Changes

Posted on Sat Nov 9th, 2019 @ 4:46pm by Brigadier General David Hurd Sr

1,899 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 101 - Peace During War
Location: Ross Quarters
Timeline: MD01 1600 hrs

Freya hadn't long emerged from the shower when the door chime rang, luckily she had just finished dressing though her hair was still wet. Walking to the door she was surprised to see General Hurd standing outside the door. "General...Sir! Please come in."

Walking in, Hurd smiled. "Sorry if I'm bothering you, just wanted to see how you were doing?"

"You're not bothering me at all please grab a seat." Freya smiled warmly as she towel dried her hair. "Can I get you anything Sir?"

"Just a Coke is fine thanks". Pausing for a moment he said, "So how's Life?".

Walking to the replicator to get a coke Freya returned a few moments later and handed it to him. "Pretty good thank you. Actually I don't know if Kaden's had chance to mention it but I've decided I'd like to opt for a transfer to the administrative department. I want to remain here obviously, and keep my counselling duties just transfer to being Kaden's administrative lead if that's possible? "

Thinking for a moment and taking a drink, Hurd said, "Well I don't see why not, I dont have a problem with it after all". Thinking for a moment he added, " Ross is one lucky man, and a hell of a combat officer".

Freya smiled. "Thank you Sir. I've helped out briefly on the administration team before but I'm pretty rusty, I'd appreciate it if you could see if they have someone who can run me through the ropes again. I know I'm on leave but that doesn't mean I can't shadow someone for a little while."

"I'll see what I can do", Hurd said smiling. "But I have to tell you at least he will have a leg up on me in admin, I mean, you have any idea the amount of paperwork and adminstrative tasks it takes to run an entire division of Marines?" "I didn't when I was only division XO, but as Division Commander, boy I do now and then some".

"Don't you have an administrative lead?" Freya looked at Hurd curiously.

Letting out a Bellow of loud laughter Hurd said, "Your Joking right?" "I run and do the Division's Paperwork, supply requests and the like, and I also do the the same for my ship".

"Forgive me Sir, but why haven't you requested an administrative assistant?" She looked at Hurd curiously. "If you're approving me to be my husband's assistant then why not approve yourself one as well?"

"You know, I have never needed one", Hurd said rubbing his chin. Speaking a moment later in a measurd voice he said, "Although I must admit the idea of one would help reduce my workload so I can focus on combat operations".

"Is that all?" Freya grinned. "I hear that you're a new grandfather!" Freya looked at Hurd curiously. "It is true that you're Ariana's father isn't it?"

Letting his guard down and smiling broadly, both of which were not normal for him, he said happy, "You are correct on both accounts Freya".

"So having an assistant would give you a chance to spend more time getting to know Ariana and your granddaughter." Freya smiled warmly. "You missed out on Ariana growing up but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on your granddaughter growing up too."

Still smiling Hurd said, "Exactly, you know Ross, if I did not know better I'd say my implants", he said said pointing to his head, " Were betraying my thoughts".

"You have implants?" Freya looked at Hurd curiously. "I guess now I know why is it I can't sense anything from you." She smiled warmly. "As for your thoughts, I know you weren't there when Ariana was growing up as she never spoke of you, we've been friends a long time."

"Oh yes, my implants block my thoughts and emotions from being read from all known species unless I allow them to be read". Falling silent for a few moments Hurd spoke, "Freya, I am going to allow you an opportunity I have never allowed another living soul, would you like to , and I don't know if this is the correct phrasing, read me?"

Freya looked at Hurd in surprise. "Are...you sure?"

Hurd replied simply, "Very Freya, Very".

"Then I accept" Freya smiled. "It won't take much to read your emotions but it depends on how deep you want me to go." She looked at him.

"You have my my complete permission to go as deep as you want but be warned you will feel pain, heartbreak, anger and hatred, and I want you to stop if you feel uncomfortable".

Freya nodded and waited for Hurd to let her into his mind. "She slowly let her mind connect with his, past the surface she started to delve deeper, she took a deep breath as she connected with the pain and anger that Hurd had told her was there. Her eyes filled with tears as she felt heartbreak, and she found herself falling into a deep pool of hatred that lurked underneath it all. So deep that she found herself being pulled into it with no way out.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he gently shook her saying, "Freya, it's okay, snap out of it, pull yourself back to the light".

