Coffee Talk

Posted on Sat Jul 27th, 2019 @ 4:52am by Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Episode 1: Hell is a four letter word
Location: Sickbay
793 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

With the worst of the patch-ups completed, Estelle was able to take a break for a few minutes. She had been fortunate not to have been injured herself during their prison rescue, but Anje had done a great job watching her back. She grabbed two mugs of coffee and approached Gary's biobed. "Time for your medicine", she said, handing him one of the mugs.

Gary took the offered mug. "Coffee? I was hoping for something stronger but I appreciate your consideration and thoughtfulness."

"This coffee is plenty strong, believe me", Estelle smiled. "But I'm confident your stomach is up to it." She pulled up a chair beside the bed and sat down, putting her on eye-level with him. "How are you feeling?"

"Ah. I appreciate the vote of confidence Estelle." He bantered as he took a sip of the coffee. "Whoa. You are right that is strong. That will keep you awake." He paused and grew silent. "I'm fine." He answered, "How are you?"

"Glad I didn't get shot", Estelle said. "It got pretty hairy down there." She paused, then added, "Don't tell Liorga I said that, it'll be another argument against hair for her."

"I'm glad you didn't get shot either. That's not fun. Your secret is safe with me. Mums the word." As he took another sip of the potent coffee.

"Have you got any idea why this happened?" Estelle asked. She was wondering who had anything to gain, especially since it appeared the official stance of the Romulan Star Empire was different.

He was silent as he just looked at her before nodding slowly. "Yes. I know why this happened. It happened because of me. Because rogue Romulans wanted to settle the score with me. So because of me. The Captain Lia and Liselle were beaten and abused." His was deceptively quiet and low as he struggled to maintain his calm.

That was not one of the answers Estelle had considered likely. It took her a few seconds before she said, "You can't allow yourself to think like that. We all do things in the service that will upset our enemies, and if it hadn't been you, it would have been someone else. There's no guarding against the insanity in some people, including the lust for revenge."

"Why not?" He countered. "It's the truth. Anything else is a lie. My friends were beaten and abused to get at me. I know one relationship is more than likely over because of this."

"It is part of the truth", Estelle said. "It's like twenty-one to the perfect forty-two. And half the truth is almost as bad as a lie."

He shook his head, "Did they want Lia? No. Did they want Liselle? Again no. Did they want the Captain? For the third time no. So how is that a lie?"

"Because they'd have come after someone else, if someone else had done whatever you had to do that you say caused this", Estelle said. "It's not something you should blame yourself for. It's had enough you had to suffer through it. Don't beat yourself up over it as well. Plus, I'm perfectly certain the others will tell you the same."

He gave a short bitter laugh. "Really? Go ask Lis... Commander Qwyyn that. She hates me. Told me that she will never forgive me for what happened." He shook his head, "No offense Estelle but it's easy to give advice but you weren't there."

Estelle figured that might have been the shock talking but there was nothing she could say at this point. "I'm no counsellor, and I guess that shows", she said. "But maybe ask yourself this: Does it help you deal with it to blame yourself? It won't change anything for anyone else, that's certain."

He shook his head, "I don't know. I honestly don't. I only know what happened and why and the common denominator is me."

Estelle put her hand on his shoulder. "I've seen the injuries, I know it'll be a while before it'll get better. But promise me not to give up, okay?"

He looked up at her and gave a wan smile. "Thanks for the coffee and the talk Estelle. I do appreciate them both and I promise not to give up."

Estelle emptied her mug and stood. She took him thanking her as a request to leave him to his thoughts for a while, without him having to be rude about it and ask her to leave. "I'm afraid my break is over. There's a certain barmaid waiting to have some bruises taken care of."

He nodded, "No rest for the weary." He observed. "Or is it the wicked?" He mused. "Either way, thanks again."

"Either works for me", Estelle chuckled. "And you're welcome."