Wes message by Ali - Ackbar simmed by Middour

When Dr. Anreson reached her office that morning, she still felt abandoned. The past handful of days had been wonderful, and she still could barely believe she had given herself to him, twice, in such a short time. There was just something about him though.... He had been so attentive to her.... So gentle....

She sighed and hung her coat on the rack, and headed for her desk. Sitting on top was a datadisc. She frowned, certain she had locked all her working discs away. She unlocked her briefcase and pulled out a datapad, then popped the disc in to read it.

It was a holo-message.

*

Janson's face looked tight, but he was trying valiantly to keep on a smile. "Hi, Doc. Sorry to do this to ya, but I have to pull Hobbie away from the planet for a little bit. I really can't tell you why, you know, classified stuff military people would kill me if I say. So, all I can say is that we're going away, and should be back within a week.

"You're wondering why I'm sending this message and not Hobbie, right? Well, he kinda doesn't know we're going yet, and he won't until we're in briefing so he's not gonna be able to say goodbye. But, being his best friend, I'm sure I can manage to make one up that he would most likely do." Janson stood back, and fought to put a dour expression on his face.

"Amanda, I'm sorry I had to leave without saying goodbye, but something came up. I should be back in a week. Until then, I'll be thinking of you.... Waiting to hold you in my arms again.... To feel your..." Janson had to stop, and tried valiantly not to laugh. Finally, he succeeded.

"Uhm... yeah.... Well, something like that. Anyway, I have to go, but I'm sure Hobbie sends lots of hugs and kisses... and more. Take care and see you soon." Janson winked, then reached over to turn off the recorder. The image faded.

*

A smile tugged at her lips. She hadn't been abandoned after all.

Then another thought made itself known. What if something happened to him? She shook her head and dove into her work, not willing to think of what that possibility entailed.

* *

Anreson picked up the next in a finally dwindling line of discs dealing with the report of impending deaths.

She looked down at the name, 'Colonel Tycho Celchu', and shook her head. She had been trying to put this one off for the past several days, but she really shouldn't any longer. She slipped it into the reader.

As always, she double-checked the record of his chart alongside the diagnosis. Then she went through each of the individual tests. "Wait just one minute here," she said to herself with a frown. "That doesn't match up."

She tapped a few keys and studied the individual testing results, along with the blanket diagnosis. She shook her head and reached over to hit the comm button for her secretary. "Ms. Skyal?"

"Yes ma'am?"

"I'm going to go over to the lab, please hold any messages until I return."

"Yes ma'am."

"Thank you, Ms. Skyal."

"About that raise..."

Dr. Anreson turned off the comm, put the disc in her pocket, and headed out for the lab. After donning a labcoat, she spoke with one of the lab's technicians and got the samples she needed. "Was there any trouble with 2-1B seven recently?"

"Yes, Doctor. It somehow contracted a virus and needed to be overhauled. Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity. May I run these tests through him again, along with three others?"

The lab tech looked at her curiously, "Yes, ma'am. The lab and its droids are at your disposal."

"Thank you."

First she ran the tests through the three other 2-1B's. They all said the same thing; that Celchu was as healthy as a gundark. She finally ran the tests through the original 2-1B.

"Oh gods..." She shook her head at the printed results. He's not dying, and he's gone off.... I've got to talk with Admiral Ackbar.

Nodding to the techs, she downloaded the results into her datapad and went over to the directory. She pulled up the number for the Mon Calamari Admiral's secretary and dialed it into her comlink as she made her way over.

"You have reached Admiral Ackbar's office," came a nasally voice. "May I help you?"

"Yes, this is Dr. Anreson. I need to speak with the Admiral. This is highly important, how soon can I get in?"

"Well, I'll have to look into his appointment book. May I ask what this is concerning?"

"That's classified, but this is urgent. I must speak with him ASAP."

"Hold please," Ithorian music filled her comlink.

Anreson ran a hand through her long black hair, brushing the long bangs out of her face, as she finally caught a speedertaxi. "New Republic Naval Offices, please."

The music finally cut off. "Dr. Anreson?"

"Yes?" she held onto the oh-sith bar as the taxi sped on its way.

"Admiral Ackbar will see you as soon as you get to the office."

"Thank you," she thumbed off the comlink.

* *

The Mon Calamari Admiral looked far out his office window, speeder traffic glinting in the distant sun like schools of fish. He turned from the sunset vista of Coruscant, and slowly made his way to his desk.

He sorted through the day's, so far, finished datapads, and signed off on them. After handing them to his protocol droid and watching it shuffle out the door, Ackbar interlaced his webbed fingers and slowly spun around in his chair.

