A Plea for Mercy

Posted on 16 Feb 2013 @ 10:49pm by Captain Jonathan Holliday
Edited on on 16 Feb 2013 @ 10:50pm

1,459 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1 Bridge
Timeline: MD 02 1630

[ON]
Jeremy waited, anxious, until some time after the change of shifts so that hopefully the Bridge was settled and he would have time to speak with Commander Holliday. Though this was a gamble for him. He was right, the Bridge seemed quiet as he stepped onto it.

He quickly made a gesture of negation to Rhodes, letting him know that he wasn't here to take the station. One thing that bolstered him, however, was that Sidi was acting the way he was during training. So far. Hopefully Sidi kept up the good behavior, showing the bigots how wrong they were.

"Commander?" he asked as he approached the command chair. "May I speak with you, privately? Regarding a...personal matter involving security?"

John had been on the Bridge for only thirty minutes before the first request of the day had arrived in front of him in the form of his security chief. it was a little out of the ordinary for Stone to ask for anything, let alone want to discuss a personal matter with the XO.

"Ready Room." The XO replied with a nod, before standing up from the chair and heading for the captain's office, now set for his use during the beta shift. As the doors closed behind them, John leaned against one of the walls and looked back towards Stone.

"How can I help Lieutenant?"

Jeremy stood in the middle of the room - hating this space - and gave Sidi the sit command. He didn't like Holliday's position either. It was...too close to the door, too close to an attempt to prevent Jeremy from leaving. He shook his head and let out a breath.

"Commander," he started, closing his eyes. He couldn't screw this up. "We don't communicate very well. And that's my fault, I know, it's always my fault but...I need you to not just hear me but to listen. I mean really listen to me and not with Terran sensibilities but - put that aside, think of me as...some different species one with a differing cultural norm and listen to what I say without thinking about what it is you think I mean."

Jeremy stopped, scowling, was that screwing it up already? "Please, sir, I don't want a misunderstanding because..." he stopped. It was already screwed up, already and he hadn't even gotten to the point yet. "Sir, I'm here about Mister Pawlek. About what you plan to do to him and..." he closed his eyes and sighed again. "I'm going to ask that you consider 'going easy'," that was said as if he read it from a cue card, "on him."

"Go easy?" John said with a tone in his voice that gave away his incredulous thought pattern. The request for mercy from the hard-nosed security chief was something that the XO would never have thought to hear.

"That's not like you to say such a thing? I thought you wanted this ship run to the letter of the law?"

Jeremy rubbed his head as he frowned. "No, sir, not...well..."

Dammit! he was here for Pawlek, he couldn't screw this up and make it worse. "Sir, I don't like people using the law to excuse their own bad behavior. Mister Pawlek engaged in actions that were...inappropriate to say the least. And, yes, criminal. But...sir...there are mitigating factors regarding his conduct which I don't believe you are aware. Failings of this crew that have led to...no, sir, I don't mean the crew is at fault...I..."

He rubbed his head again as he looked at Sidi wishing the dog would just talk and get Jeremy off the hook here. "His brother died. On this ship, sir, and I can't find records that was acknowledged. Mister Pawlek is, in my not at all expert opinion, suffering, in part, because of that death. I believe he's severely depressed and...drinking heavily. His actions were inappropriate and there must be consequences, but, sir, I would ask you also consider his state of mind and deteriation experienced since his...brother was killed. It's my view that Nicholas took advantage of a hurt and broken man and..." he swallowed, hating that he even had to see that video. "...and Pawlek wasn't in his right mind, sir."

John had to think for a moment. He understood that with the death of a sibling, people weren't necessarily going to be themselves. Not having one himself of course made it that little bit more difficult for Holliday to make a tangible thought process from. After a moment, John picked himself up from leaning on the wall and headed back towards the captain's desk, and again leaned with his butt against the edge of the table.

"If...if the Chief of Security advises that pursuing a criminal course of action is not in the interests of the crew....then who am I to argue? However...I can't allow him to simply walk free...the captain and I have decided we are going to restrict Mr Nicholas to quarters for a few days...I think the same punishment would be sensible in this case."

Jeremy watched Holliday move, taking two large steps back as the Commander came near him and then edged closer to the door, Sidi standing by his side. He rubbed his head. "No, sir, I'm not saying we shoulnd't pursue criminal actions...Pawlek violated laws and regulations and...I agree there should be consequences to that...I just think that he should be considered differently than Nicholas. Nicholas is a sexual predator, sir. He's attempted to find victims across this ship. Pawlek, sir, committed the same actions but...sir...he requires help, not just punishment. He..."

Jeremy stopped and stared at the floor. "You've already decided? Then I'm wasting your time." he breathed heavily. "I'm sorry, sir, I shouldn't be wasting your time. Unless there was something you needed of me, I'll return to my..." he stopped, his shift was over and he had his "sensitivity training" in half an hour. "I'll return to my duties and orders, sir."

"At ease Mr Stone - you've done nothing wrong - in fact I'm impressed by your willingness to stand up for another member of your crew - I doubt you would have done the same thing when you first stepped aboard. Maybe your time on the Galileo is doing you some good after all?"

"Sir, that's not a..." fair statement he stopped himself from saying. One day, he repeated to himself, go one day without pissing off the command staff. He sighed. "I'm back on my medication, sir," he muttered.

"That's good to know. You're growing on me Stone...however much I would rather not admit that openly. Good work."

"Growing on you, sir?" Jeremy asked, shaking is head while subconsciously pulling down his sleeve. "Is that...a euphamism? Otherwise I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

John had to hold back laughing at the almost innocent response that Jeremy had given to a phrase that Holliday had thought was known by everyone in the galaxy by now.

"It's a turn of phrase - it means that I'm starting to like you. It's usually a compliment."

"Oh, I'm not used to understanding compliments, sir," Jeremy said as he flickedthe screen of his wrist PADD, sighing as he starred at it for several long moments. "Is the appropriate response 'you're welcome' or 'thank you'?" He asked clearly not sure if either one was a viable option. "If not, please let me know what is and understand that I expressed the required social sentiment whatever it may be."

"I suppose thank you would be the closest sensible response. Go with that one for now. It's always a good backup response."

John replied with a smirk, that laugh that had threatened to materialise a few moments ago having reduced to a simple facial expression instead.

"You'll get it right given enough practise I'm sure."

Jeremy shook his head, "Not if it's dependent on receiving compliments," he muttered. "I should return to my duties."

"Of course Lieutenant, don't let me hold you up. Carry on." John replied with a nod. It might have only been a short meeting, but at least it wouldn't keep the XO from his place on the Bridge for too long.

Still frowning, Jeremy absently patted his thigh to get Sidi's attention then left the office, headed back to the security office before going to 'sensitivity training'.

[OFF]

CMDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

LTjg Jeremy Stone
Chief Security/Tactical Officer/K9
USS Galileo

RSS Feed