Say Something

Posted on Fri Jan 26th, 2024 @ 9:50pm by Commander Jenna Ramthorne

Mission: The Beginning of the End
Timeline: Current-ish

The doors parted to the Ready Room and Jenna entered. She stood at attention, the face of her friend, her mentor, eyes down sat across the desk from her. It was clear she was focused on her work. As the doors closed behind her, Jenna cleared her throat and eked out, “Commander Jenna Ramthorne, reporting for duty.”

The room froze, not even a beating heart could be heard. Rhenora’s fingers, which had been moving and scanning through her terminal, no longer moved briefly. And then she moved. She pulled back her hands into a pair of clenched hands leaning upon the desk before her. Her composure became rigid and when she looked at Jenna, it was as if she were looking through her at the door behind her. “For duty you say?” She held out her hands for the order PADD, which Jenna gladly handed her before returning to her soldier's posture. “Have you checked in with my first officer?” Rhenora asked matter of factly.

“I… I have not yet. My orders were to report in and due to the nature of the Commanding officer I judged that to mean directly to the Captain of the vessel.” She swallowed the rest of her words, hard. There was so much she needed to say but it was clear Rhenora was playing the Captain’s game. “I trust I was not mistaken.”

Rhenora’s words were sharp, direct. “You were. On this boat, my first officer takes care of the roster and the troublemakers alike. I believe you can find your way to his office?” She hadn’t even looked at the PADD and was already handing it back to Jenna, who cautiously reached out and took it.

“Yes, yes ma’am.”

“Good. Now, dismissed Commander.” Rhenora forced out in a way Jenna was sure she had never heard before.

Jenna saluted and turned, but immediately froze short of the doors opening. She took in a breath to calm her mind as she fought the tears from falling. “Permission to speak freely Captain?”

“I fail to see the point, but be my guest. Pour your heart out for what good it’ll do.”

Jenna nodded, but did not look back, “I would have followed you anywhere if I could. I was over my head and knew nothing at all. I stumbled. I fell. I wanted to say so much for so long, but I couldn’t. And now, standing here, I know why. I hurt you. I let you down. At this point I would understand if you wanted me off your ship, I would.” She grew quiet, tears falling from her face. After a moment she turned her head and looked at Rhenora who was stone-faced, “Say something! Please?”

“Remember, it was you who abandoned us and went off on your own so many years ago and it was we who valiantly rode to your defense only to have you slam your walls up in our face. I spent five years without a command because of you, and now you have the audacity to walk back in here like nothing happened.” She took a long pause before continuing. “Some of us don’t forget or forgive quite so easily. I gave up on you long ago. Now leave.”

Jenna nodded, turned and was not only out of the Ready room, but off the ship, back into her bunk on board the transport. She checked the chronometer, still several hours before she reached DS9. She sighed and shoved a pillow into her face. The nightmares were back.

TBC