Bad to Worse
Posted on Mon Jan 23rd, 2023 @ 4:06am by Crewman Melly
Edited on on Sun Feb 5th, 2023 @ 3:00am
852 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Short Treks
Location: Starfleet One
Timeline: 2431-03-11, 6:00
Warnings: Mild Racism and Disturbing Content
Ensign Tarran sat at the monitor in his quarters, fuming as he thought about the shambles of his now shortened career. Should he do this? Should he instead go beg for forgiveness? No... he decided and has to follow through now.
Turning on the monitor he searched the Starfleet public rosters till he found the office contact for Admiral Edmund Norith. Sitting down he took a deep breath then called.
It was a short bit before a Yeoman’s face showed up on the screen. Her hair was partially in her face and she rubbed her eyes. “Admiral Noriths office.. It’s… my god at the time…”, the woman sighed. The woman was blonde with soft gray eyes and looked about his age. If in another world he thought, this woman could be Melly's older sister or even mother. The resemblance was striking.
“The Admiral is asleep. I can take a message if you like.”, she continued to rub her eyes.
Tarran started to consider the time differences and realized his mistake. “Yeah Ensign Tarl Tarran. Please let him know I am having a little problem with someone he also had one with. A very little one.” Tarran felt if he was being monitored this would be plausible deniability rather than an outright statement.
“Yeah… sure… I'll be sure to tell him first thing in the..”, the Yeoman stopped talking as a hand closed around the back of her neck and yanked her back and out of view. A single snap of fingers was then heard.
It was a few moments before a voice came over the viewscreen, “Let me get dressed and replicate some coffee. Then you can explain what is going on and how I can help.”
"I didn't do anything wrong Admiral, just quoted regulations and they wanted to demote me to Cadet!". Tarran said, rubbing his temples. "I did nothing wrong, just did what I was told to do in the academy."
Admiral Norith sat at his desk and kept his eyes closed before opening them with a reassuring smile. Motioning with his hand to pat at Tarran's shoulder threw the viewscreen. "You did fine. You were doing what was right. You were a… good boy. You don't mind me calling you that do you?"
Tarran sat confused but felt the Admiral was trying to be supportive and reassuring. "Um yes that's fine. My Father used to call me that before he died."
"That is regretful. You are a good boy and your father would be proud of you for sticking to regulations. I could help you, mentor you as I have others. I have never mentored an upcoming young man like yourself. But I feel you are a good boy and worth my time to help. Now tell me Ensign, what are you?"
"A Good Boy?". Tarran responded without much emotion.
Norith smiled, "I do not think I heard you, a good boy would be more confident."
"I am a good boy", Tarran said with more confidence, his chin raised high.
"Yes you are. You're a very good boy.", Norith smiled.
“Can you help me Admiral? Make sure they don’t demote me to Cadet?”, Tarran said placing his hand on the side of his face.
A small chuckle came from the Admiral, “A veiled threat. You can’t bust someone to Cadet. It was meant to scare you. Now I have a question for you. What do you want? Overall?”
Tarran thought for a moment, “To serve Starfleet?”
“A good answer from a good boy. Would you like to see that girl punished?”, Norith smiled as his hand went out of view but a patting motion could be made out.
“Yes, thrown out an airlock or shot before she harms anyone else.”, Tarran said eagerly.
“Short sighted boy.”, Norith intentionally left out the good and relished the look of hurt crossing Tarrans face. “Now a good boy.. Which you are. Would want her to be controlled, so that she could not harm others. She’s not a human, are you aware of that?”
“I don’t know what an Only is?”, Tarran asked. “I’m from the Badlands.”
“Badlands you say… you know then about non humans taking things from you. The Cardassians.. Yet now we are on good terms. They didn’t tell your people there sorry. Now a non human caused you to lose you to lose your position. Maybe it would make you happy to see her humbled, maybe serving you a drink, cleaning your quarters? What do you enjoy drinking, Good Boy?”, Norith smiled.
“I’ve… never drunk Admiral?”, Tarran said, seeming a bit embarrassed.
“I know someone who owes me a couple favors on your station, I arranged the release of his sister who was captured in a Orion slaver raid. I’ll send word to him and you can have a glass of real Aldebaran Whiskey, older than both of us. Otherwise I will be in touch soon. Keep your chin up and you will be fine. After all… You're a Good Boy.”
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