Bone to pick

Posted on Sun Nov 29th, 2020 @ 8:16am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Lia's Office
Timeline: After Did I do Something Wrong?
1349 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Fernando stood outside Commander Holmes office, his finger pressing the chime as he awaited admittance to see her. He finally had a free moment where he wasn't dealing with Heather's pregnancy and his feelings toward the baby she carried. The child of his mirror counterpart. A child conceived through rape.

"Come on, Come on." He muttered in Federation Standard before switching to Spanish and rattling off a whole mouthful of who knew what but by the sound of it it wasn't nice. This was important and he wanted answers and he wanted them from the Commander. As far as he was concerned it was an insult to both Serenity and himself and he wasn't going to be put off.

Inside her office, Lia was still in shock from her visit from Serenity. Although she didn't have any issues with her, Lia wondered if Serenity held any grudge against her for some reason. The chimes brought her back to reality, "Enter, before you drive me nuts with that damn chime!"

Fernando was in the mist of pressing the chime when he heard Lia's angry voice bidding him to enter. Entering her office he stopped in front of her desk. "Commander, I wish to speak to you concerning a recent incident concerning the Security Department." He said crisply but anger laced his words.

Holding her head in her hands, Lia simply nodded. "I know, the Security get together which you and Serenity were excluded. Right?" Her voice was flat and without emotion, she knew Fernando would arrive about this but not quite as soon as he had done.

He nodded his head furiously, "Yes Commander! That is exactly right! I realize I am only a Petty Officer and that my ways may grate on others but to not be included in a training exercise is an insult and I wish to know why I and Lieutenant Triannth were excluded."

Glancing up at Fernando, Lia shook her head. "I have no idea, Commander Turak was the organiser of that day. Serenity has already been and said her bit, now your here". She got up and returned to the replicator, "Coffee, hot, sweet". She glanced at her guest, "Fernando, do you want a drink of some kind?"

"No, no thank you Commander. Please understand I am not mad with you. It is Commander Turak I am angry with. This was a deliberate case of excluding us. I thought we were all a team, a close knit unit and this happens." He sighed. "I really don't need this right now. I have enough to deal with and take care of with Heather and the baby." He looked at her, "I understand you are all officers and I am only a Petty Officer and perhaps Commander Turak as a prejudice against enlisted personnel. But then why was Lieutenant Triannth excluded? Unless he doesn't like either one of us."

In a repeat of her last visitor, Lia picked up a PaDD and handed it to Fernando. "Make it official Fernando, Serenity already has. The day your both concerned about wasn't much to worry about. Unless you enjoy using ancient weapons, it's what my department used to call a range day". Sitting down she sipped her Coffee, "I was under the impression that the Commander had asked both of you if you wished to attend, it now appears that assumption was incorrect". Lia placed her mug on the desk, "Turak has been promoted and has left the ship, so as to the question of did he not like you. I'm afraid I can't answer that, but I can assure you nothing like that will happen again". She looked at Fernando and suddenly had a thought, "Have I ever displayed any hostility or bias against you or anyone else in the department?" It was a question which now had lodged in her mind since Serenity had said about being treated differently.

Fernando took the PaDD and wrote out his complaint and then signed it. That done he handed it back to Lia. "Thank you Commander, I would definitely like to avoid a repeat." He grew quiet when Lia asked him about displaying any hostility or bias toward him as he thought on the question. After several seconds he answered. " I know my work habits may grate on you like my whistling in the armory when the Commodore was onboard but no you have not shown me any hostility or bias. In truth Commander you avoid me."

"Avoiding you? Do you feel I'm avoiding you?" Lia sat and thought about just what Fernando had said, had she become the very thing she hated when she first joined Star Fleet? "Fernando, are you happy to work under my command? Or would you prefer a change of head of department?"

"Perhaps not intentionally Commander. You may not even be aware of it. It just seems we are never assigned to the same task. As for me being happy under your command. I am most happy. You provide firm leadership and a clear vision of what you see is our role as security officers. I have no desire or wish to see a change in leadership." He answered honestly.

Lia now thought about what Fernando had said, *He's right, I don't think I've even spoken to him other than in passing*. She now looked at her SCPO, "I'm sorry you feel that way about our working relationship, but I'm glad your happy with how I run things. Thank you for that, now I have to take both yours and Serenity's concerns to the Captain. I wonder if Turak even thought about these things while he was here?"

"I am happy Commander, very happy and I do not wish to cause you any distress." He paused to consider her question about the departed Turak. "If you'll forgive me Commander but no Commander Turak did not. He did not include others in his decision making nor did the Commander keep anyone informed in any plans he had for the department. He was a very singular person."

"He was very Vulcan, and in that you can't fault him". She finished her now cold coffee, "Ugh, I hate cold coffee. I suppose you'll want to get back to Heather now, it can't be long before we have a little Fernando. Just how long is it?" Lia wanted to finish this visit on a happy note, she had never had any problems with Fernando. Well except his bloody whistling, but as a Security person he simply got on with what ever duty had been set for him. "Give my love to Heather, and I wish all three of you good luck for the future".

Fernando nodded, "Yes, I do. We have four months to go Commander." He smiled at her statement of a little Fernando. "I just wish the baby to be healthy be it a boy or girl." He smiled at Lia, "I will be sure to do that Commander and I'm sure the baby will wish to know it's Aunt Lia."

"Aunt Lia? Are you trying to scare the poor little thing? I'll see the young Fernando once Heather is happy for me to do so, your dismissed. I suggest you head back and make sure both mother and child are ok". She stood up and smiled as she held out her hand.

Fernando nodded. "I am sure. Heather and I have already discussed it so you cannot wiggle out of it. Heather will be happy for you to see the baby whenever you want." He added. "Your suggestion is noted and I will as I don't like to be too far away from them." He clasped her hand firmly yet warmly. "Thank you Commander." He answered honestly.

Lia simply shook her head and smiled again, "Thanks Fernando, now go see that wife of yours. And I'll drop by once she's had her little bundle of joy, get outta here you dozy Spanish twit".

Commander Lia Holmes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Elysium

Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa
Security Officer
USS Elysium