Debriefing with the Odd man out.

Posted on Fri Jan 20th, 2023 @ 1:29am by Lieutenant Kara Danvers

1,608 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Ghost Hunting Season
Location: Earth
Timeline: Current

Admiral Santos Barevi looked at his notes and nodded. He had expected nothing else. He beamed to the Aldrin’s bridge and took note of the Orion sitting in the command chair and then behind her to tactical and nodded to the woman standing there. “Lieutenant Kara Danvers, it is time for your debriefing. Come with me, now.” He waited until she joined him and then beamed back to his office. “Sit where you like.” He said, pointing to chairs and couches, he didn’t have a desk in here as he always preferred to work lying down on a couch.

“Okay…” Having followed. It was fine with her. Kara gave a pretty good look around the office though, taking in every bit, and in her ‘own’ way. Then actually, just sat down in the middle of the floor, cross-legged. Looking up, “Ready.”

Santos chuckled and joined her on the floor. “I see you like comfort over convention. My name is Santos, my friends call me Sano. May I call you Kara?”

“Yes, Admiral. Kara is fine.” She still gave a look for details around the office.

“Thank you, Kara. Please call me Sano or Santos. Now then I need to let you know this is not a normal debriefing. We already know what happened, so we don’t need to rehash it. In this case, we are not interested in dissecting the events of the Aldrin’s last mission. We are more concerned with what happens next. I need to tell you that any and all information about the Furies is classified and needs to stay that for the protection of the Federation and the populace therein. Knowing such a race exists and is targeting the Federation would cause such a panic there would be no way to regain the order and stability we now enjoy. Do you understand this?”

She tilted her head a little, she wasn’t quite new to this type of thing. Given the actual words, ‘such a race exists,’ she’s heard before. Kara did give a little sigh, thought about it, nodding her head. “Yes, si..Sano. I understand.”

“Okay, Kara, now I do need to ask you a few questions. I am aware of your background and who you are and what you are capable of. So with this in mind, do you think you could go up against a Fury and be able to hold your own long enough to deal with them?” Santos asked, leaning back a little on his hands, letting his body language tell its own story to the woman.

Kara took a long breath then shook her head, “No. I mean I would have to explain a little bit of why I say no. Physically, most certainly if I didn’t hold back. Even an instance where it was necessary, that I took out half a fleet of ships, I was holding back. There’s something else though. Which is why I have to say no.”

“I’m impressed, Kara. Most people with the physical strength to wipe out others easily wouldn’t consider any other factors.” Santos said, his voice and body language backing up his words as he leaned in closer to her. “So tell me, Kara, what factors would hold you back?”

Her head dipped a little, which normally would keep her hair from covering her face, given it was pulled back. It wasn’t right now. “Because I know how it feels to have that ability and not be able to save anyone at the same time. Or, yourself. Granted I’m here, but it wasn’t easy. I won’t be like those tyrants who use what they have to hurt people. Even to save people, it doesn't require full force and killing.”

Santos watched Kara for a moment and said softly. “Wise words and conclusions, Kara. It takes someone who has gone through hell and comes out the other side to learn such truths. Let me, again, tell you how we at Starfleet are grateful you chose to represent us and help us with our mission goals of exploration.” Sano changed his tone then. “So with that in mind, did anyone from the crew or command staff stand out to you during this encounter? Either for good or bad?”

“Would you please elaborate on what you mean by good or bad, for the crew? I trust all of them with my life. A couple of them even know how to kill me but they won’t do it. Unless they have to. I do know, si…Sano. Even the rest of Starfleet doesn’t know or have the means to stop me. So, I honestly appreciate so much trust everyone has put in me over the years. Short answer. As I said, I trust all of them.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Kara. But that wasn’t the question. I’m asking if anyone’s actions or inactions stood out to you in any way, good or bad. How, in your opinion, did they perform? Did they do all they could, even if they failed? Or do you think they could have done more? Things like that.” Sano explained, to make it a little more clear.

“I don’t want to drag anyone under the bus as it were. Everyone has their demons. We’ve already gone over fear and people's past. They did what they could given what we were up against.” She stood firm on that with her tone.

Sano nodded. “So, no one you want to give extra praise to? Or to see gets extra help in dealing with their demons? This is your chance to help your crew, if you wish to.”

“For one, I wasn’t around them this time while things were happening. I can’t attest one way or the other. I didn’t see how they engaged or dealt with the aftermath.” Lies! Complete lie, Kara. She knew full well that Flower wasn’t coming back to their quarters. Still not going to say anything about it.

Sano sighed and made a notation. “Okay Kara, have it your way. I hope you are able to live with yourself and the lies you tell yourself and expect others to believe. Here are my recommendations for you. You are to spend the entire 10 days in counseling as you have problems honestly expressing your feelings, opinions, and try too hard to not show any preferences. No one is that shut off from their crewmates that they don’t have opinions and feelings and have people they want to help more or give extra attention to. You are not allowed to speak of the Fury to anyone for any reason. No exceptions. For you it will be as if it never happened. When asked about this past mission you are to say that it was Borg and they were trying some covert way to assimilate the Federation. Do you understand your orders?”

“Yes, I understand them,” giving a little nod. Not wanting to say more, or speak her mind still.She wasn’t going to betray her friend.

Santos made some notations on his padd and then picked up another padd from the desk and handed it to Kara. “This is your assigned quarters here in Starfleet Headquarters. You are required to remain here until released by your counselor for Shore leave. Your communications black out will end when your counselor decides you are not a risk to the classified nature of the Fury. Shore leave should last about three weeks, but that is still to be determined.” He held out his hand to her to shake. “It was a pleasure meeting you in person, Kara. If you ever want to talk I am here. You are free to go and get settled in your quarters. Kara, I truly hope you can find some peace of mind and that you can get over this habit you have of lying to yourself you don’t need to.”
Kara took the PADD and gave it a look over a moment, then looking back to Santos. “I don’t think I’ll need shore leave. I mean that I don’t plan on going any where.” Pushing to stand up from the floor and taking the offered hand. “Thank you.”

Santos walked with her to the door. “Kara, as a possible friend, take the shore leave. It isn’t just a time to spend with friends and family, it’s a time to heal mind, heart, and soul. I don’t know any Starfleet officer who doesn’t need that time to recharge. If you don’t know what to do, I can give you a list of favorite places of mine to visit. But you need to heal, whatever it is, inside of you, that makes you feel so alone with all these people around you wanting to be friends, if you will let them.”

“I have friends, but they have their own lives. I’m okay with that. If it will make you feel better, I’ll take a look at that list and at least try to see about doing something. Unfortunately, I do know part of my problem, and it’s from where I was locked up at before coming here.”

“Then I hope the counseling will help. Trauma always makes life harder and counselors are able to help deal with that. Good luck, Kara. If you need anything, my door is always open to you.” Sano shook her hand again and watched her move down the corridor before softly closing his door.

 

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