What were you thinking. (Opening)

Posted on Thu May 30th, 2019 @ 8:11am by Captain Ka'Tock & Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant JG Paris Deville

1,173 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: confernce room
Timeline: Post staff meeting.

ON

Ka'Tock sat back in his chair after all the other staff and Mercy had left before he looked between the two.

"You do realize that we had a Staff meeting Commander Quinn?" Ka'Tock asked. "I would have expected more self control?"

"Yes, but the meeting had already been disrupted, and I wasn't going to let his behavior go without comment," she said.

"And what does the fact he needs better pick up lines have to do with the Subject of the briefing?"

"When the meeting has already been disrupted, as it was with Lieutenant Deville," she reiterated. "I do tend to speak my mind at the time-as I have at other occasions." That last was as a reminder him of the way he overreacted in a previous meeting. If this was going to be an issue with him, she might not be the right person to be his XO.

"Point taken." Ka'Tock took a breath and had to think for a scond. "I will have to work on my control of meetings, that much I will take the blame for." Ka'Tock had to be more in control of his emotions; were he advising a Commanding Officer he would have scolded himself. "I need to be more professional myself. He sighed a bit.

"I'm professional, but mot militaristic," Amber said. "I'm more casual than most commanders."

Looking to Deville.

"The next reference to me as 'Ridges' might not go quite the way you think , I am tolerant but I will not stand for insults in private or in front of my Crew." His control a little less. "One more insubordination or insulting remark and I will have you slapped in irons and rotting in the brig until the end of your assignment in Star Fleet." It was a warning in a more mild tone by normal Klingon terms.

Deville crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat, focusing on the Klingon Captain, as a sly smile formed on his face. "Look at me, Klingon. Do you honestly think that I am afraid of being slapped in irons and beings tossed in a brig?"

"Not really." Ka'Tock said. "But that is the extent of what I can do with an insubordinate Officer who seems to have no respect for the Command chain." He spoke evenly. "Or I could ask that you give the crew and I a chance to change your vantage point. I understand you are a skilled Helmsman, I accepted the transfer because of that and hope you live up to that reputation?"

He leaned forward in his chair and smirked. "I've played the dutiful officer role. It suited me for a while until-" Paris stopped in mid sentence before leaned back in his chair and closing his eyes. Suddenly he felt angry, remembering something hurtful, before opening his eyes again. "Look... You'll just have to give me some time to acclimate to this world again. I've spent a long time on my own and keeping to my own ours, being my own boss and surviving, so you'll need to give me a few seconds..." He paused for a minute as an evil smile formed on his face and he continued in a soft tone. "Or you can kick me off and send me on my way. It's not your fault, Right? I'm an insubordinate Officer you need order and duty. Not chaos. Now one would blame you if you sent me on my way because I just didn't... fit."

Amber felt his anger and his pain. "The question is, do you want to be here or are you trying to get kicked off?" she asked. "Because addressing your commanding officer as Klingon is a sure way to get in trouble."

Ka'Tock had several things he wanted to say but the Counselor in him decided that he should not be as rash and react to the situation but take more deliberate interactions , maybe be patience for a bit. He would see how DeVille answers and gauge a response from that.

"I'm sorry... is he not a Klingon?" Deville replied with a raised brow before crossing his arms over his chest. "He looks a lot like a Klingon to me. I've meet other Klingons, I've dealt with many Klingons, and he shares a lot of the same characteristics. Just like you scream Betazoid." He motioned toward Amber before smiling. "It's not just your eyes, while they are alluring in their own way, its your whole middle sibling demeanor. Being the mediator. Trying to keep things from escalating and working out a compromise. And don't think I don't feel you picking at my wall, Darlin'" He tapped the side of his temple and winked. "I've leaned a lot of things, over the years I have been around, and I know how to keep my private thoughts private. Unless you're planning on getting intimate which I will be more than happy to let you in, but you may not like whats inside. It may be painful and you may not respect me in the morning."

"I don't like what's outside," she cooed, reacting to his words. "Respect is earned--especially if you want to get in my bed."

Deville smirked, trying to hide a chuckle, before replying. "Are you setting terms or letting me in on the rules?" He raised a brow and raised his hand, petting Gizmo slightly, before adding. "I got to say, as far as mixed signals go, those are definitely mixed."

The conversation was getting out of hand, even for her. "How about just no. Clear enough?" Why was it that the only men who ever hit on her--if she could call what Deville was doing hitting on her were jerks? First Daniel, now...this.

"Mr. DeVille, I must say you have an effective flare for making people get a negative first impression." Ka'Tock said. "You seem to like to provoke as well with racial slurs. I agree you have had a long time to get this act of yours in place." He continued. "You are stuck on this ship as I need a Good Helmsman; luckily we are not going into combat so I can leave you on Hangar duty. I do not support crew that are not doing their duty a manner expected of an earn rank. This is your time to acclimate to being in fleet again. After this mission we will reevaluate you with a performance review and see how things stand at that time?" Ka'Tock said calmly. "By your own words you have been around long enough and should know racial slurs and be able to avoid them. Also I expect an Officer of mine to act like a Gentleman and be respectful to superior officers and those around you." He stare at DeVille. "Those are my rules and will be followed, no exceptions. "Off duty you are free to speak freely."

TBC

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