At High Noon
Posted on Mon Jan 6th, 2025 @ 11:00pm by Captain Rylan Gray & Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox
1,540 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
A Silence of Friends
Location: USS Thunderbird | Deck 2 | Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD002 - 1200
It was lunch time aboard the starship, at least for some. For Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox it was definitely the case. His stomach had been rumbling and he had the afternoon off. Though he had no intention on having lunch alone. It was rare for him to do so, but lately he had been forced into it after what had happened on the away mission. Rylan hadn't joined him for lunch or any leisure time recently, and Knox was out to make amends. His counselling sessions certainly pointed him in that direction. For that to have any chance of happening though, he would need Rylan.
So, he did what he had to. He had put on some denim pants, a holster, shirt and jacket. Lieutenant Commander Knox was not longer to image of a Starfleet Officer. Where a combadge usually adorned, a metallic star shaped badge was worn. Captain's old cowboy hat on his head. Knox pressed the door chime, and old tin lunch pail in his hand.
He waited for Rylan Gray's door to opened and tipped his hat. "Howdy there," he said greeting his friend although they weren't on the greatest of terms as of late.
"Hel," Rylan started and then stopped, surprise letting the second syllable drop from his lips, "lo ..."
"Lunch in the holodeck?" asked Knox. He held up the lunch pail. "I got myself into a bit of pickle in Captain's old holowesterns. Shootout at the saloon, and this deputy needs a sheriff."
"I'm not much for fantasy," Rylan answered, "even at the best of times. I've never shared your interest in holodeck adventures. Surely, you know that."
"I do," Knox said but he looked at Rylan with a bit of egging. "I figured somewhere different would be a nice place to talk, but I'd rather get shot at with safety features on."
"Very well then," Rylan answered, "however ..." He gestured toward his former First Officer's costume, "I'm not wearing that."
Knox gestured to what Rylan was wearing. "And I'm not walking into a 1800s saloon in the wild west wearing that, but that's alright. I'll just shoot them if they give us any trouble."
"Or," Rylan said as he gestured toward the door, "just delete the people from the program. More conducive to talking any way, I should think."
Harrison smirked and adjusted his hat. "Talking it is. I'll just keep it us and the saloon. Ill find someone else later to take on the role of sheriff. Perhaps Stormy would be up to that. Either way, lunch is packed."
"Give me a minute," Rylan said. He headed back into his bathroom, closed the door and just stood there, staring at himself in the mirror. Sorting out the myriad thoughts racing through his brain. Sifting through memory and feeling. Deciding. He nodded to himself in the mirror. I'm a Londoner, he thought, not a cowboy. The protest was a weak one; both he and his reflection understood the need to build a bridge even if it was a shaky one that could collapse at any second.
"So," he said as he approached Knox, "what's the problem with the Sheriff?"
"Dead as a doornail," replied Knox. "The latest one that is. I needed to find a new one because I'm the deputy and it did not feel right just assuming the role. We were having trouble with these rowdy bunch of bandits, the Watkins gang. The Sheriff went alone to settle a score with them at the town church, but it was an ambush. Now, they've damn near taken half the town including the saloon. I vowed to bring them down and restore law and order in the town" explained Harrison.
He shrugged. "There's about six of the Watkins left and one of me. The odds aren't good" added Knox. As if they ever are he thought. "My mouth rambled and my brain did not do much thinking. I probably should have made a strategic retreat and surrendered the town to them."
"And leave the town at the mercy of criminals," Rylan said, surprise registering on his features. "As deputy, you are essentially the sheriff's second-in-command and, with him dead, it becomes your responsibility. Your job."
True and pointedly so thought Knox. "Naturally, but I've recently been knocked on my ass and it has been a bit difficult for me to find where I belong. Regardless of how much I respect the badge and want to step up to protect the town. I suppose I could take on the role of sheriff, but that does not compensate for being outnumbered and outgunned. It's a tactical disadvantage," noted Knox.
"Even more so for the town's inhabitants," Rylan pointed out, "who have less experience than you." He shook his head. "Sometimes, you have to push through the doubts and do the right thing. No matter what."
"Is that why I'm ineffective as First Officer?" Knox looked at Rylan. It certainly wasn't the lightest conversation heading for lunch. "I doubt myself. I turned down the promotion in rank because I wanted to earn it, but I failed my first away mission. I let you down and I let my own self doubt hinder my decision making."
"In part," Rylan said. "There's more to it than just self-doubt, I think, but you were right to resist Starfleet's attempt to promote you." His expression turned reflective and his voice gentled as he continued. "You aren't ready."
"No, I'm not, but I would not be the first officer thrown into the deep end of a command position without being ready" replied Knox. "You probably warrant someone like Commander D'Sai as your First Officer and for now you'll have that, but it doesn't mean that I won't be ready. I will be."
Harrison was determined to show that. For now he was brushed aside into the position of Second Officer, not outside of command yet not as close to Rylan as he had initially been. "I need to be" he added.
"Then show me," Rylan said quietly, "that you're more than the bundle of self-doubt and insecurity I've seen thus far. Commander D'Sai did me a favor taking on the spot at a moment's notice without any agreement to a permanent position. I confess I did her something of a disservice on your behalf but there won't be any more chances after this. Don't tell me, show me that you know how to lead. And if you can't, then you'll lose this position and I"ll do what I can to get you ready to become someone else's First Officer -- even if that means sending you back to the Academy for additional training."
"I'll show you, but you may have something with the additional training" Knox replied. "I'm not saying send me back to San Francisco, but if I could work on some additional classes here that may be beneficial" explained the man. "It's not like I was on the command track from the get go. I'm behind."
Knox was not trying to play an excuse card. "We have very different beginnings you and I. You entered Starfleet Academy young undoubtedly full of energy and focus. You studied command throughout your four years with helm and navigation. The Thunderbird is your command, but it's also the third starship you've served aboard."
Harrison smiled. "I wasn't the brightest lantern on the bayou. I think we both know that, but I also didn't get into Starfleet Academy fresh from high school, Sir. Thunderbird is my sixth starship posting. I was seventeen when I joined Starfleet, enlisted and I had to get my parents to sign off on that. I was good with my hands and had muscle. I didn't get to have the academy experience until I was nearly thirty four. Would you let me take some classes?"
There were things Rylan didn't say, of course. Six postings, if one was observant, would provide a wealth of experience and yet, there was no doubt that Knox was hampered by insecurity and doubt. Training might just make the difference, help him bridge the gap. Something needed to or there would be no way to rescue his career. "Very well," Rylan said. "Get yourself set up with online command courses through the Academy. I'll want regular reports on your progress."
"As my Captain, I will make sure you get progress reports regularly, Sir. As my friend? I think you'll receive constant and consistent updates on my progress and any struggles I'm having with it," said Knox. "Now, I feel like making good on this little lunch excursion. Shall we?" Knox had been looking forward to catching up and ideally mending the rift between them.
"How about," Rylan said, "we put this on hold for now. We'll try again once you've completed your training. Computer, save program and exit." The computer complied; around them, the western town disappeared and they were left standing in black room with a yellow grid on the floor. They stood looking at each other for a moment and then Rylan nodded politely and headed out into the ship.
Captain Rylan Gray
Commanding Officer
USS Thunderbird
and
Lieutenant Commander Harrison Knox
Second Officer
USS Thunderbird
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