Midway into Rog’s visit:
Rog: What the hell do you mean no search and rescue mission?
John: Not my call to make. I’ve taken the request as high as I can.
Rog: Bullshiott!
John: What?
Rog: Your conscience. Have you taken it to your conscience? Tell me that John?
John: You think I don’t care about those Vollmond pilots? The one’s I sent into harm’s way? To protect Bravo. Do you know—
Rog: I know what I see and what I see is you sitting on your arse offering bullshiott excuses. Gawd damn John, look at yourself.
John: Look, I’m not going to pretend I could ever care for your crew as much as you do—
Rog: [banging fists on John’s desk] That’s not the frailing point! I don’t give a rat’s arse for thoughts. You want thoughts, go talk to Yul, she’s full of ‘em.
John: What do you want from me Rog?
Rog: I want a ship, a vessel, one with parsec capability.
John: And what would you do with such a vessel? You can’t fly it, can’t read the instrumentation. Hell, you wouldn’t even know where to go.
Rog: Then come with me.
John: I can’t.
Rog: Can’t or won’t?
[John stood up, put his hands on his desk, leaned over and stared at Rog, oblivious to the blinking red light on his desk.]
Categories: Story, John Discovery, Rog
38 comments:
Join me in a toast. "Can't or Won't" is chapter number 250 in the saga. Who would have ever thought? :-D
The toast, of course, is to the loyal and dedicated readers, without whom, there would be no story.
Cheers Big Ears! :-D
Seriously, wow! Reaching 250 is some milestone and what a journey it has been. Here's to the next 250, may they be as much fun as the first.
Great little chapter once again, very visual is description, fists banging on tables and the tension in the air. Sounds to me like Rog is saying pretty much what John would say to himself were he alone. Very, very nice - and again with the two chapters in a row. You're spoiling us, but please don't stop. :-)
Thanks Sweetest. I have arrived safely in Phoenix, my second home. :-D
The flashing red light, such a nice parallel with the red switch on Bravo. Does he see it or does he not. Reminds me of that ELO song, Telephone I think it was, with the phone ringing and ringing and no one answering. :-)
Been a heck of a ride these many months. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thanks for coming along. :-)
Really liked the metaphor about flares too.
Happy day ahead, x
The song was "Telephone Line" by ELO. Such a haunting sound, lyrics and music, especially as a teenage boy wondering if the other party is ever going to pick up the phone. Of course, this was in the days before caller ID and cell phones so your chances you getting through to someone was high. Now, whether you were going to get past that gatekeeper and how long it took told you about all you needed to know. :-D
The flare metaphor made much more sense that last sip of water. :-D
Happy happy joy joy. :-)
late on the toast...."CHEERS"
hope you celebrated in a big way.
its been our pleasure Tree and honor.
Meg
Thank you Meg. Been a great ride so far. Thanks for coming along. :-)
Have a great weekend. :-)
Can't or Won't.
I like the title. Makes me think about things we think we can't do, but in actual fact, we don't want to and won't do it.
Sigh. Today's not a particularly good day for me.. Tomorrow's a new day, but it doesn't change the fact that it'll still be there when i wake up.
oh well. it'll pass.
:)
John is such an interesting character and we don't know nearly enough about him, though he is fast climbing the labels chart, there doesn't seem to be such a thing as too much John (or Rog for that matter). We've seen him torn, though that word is perhaps too harsh in the instances before this one, more than once, and it just raises so much curiosity about what is going on on the inside, in his mind, in his heart. He doesn't tell us very much (at least not as much as he could) and so we can only wonder and presume to some extent at least. I do think any and all conclusions that are made come from what we do know of him...
The main presumption here would be that in saying what he is saying to Rog, he is going against his instincts, what he wants and needs to do - though whether that would be enough for him to actually do it is another question.
I could fall for both these guys easy.
Speaking of questions, this of course ends on with a question mark too, though this time the answer (unvoiced though it may remain and veiled though it may then even be) is a little more recognizable.
So vivid in description, as I said above, the more I read it the more the nuances of the sceen come into play - like what they are wearing ;). Easy to visualize them having this debate, with that desk between them, eyes glaring from both sides at least there at the end and all the while, looking mighty fine.
Thanks Meg. Sorry to hear that today is a challenge but I am glad to hear you have within you the eternal wisdom that "this too shall pass."
If I know anything, it is this. Life is change. Nothing stays the same. Everything is in motion. I also know we tend not to see this way, or think this way. When we have problems or pain, we have a tendency to think they will persist, that it will always be this way.
Wishing you a weekend filled with change, filled with peace. Take care my friend.
