Doing time........

Posted on Monday 19 September 2016 @ 18:26 by Captain Melody Jones & Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D. & Major David Scarlet & Commander Save'ena (Sav) Tillatix & Major Richard "Wolf" Johnson, Psy.D.

Mission: Old, New Ship
Location: Brig
Timeline: MD8 Late Morning
3278 words - 6.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

==== Brig, Deck 32 ====

The transporter effect diminished and Melody found herself standing in the cell in the brig, her eyes red, tears raining down.

She let out a big sigh, her shoulders slumped. She planned to turn around and lay down on the bunk behind her. In reality, her knees buckled and she sank to the floor, crumpled into a heap, sobbing softly.

Scarlet had been catching up on his paperwork and setting up the revised training schedule when he heard the sound of the transporter and looked up. Upon seeing Lt. Jones crying on the floor of the cell, he stood up from behind the small desk and walked over to the cell with a PADD. He raised an eyebrow and then gritted his teeth.

"Please state your name, rank, and Identification number." David Scarlet said as calmly as he could. He held a PADD in his hands, and while he knew her name and rank, protocol was that had to give her a chance to say it herself.

At the sound of his voice Melody's head jerked up. Standing once again, she managed to chock out "Melody...... Jones.............. Lieutenant..........SC-9887-609."

David didn't deal well with this kind of emotional display, and it bothered him to see it coming from a superior officer especially. "Standard protocol states that while in custody anything you say or do will be entered into the record for use upon any future legal proceedings." He paused, still uncomfortable with the display. He was determined to treat the Lieutenant the same as he would any other prisoner under his charge. But he really could not handle the crying. "Would you like me to get you a tissue or a beverage?"

Melody took a deep breath. 'Get a hold of yourself girl!' she thought to herself. Forcing herself to stop sobbing, she brought both her hand to to her face and wiped the tear off her cheeks. "A cup of jasmine tea would be nice" she managed a week smile. Turning she sat down with a pomp on the bunk at the back of the cell and looked around ruefully for a moment, but her thought's turned back to the look on Saveena's face when just before she had been beamed away from her.......Blank.... Expressionless, extremely submissive, not like Saveena at all. Making it worse, it was like she didn't even recognize her. That was probably the most painful look of all. Almost as painful as the look on her mother's face when she had been assimilated right in front of her. The tears welled just beneath the surface once again, but Melody clenched her fists, taking her pain and locking it away like she normally did, her face became a mask of calm once again. Her eyes were still red raw however. Melody's train of thought was interrupted by another presence entering the brig.

David took down Lieutenant Jones' information and then walked back over to the desk. He keyed in a quick command. These newer ships were equipped with a very limited replicator technology to ensure that contact with prisoners, or disabling the force fields for foolish reasons was kept at a minimum. "I'm afraid the brig replicators will only allow for a basic green tea, and most likely not at an overly high temperature for safety reasons." He sighed. "I'll check to see if I can get an actual cup for jasmine tea for you." The woman appeared too distraught to be a threat, and honestly appeared to only barely keeping herself from collapsing into a crying sobbing heap. If it kept him from having to hear incessant sobbing for the rest of this shift, he'd get her the damn tea.

It wasn't just any day that a crew member was beamed directly to the brig and this time it wasn't just any member of the crew, it was the Second Officer. Eleena was fortunate to have been in the Security Office going over a few last minute changes to the duty roster.

A quick jaunt to the brig as all it too to bring the Chief of Security to Melody's cell. The half-Cardassian stepped toward the force field. An untrained eye would've missed the shimmer of the energy creating the barrier, and Eleena had plenty of experience on both sides. She simply stepped close to the shield and asked, "Bad night? What happened?"

A hollow, chocked laugh escaped Melody's lips and a bitter look came over her face "Not exactly but bad?............. Yes.............. very bad............" She lay down on the buck, swinging her legs up "I don't really want to talk about it right now but according to Mr Carson, it's a small ship so I'm sure you'll hear all about it sooner or later." She stared at the ceiling going quietly numb inside. Thoughts swimming though her head..........

What have I done? Risked her everything, Saveena, position, future. You always have to react first and think second don't' you? But to loose Saveena? No! NO! I can't loose her......... And now......... What had happened? Was she ok? Please God! Let her be ok! Her right hand still stung. Oh God! I hit her! Why did you do that? You wasn't thinking! AGAIN! Forgive me Sweetie...... Please! Damn Wolf! Why had he pushed her like that? Counselors! Always pushing, probing, wanting answers to questions they shouldn't ask......No.......Stop that! He was trying to help...........she's in pain.......something.....forcing her to act that way...........Oh God! Saveena.....................Sweetie.................Please be ok.................

Major Richard Johnson walked into the brig following Barstow. He took note of both Eleena and Scarlett near the cell, probably trying to figure out why the second officer was there since he didn't have time to warn them. Barstow was carrying a PADD under his arm and as both officers stopped in front of the cell the CO just watched Melody for a minute before looking between the two security officers, "has she told you anything yet?" the CO asked in a low, even voice, which was a change from the up beat tone he usually had.

