Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Brigette Marshall (Chief Engineer (CE)) in Side Sim - Finding out how to poke the bear (CO)

Posted by Captain Chris Taggart (Captain) in Side Sim - Finding out how to poke the bear (CO)

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Brigette Marshall (Chief Engineer (CE)) in Side Sim - Finding out how to poke the bear (CO)

Bridie waited till the end of her shift, and after she had spent an hour chewing out Jodder with a loud enough voice for most of engineering to hear. She wouldn’t abide by skipped safety protocols. The next one hurt from not using protective gear and proper precautions would have it permanently entered into their Fleet records. No warning, no second chances.

Back in her room, after changing, she settled at her comm and poked as much as she could. She couldn’t gleen anything more about the Doc. “Why are you so angry? And why won’t you help?” She shook her head and sat back, staring at his pic and his service record. Something was missing. And it was beyond her paygrade. Maybe Taggart could help.

Still wearing her casual attire, leggings and a loose tunic top that barely covered her stomach, she slipped her boots on and headed for the Captain’s quarters. She was grateful the computer didn’t list him in his office. She really didn’t want to make this ‘official’.

A few moments before 3rd rotation, Bridie palmed the Captain’s chime. They didn’t have dinner plans this evening, so she was biting her lip wondering if this was a bad idea. They had only had dinner twice. The second had been quick because of a situation he had to depart for. If he was watching movies with someone else… Well, he was the Captain, she’d simply smile, apologize and make an appointment to see him tomorrow.

Lt JG Brigette Marshall
Chief Engineer

Chris was watching The Howling when he heard the chine and he paused the movie and looked at his wrist cron. “Who in the world could be at my door at this hour?” He said to no one. Opening the door he saw Bridie and he smiled. “Well Hello....” He stopped and looked down the hall to see if someone was there or not. There wasn’t since his quarters were the only one on this deck and the rest were for dignitaries. .....”Bridie! Please come in dear. How are you doing? Did we have something planned because if so I forgot and I am sorry.” He stepped to the side to allow her in.

Chris

She shook her head. “No… nothing. But if it’s a bad time, I can go?” She stepped in, but motioned to the hall willing to depart if he wanted alone time tonight. “I just wanted to ask about a crewman. But off the record. So … thought of you here, instead of your office in uniform.” She was picking at her nails in nervousness once more. A habit she had always had and an obvious tell anyone would know about her now.

Bridie

He frowned a bit. “Come on in dear. You are always welcome here and you know that.” He walked over to the kitchen. “Can I get you something to drink babe?” The T.V. had a vicious looking werewolf paused on it. He poured himself some wine and waited for her answer. “I will answer if I can. I depends on the crew member and the information asked. Girlfriend or even if you were my wife, there would still be things that you cannot know. I still have to be the Captain no matter what happens. I hope you understand that.” He was serious.

Chris

She smiled and nodded, grinned at the screen then settled at the table, her back to the view to keep from being distracted. “Something strong, I think… your choice. I’m working second shift to handle some discipline and training tomorrow, so I don’t have morning wake up to worry about.”

As he mentioned his limits, she nodded. “I know. And I only expect information you can share. I would never pry,” she sighed heavily and looked at her hands on the table, her fingers fidgetting, “Well, not where I wasn’t allowed, anyway…”

After a moment, she just blurted it out. “I need to know about Kane. The Doc. I’ve read his record, Chris. Firefighter, medic, extreme situations where he CHOSE to go into the fray, into the mess, and help people. So why is he on this ship with so much rage and anger it’s like he’s being forced to do his job?” There was a sincere concern and compassion for the man in her voice. She looked down cause she didn’t want him to see her concern. He hadn’t hurt her, or Jodders, but there was still… something there that was poised on the edge of exploding that concerned her deeply.

Bridie

After hearing her he poured the wine back into the bottle and put it up and brought out the whiskey. “Whiskey it is then. He brought over the bottle and two glasses to the coffin table and poured them both three fingers worth into each glass. He picked it up and handed one to her and held the other in his hand.

He drank a bit and had a very serious look on face and after a couple minutes he finally said. “Follow me.” He went to a painting in his den area and moved it and revealed a safe. He opened it up and there were some records in there. Actual paper records. There were two that were 6 inches thick. “You see those big files there. That’s what is missing out of “public” files. And by the way, Kane told me about your Ensign. If that guy does not put on PPE and gets sent to sickbay again, he is off this ship. No if, ands or buts. He’s gone. I don’t need people like on this ship. I hope you understand.” He took another mouthful of whiskey.

