Capt. Lia Rouiancet: Caretakers

[Tony Colella]

(( Secondary Concourse, Kiosk Shopping Sector ))

After Captain Peter was down and restrained, and Lia had put in a call to station security, it seemed that Zhal bore him plenty of ill will. She was scowling ferociously at Captain Peter, and she pointed a finger at him.

Zhal: Captain Peter is a bad man.

Rouiancet: Well, that says it all, really.

JoNz: Is he now. 

There might have been a low growl in or immediately following JoNz's remark, but Lia simply wasn't close enough to be sure.

Nis: Okay, okay. 

S'vyak: Response

Rouiancet: Keep a hold on him, Lieutenants, just until security arrives. And only a hold on him.

Jania was right, though they had spoken mildly enough. As much as their emotions were running high (well, except perhaps for S'vyak's) and they were on the side of Zhal, the man who called himself Captain Peter -- whoever he might be -- deserved due process and the justice of a system that wasn't a few officers who had had their shopping trip unexpectedly interrupted.

S'vyak: Response

Nis: And Federation rehabilitation is a lot shorter for those who cooperate. 

Maybe it was that promise that finally convinced Captain Peter to stop struggling against JoNz and S'vyak. Or maybe they'd all gotten through to him. Or maybe he was simply tired. Whatever the reason(s), he sagged.

S'vyak/JoNz: Responses

Jania, meanwhile, evidently thought that they'd spent enough time on Captain Peter -- which Lia agreed with -- and turned her attention to Zhal. The girl's hand remained in Lia's even as Jania knelt to talk to her.

Nis: Do you know the Federation protects people? That’s kind of our thing. 

Zhal didn't answer, but she didn't need to. They way her eyes bulged and her face twisted told Lia, at least, that Zhal had heard very little good about the Federation. Or maybe very little, period. Although she was pretty sure that Zhal's young face had shown a kind of disgust she'd probably learned from some adult. Captain Peter, maybe.

Rouiancet: That's right, it is. We're going to help you, Zhal.

S'vyak/JoNz: Responses

Nis: We’ll get you somewhere safe. 

Even as Jania reassured her, though, Zhal shrunk into herself, and toward Lia. Lia had no doubt that Zhal would've been shrinking back from her, too, except that Zhal's hand was still in hers, and so for the moment Lia was the girl's port in the storm.

Security arrived a few moments later, and while Lia's group was more than happy to hand over Captain Peter, they -- or Lia, at least -- wanted to see Zhal taken care of directly.

S'vyak/JoNz: Responses

Nis: You’re going to be alright.

The security personnel were there not only to take Captain Peter into custody, but also to provide safety and support. They had emergency kits, too, and one put a blanket on Zhal. Lia helped the girl wrap it around herself. She wanted it, as Lia might have guessed, very tight.

Zhal: I don't want to be alone again.

Rouiancet: You won't be. Don't worry. We'll stick with you until we can get you to someone better.

Maybe that person would be on DS14, but they might be on the OEB, too, or another vessel from the Flotilla. After all, Zhal might not be local, especially since both DS14 and New Bajor had relatively small populations -- small enough that they would probably notice the loss of any child Zhal's age.

S'vyak/JoNz: Responses

Nis: We’ll stay with her for a bit. (a sigh)

Rouiancet: Yes. (staunchly) As long as need be.

After all, it was a captain's duty to see to the needs of their crew. Lia didn't have any doubts about the well-being of her fellow officers, but Zhal was their responsibility for the moment, too, as clearly to Lia as if she was a new ensign in the Gamma Quadrant for the first time.

S'vyak/JoNz: Responses

Tags! and END SCENE for Rouiancet!

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Captain Lia Rouiancet

Commanding Officer 

USS Octavia E. Butler

V238208LV0
she/her/hers (this character)