Eric followed behind the commander almost like a child about to be scolded. As much as he was smart he was also stubborn, hot headed and had a streak of misbehavior problems. Eric had always had those problems but he usually knew how to control them. Usually when he got angry it was mostly directed at inanimate objects like a console or computer or something along those lines but sometimes it was someone who really ticked him off.  This was the fifth ship he had been on in the past two years.  Hopefully it will still be the ship heâ€™s on till he retires.<br/><br/>He stole a glance at Kat that told him she was wondering why she was called. In all honesty neither did he. He knew why he was called but she had done nothing wrong, she had done her job. For a moment he got nervous because he had heard of people partnered together getting punished together even though one was innocent.<br/><br/>Once they reached the office the captain placed his hand over a box beside his door. It read his palm and opened the door. Only the captain had that on his office and quarters. The others had voice activations to open their doors and a small part of Eric was jealous of it. The office itself was almost like all the other offices Eric had visited since he had been part of the ship. After all he had been on ship, after ship, after ship till he was finally assigned to this one. There were plaques from the captainâ€™s school days of things heâ€™s won, some Zen things and awards from throughout his carrier.  Taking a seat behind his almost overflowing medium sized metal desk, he leaned back in his large black leather stuffed chair looking at each of his two subordinates in turn as they stood at attention in front of him. â€œEric.â€<br/><br/>â€œYes sir.â€ Eric responded standing up straighter.<br/><br/>â€œNice work disabling the enemy like you did,â€ he paused and watched Eric relax some, â€œhowever, you will be cleaning out the subdivision on your own, and without any one to help you for a month for that stunt you pulled.â€ He had to emphasize on your own to get that point across and cut off any complaint by Eric all at once. â€œThat being said, I am going to promote you to First Lieutenant after your month is up.â€ He stopped talking to give Eric one of his well known, â€œcreepyâ€, looks. â€œI will only promote you if you make that level sparkle by the end of your time. If, it is not you will remain a Second Lieutenant until you retire.â€<br/><br/>Ericâ€™s mouth had practically fallen to the floor once the captain was done talking. Reeling his jaw back in he salute and said, â€œYes sir, you can count on me sir.â€<br/><br/>The captain nodded and replied, â€œI had better.â€ Waving his hand at Eric he said, â€œYou are dismissed.â€<br/><br/>Eric smile and walked out. After the door shut the captain shook his head when he heard Eric shout. â€œWoooohoooo!â€ in the hall.<br/><br/>â€œAs for you Katherine Harrison.â€ He said directing his attention to Kat. I would like to congratulate you on a job well done and say that you did well working with Eric. Not many people can deal with his unorthodox methods but you handled yourself professionally and I would like to promote you as well.â€ He opened a drawer and set a silver pin on his desk.<br/><br/>â€œThere will be no grand ceremony or anything for this promotion but everyone will know about it.â€ He got up, picking the pin off his desk he stood in front of Kat. â€œI would like to present you with this First Lieutenantâ€™s pin for your hard work and determination while being a member of this crew.â€ He placed the pin  in her hand and saluted her.<br/><br/>â€œThat will be all for now, once Eric is one cleaning you two will be the same rank and I am appointing him as your permanent partner.â€ He paused as he took his seat. â€œHopefully you might be able to knock some sense into him. If you keep on the straight and narrow and donâ€™t cause any more trouble like in the past, you will have a bright future ahead of you. You are dismissed.â€<br/><br/>Eric was leaning up against the wall on the right side of the door waiting for Kat to come out. He hadnâ€™t heard anything that was said and he hoped she wasnâ€™t in trouble because of him.