Gauntlet - Michael Jan Friedman [69]
That was me, all right, Nikolas thought.
“However,” the second officer continued, “it was Ensign Caber who filed a report providing the full details of your diligence. Given the dedication you’ve shown, the seriousness with which you seem to have undertaken your assignment, I’m not surprised you were able to get wind of the vortices well before any of your colleagues.”
“Ensign Caber said that?” Nikolas wondered.
“I know,” Wu said. “It’s rather unusual for an ensign to file an unsolicited personnel report, especially when it involves a crewman of equal rank. However, Mr. Caber seems possessed of a rather extraordinary sense of fairness.”
And an extraordinary hostility toward a certain Binderian, Nikolas added inwardly. But all he said was, “Yes, sir.”
There was a pause. “I’ve gone over your personnel file, Ensign, and I couldn’t help noticing the strikes against you. The disciplinary action for fighting, in particular.”
Nikolas felt a rush of warmth in his cheeks. “That wasn’t my fault, Commander. I was just defending myself.”
“Unfortunately,” said Wu, “your captain saw it otherwise. Hence the disciplinary action, which didn’t exactly ensure you of a successful career path.”
The ensign frowned. There was nothing to be gained by arguing the point, especially with someone who had begun their conversation on a positive note.
“No, sir.”
“Nonetheless, Mr. Nikolas, people change. They improve. They put their pasts behind them. And from what I’ve seen of your efforts so far on the Stargazer, you’ve done all those things.”
Nikolas smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Keep up the good work,” Wu advised him. “Don’t lose focus. And get some sleep, Ensign. You’ll need it.”
Nikolas stifled a groan. “I’ll do that, Commander.”
“Wu out.”
Their exchange over, the ensign finally had a chance to take stock of himself. He looked down and saw that he had gone to bed still dressed in his uniform.
And his roommate, who was possessed of that “rather extraordinary sense of fairness”? There was no sign of him. Obviously, Caber hadn’t been as tired as Nikolas was.
The ensign felt the urge to yawn again, and this time he gave into it. Funny, he thought. This was the last problem he had expected to have on the Stargazer—being woken out of a dead sleep by the second officer, who just couldn’t wait to praise his devotion to duty.
Maybe Caber was right, he told himself as he slumped back against his bed and closed his eyes. Maybe he could prove those Academy guys wrong after all.
That is, if he didn’t screw things up by returning to his old tricks. But he wouldn’t do that, he vowed. He would be as patient and cooperative as anyone who had ever served on a Starfleet vessel.
Lieutenant Nikolas, he thought. Captain Nikolas. He smiled at the prospect as he drifted off.
Picard was on his way to the bridge when the doors to his turbolift compartment opened and admitted Lieutenant Valderrama.
He smiled. “Lieutenant.”
She smiled back. “Sir.” As the doors closed again, she said, “I understand the shields have been restored.”
“Very nearly,” the captain told her. “Enough for us to get under way again, so we can finish what we have begun.”
Valderrama nodded. “That’s good to hear.”
“But we would still be in a hole if not for your brainstorm.” He favored the lieutenant with a look of admiration. “Using radar in this day and age—it was an inspired idea, to say the least.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Valderrama.
It seemed to Picard that she was somewhat less enthusiastic than he had seen her on the bridge. But then, the novelty of her discovery and its success were probably beginning to wear off.
It occurred to him to ask Valderrama about his other project in her section. “Incidentally,” he said in a softer voice, “how is Ensign Jiterica faring?”
The lieutenant didn’t answer right away. “Unfortunately,” she replied with obvious reluctance, “Ensign Jiterica could be doing better, sir. She seems listless, uninterested in the challenges we’re tackling . . . even withdrawn at times. If I may be allowed to venture an opinion . . . ?”
“By all means.”
“I