Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 21:05:54 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Vengeance - Chapter 2 Message-ID: Chapter 2 Commander Genine Strickler wasn't used to the situation in which she was currently. Having been in the military for her entire adult life and still serving in the military, Genine was prone to keep quiet her deepest dark secrets. Now, as she sat comfortably in this office, she found she was being asked to voluntarily tell those deep dark secrets. "Commander, I know you've been ordered by the Admiral to come to my office twice a week for two hours but I'm not going to order you to tell me anything. I'm not a military psychiatrist. But I've been around military personnel for a long time now and I know you're probably thinking that this is a waste of time and that speaking to me will mar your record. I can promise you that nothing you tell me will leave this room without your permission. Genine didn't answer. Instead, she simply sat where she was, patiently waiting for time to pass. "Genine, how many hours are you going to just let slip by every week? I could suggest to the Admiral that you see me every day." Genine exhaled. "What do you want me to tell you, Dr. Beeks?" Dr. Verbina Beeks, staff psychiatrist at Project Quantum Leap, looked at the Naval commander gently. "What do you want to tell me?" Genine huffed. It was exactly the kind of response she was expecting. She didn't say anything. "Okay," Verbina commented. "You told Admiral Calavicci that being a member of Burke's group was hell. How about elaborating on that?" Genine closed her eyes. She didn't want to elaborate on it. She wanted to bury it deep down inside where not even she herself could find it again. "Genine?" Verbina asked gently with concern. Images floated through Genine's mind - images of love and betrayal, of pain and pleasure - images which she didn't want to remember. She didn't realize it but she was crying. "Genine?" Verbina repeated, going over to her and touching her hand. Genine looked into Verbina's eyes and realized she had let her guard down a little too much than she had intended. Quickly wiping the tears from her eyes, she straightened herself and resumed her stance as the strong-willed Naval officer. "Genine, are you okay?" Verbina pressed gently. "Yes," Genine answered stiffly. "I'm fine. Thank you, Dr. Beeks." Verbina sighed. "My first name is Verbina, Genine. Please," she requested. She paused for a moment, watching Genine carefully for anything that might help her open the Commander up. "Genine, I can tell you're in a lot of emotional pain. That pain isn't going to just go away, especially after all that you have gone through. I only want to help you come to grips with what happened, whatever it was." Genine took a breath. "Dr. Beeks, the only reason I am here is I was ordered by Admiral Calavicci to be here. I do not wish to discuss my involvement with General Burke." Verbina noted her choice of words, especially given that there was some indication that the Commander and General Burke had shared a bed. Verbina refused to accept any rumors concerning Genine and General Burke unless Genine confirmed it. She exhaled. She had to show the Commander that whatever she was hiding in her soul was having a negative impact on her and could easily be seen in her work. "I'm sure Al had an excellent reason for ordering you to see me," Verbina told her. "He doesn't take such actions unless he feels he has to." She paused. "Genine, what happened when you were investigating General Burke is affecting your performance as an officer now. Unless your performance improves, Al may be forced to remove you from the project and transfer you somewhere else. Neither you nor Al want that to happen." She could see that Genine was considering her words. She gave her a gentle smile. "I won't judge you or tell anyone anything that you tell me." Genine sighed. She lowered her eyes. "What is there to say? I was assigned to investigate ex-General Burke concerning some unusual incidences surrounding him. Upon investigation, I found that he had committed several crimes including murder, treason, assault..." "That's the official record," Verbina interrupted. "You're not here to tell me that, Genine, and you know it. Genine hesitated. She lowered her eyes. "Dr. Beeks, I'm just not ready to open up to anyone, much less a psychiatrist." "How about a friend?" Verbina coaxed. "Commander, I know we've only known each other for seven months but I do consider you a friend and I can see that you're troubled. Please, let me help." Genine was quiet for a moment. "Right from the beginning, I knew my involvement in the Burke case was a mistake. It wasn't that I wasn't qualified for the job." She paused, taking a breath. "I'd fallen in love with a member of the team." She looked at Verbina. "We married secretly but our marriage was never really legal because I married him using my alias." "Genine Taylor," Verbina said the alias for clarification. Genine nodded. She closed her eyes. "I still love him. Even after all that happened between us, I still love him." Verbina sighed. "He didn't survive, did he?" Genine shook her head. "No," she whispered. "What's more, I