Post 133: Meeting of the brass

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 9:38pm by Admiral Michael Tabolt & First Star Admiral Dakota Olvera & Admiral Christopher Bradley
Edited on on Wed Oct 23rd, 2024 @ 11:23pm

1,772 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Obsidian

On:

Chris sat in his office. One would think he was working but he was writing down everything that was going on with him. From the nightmares to the minor hand shake that came and went to the weird feelings. He was worried but didn’t understand what was happening. He had just had a physical before they came to the base so he knew there was nothing medically wrong which could only mean to him that he was going crazy.

Dakota stopped outside his door as she saw Michael coming towards her.
“Are you here for the same reason I am?” She asked him.

"I am assuming so, although he was rather vague when he made the call. Do you know what this is about?"

“He was with me as well.” Dakota said quietly. She hoped that this was going to shed some light on the changes in Chris. Michael shrugged, and rang the chime to Chris' office.

“ Enter “ Chris said, quickly putting away the padd he was writing on and pulling out another one. He stood straightening his uniform and waited.

“Hello.” Dakota said as she came in. “I ran into Michael so we came together.” She noticed the tired look on his face but said nothing.

Chris nodded, "Have a seat," he motioned to the chair to both of them. "I have some information in regards to Talo from Michael, my nephew." He quickly sat down so as to not let his hand shake be seen and put his hands on his lap under his desk.

Michael nodded, concerned.

"Please tell me it's good news," he said.

Chris nodded. "It is. They've located them. My team gave him the codes to find his bioscan and Mike found exactly where he is. Last I heard they were going to reach out to the pirates who have him and try and get him back. It's my understanding Jordan Haines is also on the team as well as Jude Haines, Marty Stokes, Celine Quinn, Charlotte Thrace, Charlie Andrews, T'Shas Cruz and V'Lar. I told my nephew to behave so I can only imagine what that group has planned."

“They will rescue Talo.” Dakota said with a smile. “They are some of the best we have out there.”

"Sometimes I'm not sure of their methods, but they remind me of me when I was younger." Chris said shifting a bit in his chair.

“Jordan is never going to follow textbook methods.” Dakota spoke up. “He is who he is and what he does works. I admire him in some ways.” She paused, remembering when she had been trapped with him at command during an attack and Jordan had come in guns blazing to help her leave.”

"I worry that whatever antics they cook up will endanger Talo," Michael said honestly. "They definitely think outside the box."

"Yes they do, but remember when they had to rescue us? It was crazy but it worked. Sometimes outside the box works the best." Chris' door chimed. "Enter." he called. A young male stood at the door. "Sir can we borrow you for a quick moment? We just need you to update a code for the milestone project." Chris nodded. "Sure." He looked at Dakota and Michael. "Stay here. I'l lbe back in a minute." Chris got up shuddered slightly and walked following the male out of his office. Michael raised his eyebrows at Dakota.

"He seems off. Is he okay?"

Dakota almost made excuses but Michael and her had been friends for a long time. “He will be, he is just going through a difficult patch. Something triggered memories from the past.” He frowned.

"Has he been seen by a medical professional? Sometimes that can be pretty intense."

“He promised to see the counselor.” Dakota replied. “I am going to make certain he made an appointment when this meeting is over.”

Chris walked back in. "Was there anything else we were going to discuss?"

Dakota blinked. He was the one who called this meeting not them. “I’m good.” She said quietly waiting to hear what Michael had to say. Michael leaned back for a moment.

"Chris...we've been friends for a long time, haven't we?" At the man's nod he continued. "I feel like you're keeping something from us, or at least from me."

Chris looked at Dakota and then at Michael. “Remember the nightmares I had after the incident here all those years ago. That destroyed the base. Well they are back. They started a few months before we came here, and they have been getting worse. Weird things and feelings that have been happening as well.” Michael grew concerned.

"Like visions, or dreams? What happened the last time?"

“Last time they were nightmares- remembering what happened to those who were killed in front of me becwuse I refused to give out the information. Now all of a sudden they are back. And I keep having this dream that they are coming back and they are coming for me.” Chris said. This was the first time he said it out loud to anyone.

