Lt Alex Storm - Duty, Action, and Hesitation

[Karen Morris]

(( Library - Deck 4, USS Artemis-A ))

Alex set her shoes on the floor beside her and leaned back against the mahogany end of the bookcase.  The memory of the qualifications scraped at her again—Imril’s shot, the hesitation, the sting down her back.  Her fingers slipped over highly polished wood, her head tipped to the side, and her nose scrunched up before she asked.

Storm:  When you were CMO, did you or even now, do you ever have misgivings about having to shoot someone?  Even if it was on stun?

Alex could read the surprise in the Captain’s eyes.

MacKenzie: Are we talking from an ethical perspective?

Alex folded her arms behind her back and leaned against the nearest bookcase. Her head tipped left, then right.  

Storm:  … Mostly.

Her jaw tightened—not at MacKenzie, but at the echo of an officer who had hesitated for entirely different reasons.  

MacKenzie: Well, I suppose the first thing I'd say is that the ethics of being a doctor don't simply disappear because one is no longer assigned to that particular duty post. The other thing I'd say is that there have been several instances in my career where I was faced with a singular decision: them, or me. And in every instance, I always chose me. The alternative was never an option

The pad of Alex’s ring finger tapped against the slippery wood as she listened.

Storm: Was that your intent when you went into each situation?

Alex’s shoulders stiffened as she watched her CO’s eyes narrow.

MacKenzie: I was once kidnapped and tortured by the Tal Shiar... Let me tell you, if I'd have had a phaser - or any other kind of blunt object, for that matter - there would have been nothing stopping me from beating them to within an inch of their lives. (beat) Maybe beyond.

Alex watched MacKenzie’s eyes and paused to give her revelation space.  Her shoulders felt the heft of the revelation and slipped back into their place.  

Storm: I am having a hard time finding the right words for such a weighty situation.  

Mackenzie:  Response.

Alex’s eyes unfocused as she listened, and thoughts ran across her face.  Brows raised and then fell.  Lips tightened into a line and then opened in an exhale.  She stood a little taller, and only then did she meet MacKenzie’s eyes again.

Storm:  I have no words for what you’ve been through.  But may I ask a related and practical question?  

MacKenzie: Response

Storm:  Lt. Cole and I are getting ready to run a training scenario relatively soon. We are still finalizing the details.  Once we’re satisfied with our plan, we’ll bring it to Commander Silveira for approval - once he’s back.

Alex released her arms from behind her and let her hands fall to her sides, slipping them into the pockets of her dress.

Mackenzie:  Response.

Storm:  So, if you were in that training scenario, would you hesitate to shoot someone on an opposing team - even on stun?

MacKenzie: Response

~*~
Tags / TBC!
~*~

Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2