An interesting conversation

Posted on Mon Mar 28th, 2022 @ 12:05am by Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Captain Xavier Carey & Commander Antonia 'Tony" Stoffels & Lieutenant Talsi Carey
Edited on on Mon Mar 28th, 2022 @ 3:38am

Mission: Free write
Location: Quarters
Timeline: Current

Xavier was just laying in bed with the other two, one on either side. With everything going on, he only slept while the other two managed to work around him. When the call came in, he groaned, knowing almost immediately what it was about.

Tal finally opened her eyes, as she came to once again. "Go answer it and we will be here."

Sky shifted from her position cuddled up on Xavier's chest to allow him to move. "We'll be here when you get back."

Sliding some clothes on, he walked up to the computer and opened the link.

Lying in bed Sky looked at Talsi. “I wonder who would be calling at this hour?”

As soon as he opened the channel an old man appeared on the screen. Silver white hair and many wrinkles in his face. Yet it was still clear he had been very handsome in his younger years and charisma and power radiated from him.

"Good evening." Came out in a melodious drawl in the accent of the Southern american states. "Do I have the pleasure of addressing captain Xavier Carey?"

"Thats... correct.... who is asking"

"Moxley Sorrel at your service." His clear grey eyes seemed to pierce through the screen. "I'd like a word about Antonia."

"Family friend i take it."

"Grandfather. Very protective grandfather." His voice turned a lot colder.

"Ah... time to feel the wrath i take it?"

"I don't appriciate people trying to ruin her career, captain Carey. Antonia has worked very hard to get to where she is now. She has sacrificed her personal life for her career."

"It is exactly that i am concerned about.its fine and dandy to be career oriented but when you have no persomal life what so ever. Then im worried."

That took him aback. "Ah, so you are old fashioned as well." Sorrel said. "I would not mind a couple of great grandchildren to spoil. And I still do not like women going into danger."

"She is a starfleet officer, with the job comes some risk sir. But my job is to make sure she does come back safely."

'Then why am I hearing that you are making her life hard. I may be retired but I have eyes and ears throughout the fleet, young man."

"Not intentionally sir. We are having a difference of opinion."

Sky couldn't help but wonder who it was that was calling Xavier. Putting on her dressing gown she ventured down to where Xavier was taking the call. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt, I just came to see if everything was alright."

The old man's expression seemed to instantly soften. "I do beg your pardon mrs Carey." He said. "I am just making sure that your husband is treating my granddaughter well."

"Ohh I'm not Mrs Carey .. yet anyway." Sky smiled politely, she had to admit she liked being called Mrs Carey. "Please call me Sky, I take it you're Tony's grandfather from what I just heard."

"Ah." Moxley Sorrel was a very old fashioned sort of man but he tried not let anything show on his face. He was always polite to women. "Yes ma'am. Proud grandfather. And very protective grandfather."

Sky smiled. “She’s lucky to have you Sir” She looked at Xavier. “Anyway I’ll get out of the way and let you gentlemen talk.” She nodded politely to Moxley. “It was nice meeting you Sir.”

"You don't have to leave on my account." Moxley said. "Maybe you can influence your man." He smiled at her. "My daughter Alexandra married the most stubborn man in the galaxy and I am afraid that Antonia inherited part of her father's character. If she thinks she is right, she is not going to budge."

Sky nodded. “I have noticed that, she’s quite headstrong.” She smiled warmly. “As Chief Counsellor it’s leaving me in an awkward position.”

"I can imagine." the old man chuckled. "Now what is this difference of opinion about?"

"She trying to be my counsellor when I need an xo. I agreed to sessions however, when I brought up our past things didn't go smoothly."

"Your past?" An eyebrow rose.

"I was also a patient, her first. Apparently not a good one."

"is there such a thing as a good patient?" He chuckled. "Never believed in it myself and never needed it. So won't that be awkward?"

"Trust me sir, there is no ill intent on either of our parts. Just need some understandings."

"Good luck with that, son."

"Think I'll need it sir?"

"Oh yes. When that one sinks her teeth into something she won't let go. Worse than a shark. Worse than her mother even. And Alexandra is very stubborn."

