Rhymes or Reasons
Episode Name: Rhymes or Reasons Written By: Ghorev & Tyler Cast: Tyler and Ghorev. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Starfleet Aired On: Mon Oct 07 19:05:40 2002 Stardate: 52688.6
Time: Mon Oct 07 18:59:03 2002
Stardate: 52688.6
Tyler taps her comm badge, "Lieutenant JG Tyler to Lieutenant Ghorev."
There is a momentary delay as subspace linkup is achieved.
Over Tyler's comm badge, someone says, "Go ahead."
Into her comm badge, Tyler says, "Sir, would you mind meeting me in the training center? I need some advice."
From Tyler's comm badge, Ghorev says, "You draw an X from the top of the right ear to the bottom of the left eye, and vice versa, and aim the killing blow *right there*." A pause. "Or was that not what you were going to ask?"
Into her comm badge, Tyler doesn't speak for a long moment. "M-maybe I should ask someone else."
From Tyler's comm badge, Ghorev says, after a moment, "It was a joke, Lieutenant. Do go on."
Into her comm badge, Tyler emits a whew of relief. "I would just like your advice, sir, on a situation I've come across. If your duties permit, would you mind meeting with me? It doesn't have to be the training center - I could meet you wherever you'd like..."
From Tyler's comm badge, Ghorev says, "I'll be down shortly."
Into her comm badge, Tyler says, "Thank you sir. Tyler out."
Tyler reaches up and taps her comm badge, ending transmission.
Ghorev enters the training center from the din of the mall.
Ghorev has arrived.
Tyler's sitting at a table, reading over a PADD. When Ghorev enters she rises and comes to attention. "Sir."
Ghorev comes to a halt, making an 'at ease' motion. "*You* asked for *me*. What's this about needing advice?"
Tyler relaxes somewhat and takes up the PADD again. She steps around the table and approaches Ghorev. "I've been asked to join DTI," she says, offering him the PADD. "And I've been asking the opinions of those I respect on the station what I should do. Despite how our last conversation ended, sir..." She lets that trail off.
Ghorev says, "I was aware the offer was being made, of course." He declines the PADD for the moment, and leans against the arcing table. "When I was asked about it, my general impression was that you wouldn't want to leave Starfleet."
"The PADD explains what the post would entail," replies Tyler, but her arm drops to her side with the PADD. "I would retain my rank, my post, my duties, but I would be coordinating with DTI in a more official capacity as well as allowing them access to the artifact to further that division's goals. I would actually be the Federation's first officer of a new joint branch between Starfleet and DTI. A time fleet, sir."
Ghorev says, "Frankly, it sounds like a " -- he pauses -- "... what's the word in Federation Standard? A crockpot? They want you to be in Starfleet, but not in Starfleet? That's no way to live."
Tyler replies quietly, "I don't understand, sir. There are plenty of other officers who hold dual sorts of roles. It's pushing the analogy, but the doctors on board the station are generally both Doctors as well as Starfleet officers. They're sworn to uphold two oaths. One to the order of Hippocrates and the other to the Federation. I don't understand how this would be different."
Ghorev folds his arms across his chest. "I don't see Hippocrates giving them orders."
Tyler reaches up and tucks her hair behind her ear, out of habit more than necessity. "I'd still be receiving orders from Starfleet command."
Ghorev says, "And which other agendas would you also be serving?" He shakes his head and for the first time in a long time, though he's still frowning, it's more a sincere frown of serious thought than a general rotten mood. "You know I've never been thrilled with the nature of your position here. It's why I insisted on testing you as I have. Frankly, this is more of the same, to me."
Tyler mirrors Ghorev's expression. "I don't understand. I thought I had proved myself to you."
Ghorev says, "You have. As a person. The situation still distresses me."
Tyler starts to open her mouth, then shuts it. She just stands there, looking at him.
Ghorev says, "The primary argument for your authority, for your responsibility -- which, let us at least be honest and admit, is both breathtaking and virtually unprecedented in scope -- is predicated on the notion that you are, in your field, a giant, as it were. I have said before and I will say again that this argument simply .... doesn't sit well with me, Lieutenant. Do I *doubt* that you are? No. Have you proven your leadership abilities as an officer? Yes." He frowns. "Is there *any* valid reason for the overreaching prominence and authority given to you in this matter by Starfleet Command? If there is, I don't see it, and not seeing it, can't factor it in. That's what I mean, Mister Tyler -- that's what it's *ALWAYS* been about for me."
Ghorev gestures at the door to the 'outside world'. "If I search the records, I can find at least a dozen junior officers serving in Starfleet who are all at or near the tops of their fields. But all of them serve in a regular chain of command, and when they don't, it is in the fashion, as you stated, of medical officers, who have immediate checks and balances on their extraordinary authority.
Ghorev pauses there to let that sink in, or be replied to.
