Psychological evaluation - Cpt. John Aldman

[Dr. William E Baker]

He sat in his office reading the file on the next person who he had to do a psychological evaluation on, a John Aldman, his record seemed rather standard though a man who hadn't experienced much and had hardly gotten wounded of cause he was only a VTOL Pilot and the ARM thread had only started recently, although he couldn't read much since there was nothing special of what he could see, a stubborn man but that was to be expected by a pilot.

And now to see what happened to him since he was on the list at all, temporarily paralysed, seen his co-pilot getting killed in a crash. So he was one of the pilots that got shot down while transporting the 32nd, had been quite a mess and they had been busy with all the wounded after all for some of the soldiers this had been their first combat and the medical staff had seemed it necessary to follow the regulation and demand that Cpt. Aldman went through a psychological evaluation, of cause better safe then sorry he thought.

He looked at his watch while taking a sip of his tea, and enjoying the low sound of fiddle music in the background, an instrument that never seemed to go out of style, of cause as a lot of music now a days it was 'fabricated' but it sounded nice non the less. He leant back and waited for his patient to find his way.

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John didn't want to go to some psych doctor. His mind was okay, and the only person that could know that is himself, and not someone he hasn't even met. It seemed not logical to him, but who was he to know that. He was a pilot after all. He had just been checked by the doctor, and he was told that he had to take it easy, so he hoped that if he did, he'd be cleared soon. In the hallways, he stopped for a few minutes, to check the content of his bag: 5 cans of red bull, a box with the captain's bars, some energy bars and a book. That was about right, he thought, and then continued to walk to the office of the doctor.

After walking for a while, he finally found the office, he sat down in the waiting area, though it was pretty lonely there, because, well, he was the only person there. So he took out the book, a paperback, republished in the early twenty-first century, and it was about the second world war. John was fascinated by that war, and especially the bravery of the pilots in the beginning of the war, flying propeller planes, without electronics or countermeasures. It was kill or be killed. John began to read, while waiting.

[Dr. William E Baker]

He looked at his watch, this being the main way of keeping time while in the endless areas of space. Something that could get some to go mad just by thinking about and some obviously wasn't fit for it and those usually kept civilian jobs on the home worlds which of cause also was an extremely important job, that was the jobs that kept everything working and made spaceships, weapons and buildings, technology and most importantly medical improvements.

He got up from his chair and straightened his uniform a bit before walking over to the door. He opened the door and looked into the waiting room spotting only one soldier. "Cpt. Aldman Jr.? Please come in" he said with a welcoming voice as he himself stepped back in to the office. The office was a clean medium sized office, with a desk matching the metal around the ship with two chairs in front of it, a couch in the corner, a bookshelf (containing no books, only random medical stuff and discs containing majority of the information.), over in another corner there was a file cabinet with a radio on top of it playing a tune, and some military posters hanging on the walls around the office. So in general the office looked just like most things on the ship.

William walked over behind his desk and motioned to one of the two chairs in front of him "Please, take a seat Aldman" he stated with a smile before sitting down on his own office chair, which did seem more comfortable then the two other chairs.

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John had been reading about the Tuskegee airmen. A black-only squadron in the second world war. At first noone thought they could even fly, but when several started getting their flight certificates, the government gave them a fighter squadron. They were given the lowest of the lowest jobs, which usually involved patrols in areas where the enemy hadn't been seen for months, until one day they were selected to provide air cover for a landing in Italy, and they scored 12 kills. After that they were recognized to be capable, and were given new planes.

That was as far as he'd gotten, because the doctor wanted him in. He stood up, and moaned a bit, as standing and sitting up still hurt, even with all the medications he was on. He stood, and stepped into the rather boring office. He walked to one of the chairs and sat down in it, then took out his bag and put the book, with a folded end in it, this was to remember where he was, when he'd continue it. So far it had been interesting. Now it was time for him to get back to duty, and get his flight status back by doing some talking.

[Dr. William E Baker]

He far from understood the book that Aldman was carrying around, it made no sense to read something as outdated as a book, one thing the army had to many of in his opinion was there was to many traditionalists, still hanging on to an age over at thousand years away. But what stroke him the most was Aldman's lack of courtesy, the poor training condition this man seemed to be in, slacking in his way of walking and how he hadn't even done the courtesy of a salute or some kind of acknowledgement to a superior. Of cause it wasn't to much a trouble for him, he was still kind and smiling towards Aldman, but it seemed as poor chances for Aldman.

He leant back in his office chair looking at the display of his computer before looking back at Aldman, now starting to read his every expression "So Mr. Aldman... I can see you are here because your superiors decided you need a psychological evaluation after crashing your VTOL and loosing your co-pilot... Which of what I can understand is a person you known for a long time? The information I have been send states it was your best friend?." he made sure to carefully read how Aldman reacted when spoken to as well as when answered.

