Posted by Captain Zachariah Cobb (Commanding Officer) in side-sim Still in the Lounge

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in side-sim Still in the Lounge

<snip>

“Hey,” Cobb attempted to stem the threat of tears. “We have Gen to look after. You’re not alone, Cas. And there is no shame in letting others help.”

The corner of Casela’s mouth twitched. “She really likes you, you know. She likes it here. She…” Casela sighs, “she asked me if she was safe here, if I would be here to keep her safe.” And she was child, and there was no other answer Casela was capable of giving her. “She’s really brilliant and insightful, and so lost.” Gen was a concern for another night though.

He laughed dryly, his eyes fixed on hers. “I know you have your reputation to uphold here, the tough-as-nails war veteran that nobody can break. And don’t worry, I’m not about to go telling tales to Raauhl or Manhattan. But. you don’t have to keep it up with me.”

“I’m so sick of it all, Zachariah.” He had no idea about her ability to not be broken. Ryder had seen the evidence of it, but he hadn’t bothered to ask, yet. “I think Ryder might argue with you about keeping my secrets from him.” She groaned. “Oh I’m drunk. You didn’t hear that.”

At the mention of his second-in-command and the pair’s anything-but-secret relationship, Cobb’s eyebrows ascended to his hairline. But the questions and comments crowding on his tongue could be swallowed for another, more suitable, moment.

He punctuated his sentence with a wink. You’re not the only one that can tell what others are thinking.

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

She caught the wink and the thought. “And that’s what makes you such a good captain.” She sighs up at the ceiling again. “What do I…what do we do now?”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“We do exactly what we’ve been doing,” Zachariah declared emphatically as he struggled back onto his feet, his bad leg aching from the position he had forced it into on the floor. “We complete our mission, we get this anomaly squared away where it can’t hurt anyone else and we lose as few crewmembers as is possible in the process. And once the deed is done, we be sure to give an honorable send-off to those sacrificed in the line of duty.”

Casela nodded. “I feel like there will too many lost, Zachariah. I know Star Fleet has their own services of honor, but I should compile a reference for you of customs from our crew members home worlds. It would be more fitting.”

He moved to take a seat by her side, one hand reaching out and taking hold of hers. “We owe the ARU our commitment to this mission and to this vessel. We owe this crew our commitment to ensuring that they can offer the same. And after all of that, we don’t owe a single bloody thing to anyone else.”

• Captain Zachariah Cobb

She glances down at Cobb’s hand and she’s not sure he would appreciate the comparison she was having to her father at the moment. She remembered, her father sitting next to her, just like that reminding her that what they were about to do was to protect themselves and their family. Casela had spent a lot of time sneaking in and out of the villages rescuing children, but she’d never confronted the dominion at all. But they were going to face them, use their telepathy to stop them and save those they couldn’t reach. And her father hadn’t given her the choice. Casela had volunteered and once she’d given her word her father told her she had to keep it. They had already calculated and needed her to make the groups work. She knew her father didn’t like it, but it was a good lesson and she never regretted going through with it. For those who couldn’t protect themselves.

Cobb’s pep talk was no different. She had given her word to serve this crew and meet the obligations of the ARU and she would do it. “Aye, Captain. For those who can’t protect themselves.” After a moment she said, “Zachariah, if I EVER contemplate drinking again, shoot me. Somewhere non-leathal. I’m not built for this.”

Lt. Synthi-er, CNS