Status
Posted on Tue Jan 7th, 2025 @ 4:28am by Captain Edmund Merrick & Sergeant Andrew Shy
Edited on on Tue Jan 7th, 2025 @ 10:41pm
1,657 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Detachment CO's Office - The Snake Pit - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD002 1100 hrs
It might have been shore leave however, Edmund had a bit of catching up to do. He had been meaning to check up on Sergeant Shy ever since the sergeant had been possessed by Kavicus. Leaning forward in his chair, elbows on his desk, Edmund was gazing at the viewscreen of his computer with a slight frown. What happened with Rowena as well as Tyler, brought Andrew Shy to his mind even more. Shaking his head, Edmund sent a message to Shy,
"Sergeant Shy, this is Captain Merrick would you come to my office,"
Andrew stood in the Morgue, pulling maintenance on his MARVEL suit. When his communicator chirped then displayed the projected the message onto the nearby workstation, he said, "Shy to Captain Merrick. Aye sir. On my way."
He took the time to put tools away and place the components he'd been working on into the work bench, made sure his uniform was clean. Satisfied, Andrew walked the short distance to the Cure CO's office and his approach triggered the hatch. He stopped the prescribed distance from Merrick's desk and saluted, keeping his line of site two inches above the Captain's head as he said, "Sergeant Shy reporting as ordered, sir."
"Have a seat Sergeant." Edmund remarked and waited until Shy took a seat, before he continued. "I wished to check up on you. We've not had a chance to talk one on one. But before we get into that, would you care for a drink." It wasn't lost on Edmund how spotless Shy's uniform was, and the rather professional demeanor as well.
Merrick had the reputation of being easy going, but Shy slid into the indicated chair and shook his head. He was seated on the first few inches of the seat and kept his poise erect. "No need for a drink sir," Andrew responded. "I had some bug juice awhile ago. Just finished spot checking a few of the suits and running CnC commo tests with the ship's net. Before... Well the Colonel had indicated he wanted our comms to link into the Pioneer, but wanted them filtering through the FMC suite. It's supposed to fire wall bad actors who hack into the Pioneer, no matter who they might be."
Edmund rose from his seat and went to get himself a mug of tea. Returning he sat back down. "After what has had happened earlier, I am in agreement." He regarded Shy once more before he began his welfare questioning. "Shy, how are you doing after your possession by Kavicus? "
He tried not to stiffen at the question. He'd been wondering what this was about and with the Captain jumping right at it, Andrew felt his mouth open, then shut it purposely while he tried to formulate a response. After a half a minute he said, "I'm ok sir. It wasn't pleasant and it's caused me a few problems since. I think I've gotten around most of it. They say time helps."
Edmund felt a twinge of guilt, from going rather direct with Shy he saw his reaction but, what was done was done. Can't put the genie back in the bottle. "Sorry for being so direct, Shy, but its been weighing on my mind. And I may have momentarily forgotten my genteel manners" giving a chagrined smile, and an apologetic expression in his eyes. "I haven't had any complaints as to the work you have done, in fact there hasn't been any complaints. However another apology from me for not checking on you early on."
Andrew tried not to stare at the Captain. Why in the Drahk was a marine officer appologizing all over the place like some Fleet counselor. He'd heard through the NCO grapevine that Lieutenant Vura and Merrick had been keeping company and the speculation was all over the place given that the counselor was Deltan and seemed to have a stick up her backside further than most officer's and counselors. "No need to apologize, Captain. I appreciate you keeping an eye on me but my work is getting done and it does help to get busy."
Andrew had been attached to Corp- S2 components for the majority of his time as a Corporal and been brought aboard Pioneer by the Colonel to keep an eye on Pioneer's Intel gang. Shy decided to do a little fishing. Something in his mind twitched at the idea and he asked, "I hope I'm not overstepping, Sir. But are you ok? You seem a little out of sorts and with your record, I doubt it's the Colonel dumping operational control of the Cure on you."
