<USS Eagle> "Confrontation"

:OFF:

Sorry I didn't get this out sooner. It takes place right after the 
"Intervention?" joint log.

:ON:

 After his dinner, and his talk with Malachi, Lukas had one more thing he 
wanted to attend to before his return to the bridge. He consulted with the 
computer and left his cabin. Just outside of transporter room 1 was his 
quarry.
"Mr. Lost," Lukas said. "A moment of your tahme?"
 Tru was still hot under the collar from his interaction with Josie. He 
almost didn't see or hear the Commodore. However, his conscious was trained 
to tune in the Captain's voice because of the amount of day dreaming Tru did 
on the bridge. He stopped in his tracks and looked at the Captain for a 
moment while his mind worked out what was said.
"Um, of course Sir." He was a little uncomfortable and unsure what the 
Commodore wanted. He wondered if Josie has run off to tattle on him.
 Lukas noticed the extra-effort his helmsman had just made to pull himself 
back into the real universe. Though it didn't take Tru long to answer him, 
it still seemed twice as long as when he would be occupied on the bridge.
"Is something bothering you, Lt?" Lukas asked.
 Tru hesitated. There was something bothering him, of course. But it wasn't 
really something important enough to bother the Commodore about. Besides, 
that would also mean admitting why he was upset with Josie and the fact that 
he was still playing games on the bridge. That wouldn't do. The last thing 
he needed right now was to be yelled at.
"Umm . . . not really Sir." He shifted his position and didn't really look 
at the Commodore. The guy could be rather scary at times.
 "If you say so, Lt," Lukas said but it was obvious that he was not 
convinced. "At any rate, Ah wanted to speak with you before you left for 
this mission." He gently urged the young helmsman to a small alcove so they 
would not be standing in the middle of the corridor.
"How many games have you packed to take with you?"
 Tru tried to keep the anger hidden. While he managed to prevent the anger 
from showing on his face, he took a rather aggressive stance for him. What 
is it with everyone hounding me about my games!! Tru thought.
Taking a deep breath he tried to relax, and sound like nothing was wrong. 
However, his voice still came across as being cold and defensive. "I don't 
know." Which was partially true. He was too flustered at the moment to 
remember the actual number of games. However, he also didn't really try.
 Lukas read Tru's body language perfectly. He saw the helmsman was angered 
by this confrontation. He wondered if Gwen or Rommie had already asked about 
this. He decided he would not answer Tru's anger with anger of his own.
"Ah'm going to be blunt with you, Tru," Lukas said evenly. "Ah know you 
still bring games on the bridge. Ah've never brought it up because you DO 
manage to get your job done with an expertise that on one else on board, 
mahself included, has.
"But, Ah hope you realahze this is not the Eagle you'll be pahloting. That 
ship will requahre one hundred and ten percent of your abilities."
 Tru was torn between holding on to his pride and anger or explaining his 
need for his games. He opted for the latter.
His body language softened as he spoke quietly, "Permission to speak freely 
Sir?"
 "Granted."
Tru sighed and looked around, debating on where to start. "I'm sorry for 
getting upset Sir. You were right when you thought something was wrong 
earlier. Josie had decided she knew me better then I did and was harassing 
me about the games.
"I would never bring the games onto the Orion bridge. While I still bring 
them on to the Eagle bridge that is . . . different. It's really hard to 
explain.
"The trouble is that, as I'm sure you've noticed, I have difficulties with 
keeping my attention focused. My mind just likes to go all over the place. I 
know it sounds odd, but the best way for me to focus on something is to 
focus on other things as well. Other wise I won't be able to focus on 
anything.
"Flying the Orion ship is going to take a lot more concentration then flying 
the Eagle due to lack of familiarity, so I should be able to concentrate on 
that without other . . . distractions."
Tru knew he was rambling on, but he wasn't sure how to get everything 
across.
"My games help me to relax and focus Sir. They give me something to think 
about when things are going slow. That way I don't lose my mind. They also 
help me unwind at the end of the day."
Tru stopped talking, and for the first time looked at the Captain. He hoped 
the senior officer would understand.
 Lukas put his hand on Tru's shoulder in a fatherly gesture. He wanted the 
helmsman to understand that he understood.
"Ah know the games help you to focus, and it is reassuring to me that you 
realahze the complexity that is going to be involved in flah-ing that ship. 
It just would not have been rahght on mah part if Ah didn't . . . remahnd 
you about it."
Lukas smiled, letting Tru know he did indeed have faith in him. "Thank you 
for indulging me, Lieutenant. Good luck with the mission."
 Tru nodded. He really didn't know what else to say. He had already said a 
lot more then he really intended.
"My first love is flying Captain, games come second." He looked from the 
Captain to the transporter room and back to the Captain. He was unsure if he 
was dismissed yet or not.
 Lukas wanted to suggest Tru look into other hobbies, but decided against 
it. He again gently urged the young lieutenant towards the transporter room 
so to signify he was dismissed without actually saying it.
"Oh," he said just as he was about to go on his way. His eyes held a bit of 
humor to them. "This little talk in no way means Ah condone the bringing of 
games onto mah bridge. Understood?" It was difficult to keep a straight 
face.
 Tru grinned, "Yes sir. I'll just keep them safely hidden away." He headed 
towards the transporter room feeling better. Stopping suddenly, he realized 
for the first time that he was still in a starfleet uniform. He'd have to 
make a stop back at his quarters before heading over to the Orion ship.

:OFF:

Commodore Lukas Fyrstk
Commanding Officer
USS Eagle

Lt. Tru Lee Lost
Helmsman
USS Eagle

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