Chris

She took the whiskey and shot it down in a gulp with a slight cough from the burn as she set the glass down and followed him. When he opened the safe, she inhaled in surprise. A hand rose without thought to touch the top of the pile. What happened to you, Solomon? She thought to herself.

“I already told him pretty much the same thing… no worries…” She had also made it clear to the rest of her team, and word would pass, that anyone else pulling stupid stunts would be severely punished.

Glancing back at him, she frowned. “Chris, what’s in there that you can tell me? He’s hurting and it is gonna affect more and more. Do you know they already call his rages ‘Hurri-Kanes’?” She glanced back at the records. “Tell me how to reach him. Please… or it’s gonna hurt more than his reputation.” She was worried for Kane and it was probably more evident than she planned. If people didn’t want to go to medical to chance seeing him, they will ignore sprains, aches, hurts and even breaks. The ship couldn’t work effectively when the ones who guided it were unapproachable in some form or another.

Bridie

He shut the safe and locked it and put the picture back up. He grabbed her hand and lead her to the couch and motioned for her to sit down. He poured another three fingers worth into her glass and filled up his and sat down next to her. “Before I start, I want to say that I never knew you had freckles and I didn’t think that you could actually look more stunning but you do.” HE took another sip and ran his cyber hand through his thick raven hair.

He let out a long sigh before continuing in a serious tone. “I want you to know one thing before about him and I before I start. With all the stuff that we have been through, I owe my life to Kane and his to me. I let him do whatever he wants without question because I know him and I know how he is. I can trust him with not second thoughts. However I do understand that people might not want to go to sickbay when he is there and have read reports that there is a large number of people coming in when he is not on shift. So I will have to talk to him about that.” He took another sip and looked at the T.V. and not her. “Do you know anything about Section 31 dear?”

Chris

She watched him close the safe and sighed. It confirmed her fears. There ‘was’ something there.

She settled on the couch, facing Chris as she took the refilled glass. She blushed harder at his comment of the freckles and her hand actually went to her cheek. “Maybe you have been in the drink longer than me,” she teased.

He smiled. “I have but not enough to affect my judgement.”

Listening as he spoke of the bond between he and Kane, she understood now why Taggart hadn’t done anything yet. “He loves saving lives, Chris. If he keeps this up, he will be void of any patients at all.” His question about Section 31 made her brow furrow. “I hear it’s a boogy man’s tale. In the Academy no one ever found proof they existed. But it was the place where people went and disappeared to when something bad happened.” She shook her head and waved a hand that showed she put no weight in such things. “I just assumed it was something made up years ago to explain spec ops when no one could actually say who did it.” A slight laugh touched her cheeks. “Did you know, there is a Section 31 in the Academy. It’s below the fifth subterranean level. It’s a maintenance area. I just assumed someone used that title to symbolize some spook ‘clean up crew’ that no one talked about.”

Bridie

He chuckled. “Well. What if I told you that they really do exist and that Hypothetically, Kane and I are part of them?” He downed the whiskey and poured some more and also filled hers up. He was impressed that she could drink like that.

Chris

Realizing she was on her third glass, she settled it on her knee to keep it away from her lips. “You are telling me, that Section 31 is real? So is it a spook team that does things the government can’t do, like they say?” Her jaw was grinding in anger. Not at Chris, though he probably didn’t know that. She took half the glass in a single swig and set it on the table fearing to crush the glass in her hands.

“Yes it is real we do the things that need to be done....of the record....so as not to implicate the Federation and do not be mad at me dear. We cannot go around and just tell anyone who asks.

She stood up and went to the window. Taking a couple deep breaths, she spoke when she was a bit more under control. “How much of it is true? I hear most who work for them are made crazy from the things you.. they… are told to do. Is that why Kane walks around like he’s been kicked then stuck on the street to fend for himself?” She didn’t turn around. She was angry. Angry that whatever happened, to them both, Kane hadn’t handled it as well as Chris had.

“A lot of it is true. But the crazy part depends on the mission and how that person or being reacts to stress and or PTSD and the like. Kane does see a therapist.”