Edmund had raised his mug of tea to his lips prepping to have a drink when Shy's question and observation made his eyes go wide and his hand jerked. "Damn!"feeling some hot liquid spill down the front of his uniform. He almost dropped his mug, barely getting it to the desk,the mug making a clattering sound as it connected with the top of the desk sloshing more liquid, some spilled on the desk, some onto his hand, Ed grunting at the pain. In the next instance, he was peeling out of his uniform top and going into the head to check where the tea spilled.
"Yeah,I am off a little bit." Ed's voice coming from the head, the door open, spraying a cooling agent to stop the burn and pain. The sound of the medkit closing "And you are correct,its not what the Colonel did." emerging from the head. "Trying to navigate interpersonal rough waters of ship life." a frown appearing as he thought back to his fight with Vura. He was still ticked off about that conversation, moving to get something to mop up his tea.
Shy bit his lip, hiding his faces attempt at betraying the amusement at seeing Merrick jump like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Apparently he'd hit a nerve.
Jumping to his feet, he was on his toes trying to decide to help and if it would be wanted or not. When the Captain emerged and started to look around, apparently to clean up Shy moved to the head, opened the janitor's closet and got out old trusty, the mop. "You stand easy and take care of yourself, sir. I've got this," Shy told him. "Sorry if I said something i wasn't supposed to sir. Was just. Well concerned. It's hard to be an officer."
"Nah don't be sorry, turn about is fair play." Ed taking a look at Shy as he mopped up the mess. "After all I hit a bit of a nerve on you too." he gave a wry smile. "Look you've got permission to speak freely, can't always be worried about walking on eggshells. If you got another question, spill it."
Andrew kept quiet as he mopped. It didn't take all that long then he put old trusty away and leaned against the door jam regarding the Cure's CO. "Nothing to do with walking on eggshells, Captain," he said. "There's propriety and that's generally the difference between Fleeties and us. I see a few too many of the ships crew wandering around barefoot and expressing themselves and it takes some getting used to. If you don't mind me saying it, that Counselor is kinda buggy. Tries to hard in some things then gets a stick up her backside when she thinks people aren't falling into line as she'd like them. Kinda goes with that barefoot thing I was talking about..."
"The counselor's got her own troubles and I'm steering clear of her until hopefully she gets herself worked out. She's got a good heart but... Its just..." Edmund letting out a low growl. "Infuriating when she acts like she knows all the answers." Ed shook his head. "Culture clash I think it is. And also clashing perceptions."
Andrew really wasn't used to officer's talking about their personal lives, deciding this was one of the down sides of being too intermeshed with the Fleet. "Well sir. There is one constant throughout all species, genders and persons in general. At least from my experience," Andrew said. "Everyone is crazy. Just depends on how much crazy you want to sign on for."
Edmund gave out a bitter laugh, nodding his head in agreement with Shy. "What you say is very true. And sometimes a person steps into some crazy without meaning to." he gave a one shoulder shrug. "For now can't worry about it, just gotta get back into focus on the Cure and getting us back into the swing of things. And figure out a better way to intermix with those who are of StarFleet." Edmund was brought into this due to his unique background. There still was a huge learning curve to accomplish this.
"Thanks for cleaning up the spilled tea." Spilled tea, kinda appropriate for what was going on. Ed spilling his own tea, talking about so called personal matters. He certainly was going to have to do some reflecting upon what's happened so far. And definitely for a time, keep his distance from Vura.
"No problem sir," Andrew said with a smile. "Gotta unload some times and you're right. We do have work to do. Glancing at the hatch he said, "By your leave, sir? I should get back to the Morgue."
"Dismissed." Edmund answered. Ending this rather interesting welfare check. It ended up being a two way street. One he'd not anticipated. Looking down at his burn, he probably should get that checked out.
A Joint Post By
Captain Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Sergeant Andrew Shy;
Tactical Systems Operator, Team 2, The Cure;
USS Pioneer;
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