Day 2...The pips

[Travis Kroells 0]

Day 2... (The pips)...Kroells’s logs.

 

We have finally departed from the god forsaken planet a few hours ago.  I personally have no idea where we are heading next but any where would be better even sailing down the river stixs into Hades depths.  This is one of the most confusing times of my life.  At the end of my shift the captain pulled me away and promoted me to the rank of lieutenant junior grade.  I returned to my quarters as I am still confined it appears.  Either way it was most likely where I would have returned any ways.  For some reason the second I got inside I had to take the pip off.  For some reason I just can’t wear it yet, it’s probably because I don’t believe I disserve it yet.  I sat on the couch that I had got on our last shore leave looking out my window at the stars flying by.  Something is so unsettling about that pip.  Maybe it’s because if I’m right the only thing my department head LtJg Sivuk out ranks me by is the time he’s been on the ship.  Maybe it’s because now I outrank out rank most of the friends I’ve made on this ship Garnoopy, Spencer, and Kansas. If the need arise I could order them to do something and that doesn’t sit right with me.  I don’t want to order my friends around.  It makes me wonder how Fred does it…  I finally relised how hungry I was.  I went towards the replicator and ordered something I hadn’t had since I got on this ship, a nice order of baby back ribs with a side of corn and a biscuit.  When I sat down and started eating I realized why I hadn’t eaten it for so long.  It was what I ate when I was accepted into the academy, I ate it when I graduated, and I ate it when I was promoted to ensign and was assigned to this ship.  Suddenly I couldn’t eat it.  I picked off the best parts of it and threw it into O’Connor’s bowl.  He ate it like it was his last supper.  I couldn’t help but laugh.  At least some one is getting something good out of this promotion.  I picked up the little gold pip from my desk were I had finally managed to finish my backed up work during this confinement.  How could so much torment come from something so little?  I opened my desk drour and stuffed the pip in there and slammed the door.  No…no I reopened the drour and put the rest of my pips and my comm. badge in there and reslammed it.  I screamed at the top of my lungs as I tried to my collar and upper uniform.  I gave up after a while and collapsed against the wall.  I contemplated on what to do…I quickly got up and walked over to the minifridge that I had in the academy I opened it up and found what I wanted.  I pulled out the flask of whiskey that my dad had given me the day I graduated.  “Now remember boy that aint no synthohol crap that’s the real good stuff…you only drink it when you have a good reason.”  Now was as good as a time as ever.  I opened it up and tipped back.  The potent alcohol hit my lips as I let it flow down my throat.  Disgusted I pulled it away from my lips and looked at it.  I drank again and again.  It finally came to me why those pips disturbed me so.  Eh lieutenant junior grade Travis Kroells maybe if I can drink away the memories of Ensign Travis Kroells.  I pulled the flask to my lips again and allowed my self to slip into drunken bliss…Salute…