Our Stubborn Point of View

Posted on 16 Jul 2013 @ 3:46am by Lieutenant JG Jacrux & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes

2,594 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Officer's Mess
Timeline: MD 09 - 0030 hrs

ON:

Jac selected a corner of the lounge, away from the few other officers who trickled in after their shift, but not too far away that they couldn't be called on as witnesses if the upcoming conversation turned more heated than Jac planned. He'd dealt with all sorts of 'questions about his background' in his time with Starfleet. Some of his interrogators were more heated than others; some even tried physical intimidation. Some, Jac found pleasant at first, until what he thought was a clever comment evoked suspicion and a rapid-fire interrogation. The half-Romulan knew how to deal with the sorts of questions posed to him. Hopefully the Lieutenant would realize he had better things to do than waste his time questioning Jac.

The Ensign sipped on his glass of a pale orange-yellow liquid and watched the door. He let his thoughts wander back to the questions he hoped to pose to the Security officer. There were tension aboard the ship; the funeral had been so charged Jac could nearly taste it.

Lt. Rhodes walked into the Officer's Mess and hesitated looking about the room. He saw Ens. Jacrux and walked toward him. Theron had used the time wisely while on his duty shift and looked up everything he could find on this half-Romulan Starfleet Graduate. He had read multiple reports by different officers. Some of these reports, Theron could tell, were slanted against him, not giving the Ensign a fair assessment. Many other reports gave great praise for his accomplishments and attitude. Theron decided not to make this another interview with an agenda.

After getting some food from the replicator, Theron walked up to the small table and asked, "May I join you?"

Jac immediately noticed the Lieutenant's entrance. He watched, keen eyed and slightly suspicious, as the other approached, much like a raptor would watch some interesting wiggling thing that accidentally crept close. Not all of the reports considering the Ensign were exaggerated. He tried to smooth the aggression from his posture when the Lieutenant turned towards him. It might have worked. It probably didn't. Rhodes wasn't the only one to have done some research since their last meeting. Obtaining Chief Security Officer status, however chaotic the department's history, showed a great amount of talent and ambition. It was nearly respectable, if Rhodes actually had the skills to back it up.

"Lieutenant Rhodes, please do," Jac met the taller man's eyes without standing. He wasn't going to relinquish the most strategic seat. He waited for Rhodes to take a seat before adding, "You never introduced yourself before, so I hope I have the correct name," Jac held out his right hand, the artificial limb glinting slightly in the lighting, "Ensign Jacrux," he waited half a beat and made a decision, "Call me Jac."

Theron set his plate of food before him, arranging the fork on the right side and laid a napkin across his left thigh. With a sociable smile he replied, "All right, Jac." He lifted his hand, about to extend it toward the Ensign, yet Theron hesitated again. Theron felt just a touch ashamed at this instance. He has worked so hard and long not to have an issue with physical contact, especially in a friendly, social encounter. His smile broadened and the security officer extended his hand across the table, "Yes, you have the name correct. I am Theron Rhodes, from Tandar Prime and I am very pleased to meet you . . Jac."

Jac assumed the hesitance was because of the prosthesis. He'd experienced the quick double take, witnessed the what-happened-to-him thought process flicker over another's eyes, more times than he could count, but wearing a natural-looking cover interfered with the extras installed into the arm. Rhodes' hesitance was marked and barely commented upon:

"I won't bite unprovoked, Theron Rhodes," Jac answered with a smaller smirk. He shook hands briefly, as taught in the Academy in order to have a common gesture of meeting among the various species and cultures in the Federation.

Retracting his hand from the strong embrace, Theron added, "I am glad we can meet at this late hour."

"Likewise." Pleasantries bored Jac. He surveyed Theron steadily. "I look forward to what stories you can tell me about the crew. There seems to be much I don't know."

Theron nodded, accepting the Ensign's comment of conversation. He thought for a moment with lips pressed tightly together then said, "And as for my hesitation of my hand . . I ask for your . . indulgence. It has nothing to do with you, but my societal custom to not touch others. Even after so many years in Starfleet, I still have difficulty."

The comment reminded Jac that the Lieutenant was from a system he knew little about. Filing away a mental note to learn more about the Tandar Prime system and its people, Jac inclined his head briefly. "I see. It is an unnatural gesture to me, too." In a galaxy of touch telepaths, it was a survival skill to measure skin to skin contact carefully. His prosthetic was actually a bonus in those situations.

"So about the dead man," Jac paused and thought for a moment, giving up on trying to remember the deceased's name, "You gained a promotion with his departure. Many of the others seemed to have also benefited, at least to their peace of mind." There had been a definite touch of relief in the air of the torpedo bay.

"I do not prefer to look at it that way," Theron began as he took a piece of orange fruit and popped it into his mouth, "But, yes. I have been placed in a new position of responsibility. And it is true that many of the crew are pleased that Lieutenant Stone is no longer on the ship."

A bit of a smile flitted across Jac's lips. Theron might not want to think of the abrupt method of exit suffered by the prior owner of his position, but he had not claimed to not enjoy the result. "What did Stone do to gain that sort of reputation? One would think those who promoted him had confidence he could perform his duties."

Theron was tired and was about to answer, when he said, "You are an inquisitive young man." he put a bit of tasty meat in his mouth and leaned forward, "I almost feel I am being interviewed." and gave him a wink then leaned back.

Jac blinked slowly. Theron made it sound like he had ages more experience than Jac did. Oh well. It could be useful to be underestimated. "Maybe you are. I hear there's a reporter on board. You should be used to questions." Jac returned the wink. "I hope mine are more enjoyable."

Theron smiled and lifted his drink as if to toast, "Well said. Well said." He set the glass down after a drink. "Now. As for Stone, he was an individual who saw life through cellophane colored glasses. He typically took a different slant on any situation and usually rubbed crewmembers the wrong way."

Jac lifted his glass in return and sipped the citrus mixture. "That sounds like an inefficient method of command," he pointed out, "What did command have to say?" Security was a very important department that needed the trust of the crew in order to be effective.

Theron took a long drink after the toast and set it down. After a breath replied, "Well, the way I understand it, Lt. Stone followed 'The Book. At least his interpretation of it. Since he was not breaking any regulations, things continued. I will not speak for the Captain."

The Book was a serious matter indeed. Jac supported The Book whole-heartedly, yet what some people did not understand that belief in The Book was not enough. The motivation behind The Book contained the truth. It sounded like Stone's motivations and others' intersected.

Rhodes then leaned back and took on a more curious tone. "So, tell me, how does a half Romulan get into Starfleet? I'm sure you have been questioned right and left over the years."

Jac raised his glass in toast. "Well played. You waited longer than 85% of officers to ask the question." He took his time to take a drink as he arrayed the answer in his head; selecting and discarding details that fit the current situation. "I joined the normal way. I gained sponsorship, passed the exams, and was admitted. That is the short of it."

"Well," Theron said softly, then slapping his free hand down on the table and startling those to be found in the Mess that late at night. "If it is acceptable by Starfleet, then who am I argue the point." Leaning forward slightly, "I'm sure you have been questioned by everyone. So, Ensign. . . Here is to new beginnings." and raised his glass once more."

Jac smiled slightly. He raised his glass as well, toasting silently to a lack of prying questions, but out loud he said, "To new experiences."

He waited for both to partake of the customary post-toast drink before starting a new line of inquiry. "Has there been any signs of threatening activity around? Klingons, Romulan?" Jac gave a wry chuckle, "The Venture crew seemed to think I would jump ship if any were around. They avoided telling me." He treated the possibility as a joke, hoping Rhodes would give him more information than the others.

Theron wiped some moisture from his lips with his right hand as he thought, then said, "Well, as far as the crew, I think you will get a better acceptance from this crew than your last. As far as intelligence," he shook his head slightly, "I, as Chief Security Officer, have not been informed of any. Yet, that does not mean the Captain does not have some information. We will just have to wait." Squinting slightly and looking down his nose with face slightly turned he asked, "Why would an anthropologist care if there were intelligence on an antagonistic counterpart?" and smiled raising his eyebrows in doubt.

The question was insultingly stupid. Jac stopped his initial response and reminded himself, once again, that many in the Federation had a very different upbringing than he.

