7
Chapter 50
Dickie sat in the conference room; he propped his legs onto the table and clasped his hands behind his head.
On his face…he held a smug and confident look.
He passed the piles of debris.
Dickie was caught in a trance of his own self-satisfaction; he didn't notice Ed enter the room.
He passed the collapsed bulkheads and the holes in the wall…exposing the vacuum of space. He stopped for a moment…to take one last look.
Ed approached Dickie…a padd in hand. He stood beside him for a moment…Dickie lost in his daydreams.
He passed Tev, the young crewman and Johnny. Their eyes widened as they saw him. When they saw the look in his eyes.
Ed coughed; Dickie snapped out of his trance…fumbling over himself.
"Oh…yeah," he muttered…a bit bitter. A look of embarrassment spread across his face.
Ed stood there with a look of impatience on his face.
"You rang?"
He passed the young ensign who'd asked for an autograph; at the sight of him…his tool fumbled out of his hand. He was doing some repairs on a conduit in the hallway.
The tool clattered to the ground with a satisfying clank.
He knelt down…and gently grabbed it…handing it to the ensign.
"Here,"
The ensign said nothing; a look of astonishment crossed his face.
After of moment of collecting himself…he returned to his previous posture.
He leaned back in his chair…and put on his best look of confidence he could muster.
"I want this ship up and running in two days."
"Two days? Are you nuts?!"
Dickie held up his hand.
"I want warp engines and impulse back first. Weapons are our next priority."
"Okay…" Ed could feel his irritation growing.
He entered the turbo lift…watching as the doors swooshed shut behind him.
"Deck one," he said quietly.
"You've already had a week to make repairs; I feel that I have given you plenty of time to dick around. I feel we should be moving along a bit faster. Time to put the big boy pants on," Dickie's voice was dripping with condescension.
Ed could feel his blood boiling.
"Dick around?" he said quietly…his voice seething with anger.
"Yes…and I also feel your methods could be improved. I've noticed you've been rotating out a third of your staff at eight-hour intervals. I feel our productivity would be improved…"
Ed pulled back his knuckle…ready to pounce.
"You piece of…I'm going to cram this padd down your throat!"
Dickie blinked a few times.
"Excuse me?"
Ed's nostrils flared; he took a deep breath…and let himself seethe for a moment.
"I can't get all of this done…there is way too much to do,"
Dickie's face turned from smug to insulted he rose to his feet and stepped toe to toe with Ed.
"I'm in charge now. That means…you have to do everything I say!"
The wheels started turning in Ed's eyes; he contemplated how bad it would really be.
"You're expecting the impossible! This ship would take weeks to repair!"
"No!"
Dickie's eyes filled with anger.
"You're going to do what I want!"
"You're the nut case!"
The sound of heavy breaths and grinding teeth was interrupted by the sound of throat clearing.
The two men slowly turned to look.
"Gentleman…can I have my ship back please?"
David stood before them…a look in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
Ed smiled…a feeling of joy washing over him.
Dickie frowned and sat down in his chair…arms crossed…a sullen look on his face. He let out a grunt in frustration.
David slowly took a few steps forward. He shot each man a look of calm and quiet sincerity.
Ed returned the gesture; Dickie shot him a glare.
"What's our situation?"
He looked from Ed to Dickie…and back to Ed.
Dickie harrumphed and wouldn't make eye contact.
"Were barely idling on emergency power. Warp and impulse is offline. Weapons are barely functional,"
"Thanks to you," Dickie muttered.
David nodded his head. He glanced through Ed over at Dickie.
"Care to help?"
Dickie rolled his eyes and harrumphed again; he swiveled his seat so that his body was facing David.
"Yeah…not break the ship anymore,"
David's expression didn't change.
"I'm serious. I want your help,"
For a moment…Dickie was a bit taken aback.
He shot David a look of surprise…and felt a little uncertain.
"I think our best option would be to hide…and make repairs. Until we can figure out a way home,"
David nodded. He turned to Ed.
"So?"
Ed was quiet for a moment. He shook his head. David nodded in affirmation.
"How much time do you need?"
Ed paused…thinking of what to say.
"David…"
Ed started biting his lower lip nervously.
"The ship is really trashed…I don't…"
David put his hand on Ed's shoulder.
"Ed," he said quietly.
The two exchanged looks; in that moment…they understood one another.
"I really need you on this,"
Ed quietly nodded.
"I'll give it a shot,"
David patted him on the shoulder.
"I want you to focus first on the warp core; everything else is secondary. Don't worry about anything else until she's up and running,"
Ed nodded.
"I also feel engineering is running inefficiently. I think we need to come up with a new and improved schedule. They're off sleeping when they should be…"
David and Ed turned to Dickie…who was examining his nails.
"Shut the hell up!" they said simultaneously.
After Ed had left…David turned to leave. Dickie remained in his chair at the conference table.
"You're not going to get away with it,"
David turned and looked at Dickie over his shoulder. He cast him a long and penetrating glance.
"I'm gonna make sure they lock you up,"
David's eyes narrowed.
"You'll never see the light of day,"
David took a few paces closer; his expression never changed.
Dickie started to feel slightly anxious. David's expression was unnerving.
David closed in on Dickie…leaning his knuckles on the table in front of him.
The two were eye to eye.
Dickie's eyes gave away his fear; but he kept the same sulking expression.
David pursed his lips…then stopped himself.
He glanced over at the model of the Republic sitting on a shelf…then he glanced back at Dickie.
"Do what you want…I have a crew to save,"
David whipped around and headed for the door.
Dickie shot him a long glare as he left.
"We'll see who is…saving people?"
Dickie spun around and crossed his arms again.
"Whatever,"