12404.14 – 08:16 hours- Glen Haven – Nova Scotia, Canada,Earth
Jacob felt himself being thrown to the ground. His captors had taken him to various places by land vehicle and finally by shuttle until he and a group of others had been unceremoniously dumped onto a concrete floor. The bag was still on his head; Jacob could smell the sea nearby and old-fashioned motor oil. Forcefully the cotton bag over his head was removed. Through the bright light, he saw that he and about 20 other soldiers were in what once had been a fishing shack. "Morning, fledgling whelps!" A harsh voice said from nearby called out.
"If you told Star Fleet you wanted to prove to them what kind of soldier you are, here is your chance." Jacob's eyes finally focused on a relatively robust tactical officer pacing at the front of the room. "This week, I will test you in ways you have never been tested. My job is to break you." Jacob heard a few whimpers from the recruits around him. "Here, I don't care if you a petty officer four or a captain, here you a whelp, and you will remain one until you cross that line." Jacob had heard the speel before, but he had been a younger man then. "To show you I am not without mercy, I will promise you three things. One, you will not be starved of food or water while you are under my command. You will receive medical treatment if you are hurt, no questions asked. And three, if you want to leave at any time, all you have to do is ring that bell." He pointed over to a large old fashion ships bell. "You ring that bell, and your time with me is up. You ring that bell you go home to a nice warm bed, dry clothes, and a dreamless sleep, but you do NOT progress to your next step in training. You go back to being an ordinary Star Fleet soldier. Is that understood?"
Jacob was one of the few that responded automatically, "Yes, sir."
"What did I say?"
"Yes, Sir!" the whole group shouted back.
"Each of you was granted one item to bring to training. I hope you chose wisely." The officer sneered. "Pick your item, and get suited up; you have five minutes."
With a slight smirk, Jacob quickly changed out of his duty uniform into the provided coveralls. He left his cane and other personal items in the locker provided for him. The one item he kept was the sword necklace that Sam gave him.
"What'cha keepn' that for?" One of the other recruits asked as they, too, got dressed.
"It's all I need." Jacob quickly laced up his boots and stood, bearing more weight on his right leg.
"I'd take my cane if it was me. At least it would help you walk." Another recruit snidely commented. "You might even make it to the end of the dock."
Jacob didn't say anything; he just watched the jerk walk away.
"Pissant doesn't know what you have, does he?" The first recruit asked Jacob as they both slid their 50-kilo packs onto their backs.
"Not in the slightest," Jacob smirked. "Let's move. I would rather be in the middle of the pack than the last man."
12404.14 – 13:50 hours- Ravenswood- Earth
"Jacob was picked up by a training team this morning as part of his assessment for duty," Robin explained, hands clasped behind her back.
"Kidnapped him, you mean."
"If Star Fleet wants to test him and others in a crisis, it is a good way to do it," Robin said frankly.
"Did Jacob know it was going to happen?"
"No." Robin shook her head, "Given what Sam told me, he thought it would be a typical all-day medical assessment."
"Did you know?" Richard looked her in the eyes.
Robin looked to the right and back at him, "No. I didn't."
Richard took his hat off and threw it into the corner in frustration.
"What are they trying to do?"
"Push him until he breaks," Robin says coolie.
"You and I both know, Admiral, that could kill him." Richard went over and picked up the hat.
"At least we will know his limits," Robin twirled an item in her fingers, not looking at Richard.
"You would kill your own god daughter's love to prove a point?"
Robin's eyes flashed up to his, "Kill, no. Push until he breaks. Yes" she looked back down and took a pad from her bag.
"Richard, the evaluation team didn't release his assessment plans until he was already taken." Robin handed Richard the pad. "They assigned Christine to a 48 hour trauma assessment team so that she wouldn't interfere."
Richard scanned the pad, "Christine is your god daughter, why would you do this to her?"
"I'm not the one doing it to her!" Robin snapped back, she closed her eyes, centered herself, and spoke again. "Jacob's assessment team needs to know if he can be counted on when the need comes. Will he break when his team needs him. He faltered once, and it nearly cost him his life."
"This is sick!"
"There are members that question if Jacob can do his job if Christine is involved. She is his weakness. He can't have that when he is in the field. You and I both know that."
