Old Treasons

Posted on 31 Jan 2013 @ 2:22pm by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar
Edited on on 06 Feb 2013 @ 11:32pm

1,127 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Senior Officer Quarters
Timeline: MD 1 18:05

[ON]

Jeroen rolled his shoulders as he walked down the corridor. He had gone to eat, briefly, but wasn't really feeling that hungry. He was still thinking about shoreleave. Spending time with Scarlet and her daughter had opened a lot of old emotions...and a protectiveness he felt towards the girl he remembered growing up.

He shook himself out of it, turning the corner, frowning as he saw the dog.

Jeremy pulled up short as Sidi stopped regarding the man standing in front of them. He wiped his brow to rid it of the sweat. He had almost made it back to his quarters without problems but he should have known that there would be more corridor traffic around the Mess Hall area though.

It was Sidi that originally stopped him but it was the man himself that kept him from just continuing on. He shifted his stance automatically going into his 'security' stance as he glared at the older man.

Jeroen watched the dog for a moment before meeting Jeremy's eyes, his own calm. "He's beautiful," he said, about the dog. It was an obvious thing to say, and it was a very fine specimen of the breed.

"Heel," Jeremy commanded, calling Sidi back. "What are you doing?" Jeremy asked, recognizing the man as one of the few on his 'watch' list. A former Maquis operative and one of the reasons that the Cardassians ramped up their activities around the DMZ. One of the reasons the Cardassians were so amped up and suspecting Starfleet officers of wrongdoing even if they were - unwittingly - doing a survey on a Cardassian held planetoid.

Jeroen watched him before chuckling, looking down. "I am having a walk, Sir. From the mess, around the ship and I suspect back to my quarters afterwards..." he met his eyes, taking a slow breath. It was...interesting, to meet the new Chief of Security for the first time like this.

"This deck is not an area for you to be 'strolling' around. Your business in the mess hall concluded, you leave this deck immediately."

Jeroen watched him with confusion, shaking his head. "I...have many times walked over the entire ship. No one has ever minded it before."

"I mind it - I mind it very much. You are not welcome anywhere near this section of the ship, you have no business here and you will not return here."

"Why?" Jeroen asked, frowning as he held his eyes. "Other members of the crew are allowed to walk here."

He closed his fists as he placed them behind his back. Sidi remained on the lead, close to him, his dark eyes on the man. "Other people aren't terrorists," he spat out. "Traitors...murderers."

Jeroen watched him for a long moment, an almost sad look coming to his eyes. "I have served my sentence," he said softly. "I have passed all criteria. I am a member of Starfleet. I wear the same uniform. My past is not the one that we like to talk about, no. But it's what I did. It's not who I am now, Sir."

"No, Adlar," he said, taking a step forward without realizing it. "I wear the uniform drenched in the blood of men and women killed by terrorists. I wear the uniform of a organization that stood for the highest of ideals and integrity. You wear the uniform of an organization that has become corrupt and cancerous by your presence. My heart does not bleed, Adlar, I do not believe in 'rehabilitation penal colonies'. You are a terrorist, a criminal, and that's what you'll always be. Your hands are covered in the blood of people your misguided beliefs killed, that are dead because of your actions. Do not ever compare yourself to my Starfleet again."

Jeroen watched him for a long moment, taking a slow breath at the words. "We did not start the war. And for all my misguided beliefs, they were my beliefs at the time. We all lost people. Friends. I do not expect you to care. I don't expect your views on me to change. But I am a member of this crew, and until the Captain tells me I cannot walk here, I will continue to do so."

He took another step forward. "You want to think you can hide behind the Captain, then go right ahead." He glared directly at the man, "But you might want to consider just how 'safe' the Captain can make you. Wondering alone, in places where you have no friends. In places where no tears will be shed over your loss."

He held his eyes, staying still even as he tensed. "You are threatening me," he said, his voice soft. "It's almost sweet. How misplaced that fear and anger is. You act as if that can scare me. I've been to hell. Death doesn't scare me, nor do you. So step back. Now."

Jeremy smirked. "You misunderstand, Adlar. I don't make threats. Just as I don't take orders from petty officers. You, however, do take orders from lieutenants. Leave this section, now. You won't be told again."

"Sir, not without a just reason. I am off duty, I should be able to walk wherever I wish," he said, holding his eyes. Not backing down. Not today.

"Just reason? I'm an officer, you're a petty officer, you've been given an order. You follow it."

He watched him for a moment before smiling weakly. "As you wish," he said and walked past him.

Jeremy watched the man leave, simultaneously waiting for the attack to come and keeping a tight hold of Sidi to prevent the dog from going into protective mode. He wanted Adlar to be stupid enough to attack him ... he wanted a reason to hurt the man for all of his fellow Starfleet officers and Federation citizens that were hurt and killed as a result of the Maquis terrorism. Most of all, though, he wanted a reason to release anger. He watched and waited.

After Adlar rounded the corner and was gone, Jeremy flicked his wrist to bring up his PADD. A few moments was spent leaving himself a reminder to check the security footage to see if Adlar even went near the doors of any of the senior officer's quarters. He also left a note to add Adlar to his 'watch' list. He didn't feel settled until he entered his own quarters, wondering what the hell was going on that terrorists were allowed to serve in Starfleet these days.

[OFF]

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

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeroen Adlar
Science
USS Galileo

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