When Darkness Turns to Light

Posted on Tue Nov 15th, 2022 @ 4:36pm by Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Lieutenant Colonel Storr Garlake

1,812 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Season 1 Interlude II (E5.5)
Location: Commandant's Office | Overwatch Station
Timeline: ID 1

Akiva walked into Storr's office without notice or request. The events of the past several days, particularly that morning's early get-together regarding the ugly truth behind the Borg drones wandering the station, made Akiva feel rather forward in his melancholy disposition. Being emotionally detached at the moment left Akiva in the bizarre juxtaposition of being simultaneously informal and professional at the same time.

"Good morning, Storr," he said as he walked up to the colonel's desk and placed a PADD in the middle of it. "Forgive me for being so abrupt, but your wife is being rather insistent on something. I don't have to tell you how persuasive she can be when her mind is set." Nodding at the PADD, Akiva added, "I think you can appreciate my hesitancy in this matter, though."

"Morning boss," Garlake said, seeing Akiva. It wasn't necessarily an unappreciated intrusion, as he was hip-deep in Mayhew's yearly performance review so welcomed the break, but the Captain's demeanor did make the Afrikaaner pause. Perhaps it was fallout from their earlier discussion but he didn't seem completely...present.

Looking down, he took the PADD and gave it a quick review, half-listening as ben-Avram spoke. Reading only the first few lines made him put down the tablet and give Akiva his full attention.

"She can be very...convincing," he said with an easy grin. "This, though..." he continued, his grin rapidly retreating, "I'm more than hesitant myself. Do you agree with her? Do you think he's ready?"

Akiva shrugged. "I don't know what to think. Jaya vouched for excising the Lethean presence from his neurology. Sounds unbelievable but I can't pretend to understand how such things work. That's why we have specialists. Unfortunately, though, the Jumik entity managed to masquerade as Calderon for a few years before he was turned in by Cal's father. But then he was not submitted to the levels of scrutiny during that period that he has in the past month. And I don't have to tell you how instrumental he was to the mission's success." Letting out a sigh, he said, "The facts are not clear to me and I don't like it."

"I don't either," the Afrikaaner agreed, leaning back in his chair. "not at all. While I don't question Jaya's assessment, I'm not convinced that Cal is completely in the clear. We hold people responsible for their deeds regardless of their mental or physical state, right? Hell, Mayhew nearly died, let alone can barely talk because of that blackeye!"

Akiva nodded. "The issue is we're dealing with two people in one body, though, or at least that was my understanding of Jaya's report. Jumik has a rap sheet longer than my arm. Cal was a decorated Starfleet officer. If I approve Jaya's recommendation, then one of Starfleet's finest returns to active duty. If I deny it, then Cal goes to the Elba II facility for the mentally infirmed where he will join the likes of Nevada McKay, the tortured mad scientist that Mrazak used and abused." He rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "Can you live with sending a man to that fate right after he was set free from being a prisoner in his own body?"

Storr let out his breath like a deflated balloon while lacing his fingers behind his head and looking up at the ceiling. "Can you live with allowing a man to stay here after committing so much violence, death, and mayhem, so soon after committing it?" His question was only half-convincing. "Is our only choice binary? Is there a third way to have both punishment and redemption?"

"Well, that's the thing..." Akiva closed his eyes and grimaced. "After Mr. Jarsdel's stellar performance, Mrazak has already used his conscription authority and cleared him for duty on field missions. I can't deny this without solid reasoning that goes beyond general misgivings." Akiva had to force his jaw to unclench. "Mrazak has more experience with this sort of finagling than I do. If you have a third option, then I am all ears. Provisional status? Some kind of probation? Hold him in the brig between missions? I need something that will not make me look petty in front of the Admiralty if and when Mrazak should inevitably push back on my veto... if I do veto." His voice lowered to just above a whisper. "The stakes are high on all sides. What should we do?"

"Can I see the order? Maybe that can help us craft our response appropriately and keep you on command's good side."

Lowering his head with a sheepish look on his face, Akiva said, "I can't do that... When I read the PADD with the order, I threw it against my office wall." When he looked up at Storr, his face was a picture of sheepish indignation. "And, you know, I regret nothing." He let out a sigh. "It was just the standard boilerplate--'hereby' and 'authorized' and 'essential personnel', similar to how he ensnared Ryland Dedeker against my will."

