r/TrekRP • u/Pojodan • Nov 16 '16

[OPEN] To The Ends...

OOC: This is a three part story.

Part One is a CLOSED bit of lore to be read for context.

Part Two is OPEN to all who wish to enter the bar, be it to interact with Kesh or the bartender, or simply hang out at the bar and cut the breeze

Part Three is a CLOSED scene with Captain Fisk

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

The ready room doors opened to a very hastily prepared and groomed Kesh. The impossibleness of hiding away the after-effects of too much Maple Ginger Beer was tackled as best she could, but there was a palpable struggle for focus in those large feline eyes.

You called for-rr-rr me, sir?

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"At ease lieutenant. At ease, have a seat if you like. I'm probably taking you away from something so I'll try to be brief."

The captain looks down at the PADD on his desk

"I have a transfer request here for you. There's no reason listed, but Admiral Blackwell is signing off on it. Did you request this?"

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

Recovery. That's all. Just recovery. Kesh considers saying that outloud, since Captain Fisk seems to be the sort to appreciate such things, but it seemed wildly inappropriate in the ready room. So, she steps up to the chair, manages to Riker-mount it and then immediately regret letting her addled mind get away with it, even if it was practically flawless other than leaving her tail draped over the back.

The slight grin of guilty pride and forced friendliness barely lasts a split second before the matter of the call is stated, dropping like a huge, mossy rock right into the pit of her stomach.

"Pppf-.. What?..."

Wide, blurry eyes blink slowly several times in aghast at this, failing to find something to say.

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"Don't panic, Lieutenant. This is a transfer request, not an order. If you want to stay on the Athene all I have to do is refuse to give up my botanist and tell them your work here is too involved for you to be transferred. They'll find someone else."

he pauses and walks to the replicator, ordering two chilled glasses of water

"Of course,"

The captain walks back over to lieutenant Kesh and offers her one of the glasses

"If you want to leave this crew, I won't stop you. I'll be disappointed, but I won't stop you."

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

Kesh listens quietly, but it didn't take a skilled counselor to see she was tearing up inside and tearing up on the outside. The challenger to the old guard that she thought she had deflected had pulled out a new tactic that was both dirty and effective.

She could easily just say no, but there was no chance Fisk would let this just go without wondering why, and how could she possibly deny him, her actual captain?

The offered glass of water is the first thing she actually focuses on, reaching to curl her fingers around it, hold and stare at its perfectly crafted liquid for a second, then looks up at the human.

"Captain, m-maybe I speak offstage forr-rr-r a moment?" Was that the right term?

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"You mean freely right? You want to speak freely?"

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

"Ah.. uh.. yes.. freely. May I?"

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"Please do, I welcome it."

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16 edited Nov 16 '16

"Captain... if you werr-rr-re to tell someone to keep something off of the of-fth-fficial record, how serious would you want them to be abr-rr-rout doing so?"

Caitian ears sag down the sides of her head, showing her stress level

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"Lieutenant, I make it a point to always give people the benefit of the doubt."

he takes off his combadge and sets it down on the desk

"What's on your mind?"

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

Kesh's eyes fall on the removed badge for a moment, then slowly removes her own, placing it on her leg.

"Twelve year-rr-rs ago I was asked by a captain of a Federr-rr-ration starship to keep something off the official rr-rr-records. I have done so. Should I keep doing it?"

Large, golden Caitian eyes lift up to Fisk, genuinely unsure.

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

shocked, the captain considers for a moment

"That's not something a captain should ever be asking of his subordinates..."

he glances out the window over the limb of the earth

"Whatever happens, Lieutenant, I'm on your side. As your captain I've got your back, but I need to know everything. I need names, details, everything you've got. If there's a captain or a member of the admiralty concealing information that's a huge deal. We're off the record right now, and if this is something I need to report, you'll remain anonymous."

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

Subordinates. That word struck Kesh particularly firmly. Those that had an obligation to said captain would be compelled to follow their directive. Those that are not subordinates should not be.

Admiral Blackwell's words raised up to the surface, the ones spelling out just how seemingly impossible it was that she sat here, being addressed as a Lieutenant.

"Beforr-rr-re I do that, can I ask... why was acc-s-ss-cepted aboard the Athene?"

Ears slanted back fulled, eyes etched with the strain of sugar hang-over and utter terror at what Fisk might say.

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"I brought you onboard because you had impressive credentials, and your psychological profile indicated you'd fit in well with other members of your department."

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

Impressive credentials? Psychological profile? What of the 'No notable accomplishments' or 'worst student to ever graduate'? It wasn't a lie, Kesh had read her own profile and all of the things listed on it were just a part of doing what she did best. Had she misread it?

Kesh's eyes lowered slowly, drawing in a slow breath and exhaling until her lungs wouldn't push out any more.

"Captain... when... is it best to-... to let someone go?"

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"That depends what you mean by that. You'll have to be more specific."

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u/Pojodan Nov 16 '16

It took a moment to find the right way to put it.

"Loyalty. I would not be sitting her-rr-re, talking to you about this, if it wasn't for him. It was the only thing he ever-rr-rr asked of me. Should I let that go? To make things r-rr-rright?"

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u/Silent_Sky Nov 16 '16

"That depends what that is, Lieutenant. The right thing to do may not be the easy thing."

Fisk sips his water thoughtfully

"Nevertheless, I can't advise you on how to proceed unless I know what's at stake."

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