Laser Eyes

Posted on Tue 13th Jan, 2026 @ 9:52am by Commander Heriah Rex

1,564 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: [MAIN] From The Ashes
Location: USS Tornado
Timeline: 9 Years Ago

=====Previously, in the lives of Rex and Mindo...=====

Davmorda was at the replimat, eating away at her meal. It was nothing fancy. To her, everything was just repurposed proteins and carbohydrates taking on the look and taste of whatever the hungry party desired.

She scrolled through the information on her Yeoman’s PADD, a bit oversized when compared to a standard PADD but necessary in her line of work. She swiped over several profiles, getting to know the crew through records and achievements. The spotless record of the resident Changeling gave her pause but Lieutenant Eunidas did seem to have Captain Takato’s full confidence.

Davmorda rather liked records with some spots in them. It showed that people were, in fact, people. She did not yet assign that definition to Changelings just yet and Commander Shaqdac seemed bent on keeping it that way.

Another profile Davmorda stopped on was Lieutenant Mindo. There was a case security was looking in to, but it was reported as resolved. On top of that, many of the man’s records were sealed. Still, he likewise had the Captain’s confidence.

Davmorda sat straight and though a moment before swiping to the next profile. Before looking at it though, she took a forkful bite of her Replicator Meal #23. But her hand instinctively swiped back one profile again showing the mug of Lieutenant Mindo.

It was understandable that Command Shaqdac had not gone through all the profiles yet. After all that was what being a Yeoman was for. It was also the responsibility of the XO to bring the CO up on all matters, but something told Davmorda that Lieutenant Eunidas was not going to bring this up to Shaqdac, and even if the Changeling tried, Shaqdac would probably not hear it.

Davmorda was however a person who wanted answers before her superiors even asked. That was what Shaqdac liked so much about her. Every question he ever asked, she had an answer or had one soon after his asking. This one, though, she wanted to know the full story, or at least enough to know there was not a threat to the ship or to Command.

If both the Changeling and Captain Takato trusted him, Davmorda felt she should as well, but also felt that Shaqdac probably would not take that answer as easily.

Putting Replicated Meal #23 back into the replicator for recycling, Davmorda left the Replimat and headed straight for Engineering.

::::::ENGINEERING::::::

Mindo stormed into Engineering with a scowl on his face carrying a PADD. Officer Criswell noticed him.

"Good Morning, Chief," she said. "I see it's report day."

Mindo grumbled something inaudible as he walked by and into his office.

Davmorda strolled into Engineering. She stood in the middle of the walkway and looked at her PADD again to dedicate the man’s face to memory. Other engineers passed her by and carried on about their work. Davmorda looked about everyone looking for the Feserian, thinking that he could not be too hard to find as she was looking for the shortest person there. Then again, finding him probably could be difficult.

"Ma'am?" came a voice from behind. "May I help you?" The blond-haired, handsome Ba'ku named Zo stood behind her holding a toolkit. His uniform looked tattered and burnt. His mood, however, seemed quite chipper.

Davmorda regarded the man with a quick looking over. His uniform appeared a little unkempt and in need of replacing, but that was expected for an engineer. She recalled his face from sifting through all the profiles but forgot his name. For the moment though, that did not matter. Flat and with little to no emotion, “Your Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Mindo. Where is he?”

Zo nodded and said, "Chief's in his office. Right this way." He led her over to the Chief's office and hit the chime.

From inside, Mindo said, "Come in."

Zo smiled. "There you are."

“You have my thanks Ensign,” she said as she passed him. “That will be all.”

Davmorda stepped further into the office taking it in but mostly observing the desk, apparently made shorter for the Lieutenant. She raised an eyebrow understanding the practicality in it. The chairs opposite of Lieutenant Mindo were normal-sized of course. She herself had never encountered a Feserian. Rex, however, when joined with Refkin, served along side a few here and there.

