Part II: Son of Hephaestus

Posted on 16 Oct 2016 @ 11:04pm by Commander Langdale Wiggins & Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie & Lieutenant JG Jonas Flynn PsyD
Edited on on 17 Oct 2016 @ 1:18am

2,382 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo - Holodeck 1, Deck 5
Timeline: MD-01 1300hours

[ON]

Previously on Galileo...

He took a step back from the forge even though Jonas had reactivated the safety controls. His annoyance was only tempered by the curiosity that arose in the XO over what his heightened intuition was telling him. The tingles his paracortex got from the body language and the words spoken intrigued him. Not enough yet to take the frown off his face though. From the lack of wrinkles, it wasn't an expression he used often.

And Now, The Continuation....

[OFF]

"Lieutenant MacKenzie," he started off, crossing his arms, "I know you don't know me very well so I'm going to let you in on something with me. I discipline fairly, not harshly. I tend to accommodate the needs of the crew with open mindedness. And while tardiness makes me grind my teeth, the biggest thing I find irksome, is when a crew member willingly and enthusiastically endangers themselves needlessly." Wiggins put up a hand to stave off any protest that might happen and to allow him a moment to think about his next words. He felt the feelings of calmness from Braxton before he'd interrupted him and knew how important something like this was, but he couldn't turn a blind eye on this one just yet. "One of my roles on Galileo is to ensure ship readiness at all times. We cannot afford to have our Chief Science Officer waylaid in sickbay during a crisis due to an injury sustained because he couldn't make stuff without real fire. Now, originally we were to meet regarding an incident that happened at a staff meeting, so I'd like to shelve this," Wiggins pointed at the forge with his eyebrows, "for a later discussion."

Braxton gave a nod. He turned and bundled his tools and creating being careful to keep the heart hidden. He dumped everything in his tool box and then went back to the two men. He ran is fingers through his hair nervously. Not because he was nervous about what happened but because Jonas was so near. He couldn't help but dart glances at Jonas taking in details. He shook his head in an attempt to clear it. "I need to talk to you about the staff meeting too," he said, his voice sending a tone of clear respect for his superior. He liked Wiggins he seemed like he was a great XO and he appreciated the man's friendliness and him taking the time to speak with him rather then chastise him.

He turned his eyes to Jonas and he looked at Jonas a little too long, "I guess you heard about the meeting too," His voice was a bit more tender when it turned to Jonas, he didn't notice it but it was obvious.

Wiggins cleared his throat, but didn't say anything at first. He looked from Braxton's face to Jonas' then back to Braxton. A very subtle grin pulled at the corner of his lip. Again he said nothing. He wrapped his arms behind his back and casually moved to inspect the holographic forge. He couldn't understand it himself, how anyone could find this activity calming. But he did recognize that the process of forging must take on a meditative purpose for the Vulcan hybrid. Turning to face the two men he simply watched them.

Braxton rubbed the back of his neck feeling suddenly nervous that Jonas was there. He had suddenly realized that he was just wearing sweat pants. Feeling a bit self-conscious he tried to straighten his hair. "I... I apologize for my appearance." He said it to all but his eyes were riveted on Jonas.

"You look... you look fine." The struggle to sound and appear professional had been intense. Had Wiggins not been present, Jonas' response would have been far less formal. He quickly cleared his throat and broke off the fixed gaze. "And to answer your question, yeah, I heard about the meeting. I understand if the two of you need to discuss this in private, of course," he shot a quick look at the first officer, searching for some indication that might be the better option. "... but since we're all here now it would probably be better to have one conversation instead of three. Can you tell us what happened?"

Braxton sighed. "I'm okay if the commander is okay with it. Saves me rehashing it 1000 times." He swallowed hard. Had Jonas been staring at his chest? Realizing again he was bare chested he grabbed the shirt he'd put on the work bench and put it on feeling suddenly self-conscious. He then remembered the dinner he and Jonas had and he quickly squashed it from his mind. He wasn't going to go there. He called on all the Vulcan mind calming techniques he knew and it worked. He looked over at Wiggins who seemed to be studying Jonas and him, suddenly he felt as if he were an insect on a slide under a microscope. The man had been quiet for too long. "Um...Commander?"

Wiggins pretended to be surprised and placed a hand on his chest, "You can see me?" Wiggins let his arms drop and in a dramatic sigh of faux relief he said, "I thought for sure I'd gone invisible." The XO dropped the act with a wave of his hand and a soft chuckle. He crossed his arms again and his dark green eyes moved from Jonas to Braxton a couple times before he started like he'd forgotten they asked him a question. "Oh, I mean, continue yes. Honestly, this whole 'three men and a Vulcan forge' thing might be more appropriate for a holoromance and I'd prefer to speak in private but I'm just too curious to stop now. Please," Wiggins waved at Braxton to continue his story. "We might as well hear about what happened."

Braxton's lips twitched. The man was intelligent and sharp. And Braxton figured he pretty much knew about the sparks that were flying between himself and Jonas. The holoromance crack almost had him laughing. With a smile he spoke, "Okay well I'll tell you both and then I can let you each analyze and dissect it later." He grinned. He called for the computer to create three chairs and bring up the lights. He smiled and waved at the seats. "Might as well be comfortable."

