Apologies

Posted on Wed Feb 10th, 2021 @ 5:34pm by Commodore Jacob Kane & Commander Taeler Santu M.D.

Mission: The Shadow of Arachne
Location: Captain's Private Quarters
Timeline: Right before leaving for shoreleave
1222 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Taeler knew it wouldn't really make up for having shot him, but she hoped that it would help towards mending their professional relationship. She held the present she had just gotten from the Starbase shop close to her chest as she hit the chime. The computer had indicated that the commander would be there but there was always that awkward moment between hitting the chime and being called in, she shifted her weight back and forth between her feet.

"Come in," Kane called out from beyond.

Stepping into the room Taeler took in a sharp breath through her nose, looking around the quarters she wondered if she had ever been in here before but couldn't quite remember, "Thank you for seeing me, commander."

"I thought about asking you here, actually," he said. "Giving you a bit of space was the Counsellor's idea; make sure you had your head straight before we debriefed."

Taeler nodded, debriefed made it sound so formal and official, she wasn't here to get debriefed, she was here to make sure they departed the Athena for R&R on the right foot. So that she wouldn't come back to a transfer request, "I actually," She showed the gift she had in her hand, neatly wrapped in a type of gift wrap that seemed to shift colours. She was talked into that by the shop owner, "I got you something that I thought you might like," She held it out at him awkwardly, "as an apology for shooting you," her mouth twisting a bit in a crooked smile, not sure what or how to navigate this conversation.

"Hmm." Kane eyed the package, then took it from her. "This is how traditions are formed," he added. Taking a moment, he motioned to his desk. "I was about to say I have something for you too." He pointed to the tiny gold pip that sat there alone on the plexiglass, letting it sink in what it meant. He pointed to his own collar, where the fourth pip now joined the other three. "Rear Admiral Minawara sent one for each of us."

The entire thing blindsided her, his callous approach to her reason for being here, "I didn't intend to shoot you again in the near future," Then there was the matter of the sudden promotion being sprung on her and apparently himself, "I guess it's a good thing I didn't shoot Minawara then," she tried to go along with his attitude towards the whole situation. Hoping to at least address the situation that had transpired she felt it was needed for her to give a bit more explanation, "When that happened, I was seeing someone else in your stead, someone from my past, someone I thought I'd never have to face again," she took in a deep breath trying to keep control over her emotions on the subject, "anyways, I hope you enjoy the present, the shopkeep said it was perfect for someone with your interests."

"The Life of Gaius Julius Caesar," he remarked, studying the spine of the leather-bound book. "Interesting. Wasn't he stabbed on the senate floor?" A faint smirk crossed his lips but faded quickly. "The gift is appreciated. Genuinely. But truly unnecessary. I've heard the reports from most of the crew and that nightmarish space did a number on all of us, myself included."

Santu felt herself choke up a bit, "I... I don't know..." She hadn't really looked into the book, the shopkeep had talked it up to her, and the fact that it was still a leatherbound, paper, thing appealed to her, "I can take it back if you don't like it." She had also read the crew's reports, there had been some serious issues among the crew, some physical harm was done but mostly it was confined to mental scarring, "none of them shot you though..." it wasn't that she thought hers had been the worst, it was just that she was about two power setting away from vaporising the Captain of the ship they were on. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, getting choked up from the relief she felt over him being so forgiving towards her, "thank you sir, that really means a lot," Tears started to roll down her cheek but she quickly wiped them away, "you won't regret it."

Somewhat uncharacteristically, Kane put a gentle hand on her shoulder. It was a rare moment of empathy that he wouldn't usually have shown to anyone on his crew. But he valued Taeler, and needed his XO to be his foil in times of need. Just as she needed him, evidently. "I know I won't. I have faith in every one of my crew, otherwise they wouldn't be here." He withdrew from the touch and placed the book down on the desk. Then he plucked up the tiny gold pip. "I've decided to put Keating in charge of Engineering. And Leiko is stepping-up into the Ops chief role. They both dealt with their own personal crisis but both of them were keen to prove they could keep going as a member of the crew. Do you think you can do the same, Commander?" he held it out to her.

Looking at the gold pip in his hand making its way over to her neck, Santu didn't move as he replaced her hollow pip with a whole one, "Thank you, sir" she put her hand on her neck feeling the new rank on her uniform, "I'd be honoured to be a part of this crew, sir." She didn't quite know how to respond to this promotion or the empathy he was showing her, "do you have any plans for the time away from the ship, sir?"

"Time alone, I think," he replied. "Now I've also got a book to read. But my time is my own and I would rarely change those plans. What about yourself? I hear some of the crew are headed for Risa; it's only a couple of parsecs over."

Santu shrugged a bit, "Some time alone does sound tempting," any place familiar for her was too far away and she never really took to Risa, too touristy, "I'm sure I'll figure something out. Would be good to be able to give Gunny and Falor some fresh air."

"That works. The ship isn't going anywhere soon," Kane agreed. "You're on leave now, Commander. That's an order."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Santu never had the issue that some of the workaholic Starfleet officers had. She could always find things to occupy her mind during shoreleave. Her reluctance to go on shoreleave usually had something to do with the fact that she was far from home, and even home didn't feel like a place she'd wanted to return to anymore. She was basically a drifter. Perhaps she should just bite the bullet and go to Risa as well. It was the closest, and there were some gorgeous vistas she could visit.

Santu shook herself from her ruminations and turned on her heels before exiting the room, "Enjoy the time off, Captain." She heard the doors slide closed behind her and made her way down the corridor to her own quarters. Time to pack some things and make merry away from the Prometheus class ship she called home.