"No sir. Nothing significant." Scarlet said, snapping to attention upon being addressed. "Only her basic identification. I have made her aware of standard protocols regarding anything said or done while in custody."

From the bunk Melody spoke with out turning her head "That cup of tea is taking a long time" then adding with some gallows humor "It may be my last."

She now looked over and found Barstow and Major Johnson standing at the forcefield. She quickly got off the bunk and came to attention in front of them. "Captain, Sir" Addressing Barstow first, then turning her attention to Wolf with a cold stare. "Is she ok? What happened? Tell me!"

David couldn't help but glance at the Major. He had to speak with the counselor within his first month on-ship, but had yet to officially meet the man. It was obvious that whatever had happened to land the Lieutenant into the brig, it involved the Major. He silently pondered what she could have done to have given the counselor cause to transport her directly into the brig. It was quite possible that she was much more dangerous than she appeared.

"You best stow those demands, *Lieutenant,*" Barstow said and took a step towards the force field, "Right now he outranks you, you have no privilege of position," he added, looking her dead in the eye before pulling the PADD out and replaying the security video from Savs quarters of the CAG narrowly missing Melody as she transported out, "You interfered with something you didn't understand and nearly got yourself killed. You think you're upset, how would Saveena have felt if the Major hadn't transported you out just in time?" he asked then motioned for Scarlett to drop the force field, "Crewman, Lieutenant, I'd like you to stay nearby for this discussion," the CO added, wanting a third party that was uninvolved directly in case he or Wolf went a little overboard.

Melody looked Barstow straight in the eyes as she spoke. Her voice was quiet, barley above a whisper but it was intense never the less. It grew louder as she pleaded her case "Captain...... I couldn't stand there and do nothing........I wasn't s....strong enough" She paused a she tried to find the right words. She was facing some feeling that she had buried for a long time, and some that she had not even admitted to herself. "Have you ever had someone you lov....... care about look at you and stare straight through you without a glimmer of recognition? Like you were a stranger? I saw my mother get assimilated before my eyes, and thanks to the Borg" She added with a sneer "I can close my eyes and see her face as clearly as I see yours now. All I could do was lay there and watch as they sucked the soul straight out of her. When they had finished............ She looked at me with dead, lifeless eyes before she was led away and I was powerless to stop them. I.... lost her........... and my father........."

She looked down at the floor, not wanting Barstow to see the pain in her eyes "When Saveena looked at me like that, it was like a phaser to the chest. I............ couldn't loose her too. I had to do something........ anything...............Please....... Is she ok?"

"All of us who have served any time in Starfleet have, Lieutenant. Those of us who are or were in combat positions more times than we care to admit, it isn't an excuse," Barstow replied, his voice staying even as he spoke, "I know that sounds cold, but you are an officer in Starfleet and expected to be able to control those emotions. How can I trust you as a command officer while fighters are out if I think you'll get the rest of killed to save one person because you got scared you'd loose that person?"

Melody looked up again, A slow burn starting. Why would no one give her a straight answer? "Sir, not wanting to sound egotistical but this was personal and not a command situation. I think I have demonstrated already a professional detachment in a crisis situation, and this was not combat." I give you my word Sir that I would not let my emotions jeopardize the ship. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one, however no one was in any danger, I believe I could have handled the situation. A situation which was brought about unnecessarily."

John shook his head, "is that so, Counselor? Lets replay this and you can show me how you were handling the situation," he said and replayed the video, "Eleena, Scarlet, from a security point of view could you two please give us a quick analysis of this situation as you see it?" he asked and handed them the PADD, the video showing the CAG going from calm to agitated by being asked to talk about herself, then Wolf playing into whatever was happening, which had the effect of calming her, though it also caused her change, then Melody's outburst and the two slaps that caused Saveena to strike out at Melody with full claws.

David watched the recording in silence. His face was an emotionless mask as it replayed the whole incident from a birds eye view. Once the recording finally ended, he realized he'd been holding his breath. Letting out a sigh, he looked back and forth between the Captain and the councilor. "I recommend a security team posted outside of Lieutenant Tillatix's quarters until she is well enough for a thorough evaluation. Lieutenant Tillatix is showing signs of conditioning or possible possession by an unknown hostile intelligence." In his own opinion, which he kept to himself, the wrong individual was currently locked in the brig. "To be frank sir, If I were in Lieutenant Jones' position and not trained in psychology," He gave a quick nod to the counselor. "Upon seeing a close friend change like that I would also be locked in the brig right now because I would have stunned Lieutenant Tillatix with my phaser the first time she referred to herself by a different name and did not recognize her own."

Wolf raised an eyebrow in a very Vulcan fashion, "I'm impressed, Crewman," he said honestly impressed with Scarlet's deduction from the video.

Barstow just nodded, "the four of us will need to talk about security precautions after we're done here," he replied, "and stunning here wouldn't have put you and her at risk," he added before looking back at Melody, "the Major has some ground rules for you then you can be released. However, you will serve one week confinement to quarters for disobeying the lawful order to stay back and taking actions that put you and your fellow officers in danger. You'll work your shift, and be allowed to go to duty locations, am I clear, Lieutenant?" he asked, knowing the punishment was light for what the charge was.

