It wasn't because of that

Posted on Mon Feb 14th, 2022 @ 1:54am by Captain Xavier Carey & Lieutenant Commander Tony Johnson

Mission: Free write
Location: Gymnasium

Xavier sat on the branch, talsi was sleeping beside him, her tail wrapped around him along with an arm. Something was bothering him, this mission had not ended the way he thought. Crew came, crew went. On one incident within mere hours. Kane was gone, and so was Leonard. Last he had heard, he was going to make a full recovery, however, a return was a long ways off, if he chose to. Something told him Kane wasn't one to remain at home, or behind a desk.

However that wasn't what bothered him. Lt Commander Johnson, he was on the security detail on the first team that was sent down. There when the Captain was shot. He knew how he would feel if he was over looked. But then again, the position he had he was originally originally overlooked.

"Tal, I gotta go. Duty calls." he replied, without even flinching she moved her arm tightened her grip with her tail and lowered him. Getting dressed he grabbed a bottle and headed down towards the gym. Something had told him, he was spending a lot more time there.

Tony was located his usual hangout spot the gym. One might say spending so much time here was unhealthy, but he had increased his muscle mass. At this point the last person exited the gym, leaving Tony alone on the weight bench.

Having changed to his workout clothes, he walked into the gym, looking around he noticed who he was looking for, and made his way over. "Commander, you have a moment."

Placing the bar back on the rack, Tony sat up on the bench, "Sure thing Captain."

"Losing a Comanding officer when you feel responsible for them is never easy. I have been there, long tie ago." Xavier replied. "It wasn't your fault."

Tony looked over to Carey and thought for a moment. "Are you sure about that?"

"By all accounts, it seemed like an opportunity rather than a specific target. It could have been anyone of you." Xavier replied. "In the game of chess... for the most part, you have a choice of The Queen, the Rook, and a knight. With no danger to your king whatsoever. Your orders are to take one of them out... any one of them. Do you take the knight that has a limited amount of moves.... the rook that is restricted by going a certain way, or do you go for the queen."

"Logically I know that the Captain is the better target. Its just a feeling of failure, which I do well with." Tony sighed briefly. "There definitely is a lesson to learn from al of this."

"Look, when I first started off, I was on a team, we were in cardassian space, behind enemy lines... and I was there when my team CO was killed. I didn't have any way of changing the outcome. Thing is Commander. Shit happens. my team CO was my father. I watched him die in front of me. Blast to the chest. Along with four other members of his team."

"Damn...I'm so sorry to hear that."

"There is more to it, I was the one to kill him, from massacring innocent civilians. They were the enemy. but innocent just the same. I fought the emotions. Probably more than you are right now."

Tony was silent and clearly had nothing to say. Everything that the Commander was going through seemed very petty and the time. From the Captain who seriously injured to the fact that this incident may have cost him the Second Officer position.

"I wouldn't take it as failing Commander... he lives, you got him back to the ship in time. Because of your swift action." Xavier replied as he checked the weight on the machine next to him. "I know your record. I know your capabilities. Its nothing to worry about."

"Thank you Sir," Johnson spoke. "That means a lot seriously."

"Just don't give up. I'll be needing you around."

"Trust me, I'll be around."

Xavier nodded, "Good to know." He turned, "Luckily i was heading down this way anyway, might as well get some in."