Flared Tempers

Posted on 08 Jul 2014 @ 1:45pm by Commander Norvi Stace & Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark

1,479 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 06 - Legend of Souls
Location: USS Galileo: Deck 7 - Callisto Bar
Timeline: MD 05 - 2050 hrs

ON:

Half bent over the small table, Gabriel stared into his glass rather than out of the viewport or around at his fellow bar goers. His mind wasn't really on the ship. He didn't even seem particularly aware or caring of the unfolding mystery of the balls of fluff being seen around the ship. His finger tapped mindlessly against the side of the glass of what had been real alcohol. He needed another one. He rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand, sighing. Losing it twice in not even as many weeks...not good. And George lying dead in the morgue. On his watch. He frowned, sticking a hand lightly up in the air for another drink.

Fortuitously, Stace straddled the chair opposite from behind and deposited a tumbler full of neat scotch on the table in front of him. Planting herself down fully in the chair, she clasped both hands around her own glass and didn't even raise her head to look at him. Speaking into the golden liquid through the opening of the glass, she said, "Let's talk, shall we? Not as Starfleet crew, but as men. As comrades."

Gabriel looked across to her with surprise, holding his breath. A frown settled onto his features, and it seemed deep for someone so young. "Is that a good idea? I wouldn't be surprised if I end up shoved in the brig after the last time."

Stace sighed, picked up her tumbler and drained the glass dry. She placed it down a little harder than she intended but looked him squarely in the eye. "Listen, I'm not hear to argue, Stark," she started with. She held her hands up wide in a mock surrender. "I come in peace. There will be no 'throwing in the brig' if we just sit here like adults and talk."

Gabriel watched her for a long moment, eyes slightly narrowed. It wasn't unknown for an officer to assure someone that something was 'off the record' but then when they didn't like the way the conversation went to change their mind. He watched her face. No, he believed her though. "We're meant to help people. It's our job. And we left one of our own."

Stace's face remained a little stoic as she inhaled to pause. "You're not stupid, Stark." She allowed her face to soften as her eyes warmed. "Listen, you know I couldn't jeopardise the rest of the team's safety. That's just not the way we do things around here." She held up her hand to stop him from interjecting. "And I know you think that leaving someone behind is not the Starfleet way, but I had to make a call." She paused, flicked her eyes up to the bartend who silently refilled their glasses as he passed and took another swig. She dropped her head and stared into the remains of her whisky. "Stark, when you've lost as many lives as I have under your command, you start to play it safe. It might not be the best, but it's the most responsible way to handle it." She now looked up to him and narrowed her eyes on him. "And I won't be judged for making that call."

"No offence, but you can't stop me judging a decision either way, it just kind of happens," Gabriel frowned, shaking his head firmly. "Look, I get it. I do, I get it. I get the logic. I get the numbers. I get the maths. But it doesn't mean I have to like it. Sometimes...sometimes it's not just numbers, you know? Sometimes it's humanity, morality, soul..." he grimaced, shaking his head. "Not that you're human, I just, you...I....oh you know what I mean."

"Gabriel," she started with, nursing the drink in her hand, "I understand it too. It's just unfortunate that anyone had to make that call." She paused and saw the pain in his eyes. "We've all lost someone today. And who knows how many more lives would have been claimed if we'd have gone off unarmed looking for him. It doesn't make it right, or fair. But I didn't have a choice."

"We all have choices. I'd have looked for him, alone or with others, damn the risks," Gabriel's frown deepened as he shook his head with a heavy shrug. "But then, I'm not an officer."

"No, Stark!" Norvi countered, staring across from him with a fire flaring in her emerald eyes. "It's not 'damn the risks' at all! How can you sound so irresponsible? You might think that you have the right to cast aside the safety of others in the group, but you don't. And I certainly don't!" Since the Joining, Stace had managed to keep her angered temperament quashed, but a passionate fire now began to well in the pit of her stomach. It doesn't work that way. Starfleet doesn't work that way! Hell! Life doesn't work that way! Because of the decision I had to make, the rest of our team didn't up up like Ruktah!"

"We didn't know he was dead," Gabriel frowned, shaking his head, his breathing speeding up as he looked away. "I don't care if I sound irresponsible. If you'd have given me the nod to look for him, I'd have gone. Happily. What's the point of staying alive if your soul gets a little more marked up each time your life cost someone elses," he frowned, shaking his head, knocking his drink back with anger. "What's the point of being alive if you look the other way when someone needs help. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of people who look away and put their fingers in their ears."

"'LOOK AWAY AND PUT THEIR FINGERS IN THEIR EARS?!'" Stace bellowed across the table, pushing the chair backwards with the posterior of her knees as she stood, leaning her weight through her hands and arching over him. "If you were any more of a man I'd drag you out of this bar by your weak chin and beat the living shit out of you!" Suddenly, like a wash of fury had broken upon her, Stace gritted her teeth and abandoned all sense of rank and responsibility. "How dare you suggest that his death was my fault! You have no idea what it's like to have such a stake through my conscience every time I lose a life!" She lowered her voice and pursed her lips in tightened anger. Pointing at him, she said, "You stay away from me until I've calmed down or I'll be responsible for another death on this ship! You hear me?" She pushed herself from the table and the chair was flung back by her force. She looked him in the eye, disappointed and angry, and left the bar.

Gabriel's jaw was tight with the anger that coiled inside of him, the young man always having struggled with his temper. He slammed the glass down on the bar before following her out. He dashed through the doors and into the corridor, watching the back of her. "You want to threaten me then walk away? Big of you....really big. What happened down there isn't my fault, but you want to put all your anger on a scapegoat, fine! You came to me....you wanted to talk, no ranks....maybe next time you shouldn't ask people what they think if you don't have the balls to listen to it."

A fire now in her eyes and belly, Stace spun around on her heel as they stood, on deck seven, face to face. As she boomed, she practically spat on him with anger. "I'm not assigning blame, you idiot!" she yelled, leaning in to his face. "You're the one doing that! And I don't care what you think," she lied, taking a step back. "I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION," she then continued, pointing to her own chest emphatically as she spoke, "down in those mines... to save the rest of my team! You openly questioned my orders twice. Even when I told you that the discussion was over. You've got a history of not doing the right thing, Stark. Walk away now."

She turned again and began to walk down the corridor. She knew it was a low blow to call him out on his past but the frustration now coursing through her veins made her clench her fist as she walked.

Gabriel's breath felt as if it was stuck in his chest with his anger at how words, his right hand and arm trembling. "Yeah? Well now you can join the club of not doing the right thing! Congratulations!" he called after her in his temper, breathing hard before turning the other way.

OFF:

Lieutenant Norvi Stace
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Blake]

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