Rico's Little Buddy

Posted on 09 Jun 2016 @ 5:02am by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Ensign Xavier Hernandez

1,430 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Risky Business
Location: Security Offices
Timeline: MD 01

After checking in with the Captain and Lieutenant Di Pasquale, Joey found herself moving through the Security department to familiarize herself with it. She was supposed to get with Ensign Hernandez about his training, and planned to contact him to get that out of the way. Once she had the chance to meet him, she'd be able to determine the best way to train him and the future K-9 officer. The only thing that posed a problem was trying to figure out his current location. If she physically tried to seek him out, it'd take a long time, and there just wasn't any time for that. So, instead, she did the next logical thing. "Computer... what is the location of Ensign Xavier Hernandez?"

"Ensign Hernandez is currently in Security Training Room One," the computer informed her.

"Acknowledged," She said, glancing down at the PADD she hadn't seemed to put down since arriving on board the ship. With a smile, Joey looked down at the German Shepherd next to her and began walking in the direction of training room one. Once she reached her destination, she looked over all of those present. "I'm looking for Ensign Hernandez."

An Ensign who was an inch shorter than she was with black hair and blue eyes and a recent tan that accented his natural skin tone separated from the others, a tiny black Chow Chow puppy coming at his heels. He saw her in his peripheral vision at first and turned his head to get a better look and thought his eyes were going to pop out of his skull at what he saw. The Lieutenant had a ginormous chest and he quickly looked down to make sure that Pequeño was following him as he approached her.

"I'm Ensign Hernandez," Xavier said as he met her eyes. "And this is K-9 Officer in training Pequeño, Lieutenant. How can I help you?"

The fact he'd checked out her chest didn't go unnoticed, but she wasn't going to make a huge deal out of it. "I'm Lieutenant Joey Corwin, the new Chief K-9 and Security Investigations Officers. It was brought to my attention that you're interested in becoming a K-9 handler. What experience do you have with that so far?"

"This is my first assignment, Lieutenant," Xavier said. "I was trained at Starfleet Academy in Security and K-9 handling and hold the position of K-9 handler here on the ship. Pequeño was assigned to me shortly after I received my first assignment and I've been officially training him."

"How do you feel it's going so far?" She asked, giving Rico's leash a gentle tug, which prompted him to sit down next to her.

"He's very responsive to his training so far," Xavier said. "He also doesn't respond to commands given by anyone else, either. He's still a puppy, but he's learning quickly."

"That's always a good thing. He'll continue learning for quite some time to come, too. Rico is still learning as well," Joey said, nodding her head toward the white German Shepherd next to her. "It's not an easy job, but it's a rewarding one."

"Indeed it is," Xavier agreed before he looked at Rico. "He's a fine looking K-9. Have you had him long, Lieutenant Corwin?"

"I've had him since he was nine weeks old. He's two now," She said. "If you need help with him, don't hesitate to come to me. I can give you tips and tricks."

"I'd appreciate it, Lieutenant Corwin," Xavier said. "I've been relying on my training from the Academy to teach him everything that he's supposed to know, but I feel that he'd learn much better from an experienced handler and a fine K-9 Officer like Rico." He knelt down to give the puppy a scritch between his ears which earned a tiny, happy woof from him.

Joey reached down to give Rico a scratch behind the ears and smiled. "Maybe the two of you would like to sit in on one of our training sessions some time soon? He might pick up a thing or two from watching Rico in action."

Xavier looked up in time to see the Lieutenant's chest approaching him and he went to take a step back to give her some room and ended up falling on his rump due to the fact that he was kneeling when he tried to step back. Embarrassed, he started to say something and stopped, then tried again. "I, uh...must have tripped."

Blinking, the Lieutenant watched as the man before her fell on his behind. "You tripped, huh?" Murphy's Law and all. She extended a hand out to him to help him up. "Better watch out for those flat surfaces. They can be a real doozy."

He took her hand and quickly stood up. "They are," he said. "Especially when moving backwards while kneeling. I really need to work on reverse duck walking more."

"Are you going to be okay? Do we need to get your to Medical to have you checked out?" She asked with a smile. Her tone was light to indicate she was joking. "It's okay. I promise not to tell anyone."

"Thanks," Xavier said. "I'm okay, really. I'd appreciate anything you could help me with, Lieutenant. Pequeño can be a little handful, but he already knows sit, stay and heel, and doesn't accept food from anyone but me."

"Then you're well on your way to becoming a great K-9 handler," She said.

"Thank you," he said. "I know I have a long way to go, though. However, with officers like you to help me and him, we'll be taking your place one day to help others while you teach at the Academy."

"You certainly know how to make an impression, don't you, Ensign Hernandez?" She asked.

"I try, Lieutenant," Xavier said. "I don't always succeed, but I try."

"None of always succeeds. If we fall off the horse, the best thing to do is get back on it and try again."

Meanwhile, Pequeño approached Rico and looked up at the huge white dog and sat down at his front paws, staring at him like he was the biggest thing in the galaxy and wanted to be like him.

Xavier looked down. "I think Pequeño is idolizing Rico, Lieutenant Corwin."

Rico lifted a paw and placed it on top of the smaller dog's head, then gave a bark. He seemed to appreciate the little guy.

"So it would seem," She said, smiling down at the two animals, then she crouched down. "Aren't you just the cutest little thing? And don't worry, Rico... you're always going to be my number one."

Pequeño gave a tiny woof and shook his head, but made no other moves.

By now, Xavier had learned to train his eyes to look in any direction except the Lieutenant's body. "Maybe Rico will be able to set examples for Pequeño," he said. "If he sees Rico doing what he's supposed to, he'll learn quicker."

"He will. What shift are you working?" Joey asked, turning her gaze up to him as Rico gave Pequeño's head 'pets' by tapping the top of his head with a paw a couple times.

"I'm on Alpha," Xavier said as he laughed at Rico while Pequeño squirmed and yipped, but didn't try to get out from under Rico's paw. "Did you just come aboard, Lieutenant?"

"I did," She replied, watching Rico interact with the small black living ball of fur. "I'm on Alpha, too, so how about sometime afterward?"

"That sounds good, Lieutenant," he said. "The training facility is open twenty-four hours a day to cover all the shifts. How does eighteen hundred hours sound?"

Joey smiled and got to her feet once again. "That sounds like a plan. I will see you tomorrow, then."

Rico gave a low woof at the pup in front of him, then gave his little head a pat once again before lowering his paw back down to the floor. He would whip little Pequeño into shape in no time with the help of his human counterpart.

"Okay," Xavier said. "We'll be there and thank you again, Lieutenant."

"You're welcome. Come on, Rico, let's go," She said, giving his leash a gentle tug. The German Shepherd was on his feet in seconds and following her out of the training facility, leaving his newly acquired buddy behind.

After she left, Xavier whistled for Pequeño and headed back to finish his training.

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