A Simple Chat?

Posted on 23 Feb 2016 @ 6:49am by Commander C. Kos & Lieutenant Avery Stuart Ph.D.

954 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Outbreak
Location: Detention
Timeline: Backpost

As Avery made her way to the brig for the second time in a short while, this time to meet with Kos, Stuart was chagrined to realize she hadn't had much prior one on one interaction with the XO. Now, she was meeting with the woman because she was a suspected traitor, and though she felt professionally obligated to complete a psychological evaluation and offer basic care in light of these allegations, Avery was ashamed to admit this was the circumstance that led to a rare personal interaction.

Still, she couldn't let the past dictate the present, and whether the woman was guilty or innocent, Avery needed to speak to her. After being granted entry to the brig proper, Stuart found Kos' cell in short order. "Hello, Commander. Mind if I come in for a few moments to chat?"

Mac looked up at the blue-eyed counselor. "Whether you can come in or not is beyond my control," Kos replied, motioning to the security guard nearby.

Avery supposed if she were in Kos' circumstances, she wouldn't expect anyone to present her with choices either. "I would never force my way in here if you didn't want to talk to me, no matter who was in charge," Stuart explained patiently. "I'll ask again. Mind if I come in for a few moments to chat?"

Mackenzie closed her eyes. "In case you somehow missed it Counselor, I'm in jail. My freedom has been taken from me. It is not up to me if you can come into my cell or not." She opened her eyes and looked towards the guard. "He gets to make that call. So you should ask him if you can come in."

"You may be incarcerated right now," Avery replied patiently, "but you're still a sentient being and for this interaction, I'm giving you the choice, but if you'd rather the guard make a decision..." Stuart let the thought trail and looked up at the guard who promptly lowered the force field so she could step inside.

"What do you want to talk about, Counselor?"

"Considering it's not every day you end up in the brig, I was thinking we could talk about the circumstances which led to your arrest and perhaps how you're coping?" There was no sarcasm in Stuart's voice, but she was more than a bit surprised the XO would even ask what she wanted to talk about. Avery couldn't decide if Kos was in denial or simply defeated.

"Coping?" she chuckled quietly. Then she sighed heavily. "I'm sure the whole ship knows why I'm here," she explained. "Since you're not a lawyer, I'd rather not talk about my 'circumstances'."

Kos folded her arms in front of her chest. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

Avery sat on the bench beside Kos and regarded her for a moment. It was obvious she was feeling hurt and resentment, and Avery didn't blame her. The accusations against the XO were startling and time in the brig didn't exactly strengthen the belief she would get through this, but Avery also knew self-pity wasn't going to help her, nor was her resistance. Stuart shrugged. "I told you what I thought we could talk about, but you prefer to speak to a lawyer first, so perhaps it's best you tell me what you'd be comfortable talking about. I can't imagine you don't have things you'd like to get off your chest right about now."

As a child, Mackenzie had been obstinate. It was a trait that she got, decidedly, from her father. He'd made a career of it in fact. It was what made him a good diplomat. The elder Kos had always been able to plant his feet firmly and weather any storm, all the while talking other into agreeing with him. Mac was not nearly as talented at the negotiation part. But she was stubborn.

She was also smart enough to know that she had been off since Nestene. She just wasn't sure she was ready to talk about it.

"Any topic?" she probed.

"Any topic," Avery repeated, now curious about the door she'd opened.

"Fine. Have you ever watched someone die? Right in front of you? Violently?"

Avery took a beat before she answered. She didn't want the focus to shift to herself, but she also didn't want to lie. "Yes," she finally answered, her words obviously difficult to get out. "I watched my father kill my mother.

"I watched two officers under my command die horrible, needless deaths, just feet away from me."

"And the guilt is eating you alive." It was a statement, not a question. "Perhaps you see this incarceration as just punishment for their deaths?"

"I'm in here because I've been falsely accused of sabotage. Harvey will ensure that I get a fair trial. So, no Counselor, I don't see this as a punishment for Reza and Braxus. Nor do I think I need to be punished for it. I did not kill them."

"Having to watch a near-constant replay of their brutal deaths is punishment enough," she added, quietly.

Avery noted Kos' last statement seem to contradict what she had said before. It also didn't escape her Kos had referred to the Captain by his first name, though Avery wasn't sure of the significance of it. She supposed time would tell. It was clear Kos had been traumatized and fighting hard not to let this latest obstacle let her fall even deeper into despair. "You've been through enough to know life isn't fair, but you also have enough experience to know you've survived far worse than false accusations. Trust in that, and when this is all over, I would welcome the chance to speak again."

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