Posted by Lieutenant Luke Wyatt (Chief of Security) in Holodeck: Lead by example

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Holodeck: Lead by example

Posted by Lieutenant Luke Wyatt (Chief of Security) in Holodeck: Lead by example
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻

[Snip]

It was expected that he’d be keeping an eye on him and it was no hidden fact that Luke was trying to right his wrongs. “Good, great actually things really are looking up even in unexpected places.” They reached the end of the ice next to the hut, he didn’t need to go inside but turned to Cochrane, “You can put your skates on here or inside. I find though the warmth of the hut makes acclimatising to the cold longer.” He dropped the skates on the floor and began untying his laces.

When he was done Luke was standing a bit taller and a little more awkwardly but in terms of how someone walked in skates he could do it naturally and with great ease. he shuffled to the edge of the ice until finally, he could feel the slick smoothness he kicked off and slowly made his way about a meter from the lake perimeter. “I should have brought some sticks,” he said waiting for Cochrane to join him.

• Luke Wyatt

Cochrane simply smiled and said “Maybe so…” and he sat down and took off his shoes… which were actually black hide of some kind with wicked looking spikes on the soles. Setting them carefully aside, he said “Great for snow and ice.” and he patted them and then opened the skate bag, withdrawing skates that were not like Luke’s at all.

Whereas Lukes skates had rounded ends and the boot was high with a flat sole, Cochrane’s were much more… delicate. The blade was thinner, and the high boot had a pronounced heel. Additionally, the tip of the blade on Cochrane’s skate ended in a small protrusion in which were cut small teeth…

Figure skates.

Cochrane put them on with a sense of familiarity, and then likewise walked a tad stiffly to the ice. Once he set foot on the ice, he pushed off and made his way easily to Wyatt.

Cochrane

“I won’t lie sir, I hadn’t expected to see you in figure skates I feel like you may have just a little more experience than you first let on.” Luke was doing his usual warm up of moving forward and then back, slicing the ice to slow down and then speed up. His skates were bulkier and heavier than Cochranes but offered that if more ankle support. “Have you ever skated on natural ice before? Or just the rink stuff? Coincidently the Captain’s skates were probably more suited for the ice they were in with their fine blade compared to his which sometimes found every bump and hole to rattle his legs.

“Oh, I may have spent a few hours skating the Amba River outside Vladivostock. My mother had it in her head to make me and my sister into Olympic skaters… it took a year and a half of daily lessons to convince her that wasn’t going to happen.” and he chuckled and stepped sideways and turned backwards, then back again, stumbling and then recovering. “Been a while, though…” he said with a chuckle.

“So” He said slowing himself to match Cochrane’s speed “How are you doing Captain? I realised in all out conversations its always been about me, myself and I. Whether its because I did something wrong or me trying to figure out what to do to make things right, I guess I’ve been a bit selfish l recently and never took the moment to ask about you.” This was beyond Luke now trying to show he was changing but the truth was he had been, and it was all thanks to the man in his company now. That and Faye opening his eyes, another topic of conversation he’d slowly work the Captain into, somehow .

• Luke Wyatt

Cochrane’s eyes faced forward, but there was a slight smile in them as he spoke. “I am well, thank you for asking. And don’t worry about the topic of past conversations being about you. Part of my job is to listen to people talk about themselves.” and he gave the CoS a side glance. “Could have been a Counselor, but the girls like Security uniforms better.” and he chuckled.

Cochrane

“Isn’t that the truth, I bet you was beating them up with a stick maybe still do now your Captain, everyone loves that Authoritative figure.” He retorted going onto one foot and turning around so he was going backwards if not slowly. The Lake was huge and without anyone else but the Captain he only needed to glance over his shoulder every few seconds. He was considering asking again for his advice, but how much more advice does a grown ass man need about something? He knew Faye probably better than him but what if he said something he didn’t like. For now he decided to remain quiet.

• Luke Wyatt

“Mr. Wyatt, remind in the next few days to set up a poker game with you and the rest of the Senior Staff… It would be so easy to take your money.” and he smiled at the man. “You have something on your mind, Luke. Speak your peace or I’m going to make you try to do a toe loop… which on those will probably break your leg.” and to accent his point, he planted the toe pick in the ice, leapt in the air and turned a full turn, and landed with just a small wobble before moving so that he was facing Luke directly.

