Recertifying--More or Less (part 2)

Posted on Mon Apr 9th, 2018 @ 1:22am by Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde & Lieutenant Commander Jason Smoak
Edited on on Mon Apr 9th, 2018 @ 2:31am

1,173 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Ghost of a Chance

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"If you want something more challenging, I can provide, but only at the ladies request." Jason crossed his arms over his chest and smirked slightly.

[NEW]


This was supposed to be a standard recertification. She could not ask for something more challenging. And she was still afraid to take that step. Instead of answering, she took a phaser and shot the target with her other hand. "Do you wish to see if I can shoot with both hands, just in case one gets injured? Or would you rather move on to the next test?" It was cowardly, and she would be ashamed of herself later, but right now, she could not answer him.

Jason rolled his eyes and said nothing.

"Commander, you are the Chief. In this, I follow your orders. Tell me what you want to see from me. And if you want more of a challenge, then after I pass, we can try something else."

"This is the first phase and it's designed to be easy. It's designed to test your familiarity with the weapons funtions and your capability to aim and shoot at the target. So lets move, because I think you'll find this next part more to your liking." Jason let out a slight laugh as he picked up the PADD. "Computer: Begin second phase of the program."

The weapons on the table vanished before a different set appeared on. Now, each weapon on the table were not Starfleet issue. Bajoran, Klingon, Cardassian, Romulan, and a few others. The targets moved farther, but this time appeared on two tracks running parallel with each other. Also, a drone appeared between them, a red light shined in its display.

"Unless you don't want to move to phase two because you think its not challenging." He smirked a bit.

This was a different type of moving target than she'd seen others use. "I understand the necessity for the stationary targets," she said. "They are important. These promise to be more interesting." She was also impressed with the program. He was being very thorough.

"Regardless of what I do or do not think, I will pass all levels of your re certification," she said. Because she knew that it was important for everyone on the ship to know how to defend themselves if the need arose. "I must also lead by example."

She watched how the two tracks worked with each other, how the pattern continually changed. She watched the drone move around. It was a very nice program indeed.

She selected her first weapon. The two targets were fairly easy, but she missed the drone the first time when it suddenly changed direction as if sensing she was about to shoot it. The second time, she hit her target. After that, it became a sort of ballet. She focused on the task at hand and used many of the moves she learned under Liang's tutelage, which helped her be less predictable and more agile. She did it not to show off, or to prove anything, but simply because she enjoyed it.

When she was done, she set the last weapon on the table and bowed to Jason in a traditional acknowledgement of the end of a round of competition.

Jason raised a brow slightly before looking at his PADD. "I take it that one was more up to your standard." He let out a slight smirk before shifting through the information. "I'm curious. Why the sudden need to lead by example?"

"It is not sudden," Jayde said. "I cannot ask anyone to do what I will not do myself. That was true when I was Chief of Security. It is more true now that I am First Officer. They may not see the score, but they will know I did all that was required to the best of my ability." One side of her mouth quirked up. "It is also a personal challenge to do my best."

Jason said as he lowered the PADD. "I get it, the whole personal challenge thing, but everything else is just an excuse. I know your good. Good enough to be the Chief of this department. Even better to take the First Officer position. Everyone here knows, Jayde. This test is just paperwork and protocol. Being a former Chief you should understand that. I have no doubt you can handle yourself. I just need to make sure your certification is up to date."

"Then you know how important it is for both of us to take this seriously. To do our best," she said. "I believe in doing my best, even if it counts for nothing. Even if I'm doing it for my own pleasure." She walked up to him, her expression serious. "You don't know who I am. You know who I was. Would you honestly respect me if I came in here and did just enough to pass? Or if I refused altogether because it was too easy? What kind of leader would I be then? What kind of person?"

"I don't think that's accurate." Jason replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I think you are who you always were, just more has been added to your character and you've decided bury the parts of yourself that you want to forget along with the parts of your past that hurt." He narrowed his eyes slightly, keeping to his smile and speaking to her softly. "I could have faked all the results, but that wouldn't be right or fair to you, and I would rather take a few minutes out of my time to do things right. I trust you, even if you don't trust think so. This isn't about what kind of leader you are or setting an example. Its about keeping your certification up to date."

"It's the same thing. Doing my best so that if I pass, I pass because I did what was required, and to show that I can be trusted to handle myself in a firefight. But he didn't know her as well as he thought he did. Yes, there were many things that had not changed much, but she was no longer the 18-year-old rebel she once was.

He placed the PADD on the table and looked back to her. "Personally, I don't care what you think I think about you. I know what I think about you and it hasn't changed. It hasn't changed then and it hasn't changed now. You've decided to turn me into a villain, which is fair given what happened, but as a member of Starfleet you should understand that I was following my orders, which I went against when I sent that message to give you guys a head start." Jason let out a sigh and stopped himself. He didn't want to add more to her already confused mind in regards to that whole ordeal. "How about we finish this?"

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Commander Jason Smoak
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Lieutenant Commander Mira Jayde
Executive Officer

 

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