Amie Dumouchel sat in the chair across from Cromwell with her legs crossed, intently reading a PADD in her hand and chewing her lip. Occasionally, her eyes would open up a bit wider and then return to normal as she continued on. The silence was only broken by the occasional ‘hmm’ or ‘ah’ from her as she read. Finally, after about ten minutes, she sat the PaDD back on the desk and looked up at Cromwell, “Well… this is not the first mission I would have chosen for us,” She admitted. “I think I would have preferred surfing a super nova, or … I don’t know… French kissing a Klingon perhaps?” 

The fact that she’d said it so seriously caught Cromwell off guard and he laughed at that, “Yeah, I think I would to.” 

“I have avoided contact with the Borg to date, and I was hoping that would continue,” She admitted. “I see that much of the sitings are circumstantial so far, but I’d prefer to not have any at all.” 

Pete nodded, “I agree. This definitely isn’t a best case scenario, but it’s the hand we’ve been dealt.” 

“How are you handling it?” Amie asked, gently. 

“What do you mean?”

“Mon capitaine, I make a point to read up on the crew I’ll be working with on a new ship. You have already had a rather harrowing encounter with the Borg. It cannot feel good to be going back to deal with them again, no matter how indirectly,” She said. Might as well find out right away how shielded he was about his past. Amie wasn’t the biggest fan of the COs that kept everything stoic, but she could work with it if she had to. 

Cromwell sighed, and nodded, “It’s not my favorite, I’ll tell you that much. I’m even less of a fan of having to take an old friend’s favorite toy away,” He admitted. 

“Ah, oui, also an unfortunate factor, non?” She replied with a nod. “We will figure it out, mon ami. Of that I am certain,” She assured him with a confident nod. 

“Indeed we will,” Cromwell nodding back out the door, “So, you rode over with the new crew members. What do you think of them?” He asked. 

“Mon capitaine, I am not even in uniform yet, and you want me to start executing the duties of an XO?” Amie asked, in mock appall, but with a wicked grin on her face as she spoke. 

“Just want to see how you do under pressure.”

“Then I shall rise to triumph!” Amir replied, thrusting a finger in the air with an almost school girl giggle, “Mack is lovely. She is a wonderful person with a delightful personality. If she’s half the doctor she is a person, the ship is in very good hands. From everything I’ve seen in her files, that is definitely the case. Nicholas is young, and still a bit green, but not in a bad way. He’s just finding his voice, but he’s capable and he’s sharp and I believe he’ll do well and fit in quickly,” She explained. She furrowed her brow and sighed as she continued, “Rawles is… well, he’s a bit of a special case,” She explained, her French accent getting fuller as her voice got quieter. 

She sat forward as she continued, “He is… quiet. Reserved. Almost stoic, but there’s something boiling under the surface there. I know he’s been cleared for duty by Starfleet Medical, but he still carries much pain and sorrow. I have read his file and it’s heartbreaking. It will take him some time to recover,” Her voice was heavy with sympathy as she spoke. She couldn’t imagine anyone going through what he had. 

“If he ever fully does,” Cromwell added.

“Oui, indeed. He needs a friend. Someone he can connect with. The former Commanding Officer of the USS Camelot, one Gabriel Cardinal, was a close friend. They spent a great deal of time together over his six years of leave. Perhaps a close relation with a command presence aboard the Lafayette could be beneficial?” She offered. 

“That’s not a bad idea. Maybe I’ll pay him a visit before we get underway,” Cromwell responded. 

“I think that would be a marvelous idea, mon capitaine,” She replied, brightly. 

“Well, in my first official act as your new CO, I’ll be informing you that duty shifts have moved up, and Alpha shift starts in forty-five minutes,” He said, giving her a grin. 

“Oui, mon capitaine, noted. I will go and get changed into uniform right away.” 

“I’ll go and personally inform Lieutenant Commander Rawles, if you’ll let Mack and Nick know. I’ll meet you back up here in forty-five,” He said. 

