For the most of the duration of their mission, Jonathan Keller had been either annoyed or angry. It had become a comfortable emotion to settle into, and oddly enough given him the stability he currently craved. Being angry was easier than being sad, and being annoyed was preferable over taking the time to empathize with his new First Officer. 

Keller had almost managed to hate her. The off-putting young appearance, the way she spoke, and the way she clearly didn’t know how to lead. She had kept falling behind when they had explored the ruins, and more often than once just stood there, mentally absent and unhelpful.

Jonathan had always thought of himself as competent, approachable, experienced and as… well, superior to his new colleague. Now, that belief was shattering. He hadn’t paid attention. Because if he had paid attention, he would have noticed Brennan’s lips turning blue from the lack of oxygen. And if he had been approachable, she would have told him that she wasn’t feeling okay. 

“I need medical staff.”, he barked as they were beamed up to the Callisto, the requested security personnel ready to follow Keller’s directions. He hurriedly freed Brennan from her suit, handing it to one of his colleagues. Whether it was a malfunction, a wrong setting, or something worse – that wasn’t the priority right now. 

“Sit.”, he prompted, choosing to ignore that he was speaking to his superior officer and not one of his fledglings. “Deep breaths, count to three.”

He was glad when the summoned medical officer took over, and he allowed to shift his focus to the other issue at hand. The destroyed artefact.

“Put them into a holding cell.”, he growled. “I want to know what happened.”

There were protests from all four Liraxan’s, and Keller bitterly thought that this seemed the first time they were in agreement with each other. Perhaps they were all in on it. Whatever had happened, he would find out. One way or another. 

“Wait..”, objected Brennan, still a little out of breath. “I’m coming.”

Jonathan turned around. “No you are not.”

The was a very awkward moment of silence that followed, and in which none of the present crew dared to do as much as make eye contact. Then, Brennan got up, thanking the medic with a nod, and approached Keller.

“I am. Let’s go.”

In an instant, the negative tinge to Jonathan’s emotions was back. Though Keller found it to be a less aggressive kind of annoyance, more in the lines of a mild inconvenience. Something had shifted – he still didn’t quite see the young woman as someone capable of making sound judgements just yet, but no longer seethed at her perceived incompetence. Over the years, he had worked with plenty new officers who were eager to prove themselves, and didn’t let something minor like not being able to breathe stop them from doing their job.

He understood it – until he got married and had his two sons to take care of, he had been the exact same. And while he wasn’t pleased with Brennan insisting on continued involvement rather than resting, he gave a nod of assent and waited for her to catch up with him before he turned and followed the escorted Liraxans to the brig.