* *

The taxi-speeder finally stopped, and she paid the cabby. Anreson jogged over to the lift, for the ride up to the 8825'th floor. Along the way, she hastily braided her long hair, not having a band for the end didn't bother her, as it was long enough it would stay pretty well braided and out of her way. She flipped it over her shoulder to hang down her back as she waited.

"Finally," she sighed as the doors opened and she quickly made her way towards the Admiral's office.

She reached his outer office, and walked up to the receptionist. "I'm Dr. Anreson, here to see the Admiral?"

"One moment please," she pressed a button on the desk. "Dr. Anreson to see you, sir."

Ackbar picked a datapad up off his desk and looked it over as he moved one eye to the comm. She got here quickly.... "Send her in, please."

"Yes, Sir," she let go of the button. "You may go in now."

The doctor nodded and entered the room. She waited until the doors slid shut behind her before speaking. "Thank you for seeing me, Sir."

Ackbar stood and clasped his hands behind his back. He nodded, "I hope the environment is not too uncomfortable, Doctor."

"Thank you for the concern, I'm fine. Now, about why I wanted to see you..." she stepped forward.

He paced over to the window once more, the sun having set. "Actually Doctor, I was going to send for you."

She brought up a hand to wipe the first of several beads of moisture from her brow. She frowned slightly, "Sir?"

One eye looked out the window while the other regarded her. "Please Doctor, be seated and tell me what brings you." He turned and gestured to a chair before his desk.

Anreson nodded and took the seat. "We need to find Colonel Celchu, Sir. The results of his tests were false, and he needs to know."

He imitated a human sigh as best as he could. "Are you sure?"

"I checked my findings several times, Sir. I am certain."

Ackbar returned to his desk. "Well then, Doctor, when can you start?"

"Start?" she asked in confusion.

He hit a few keys. "The tide of opportunity is now. I need to make some changes to General Antilles' unit rosters."

"You're bringing me back into Flight Surgeon rotation?"

He pulled up her personal file. "I see you maintain your X-Wing certification Doctor."

"You never know when you'll need it," she looked at him curiously.

His barbels twitched slightly as he continued, "I also see that General Cracken has you on Alpha Security Clearance."

She nodded.

A hungry little fish swam around the water-globe.

He sat back. "As you may or may not be aware, Doctor... The Rogues and Wraiths have been without a Chief Flight Surgeon since the death of Ton Phanan."

Her heart clenched in sadness at the news of her missing fiance's death. She placed a mask on her features and nodded, "I'd met him a few times. He was good."

"Lieutenant Elassar Targon, a Med Tech and pilot for the Wraiths, has been covering that position." He stood and walked over to the water-globe.

The little fish swam around hoping for food.

Anreson turned and stood so she could face him.

"I want to reactivate your Lieutenant rank and flight status. Is this acceptable?" Ackbar hit the button to activate the feeder servo.

The little fish wiggled its tail and open and shut its jaws in anticipation. Flecks of food got injected into the globe.

She suppressed a grin, "Yes Sir!"

Ackbar opened his mouth a bit in the Mon Cal approximation of a human smile. "Good," he turned back to the doctor. "I had hoped you would accept."

A thought made its presence known in her mind, "I'll have to get someone to take over my patients first, and also--"

"That has already begun, I anticipated your decision."

She blinked, "Oh."

The fish started to nibble on the food. She looked at her friend on the other side of the globe, and hoped she could eat all the food before the other one noticed.

"When the tide is right, one must not sit on the bottom of the sea bed."

Anreson frowned slightly as she tried to puzzle out what he said, then nodded.

He returned to his seat, "As you know. The Rogues and the Wraiths are on assignment right now."

"I had heard that."

"I want you to track down Colonel Celchu and tell him the news, before he..." his voice trailed off in thought.

"Does something rash," she finished. "Yes, Sir."

A second fish swam to the other side, eating hungrily. The first, a blue one, nudged it away from the food. The second, a pink fishie, head-butted the blue one. Blue came around and bit Pink's tail, and it swam away to hide. Blue did a backflip and went back to eating. Pink snuck out during the backflip and ate a bit before hiding again. Blue let out a long string of new-sand while swimming around, with an evil grin on its fishie face.

Ackbar stood and offered a hand, "Welcome to Rogue Squadron."

She took his finned hand in hers for a firm handshake. "Thank you, Sir. It is an honor."

"Then I will not keep you. Go see Emtry and he will get you a fighter and your gear."

She nodded, "I'll do that." She turned to leave, then looked back, "Thank you."

"The pleasure is mine, Doctor," he said with a nod as he sat back in his chair and eyed the globe of water.

She nodded then left. Once out in the hallway, she let the almost lop-sided grin take over.

"Perhaps I will have sushi for dinner," the Admiral mused as he watched the antics of Pink and Blue.

Blue seemed to hear the admiral and went to hide, pushing Pink out into the open.

-----END-------