Straight Talk...

Posted on Thu Oct 12th, 2023 @ 8:41pm by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: USS Elysium, Marine County, MXO's office
Timeline: MD 02 / 2200 hours
1490 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

David had just finished going over the stack of status reports that the various squad and platoon leaders of the Spartans had turned in. After he sent in his report to the Colonel, he shut down his computer and left his office. As he did so, he saw Chief Man'darr walking through the corridor, a half empty bottle of what appeared to be Saurian Brandy.

"Chief," he said politely, choosing to go gently at first.

"Captain," he replied nonchalantly as he raised the bottle in greeting before taking a long swig of the drink.

As an El Aurian, David's people were known throughout the universe as being "listeners". At that moment, he was hearing everything that Man'darr was, and was not, saying.

Moving closer to his friend and fellow Marine, he asked, "You wanna talk about it, Manny?"

"No, I don't want to fucking talk about it," he replied bitterly. "I didn't want to talk about it to the Colonel, I don't want to talk about it to you, or anyone else on this damn ship."

"Lock it up Marine!" David snapped the command instantly. His sharp and commanding tone left no doubt that he would not take anything other than complete military obedience.

Man'darr took another long swig before coming to attention. In his mind, he didn't have anything to live for. He had lost his fiancé and in the eyes of his people, no longer welcomed. Now everyone aboard the ship wanted to offer their sympathies to him out of some sort of obligation. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

For several beats, David said nothing, merely co sideline the man standing in front of him. While he knew why his friend was hurting, it still did not excuse his behavior. Finally, he frowned and shook his head. "I never would have expected it. Not from you."

"You don't know me, Sir. When you lose everything and everyone you cared about, then come and try to understand me," he replied bitterly, looking down at David. All he felt was rage and frustration. It was the only feelings he would allow himself to feel. Due to the higher-than-average metabolism of Capellans, it was hard for him to get drunk, which he was doing to deaden the pain. So far it hadn't worked.

Looking Man'darr dead in his eyes, an air of boiling rage seemed to start to change the air around him. "You lost your fiancé. While I admit that sucks, lose your entire family, your world and home of your people to the Borg. THEN you can come bitch to me about loss. Until then, keep your shit together. The younger Marines look up to you. You have issues, go talk to a counselor. You can even come talk to me. But this?" He lifted the half-empty bottle. "This is not the answer."

"I have lost my people!" Man'darr roared. "To them, I might as well be dead! I can never go back to Capella! And as I told the Colonel, the younger Marines can find someone else to look up to. I'm not going to some damn shrink! And if we ever get back, I am retiring! I'm tired of always losing people!"

David took the verbal assault without any sign of anger. When Man'darr finished, he shook his head slightly, then decided to try something that might help his friend burn off the roiling rage he was barely holding inside. "You are a coward then. Wanting to run away from your friends, family and responsibilities." He turned slightly to his right, as if he was ignoring the Capellan. "Your words do not matter; I do not hear you." He knew it could be dangerous to use the Capellan insult against his friend, however, it might also help in the long run.

Fueled by alcohol, Man'darr's rage boiled over. Nobody, especially a non-Capellan had the right to insult him. The flying, quarter-filled bottle narrowly missed David's head as it exploded against the bulkhead, followed by a left hook.

Knowing what was coming, David easily dodged both the bottle and the flying fist. As he spun away, he grabbed Man'darr's wrist in a vise-like hold and, using the Capellan's own momentum against him, rotated the arm first down, then up, flipping Man'darr down onto his back. Quickly moving back out of range, David stood ready. "You want to run and hide in a hole? You don't deserve to be called a Marine. A coward runs away and hides from the pain of life."

"Like your people ran from the Borg?" Man'darr said, not at all thinking clearly he spoke the insult, getting to his feet as quick as the alcohol would allow, charging at David.

Hearing Man'darr's words, David lost control a bit. Spinning on his right heel, he shot out his left foot with precision, stricking the advancing Capellan in his solar plexus, the force of the hit throwing Man'darr the opposite direction, causing him to land on his back. David wasted no time, and pressed his advantage. He decended upon the fallen Marine, laying one powerful hit after another upon his warrior brother. Unlike the sparring arena, however, these strikes had nothing pulled back from them.

Man'darr fought through the pain of the strike.

After a few powerful hits had been landed, David stopped and got up off of Man'darr, moving off to the side, as he fought to catch his breath, realizing just how much he had just lost control of his inner rage. "Fuck," he said under his breath. Stepping back in, he offered his right hand to his friend, to help him up.

"You hit like a ferengi," Man'darr jested as he took the man's hand. The alcohol was deadening the pain in his body as he stood up on his feet, taking a moment to steady himself.

"Oh yeah?" David asked as he looked at the damage he had caused his friend's face. "Your face tells a different story. C'mon, let's get you fixed up." He then led Man'darr to the infirmary. As they walked, he spoke, his voice taking on a more official air. "Chief, I owe you an apology. I allowed my personal feelings to cloud my better judgement, causing me to act in a manner unbecoming both an officer and your superior. Should you choose to press charges due to your injuries, I will not dispute them."

Man'darr let out a chuckle, ignoring the pain it caused. "There is no honor in that and no apology needed. Though, let us hope the Colonel doesn't find out. At least for your sake...I do not care what happens to me however."

David stopped and held out his right hand to stop Man'darr's forward movement. "Damn it Manny," he said, exasperated. "That's how we got to where we are now!" He turned right facing the fellow experienced warrior. "I don't just see you as a fellow Marine, Manny. I also see you as a kindred spirit, a brother. You say that you don't care what happens to you. Well I do! I know you're hurting right now," he said with a softer tone as he reached up and gently squeezed the Capellan's right shoulder. "You still have a ton of worth in you. We all need you." He paused before adding, "And we both know that Jess would kick your ass from here the Ceti Alpha 5, and back, if you didn't pick yourself up and rebuild your life."

Man'darr shrugged in response. "Perhaps." He could indeed imagine what Jess would say to him and that hurt just almost as much as the emptiness he felt. He continued the walk towards Sickbay.

As they walked, David continued to speak, his tone supportive and caring for his friend. "I know it hurts like he'll right now, Manny. Believe me, I do. Unfortunately, both life and our line of work, can be extremely cruel at times. All you can do is tighten your boot straps and keep marching. You will find new love one day. It won't be the same as what you had with Jess, I agree, however, it will still be love. Stay strong, brother. You have worth here. You have family here. We need your strength, both of mind, will and spirit. If you give up now, you only prove the nearsightedness of the Capellans who ridiculed you when you made your choice." He stopped them both when he reached out and gave Man'darr's right shoulder a brotherly squeeze. "Don't let them win, brother."

Man'darr simply nodded before he stepping into the infirmary.

David sighed softly, shaking his head to himself, as he watched Man'darr enter the small medical clinic in the heart of Marine County. He knew there was only so much he could say to his friend. Man'darr would ultimately have to find his own place to start rebuilding his life and heart.

~OFF~

 

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