said. He walked over to the sickbay door, which swooshed open, and he went out into the corridor. He walked to the turbolift, and stepped in. "Deck 12," he said, and the lift whisked him away.

 

 

 

END LOG