Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Duty Aside…

Posted by Chief Warrant Officer Kodek Vonn (RTF Commander) in Duty Aside…

(snip)

“Better. I wish the efforts to speak to Cobb as I did were more productive. But perhaps Ms. Quinn will take some lesson from her nobel… if misguided… attempt to force an understanding. If that is the case, I will consider the event moderately successful.” Vonn replied. There was a lull in their speaking and then the voice flatly said “Do you wish to remove your blindfold, Casela?”

Vonn

“I am glad,” she nodded once in response to his affirmation he was better. Better physically and mentally/emotionally were different things, and there was that whole speech he gave which had it’s own story behind it, and perhaps they would get around to that one day. But she was glad his breathing was better. “We don’t know how productive it was since we left. That was the best option of course, but time will tell how productive it was.” Kodek couldn’t see it of course, but behind the blindfold she blinked. His question had surprised her. There was a contemplative tilt to her head though. “Do I wish to remove the blindfold? No. My wish is to respect you and your customs and traditions, your boundaries. I am not uncomfortable being without my sight. I’m quite comfortable without my sight. I understand what it’s like to be away from your traditions and customs and how they can become more and less important. The question, Kodek, is do you wish me to remove the blindfold.”
Synthi-er

There was a pause and then voice said “Your respect is noted… and appreciated. You are not Breen, but I am far removed from them as well. You are my friend, yes… therefore I see no reason to continue the tradition when I do not expect to see another Breen… perhaps ever. You may remove your blindfold.”

Vonn

Casela nodded. She focused on where she knew Vonn was, where he had sat across from her, not the sound of his voice. She leveled her still blinded vision directly at where his face should be. She touched the heat stone to warm her hands before reaching up into the cold and untying the blindfold and slowly unwrapping it to allow her eyes to adjust to the light in the room. Obsidian alien eyes stared across the hearth between them into equally alien eyes.

Synthi-er

Even seated, Vonn was tall and broad-shouldered. Muscular to the point that every movement showed the ripples of musculature that covered their massive frame. Bronze-colored skin was visible under the hair that covered their body, most densely on the extremities. On the chest and back where the gray-white hair was thinner, the skin appeared to be almost metallic; and as they moved the skin flexed in a way that would indicate to anyone seeing it that it was very tough and resilient… more akin to hide than skin. The Breen’s face was similar to what one would expect from a humanoid, with some prominent exceptions: Two forward facing eyes of jade green with no whites sat atop a wide nose with flared nostrils. A large jaw supported a mouth of darker bronze lips. Two large, black, tusk-like teeth jutted out from the bottom lip, and when Vonn opened their mouth wide to breathe in the cold air revealing teeth designed more for rending flesh than crushing plants. In their hand was a small metal object, which they raised to their mouth and when they spoke the helmet, seated beside her, spoke.

“You are one of very few non-Breen to have one of the Breen species outside of their suits. I trust the experience is not 9ne you will discuss outside of here.”

Vonn

Casela’s gaze didn’t wander from his face but her vision took in all the details. It was significant that her thoughts no longer analyzed this information for how she could use it against him, but rather what she would need to know if he should become incapacitated. The first thing that registered was that under the thick layer of hair the skin was far too thick to administer a hypo and that would make lending him medical aid problematic in tense situations.

She inclined her head respectfully, “You have my word.” And after her previous experiences she could guarantee there was very little anyone could do to make her give away protected information, short of a very powerful telepath. “What happens if an anomaly interferes with the functioning of your suit?”
Synthi-er

“I repair, I adapt… or I die, I would think.I can tolerate higher temperatures for a time… prolonged exposure will make me sick. More than three hours and I will most likely perish. Such is the way of things.” and they shrugged.

Vonn. RCO

3 hours, sometimes that was a long time and others it was a blink and gone. His answer was practical and inevitable and correct. She shrugged his words were true. “So, you want to tell me what inspired that speech you gave Cobb?”
Lt Synthi-er, CNS

There was a definitive pause before Vonn spoke. “Cobb invokes strong emotions in the people under his command… but I am not certain those emotions are healthy.” They took a deep breath and the jade eyes bore into Casela.

“From the time I arrived, many members of the crew… yourself included at the time… showed an abnormal attachment to Cobb. Protective… shielding… almost parental in it’s display. But not one of a wholly caring parent. More akin to a parent afraid that their child will do something foolish and hurt themselves or others. I see Quinn’s reaction to him. I have heard of the Cobb’s Angels. I have seen people fawn over him as if he is part toddler… part unstable explosive. That is… troubling… to me. Especially when it comes from RTF members. At this point, I have confidence that should the choice come down to saving the ship and it’s crew or saving Cobb; at least three of my team will choose Cobb. And that is unfortunate because I will kill them myself before I let them sacrifice the whole for the one… Captain or not.” Vonn leaned back, but their eyes remained locked on Casela.

“There is an idea that has floated through my mind from time to time… you I will share it with…” and they took another breath.

“What if Cobb has been taken by an anomaly?”

Vonn, RCO

Vonn was not wrong. It was something that plagued her for a solution on a daily basis. Her own behavior was played specifically. It wasn’t always ‘polite’ or ‘thoughtful’ of her but it gave her honest and quick reactions. “Do you mean as in it’s controlling him or replaced him? I would attempt to remove him from the crew. Too many people would hesitate, unsure if he was really himself or not. And there is only one group of RTF agents I would trust to not let their, good or bad, feelings towards Cobb impair their judgement. It’s not a comfortable thing to contemplate. Too many will hesitate, especially the agents that have their regular duties and RTF duties. We may end up having to kill some of them in order to protect the crew at large. And believe it or not Cobb would have you choose the crew over himself.”
Lt Synthi-er, CNS

Vonn shrugged. “Maybe… maybe not. And I do not know the answer to your question… but controlling or replaced, if that is indeed the case… he would be compromised. I do not relish the thought of killing my own team… even hypothetically. And while I see that you have the utmost confidence in your belief in Cobb’s choice… I do not share that belief. My experience tells me he would boast and argue and deflect responsibility before taking such a step. All of which would be a waste of time.”

Vonn, RCO