'The Spy' Continued

Posted on Sat 22nd Apr, 2017 @ 2:47am by Commander Paul Graves PsyD & Commander Zachary Hunt

789 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night
Location: Chief Counselor's Office, Deck 14

There was a silence after Hunt finished telling Paul everything to do with Drake's Rear-Admiral Uncle.

"Damn, Hunt..." Paul said. "Admiral Drake should never have asked you to do that. If anything, it should have been my job. Heck, it is my job, or at least my responsibility, not yours--not to that extent." Paul mulled it over. "You're going to have to talk to Horatio--if he'll listen to you. Actually, screw that. You're going to have to make him listen, and I'm willing to help. This nonsense with Drake has gone on long enough, and it's not just the distrust of you."

"I wasn't sure what I could do, it could have effectively ended my career. But now I can see it was wrong. Do you think we would effectively work together still after all this? I love this place but I fear it may end in my removal," He replied, sounding distressed.

"Unfortunately, you're right; refusing the admiral outright could have killed your career--seeing that he's jerk enough to ask you to do this in the first place," Paul agreed. "As for how Horatio will react? He'll be pissed. But he might be just as pissed off at his uncle as he would be with you--if not more so. And he might respect you more for coming to him with it, which I doubt his uncle would do. If he doesn't..." Paul gave Hunt a wry look. "His loss, and that's a risk you're going to have to take, I'm afraid. But I will back you. You didn't have to tell me any of this. You could have just let Horatio destroy himself, but you didn't. Just don't expect him to see it so sensibly, at first. If he doesn't shoot you out the airlock, give him some time."

"Do I go to Drake myself? Or should I get you to mediate between us? Just in case things get out of hand...Well more so then they already have," He asked in reply. "It's an awful situation to be in."

Paul thought about it. "I think...yes, go to Drake yourself, and bring me in if it will help things later. No need to tell Drake you've said a word to me." He took a sip of his tea, which had gone tepid during Hunt's story. Paul ignored it. "The admiral said he felt Drake's attitudes had shifted. Did he elaborate or give you a clue what kind of behaviors or decisions to look for? I wish I knew what prompted him to say that."

"I won't mention that I've told you about it then. He seems to think that Drake is going against Starfleet because of what happened to his partner. He sort of blames them for it. That's what the admiral was hinting at anyhow."

"The admiral thinks Drake blames Starfleet in some way for his partner's death? Hm...I don't know if that explains anything I've seen, but it certainly gives me something to think about. Thank you for telling me," Paul said. He gave Hunt a sudden rueful look. "Oh, hells...I hope I didn't just use you the way Drake's uncle tried to. It's just...He's not talking much when we see each other, and the time I have to work with him is very limited. I needed a break in the case."

"No, no worries at all. I just hope it helps you in figuring Drake out. It would benefit everyone I feel."

"Him most of all, I hope," Paul said.

Hunt thought to himself for a moment, "I'm struggling to cope with the stress this is placing on me. I am normally good with stress, but this is getting to me and it's really bringing me down."

"Feeling guilty about something makes every other stress much harder to deal with," Paul said. "I suspect you'll have an easier time of it once you clear the air with Col. Drake. But do you ever meditate or consciously slow your breathing? That will help you assume more control of yourself or at least help you to be more mindful of what makes you feel stressed, so you can deal with things more quickly. The less that things are piled up, the easier it will feel for you to deal with the big things."

"No I don't. Maybe I will have to start. I think I best be going now. I will ponder on the wording to Drake as well," Hunt sighed. "Thank you counselor, I appreciate your time as always."

"My door's always open, Commander," Paul said. "I'm glad you came by. I hope it helps."


Commander Zachary Hunt
Executive Officer

Lt. Commander Paul Graves
Chief Counselor

 

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