Sunday, February 11, 2007

Deleted (Part One)

Ro Laren and Riker have just walked into my office.

This is most unusual, as the two of them usually can't stand each other. Ro isn't the sort that likes authority, and I must admit that Riker is a little tough on her.

One thing I know is that they are not here to announce their engagement and get married.

"Captain." starts Ro, "I think you ought to know that..."

"I think I'd better tell Captain Picard about this, Ensign." interrupts Riker, "After all it is very important."

"Oh, I see!" Ro tells him, "So I'm not important, then?"

I roll my eyes; more squabbling between the two of them. Sometimes I feel like I'm an umpire getting battered about between the two, and I'm the only one who gets a black eye.

"I don't mean that." Riker tells her, "But let me tell the Captain."

"Tell me what, Number One?" I ask him pleadingly, hoping they will get to the point.



"It's like this." starts Riker, "On our last visit to Callus II, I had to pass through Starfleet security. They refused to let me pass, as they have no notice of me in their records. I had to stay on the Enterprise."

"The same thing happened to me!" Ro tells me, "I thought it was a glitch until I looked on the Enterprise records. There was nothing there to say that I had ever been with them."

"I saw Ensign Ro doing this." interrupts Riker, "And did it myself. I didn't exist either! The two of us have talked and found it was just us who have been deleted."

"Maybe it is just a computer error." I helpfully offer, "Who knows, you might be back on again soon?"

That a pointless remark, and they both know it, particularly Ro.

"That doesn't get us anywhere!" snaps Ro, "We aren't allowed to do anything on the Enterprise as we are technically civilians."

"That is true." I tell them, "As you are civilians, I'll need to confine you to quarters. Will and Ro, it's the only thing to do."

Ro looks at Riker in anger, like she does when knowing the Cardassians are coming to visit.

"See what he's done?" she explodes, "He's even dropped our titles. We aren't Commander or Ensign anymore! You certainly aren't Number One."

"This is all rather extreme, isn't it, Sir?" comments Riker.

"I'm only following rules, Mr Riker." I tell him starchly, "You and Miss Laren will need to be careful what you see as civilians here."

Starfleet regulations are painful sometimes; they don't win many friends. I might regularly break the Prime Directive, but there are acres of other ones around I have to adhere to.

Ro whispers to Riker; he nods. Suddenly they run out of the office, easily overpower Security and take charge of a shuttle and fly out from the Enterprise.

I get a message from the shuttle.

"Sorry to do this, Captain." says Riker, "Ro and I have to find out why we have been deleted from all records."

The shuttle flies off into warp.

"Should we not pursue them?" asks Data.

"No, let them go." I reply.

--------

Good luck, Will & Ro. I knew they would do something like that. My secret code call to security allowed them to leave without a problem. It was a good way of circumventing the strict Starfleet regulations.

I just hope Starfleet don't ask how they got away so easily!

To be continued....

14 comments:

Lahdeedah said...

Oooh clever...

Now I'm curious...

There's a masterplan behind this after all? And you're involved?

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Oh..that sounds almost like good riddance to bad rubbish!

Gordon said...

Hmm Jean-Luc what are you up to, I mean simply letting your 2nd in command leave with an Ensign on a shuttle, how are you going to explain that or that matter the "deletion"..

Bea said...

I love it!

carmilevy said...

Ah, Ro. She was pretty damn hot!

Anonymous said...

It sounds like this mishap must have happened during one of Commander Riker's moments of romantic distraction - maybe he's had one too many...

Florence Forrest said...

let's just hope that by the time anyone does get around to asking, "How did they get away so easily," the mystery will be solved. Looking forward to part 2 :D

xx

Jana said...

Shouldn't you call her "Miss Ro" since Bajorans use their first name last?

There are times during the last few seasons when I wished someone would delete Riker...

Anonymous said...

I think your security needs stepping up.

The Curmudgeon said...

Well, delete part of Riker anyway. Poor man does love his donuts, doesn't he?

But are we going to be able to blame this on Vista, three hundred and some years after the fact?

Anonymous said...

I think time alone together is just what those two need!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

The donut supply on the Enterprise will be able to build up again while Riker is away.

Jana, good point there, I think you're right.

Curmudgeon, it might turn out to be Vista's fault.

Florence,Gopher, letting them get away enabled them to solve the problem without me getting into trouble.

WindWhisperer, you may be right there.

Tawnya Shields said...

Is this USA's Homeland Security at work? Mmmm?

Gyrobo said...

That must happen a lot, or the guards would've been less prepared.

Wait...