After and Before

Posted on Mon 2nd Dec, 2024 @ 5:54pm by Captain Gordon Francis & Commander Heriah Rex

897 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Phoenix Gamble
Location: Academy Dorm, Gordon Francis and Garantula Rex
Timeline: thirty years before current

ON

=====Starfleet Academy, 30 Years Ago=====

Francis tossed some more clothes into his bag without bothering to fold them. He wanted to get out of his dorm and into his new career as fast as he could. He wanted no kind of confrontation with Garan over copying his speech because, Francis had to admit, he wasn't sure exactly what he would do to the man. Francis had never been entirely sure if he considered Garan a "real friend" or not. He was fully aware of Garan's actions; not just the speech, but the whole way he got to be "co-valedictorian" in the first place. He'd done it the same way he had done up Francis' speech. Make the necessary adjustments and suddenly it all looks like you did it. He fooled the professors and faculty, but Francis saw through Garan. Garan didn't even deserve to graduate, let alone as co-valedictorian.

It didn't matter though. What was done was done. All Intelligence officers had been taught to keep their secrets, and Francis was keeping Garan's mostly because of that. Intelligence officers didn't snitch. It was part of their conditioning. Garan was very fortunate of that.

Garan had his degree in Security, specifically Tactical. To Francis, any snot-nosed pig herder could graduate through that department. Garan needed no help with that. But graduating through Command was the dream, and Garan had done it through Francis... and Francis had let him. Truth be told, he hadn't minded that until now. Francis had worked tirelessly on his speech, and Garan had copied that too.

Francis was not even close to finished packing when Garan came in.

Garan tossed his PADD onto his bed. It slid off an onto the floor. He ignored it and allowed himself to fell into the chair at his computer. He grunted as he did so. "Man, I am glad that it over." He turned to face Frank. "Time to get out of here and put this place behind us, eh?" With his foot, Garan kicked up one of his uniform tops that had resided there for about a week. He caught it, balled it up, and tossed it toward one of his duffle bags.

Francis wheeled around and looked daggers into Garan. "Garan, I can only imagine you think of me as dumb as a stray cow." Francis allowed a second of silence, then continued. "You weren't co-valedictorian on your own. We both know your grades are really mine. You're lucky Intelligence officers don't snitch. I'd have reported you a long time ago. I'm fine with you stealing my speech. In fact, I left it out figuring you would. But the honest truth is I hoped to high heaven you wouldn't. That speech would have been the only thing you've done all year that was entirely your own. As your friend, I would have been more than proud. Clearly I was dead wrong about you. I'll admit you're no idiot. You had enough smarts to enroll. But you're no leader. In fact, you're the most arrogant follower I've ever met. You have qualities, Garan, but you damn sure don't live up to them. I fear the day someone has to follow your orders. Because when that time comes, you won't be able to give mine. That said, I sincerely hope your symbiont learns from your mistakes, because those are the only things you're going to make on your own."

Garan glared back at Frank. His gaze was stern and unbroken. Then the smile came; a large grin showing about every tooth in his mouth. Then there came a short bit of laughter. Frank, come on. It's not like we are going to be out there saving the galaxy. I am being assigned to a science vessel. The commander there, she knows me." He shrugged and continued with, "...better than most. My orders, when I do lead, will be 'Hey get a sample of that rock over there. Do a spectrum analysis of this long dead fossilized tissue. Get me a report of the amount of space dust per cubic AU.' I'm not going off to war. Half the simulations we had to do over the cycle, that last test even, the chances are great that we will never have to experience that. The Academy is school. Out there...that is where the real learning begins. And that is where we are now; where the real learning begins."

Garan still did not make any admittance to cheating or plagiarizing. He show no guilt or remorse of any kind. Only pride. "Perhaps we will bump into each other a time or two out there."

"Perhaps," Francis repeated. He sighed. "You're not without your qualities, Garan. But I think you misuse them. You have the potential to be a better person than you are now. That's why I'm so mad."

"It is what it is," said Garan. "And you know what they say, 'Time heals all wounds.' Give it time...you won't be mad. The next time we meet, we will look back on all this and have a laugh." He went to start packing his things, jamming clothes and uniforms into his duffels.

Francis went back to his own packing. The two had nothing left to say to each other. If they did meet again and laugh, Francis wondered to himself what would be so funny.

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