Face-To-Face

Posted on Wed Nov 9th, 2022 @ 6:33am by Lieutenant JG Zac Smithson

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sick Bay
Timeline: After Etrara is taken to Sick Bay
892 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

The day was long for Chief Petty Officer Sean Conner O’Keefe. It had started as the most glorious of days, but quickly changed to the most miserable. O’Keefe carried the events of the morning with him all day. He found himself barking at his crew, causing them to hurry to the task cursing him under their breath.

Looking over incident reports, Sean saw that Etrara was beamed to sick bay for emergency purposes. Without thought he ran to the to the lift finding himself on his way to check upon her well-being.

Running into sick bay, he checked with the nearest nurse, who directed him to the proper place. He quieted his heart and breathing before entering. Upon entering, that work was reversed, for the breath was knocked out of him. There, sitting next to her biobed, was someone that could be mistaken for O’Keefe, except the uniform and the eyes. He had blond hair and rugged good looks.

Sean’s mind started racing again. His stomach was tossed. O’Keefe truly felt like throwing up.

“What the feck? ‘Oo the ‘el are you?” O’Keefe demanded.

Zac turned and faced O'Keefe. "I'm Lieutenant Zac Smithson, now who the hell are you Petty Officer?" Zac voice cold as ice yet controlled.

If O’Keefe hadn’t promised Captain Taylor that he would keep his nose clean, O’Keefe would have belted him. If Sean would have been drink, this line of thought would have been null and void. Instead, using his cognitive thought, O’Keefe decided to change gears.

“I be Sean O’Keefe,” he replied, “Yer frien’ly neighbo’ood Mas’er a’ Arms. I be checkin’ on Lieutenant Khal’en’s well-being. Is she conscious?”

Zac refused the impulse to snort at the man. His thoughts were racing,*Checkin on Etrara my ass! It was you she was with.* Zac thought silently yet aloud he maintained his professionalism and replied civilly. "She was briefly." Not elaborating any further.

O’Keefe look at Etrara with reddening eyes, seeming so helpless. He wished he could further help her. “The repor’ says she attempted suicide,” O’Keefe recalled, thinking, She di’ b’cause o’ you! Turning back to the Junior Grade Lieutenant, O’Keefe probed, “Secur’ty ‘as a PaDD confirmin’ the attempt. Were ye the one ‘oo foun’’er?”

"Yes, I was." Zac answered calmly. "You should know that Etrara is moving in with me and why all the questions Petty Officer? What PaDD are you referring to? There was a PaDD for me and one for the Commodore. If you're referring to an incident report, then I suppose you do have a PaDD." Zac finished as calm as ever.

“Jes’ clearin’ lose en’s, Lieutenant,” the CPO replied. “May I ‘ave the Pa’ remo’ed from the scene. It be e’idence fer a secur’ty investigation. I’ll see ye git a copy o’ da file.”

"No, the PaDD was meant for me from Etrara. It is private and personal. It has nothing to do with any security investigation. As for the PaDD addressed to the Commodore, I imagine she will tell you the same thing." Zac answered coolly.

“Secur’ty will see the Commodore gets the file,” Sean replied with his brows raised, incredulous that Smithson would not hand it over to Sean. “I’ll be repor’in’ yer uncoop’ration wit the investigation. Li’e I said, ye can ‘ave a copy o’ the file.”

"Great. You do that. Security can do what it wants with the Commodore's PaDD. You'll have to answer to her. You are not getting the PaDD addressed to me which contained a personal message to me. Is there anything else?"

“‘Ave it yer way!” Sean affirmed. Professionally, he had to account for the evidence found at the scene. Personally, O’Keefe was saddened Etrara wrote a letter to this Junior Grade Lieutenant and not to himself. It meant she truly loved this gobshite and not him and last night was an illusion.

Turning to Etrara, he saluted her, bowed his head and said a prayer for her. “Feel be’ter, darlin’!” he intoned as he turned to leave.

Zac said nothing as O'Keefe addressed the sleeping Etrara. The sooner he was gone the better. Zac figured him for a pompous ass anyways.

O’Keefe realized he had no chance at a romantic relationship with Etrara. Best git on wit’ ye life, Ol’ Boy! he thought. He also realized he had a job to do. Going into the security office, O’Keefe closed the investigation, confirming the attempted suicide.

He also reported a certain Lieutenant JG Smithson as withholding evidence in a security investigation. He forwarded this report to his senior officer, Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando de la Rosa and his CO, Commander Taylor. He hoped Etrara would forgive him, but it was his duty.

The letter to the Commodore, Sean saved a copy and attached it to the case file. He package the original and forwarded it to the Commodore. Perhaps she could put things in motion to help Etrara.

Once O'Keefe was gone, Zac turned his attention back to Etrara. "Sleep my love, rebuild your strength for when you awake it will be a new day. One where we start a life together."

OFF