Posted by Ensign Jorik Thoran (Navigator/Pilot) in Side Sim: Chess Conflicts

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side Sim: Chess Conflicts

Posted by Ensign Jorik Thoran (Navigator/Pilot) in Side Sim: Chess Conflicts
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Jorik sat across a table from a human crewmember, who was in the Sciences blue color. Though he wasn’t concerned with that, instead focused on the 3d chess board in front of him. Moving his Bishop right one-half level, he took one of his opponent’s Knights.

“So how does this piece move?” The younger man across from him asked, pointing to his Rook. Jorik frowned at him. This was the fifth time this guy asked him a rules question, despite claiming he knew how to play chess.

“ARGH!!!!” Jorik yelled, standing up and sweeping the board and pieces to one side and off the table, everything clattering loudly onto the floor, causing everyone to turn and look at him. He slammed his hands down on the table, leaning over it and shouting at the other man, loudly, “ARE YOU ALWAYS THIS INCOMPETENT?! I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY CHESS?!!!!!!”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Roman was in the room, grabbing a quick lunch. He was late out for lunch. Today had been busy, with a lot of running back and forth across the ship for XO duties. Chef Gorshin had him covered, his usual quick lunch prepared and ready.

Before he could leave with his food, there was a voice so loud it made his ears ring, followed by plastic pieces clattering to the floor. He whirled around faster than a spinning top, marching swiftly towards Jorik. “Ensign Thoran, I suggest you find a more productive way to manage your anger, and do it swiftly.” His voice was not loud or angry but level and icy. “That sort of behaviour will not be tolerated on this ship.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

There was a look of incredible anger in Jorik’s eyes as he looked between Roman and the terrified crewmember he had been shouting at. After a few tense moments, the anger was still there, but didn’t look as intense as the Vulcan sighed. “Yes sir. Apologies for losing my cool.”

Had he not been wearing gloves, he’d likely have dug his nails so deep into his palms that he’d be bleeding. He stood up straight again, before moving quickly to leave the room, all eyes now on them.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“Were you excused, Ensign?” Roman continued in that icy tone. He stood, arms cross, look disproving, legs planted firmly, and stared at Jorik with a fixed, icy stare. “You were not. You will clean up your own mess.” He gestured with a slight nod of his head towards the fallen chess board and pieces. “And you will apologize to Ensign Valos here.” The Ensign happened to be a botanist who worked in Roman’s lab, on the Beta shift.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Jorik stopped in his tracks, trying, and failing, to keep eye contact. He frowned, “Come on, I didn’t hit him!” He argued, and briefly considered arguing the other point of cleaning up, before muttering a “yes sir” and beginning to pick up the chess board and pieces.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“I can add a formal write up if you prefer,” Roman replied cooly, stance unchanged. “You will apologize. Additionally, you will attend appointments with nurse Randy for anger management before you do hit someone. And I was serious about finding a more appropriate way to manage yourself.”

Ensign Valos had a rather smug look on his face as he watched Jorik pick up the pieces and awaited his apology. “You heard the Commander.” He said, and he looked like that wasn’t all he was going to say, but a look from Alden silenced him.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“No sir, no formal write up necessary.” Jorik said quickly, almost before Roman finished speaking. He looked up at Valos from picking up the last of the pieces. “I’m sorry for shouting at you like that.”

Jorik then stood up, placed the last of the pieces on the table, then looked at Roman again. “Can I go now?”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Valos cleared his throat awkwardly, wanting to say something sarcastic, but obviously avoiding the XO’s ire. “Apology accepted.”

“Get back to work. I don’t want to hear about another incident like this, or there will be a write up in your future. Understood?” He paused a moment to allow for a yes, sir and then continued, “Good. Excused.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Jorik exited quietly, not keen on drawing more attention to his outburst than he already had. Since he’d been ordered to, he made his way down to Sickbay to find Randy.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Sickbay was bustling and there were a couple of engineers waiting in the chairs just inside the door. Another nurse, Andorian, walked over. “I’m En Eber, how can Medical assist you today?”

Eber

“I’ve been told to see Randy about anger management, as per Commander Alden.” Jorik kept it short, crossing his arms as he spoke. This wasn’t exactly something he wanted everyone on the ship to know.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Eber nodded. “This way please.” He led Jorik past the main bay and knocked on a door. After a moment the door opened. Randy was wearing a blue nurse’s skirt uniform and knee high black boots. “Ah, Eber, I just finished.”

Eber stepped aside. “This Ensign is here to see you,” and he left.

“En Jorik. Come in and have a seat. What can I do for you?”

Randy

Jorik took a seat with an eye roll. “For some reason Commander Alden wants me to see you about anger management, I had one small outburst in the mess hall and apparently he was there to hear it.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Randy sat not behind the desk but off to the side of it. He hated the desk between him and the person. It created a literal and figurative barrier. “Alright so let’s start with you telling me what happened and why you haf an outburst.”

Randy

Jorik leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, before resting his face in his hands. “I was playing chess with Ensign Valos. He said he knew how to play, yet five times during the game he asked me rules questions or made stupid moves, and I guess it just pushed me over the edge.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Randy knew Valos. Randy had mixed reactions to the man. He was a competent officer though, and nice enough. Liked to think he was everyone’s friend. “How did you end up playing with Valos?”

Randy

Jorik rolled his eyes. “He was the first person to come up who said they knew how to play. I don’t mind teaching someone, but in this instance, I was looking for someone to play who would be at least knowledgeable about the rules. So I took him at his word. Last time I do that.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“So you have very specific expectations, and when Valos didn’t meat them it pushed you over the edge. Tell me what that looked like.”

Randy

“Is this really necessary?” Jorik asked with an eye roll, “I swept the game off the table and then yelled at him. I’m guess the yelling part is what made Commander Alden realize something was happening.”

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“If we are to follow the Cmdr’s orders then yes it is. Perhaps he also noticed because of the pieces and board falling to the floor. Do you agree with the Cmdr that your reaction was going over board or do you feel you handled that well?”

Randy

Jorik rubbed his face in frustration, muttering under his breath. “I suppose I might’ve gone a little bit overboard.” He’d never been good with any sort of psychological evaluation of any sort, and this was no exception.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“Do you usually go over board when your emotions are strong?” Randy asked.

Randy

“I don’t know! Maybe?!” Jorik said harshly, clenching his fists tightly. “I don’t find any of this necessary, I’m perfectly in control of my emotions!” The last statement was said with a bit more forecfulness, almost as if he wasn’t saying it to Randy but to himself.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

Randy nodded, “Alright. If that is the case why did you just say you ‘suppose you might’ve gone a bit overboard’ and Cmdr Alden sent you here?” Jorik’s outburst didn’t surprise Randy or scare him. Naturally the young Ensign was frustrated.

Randy

Jorik sighed. “I don’t know…” He frowned, pressing his thumbs against either side of the bridge of his nose. “Maybe all the Vulcans are right…can’t do this with emotions, it’s pointless.” Jorik sounded defeated, almost like he was just ready to give in to a philosophy he didn’t even believe in.

Jorik Thoran, Pilot/Nav

“I think that is very short sighted. Vulcan DNA is programmed for great feeling and strong emotion. You can do it. You don’t have to do it the way the majority of your culture does. There are other philosophies among your culture. And there are human ways as well. The question becomes, how do you want to do that?”

Randy