Melody brought herself to attention "Yes Sir!" Before turning back to Wolf "Please tell me that Saveena is ok?"

"She is, now," Wolf replied and crossed his arms, "just like in the corridor when you grabbed her to console her and she swatted at you, when I told you to step back and stay back, you slapping her set her off again," he explained, not wanting to rub it in, but wanting to genuinely explain, "when she started loosing control the second time it was causing her pain when we tried to bring her out of it nicely, the only way to bring her safely out was to play along and let whatever programming is in her head play out. When you struck her she was, as far as she was concerned, in what is called a dungeon. It is not how you think, it is more....of a sexual thing, causing pain and the like. When you slapped her the first time it was part of the delusion, the second time you triggered her fight or flight and since she couldn't flee, that left one choice, like in the corridor. The difference was she was so deeply submerged that she would have killed you without a second thought until she came out. The way to bring someone back is give them something solid to grab, in Save'enas case duty, honor and her officer training. Starfleet training is, really, thought reform with a little coercive persuasion mixed in. So, the training runs deep, more so for Marines, Security and Fighter Pilots who need to be able to act without thinking on a regular basis," he explained and looked to Scarlet and Eleena for confirmation.

Scarlet could only nod. It was true. In a way the sense of duty that pushed him to recover as much as he had after his own incident. Every time things became 'too hard' or 'too painful', he just remembered his former classmates and colleagues putting their lives on the line for the Federation and he knew that he had to do everything it took to get back out here.

Melody let out a sigh of relief. Saveena was ok. Her cheeks burned red as she realized she had made a big mistake. "I understand and I apologize for my actions. I reacted before thinking. It was just so......... Painful to see her like that and brought back some very bad memories. I knew she was holding something in but I would have never have suspected something like that." She look him in the eye "Wolf, can you help her? And how can I help?"

"Yes, and you can help by following my orders here," Richard replied, pointedly this time, "first, you are not to tell her what happened, under any circumstances. Doing so will tear her up emotionally and make her that much more susceptible to the programming. Second, until I know I can trust you on the first point you are not to go to her quarters or meet with her in private without myself, Lieutenant Eleena or Crewman Scarlet present. I already went out on a limb and trusted you when I let you go back to her quarters with us. If she asks why the escort you can tell her you disobeyed orders if you want or make up another cover story, but this is non-negotiable if you want out of here," the Marine said then his expression softened, "Melody, if you really care about her you need to take these to heart, they aren't punishment, they're to keep from triggering her again until I can deprogram her. We don't know what all her triggers are, the first time was simply because she asked my new position and I said counselor."

Melody let out a resigned sigh "I don't know what Saveena is going to think about a chaperone, Hell! I don't like the idea. But I suppose it's my own fault. And I think we better get our cover story straight right now. If we tell Saveena different stories that could lead to all sorts of trouble."

"In part, yes," Wolf replied simply, leaving out his other concern was if the programming was triggered again the personality may still view Melody as a target if she were close by. Right now, though, he couldn't help but wonder just how full of 'bovine fecal matter' she thought he was.

"One other thing, Lieutenant," Barstow said, "you are being ordered to attend counseling sessions with the Major twice a week until such time as he thinks you can control your emotions. There's no harm in fear, but, when fear is your excuse for not thinking there's an issue. Lieutenant Eleena, Crewman Scarlet, Major, let's go have a word about security precautions, she's free to go to her quarters. Miss Jones, when you have a cover story about why you're in trouble tell us, we'll stick to it. I want you to come up with it so you don't forget," he added with a look of disappointment before turning and walking back into the security offices.

"Yes sir." Crewman Scarlet said firmly, turning to begin to follow the captain and other officers out of the brig. He glanced back at Lieutenant Jones and paused for a moment before pressing the wall panel and disabling the force field. While he could understand why the Lieutenant had acted in the way she had, he could also see where the Captain and Major were coming from. It was never easy dealing with troubled team mates and friends.

Melody just stood there for a moment. The look on the Captains face caused her to shiver inwardly. It was almost worse than the look on Saveena's face. She managed a week "Aye Sir", not knowing if Barstow had heard her as he walked out of the room. 'Cover story' she thought to herself. In the past she had been able to tell the doctors and counselors what they wanted to hear, but this was different. Lying to Saveena face was going to be tricky. She had to think of something plausible and also let Barstow and Wolf know too.... and quickly!

OFF:

Commander John "Apollo" Barstow
commanding Officer
USS Merlin

Major Richard "Wolf" Johnson
Counselor
TAD, USS Merlin

Lieutenant jg Save'ena A. Tillatix
CAG/Squadron Leader Uroboros
Bridge Command Specialist
USS Merlin

Lieutenant Melody Jones
Second Officer / Chief flight control officer
USS Merlin

Crewman David Scarlet
Master-at-Arms
USS Merlin