Direct Observation

Posted on Sun Aug 2nd, 2026 @ 7:11pm by Lieutenant Colonel Jesse Moriarty & Tavrek Harland

1,856 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Pilot - "The Gate"
Location: Ground Force Detachment CO Office
Timeline: Two days after 'First Contact'

Tavrek Harland knew Colonel Moriarty was alive because the casualty reports had been updated, the medical summaries had been filed, and no urgent message had come through any channel that would have required his attention. Jesse was alive, uninjured in any meaningful sense, and occupied with the aftermath of command. These were facts, clear and useful, and Tavrek had spent several hours treating them as sufficient. He had made tea, reviewed three incomplete translation notes, rearranged the stones on his shelf into a more pleasing order, and considered the concern with as much discipline as he could bring to it.

It did not go away. Worry, when examined logically, became an assessment of wellbeing, and the assessment remained incomplete without direct observation. Eventually, Tavrek set his cup aside, changed into a dark civilian jacket, and left his quarters with the quiet certainty of a man who had not surrendered to emotion, but had instead found a reasonable path through it. By the time he reached Ground Forces territory, his expression was calm, his hands folded behind his back, and only the smallest tension at the corner of his mouth betrayed that he was there for Jesse, not the Colonel. He found his office easily enough, gave his name to an enlisted who proceeded to knock on Jesse's door...and then let him in.

He walked in, waited until the man had left and shut the door behind him before he met Jesse's eyes and gave a nod. "Well, it seemed illogical to worry about how hurt you were or were not. I decided to see you."

Jesse watched him with surprise, sitting back as he abandoned the PADD he'd been working on. He looked him over...he seemed his usual self. But...maybe there was something else. He couldn't put his finger on it. "Am I rumoured to be out of the fight then?" he offered a faint, half smile.

Tavrek shook his head, looking at him before he walked over and took a seat. "No, rumour has that you are fine. But...I wanted to see for myself," he said as he looked at him, meeting his eyes. "See how you are, Jesse."

"Somehow still awake," Jesse chuckled weakly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "But what about you? I take it you were with the civilians?"

"I was," Tavrek said and gave a small nod, watching him. "We kept in the lounge, barricaded the door. They didn't seem interested in us, but...I guess we weren't the target."

"No," Jesse shook his head with a frown, letting out a soft breath. "But I doubt that was reassuring at the time."

He shook his head, looking at him for a moment, studying him. "How are you, Jesse?" he asked, quietly.

"Trying to put the pieces together. Trying to figure out what happened, beat by beat," Jesse shook his head with a frown, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's the only way to work out how the casualties happened."

Tavrek looked at him before he nodded, taking a breath as he stood, moving behind the desk to his side. He touched his shoulders, rubbing them gently as he looked ahead. "It happened so quick. Red alert and then...the sound of something impacting."

"The pods..." Jesse replied quietly, leaning back to the hands as he closed his eyes briefly. "It's an out dated tactic by our standards, but it did the job...just like those weapons of theirs."

Tavrek rubbed, making sure not to do it too hard. "Maybe the tactic with them is to dig into our own history for...inspiration."

Jesse nodded to the words, letting out a long, measured breath. The strong hands helped to ease the knot in his shoulder. "One thing's clear....they were on the offence with very little concern given to defence. Makes me think they're used to dominating the field of battle."

"Maybe to the point they have no one to challenge them," Tavrek said softly, looking at him before he gave a small smile. "You'll figure it out."

"Do you have enough to start working on their language yet," he looked up to him, wondering how much of a language he would need to start piecing fragments together.

He met his eyes, searching them before he shook his head. "No, but the computer is going through all recorded audio from the attack. Every corridor, every room...extracting audio for me so I have things to work with."

"That must be so frustrating. I don't know how you find the patience," Jesse shook his head with a frown as he tried to imagine being at the mercy of such painstaking work.

"I always enjoy puzzles..." he smiled as he gently stroked his shoulder, pulling back to sit at the corner of his desk. "And I am not alone in working on this."

He looked up to him, just watching him with awe at how...calm he looked. "Are you really this stoic?" he finally asked.

Tavrek took a slow, deep breath before he shook his head. "It's like anything else, you can...regulate," he said softly. "I've had...time to meditate and process what happened. The anger and outrage...it's there, but...not here..." he gestured to his own chest, raising an eyebrow. "It's where I can grab it if I need it."

"If you need it," Jesse repeated quietly, but didn't ask him to clarify. No, there had been plenty of times he'd needed his anger and outrage. "I envy you."