[Deleted]

Why the hell did he have to bring that up!? John really didn't want to talk about his friend and his death, but in order to fly again, he had to show that he could talk about it without crying, probably.
"Aye, Dimitri and I were best friends, for as long as I can remember. We went to the same school, and were like brothers. Hell, we practically shared our first girlfriend, sir. After high school, the both of us signed up together, went trough training together. After graduation he was posted somewhere else, but he was reassigned to me when I got on the Dauntless Fury. A few weeks ago, I was just a lieutenant without combat experience, or anything in that sense. He wanted to marry my sister, sir, and I told him to do it! A few hours later he dies because we changed seats for once. It all happened so fast, sir! One minute all goes well and we're landing troops, and the next we are on the ground with me having a pin trough my leg, and him dead. I killed him sir, it's my fault! I wanted to sit in his chair for once. It's my fault he's dead, and it's my fault the other troopers that were in my craft died or got injured. I follow protocol once and see what's happened."
John took a minute to catch his breath, and wait for the other man to say something.

[Dr. William E Baker]

As he had brought up the main problem up Aldman seemed to be generally upset though no tears, which was a good thing, and he showed a lot of emotion about the death of his lifelong friend who apparently seemed to be more personal then he had expected, of cause changing the matters, would be a bit more dangerous to declare one still this upset fit for battle, but it wasn't enough and he would rather this man came back into battle then being caught in thoughts, there was a lot of things he had to get clarified first.

He leant back in his chair and nodded while the information was coming to an end. He cleared his throat before speaking "Ah... So not only your friend but also your sisters fiancé." he stated writing something down on the computer "Now I imagine that you are mad at the people shooting down your ship? How would you react if you ran into one of your enemies?" he asked calmly taking a breath before continuing "And do you think that things would have been different if you had been in your usual seat? How do you react when thinking about all the infantry being hurt in the crash? he knew it was starting to get very personal but he needed to ask all the questions to make sure he was ready for service.

[Deleted]

"Aye aye sir, though, officially he was not. And no sir, I am not mad at the people who did this to my baby, I'm infuriated! I just wanna hulk out and kill them, even though they're already dead. And, like I said, if I run into one of them I'm gonna just do it, hulk out and kill the son of a bitch. He destroyed my love, and he deserves to die." John began to shake, in order to not go into rage mode with the doctor in front of him. He had to suppress the feeling he had. He took a deep breath and when he felt like he somewhat calmed down, he continued. "Oh, in case you haven't noticed, sir, I tend to call my bird love, or baby." He paused for a bit and continued. "How things would be different if I had been in my usual seat? Well, that's really simple actually, you and I wouldn't have this conversation if I was, and you'd be talking to Dimitri now." He cleared his throat and again he continued. " And, well, I try to not try to think about the infantrymen I got killed. First the fact that some mothers will never see their sons again because of me fills me with anger, and later I get sad. The latter I tend to drink away with red bull, or read a book. I just need to distract myself, and not think about it." He closed his eyes. Talking about this made him sad. He wiped the upcoming tear from his eyes and continued to speak. " I feel like I must ask, before I leave and forget it, why was I promoted, sir? I mean, it's not like I deserved it or anything?" This had nothing to do with this examination, but he had to know.

[Dr. William E Baker]

He listened and nodded to John as he spoke while looking at the feelings that Aldman showed and listening to how he spoke. And while John talked, William wrote down notes and sentences to remember also while evaluating. Though he understood why John was infuriated though it wasn't healthy, it could cloud his better judgement in the field which could be dangerous but it was to early to judge there was still some tests left. Though it was sad to see a person like this and a person reacting so strongly assuming the outcome would be identical, most wasn't prepared for death, even after training. But it wasn't surprising to see this kind of reactions.

Then he was asked the question why he was promoted and Baker shrugged lightly "I don't know, but you can always decline on the promotion... But I think in time you will be satisfied with the job, I am sure you have the proper qualifications" he said with an ensuring smile before he typed something into the computer. "hm..." he tabbed the table while looking at John, he seemed to have a lot of anger issues and seemed like it could cause trouble in the field "Please continue if you have any more to add?" he asked with a polite voice as he wrote on the monitor.

[Deleted]

The doctor nodded while John spoke, and kept notes of what he was saying. There wasn't much to do besides doing what John was told to do; talk. The doctor talked about how John could decline the promotion, and then told him that he'd be okay with it, and that he was sure John was capable for the job. He wasn't as sure about this as the doctor was, but he nodded anyway. The doctor kept writing things down and told him to continue if there was anything to add. John looked around the room, which was now silent, apart from the sound of John's foot tapping on the floor. There was nothing to add. But he did want to say something.

"Look, sir, I'm not gonna tell you I'd do anything to fly again, because, well, I'm sure you already know that, judging from what I've told you today. I just want to... I just need at least something to do. All this waiting and doing nothing, it just makes me sick! Hell, I'd even be happy with doing administration, as long as it is something productive!"

John relaxed and waited for a reply.