Cochrane

A poker game definitely seemed like a great idea, maybe just the icing on the proverbial cake to top off what heed been doing the last few days and weeks to better acquaint himself with the crew “Is it that obvious?” He asked watching him with some respect, he’d certainly break his ankle and leg trying something like that. Speed and power was his forte.

“Things have been going great with what we spoke about but… You know Lieutenant Calloway better than most right? Hell better than me that’s for sure, is she happy? I mean it’s just, we’ve been getting along and we’re really moving past what happened, just maybe a little to past to soon.” He knew he was being cryptic but he couldn’t just come out and say what had been happening and how he felt. Cochrane was the Caprain not his best friend but he was Fayes friend or so he had been told.

• Luke Wyatt

Cochrane executed a perfect blade-brake and sprayed ice towards Luke in a move that most certainly would have been a penalty on a hockey rink. Ice-blue eyes locked on him, and Cochrane said “Riddles are for small children and professors at the Academy, Luke.” His tone was firm but friendly. “Don’t beat around the bush. Say what you have to say. Cards on the table, as it were.” and he winked as the right corner of his mouth curled up in a slight grin.

Cochrane

“Ok” He said simply coming to a stop about a meter away from Cochrane. “I and Lieutenant Calloway have been romantically…” Romantically was the wrong word, they both hard said it was casual but the thing was developing at least for him and what other word could he use sexual? Definitely not with the Captain, he stuck with Romantically. “We’ve been romantically involved, It kind of started when we were speaking in the brig since then there’s been a weird tension between us and the night of her award we were drunk and she suggested we get involved, casually…” He held up his hands.

“I said no, I wasn’t going to take advantage of her while she wasn’t in the right frame of mind and so we left, she was pissed with me but I think she understood. Anyway, one thing led to another and we eventually got involved, she promised me it was casual and even made me promise it too. she didn’t want to hurt me or I her but every time we are with each other it’s honestly electric and I dont know if she’s just being impulsive and it’ll fizzle out or if maybe there’s more too it. I don’t want to hurt her, but its hard to ignore how I feel.” He sighed, “I’m sorry this is probably the last thing you want to hear, the whole situation is just crazy, I feel like I’m at the academy again.”

• Luke Wyatt

Cochrane’s eyes were fire and stared at Wyatt. The smile was gone. He straightened up and became more… inflexible… but when he spoke there was no anger.

He’d done it signed his own death warrant, but when the Captain spoke it left doubt in him. Maybe he wasn’t about to be murdered in his own holodeck program he though.

“Well, I can at least applaud your good sense not to take advantage of her drunk.” and he shifted from foot to another, and then started to slowly slide around Wyatt, head down and hands behind his back; eyes focused only on the ice below his skates as he skated in very slow circles around the Security Chief.

“You are going to have to be more clear, Mr. Wyatt. What exactly are you asking for here? Why are you telling me this?”

Cochrane

“I dont know if I’m asking for anything, I’m telling you because I know you have her best interest at heart and care for her” He shrugged spinning around following Cochrane’s path as he circled him, he couldn’t help but feel as if he was being circled by a predator. “I know she has been good for me. She’s shown me a side of me that I thought I couldn’t and wouldn’t see again I guess what I’m asking is if you think I’m good for her? or will this make things worst. I dont want to affect her career or her mental state, I know I can be selfish but I’d hate to see her the way I did when we talked in the brig all broken and dejected. She’s happy now and I know I am in part a reason for that but I dont want to be the reason for her to be unhappy in the future.”

• Luke Wyatt

Cochrane stabbed the toe pick into the ice and stopped short. He turned and faced Wyatt with a look that he hadn’t shown Luke before. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t frustration. It wasn’t hostile. It was sympathetic…

But also pity.

“Do you want me to speak to you as your Captain? Faye’s friend? Your friend? Or all of the above? Because I promise the message will be the same, but I want the delivery to be one you will actually hear.”