"You are having a feeling that the enemy is returning," Michael asked, looking for clarification?

“Yes.” Chris replied. He pulled out the padd he had been writing down what he was feeling and everything that had been happening and handed it to Dakota. “This is what has been happening and every thing I have felt thought and experienced.” Michael watched Dakota as she read the padd, his mind running in a thousand different directions. He sighed.

"This sounds...hard to believe if I'm being honest. But I know you, Chris, and I know you believe it to be true." He shifted in his seat. "So what do we do?"

Chris shrugged. “At this point I have no idea.”

"Do you have a way to scan for this enemy on long range scanners?"

“The enemy are the Sythulans. When we were debriefed all those years ago we gave all the information we knew. I am thinking we have a way to scan for them as we would other enemies.” He looked at Michael - “I don’t know what else to say. I’m dealing with it. Maybe it’s just me remembering the last time I was here. I just know one thing and that is I am not making it up but it sounds so crazy that i don’t want to tell anyone because this whole thing is hard to believe.”

Dakota couldn’t believe what she had read and was hearing. Chris had not shared most of this with her and to herself she admitted it hurt. They didn’t keep things from one another. She set that aside because right now, figuring out what to do was what was important. “Neither of us believe you are making it up.” She said quietly.

"It's embarrassing." Chris said quietly. He looked at Dakota, he was sorry for not telling her but he didn't want to feel weak. He was at a loss for the first time in years.

“You can tell us anything.” Dakota said. “Michael is your friend and I am your wife.”

“First it was nightmares. Then these feelings of fear got added. You saw the other night Dakota, I couldn’t stop drinking, it was like I was someone else. Now I have these slight feelings of anxiety. I don’t get it. I never felt like this before.” Chris said.

"I'd like you to send me everything you have on the enemy," Michael said. "I want to see what we are dealing with."

"Of Course." He reached in his drawer and took out a padd which he handed to Michael. "Michael, I'd like to ask you something, Just in case something happens, I'd ask that you take care of Dakota and Iris, and watch over my nephew."

"You don't even have to ask. You all are family," Tabolt said with a sigh. "But nothing is going to happen to you."

Dakota almost said something about being able to take care of herself but she knew it wasn’t something Chris needed to hear at this point. “We aren’t going to let anything happen to you.” She smiled at her husband. “Michael is right, we are family and we take care of each other.”

Chris nodded. "Thank you." he looked at the both of them. "I don't know what else to say, so I guess if you have questions or anything." Michael held up the padd in his hand.

"I'm going to review this and I'll get back to you," he said as he stood. "We will figure this out." He nodded to Olvera and then at Chris, and headed out the door.

“Is there some reason why you couldn’t have told me this from the beginning.” Dakota said the moment the door shut.

"I was embarrassed and I didn't want to feel weak and I honestly thought it would go away but it's only gotten worse." Chris said. "You know I don't hide things from you, I just thought it was because we were coming back here, but I don't know."

“First of all you should never feel embarrassed to tell me anything.” Dakota said trying not to sound upset. “I love you and there is nothing you can’t tell me:” she paused. “If they were coming back, don’t you think I should be warned? What if they decided to come after me? Or Michael? Or the base. I know you are having some issues but from now on you need to share everything.”

Chris nodded. "I will. I'm sorry. Well now you have the list of everything that has happened to me recently. I promise if anything else happens, I will let you know. " He stood up and sat next to her. "Sometimes I just want to be strong and not bother you. I know I shouldn't. But I want to protect you and keep you safe. Even though I know you can kick ass better than most people."

“I love that about you.” Dakota said with a smile as she looked at him. “You are the only person I would ever let protect me like that.” She covered his hand with hers. “No more hiding, Chris, I will see you for dinner tonight.”

"Deal." Chris said with a grin. "Steak and Mash?"

“Yes.” Dakota smiled. She felt like things were going to get better now. Chris had finally been honest with her.

OFF:

Fleet Admiral Dakota Olvera
Starbase Obsidian

Admiral Chris Bradley
Starbase Obsidian

Admiral Michael Talbot
Starbase Obsidian

 

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