Braxton's lips twitched. The man was intelligent and sharp. And Braxton figured he pretty much knew about the sparks that were flying between himself and Jonas. The holoromance crack almost had him laughing. With a smile he spoke, "Okay well I'll tell you both and then I can let you each analyze and dissect it later." He grinned. He called for the computer to create three chairs and bring up the lights. He smiled and waved at the seats. "Might as well be comfortable."

He sighed. “I would have repeated the same story to both of you and told you the same thing I told Rahl. So here goes. I was telling the department about an activity I’d like us to do to get the whole crew involved, something to get them to know the science department and have some fun while they are at it. I asked Rahl to participate. I said he would not be able to and Nemo made a comment to the effect of him being excited about the idea and not afraid of the crew. I understood it as just a comment of fact. Rahl seemed to take it wrong and frankly he dressed the young man down in front of the whole staff. When I tried to speak with Rahl outside, because he was, in my opinion, over reacting Rahl says that Nemo made another comment, I hadn’t heard it but if Rahl says it was made I will of course look into it. I will speak with the other staff. Anyway he had nemo arrested for insubordination and whatever else he thought was happening, disrespect I think… I was too upset to process it all.”

Braxton was both upset and angry and hurt and it radiated off him. “Now here is my issue…no scratch that here are my issues. When Rahl came to the department meeting he brought whisky with him. On duty he brought whiskey for my staff to drink while they were on duty in a department meeting. I could have had him thrown out for that alone but I put it to the side to talk to him about it later. Issue two, we are the same rank and seniority and he choose to ignore it. Instead of talking to me after the meeting and allowing me to discipline my own staff he over reacted and had the young man arrested.”

He sighed and continued, “He treated me as if my opinion didn’t matter, he humiliated me in front of the staff and basically sent the message saying ‘your department head has less power than I do and I am more important. He humiliated not only me but Nemo. I don’t do well with having someone humiliate me or my staff, I don’t run my department that way. I talk things out in private. I’ve been humiliated and called out several times and I don’t function that way. His message was, ‘your DH doesn’t matter my opinion and discipline matters more.’ I would never, ever do that to another senior officer. I would never take it upon myself to discipline another department head’s staff. I would go to speak with the department head if I felt insulted or disrespected and work with them on the appropriate action. I would never send a doctor or nurse, for example, to the brig nor would I make another department head not only look weak in front of his staff but feel humiliated and worthless. That in itself is disrespectful and I could have very well had him thrown in the brig for bringing the alcohol and his behaviour but here I am talking to you, as the XO,” he said to the commander, “And you as the counselor.” He said to Jonas. “I honestly believe that Nemo should be let out of the brig and I would like an apology from Rahl for the alcohol and the whole incident. For undermining my authority, for humiliating me and my staff member.” Braxton rose and began to pace. "I respected you enough Commander Wiggins to speak with you directly about this. Now what I have said I would have repeated to both of you. Commander if you wish to have more private word with me about this I will gladly go with you and Jonas we can deal with the feelings part of this together." He was all business now. "But that's the gist of my story." He sighed and sat down feeling defeated and once again humiliated. He didn't want this to sound like he was a cry baby but all his life he had taken other people's bull. He remembered Captain Grayson's words encouraging him to stand up. Now was the time. He had to say what he felt. It was something he had not done before. He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Unseen by either of the other officers, Jonas' face had grown pale at the mention of Nemo's name. He felt sick to his stomach, knowing this was the exact kind of situation he had wanted to avoid.

With immeasurable patience, much more so than most executive officers he knew as colleagues would have displayed, Wiggins let the man tell his side of the story. He resisted the urge to interrupt, even when Braxton had begun telling them about how it had affected him personally. What he didn't have patience for, was hearing about a crew member being thrown in the brig and only hearing about it right then.

When he spoke, the softness of his tone had hardened but was still calm. "What I'm hearing is that you're upset that Rahl brought alcohol to your department meeting, and threw an enlisted crew member in the brig for supposed disrespectful behavior. Is that right?

Braxton sighed. "Yes those are two of the main issues but there are other issues along with..." He stopped. "Which we can discuss at a later time."

"Right, this is what's going to happen, MacKenzie," Wiggins looked to Jonas then back to Braxton. His eyes changing from green to brown quickly. "You're going to reschedule another meeting to speak about this more in private. I will also be sending a memo through a yeoman shortly to the whole crew. Going forward, no one, and I mean you or Rahl or anyone else on this ship, will issue infractions serious enough for brig time without consulting me first. This is Starfleet, not the Marines, and crew discipline is my area of expertise." Wiggins didn't hide the fact he was upset at not being called down during the fracas in the first place.

He smiled at the men, "Now, as much as I could really use a mug of hot chocolate, it seems I have an appointment with someone in the brig." Before he walked away he added to Braxton. "Don't miss our next appointment, yeah?"

"I will be there Commander." Braxton said. He watched Wiggins leave and turned to Jonas. "Oh Commander?"

Wiggins stopped but hesitated before turning around. He looked over his shoulder at the man.

"Rahl has been through much in his life. I think he's scared of forming friendships and he keeps people at a distance. I think part of all this is he needs some...community service. Something that will get him forming those connection."

The XO didn't answer at first. He turned his head and looked at the door as he thought about that. He turned his body enough to look at Jonas, then turned his hazel eyes briefly at Braxton. He averted his eyes for a moment before saying, "indeed." He promptly left the holodeck without saying anything further.

[OFF]

Commander Langdale Wiggins
First Officer
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant JG Jonas Flynn PsyD
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

&

Lieutenant JG Braxton MacKenzie
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed