Week 3 and counting

[Atragon9 0]

It has been two weeks since A9 took up residence at SF Medical, one week since Manticore left orbit. The medical staff keep telling him that his progress has been "Phenomenal." He knows that part of that report is to make him feel better just by being told he *is* better. He knows part of that is the therapy sessions he is undergoing with the staff. He knows that part of that is simply spending two weeks out of a cell, out of a dungeon, even out of a starship - it simply calms him, relaxes him, offers him safety. Finally, he knows that part of that has been the self-paced retraining he has been putting himself through.

It's funny, but he had a memory of this mental retraining from the first time he was put through it. He recalls it being so intense and frightening, so alien to his way of thinking and living life. Not so much, this time. Maybe he's just older and can bring his experiences to bear. Maybe he wants to get better SO intensely that he is a more willing participant. Most likely is the fact that he has been living this altered life for decades, so this isn't really a retraining, more of a refresher. Whatever the reason he isn't afraid anymore, his life is back in the groove, he is ready to return to duty, to service, to command.

Just three things stand in his way of that. First, the doctors have to give him a clean bill of health - and they are notorious for being over-protective and over-cautious. Second, the fleet has to decide it is to their benefit to put him back on active duty and what form it will take. He has to show them that he will be a benefit to them, to Special Ops and he knows that will only be apparent if he can leverage his experiences with the Manticore. He is too old to be given new leadership responsibilities, at least in deep space. And Third, to get back to Manticore, he has to know where Manticore is and hope they are safe. Thanks to the first two points, no one has decided to share the ship's location or mission with him. He doesn't know if it's a milk run or if people are dying. Oh well, it's Manticore, after all, when have they ever had a milk run?