The Marine sat for a full two seconds before letting out an explosive guffaw, leaning back into his chair as his body shook in cheer. The room echoed with his peals of laughter for several more moments before slowly dying down.

"Akiva...I...I..." he tried to continue, interrupted by small chortles as he smeared hot tears from his eyes, "I'm sorry but that absolutely made my day." Storr finally got a hold of himself by taking in a big breath and exhaling before continuing. He hadn't laughed like that since...well, it had been a while.

"Okay, so we don't have the order. No big deal," he said, suppressing a final chuckle before moving on. "Hmm." He thrummed his fingers on the desk for a few pregnant moments before his eyes glittered and he half-smiled at Akiva. "I think I might have it, at least a part of it. Mayhew. Hear me out. His conditional work release is assisting Trenton with his speech therapy, taking over menial tasks, and the MWO having a veto vote on if he stays or goes in...I don't know, 6 months. What do you think?"

Akiva thought it through while rubbing his chin. "Cal's commission was with the main fleet. How would Master Mayhew feel about a Fleeter infringing on Marine Corps business? In our dealings, he always seemed rather...particular...in the order of things." With a sigh, he said, "I think if we were to involve Trenton in the matter, a better option would be to place him as Jarsdel's designated probation officer. That would allow for a veto of sorts that doesn't bypass either of our roles."

"I like it," Storr said decisively, slapping the table in front of him. "I'm sure Mayhew will grumble but it will do them both good while providing another set of eyes on the subject." The Lieutenant Colonel leaned back, pleased with himself as he laced his fingers over his stomach. "Completely changing the subject, but now that I've got you here...how are you doing? Arianna and Leana both being here has to be a challenging situation, to say the least."

At first, Akiva made to frown, but he couldn't resist a boyish grin. "Well, I did faint in front of everyone when we returned. I've already talked to Ari and we've mutually agreed to keep things professional. Regarding Laena..." Akiva took a steadying breath. "I've made a right mess of things with her and it will take HaShem's own wisdom and mercy to undo it. Honestly, I don't know if she will stay. She says she will, but..." Trailing off, he fought for words and settled for an uncertain shrug.

"That was hard to miss," Storr grinned back, though it quickly disappeared as his friend continued on about Laena. "Well, I'd like to think that Risa might help, especially with Jaya's extensive planning. Speaking of, what are your plans? I don't think we've been on R&R together since...well, since then."

Akiva sighed. "I have a lot to review. The investigation we can't talk about, a refresher on Torah, Talmud, and midrash to find a way to reverse the writ of divorce I gave Laena, the ongoing attempt to nail Mrazak to the wall... I will be lucky to find a spare moment."

"You do know what R&R means, right? Rest and relaxation? And that you as a leader set expectations for your troops? I know that you have things you need to get done but holing yourself in your room and working the whole time sends the wrong message." Garlake knew that he was shining a mirror onto himself as well in some respects but it still applied. He would take the log out of his own eye in good time.

"I hear you," Akiva said, "but how can I run from my problems if I am forced to face them head-on?" He chuckled at his candid sarcasm.

Storr chuckled. "Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown," he said with a winsome smile. "I know you didn't ask, but I can handle administrative issues with Ari, being your official go-between. Might make things a little more helpful to keep her and all the paperwork requests coming through me. She'd still be your deputy and report to you but it would mean that on a day-to-day basis, she'd be interacting with me far more than you. Give you some breathing room."

"I appreciate that but we are bound by more than duty now," Akiva said. "We have a common cause that requires me to be a man and not a boy."

"True, friend, but our duty doesn't have to be shouldered alone." Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Storr turned to face the larger LCARS display over his desk. "I'll talk with Trenton and I don't foresee any problems. It also," he said with a grin as his fingers danced over the console, "seems that Jaya is making meatloaf tonight. She always makes more than enough and it's one of her best dishes...interested in coming for dinner?"

Akiva smiled at the offer. "I'd like that." He paused for a moment to ponder the main course. "Meat...loaf? Like bread?"

Storr chuckled as he logged off, got up from the desk, and walked around, clapping his hand on Akiva's back as the two made for the door. "No, it's more like...a giant caseless sausage, only better. Goes great with mashed potatoes and chili sauce. My mom's is the best-tell Jaya and you're a dead man-and I remember this time..."

Their voices were cut off as the door slid closed behind the two friends, bonds made through hardship, travails, and joys unwilling to be stifled by current events echoing through the corridor...

END

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