Scurry six

  Monica makes introductions, "Scurry, these are the persons who requested the interveiw, Dr Salek and the medical staff, plus Lt Athena who is serving as bridge liason."
   The various members of the medical staff offered their greetings.
   Lt Athena offers her greeting, "Welcome Brevet-Scurry," I could tell she was having a hard time keeping a straight face. In many ways, it was a small ship.
   Dr Salik speaks up, "the family name is Scurridae, correct?"
   "You can call him Scurry, everyone else does," Monica answered for me. Lt Athena had to look away to contain the laughter that had by now moved to her eyes.
   "Scurridae," the Doctor pressed on, the Medical Staff will be on board the shuttle that carries the families back from the Exchange, and we were wondering if you could be of assistance?"
   This was all news to me,"Uhm," I kicked the floor," "If space is liimited, I would not want to displace any relatives."
   "Oh no, the Dr reassures me, the relatives will be waiting on the Rising Star, you won't displace anyone at all?"
   Lt Athena explains, all business by now, " We will be transporting the families back through an unsecured zone. The Galactica is the best vessel for the task of retreiving the families."
   "Why me?" I can barely whisper.
   "We would prefer that duty rosters remain as full as possible in this situation," Athena explains, "You do have qualities suitable for this mission, so if you fill in, we can maintain maximum personel on board the Galactica."
   Monica leans over and whispers in my ear, "Scurry, she is saying that you are expendable."
   A sharp look from Athena quiets Monica. But clearly, Monica is enjoying every moment of these proceedings.
   "I, uhm, I start to decline.
   "As a member of the Commerce wing of the government, the Fleet is fully able to requisition your services on an emergency, interim basis," Athena speaks authoritatively.
   "Scurry, you've just been requisitioned," Monica can't help but to observe.
   "There is nothing to be concerned with," Dr Salek continues, "The Med-Staff will be on board and they will handle all matters concerning the familes health and well-being, it is just that during the distribution of aid and care, there will be a large volume of forms generated and due to the compressed time-span..."
   "You'll need somebody to process a maximum of forms ina short amount of time," Monica is more business now, "I've checked and Scurry is an Ace Paper-Pusher."
   Dr Salek nods, "If you could releive us of the paperwork, in a low key matter, it would be a great help."
   "Don't worry," Monica adds, "I've seen Scurry remain invisible in a crowded room."
    Athena gives Monica a stern look.
   "If you can help us out just now, it would be greatly appreciated," the Doctor asks.
   All eyes were turned on me," I've got a family too, so, yeah, I'll go."
   The interveiw is over and Monica shows me the way back to my cubicle.
   "Scurry, you surprise me," Monica says, "You really didn't have to volunteer for this assignment."
   "Volunteer?" I ask, look down, "Seemed like only decent thing to do.
   I look up. And she is gone.

   Centons later, the time to embark on our recovery mission arrives.
   Monica has provided me with a work-tunic to spare my Registry Vest.
   We board the shuttle that will take us to the surface. Dr. Salik and the med-team are on board. I climb on. A fellow by the name Greenbean introduces himself. He will be our pilot today. Monica shows me to my station. It turns out to be a small cubicle in the rear of the craft.
   "Since when do shuttles come with rear-cubicles?" I ask.
   "They don't," Monica answers, "but we put one in special, just for you."
   "How will I know when I am needed?" I ask.
   "We'll let you know," Monica practically pushes me into the cubicle,"Don't burn yourself on the laser-welds."
   She shuts the door and latches it.
   I lay out my satchel and examine my surroundings. The cubicle is laid out better than I had thought. I do notice that there are several cabinents with wires and refrigerant lines. They are filled with water-paks, food-paks, and med-aid paks. And there is a fairly potent computer set up on the gray-steel desktop. Things are continuing to go in their unexpected direction.
   The shuttle lurches off and I fall back inot my g-couch.
   There's not much else to do other than drum my fingers on the metal-desktop and keep my legs wrapped around the couch supports. Not that it would help a whole lot if anything really did go wrong, but it is the thought that counts.
   some of the radio chatter filters in over the intercom. The only part that I hear clearly is the part where the fighter-escort breaks in to tell Greenbean that this is as far as they go and that they'll be waiting for him if he comes back. Some reassurance.