“Lieutenant Mindo, I presume. I am Lieutenant Davmorda Rex, Tornado Yeoman and personal assistant to Commander Shaqdac.”

"Terrific," said Mindo, not even looking up from his PADD. "I'm sure you can find your way out."

That raised an eyebrow. ’Another one of those, huh?’

’Think you can tame this one?’

In the stead of doing what she gathered of his intention for her, Davmorda stepped forward and sat down in one of the larger chairs. “That I certainly can…find my way out that is.”

’Tact Davmorda. Tact.’

Sitting straight, Davmorda continued. “I have a concern that I feel needs addressing first, however. This is, of course, unless you want the commander of this vessel coming to you in person.”

"That's usually the job of a CO," said Mindo. "But I suppose you'll do. How may I help you?"

“Actually, that’s the job of the XO. Whereas the CO’s job is to make sure the ship is in top shape, where it needs to be, when it needs to be, doing what it needs to be doing, it is the XO’s job to make sure the crew is in top shape, were they need to be, when they need to be, doing what they need to be doing. Though I have seen determination and great familiarity between the Tornado’s crew and her XO, I do not see the Changeling taking this concern to Commander Shaqdac. He and it do not seem to be getting along.”

She clearly had misunderstood him, but he didn't want to quarrel about it. "What do you want, Yeoman?" he asked.

“I am putting together a report for the Captain of all his senior staff. Basically it is a breakdown of Starfleet profiles. That way, he has a better idea of who he is working with. A better idea than he can adequately acquire from meeting you face to face. Along with a message from Captain Takato to not worry about it, I see that the majority of your files are sealed. I am certain Starfleet has its reasons just as I am sure that, based on your time aboard the Tornado, the subject matter of these sealed documents has been shared. Probably with the command staff and even security.”

There was a small, very awkward pause. Mindo stayed Poker-faced, regarding the woman with an unreadable face. "And now that I have that information," he said at last, "what am I supposed to do with it?"

“Keep it to yourself if you want. And in between the parties that are already in the know of these things. I just need to hear, from you, that whatever the incident was aboard the…” she looked at her PADD with his profile still displayed, “…the Rhys, it will not interfere with your performance aboard this vessel. I can clearly see that it has not, but Commander Shaqdac likes for me to back up the facts. So, whatever that incident was aboard the Rhys, can we expect the same thing not to happen here?”

Mindo nodded. "As long as Commander Shagdaq or Shaqdac or whatever doesn't conspire with the spouse of a diplomat to steal money and put it into accounts in my name and then physically abuse and intimidate me so that I will fear his wrath during the trial and confess to everything, I think I can make that happen." He forced a smile at the yeoman and imagined himself shooting lasers out his eyes.

That outburst widened Davmorda’s eyes. Rex had heard plenty of stories over the decades.

’Well that is nothing new.’

’He’s being honest at least.’ “I can tell,” Davmorda finisher her thought by vocalizing the last bit. “That you are being honest that is. You have my condolences for the pain you endured and my sorrow for bringing it up. You can expect none of that behavior from the Commander and I will report that he can have full confidence in his Chief Engineer.”

"I don't believe you," said Mindo. "But you already know that." He stood with great posture and said, "Goodbye Yeoman."

Davmorda hesitated but a second, then stood and said, “Lack of belief does not nullify the fact.”

’Bah! You want to give him a shoulder to cry on now?’

Davmorda gathered her PADD and instinctively straightened her uniform. “It is obvious you dislike me. Either as a person or the authority, it really does not matter. I do hope we can get better acquainted seeing that we will be working together for some time.” She inclined a nod toward Mindo. There were no other words, save for, “Good day.” She spun to leave and marched toward the door.

Mindo watched as she exited, surprised she didn't formally announce her leaving and then stand there like a blooming idiot. Something about her gave him great distaste. He sat down and went back to work, wondering exactly how numbered his days were.

 

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