Posted by Civilian Jessa Novar (Child) in Meeting with the XO…when the past doesn’t match the future or the present

Posted by Commander Garinder’Jen th’Jir (Executive Officer) in Meeting with the XO…when the past doesn’t match the future or the present
snip

Jen thought for perhaps too long, mulling that over. “My quarters,” he said. “If she is a good soldier she may find it to be comfortable and perhaps familiar. I have a great number of martial symbols present that may make her feel at ease.” He smiled. “Many Andorians have had such complexes. Their dynasties often did not last long; we tend to not suffer the attitude easily.” He did, however, take it into mind to not allow himself to be triggered by this little grand ego of hers.
- Jen, XO

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Six hours later
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“I don’t see why I need to be here. We both know what your 2ic did. There is no point in me going to see him unless it is to identify him for you,” Jessa stated rounding a corner to the corridor where Jen lived.

“Oh we know who he is but we are pretty sure you don’t,” Jack stated not wanting to fight but not willing to let the XO continue to be cast in a shadow of doubt about his involvement with Jessa. Stopping in front of Jen’s door, Jack reached forward to palm the controls before Jessa stopped him.

“Wait,” she said wrapping her hand around his wrist. “You keep saying this is the 2ic but so did the last guy.
Tell me something about the man so I will know it is him?”

He could see why Jessa was hesitant to accept the XO on word value. The last time she did, it did not work so well for her. “Commander Garinder’Jen th’Jir the XO of the ship,” Jack continued to reiterate who was behind the door, “has a scar on his right calf, right arm, and two on his left side.”

“How,” she said firmly. There was no reason to trust Jack’s answer. He was one of them and yet Jessa had started to trust him, Rinker and to a slightly lesser extent Ian. It was mainly because these three people dominated her waking hours. They also seemed to want nothing from her. With no one else to trust she had decided these were her best options.

“How?” O’Neill’s slightly southern drawl was far more pronounced as he drew out the word. “I don’t know. It’s not like we sit around and point out scars debating about how tough we are. ” Jack got a contemplative look realizing how many times they actually did that when the security staff got drunk enough. Snapping out of his momentary daze he looked down at Jessa. “In some battle where he was not fast enough zagging to the right instead of left but if you go in and behave I am sure he will tell you. I will contact medical and find out exactly when and where and we can compare notes. Agree?”

Nodding, she released Jack’s wrist and palmed the door controls herself. Squaring her shoulders, Jessa waited for the door to open.

Jessa Novar

The chime rang earlier than Jen had anticipated. Not much mind you but enough that he was not fully prepared. Or was it that he had lost track of time while mentally preparing for this meeting? The Andorian had taken out his pair of chaka and had been using the rhythmic ceremonial training exercise as a way to clear his mind. As it was he had not donned his regulation tunic but was only in a rather non regulation olive ‘army’ tee, short sleeved and fitting. “Come,” he said, more to the door and computer than to anyone who might hear it and heard the instant pneumatic hiss of the door slicing open.

Jessa’s first sight of Jen would be his standing at a table before an open, polished case of dark wood with a deep blue felt like material inside. He was placing a knife like object in it with a second one still on the table. Taking a moment to place the first in a slot in the case Jen turned to face the door. “Guardian Novar, I presume. You may address me as Commander, or, if you prefer, Colonel. Enter.”
- Jen, XO

Jessa stood almost mesmerized in the doorway watching Jen. She was not prepared for this meeting in the least. Instead of the color-coded uniforms all the ship’s crew wore, Jen was in what looked like casual wear. His shirt was comfy looking. His shoes did not have the mirror-like finish everyone seemed to wear. There were weapons in the room. The displaying of ceremonial weapons was not as odd as the fact one knife was lying openly on the table. There was also his greeting. Every person on the ship called her Jessa but this man referred to her by her rank and title. The time between when she entered and how she was processing the situation was a very noticeable pause. Jack’s hand on her back nudged her hard enough forward that Jessa stumbled a step into the room and out of the door.

“I am just gonna hang outside the door,” Jack announced addressing the XO as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder. Jack’s orders were clear and explicit. Do not leave Jessa alone or out of his sight; however, the orders came from the CO and this man so they were the only ones who could refute them. The XO was also a highly decorated combat Marine who could handle anything someone threw at him, especially a twelve-year-old child. The fact Jessa was still able to actively use her armor was a moot point for Jack. Only a commanding presence could convince her not to use it and Commander Garinder’Jen th’Jir was the epitome of a commanding presence.

“Wait what,” Jessa spun around no longer caring about Jen and far more about Jack leaving.

A soldier yes, but still childlike in dependence, Jen thought. That much was similar across most of the races. Pausing in what he was doing, Jen watched. Whatever Jack was doing it was not by accident. But making a child vulnerable was something that could go both ways; it was a forked tunnel in the ice now. Which way would she go, Jen wondered.

This was exactly the reaction Jack had been hoping for. Making Jessa off-balanced was never a good game plan but the fact she was now wanting him at her side gave him leverage. While Jack often played the dumb security officer, he was quite intelligent and paid close attention to what was important. Rinker had stated Jessa was responding nicely to a token-reward system. The psyche department might call it token reward but Jack called it leverage and benefit. “Trust me you are going to be fine. You are used to all this pomp and circumstance so have fun and we will get a cheeseburger after. Be good,” he replied walking backward and closing the door making eye contact with the XO before closing the door.

A cheeseburger. A marine favorite, but then anything a soldier had was typically readily made into a sandwich of some sort when in the field.

Jessa took a second to gather herself before spinning crisply on her heel. So many of the elements from Jessa’s first meeting with the XO and Aimee were the same. The man before he looked and sounded like the one she had been secretly meeting before her escape to the promenade. To be fair, the XO she had been meeting stayed more in the shadows so aside from the complexion and the distinct characteristics of his race, Jessa could only be sure it was him by the facts he could confirm or deny. “Are we alone,” she asked taking a step forward, “Commander Jen th’Jir because I have a question only you can answer.” The man had a huge name so different than everyone else she had met. Jessa had no idea where his first name stopped or his last name began. As it rolled off the tongue it sounded almost like a song. Jessa hoped she broke it up correctly as she walked towards the table and asked her next question. “Where are my people?”

Jessa Novar

Jen took the opportunity to take up the second chaka and place it in its slot in the box then carefully cover it with the felt material. “We are alone,” he said. Should he tell her about Andorian names? Perhaps after. While very clear to Andorians many non Andorians eyes glaze over when one tries to explain it. He tipped his head to one side as he turned toward her. “The Jen th’Jir is a more formal name, spoken more in ceremony or when one’s parent was unhappy with you. Simply Jen suffices.” He said that with a small smile before her question came.

What a curious question. And unexpected. Taking a moment to close the case and snapping it shut he turned to face her. “I don’t know, Guardian Novar,” he said simply. It was a reply such as an officer would make, an admission, but his follow up question was one that had an invitational informality to it. “Tell me about your people.”
-Jen