Disclaimer: the characters herein are owned by CBS. I am not affiliated with CBS.
Chapter 2
Horatio lay staring staring at the plain, white ceiling above his bed. The white cleansed his mind as he focused on childhood memories of he and Ray, peaceful, happy times. Eventually, he surrendered to the alternate universe of sleep.
"Someone was murdered on my ship and I want answers now." A stern, Captain Horatio Caine demanded to his senior officers. A young ensign was found dead. The captain called an emergency meeting to the briefing room; how could such a crime happen on his ship? He stared at each of his officers seated around the briefing room table.
"Captain, the ensign was shot in the temple with a phaser." His Chief Medical Doctor, Lieutenant Commander Alexx Woods was the first to speak. Lovely black hair was piled in curls on top of her head, bouncing with each syllable. Her science blue uniform nicely complimented her dark skin tone.
"But Dr. Woods," a handsome bearded Vulcan, Commander Speed, spoke up this time, "…if that's so, a security alarm would have sounded immediately."
Captain Horatio Caine turned his stare to the one person that could answer that, his Chief of Security, Lieutenant Calleigh Duquesne, a lovely platinum southern bell.
"Not if it was fired on stun."
"If it was fired on stun, my roommate would still be alive!" Another young ensign, Delko, navigator and assistant to Commander Speed, remarked. His roommate and friend were dead and he was noticeably upset.
"I understand why you're upset, Delko…" the captain began, "…but we have to stay calm and focused. I'm just as upset as you are." The captain placed a comforting hand on Delko's shoulder.
"Sorry Captain." Delko meant it; his captain was always kind to his crew, never losing his temper.
"Actually,…" Calleigh continued, "…a phaser fired on stun point-blank can kill…"
"And since it was fired on stun, no security alarm sounded." Commander Speed completed her thought.
Calleigh turned towards her Captain. "Whoever did this must have security clearance for the arsenal. No unauthorized phasers are missing."
"Get the list of everyone that has clearance…" before Horatio finished speaking Calleigh already handed over a disk with his requested information.
"Lieutenant Duquesne, we need an inventory of every phaser on board. Delko…" The eager ensign looked up at his captain, waiting for an assignment in this case, "…you can assist her."
Dejected, Delko glanced down for a moment. Horatio noticed his unhappiness. "Are you alright, Eric?"
"Captain, I would like to assist with the interviews if I may." He really wanted to participate in the case, not the usual grunt work.
"You are participating. The lieutenant really needs your help. This will help find the weapon that killed your friend." Again, just the right words. No wonder he's a captain, thought Delko. Horatio handed the disk over to Commander Speed. "We'll go over this list and begin interviews." 'We' meaning Speed would look over the list and make suggestions to the captain. "Everyone dismissed." Each officer rose. Calleigh and Alexx walked towards the door, side by side. Horatio couldn't help but notice their form-fitting mini dresses and high, sexy black boots.
The captain's thoughts were interrupted by a ringing sound. Ringing? He pulled out his communicator and whipped it open.
"Captain Caine." He quickly replied.
"Captain what?" replied the voice on the other end. Horatio's mind slowly began to focus. With a quick intake of breath, Horatio realized what he just said. He was not in the briefing room, he was not on his communicator. No, he just answered his phone. The voice on the other end continued, "H, are you still there?" It was Comm…no, it was Speed…
"What is it, Speed." Horatio finally returned to reality.
"It's after 10…" Speed didn't have to finish his statement. Horatio quickly hung up the phone and leapt out of bed.
As he reached the doors of the Miami-Dade complex, he was greeted by a surprised co-worker.
"H, are you feeling alright? You're never late…" Calleigh drawled. Horatio paused a moment, staring at her cream-colored pantsuit and tan shoes.
"You know…you should try wearing a red mini dress with black boots…" Before she could reply, he hurried into the building, leaving a stunned Calleigh Duquesne at the doors.