He traced the tip of one pointed ear and gave Rhodes a look. "Where I come from, everyone has a vested interest in the status of local hostiles." Jac calmed his cold tone further. "I'd think security would welcome a blue uniform showing interest in something other than their research," Jac gave a mock sigh and pouted in fake frustration, "It's awful difficult to categorize artifacts when someone is shooting at me."

"Ahhh" Theron responded slowly. "My sincere apologize. Of course each of us as members of Starfleet are here to better the social relations with the many races we come in contact with. Forgive me. I was just thinking at that moment of you in your field of study." He left the Ensign with a sincere flat smile.

The speech sounded fake and rehearsed, but Jac left it be. He gave a shrug and commented, "At least the Venture's paranoia seems to be unfounded. After what I've heard about the Galileo's history, I was worried the bad luck would continue."

Theron could tell that his comment and apology did not take root, but he understood and decided to better just continue and see how things went. He smiled uncertainly about the bad luck. "And which bad luck, exactly, are you referring to?"

"Well, your first mission ended badly. A ruined ship, body bags... "Jac raised his eyebrows to emphasize the oddness of the circumstances. "You can't claim that was good luck. At home, a ship that had that sort of first mission would be taken back and renamed."

Theron could have argued his points for quite some time, but decided to let the situation diminish instead of escalate. He simply replied, "I accept your opinion of the situation . . but you mentioned the Venture's paranoia? What were the crew of the Venture saying about the Galileo?"

"Many aboard were uneasy about their surroundings, what with this being a relatively uncharted sector of space," Jac pointed out. "Maybe I received most of the nerves, or merely enforced them, as I am one of the enemies they were ordered to be watchful of." It was a common problem, in Jac's experience.

"Have you ever encountered Romulans before, Lieutenant? Or Klingons?" He was curious about the other's tactical experience.

Theron pressed his lips together and shook his head to the negative, "Not in any conflict. I have been around both races while assigned to Starbase Deep Space 5. I was even on security for the Klingon Ambassador during a visit there. But no. I've had no more communication than a hesitant glance from their security."

So the person in charge of protecting the entire ship had no real experience. Great. Jac didn't comment on that, merely made a mental mark to brush up on his personal skills. It did one well to be prepared.

"I see," Jac intoned in a neutral voice, "Well, if you want to practice, I might be convinced to lend a hand." The offer caught Jac himself off guard. Had he really become that restless?

Rhodes smiled cautiously. "I will keep that . . . under consideration." Theron had an irritating feeling that he had just been played, but not sure to what extent. He wiped his mouth with the napkin and said, "Well, if there are no more questions at this time, I have . . a rack calling my name." And stood up.

Jac mentally shrugged to himself, vowing to consider the motivations behind his actions at a later date. "You should use every resource at your disposal, after due consideration, of course," Jac commented in a mild tone, the smirk that flashed across his face not making his meaning any clearer. Was he making fun of Rhodes' inexperience? Probably. Did that make his offer any less sincere? Nope.

"I will let you go, Lieutenant," Jac inclined his head slightly, looking like he was the one dismissing the other, something he could get away with in an informal setting like this. "I hope I'll see you around? Thank you for answering my questions and seeing to your own duties so well." Another half grin, and Jac rose as well.

"I am sure you will." the security chief said a little sterner than he had planned. He didn't mean to be so antagonistic, but this Romulan seemed more than he appeared. Jac's intent did not seem harsh or confrontational, but a good intelligence agent would know how to ask the right questions. Rhodes gave a nod and walked out of the Officer's Mess. He had the feeling that he had just been handled. This Ensign, he realized, should not be taken lightly. He could be considered an asset, but a confident . . well, time would tell.

Jac followed the other officer out silently, pausing at the exit to watch the taller male's retreating back with a closed expression on his face. The crew of his new ship was becoming more and more interesting. Hopefully those among his own department would prove to be just as liable to hold Jac's attention as the few he'd already met. Maybe Jac could arrange to 'accidentally' stumble upon some other members of the Security team. Research, you know, that was Jac's excuse and he was sticking to it.

OFF:

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Ens. Jacrux
Anthropologist
USS Galileo

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