archived

“I still get the looks in the corridors sometimes. I can tell much of the crew is wondering why someone so young isn’t back at the Academy, earning his stripes. I still hear mention of ‘the kid’ and I know who they are talking about. All I can do is what I have done my whole life: prove them wrong. The captain’s faith in me gives me hope. I will continue to do everything I can to continue to earn his trust.”

               ”                that’s the point. You have your own problems to deal with, plus all ours, too. The title of 'captain' comes with a lot of stress, and don’t think that won’t put a strain on you — because it will. It already has. The insomnia’s only the beginning.” [She had no idea he wasn’t sleeping — she makes a mental note to ask him about it later, when it isn’t preceded by nagging.]

   "Believe me. I get the stress. I do. Had it from day one. Hell, I was stressed about all this ever since day one at the Academy." [For different reasons. Mostly the fact that once people knew who he was (and everyone seemed to) they were all about comparing him to his father.]

               ”Too much caffeine can be dangerous in the short term, and the long term, sir. I’m not sure how many cups you’ve had today, but knowing you, it’s too many. You’ll put a strain on your heart. You could develop insomnia, restless leg syndrome, cardiac arrhythmia.”

                                   A pause — and she crosses her arms over her chest, gaze not at all one of approval. 

    "Three. I've only had three cups. Are you happy? One more isn't going to hurt me. And insomnia? That ship has sailed." [He doesn't like that look she's getting. Very like her father.]

      “You hesitated. You hesitated, JIM!”

 Like hell there’s a lot to do in Vegas; the choices were as follows. 1) Jim gets drunk and gambles away the ship. 2) Jim gets Pavel drunk and he gambles away the ship. 3) Jim gambles himself and/or Pavel away. 4) Jim gets drunk and sleeps with things, possibly including Pavel.  

    "No. You're totally missing what I'm saying! I mean-- there are shows and things. And yeah, okay, maybe we'll both get so drunk we end up passing out somewhere together but then we'd actually be sleeping and not-- not the other thing."