"Locking Christine away from everyone is not the way to do it."
"It wasn't my idea." Robin wiped her face with her hands. "My guess is that they are trying to give something for Christine to focus on, other than what is happening to Jacob. Add in the problems caused by that co-worker of hers." Richard rolled his eyes, "He questioned Christine's focus and commitment while Jacob was on his mission."
"He would." Richard grumbled.
"He put it in writing, Star Fleet has to check it out." Robin shrugged, "Even if it is a load of excrement."
"How are they doing?"
"Christine is dead on her feet dealing with patients; barely able to grab a bite of food or drink of water, and inspiring all those around." Robin smirked. "Soon as they told her that the kids were with her family, and she would see Jacob in a few days, she went right to work. That is not to say she isn't pissed over how everything was handled."
"Heh, and Jacob?"
"As I expected, his foot speed is on the lower end, but he is being a leader to his fellow recruits, and taking everything in stride as I thought he would. If he wasn't attached to Christine, I'd want him on one of my ships."
"You aren't getting him." Richard teased sourly.
"Tell that to the other brass. Jacob is good, very good, and certain people want him back."
Richard closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm not sure if I should be upset or proud of Christine for calling the White Rabbit."
"It is what you would have done." Robin side eyed him, "Christine is that good of doctor. She called in for back up when she needed it. It's what you have trained her to do. Considering she is keeping her grades up with her fellow residents, despite taking care of her kids, and Jacob; I am dam proud of your daughter." Robin learned over and put a hand on Richard's shoulder, "Star Fleet is not targeting Jacob and Christine. They have to know, if two of their best officers can be counted on to not break when things get tough."
"Tossing Jacob into full combat forces training, and Christine into a trauma assessment team at the same time was not the best strategy."
"Is that a father or Admiral talking?"
"Both."
Robin considered something for a moment, "Tell me Richard, when we were their age, what would have broken you and I. What almost did break us both?" Robin looked him dead in the eye.
"Me, Lynn. You, Alan."
"When Alan…" Robin closed her eyes, and took a deep breath before speaking again, " When I heard about the accident." She swallowed, "If it wasn't for the Sea's, I would have crumbled."
"They were good people."
"I honestly don't remember how he pulled it off, but Captain Sea got me on a shuttle to Alan's medical ship, and allowed me to spend time with Alan before returning to the Comanche."
"You and Alan had been married how long?"
"1 years, 7 months, and 6 days when I got the call." Robin gave Richard a sad smile.
"You were three months pregnant with Grace at the time, weren't you."
"I thought all the problems I was having was due the stress of Alan's accident." Robin smirked.
"Since his accident, Alan doesn't take chances. But the day Sam was born early, sight or no sight he would have fought anyone who stood between you and him."
"I don't agree with how Star Fleet is testing those two," Robin sat up, "But it is something that commonly happens out there."
"Comand needs to know how far they can push their operative in the field, but how they are doing it is bull shit, and you know it." Richard growled.
"When I first met Jacob, I challenged him to get back to Blackbird rediness." Robin watched Richard's reaction.
Richard stilled for a moment, and raised an eyebrow, "Did you?"
"Regulations say he could never be a part of the team again, but I wanted Christine to have the best guy out there." Robin smirked. "I mean the other one was already married to my daughter."
Richard playfully glared at her, "Why didn't you tell me he was a Blackbird."
"Do you really expect me to answer that?"
"No, but it would have been helpful."
"When he sat on that exam table, I knew I had to take his case. Not for Christine, not for Star Fleet, but because I saw a good man who had potential and just needed someone to have faith in him." Robin gave Richard a knowing look, "He reminded me of someone I once knew."
"Yeah, yeah," Richard smiled and brushed her off. "Like mother like daughter."
"We should go call off the troops before things get out of hand." Robin gestured to the closed office door.
"Lynn could use some help holding off the charge out there." Richard stood and headed toward the door, but stop just before opening it, "Robin, could Jacob return?"
"If he wanted to, I think an exception could be made. He proved all the naysayers wrong about him, and many will expect Jacob to roll over and go back to the way he was." Robin responded honestly.
Richard grinned, "They don't know him very well, do they."
