Meeting Again - Part I

Posted on Fri 2nd Nov, 2012 @ 8:49pm by Colonel Horatio Drake & Commander Brian Windsong

2,030 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/2
Location: Deck 27: Ashton's Quarters
Timeline: Current

ON:

Brian was off duty and dressed in a pair of fadded skinny bluejeans, black polo shirt and cross-trainers. He had shaved and combed his hair, though as usual it was somewhat unrully. He hadn't exactly got off on the best foot with the Protector's CO on their first meeting and it had he realized, been at least partially his fault.

Despite that he felt a connection to the man that he wanted to explore. Whether that turned out to be platonic, friends with benefits, or something more he could not say. For that matter, he wasn't even sure that Ashton was open to anything. Based on their previous encounters Brian was proably wasting his time, but he had to give it a shot. If for nothing else to eliminte the possiblity of something happening from his mind.

He ran a hand through his hair for the last time and almost turned around and walked away. Instead, he rang the chime and waited for a response.

===

Ashton had collapsed onto his sofa less than an hour ago, with a bottle of single malt and some music. The last forty eight hours had been some of the worst of his life... he had been infected with a mind controlling virus which resulted in him going half crazy and shooting his Chief Counsellor, narrowly missing actually killing him.

As he sipped on his forth glass of scotch, he could still feel the lingering sensations of oxygen deprivation. He remembered some of the EVA training back in the Academy, they made you experience oxygen deprivation first hand. The thinking behind it was that if you were to experience it again, the symptoms wouldn't come as that much of a shock. The thinking had worked... but that hadn't made the symptoms any more pleasant to endure.

He remembered that, after recovery and being signed off by the Academy Medical Officer, he still felt a tingling sensation in his extremities which carried on for a good 24 hours. This time was no different.

The chime on the door came as a bit of a shock to him, he wasn't due back on duty until tomorrow morning and doubted Graves' had come to see him.

"Come in" He said, trying to be as formal as possible.

Brian walked into the room his mind reaching out till he found Ashton. In one hand he had a nice bottle of White Merlot in the other he held a tray of various cheeses mostly from Akadia,his favorite being a sharp cheese that was green in color.

"Colonel Drake, it is good to have you back." He paused for a moment,"I see you drinking your usual Scotch, but I thought you might like this. A bit of a peace offering if you will since our last meeting was not exactly...cordial."

Despite Ashton wanting nothing more than to be by himself... he did detect a sincerity in what the Diplomatic Officer was saying. It was true he was permanently angry these days, but he had had a chance to vent some of that on the Bretagne. Tonight he was relaxed... but tomorrow was another day. He supposed that having a drink in company couldn't really do much harm.

Downing the last of his glass and rising from the sofa he welcome the Diplomat.

"Commander... what a surprise. Please, come in and take a seat" He motioned to an armchair before he realised the futility in doing so.

He took both the wine and cheese board and placed them on the centre table... not really knowing what to do with them. Being removed from social situations for so long, really makes one forget how's best to act in them. It's certainly the opposite of riding a bike.

A huge part of him wanted to return to his sofa and pour out another scotch... but the wine had been suggested and he supposed that was the polite thing to do.

"Can I get you a glass?" He inquired.

"That would be nice sir," he replied trying to keep things light, "I gave up drinking out of the bottle, not long ago. I just thought it looked tacky. I am told that some humans still engage in the habit. Anyway, I was hoping I wan't intruding, but I just thought there were somethings we should talk about."

It felt like he was conjuring up enormous amounts of strength to even crack a smile at the joke. If Drake had ever been a people person - he decidedly wasn't anymore. Again, after feeling drained of strength, he realised what a hollow gesture it was as it couldn't be seen.

Moving away from his guest, he suddenly realised that the only glass he was was the 12oz tumbler for his scotch. In one motion, barely hesitating, he moved towards the replicator.

"Two wine glasses" He let the replicator choose the design... it would, normally, produce the most popular design. In a split second, two fairly large glasses, appeared on the pad. Carrying them back to the table he inquired.

"What would you like to talk about, Commander?" He was still trying to keep things formal. He wasn't sure he liked where this was going, but knew it was important to keep himself in check this time.

"I heard some rumors about what went on, on that ship and I know you're not the, how should I say this, the most open communicator, but if there is anything you want to get off your chest I'm here. But I don't expect you to just whisper sweet nothings or your deepest secrets in my ear, so let me start.

Kale, the man that kidnapped me and very nearly killed me, is my brother's lover. The two of them, well my brother at least, is responsible for killing my fiance by cutting him into little pieces and blinding me."