"Don't," Tavrek said quietly as he looked at him, reaching and taking his hand. He stroked his thumb over the knuckles, seeing the faint scars there, feeling the callouses. "I took me years to get to a place where it felt more natural. At times...there's two sides at war with each other. Impulsive Human. And the Vulcan pit of emotions most of them keep under...layers of suppression and meditation."

Jesse let out a long, tired breath, his other hand laying over the side of his as he watched them. "Maybe it means you've got the best of both."

Tavrek watched him for a long moment before he reached out with his free hand, to touch Jesse's cheek, watching him. "Maybe. But I'll never admit it."

"Of course not, it would ruin that poker face," Jesse said softly as he searched his eyes, a gentler smile breaking through for a moment.

Tavrek smiled at that, at seeing the smile on Jesses face...to know it was real. "I am not good at poker," he finally said. "Was never my game."

"Really? I thought you'd be amazing at it," Jesse replied with genuine surprise, only too relieved to be distracted for a few minutes. "The stoic face...able to read language and tone...."

"I get distracted into that," he admitted as he met Jesse's eyes before smiling as he looked down. "I listen too much, I...start talking and stop paying attention to the cards. And there you go...gone...lost because I didn't remember the rules of the game."

Jesse laughed softly at the idea of it, looking down almost fondly. "Well I suppose it's only fair that you have to make room for all the clever stuff somehow..."

"No one is perfect," Tavrek said as he looked at him before he reached out and touched his hair, to tuck some behind his ear.

Jesse smiled weakly as he turned his head into the gesture, taking a soft breath. "Least of all me," he replied quietly, almost in warning.

Tavrek met his eyes, holding them before he nodded. "Good thing I don't like perfect things. Perfection means...fakeness. Something that isn't...real."

"Also means cracks..." Jesse pointed out as he looked back to him, but with a small, half smile to take the edge off it.

He nodded as he watched him before he took his hand, stroking over it for a moment. "Cracks happen to us all," he said softly.

Jesse gripped the hand, squeezing it for a long moment. "But not broken," he nodded firmly, letting out a long, steadying breath.

"You're not broken," Tavrek said as he looked at him, serious, reaching with his free hand to touch his chin. "You never were. Maybe a bit dented...but never broken."

"Like a reliable tin mug," Jesse whispered, meeting his eyes for a long moment before grinning.

Tavrek laughed softly, his eyes shining as he nodded. "The one you miss when it isn't there," he said quietly.

"The one that's comfortable in your hands?" he glanced to the hand that had been on his chin a moment ago, chuckling softly.

Tavrek studied him for a moment and opened his hand, palm up, a small smile on his lips. "But has that bit on the handle that can scratch you if you're not careful..." he added, teasingly.

"Worried I scratch, Tavrek?" Jesse arched an eyebrow, unable to help himself. It thawed some of the ice that had settled in his chest.

"Oh, not worried," Tavrek said with a smile, tilting his head a little as if he was considering something. "Things that scratch tend to be worth it."

"Hm..." Jesse tilted his head, giving the philosophy genuine thought. It had some good theory behind it. "I knew you were a cat man...."

He laughed at that, raising an eyebrow almost playfully. "Don't tell the Commodore. Or his husband..." he stood smoothly from the desk, watching Jesse for a moment. "I know you are too busy now. But...once you are less busy? Dinner. At mine."

Jesse arched an eyebrow right back at him at the tone, leaning back heavily in his chair to watch him. "Hm...that didn't sound like a question or invitation. That sounded suspiciously like an order."

Tavrek smiled, watching him with warmth before he nodded. "Yes, it is. I think you...need one now and then. To take care of yourself."

"Fighting talk from a civilian..." Jesse replied lightly, a glint finally returning to his eyes.

"Occasionally we have a tendency to...speak up," Tavrek teased as he looked at him, giving a small but firm nod. "And...you know where to find me, right?"

"I can't ask you to cook for me again, Tavrek," Jesse smiled weakly, shaking his head as he looked to his hands, his thumbs pressing awkwardly together.

"I enjoy it," Tavrek said, firmly, before he touched his shoulder for a moment before he moved around the desk, towards the door. "You just have to deal with eating vegetarian, Jesse."

"You're not going to take no for an answer, are you..." Jesse chuckled lightly, rubbing his face with a tired hand.

"I'm not," Tavrek admitted as he looked at him before he nodded. "But you have duties, I know it. So...when things calm down," he said, knowing he was repeating it. But he wanted him to remember.

Jesse remained silent for a long moment, until he was convinced he really did mean it. "When things calm down."

----


Tavrek Harland
Translation Specialist
USS Guinevere

Lt. Colonel Jesse Moriarty
CO Federation Ground Forces
USS Guinevere

RSS Feed