[JP] PNPC Gila Sadar & PNPC Lt.Cdr. Gabriel Osuna - Why are you here!? ( Part II )

[LT Tamio K'Wara]

(( Private Office - Security Checkpoint C2, Second Promenade, Deck 227, Deep Space 224 ))

Gila shuffled forwards, an uneasy look at ‘Petrov’, the crewman manning the reception desk, as they were examining the jar with a slight amount of suspicion, and excitement? She wondered if this was a familiar routine between the two.

The two of them entered the glass door, and Osuna rounded the desk and sat comfortably in the chair backed by the screens — screens which displayed a rough layout of the deck they were on, certain hotspots marked in red and yellow hues. 

Osuna: ::His smile fading slightly::  Well, I guess it’s fair to say these aren’t the greatest circumstances to properly meet each other. Take a seat, please… Gabriel Osuna. I’m the Chief of Security here. 

Sadar: Y-Y-Yes... H-Hello Lieutenant Commander.

There was a brief knowing glint in the man’s dark eyes as he registered her adherence to Starfleet rank over his name. 

Osuna: And what should I call you?

Sadar: I-I, uhh... ::uneasy shuffling:: What, uhh... What is appropriate, I suppose...

It was difficult to say out loud ‘I don’t know, because in my culture, no one would ever speak my name ever again’, because that would make it even more real. And it would make her feel worse. For despite the dejection and fear and anxiety she felt at her current situation, by Mizarian standards, she was lucky. There was no concept of a sofarih in the Federation. People would still be talking to her.

How dared she feel this upset when she had it so much easier than she should have?

Osuna: Well, I can’t call you Lieutenant at the moment. ::Popping his lips:: Doctor Sadar, maybe?

Sadar: ::bites the inside of her cheek:: M-Miss Sadar…

oO I don’t deserve to be called Doctor anymore. Oo

Seven years of her life, meaningless. No, Fleet Captain MacKenzie hadn’t had her stripped of her medical license - falsifying medical journals was a punishable offence, but not one so grave that the Medical Board would do that - but Gila didn’t trust herself with the title anymore.

Osuna: Fine. Whatever makes you comfortable.

The man settled uneasily into his seat and reached out a hand towards the PADD sitting on the desk. With a few quick swipes he’d brought up the information he was looking for and scanned it – as if he had to re-confirm the information he had already read.

Osuna: Disciplinary Criminal Correction Process.  ::Eyes flicking up to Gila, his brows lifted::  It’s a bit unusual. We don’t get a lot of – well, ‘criminal’ feels like a bit of a leap – correctional cases here, unless they’re being transported somewhere. But, somebody decided this was the place for you…  oO Probably Captain MacKenzie. Maybe her way of getting back at me for quitting so suddenly! Oo  …and so here you are. And as your DCCP Registrar, it’s my job to ensure that you’re staying within your limits.

Sadar: Uhh... ::searches her brain:: Wh-What is the, uh, ‘DCCP’ going to entail?

Osuna: Well, for starters, regular check-ins to make sure you’re staying here on the station and not finding some way to sneak off against the conditions of your discharge. I’ll also need to check in on that kid of yours – what’s his name?

Sadar: ... K-Kolya. H-He’s my nephew.

Osuna: Yes. You know, to make sure things are okay at home. That’s standard procedure for anyone under security review who has a minor in their care…  ::Sighing::  Then there’s an element of community service which I’ll oversee and report on as part of your disciplinary responsibilities…

The Chief of Security leaned in, the light of the desk’s viewscreen highlighting the few wrinkles he had and the circles under his eyes, almost making him look haunted for a moment – but it was clear from his furrowed brow and his upturned tight lipped face that he was suppressing… amusement?

Osuna: Miss Sadar. Just how serious do you think your crimes are? How warranted all this is?

Gila’s eyes rolled around in her head at the question, flitting to and fro in confusion. She’d never liked ‘grillings’ - that was the word the Artemis crew had taken to use for the Ready Room meetings Fleet Captain MacKenzie had with new transfers - and she doubly didn’t like them when she was submitted to them by people not the Captain. As much as Flt.Cpt. MacKenzie terrified her, Gila knew at least some of what to expect from her.

Lt. Commander Osuna? He was an enigma. And Gila didn’t like that.

Sadar: I-I don’t understand?

His face grew less amused at her response.

Osuna: I see. Well, I hate to break it to you, but you're not the most heinous criminal I’ve dealt with. Not by a longshot. Not in my career, not this year, hell probably not even this week – and there’s enough time left today that I can’t even say with confidence you’ll be the most concerning individual to sit in that chair.

Gila didn’t know how to respond to that, so she remained quiet, twisting her anxiety band uneasily, as Osuna picked up the PADD again, this time wiggling it vaguely in her direction as if it were a prop and he were some sort of holoprogram lawyer.

Osuna: I gotta say, this all feels a little over the top to me.  ::Tapping his fingers on the desk for a moment::  Maybe there are omissions in the report I’ve received? Help me fill in the gaps. My understanding is that you have some sort of – ::pausing, unsure how to phrase it:: – ‘physiological abnormality’… and that you chose not to disclose this personal information in certain medical pro forma. Is that correct, so far?

Gila paled slightly, feeling the roof of her mouth prickle uneasily.

