Explanation

Posted on Thu Jul 8th, 2021 @ 1:23pm by Executive Officer Kyle Reece (Mirror) & Captain Reuben Gregnol (Mirror)

Mission: Mirror Mirror
Location: ISS Fenrir, Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: 2396
1235 words - 2.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Good to his word, once Kyle was cleaned up, he made his way directly to Gregnol's private office. During the trip to the ready room, he ignored the stares and looks of sympathy both. He would have no false protestations of support from anyone. The one person on this ship that he had wanted to hear from, had spoken her kind words to him.

Upon reaching the bridge, he instructed Micheal to stay out of the way. He then moved to the closed office. He could feel the eyes of every person on the bridge, focused on him. Without acknowledging any of them, he reached up and pressed the door chime.

Gregnol looked from the screen he was flicking through to the door. It would only be one person who was bothering him and they were not caressing his mind to test his mood so it would not be Selina. “Enter.” He called watching as Kyle walked in.

As soon as the doors slid open, Kyle moved inside, stopping few paces in front of Gregnol's desk. "Sir, before you say anything, please accept my apology for both damaging my quarters and disrupting your ship, Sir." Kyle remained at rigid attention as he spoke.

The thick accent is man looked over before shrugging. What he could say about the man when somehow someone had something on him outside of his spill of control or interferences. “Commander you can apologise all you want but it doesn’t make a difference I see you is a liability at the moment. Someone has something on you and I do not want that for Fenrir. I want to know everything about that video and I’m disgusted that I’ve heard it from the interrogator and that witch of all people.” He knew the rumours about agrax and her bouts of madness but she was loyal and did her job well in keeping him informed of his crew.

Nodding, Kyle remained at attention. "Yes, Sir! Unfortunately, though I have enemies, none are angry or crazy enough to do this. I wish I knew who it was, so I could find them and make their deaths last longer and more gruesome than what they did to my wife and our unborn child. Sir."

"So who are these known enemies?" Gregnol wondered keeping him at attention. This was going to be nothing more than a flying visit, he did not want him to relax. He had other issues to deal with that required his whole attention, he did not have time to waste on events that could have come from anywhere in the universe.

Kyle frowned slightly. "A few disgruntled officers that I've bested in challenge duels, a rebel captain that I thwarted last year. Nothing major, Captain."

"So nothing that I need to worry about affecting your duties with our current situation? I will ask Ford to investigate it with Agrax and my contact with the Empress." Gregnol demanded glancing at his screen and the image that it contained on there. It was no good trying to avoid it all, it would all need to be faced eventually. The Empress was not impressed with what had been discovered already/

Kyle replied succinctly. "No, Sir." He then nodded his head once and replied to the rest. "Understood, Sir." There was a part of him that could feel the distrust the Russian held for him. It was probably why he hadn't been offered a seat, given the circumstances. However, as Alexis had mentioned earlier, he was untested on this ship. Clearly, his impressive service record wasn't enough for the Butcher of Betazed.

"Permission to speak, Sir?"

"If you feel the need to speak at the moment instead of returning to your quarters or duties if you feel up to it then let's hear it, Commander." Gregnol indicated the man could go ahead and speak. Gregnol closed down what was on his screen and gave the man the attention he needed.

Taking a breath, Kyle began. "Sir, with all due respect, I know I've only been your number one for a short time, and we haven't spoken much, outside of the bridge. But I'm a good officer, Sir. You've seen my file. I have served with both honor and distinction. I requested this assignment, because of you. I wanted to serve with a captain that I respected. I regret that this situation has come to your doorstep." He paused before finishing. "Should you chose, I will put in for an immediate reassignment, Sir."

"If I wanted you gone commander I would have asked Agrax to kill you or put you out of an airlock." He said without a hint of remorse. "You might not be what I chose but I have no complaints other than wrecking your quarters," Gregnol said simply. He was a man of few words and even less to the officers under him.

Kyle nodded silently. He did feel a small sense of relief, both from Gregnol not wanting him gone, and the knowledge that, should he order Alexis to terminate him, it would, hopefully, be quick. "Understood, Captain." He paused, unsure if there was more to say.

Gregnol waited a long moment until it was almost awkward before he decided to speak up and say something other than dismissing the man. "Commander please do not take my lack of interest as a lack of concern but I have bigger issues than an officer's personnel life but my advice that murder was personal so look close to home as I suspect your wife would not be an easy target. She would have trusted her killers." He said proving why he was the Butcher of Betazed with that thought.

The words, while not totally warm, did convey a level of condolence from the senior officer. Kyle did not miss it. "Thank you, Captain. I will consider it carefully. And I give you my word, while I will be in mourning for my loss, I will strive to give you my utmost professionalism. However, as soon as the situation allows, and it would be convenient for you, I would like to request a brief bereavement leave, so that I may fully mourn for my loss, without any distractions, Sir."

Well, there was no time like now to tell him some of the conversations he had, had with the Empress over the revelations that had occurred on the bridge a week or so ago. It was hard to keep track of time some days. “Our mission will not allow any of the crew to be leaving the ship for a very long time but you can take the leave in your quarters or holodeck.” The captain explained. They were heading into a situation where nothing would ever be the same again.

Kyle nodded again. "Then, following this meeting, with your permission, I will be utilizing holodeck two for the next three days. That way, should I need to destroy something, it's only holograms. Once I leave the holodeck, you will have my full attention, Sir."

The Captain nodded. He could do that, it would be easier than more of his ship getting destroyed. "Leave," Gregnol said dismissing him simply. He had nothing more to say and far too much to think on.

Nodding once, Kyle saluted the Captain. Then, after performing a crisp about face, he marched back out of the large ready room.