How To Impress Your Superior Officer

Wayne Kimball and Dana Seaney

Chapter I.

After reporting to Lt. Commander T'Shar, the Assistant Personnel Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade Zachery Christenson, the new Chief of Research and Development and Ship's Computer Security Specialist was told to go to the Officer's Lounge, because the Chief Personnel Officer, Commander Heather R. Scott, was unavailable and that the Captain was incapacitated at the present time.

Zachery took his leave and took the turbolift to the Officer's Lounge. Upon entering, he almost went into shock, because right in front of his eyes, not more than three feet away, were the infamous trio from the U.S.S. Enterprise.

After overcoming the initial shock, Zachery, slowly and somewhat shakily, approached Admiral Kirk, Captain Spock, and Dr. McCoy. Whereupon, they immediately invited Zachery to join them at their table. Naturally he couldn't refuse, and he took the seat facing away from the door, leaving Spock directly across from him, McCoy and Kirk on either side.

After the natural amenities, Captain Spock and Zachery started discussing early Terran rites called "magic".

"I don't know, Zac." questioned Kirk. "It just doesn't make sense that such an undeveloped brain should be able to control such powers."

Zachery explained. "The theory was that the undeveloped part of the Terran's brain, which was usually approximately 80% of it."

Captain Spock said. "Excuse me, I believe it was more correctly at 79.6378% of the Terran brain that was undeveloped, of course that is just a rough average."

"When did you suddenly take an interest in the Terran brain, Spock?" questioned McCoy.

"I've always found the Terran brain to be a most fascinating object, Doctor." replied Spock in an even tone.

Kirk jumped in and said, "Gentlemen, please let Zachery finish what he was saying."

"Please go ahead, Lt. Christenson." said Spock.

"Well..." started Zachery.

"What about Heather and Proudhawk?" asked McCoy.

"Huh?" said Zachery.

"The two telepaths that we had a few problems with when we first beamed aboard." answered McCoy.

"Well, what kind of abilities do they have, if..." Zachery was saying.

It was at this time that Spock noticed Zachery go stiff and could tell that he was focusing all of his mental powers into one single goal. At the same time that Kirk saw Zachery go stiff, he noticed Heather Scott and Proudhawk enter the Lounge and Proudhawk really didn't seem to be himself, and the way he was staring at Zachery sent chills up Kirk's spine, but that didn't stop him from getting up, and approaching Proudhawk.

Meanwhile, McCoy immediately jumped up, pulling out his medical tricorder, as Heather approached. Spock stopped McCoy with a hand on his arm, just as Heather put her left hand on Zachery's shoulder.

Upon feeling the physical contact, Zachery let go with enough mental energy to stop whoever was touching him, dead in their tracks. He also realized that at the same time, not only had he attacked the wrong person, but the person who had been attacking him had stopped, but was still standing.

Heather let out a primal scream of "NO!" stiffened, and collapsed.

McCoy fell back into his chair and muttered, "Oh no, not again."

Spock just looks on with a raised eyebrow.

<Oops! Wrong one.> Zachery thought.

Proudhawk immediately senses what has happened to his soulmate, breaks off the attack on Zachery, running to Heather's side. Seeing that Heather is okay, just unconscious, and hearing Zachery's thought, he lunged for Zachery's throat, the only thing that stopped him was that Kirk tackled him to the floor.

"Just what are you doing, attacking a fellow officer?" Kirk asks Proudhawk.

Proudhawk stands up, glaring at Zachery with a look that could kill and said, "He could have killed her, Jim. If you will remember, sir, that we do have an intruder on board, that has both Computer and Engineering access."

"Hey! Wait a minute!" exclaimed Zachery, standing up very defensively. "I was just trying to protect myself from someone who I thought was messing with my mind, but it turned out it was the wrong person, I'm really sorry about what happened..."

"Yes, Lieutenant Junior Grade whatever-your-name-is, why don't you explain exactly what you did to my soulmate!" exclaimed Proudhawk, getting into Zachery's face.

Meanwhile, McCoy after recovering from his initial shock, turned to Spock, and said, "Why'd you stop me?" Then proceeded to get busy with his tricorder over Heather who was beginning to snore slightly.

Spock replied, "You saw what he did to Commander Scott. If I had not stopped you, it might have just as easily been you." then turning to Zachery, saying, "Yes, please do continue, Lt. Christenson."

"Well, you see, it's something like this. I have limited mental powers. None of them can do any real harm except through physical contact and when these two (Proudhawk and Heather) entered the room, they immediately started searching my mind and I reacted instinctively by putting up what I call an 'Iron Wall' to stop whoever it was and then the Commander put her hand on me and I felt psychic energy and immediately shut down all outgoing energies, which overloads the brain and that person simply goes unconscious." Zachery explains, as he moves back away from Proudhawk.

Kirk looks at Spock and says, "Do you have any idea of what's going on here, or what he is saying?"

"Yes, sir."

Heather starts to rise, shaking her head groggily, commenting, "Ugh, what's happening?" and reels back from the sight of Zachery.

"I'm really sorry, Commander." stated Zachery, after sitting down.

"Lieutenant J.G. Zachery A. Christenson, I would like you to meet Commander Heather R. Scott, Chief Science Officer and Chief Personnel Officer, and over here we have Lieutenant Francis M. Proudhawk, Assistant Science Officer." said Kirk with a smile as he saw Heather's mouth slightly drop open before she caught herself.

"Commander Scott, Lieutenant J.G. Zachery A. Christenson reporting for duty as Chief of Research and Development and Computer Security Specialist, sir." snapped out Zachery, while raising to attention, executing a very sharp and perfect salute.

"At ease, Lieutenant." stated Heather.

<Are you all right, Heather?> Proudhawk asked.

<I don't know. What hit me?> Heather asked.

<A mind blanket, Commander.> Zachery answered.

<A what?> Proudhawk asked.

"Well?" said Spock.

"Well what, sir?" Heather asked.

"Can you explain?" Spock said.

"Someone told me that he was probably our intruder." Heather stated, glaring at Proudhawk.

"Yes, Proudhawk, what happened to your morals?" Kirk asked.

Looking rather embarrassed and reluctant, Proudhawk answered. <So, I made a mistake.> he said to Heather. "With an intruder on board and two separate Captain Starskas, it's better to shoot first and ask questions later, so to speak. Wouldn't you agree?" he asked Kirk.

"Yes, and no." replied Kirk.

"Will you excuse us," started Spock. "Commander Scott, will you please accompany me to my quarters." ordered Spock, who then turned and started to leave.

"Please excuse me." said Heather as she started to leave.

"When Spock is done with you, Commander, report to Sickbay, and as soon as McCoy is done with you, report to my quarters." Kirk ordered.

"McCoy, when Commander Scott reports to you, give her a full physical with emphasis on her brain patterns and let me know the results.

"Lt. Christenson, you will accompany Dr. McCoy to Sickbay now. Same thing with him, Bones. Lt. Proudhawk, you will come to my quarters, immediately." said Kirk.

And as everybody was leaving, Zachery overheard Heather tell Proudhawk via telepathy. <Oh, shit, we really did it this time.>

Part 2