Tidying up

Posted on Tue Oct 6th, 2026 @ 12:49pm by Lieutenant Rune Thul & Commander Alex Flynn
Edited on on Tue Oct 6th, 2026 @ 1:45pm

1,016 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Shifting Shapes [4-5]
Location: Chief of Security's Office
Timeline: 1645 - MD07

By the near-end of alpha shift excitement was tangible across the station at the news of the Ferengi Embassy opening, shifts were being swapped and latinum stashes retrieved. While there were more than enough staff uninterested to cover the shifts, this certainly didn't deter the rest of them.

About fifteen minutes before the end of shift, the chime on Lieutenant Rune Thul's door rang.

He nearly got through the first report on his desk when the chime sounded. “Come in,” Rune mimicked the tone of the door.

"Thul, hey. Got a minute?" Flynn asked the Security Chief as she entered.

After a surprised blink Rune stood. “Commander?”

"I wanted to apologise for the way I spoke to you earlier. Not for what I said, I stand by that, but being as curt as I was wasn't necessary or helpful." Alex admitted forthrightly, looking the Chief in his black eyes as she spoke.

“I deserved it, and have already been reforming myself. I’ve yet to fully redeem myself for my last blunder and I do hope you are willing to accept my apology earlier as I offer it again, Commander.” Rune stated. “I am sorry.”

He bowed his head.

"I do. I appreciate that you've been working on yourself. But we've got to remember that diplomats don't play by the same rules as the rest of us. Sometimes we've got to swallow our pride and smile and nod even when they're being arseholes. It's most of the reason I got out of diplomatic security." Flynn told him.

It seemed he’d apologized for his conduct to Slake, which is for the best Rune supposed as he settled into a relaxed stance in front of his chair. He hoped the apology applied to his interrupting Volsunga’s and Flynn’s conversation as well. The Security Chief nodded and prayed to the deities that both situations are covered by the one apology.

"But nobody deserves to be spoken to like that over a social slight. Especially after someone like Slake has just stepped on your balls in public. If I seem protective of Volsunga, it's because I am. He's kind of become my pet project given that I'm the only member of the senior staff other than Saez who his culture doesn't have a pejorative for. I think he's making great progress, and I know it's not part of my job to try and control access to him, but the concern that he's going to snap back into his old ways has obviously got me tenser than I thought." Flynn admitted.

“I understand, but I won’t apologize for keeping the station population safe from illegal devices inside gambling machines should they be installed anywhere but the Alliance Embassy. It is my job after all.” Rune stated. “For the rest, I did.” He gestured to himself as he spoke.

He put his hands by his side. “It is a little unfair to have all the concern regarding the Battle-Brother’s state of mind as he learns about what his life here is to be like and as Chief of Security, I have that concern as well which is now that I rationalize it is the primary reason why I wanted to see how he was settling in earlier,” he said with worry. “I promise to request your permission and it best to, if you have the spare time, in your presence when asking him any future ‘how are you’ questions.”

"Yeah, I get that. And I'm not asking you to explain yourself, I just wanted to get that out there. You don't need my permission to speak to anyone, just try to avoid starting new conversations with people who are already in the middle of one." Alex said. "Are you going to go along to the Embassy opening?" She asked.

“Understood,” Rune smiled as he was glad they were now on the same page. The smile fell as he considered her question. “Is it a requirement, Commander?” He genuinely wanted to know.

"God, no. Anyone without any money would just be standing around for the rest of the evening as soon as their voucher is spent." Flynn said.

After the embassy talk was concluded Rune coughed. “I do want to ask can Volsunga’s advisory duties extend to Security as well as Tactical? Would this need the Captain’s approval?” He inquired, leaning a little forward, a bit.

"That's the Captain's call, but I think it's probably best to let him settle in a little more to what he's doing before adding anything else on top." Flynn told him. "Now, unless there's anything else, I've gotta go chase up some deadbeats who owe me latinum."

"Understood, I will bring it up again at a later date to both of you." Rune said making a quick note on a PADD that was in front of him. Once he finished he refocused on Flynn. "The annual Security, and Tactical, Endurance Course is coming up again soon, I do intend to invite both Volsunga and Calithra to participate. I feel both of them would enjoy such an event considering their former professions in combat. Could I get your thoughts on this?"

"Yeah, makes sense. I mean we can be confident that they're capable physically, but it won't hurt to have something we can put a stamp on in case anyone higher up takes an interest." Alex said with a shrug.

"That was my thinking as well," he replied with a smile. A memory popped into his head and he grinned. "Oh," Rune said and pulled out draw after draw of his desk. He found it and pulled it out. "A gift from Supremacy Inc. and my husband," Rune offered the box of mixed smokes, cigars and other such products from across the markets.

"Oh, groovy. Thanks. And tell Vestar I said thanks." She said, taking the box, looking at the contents. "But if anyone asks, I'm destroying these as contraband. Which I guess is technically true." She said. "Later, Thul." She left with a smile.

Rune chuckled after the door closed.

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