"Any advice?"

"Pick your battles. You can't win them all if you work with headstrong women. Or have her transferred off your ship to a safer place without damaging her career..."

"Dad!" He was interrupted by a woman who was almost an exact copy of Tony only thirty years older. She came into view behind her father. "What the f%^& dad! What the hell are you doing? You had better not be interfering with Tony's career."

Another man came into view as well now. In his late fifties with sandy grey hair and a moustache. He seemed to be hardly able to keep himself from laughing.

Leaning back. "With respect for Tony, I will only admit that I do respect her in every way and unintentionally have caused issues with her, as I have voiced my concerns about her, which escalated out of control."

"Are you the stupid idiot who tried to go against her wishes?"

"Now now, colonel." The other man had finally spoken. "What did we say. No interfering with Tony's career. You promised. As did your father by the way." He looked pointedly at the old man. "Richard Stoffels. Sorry I did not introduce myself sooner and this is my wife Aleck. I see you have already met my father in law."

"A concerned grandfather, one cannot blame him. Tony is a great officer, sdhe has a long career ahead of her I can assure you all."

"Charmer." Aleck muttered. It was easy to see much of Tony's more temporate side in her and her quiet side in her father.

"She should have become a marine.' Moxley sighed.

Xavier looked to the guy. "If she had, I would not be where I am today, and based on your concern, I think you are proud of her nonetheless." Xavier replied. "Sometimes the biggest battles are in someones head."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Moxley asked. "You talk in riddles boy."

"She helped me win my biggest battle that I have had to go through, I was her first patient, and if it wasn't for her, I am positive I wouldnt be sitting here talking to you about her. I am sure you heard of some of the atrocities done by a certain team of starfleets. There was a big ordeal, put a blemish on starfleet possibly forever."

The three all looked at each other and something of understanding passed between them.

"Tony never shares any details of patients with us." Richard said. "but I know of that mission of course. Ehm Tony probably did not tell you that her parents are in starfleet and her grandfather was." He knew how she sometimes hated their high ranks.

"Stoffels are well known, Tony did not need to mention. Well the officer in charge of that team was my father, he was putting starfleets safety first even if it meant killing innocents." Xavier paused. "I was present at the last one that was about to happen, and ended up killing him and his team, from slaughtering the elderly, women and children. It wasn't until afterwards when I realized how bad it had affected me when I assaulted several school teachers when I saw them line children up against the wall in a regular game of basketball with the students awaiting to be picked for teams. Charges were dropped, and I was sent to medical for PTSD counselling, where I first met Tony."

This shut up both Moxley and Aleck. Of course the then marshal of marines as the highest ranking marine general in starfleet had seen all the evidence but he had not talked to many who had been present and not in this way. Richard who had a very different style of command had. So he was not as taken aback as his wife and father in law.

"I am very glad Tony was able to help you, Xavier. That is a hell of a thing to live through. Have you ever tried survivor groups?" He asked. "Just veterans talking about this kind of stuff amongst each other. No rank, just first names. It helped me a great deal after some of the missions I went on."

"After I was done with Tony, I had a deep space assignment that took me 7 years to return from." Xavier was surprised he was opening up to these... strangers.... "I apologize sir, these are facts you do not need to know."

"It's alright, Xavier. We are all soldiers. My wife here has seen her share of horrors. Lost a brother in battle." He gave Moxley and Aleck a quick look. "We understand these things. Tell you what, I will give you my direct number bypassing my aids and you can call me night an day if you need it. When the nightmares come."

Xavier gave a look, his facial expressions loosened. He understood. He simply nodded.

Sky hadn’t intentionally been listening but hearing what Xavier had said she walked up behind him offering a gentle supportive hug before standing beside him. “That’s very kind of you to help Xavier Sir.”

"Your servant." Richard said. "And I mean it. I have found the combination of a good therapist and the help of those who went through the same works the best. And now I am going to make sure that my wife and her father don't bother you again. Tony is very capable of looking after herself."

"We can both agree to that." Xavier replied

Richard nodded and then broke the connection.