Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [3]
As Erwin approached, Joseph turned around. His expression said that he wanted to be left alone. Then he saw who it was, and his features softened.
“Commander. To what do I owe this visit?” he asked, grinning. The first officer turned his resolve up a notch. There was something about Joseph that made it very difficult to be stern with him. Maybe it was the man’s resemblance to Erwin’s brother’s boy, who had died in a skirmish with the Tholians. After all, Joseph had the same close-cropped sandy hair, the same upturned nose. Or was it that no-nonsense attitude, a throwback to the
first rough days of interstellar flight, that made him so endearing? The quality that, years earlier in his stint on the Stargazer, had earned Joseph the nickname 44Pug[*thorn]?
No matter. Erwin had promised himself he wasn’t going to leave it alone this time. He wouldn’t be doing anybody any good by ignoring the problem.
The first officer pulled up a seat and leaned close to Joseph. “I’ll tell you what you owe this visit to. I just got a subspace message from my pal Marcus—on the Fear-less?” Joseph’s grin started to fade. “Oh,” he said. “You know what Marcus told me,” Erwin went on. “Don’t you?” The other man nodded. “Something about a little disagreement, I bet. One in which his man got the worst of it.” The grin started to reassert itself. “You should’ve seen my night hook, Commander. I haven’t lost a thing.”
With an effort, Erwin frowned. “Fighting,” he said, “at your age— and you a security chief, no less!” He shook his head disapprovingly. “It’s a disgrace, Pug. It’s got to stop.” Joseph looked at him. “You should’ve heard what he said about the Lexington, sir. About the captain. And about you. was Erwin stiffened. He came that close to asking what the man had said. But he restrained himself. “I don’t care what anyone said about anyone else. We’re supposed to be adults, responsible people-not children who start brawling at the drop of a hat.”
The security chief sighed and looked away. “I hear you, Commander.” “That’s not good enough,” Erwin told him. “Look, you’re an officer of this vessel. I want you to act like
one.” He leaned back and pulled down on the bottom of his tunic. “Is that clear?”
The security chief saw that Erwin wasn’t kidding. “It’s clear,” he said.
“Good. And you needn’t worry-the captain won’t get wind of this. Just as he hasn’t gotten wind of the other reports I’ve received.” The first officer paused. “But it’s the last time I cover up for you, understand? The last time.”
Joseph seemed contrite. Reaching over the table that separated them, Erwin clapped him on the shoulder. Then he got up and made his way to the door.
It wasn’t easy to keep from looking back, but he managed. As the lounge doors opened and he emerged into the corridor beyond, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He’d been pretty harsh-maybe harsher than necessary. But this time, Erwin was worried Marcus had made it sound like more than a brief exchange of haymakers. Considerably more. Of course, the message in the subspace packet couldn’t actually come out and say anything; otherwise, it might have come to the attention of someone inclined to handle it more officially-someone like Captain Ben Zoma. But if Erwin read correctly between the lines, Joseph’s opponent had taken a vicious beating. It was a miracle the man hadn’t pressed charges.
The first officer shook his head. “Vicious” wasn’t one of the words he’d ever associated with Pug Joseph. If things had gotten that far out of hand, his little repri-mand had been long overdue. He could only hope it would have the desired effect. “I have the Excalibur on long-range sensor scan,” reported Worf.
The captain couldn’t help but notice the note of anticipation in the Klingon’s voice. “Excellent, Lieutenant. Give them our position.”
“Aye, sir.”
Picard took in the bridge with a glance. Data was intent on his Ops console; likewise, Wesley at Conn. Everyone, it seemed, was going about his business with clockwork efficiency. If they showed any emotion at all, it was excitement; they were upbeat