Jason had enough of a ritual at this point, that it almost felt mindless. Clothes in the drawers, medals on the walls, and two pictures on the shelf where he could see them. Everything else would come out as needed over time. He hadn’t been moving from Starship to Starship in a while, but he and Gabriel had done enough new ship buying and temporary lodging on various trade worlds over the last six years, it didn’t feel very different. 

Gabe had been sad to see him go. Cardinal Shipping was meant to be a way for Gabe to stay afloat as he left Starfleet, but at the last minute, he invited Jason along and it’d pretty much become a family business. It didn’t do anything to numb the pain he felt, but it was better than nothing. They’d spent the last six years trying to forget the aches in their hearts, to varying degrees of success. 

Still, at the end of the day, Gabe supported him in his decisions. Jason even found a package waiting for him in his quarters from Gabe. A simple plaque that he’d made for their first ship: “S.S. Warstock – May Her Wings be Ever Ready”. It was one of the view things that survive the incredible crash landing on Delus IV. Underneath the engraved metal, Gabe had scratched in “They Weren’t.” Jason gave the plaque a grin as he walked by it where it sat, propped up against the wall on a shelving unit. 

The chime for his quarters dinged, “Come in.” He swore inwardly if it was the doctor checking in on him, he was finding the nearest airlock. 

“Welcome aboard, Lieutenant Commander,” the Commodore said as he strode into the room.

“Oh,” Jason spun around and snapped to attention and saluted, “My apologies, sir. I didn’t realize you’d be coming by.” 

Cromwell waved him off, “At ease, at ease. This isn’t an official visit, as you were,” He said, looking around the room. He spotted the two photos on a shelf near him and stepped over to look. “Sisters?” He asked. 

Jason looked up awkwardly and cleared her throat as he idly shuffled a couple of smaller boxes around, “Ah… No? Exes.” He replied, sounding somewhere between embarassed and annoyed. 

“Oh… So that’s Alexandra and Madeline,” Cromwell said, gently. Both were beautiful women, but so very different. Alexandra was small and had the kind of smile that could light up the room. Her green eyes sparkled user a shock of unruly red hair. Madeline, on the other hand, had a head of raven black that hung straight to her shoulders. She was a larger woman, and stronger looking as well. She had a great smile, all her own, but it was strong and powerful like a warrior. Cromwell wondered if the change in women signified the change in his mental state after what happened to Alexandra. 

“She preferred Alex, but… yessir,” Jason replied. 

Cromwell turned to look at him, “A good way to keep ‘em close. I’m sorry you had to live through all of that, son.” 

“All do respect, sir… I would prefer to not talk about the past. I’m more interested in the future at this point,” He explained, tired of being mired by the pain he’d experienced previously. 

“Fair enough,” Cromwell replied. “To that end, I’m actually here to talk about the future. The immediate future, actually. Alpha shift is getting moved up. You’ll be needed on the bridge in thirty minutes. I apologize for cutting your settling in time short, but we’re a little pressed for time.” 

Jason nodded, “Yessir, understood,” He saluted. 

“Good deal. See you up there, Lieutenant Commander,” He said, turning to leave the room, but pausing for a moment when he saw the plaque, “And one of these days, maybe you can tell me what the S.S. Warstock is,” He said with a chuckle. 

Jason actually smiled at that, “That’s some past that I’m willing to talk about, yessir,” He said. 

“I’ll hold you to it! See you soon!” He said, stepping out through the doors. 

Jason stood in his quarters and stared up at the two women looking back at him from the shelf. Mad was still out there somewhere, still furious at him. Married to that one guy. But at least she was okay. But Alex… she was gone. Snuffed out like a candle, and far too soon. 

Jason stopped those thoughts and closed his eyes tightly before he took a deep breath, “Computer. Chief Flight Control Officers uniform, to my measurements.” He said, heading to the replicator before it even started working. 

He was here to get back on his feet, not feel sorry for himself, so that’s exactly what he was going to do.