"Bloody Hell" was all that came out of Drake's mouth. Definitely the wrong response and definitely not a reassuring one but, nevertheless, it's what came out.

"I... wasn't aware of your history, Commander... I'm sorry to hear that" He kept things formal but, at the same time, attempted to injected sincerity into his last statement.

"May I ask... as an active serving officer, how were you... permitted to remain blind?" He wasn't sure whether the question was appropriate but he curious to know the answer. There was no mention of it in his service record. Someone, somewhere along the line must have allowed him to remain without vision. It was easy enough to get implants in this day and age and he could guess why he was reluctant to do so... but couldn't understand how he was allowed not to. Surely as an active serving officer, combat was always a risk. Unless that's exactly why he was stationed on a starbase? To minimise the chances of that happening?

"It was part of the package deal I guess.The Federation wanted Akadia to join, our planet has one of the richest despoits of dialthium in the galaxy, especially in our quadrant, my family holds lots of sway. I think if I had not been a telepath and a diplomat that still would not have happened.

However now that I know who the killer is, once I can confirm that and... how should I put this sir, deal with the situation, then I fully intend on getting implants. I miss not being able to see, though I can 'borrow' other people's eyes, see what they see, if they are close enough and willing.

Being blind has been a bitch, but I've overcome a lot because of it. I sometimes think that I see more than those who do have their sight.

But what about you sir, what's your story?"

Drake had already taken the liberty of pouring the wine, a rather dry white. He had already taken a sip but that last question made him want to down the whole glass.

He smiled, trying the shrug off the notion as if it was of no importance. "My story... is not as interesting as yours, Commander. I lost my partner in a shuttle accident. No one was to blame and nothing could have been done to prevent it."

That was essentially the truth, but every essence of his being was screaming out that it was a lie. Someone was to blame and something certainly could have been done to prevent it. The fault, solely, lied with Drake and he... in turn... had shifted that blame onto Starfleet.

"Are you recovering well from your ordeal... I've finally completed reading all the reports" Drake tactfully changed the subject.

Brian had picked up on the undertones of guilt that rolled off of Ashton, but didn't want to pry into the man' s actual thoughts. He flowed with the conversation not wanting a repeat of their last meeting.

He paused for a moment, trying to determine how forthcoming he should be with the man he was sitting next to, "Physically I am recovering nicely. But he didn't just screw with my body. He screwed with my mind as well. That is an even more personal assault on an Akadian. That is proving somewhat more difficult to recover from."

Ashton had had very little to do with anyone with any sort of mental abilities, throughout his career. He hadn't even worked with many Vulcans. Suddenly he found himself surrounded by them on Protector. He honestly didn't know, nor could he fathom, how it might feel to be invaded like that. He could only guess that it was like physical torment, just on a more personal level.

"Is there anything that Dr. Nyx can do for you, on that front?" He guessed this solution had already been discussed, but was eager to find out for his own curiosity.

It is really to soon after the, uh, event for me to be comfortable with someone invading my mind again. I saw images of Kale and my brother. um intimate pictures and that was just the tip of the iceberg. There were other things too, I just don't want to talk about with anyone.

However there is one thing you should know. I... well... I did something I didn't even know I could do. I pushed him away with my mind. I mean I tossed his body back against the wall with my mind."

"Jesus... ". An incredibly small number of species had this ability. Ashton remembered from his Academy days that Captain Kirk had stumbled across a species who called themselves the Platonians, some of them had the ability of telekinesis but it was something to do with their geological surroundings. He knew that the Ocampa had the power, centuries ago and that it was rumoured that a select few Vulcan elders in Mount Seleya may also be in this elitist club. The only real, documented and substantiated use of it was during the Dominion War - a few Vorta had the ability.

"Is this something that you've experienced before?".

"No sir and I am not really sure I could duplicate it now. Only a very small mionority of my people have such ability and most of them are limited to moving very small, light objects. Nothing like this. You see Kale was choking me to death My ribs were broken and I really couldn't fight back. Then something snapped in me, maybe it was some barrier I don't know. But suddenly Kale was across the room, I heard him land.

I haven't told anyone else about this, but I thought you should know."

"Well, thank you for informing me. If there's any side effects or unseen repercussions then I would go and see Dr. Nyx". Perhaps it was pointing out the obvious, but it seemed like the right thing to say... reassuring in a sense.

Drake downed the remnants of his glass and poured himself another. Perhaps the sooner the wine was gone, the sooner he could be by himself again. Although, even he had to admit, the conversation was getting easier.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Lieutenant Commander Brian Windsong
Chief Diplomatic Officer

&

Lieutenant Colonel Ashton Drake
Commanding Officer

 

RSS Feed