Freya withdrew herself at Hurd's touch, as she pulled out of his mind she massaged her temples before speaking. "Sorry...I err...got myself in too deep." She offered a smile. "How does a man as kind and caring as you keep so much hate and darkness under control?"

"It's a battle of darkness and light Freya, and in the end the light always wins". Going silent for a few minutes he spoke again, "As for the hate, I use it on the field of battle, where it's needed, nowhere else, except in cases where people I care for or my family are hurt or messed with".

"I felt that. The hurt and the rage that you feel at what happened to Ariana, and to me at Andy's hands." She offered a warm smile. "I also felt the joy that you felt at seeing Stacie for the first time. I think Ariana is a very lucky woman at having you for her father."

"People seem to think of me as a machine most of the time, a killing machine, but I'm not, I'm truly not".

"Of course you're not!" Freya shook her head. "To be a marine you have to have strength of character, to be willing to do what you have to do. I treasure my career both as a Counsellor and up until now, a medic but with a baby on the way and Kaden's promotion I need to be there with my family. With finding out about Ariana you have that family to come home to as well now. "

Bowing his head, Hurd said, simply, "True".

"Have you seen Ariana since her release from Sickbay?" She wondered how her friend was doing. "I haven't had chance to catch up yet but I plan to."

"No", Hurd said feeling ashamed. "I've been too busy trying to keep myself from going down to the brig and killing the animal who did this to her and the others".

"Trust me I fully understand" Freya hung her head. "I've wondered a time or two myself if it's worth reaching into his deranged head and pulling the plug, but that's not me and it's not something that I could live with. Killing him isn't going to put right what's happened, only seeing justice is done will do that."

"True, but Freya, your idea of Justice for what has been done and mine are far apart, I just do not know what is stopping me from doing it".

"I could hazard a pretty good guess" Freya smiled warmly. "It's called being a parent. If it were just you you'd have done what your feelings are telling you to do but now you're a father and grandfather, deep down you don't want to risk missing out on their lives."

"That's true I guess .", Hurd said with a faint smile. "Although their is a small part of me that hopes he escapes, screws up, and I'm the one that catches him".

“I can’t blame you there!” She sighed. “There’s a part of me tucked away somewhere that would love to see him get what’s coming to him too.”

"As do I, I do not trust Security at all, and have my men covertly watching him, waiting for him to slip up"

"I'm not so sure he will" Freya looked away. "He's... cold, calculated and he knows that is what we want. He won't give any of us that satisfaction unless it's under circumstances that make us as bad as him!" She shivered, it made her skin crawl just talking about Andrew Ignatious. "He err... he told me that he was the one responsible for... raping me years ago. I never knew it was him!"

General Hurd's face began to turn a very deep, angry shade of red and he visibly began to shake with anger as his hand imperceptibly went for his sidearm. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he said three simple words, his voice thundering with fury. " He. Did. What.?"

Freya could feel Hurd’s anger as well as see it, almost wishing she’d never mentioned it. “He...raped me.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t even remember it until recently, I buried the memory so deep it only recently resurfaced. I’m slowly coming to terms with it.”

"Then that settles it, that animal is going to meet a very, very unfortunate "accident" soon, just wait and see."

“General, please...don’t put yourself in a position you can’t come back from. If anything happens to Ignatious you’ll be automatically suspected and your daughter has already lost enough. She lost her husband, one of your grandchildren and she doesn’t need to lose you as well.”

"Between you and me, who says I have to lay a single finger on him?, I am owed a lot of favors and all I need to do is make known what that disgusting creature has done".

Freya wasn’t to argue that she didn’t feel the same but deep down there was a part of her that wanted revenge not that she’d ever admit it. She nodded as she looked at Hurd. “You never heard me say this but...Good!!”

"Well, all I have to say is if he meets an untimely end I didn't do it, at least not that it can be proved".

Freya nodded. “And this conversation was never happened.” She offered a smile. “Hell we’re sounding so devious!” She couldn’t help but grin.

"Agreed, you don't hurt our own like he did and just get a slap in the wrist, matter of fact I'm sure the Klingons I know would love to get their hands on him."

Freya nodded. “All I know is, I just want to forget he ever existed and get on with my life. He’s hurt me and all of us enough.

"He will be gone soon enough", Hurd promised "Permanently I might add".

Freya nodded. “I hope so General, I really do.”

"Oh he will Freya, He will."

[OFF]

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