Did H just give me a fashion tip?…
Chapter 2
Horatio lay staring staring at the plain, white ceiling above his bed. The white cleansed his mind as he focused on childhood memories of he and Ray, peaceful, happy times. Eventually, he surrendered to the alternate universe of sleep.
"Someone was murdered on my ship and I want answers now." A stern, Captain Horatio Caine demanded to his senior officers. A young ensign was found dead. The captain called an emergency meeting to the briefing room; how could such a crime happen on his ship? He stared at each of his officers seated around the briefing room table.
"Captain, the ensign was shot in the temple with a phaser." His Chief Medical Doctor, Lieutenant Commander Alexx Woods was the first to speak. Lovely black hair was piled in curls on top of her head, bouncing with each syllable. Her science blue uniform nicely complimented her dark skin tone.
"But Dr. Woods," a handsome bearded Vulcan, Commander Speed, spoke up this time, "…if that's so, a security alarm would have sounded immediately."
Captain Horatio Caine turned his stare to the one person that could answer that, his Chief of Security, Lieutenant Calleigh Duquesne, a lovely platinum southern bell.
"Not if it was fired on stun."
"If it was fired on stun, my roommate would still be alive!" Another young ensign, Delko, navigator and assistant to Commander Speed, remarked. His roommate and friend were dead and he was noticeably upset.
"I understand why you're upset, Delko…" the captain began, "…but we have to stay calm and focused. I'm just as upset as you are." The captain placed a comforting hand on Delko's shoulder.
"Sorry Captain." Delko meant it; his captain was always kind to his crew, never losing his temper.
"Actually,…" Calleigh continued, "…a phaser fired on stun point-blank can kill…"
"And since it was fired on stun, no security alarm sounded." Commander Speed completed her thought.
Calleigh turned towards her Captain. "Whoever did this must have security clearance for the arsenal. No unauthorized phasers are missing."
"Get the list of everyone that has clearance…" before Horatio finished speaking Calleigh already handed over a disk with his requested information.
"Lieutenant Duquesne, we need an inventory of every phaser on board. Delko…" The eager ensign looked up at his captain, waiting for an assignment in this case, "…you can assist her."
Dejected, Delko glanced down for a moment. Horatio noticed his unhappiness. "Are you alright, Eric?"
"Captain, I would like to assist with the interviews if I may." He really wanted to participate in the case, not the usual grunt work.
"You are participating. The lieutenant really needs your help. This will help find the weapon that killed your friend." Again, just the right words. No wonder he's a captain, thought Delko. Horatio handed the disk over to Commander Speed. "We'll go over this list and begin interviews." 'We' meaning Speed would look over the list and make suggestions to the captain. "Everyone dismissed." Each officer rose. Calleigh and Alexx walked towards the door, side by side. Horatio couldn't help but notice their form-fitting mini dresses and high, sexy black boots.
The captain's thoughts were interrupted by a ringing sound. Ringing? He pulled out his communicator and whipped it open.
"Captain Caine." He quickly replied.
"Captain what?" replied the voice on the other end. Horatio's mind slowly began to focus. With a quick intake of breath, Horatio realized what he just said. He was not in the briefing room, he was not on his communicator. No, he just answered his phone. The voice on the other end continued, "H, are you still there?" It was Comm…no, it was Speed…
"What is it, Speed." Horatio finally returned to reality.
"It's after 10…" Speed didn't have to finish his statement. Horatio quickly hung up the phone and leapt out of bed.
As he reached the doors of the Miami-Dade complex, he was greeted by a surprised co-worker.
"H, are you feeling alright? You're never late…" Calleigh drawled. Horatio paused a moment, staring at her cream-colored pantsuit and tan shoes.
"You know…you should try wearing a red mini dress with black boots…" Before she could reply, he hurried into the building, leaving a stunned Calleigh Duquesne at the doors.
Did H just give me a fashion tip?…
