"I don't have time for this, Lieutenant but I will take the time if you insist on being difficult." He waved the remote unit in Adrian's face. "The Tech Commander would love to do this himself. I understand the two of you have history together."
"The Tech Commander is a fool, sir."
The Admiral threw his head back and guffawed. "You're right. The man is a little toad. Totally unsuited for his position." The laugh disappeared as quickly as it came.
His face was motionless as he brought the remote unit up and there was a gleam of something in his eyes. It was only a split second, a wince, a brief look of regret, but one noticed by the sharp eyes of his First Officer. Then Verel's eyes hardened and his lips thinned in resolution. The only people who would have enjoyed this, he had already sent out of the room. No one else needed to witness this. It was the only thing he could do for this stubborn man.
He slid one of the controls to the first position and pressed the remote unit. There was no reaction of pain or clenching of teeth, it was only a mild warning.
Verel's voice was one of irresistible command."He is your superior officer. You will address him with respect."
"A rank bought by political connections requires no respect." A sneer curled Adrian's lips.
Verel circled him like a tiger ready to swipe a gash of red across his victim's body. "So you're not entirely ignorant of political realities."
"They’re irrelevant." Adrian twisted his wrists in the tight cuffs, trying to ease the pain and the spreading numbness. His chest was tight.
The Admiral shook his head. "You're deliberately being a fool, Lieutenant."
"I'm a prisoner in an officer's uniform."
The illusions fell away, leaving the ugly truth.
"You don't mince words."
"I deal in facts."
"Are you trying to say I don't?" The edge of warning in the Admiral's voice was clear.
"You deal in political expediencies."
"I ensure the Safety and Security of the Empire."
Adrian finally lifted his eyes to look at him. "Rhetoric."
"You don't believe in the Empire?"
After a few challenging seconds, as they took each other's measure, Adrian looked away. "I believe in myself."
no subject
"I don't have time for this, Lieutenant but I will take the time if you insist on being difficult." He waved the remote unit in Adrian's face. "The Tech Commander would love to do this himself. I understand the two of you have history together."
"The Tech Commander is a fool, sir."
The Admiral threw his head back and guffawed. "You're right. The man is a little toad. Totally unsuited for his position." The laugh disappeared as quickly as it came.
His face was motionless as he brought the remote unit up and there was a gleam of something in his eyes. It was only a split second, a wince, a brief look of regret, but one noticed by the sharp eyes of his First Officer. Then Verel's eyes hardened and his lips thinned in resolution. The only people who would have enjoyed this, he had already sent out of the room. No one else needed to witness this. It was the only thing he could do for this stubborn man.
He slid one of the controls to the first position and pressed the remote unit. There was no reaction of pain or clenching of teeth, it was only a mild warning.
Verel's voice was one of irresistible command."He is your superior officer. You will address him with respect."
"A rank bought by political connections requires no respect." A sneer curled Adrian's lips.
Verel circled him like a tiger ready to swipe a gash of red across his victim's body. "So you're not entirely ignorant of political realities."
"They’re irrelevant." Adrian twisted his wrists in the tight cuffs, trying to ease the pain and the spreading numbness. His chest was tight.
The Admiral shook his head. "You're deliberately being a fool, Lieutenant."
"I'm a prisoner in an officer's uniform."
The illusions fell away, leaving the ugly truth.
"You don't mince words."
"I deal in facts."
"Are you trying to say I don't?" The edge of warning in the Admiral's voice was clear.
"You deal in political expediencies."
"I ensure the Safety and Security of the Empire."
Adrian finally lifted his eyes to look at him. "Rhetoric."
"You don't believe in the Empire?"
After a few challenging seconds, as they took each other's measure, Adrian looked away. "I believe in myself."