Posted by Lieutenant Tom Jarvis (Internal Security) in IntSec Office (Tag: XO… Maybe)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Magnús Pétursson (First Officer) in IntSec Office (Tag: XO… Maybe)

Posted by Lieutenant Tom Jarvis (Internal Security) in IntSec Office (Tag: XO… Maybe)
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Tom sat in his office. He knew the XO had come aboard and read the Internal Security dossier on the man as he had with all the crew. He wondered if the man would come visit him and, should the XO decide to, Tom wondered how many times the XO would make his introductory visit before he get a chance to watch the recording’s Tom would inevitably make for him.

• Tom, IntSec

After finishing the meeting with the Chief Intelligence officer Magnus made his way to the Internal Security Office. He’d made a note to visit the mysterious location. He’d never worked directly with Internal security much, mostly because he considered it to be a redundant service. He was curious as to what this meeting would be like. Pressing the chime on the door he waited for an answer.

XO

The door opened and the rather average looking man behind the desk stood up. He straightened his black on black uniform.

“Welcome Commander Pétursson. I’ve been expecting you.”

Several holographic displays were floating above the black surface of the desk. Mostly internal sensor feeds from the interior of the ship. In front of the desk were two chairs of a design the Commander likely hadn’t seen before.

The office appeared to double as Tom’s quarters as there was an entertainment center, a futon, a replicator, and other necessary amenities on the other side of the room.

• Tom, IntSec

Bump

“So you have,” Magnus said slowly as he examined the strange room. If anything this would be an interesting meeting “So tell me, Lieutenant, what is it precisely that you do. None of the ships I’ve served on have had an Internal Security presence. I’m frankly not certain what it is that you do. Beyond the flavour text that is” He invited himself to sit down, crossing his legs as he did so.

XO

The chair adjusted automatically giving Magnus perfect support and comfort. Tom made a small gesture and the screens appeared to sink into the surface of the desk and vanish.

“Honestly Commander, since we left Federation space there’s not a lot for me to do as an Internal Security agent.” Tom said as he sat in the chair behind the desk.

Tom’s appearance was entirely unremarkable. He looked like someone that could vanish into a crowd while under direct surveillance.

“Stationed on a ship as I currently am, outside of Federation space, my primary duties are to monitor the crew for potential security issues and to put my talents to use as the Command staff sees fit, providing that it does not go against or interfere with my duties to do so.”

Tom leaned forward and placed his elbows on the desk.

“Now Commander it’s your turn. Did you choose assignment to the Genesis or was it chosen for you?” Toms delivery and body language looked completely casual, but something in Tom’s eyes gave the impression that he was studying Magnus very closely.

• Tom, IntSec

There was no change in expression except for a slight narrowing of his faded blue eyes “Both” He started “I was on somewhat of a probation until Captain King’s unexpected retirement and Captain Marius’ promotion, Command wanted a seasoned first officer, I was available. They tossed me on the first ship to Black rock and I got a lift as far as they could get me. A few days on a Runabout later and I caught up with you way out here” His smile widened ever so slightly “Of course the opportunity to serve on a ship like the Genesis doesn’t come every day don’t you agree Lieutenant?”

XO

“Yes, opportunities are few and far between.” Tom agreed.

Tom smiled.

“How rude of me… Would you like something to drink?” Tom asked.

• Tom, IntSec

Magnus shook his head “No thank you, I had some water earlier and I don’t plan to go to the restroom for at least another thirty minutes” He said smiling slightly “I’m a very attentive person Lieutenant. I see things, patterns I notice stuff yet I haven’t noticed you. You’re somewhat of a mystery, I’ve read almost nothing about you, your file is mostly just status reports no personal notes from anyone” He swapped his crossed legs “If I were a paranoid man I’d say someone spent a lot of time trying to erase you from our files but it doesn’t feel like that does it?” He asked cutting straight through their small talk.

XO

“There’s a reason for that Commander.” Tom said sitting back down with a glass of water that had a piece of fruit in it that appeared to be peach.

Tom looked across the desk at Magnus. Magnus had already stated that he was unfamiliar with Internal Security but that wasn’t what Magnus was interested in.

“You won’t find personal notes as I’m a bit of an anomaly. One might say that I’m involuntarily forgettable.”

Tom let that sit for a moment to gauge Magnus’ reaction.

For most people, there wouldn’t have been a discernible reaction in Magnus’ face beside his continued half-smile but Tom could notice a slight reaction in the Commanders eyes, a slight twitch of interest.

“I’m sure you’re familiar with psionics are you not?”