Someone hadn’t done a good job on patching him up the last time. And she had no idea how she was gonna help without telling him she knew… and understood.

Bridie

“Please come back and sit down. I understand if you are mad me but come back and sit please. It does not have to be next to me if you do not want?”

Chris

She sighed and shook her head. “I’m not mad at you,” she said and turned to take her place on the couch again. She glanced at the door then back at Chris. “He may be seeing one, but it’s not working. Someone needs to get thru to him and remind him not everyone is the enemy. Not the idiots who burn themselves from stupidity, not the nurses who try and do their best around him, and not the one he taps out cause her ideas are ‘science fair projects’.” Her hand absently went to her shoulder where he had poked her.

“Good. I am glad that you are not mad at me.”

Shrugging it off, she reached for the drink. “I won’t tell him I know. You have my word. But it explains why he ended up angry and you ended up a Commanding Officer. Do you still talk to someone as well?” There was concern on her face this time. And this time it was for him. Her hand was resting on his leg. She hadn’t even remembered putting it there.

Bridie

Chris smiled as she sat back down next to him and he felt her leg up against his once more. Then his smile faded. “I do see one and not just for my mission but what happened to me and my wife a couple of years ago. I did not get to be a Captain because of Section 31. In fact, Kane and I have been demoted a couple of times and have even been held in prison for our missions.”

He took a long silent sip of the whiskey and realized that he’s had 4 full glasses already and was felling it. Then he smiled very widely and looked at Bridie. “I know something that will help him and you at the same time! Oh! This is going to be even more epic then the time that Kane and I hypothetically stole a Federation starship to go infiltrate the Cardassians.”

Chris

She was glad he was still seeing someone professionally. But the mention of his wife sobered her a little bit. But when he mentioned something she and Kane both needed, she shook her head. “No… Chris, please… I don’t know what you are thinking. But Kane isn’t exactly happy with me right now. We about came to blows this morning. Please… just let it be. He won’t be happy you said anything. You know that.” She was worried how Kane would react to her, and Chris, if he found out she knew.

Bridie

He waved his hand in dismissal. “Eh. It is nothing like that. You two need to go on a mission together. A secret mission to Rise to take something. That will garner his respect for you and calm him down and will give you a glimpse of the Hurri-Kane in action!” He started laughing. “This will be great and I will not say anything to him about this. You have my word.” He finished his drink and sat it on the table. In a series tone again he talked just above a whisper. “I noticed your reaction when I mentioned my wife. What is it Bridie?”

Chris

She hadn’t been ready for the wife question, but her mind was still reeling on his mission comment. “Wait, what? NO! Chris… don’t do that. There is no way he will understand why you are doing it. And if he even guesses you told him about Section 31, he’ll kill us both. Please… I’m begging you. Let me just see if I can get used to him. Please…” She was half squeezing his leg and there was fear in her eyes.

If Kane had gotten upset enough to not bother caring he bruised her when she mentioned his open record, what would he do to her if he knew she had found out the secret? She didn’t want to think about it. She also knew that while he would probably stop with her maimed, he wouldn’t stop with Chris till he was more than that.

Bridie

“Who said that it will be me that gives this particular mission? But I understand.” He grabbed her hand and gently kissed it and placed it on his chest. “You are the only lady for me now. I will always remember her and care for her but not at the expense of the present and my future or more specifically, our future if there is one. I will always have her memories but I need to get on with my life as well.”

Chris

In a blink, he had aleveiated her mind about some precarious mission, and reassured her the wife was out of the picture as far as his heart was concerned. She still didn’t know where they stood, but she knew they were more than mere colleagues. A soft smile was offered with the nod. “Please… no mission. Not yet. Let me get to know him. Showing up with Jodders this morning and me going toe to toe didn’t help any, I’m sure. But he got his ‘punch’ in and I’m fine. So let’s just let it go. Please?”

“As you wish.”

Her thumb lightly brushed his chest under his hand and she nodded. “I believe you about her. We just need to take it easy. I don’t want you hurt or myself. This is a small ship and I don’t want it to affect anyone adversely. All right?” She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his. “We are in deep space, and I’m here two more years. We don’t have to rush.” She smiled and whispered to him.

Bridie

“That sounds good to me.” He smiled and kissed her hand again before letting it go so he could pour some more whiskey in both their glasses.

Chris