Totally Worth It

Posted on 12 Mar 2018 @ 4:32pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Commander Luke Wyatt

1,316 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Hathaway - Luke's Office
Timeline: Day 93

ON:

Gabriel Stark cleared his throat as he stood outside the office door of the boss. He'd had a few bosses during his time on Galileo. He had gotten on with some better than others...that was the polite way to put it anyway. Wyatt had been one that he'd gotten on alright with before he'd left Galileo....that was to say, he hadn't lost his temper with him and ended up being dismissed with a teacher voice. That was about as good as it got for Gabriel sometimes.

Seeing as he was only just returning to ship life after several months of advanced security training, Gabriel figured he should report in and touch base properly with the boss. He'd learnt avoiding bosses tended to just make the teacher voice worse.

Luke was going over the mountains of reports, crew evaluations and security details this particular morning sitting back he huffed and let out a long sigh, he needed to stretch his legs and take a walk. Standing up he straightened out his uniform before making his way over to the door to his office. “Oh” he said as the door opened revealing a shape standing there. Within a short moment he recongnised who it was as PO1 Gabriel Stark a Galileo returnee. “Mr Stark, I assume there’s a good reason you’re standing outside my door,” he said with a smile.

Gabriel nodded as he moved in, his hands resting lightly on his hips as he glanced around on sheer instinct. "I've been away for a while, training, boss. I thought I should probably let you know that I'm still alive. And back."

He nodded. “Ah welcome back Mr Stark,” Luke said with a smile. “Walk with me will you, you've just been and done your hazard team training haven’t you?” he asked with a curiosity.

Gabriel grinned as he fell into step next to him, nodding. "That's right, boss. When I signed up for extra training, I hadn't realised it would be a monster of a regime," he chuckled weakly at admitting it, looking his way. "Advanced weapons, combat, hazard team and rapid response training...." he lifted his eyebrows at the itinerary, meeting his eyes. "Must sound familiar," he gave a half smile, knowing about Luke's previous line of work.

“Oh, all too well! Tell me what was it you found the hardest? Other than containing you short fuse,” he said with a wink as Luke led the pace and direction wondering off down the corridor.

"How did you know," Gabriel chuckled weakly at that, shaking his head with a sigh. "Honestly? Not quitting," he admitted quietly, glancing to him. He wouldn't have admitted it to many people, but the man was his boss and had seen more action in a few years than many of them did in a career. "I thought about it a lot. Guess I didn't want to show back up with my tail between my legs."

“You’ve got strength inside of you, I’m glad and knew you would pass. As soon as I was given the duty rooster for the new ship I made it a point to keep track of what everyone was doing and you impressed me, infact you remind me much of myself.” Luke mused with a light heated chuckle. “Was you present when I first come aboard! Forgive me my memory is a little... unforgiving these days,” he explained.

Gabriel hadn't been able to stop himself from grinning at the praise from the more experienced man. It made it worth it. "Don't worry, there's been quite a lot of coming and going in our department," he shook his head with a soft chuckle. "But yeah, I was here. I've seen a few chiefs now."

He nodded, “Then you’ll also remember how I spent my first day aboard the Galileo after getting into a fight with the security team. I believe it was the brig,” Luke laughed, “I want to put your new found skills and qualifications to work as soon as we depart. I’d like a team within security one whom will directly work under me and one who will be tasked with rapid response to any type of hazard, we don’t have marines aboard but this team I want them to be even better than a full compliment of marines, do you understand?”

Gabriel looked to him with surprise at the words, straightening slightly at the connotation behind them. "You'd...want me on that team, boss?" he asked softly, a touch of hope escaping into the tone, almost not believing it. He was used to being seen as a risk rather than an asset.

“No Mr Stark, with your fresh knowledge and dedication I want you running the team, the enlisted officers aboard this ship are too busy, pick your team as you see fit but I ask the one person you pick will be Axel Suderstrum. He has a way with melee weapons and a good fighter. The rest are up to you.”

Gabriel stopped dead in his tracks at that, holding his breath tightly in his chest, his dark eyes shining with the turn of events. "Are you sure you're fit for duty, boss?" he found his voice to joke, shaking his head with a soft laugh, but his smile betrayed just how enthused he was.

Luke waved his hand dismissively. “Probably not, why do you think I avoid the sickbay where ever I go” he joked, “Do you have any thoughts on you you will pick? I can think of some names, you’re also free to use rank up to Ensign, but you’ll still be in charge.”

"Well, obviously Suderstrum," he nodded, thinking on it as he let out a soft breath. "I've been out of the loop the last few months. Mind if I take a look at the latest training footage?"

Luke nodded agreeing to his terms. “You can have the footage as well as my own reports on the late crew and evaluations on the new ones. I want your team to be assembled before we leave, training will have to be conducted in transit.”

"That, I can do," Gabriel assured firmly with a nod, looking to him with a small smile. He still couldn't quite believe he was being given this responsibility. He hadn't even told him not to mess it up or anything. It made him think about how an old Security Chief had talked about him as if he was virtually incompetent. He shook the memory away with a frown. No, he'd never believed that, even when he had said it. He could admit to a lot of bad aspects and faults in himself, but when it came to his job, it was something he knew he took seriously and could do. "I won't let you down, boss," he said quietly, just the same.

"Good, because if you did I'd have to probably throw you out the airlock or something," he joked, "Well, I believe you have a busy few days ahead of you and I have paper work to file, but the walk was well needed," he said with a smile.

Gabriel nodded quickly, touching his forehead with two fingers before flicking them towards him, getting the hint. "Yeah, you can keep all of that to yourself, boss," he grinned, his eyes glinting with humour before he hurried off.

Luke watched as the man walked of with a smile, he knew he was making the right choice. Gabriel had a lot of potential and he believed the responsibility would help build his character. Finishing his thoughts towards Gabriel he sighed as he began to make his way back to his office and the burdens of being the security chief.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Luke Wyatt
Chief of Security
USS Galileo

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Galileo

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