Lt A. Dewitt - We Interrupt This Programme
Emma Banin
((Alpha Trounus Prison Facility))
Tram: Ah. One of those...::a long far off, yet still familiar melancholy washed over his features:: my beloved wife often accused me of similar to my own work...::true pain shone stark on his face for a moment:: Trust me when I tell you, no warp core would ever soothe the savagery as losing ones love...::realizing he was emoting more than usual, he stood and busied himself preparing a drink:: Please, it's been ages since I have had a chance for any stimulating conversation, join me by indulging in a drink? I assure you, it is the finest quality Uttaberry brandy exported directly from Betazed.
Ayemet took the glass and swallowed the drink. It was refreshing, tasting of berries and summers spent adventuring in the hills with Nisha. She raised her glass to Tram and took another long sip.
A.Dewitt: Why Mr Tram are you trying to seduce me?
Tram: ::flatly:: I assure you, Lieutenant, I am not.
She laughed. And finished her drink. Hesitating before looking directly at Tram.
A.Dewitt: Quid pro quo Mr Tram. I’ll tell you about the animals that experimented on me and you tell me how you are going to stop them
Tram: ::steepling his hands:: I am afraid you may have given me far more credit than I deserve...I am a humble warden. My expertise has been containment, for the last several months.
A.Dewitt: :arching an eyebrow: Oh I doubt that Mr Tram. If anything I think you haven’t been given enough credit: pause: but I respect your reluctance to divulge what must be important and meaningful work to you. However if sharing my experiences would be helpful I am happy to oblige. You’re primarily a doctor or a scientist?
Tram was interesting in more ways than one. There was the arrogance that had so evident in their fist meeting but beneath that thin veneer of irritability and self assuredness lay pain and a drive. The more she talked to the betazoid the more she sensed that his outward actions were symptoms of something deeper and more meaningful. She could relate to that; the pain of loss, the need not for revenge but for resolution.
Tram: I am a physician, yes. Or, rather I was. Before the Dominion occupation. Now my talents have been more....research based. Although if I am being truthful, scientific exploration and experimentation have always been my true passions.
A.Dewitt: I am something of a scientist myself and yet find myself a ship’s Counselor to a crew that neither wants nor needs one. The Sheliak tried to take even that away from me. I need to know they won’t be able to again.
Tram: Fascinating beings...the Sheliak. Physically so different, series of folds and mucus secretion...their brains, held within the loop structure. Such capacity for processing vast amounts of information...coldly efficient, given my...focused research, I determined each loop seems to be able to operate independently from the others. ::his head tilted in thought:: How curious they seemed to have the same idea when it came to your captivity....
This was it. The moment when their connection and conviction met. Something was being forged. She was not entirely sure it was a healthy association , but if it helped to understand, and through that understanding find a solution, she was ready to take the risk, and perhaps in that search, in that risk she would find why the Sheliak had chosen her, tortured her, and just what they had used her for.
That was until Captain Shayne and Lieutenant Matthews stepped from the shadows, not so much pebbles thrown into a still lake but rocks. Did he not trust her? Was his curiosity too great? Had something happened?
A.Dewitt: :trying to hide her exasperation: Captain, Lieutenant, what a surprise to see you here. Mr Tram and I were having a very stimulating conversation.
Matthews/Tram: Response
Shayne: Yes, very informative. Thank you. However, we found a number of small issues, some structural, some electrical. Nothing to worry about- it’s bound to happen when we’re dealing with temperature variations this extreme- but I’ve ordered a small team of engineers to beam down to effect certain repairs.
Ayemet was unsure that Tram would be taken in by the reason. He was a man who seemed adroit at the subtleties of communications and the nuance of words. She maintained a smile on her face, looking at Tran and giving a playful shrug of her shoulders as if by means of an apology. She didn’t want to imply any more importance than the Captain’s remarks warranted. Indeed part of the effectiveness of them would be if she passed them off as if this was a common occurrence.
A.Dewitt: I am so sorry for the interruption Mr Tram. Our Captain likes to make sure that all boxes are ticked.
Tram/Matthews: Response
She smiled again and let Tram refill her glass trying to maintain the carefully constructed air or affability to her attitude. Still if the Captain had stepped in, for whatever reason, she would not be helping any situation if she simply ignored his interjection.
A.Dewitt: Captain this really is excellent wine. You should try a glass.
Matthews/Shayne/Tram: Response
Shayne must have a reason. She might well disagree with it, but it was her ultimately duty as an officer to defer to judgement, to play her part, and she couldn’t let her annoyance and disappointment get in the way of doing that.
A.Dewitt: Mr Tram is being far too modest. I was about to share my experience at the lab with him.
Matthews/Shayne/Tram: Response
Ayemet nodded listening carefully to the explanation. He knew that time was a factor in everything they did here, but to her thinking Tram was much more likely to cooperate if he felt listened to by those who recognised his brilliance. His self assured belief in what he was doing would not stand by as Starfleet swooped in and prevented his work.
A.Dewitt: Mr Tram as you can see time is an issue for our Captain. I really am very eager to see if we can correlate our experiences . Is there any compromise that might be acceptable to you?
Matthews/Shayne/Tram: Response
TAG/TBC
Lieutenant Ayemet Dewitt
Ship Counselor
USS Khitomer
NCC 62400
A239810JA2Q