Sadar: Y-Yes Si- ::coughs:: Lt. Commander... 

Osuna: Okay, then I hope you’ll forgive my imprudence, but what’s the big deal? Is this ‘abnormality’ the result of some sort of illegal genetic manipulation? Did you omit it for some sort of nefarious purpose?  ::Shrugging::  Why are you sitting here?

Gila looked up, alarmed, at the Lieutenant Commander’s wild guesswork about the mandibles. Illegal genetic manipulation!? Absolutely not! Nefarious? Gila paused. She didn’t think so. Fear, most certainly, and shame. Doubt. The image of Gila Thevn, the other her from another and far darker reality, imposed itself on her mind. The knowledge that, if things turned out in a particular fashion, she would be able to do harm.

Sadar: I... I m-made the conscious choice to, uhh, h-hide my... ::searches for words while seeming physically ill:: C-Condition, from the crew. D-Despite knowing that, i-if the circumstances were ::can’t quite say the word ‘right’:: i-if things happened a certain way, I-I would prove a d-d-danger to them…

Osuna: ::Brows raising, slightly::  So, you knew you were likely to be a danger to your crewmates and chose not to disclose this information?

Sadar: N-No Si- L-Lieutenant Commander. I-I don’t know... ::sighs:: I-I never knew. The c-condition first manifested itself during F-Frontier Day, when L-Lieutenant Gnai and I came under attack.

The officer stuck his tongue between his cheek and his teeth, working his own jaw absent-mindedly as he tried to read lines between the nervous stutters.

Osuna: Given the right conditions, any of us could be dangerous to our crewmates. On the Artemis’ first mission, post-relaunch, Lieutenant– Commander, now I suppose –Dakora was overwhelmed by telepathic energy and attacked me. We fought, I kicked his butt. Had to shoot him.  ::A smile fading back into seriousness::  Don’t even get me started on Jozial Renirs.  My point is, Miss Sadar, everyone has something that could be exploited against their will. The rest of us aren’t facing any sort of punishment for ours. Why are you different?

Sadar: …

The question was difficult to answer. Mostly because Gila recognized that there was something different - at least so far as her honesty and accountability to the crew - but also recognizing that Lt. Commander Osuna didn’t grasp the extent of it. Perhaps because he hadn’t experienced it for himself...

Gila hoped he never did.

The man tilted his head.

Osuna: My biggest weak point is my family, I guess. They’re why I left the Artemis so soon, why you and I never got better acquainted. Not that I would change a thing. Having something to lose is all that makes this life worth living.

He sighed, tapping his fingers on the desk.

Osuna: Alright, well, since you seem pretty set on serving out this disciplinary process, we’ll do it. But I’m not going to make it any harder on you than the system requires me to be. Quite frankly, I don’t think you are a danger. I think I’m in more danger from Petrov over there–  ::pointing towards the glass:: if he doesn’t like my home cooking – than I am from you.

Gila nodded slowly.

Sadar: U-Understood, Lt. Commander. Th-Thank you...

Osuna: Alright. Punishment number one… You and Kolya. You eat, right?

Gila’s face grew simultaneously confused and terror-ridden as Osuna’s face broke into a mischievous grin.

oO Oh, please no Oo

Sadar: W-W-W-We do, b-but I don’t see-

Osuna: My ama – my dad – always told me there wasn’t anyone, no matter how broken, who could be rehabilitated without being shown a bit of hospitality. So, if I’m going to be responsible for ‘rehabilitating’ you, I’m going to show you what Osuna hospitality looks like.  ::Pointing at her::  You’re coming to dinner. 

Sadar: I- I am? S-Sir, I’m sorry, b-but I don’t see how-

He stood from his chair and gestured to either side, nonchalantly.

Osuna: If you don’t like it, then clearly you don’t think you deserve to be punished either. Give me the word, and I will write Captain MacKenzie and ask her what the hell she was thinking, sending you here. Otherwise, my family and I will see you at 1800.

Gila tightened her lips together. She had forgotten how utterly nonsensical aliens could be before you got to know them. In many ways, Lt. Commander Osuna reminded her of Sil-n - of Lieutenant Silveira, and particularly with how this conversation was held entirely at Lt. Commander Osuna’s pacing.

Osuna walked to the door and pressed the button to open it. He gestured, politely, for Sadar to leave. Never one to overstay her welcome, Gila rose, twisting her anxiety band routinely as she tried to find any way, any at all, to deter Lt. Commander Osuna. Of course, that was a moot exercise, given that it amounted to the same situation as trying to convince Lieutenant Silveira off of his chosen course, which Gila had learned long ago was futile.

So instead, she now had to find out what possible way she had to convince Kolya - without talking to him and him acknowledging her existence - that he needed to eat dinner with a family of complete strangers as part of his sofarih aunt’s alien disciplinary programme…

oO By the Wheel... What have I done? Oo

THE END (FOR NOW)

Gila Sadar

Civilian

DS224

As simmed by

LT Tamio K’Wara

Chief of Operations

USS Artemis-A

A240006GS1

&

Lt.Cdr. Gabriel Osuna

Chief of Security

DS224

As simmed by

Lt.Cdr. Robin Hopper

First Officer

Amity Outpost

V239806K11