Hey You. :-)
John, in this chapter, develops a respect for Rog that he did not have before. On first impression, Rog, especially to one as refined and educated as John, can look a bit "country." And so, John has always discounted Rog's "metal" so to speak. In this scene, however, John sees a side of Rog he has not seen before, a philosophical side (maybe this is Yul's influence) he can't argue against. And, he sees a passion, a passion for what is right, a passion he himself showed just a few chapters ago when those two bureaucrats showed up. I suppose, if we are looking for irony, John finds himself in the very odd position of playing the "bureaucrat" to Rog playing "John." And believe me, this turning of the tables is not lost on John, in fact, it is making his stomach turn, especially when Rog hits him with that phrase, "My gawd, look at yourself John."
So, very short chapter, but then again, so very much going on. I'm always amazed at how our comments outweigh the word count of the actual chapter. :-D
Hi!
Know am VERY late...
But still...CHEERS :)
and how many words did this comment add?
lemme see...
and btw ...we not only read but also HEAR sometimes :)
Have a fantastic day
(*_*)
U
Thank you Uma. Your comment makes me smile, which today is very important to me. Thank you for reading and thank you for listening. :-)
Hi!!
Hope everything is okay with you
Plz take care
(*_*)
U
Uma, I learned yesterday that my mother is to have open heart surgery on Monday. I'm heading to Louisiana with everything I have crossed. Thanks for asking. As for now, I'm fine. Ask me again after the surgery on Monday afternoon.
A cross between christmas baubles and kids blowing bubbles... I feel like I want to pop them!
PS Sorry I haven't been around much of late, work has been hectic :(.
No worries Chicky. Work has been crazy for me too. I've spent more time on the road this year so far than home and I just found out my mom is to have open heart surgery on Monday morning, so I'm back on the road again. As always, thanks for the very sweet words. You can pop my bubbles anytime. :-)
Poppet, I will be thinking of you as you head out and hoping that the days ahead are as blessed and easy as possible. Love to you. Update us when you can.
xo
Thank you Sweetest. I will. When I went to drop C off last night I noticed the electrical system on my car was acting up, so, not being a mechanic, I'm a bit concerned, especially in light of all the car trouble I have had of late, that all is not as it should be. Pray for my mom and pray for my car! Last thing I need is to get stranded half way between Tennessee and Louisiana.:-D
Oh my, hope you (make/) made it all the way there in one go - everything is crossed that fortune smiles upon you for the entire trip, xo
Good news. I'm here! Bad news. Got to get up at 4am to see my mom before she goes in for surgery. Morning person, Poppet is not. :-D
Keep your fingers and toes crossed. :-)
Coffee, coffee and more coffee. :-)
Will do, twice crossed the places I am able. :-) Update us when you can, Poppet.
Love and hugs, thinking of you, x
Yes, yes and yes. Leaving is just a few for the hospital. I'm update you as soon as we get back. See you then. :-)
More love and hugs.
Oooh, if this is what I get whenever I go to the hospital, I think I'm feeling a little under the weather. I might need someone to take care of me. Got any white? :-D
I have the required garments and a few bits of equipment too, in other words enough to take care of you. :-D
Hugs to you, and please do continue to update when you can. Sweet dreams when you get that far and good day tomorrow, for all.
xo
Sunshine, just back from the hospital. Mom was half awake, still on heavy pain meds but still in pain. Seeing a loved one in an ICU unit is just not a pretty site. We will see her again first thing in the morning and hope to see progress. Thanks so much for asking.
Love,
Poppet
Likely you have been there before, if you haven't, I can tell you that in the 10 days I was observing patients in the ICU, how long the individual takes to wake completely from this type of surgery can be very varied. If your mom is half-awake on the very first day, then things are moving swiftly indeed and with a good night's sleep, your hopes should fingers-crossed be answered.
Love and hugs to you, Poppet, x
Heading out to see her in just a bit. I'll let you know how she is doing after a night of rest. Fingers crossed.
I'll be checking, xo
What a difference a night makes. She looks 100% better than she did last night. So good to hear her talking normally again; and, they are moving her to a regular room later today, which is very good news. :-)
Excellent news, beaming on your behalf. You must be so very relieved and happy. :-) Rushing out the door to pick up M, but the gist is there, i.e. so glad to know things are progressing so smartly. Still more love and hugs though. :-) xo
Sweet dreams, Poppet, and a good day ahead, x
Hey you, x
Hope your mom had another good night's rest and is even further down the road towards being up and about.
Sweetest, thanks for asking. She was doing much better today. Two more days and she will be home again. Good news indeed. :-)
Excellent!
I loved the last line. Congrats on #250!! :-D *clink*
I lift my glass my dear. Been quite the ride. :-D
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