• Tom, IntSec

“Sure, mental processes such as telepathy or empathy. I’ve dealt with psionics in the past, I once met a Vulcan Monk who taught me mental excersises to shield my mind from being read without permission, I was never really good at them” He said with the same half-smile.

XO

“My psionic talent, or curse as I prefer to think of it, is that I’m immune to all forms of psionics that have a mental effect. It is as if I don’t exist. To telepaths, empaths, body jackers, and such I simply don’t exist on a level where they can affect me with their abilities.”

Tom took a moment to sip his peach water.

“An unfortunate side effect is that people cannot form permanent memories of me, usually forgetting everything about me within three minutes of parting company, immediately if the person is rendered unconscious. There are, of course, ways around it. One woman with brain damage, and Julien’s cybernetic memory enhancement allowed them to remember me, one extra dimensional being had a sense of familiarity, and Denobulans get crippling headaches around me after the first meeting as a subconscious part of their brain insists to the rest of the brain that the individual knows me. There is another way that doesn’t involve recordings but it’s time consuming.”

Magnus’ only reaction to the IntSec officer’s story was a slightly raised eyebrow and a fading smile. What a lonely existence he must live.

Tom took another sip of his water.

“My turn. It seems your therapy has gone well. Do you feel your emotional stability is strong enough to keep you from becoming a significant security risk to this ship and it’s crew?”

• Tom, IntSec

This time Magnus blurted out a laugh of genuine enjoyment, the question surprised him for certain “My Therapy?” He asked after finishing his brief laugh “I don’t recall specifically going to therapy outside of the meetings I’ve had with my ships counsellors. I did see the same counsellor for 14 years on and off because the Ship I served on didn’t have onboard councelors” He said with his half-smile returned “I’m uncertain if my emotional stability has ever been in question” He stood up slowly, his look of amusement not fading away “But to answer your question, yes I do feel this way. For twenty-two years I have had the emotional stability not to be a significant security risk to the fleet”

The Commander moved to the Replicator “Do you mind, I’d like to replicate something?” He asked pointing at the device and smiling at the man.

XO

Tom nodded and gestured dismissively.

“You’re the first officer, my permission is not needed.”

“As old Admiral Trebeck said, using another’s replicator without permission is a grave sin, akin to cleaning one’s teeth with their toothbrushes or reading their private logs” Magnus said quoting his old ethics professor at the Academy as he tapped several commands. A moment later a small leather binder appeared that he grabbed and moved back to his seat.

Tom sipped his water.

“As to whether your sessions are considered therapy or not is a matter of semantics. I’m not concerned with the fleet, I’m concerned with this ship. Call it a matter of self preservation if you like. And if I’m going to be candid, not that you’ll remember this once you leave here, unless you have an unredacted recording, your confidence worries me more than if you had even the smallest doubt.”

Tom set the half drank glass down on his desk and leaned back.

“Your turn.”

• Tom, IntSec

Magnus sat down and crossed his legs, his half-smile never fading. He then removed a small band from the binder and opened it, revealing it to be a thick leather notebook. He took the small pen and started writing something down with surprising adeptness. Tom could see that he wrote in cursive. The commas over some vowels and other oddities confirmed that he wasn’t writing in Federation Standard “My uncle taught me that not knowing every tool at your disposal places you at serious risk”

After a moment He tapped the pen on his book “This will contain writing of my personal thoughts on our private conversations. Its contents will not enter any logs as it contains information that I will not remember. Only you and the Captain will be made aware of its existence and purpose” He explained rather slowly, he was focusing a bit on his writing. He looked up and smiled “And no Lieutenant it’s not a matter of semantics, it’s a matter of how you choose to interpret facts. I like most other officers go to mandatory meetings with a Starfleet counselor, I have nothing against therapy, in fact, I place great faith into the practice as it has helped a great number of my friends and family.” He looked back down and continued his scribbling.

After another short moment, he spoke once more “I suppose the odd manner in which you address me is because you are accustomed to people not remembering you so you feel comfortable speaking in that way” He stopped writing and looked up, raised his hand and smile apologetically “No worries I really don’t mind, at least not in private” He looked back down and continued writing “It’s moderately amusing having your abilities questioned” His tone sharpened for a moment “But only moderately” He added. For the last minute or so he’d been talking with the clear implication that he was not to be interrupted.

“Every fleet starts with a single ship,” He said returning to his usual half-cheerful half-neutral tone “Tell me Lieutenant, what is it you want from the service? He asked veering the conversation way of course.

XO