Taking the Edge Off

Posted on Tue Feb 16th, 2010 @ 8:20am by Zander Whyte

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "Now Boarding"
Location: Orient Express Lounge
Timeline: MD03 0850

[ON]

Zander strode confidently over to the Operations officer after watching gleefully as the other journalist stormed out of the room in a massive strop. Whyte had a massive look of joy upon his face. Admittedly it was something of a hollow victory but there were little victories to enjoy everywhere in life and this was definitely one of them.

"You have quite a way with people," Jenni remarked, having watched the other reporter storm from the lounge, face red with fury and embarrassment.

Zander looked around the room at some of the other faces and sighed. "Some people are completely undeserving of respect or admiration, Lieutenant. That's one of the sad facts that you learn really quickly in civilian service."

"Oh, I'm sure it's not just limited to civilians," Jenni replied. She could certainly think of a few classmates from the Academy who fitted that description.

"Is that a fact?" Zander said, his ears pricking up. This being only the second time he had ever had occasion to speak to the young lieutenant, he hoped beyond hope that the sudden change in direction would not spook her. "Any names for me?"

Jenni let out a small laugh, mainly out of surprise at the sudden turnaround. "None that you'd know, I imagine," she said, half playfully half defensively despite herself.

"Well, you see Lieutenant. The beauty of being a journalist is that you don't have to know someone to have an opinion on their actions. I could have these people looked into." Zander chuckled. "Even if it's just to satisfy your own curiosity."

As much as she felt she shouldn't let in to a journalist wanting dirt on others, Jenni felt the pull of temptation on wanting to see where a few of her classmates had ended up. She was silent for a few moments as she played a mental tug of war with the decision, before finally making up her mind; they weren't the type who'd hesitate to have a journalist try to dig up dirt on her, and so weren't worth the effort of fighting off her own curiosity and Zander's journalistic drive. "Joshua Edge," she finally said, with a small grin on her lips as she thought of the day she had finally managed to shut the boy up from teasing her for good.

"Joshua Edge." Zander repeated. "He sounds like a character. What is it about him specifically?"

"Ah, typical bully, really. Always thought he was better than everyone else, me especially," Jenni explained. "I wouldn't be surprised if he cheated his way to his grades, the way he acted. Didn't seem to have half the knowledge of some of the people he scored higher than." In truth, Jenni knew he hadn't been receiving honest grades, since she'd caught him with one of the instructors in the locker room one day during her third year.

Zander had already produced a PaDD and had begun taking notes. "Let me just run a quick search here. USS De Gaulle... assigned to the Romulan Neutral Zone. Defiant class, escort ship. Looks like he's living the life of a battle-hungry officer."

The reporter had more information on the ship but decided to keep it to himself. "Now, Lieutenant; I find it odd that someone would accuse another officer of cheating without evidence. That leads me to believe that you might well have evidence. Care to share?"

Again, an internal battle went through Jenni's mind. She didn't really have any liking for the man, but then again she didn't make a habit of blurting out details such as this to people, especially reporters. She stayed silent for a while, though her expression clearly showed she was trying to decide whether to tell Zander or not.

"Look, Jenni. Can I call you Jenni?" Zander eventually piped up, a smile forming across his face knowing that he was getting somewhere. "I know you know something and if you know then the laws of Journalism dictate that someone else in the galaxy knows. You can either tell me now or I can find the other person who knows and have them tell me."

Jenni doubted that Zander would be able to find the other person who knew about the incident, and was even more doubtful that they would spill the beans, since they were there ones she had found Edge with. So even though she had a feeling Zander wouldn't let it drop so easily, she made her decision. "I don't think I'm mean enough to let that get pasted all over the FNS, Zander," she said. "I hate the guy, but I'm not that mean. Sorry," she offered apologetically.

Zander resolved there and then to get to the bottom of it but knew better than to pursue it any further. "Very well. Can I get you a drink?"

Smiling at the fact he had dropped the matter for the moment at least, Jenni nodded. "Sure. Surprise me."

Zander widened his smile and wandered over to the replicator. "Computer, Gorilka. Two glasses. Point-three-five centilitre measure."

The blue haze of the replication dissipated and he carried the glasses which held a perfectly clear liquid over to the young Lieutenant. He offered her a glass and took one himself. He inhaled it deeply and smiled. "Sip it. It's very strong. Slava Ukraini!" He proclaimed, his voice suddenly taking on a distinctive Eastern European twinge.

Taking a tentative sip, her eyes opened wide in shock as she tasted the strength of the drink. "Wow... this is synthahol, isn't it?" she asked, not entirely sure due to the strength of the vodka, giving it a slight sniff after she had asked.

"No comment. I wouldn't have more than one if you're on duty later, I'll say that much." He replied with a wide smile.

Smiling in return, Jenni took another sip, only for her eyes to go wide as she tried to stifle a cough. It almost seemed as if that sip was stronger than the first.

Zander smiled as he finished the drink. He could wait until she had finished and then pursue the point about Edge but it was not in his nature to exploit a moment of fragility to his advantage. He would let time run its course. Lockheart would eventually come to him, he was quite sure of it.


[OFF]
-------------------
Lieutenant JG Jennifer Lockheart
Chief Operations Officer
USS Pandora

Zander Whyte
FNS Reporter
Assignment: USS Pandora