could've saved him but I didn't because of my duty to the Navy." "What do you mean?" Verbina asked with concern. Genine didn't answer. Instead, she stood up and started for the office door. "I can't," she whispered. She looked at Verbina. "Not yet, anyway," she said more firmly. "I'm surprised I've told you what I have." She took a breath. "Do you mind if I return to duty, Dr. Beeks?" Verbina hesitated. She realized that she wasn't going to get the Commander to open up any further that day. She nodded slightly to Genine's request. "Okay. However, since you are leaving early, I'd like you to come in tomorrow." Genine nodded briefly. "Very well, Doctor. The same time as today?" "That will be fine," Verbina told her just before the Commander nodded respectfully and left the office. Verbina exhaled in sympathy. The Commander had gone through her share of miseries in the past year. The death of her husband was obviously a severe blow to her people. Verbina just hoped that Genine would soon be willing to allow herself to heal. "I thought I ordered you to be with Dr. Beeks," Admiral Albert Calavicci said without looking up from the paperwork before him. Genine had entered the office to report for duty. She stood at attention before Al's desk, waiting patiently for the Admiral to give her his next order. "Yes, sir. You did, sir," Genine replied. Al looked at Genine for an explanation. "Dr. Beeks gave me permission to resume my duties for the day, sir," Genine explained. "I am to report to her at the same time tomorrow, sir." Al exhaled. It had been almost seven months since the end of the incident in which ex-General Albert Whitefeather Burke had successfully held control of Project Quantum Leap for about a week. It had been only in the past month that Al was able to resume his position as Project Observer, thus placing more pressure on his newly assigned Assistant Administrative Manager, Commander Genine Strickler. Now, he wasn't so sure about his allowing the Commander to transfer to the project. It wasn't her performance that really bothered him. She was an excellent officer and knew her job well. But she couldn't seem to relax, especially when she was around him, after the incident. "At ease, Commander," he instructed her, receiving an immediate obedience of his order. He stood up and walked over to the Commander, questioning in his eyes. "Commander, why are you here?" "I do not understand the meaning of your question, sir," she told Al. Al smiled slightly, realizing how vague the question really was. "Let me put it this way, then," he said to her. "Why did you request a transfer to Project Quantum Leap when you could have easily found a lower stress job within Naval Intelligence, a section in which you'd much rather be?" "Am I required to answer that question, sir?" Genine asked. It was Al's turn to be surprised. He looked at Genine carefully before shaking his head. "No, you're not required to answer." "Then, Admiral, I respectfully decline to answer the question." Al frowned slightly. He wanted answers but he wasn't about to force the issue without some indication of what the issue was. He was certain the Genine would tell him when the time came. If not, she would be putting herself into serious trouble. "Very well," Al finally said. "Let's get to work then." He returned to his desk, picked up a pile of papers and gave them to Genine. "We have to finish these budget reports. Congress has been breathing down my neck to explain the increase in the budget. Guess they think hybrid-computers and Accelerator Chambers repair themselves without the use of capital." "Aye, sir," Genine replied, accepting the papers from him. "Gushie and Tina are working a little more on Ziggy to try to find out why she read a time fluctuation," he added. "We may have to do a few more subtleties to the budget." Genine frowned. "Subtleties, sir?" Al hesitated. Until that moment, he had been having Genine find ways to lessen their expenses as much as possible. However, the budget for upkeep on the project was nearly used up, forcing AL to once again do one of his subtleties - transfer funds from the motor pool. "Don't worry about it," he told Genine. It was Genine's turn to hesitate, not wanting to speak up against her commanding officer. "Sir," she began, "from the intonation of your voice, it seems that these subtleties are not exactly legal." Al didn't answer immediately. He looked at Genine firmly. "Would you hold it against me if I wanted to make sure that a friend's life's work continues with the hope that the friend would someday return?" Genine smiled gently. "No, sir. In fact, I would admire you for risking your career for that friend and I would be a little envious of that friend for whom you care more than your career." Al laughed slightly. "From the intonation of your voice, it seems you are not going to report my subtleties." "I cannot report something I haven't seen, sir. Also, it would be unwise to neglect the chain of command, sir." Al laughed again. "Well, Commander, you'd better get to work on these reports." "Aye, sir," Genine replied before standing at attention and then leaving Al's presence. Al watched her leave, wondering just what exactly was bothering her.