Cochrane

“All of the above,” he said simply. Could he consider Cochrane his friend? He probably shouldn’t but he’d been more of a friend than most people on the ship, telling him the things eh didn’t want to hear, like now for example. He braced himself for the Stay away from Faye, she deserves better talk, he half expected it, maybe even wanted it but how could he simply stay away? Maybe Cochrane would give him that reason,

• Luke Wyatt

“All of the above, fine.” and he said =/\=Computer, create two logs half frozen in the ice directly behind the two of us.=/\= There was a chirp and the logs appeared. Cochrane sat and motioned for Wyatt to do the same.

The fact that he suggested they sat only meant that was he thought had been coming was indeed coming. He moved to the log Cochrane indicated and sat down his legs splayed awkwardly due to the weight of his boots.

“Luke… you deserve better than Faye. And she deserves better than you. Neither of you is in any shape to be in a relationship. Especially with what you just told me.” Alex leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees and rested his chin on the back of his gloves.

Ok that wasn’t too bad he thought not wanting to interrupt the man who was clearly trying to think how best to word his opinion.

“Luke, you are selfish. Think about what you just said to me. ‘I know she has been good for me. ‘She’s shown me a side of me that I thought I couldn’t and wouldn’t see again.’. I know, I want, I think, I I I I I… its all about you and what you want… couched in terms of caring for her. Which, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you do. But she asked for casual, Luke. Casual. And here you are asking about ‘do I think you are good for her?’. By all the gods in heaven, Luke!” and he sat back and shook his head.

Well that was certainly a bit more of a kick in the teeth, he felt that Cochrane missed the times he said how Faye felt, and how she would be affected it really wasn’t all about him, half the reason why he was here talking to the Captain he needed a different point of view, even if it wasn’t one her would particularly like or agree with he needed that impartiality.

“But thats not all. Luke, she isn’t good for you. I know you, Luke. I know about your past. And I know about your loss. And I have more than a gut instinct telling me that you have already gone farther in your feelings for her than she would want… or need. She is fragile, Luke. Very fragile. Oh, she is quite strong in many areas, dont get me wrong. But not in this. Not now, for certain. And honestly? I dont think she is what you need in the long run. And the long run is what you are looking at… and that’s not fair to either of you.”

Cochrane

He nodded, “I know what a lot of you’re saying makes perfect sense. And I know I use ‘I’ and ‘me’ a lot but that’s only because I cant speak for her, it would be wrong for me to make assumptions on whats best for her and to assume how Faye feels.” Luke paused a moment his hand pinching the bridge of his nose, “I dont know what I want, I know that this could be a risk but I also ask myself whats life without risk? Is it even my risk to take? What if she thinks I am good for her and by deciding to break it off, however that goes down. What if that rejection just speeds things up?”

“And even the idea of creating a situation where rejection is a possibility is wholly irresponsible for both of you right now.”

“I’d hate for Faye to get hurt, thats what my feelings are for her at the moment. I wouldn’t say I love her but I think it would be naive to say the more we spend time together the more things could develope, unfortunately I dont have a device for telling the future. That would be too easy.” He looked to Cochrane, “Do you think I should just break it off? If you were me? And I’m not saying I will because I know right now at this moment we’re good for each other, we’re both happy I see it when she’s teaching me how to plant seeds or when we catch each other around the ship, shes glowing.”

“And don’t you think there is a bit of arrogance and selfishness to assume that you are the sole cause of that glow? Because I promise you… you’re not, Luke. As much as it may hurt to hear that.”

“I’m not going to promise anything but just knowing how someone, her friend feels, I hope itll help avoid any mistakes.” Was it that simple? He knows someone doesn’t think its a good idea and it could end in ruin and therefor it wont? No ofcourse not but knowing a different view could help the, both. Maybe he should speak to Faye. Relationships were complicated enough, Faye was a whole new level.

• Luke Wyatt

“Getting involved with her right now is a mistake, Luke. For both of you. And you are obviously not as invested in her feelings as you are your own.” and he stood up and looked down at Wyatt. “Let me ask you this…”

“Have you told your daughter about her?”

Cochrane