Tyler replies, somewhat haughtily, "DTI was created /because/ of my papers submitted to the Federation Science Council and the Daystrom institute, Lieutenant. Those papers were written when I was nine years old. I /am/ a giant in my field, and I challenge you to find a single temporal scientist that can match my skills." The frown deepens. "Sir, I do everything everyone asks of me. I have sacrificed so much to be where I am. I have worked hard to preserve the life we lead, the liberties we enjoy in the Federation, and to prevent a future which we both know is not only possible but seems more and more probable every day. The Lithians are a threat greater than anything we have ever faced before, and I resent your implication that I'm some irresponsible child playing with things she doesn't understand. Because I do understand. I understand my post and my position. It's obvious that you /don't/. But that's not my responsibility." She shakes the PADD at him, then to emphasize her point. "I've sacrificed. And now it's time do what Michael says, to do something that makes me happy. I'm going to accept their offer, if not for any more reason than it'll irritate you, because I've tried to be your good little girl, I've tried to be everything you want me to be and /nothing/ is ever good enough for you, Lieutenant." She drops her hand back to her side. Her eyes are brimming with the start of tears, but she bites her lower lip and waits for his explosion or dismissal, whichever comes first.
Ghorev says, "If that's what you *truly* think, then you haven't been *listening*. I've just finished explaining it to you, haven't I? It's not you. It was never about *you*."
Tyler sniffles to try and hold back the tears of frustration and anger that well in her eyes. "I am sorry I wasted your valuable time, Lieutenant, sir," she says through clenched teeth.
Ghorev says, "Stop that. For the love of the Six Hundred Gods, just ... stop that."
Tyler lets the PADD fall to the ground with a loud clatter. She balls her hands into fists at her side tightly and releases them. Not once, but twice. "What /more/ do you want from me, sir." She can't hold it back any more. A tear slips down her cheek, but she still maintains her rigid composure of fury and frustration.
Ghorev shakes his head sadly. "Do you hear me shouting now? Do you hear me ranting?" He gestures towards the door. "There's tens of thousands of us in uniform, Wendy." Uh, oh, he's using first name. Very, YERY rare for him. And he's talking with a quiet passion -- also rare, these days. "Think about that. You are assuming that I am opposed to your special authority because I think you're unprepared? If you were anyone else, young woman, I'd consider a challenge in order. But you've admitted that you're not a warrior, and violence makes you ill -- I accept that, even though I can't fathom it. But I *accept* it. And I've just spent several minutes explaining that it's not *you* I don't trust -- it's the system that says 'In this one instance, being a nearly full-grown child prodigy in a narrow field that we have need of us sufficient grounds to give orders to everyone in creation.'" He shakes his head again. "How often do I have to explain it to you, Gwendolyn Tyler? What more can I say to make you understand? What do *you* want from *me*?"
Tyler replies quietly, "Your respect." She sniffles again and rubs her arm across her eyes. "My situation isn't special, Lieutenant. There is another temporal artifact, one which I have stood beside and touched personally. It's project is run by a Commander that can chase Admirals out of the star system. On Stardate 52180.4 you, Commander Edwards and handful of crew traveled through this portal to return to this timeline from the future. I suggest you /find out/ if my position is wholly unique before you accuse my post of being out of bounds. I have the authority vested in my post by Starfleet Command, just as you have the post of Chief Engineer. I don't give orders unless it directly relates to my research. And in those instances, /I know best/."
Ghorev says, "There are matters involving biofiltration in which I am sure I know better than any Commanding Officer or Chief Medical Officer which has ever served on this station, Wendy," and he pushes away from the tabletop, "but I still must answer to either before putting those plans in motion. Knowing best is not now, nor ever was, good enough as a matter of *ethics*, only of practicality. So now you have to ask yourself whether it *is* a matter of ethics or practicality." He starts for the door. "One thing more, with all sincerity..."
Tyler stands still and lets him walk by her. She doesn't turn her body, but instead looks over her shoulder at him. "Do you consult with the Admiralty when you make a decision about repairing a biofilter? I consult with Starfleet Command when I have to make a decision. I think what bothers you is that I'm not consulting with /you/."
Ghorev starts to form his lips into a snarl, clearly insulted, and narrows his eyes for a moment, dangerously, but then withdraws, taking a step back. He inhales, exhales wordlessly. Clearly, *something* just touched a very raw nerve, and this is a critical moment here.
Tyler turns to face him fully then. "I have regulations, rules and directives that I follow just like you, sir," Wendy says. Her own rage has subsided, but the swelling watery eyes indicates she's still very upset by all this. She does nothing more, except swallow with an audible click.
Ghorev still says nothing at first. Just .... looks, eyes still narrowed. The moment drags out to another moment.
Tyler sniffles and watches him. She doesn't say anything more.
Ghorev finally just says "We have discussed this before, in prose as well as poetry, and so rather than lose my temper, I will simply leave you with one more piece of Eliot to mull over. I assume you still draw from him as much inspiration as you did the last time" He gestures to the PADD containing the offer from DTI, and his voice has the quiet chill of temper as he continues. "'Now is my way clear, now is the meaning plain: / Temptation shall not come in this kind again. / The last temptation is the greatest treason: / To do the right deed, for the wrong reason.'" Eyes still narrow -- clearly still *furious* -- he makes his way for the door, while the tight rein on his anger can still be maintained.
Tyler whispers to herself, "My happiness is never the wrong reason, Akeen Ghorev." When she is sure he is gone, she bends down to pick up the PADD, reads over its screen, and promptly begins to sob.
Ghorev exits the training center, heading out.
Ghorev has left.
