In the Centurion's ready room, Captain Mitriv Ronovsky sat down in his chair. He leaned forward, folded his hands and placed them on the desk. Lowering his head to collect his thoughts, he took a slow and deep breath.
Lieutenants Derek and Damon Lowe were standing at attention on the other side of the desk. The room remained silent for some time, and the tension grew with every second.
Damon was just about to open his mouth, when the Captain broke the silence.
"I will not tolerate any member of this crew causing a disturbance when under my command!" He looked up with a hard edge to his eyes.
'Darnit!' Derek thought to himself while trying to keep his eyes straight ahead. 'He already heard of our confrontation in the bar? News sure travels fast.'
Captain Ronovsky planted his knuckles firmly on the desk and slowly rose from his chair, stooping over the desk to peer at them even closer. They kept their eyes even.
"You two 'space cowboys' are lucky that there weren't any punches thrown," he glowered. "I would have had you thrown into the brig for the remainder of our stay!" He stood up straight. "I trust, there won't be any more problems from the two of you from now on," he said sternly.
Derek and Damon swallowed hard. "YES, SIR!"
Mitriv Ronovsky's expression softened slightly. "At ease, gentlemen."
They relaxed a bit and exchanged relieved glances.
The Captain stepped around the desk and faced the Assistant Chief Engineer. "As you know, I've had my share of troubles in my life," he admonished Derek. "But we all have to learn to deal with unexpected... and, at times, unpleasant... situations. I want you to go see the station's Counselor, Lieutenant, since ours is on shore leave right now. I will set up an appointment for you."
"Yes, sir," Derek sighed.
"That's an order, Lieutenant," the Captain emphasized gently, while laying his hand on Derek's shoulder.
The grieved Engineer appreciated the friendly gesture and nodded somberly.
Captain Ronovsky walked back around the desk and stood next to his chair. "Well, if there's nothing else...," he started.
"Matter of fact...," Damon interjected, "there is, Captain."
Mitriv Ronovsky raised his brows in surprise. "Yes, Lieutenant?"
"I would like to request an extended emergency leave, sir."
"For what purpose?"
"To join my father in his investigation," the Tactical Officer answered promptly.
Ronovsky turned toward the window, walked over to it, and contemplated for a few long moments. Then he swung back around and looked at Damon. "Request denied, Lieutenant."
"WHAT?" Damon's voice became agitated. "May I ask, why?"
"There is no immediate reason for you to leave. Your father is more than capable of handling this investigation by himself," the Captain stated calmly.
"But...," Damon frowned, "... my mother..."
"No buts, Lieutenant," Captain Ronovsky interrupted him. "My decision stands. Your duty to this ship comes first. Do I make myself clear?"
Damon's frown grew into a bitter grimace. 'We'll see about that!'
"Don't misunderstand me," Mitriv Ronovsky continued with compassion, "I do sympathize with your situation. As you're very well aware of, my parents have been missing in action for a long time, but you don't see me gallivanting across the galaxy. We are Starfleet officers and, as such, family cannot come first. Otherwise, you missed your calling, Lieutenant."
He had started pacing with his hands behind his back. Now, he stopped and looked back at at the young officer again. "You will not leave this facility, Lieutenant. Is that understood?"
Damon's jaw tightened, but he did not answer. 'We'll see about that, too!'
"Don't make me confine you to your quarters," Captain Ronovsky admonished him firmly.
The tension in the room had grown thick again. Damon still did not answer. The Captain steadily held the young man's gaze for a few more seconds, then sighed.
"Dismissed!"
Derek put his arm around his brother's shoulders and ushered him out of the Captain's ready room.
Mitriv Ronovsky watched them leave with a heavy heart. He sat back down in his chair and folded his hands across his chest. 'I do understand how you feel, Damon, he sighed heavily. Only all too well...'
=/\=
"Who does that man think he is?" Damon was fuming, as he walked down the corridor next to his brother.
"Last time I checked," Derek sternly reminded him, "your Commanding Officer!"
Damon scoffed.
"And,... as much as he sympathizes with us," Derek continued, being the more level-headed one this time around, "his first duty does lie with Starfleet, this ship, and its crew. And... so does ours, as he correctly pointed out."
"Well, blood is thicker than..."
"Don't get all philosophical on me," Derek stopped his brother in mid-sentence. They had arrived at the Engineer's quarters. "We have our orders," he stated.
Damon frowned.
"I've gotta freshen up and then find Liam," Derek informed him. "Go get some rest, bro. Ok?"
Damon turned around and marched back toward the turbo lift.
"And... don't do anything stupid!" his older brother called out after him.
Damon grinned menacingly to himself. 'We'll see...'
=/\= - =/\=
1500 HRS
"Ah, here you are," Derek remarked when stepping into Liam's guest quarters. "I was hoping to find you on the ship. Was in no mood to go looking for you on the station."
His cousin was sprawled on the couch, almost asleep, but he jumped up as soon as Derek entered. "Need something?"
"Yeah, I have orders to go see the station's Counselor," Derek sighed. "Did you ever find out who that was? I've left the Captain's office so quickly that I completely forgot to ask him about it."
"Aye. It's Lieutenant Sawyer," Liam replied with a slight frown. "Room 423, on level 4."
"Great." Derek was turning around to leave again, then swung back toward Liam, "Shouldn't you be getting your things ready to leave the ship?"
"Right," Liam looked around for his belongings, "I almost got everything together. Just wanted to get a bit of rest and look over some of the information your father sent us. I thought, maybe I could help them make heads and tails of it. Never can have too many minds on a case."
"Good idea," Derek smiled thankfully. "Here are the updates we've just received." He tossed Liam the data PADD. "Don't leave before ya say good-bye, cuz. Ok? Gotta go now, before the Captain gets on to me for procrastinating." He sighed. "Room 423, Lieutenant Sawyer, right?"
Liam looked up from the PADD and nodded. "You might want to put on some armor...," he suggested with a smirk.
His cousin looked at him in puzzlement.
"She... can be a real 'dragon'!" Liam chuckled nervously. "But, I'm sure that has mainly to do with me."
"You know her?" Derek ventured.
"Yeah... at least, I thought I did," Liam sighed, then shook his head, "But that's a long story."
Derek scratched his head. "Well, I'll be off then... to face the 'dragon'," he laughed, acting like he was wielding a sword. "Orders are orders. And, I don't want to get into a 'discussion' with the Captain, again."
"Good luck!"
Liam rolled his eyes in amusement, when his cousin parried an imaginary attack, as he was leaving the guest quarters. 'Maybe I shouldn't have made that remark...'