All Your Ducks in a Row

Posted on Thu Oct 18th, 2018 @ 8:35am by Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant JG Gallia Norris

Mission: Season 2: Mission 2.A: R&R
Location: Estelle's quarters / XO's Office
Timeline: before "Tasty Snake, Anyone?"
1088 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

While on their way back to Deep Space Nine, Estelle had invited Gallia to join her in her quarters, and she'd placed the live video feed from their little drone on the wall monitor. "I've been unable to get into the skipper's bathroom as we had originally planned, so it's now hiding out in the XO's instead", she told Gallia as she placed the tea and scones on the table in front of the sofa. "Now we'll just have to wait until he'll eventually use the bathroom."

"I guess so." Gallia laughed a little, popping a scone into her mouth, "Though I'm less sure of him havin' a sense of humor than the Captain." She hadn't met Cdr. Taylor yet, but he seemed a hard one.

"When I spoke to him, he was pretty cool. And that was in the build-up to this, in command of the Eclipse", Estelle said, plopping her butt down on the sofa beside Gallia. "I can't wait to see his face when this thing starts playing the music, though."

"Ya dinnae think we might shoulda given it another song or two?" Gallia asked, "I mean, in case we use it again."

"I'd make a cat-shaped one and use the Pussycat song but that's a little too juvenile even for me", Estelle winked.

Not knowing that he was keeping two pranksters waiting, Gary hadn't been to his office as he was busy with ship business and as such he hadn't been to his office ….yet.

Meanwhile, Estelle was telling Gallia about her childhood, growing up with Andorians. "I hated it when my parents sent me to sleep early and this one night I protested, 'You can send me to my room but you cannot make me sleep!', except this Andorian couple they were intimate with, one of them was an anaesthesiologist. It took more than an alarm clock to get me up in the morning. Which, incidentally, is when my love affair with coffee started."

"I can understand that." Gallia laughed, the truth was she wasn't as into coffee as her friend; it was more of an occasional one night stand than a love affair for her.

Gary had finally entered his office but went to his desk instead of the bathroom. Sitting down behind it, he began to review crew transfers, supply and equipment requests as well some minor repairs to the Elysium's weapon systems.

"What's takin' him so bloody long?" Gallia wondered aloud, her engineer's curiosity desperately needing sated as she wondered whether or not the drone even worked.

"Computer, locate the XO", Estelle said.

"The first officer is in his office", the computer replied.

"See, the first office is in his officer", Estelle echoed, flipping the words around. "Can't be long now."

"Half tempted ta fly the bloody thing inta his main office." Gallia said anxiously, assuming it would fly.

Sitting at his desk and looking at one PADD after another, Gary rubbed his eyes. "I need a break. Who knew looking at PADDs could be so tiring." He said as he rose and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Moving to the sink he turned the water on and began to splash his face in an effort to wake up.

"No, it has to come in the moment he's about to drop his... ooh, wait, there's motion." Estelle checked for details. "Damn, he's facing the wrong way."

Having washed and dried his face and feeling somewhat more refreshed. Gary moved towards the toilet until he was standing in front of it. he didn't really need to go but he didn't want to go back to reviewing PADDs and have to stop. So he was here, he might as well, well you know use it.

"Hah!" Estelle grinned. And that's when it happened. The lid opened up, and the duck-shaped robot pushed itself up on its webby feet, assisted by its wings. The UFP-flag stuck out from its bill and a fairly low-fidelity version of the Federation anthem started playing, as the bill waved the flag about.

Gary stopped in mid motion reaching for the lid and stared as the lid opened and a duck with a UFP flag in its bill emerged just as the Federation anthem began to play. He blinked, blinked again at the scene before him in open mouth astonishment. His mouth opened, then closed as no words came forth. Then suddenly his mouth opened again and a rich, booming laughter spilled forth. He laughed until he couldn't laugh any longer. Looking around and no where in particular he said, "Damn! That's funny!"

"Well," Gallia said, turning to Estelle, "Doesna look like we're gonna be court martialed, so that's a win."

"I told you he has a sense of humour", Estelle grinned, very happy with her little stunt. A push of a button and the druck - the drone duck - jumped off the rim of the toilet and waddled towards the door, shaking its tail feathers back and forth, aiming for the nearest turbolift.

Gary followed behind the duck as it waddled out of his office and towards the nearest lift. His hands on his hips as he watched it enter the doors hissing closed behind it. "Computer, track duck's movements and report back to me with it's final destination." He finished with a smile. Two could play at this game.

After a brief stunt of being funny, the duck folded back into the compact, smooth shape of the tunnelling drone and, moving along the wall of the corridor so as not trip anyone, rolled back towards Estelle's cabin. "There it is, our little friend." She grinned at Gallia. "That was excellent work you did there."

"Our little ducky did wonders, di'n't it?" Gallia laughed, adding, "But that Taylor, he's right cute for an older guy, isn't he?"

"Well, thank you very much", Estelle replied sarcastically. "He's only a few months older than me, you know?"

"I meant older than me." Gallia laughed, "Don't be so sensitive. Besides, you wear it better, everyone knows women age better."

Meanwhile, Gary had returned to his quarters still shaking his head and admiring the ingenuity to come up with the duck/drone. Sitting back down at his desk he chuckled softly again and began reviewing the stack of PADDs before him. Stopping after a few, he spoke. "Computer, where did the duck go?". The computer replied instantly, "The drone returned to the quarters of Lieutenant Estelle Hertz." He smiled knowingly, "Ah, Dr. Hertz. I should have guessed."