USF Progenitor & Crew: Adventures in Cosmos 01

[#04] Cold Comms

The Communications Array room was hot, like almost every other room in the space station. Peter and Stavros stepped into the room, cautiously. Their anxiety fluctuated. Stavros immediately sat at one of the computers while Peter walked up to a lone control panel. Peter looked around himself, at his brother, then back at the computer display in front of him.
Peter's heart jumped when he received an incoming transmission on his PCD-a personal communications device, or 'device,' most Space Force workers had at their disposal. Peter pushed the PTT on his earpiece to respond. He released the button to gather his words and what he was going to say, then quickly pushed the button again to respond.
"Yeah," Peter responded. "Go ahead."

Ka'eo transmitted, Peter, it's Ka'eo.

Peter's brain played a trick on him, causing him to think it was Mana speaking. The idea coursed through his brain that The Thing, Event Horizon, Alien, and other science fiction horror movies could potentially be real given their current situation. He ignored his momentary mind-stutter and recognized Ka'eo's voice on the other side of the comms.

Ka'eo commanded, Peter, you have to be more assertive. If I'm going to trust you with anything and the crew, you have to assert yourself more, and maintain control more like how you used to back in the day. All jokes aside, man, and at least for now. I'm not trying to be a dick, neither.

The reminder felt like a dim insult to Peter, no matter how Ka'eo presented it. He wondered if Ka'eo was maybe insecure about his own assertiveness. "I thought I am being assertive," Peter said in the defensive, still under stress. "I thought-I mean, I am being assertive. Aren't I-?" He furrowed his brow, turned toward Stavros, then back to his computer. "What do you mean that I'm not being assertive? Are you sure you're not just blaming me for your own feelings?"

Ka'eo stated in quick reflection, No, yeah, you were being assertive! I'm not trying to do you a disservice, buddy. I'm not saying you weren't being assertive. You are assertive! Good job with that, no offense meant. What I'm saying-.

"Okay-but you did-you just said that I wasn't being assertive enough," Peter stressed. "I-don't understand why you-think that all of a sudden. And why are you bringing this up now, anyway? I thought the mission was always more important to you."

Ka'eo gulped and focused on what he was trying to say, then continued, So, Peter, listen... what I'm saying is that you aren't being assertive enough-because you're actually being more suggestive than you are choosing to be assertive. Suggestive-like-only making recommendations and not exactly saying what needs to be said. I need more assertiveness from you, with the crew especially. I want you to matter more, to engage more with everyone-."

"Ka'eo. What the fuck are you talking about? I am, I thought. How am I being suggestive? You're saying that I sound suggestive but I've been-I am being assertive!" Peter soured, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Yeah," Stravros concurred sarcastically, overhearing Peter's defense of himself. "Aren't you already suggestive enough, Peter?"
Peter snapped his fingers at Stravros to redirect his focus back to his work, hurrying his unwanted attention away. He asked him, "Stravros, stay focused-and where's your earpiece, man? Come on! Why don't you have your comms on? God!"
Stravros chuckled and declared, "I have my ear piece and my device. I just don't want to use it! You need to stop being suggestive!"
"I'm not! I'm not being suggestive. You guys are suggesting that I am!"
"You are being suggestive, Peter!"
"No, I'm not!" Peter quickly PTT'd to Ka'eo, "Hold on, Ka'eo. Now you started Stavros up over here... God dammit."