"...and if you ever pull a stunt like that again, losing your field commission will be the last of your worries, do you understand me Piccolo?"
"Sir yes Sir"
Captain Hudson stared at Piccolo for a moment "and on a Personal note Mr. Piccolo, I am very disappointed in your relapse, you were making excellent progress." The Captain put extra emphasis on the word were to drive his point home.
"Dismissed".
Tony turned to leave, before the Captain added "And Piccolo."
Tony stopped and faced the captain again wondering what sort of punishment Hudson was going to give him "Please be something easy like cleaning the moon pool."
"While your actions are in no way acceptable a military officer, your commitment to your crewmen is commendable"
"Sir?" Tony way very confused now.
"There's not many people who would risk a career they worked so hard to jump-start for a crewman and someone they never met."
"Thank you sir." Tony was shocked. He continued out the door and to his quarters. He thought about when he first came on Seaquest, how quick he was to ask for compensation for his work, and how easily he would have sold out Lucas and Captain Bridger if he thought he could benefit. He wouldn't have risked anything for Tim, and definitely wouldn't have respected him in anyway. Tony thought though, that it was that old part of him that respected Tim now, the ex-con appreciating a man who defied rules. But it was Warrant Officer Piccolo who respected him for defying the rules for something he really believed in.
Back in his quarters, the Captain got ready for bed. He pulled a worn book from a drawer on the nightstand The Red Badge of Courage, which Piccolo had returned for the second time a few days earlier. He thought about Piccolo and smiled. He might still make Captain someday he thought. He reached back into the drawer and pulled out a pair of pink spectacles. Putting them on, he started in on his book with one last thought, of a young boy who could barely read, dreaming of great submarines who would grow up to Captain the UEO Flagship.