The Return Trip

[Brian Graham 0]

Chief Security Officer's Personal Log

Lt. Brian Graham Reporting

USS Excalibur

Stardate 200503.18

 

Brian sat in one of the chairs in his quarters. He had moved the chair right up the window and now sat with his feet propped up, seeming to be totally fixated on the starfield that appeared outside the portal. It had been a relieving day, seeing as how the Excalibur had arrived just in time to save the awayteam from suffocating to death. He wasn't ungrateful, but he had wondered why throughout history, Starfleet vessels always seemed to show up at the last minute. It was only a passing thought though.

 

After having been practically walked to sickbay, Brian had layed down on one of the bio-beds and awaited his examination that would hopefully declare him fit to return to duty. He had been the last one to get tested, mostly because he had told the medical staff to examine him last. One reason was, obviously, concern for the other members of the awayteam, but another part of it was that he didn't like having a crowd around listening to the outcome of his medical examination. He wasn't sure if it was a pride thing or what, but he was sure that he didn't like his medical situation to be revealed to more people than necessary. Funny thing was, it turned out there wasn't anything too wrong with him. Oxygen deprivation, but all of the awayteam had experienced it. So, they let him go.

 

Brian had walked to his quarters. He had actually had a desire to run as soon as the doors to sickbay had closed behind him. He didn't though, even though it would have felt good after having been confined to a suit and survival tent for the past several days. So instead, he just took the laid-back approach and had arrived at his quarters.

 

He had taken a shower, dressed in his non-Starfleet uniform outfit and had sat down to eat dinner. A real meal, well a real replicated meal, but still more real than the rations he had been subsisting on. He had felt a little indulgent so had the replicator prepare some ribs, heavy with sauce. He doubted the medical staff would approve of a meal like this, so it was a good thing he hadn't told them. Brian also remembered the promise he had made himself back on the asteroid and had the computer go through the music that he had stored. So, there he was in his quarters, listening to music at the maximum allowable limit imposed by the Excalibur's regulations (good thing too, he would have been embarrassed arresting himself for noise violation) and ate.

 

After finishing, he was definitely happy he had decided to eat in his quarters. No one could take him seriously if they had seen him in this state. Ribs, he didn't care who you were, you couldn't stay clean eating them and anyone who said they could was a liar. Brian was a mess, but since he could replicate as many towels as he wanted, clean-up was an easy job. Then he had moved to where he was now, sitting in his chair looking out his window, counting the hours until the awayteam's debriefing was scheduled to occur.