MSNPC Jera - Cornered

[Hannah S]

((Streets of Capricalia, Capricalia))

The stranger did not move. Jera had averted her face, but she still heard the low grumble emitting from the Gorn's throat. 

S'zurak: I will asssk again. You are Jera?


Her jaw tightened. She nodded once. It wasn't a secret. Everybody in this pub knew her name. 


The gorn leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to something almost quiet, but colder.


S’zurak: Then you will talk to me about… T’Varek.


Jera opened her mouth just to close it again. A shaky breath escaped her lips.


Jera: ...I didn't do anything.

She didn't want to hear that name ever again - the memory of those piercing dark eyes immediately gave her chills. 

Jera: Listen, I told nobody. I don't want any trouble.

S'zurak: You fear the wrong hunter, Jera. ::low rumble:: I need to know how to reach T’Varek before he hurtsssomeone.

Jera's face tensed up as if she was in pain - and maybe she was. It was the worst pain of them all: It was guilt. 

Jera: Please... don't take me away. I have nothing to do with him. I was just... trying...

The thought of being locked up in prison chilled her to the bones. She never ended her sentence, being too terrified to try and explain herself. What if he knew about this? Would he come and find her? 

S’zurak: No, I am not here to apprehend you.

Jera: Please... just leave...

Her shoulder sank down and she whimpered quietly. She knew she was in trouble. There was nothing she could tell him. 

S’zurak: When did you lasst see him? Time, place… any detail you remember.

Jera: I... don't know. ::her gaze snapped aimlessly through the dark interior:: In... I guess... I think in the High Council Offices.

Had they found out about his doings? Was Starfleet gonna go after him? The thought gave her relief, but at the same time it terrified her. Would he think she had given information to them?

Suddenly, her gaze snapped towards the darkened windows of the establishment. What if he was here?! 

Before she could make out any movement in front of the doors, the officer pulled her attention back onto him. 

S’zurak: Did he mention where he wasss sstaying? Who he met with? ::rumble:: Think carefully. This matter iss not ssimple deception… it iss treachery.

Jera: I... don't know. 

She struggled to talk, to think, to grasp what was going on - a part of her longed to help Starfleet with this, finally freeing herself of T'Varek's merciless grip: Another was terrified of the consequences. She gulped and took a shaky breath - maybe this would be her only chance for escape. 

Jera: He's... I don't know. He never showed me. There's an office... in the Capital. But he isn't always around. I saw him once around the freight yards. Where the international cargo is cleared. But I don't know... 

Her voice was trembling. 

S’zurak: That iss enough. You have done your part, Jera. ::straightens:: If he returnss, you will leave immediately and notify Ssstarfleet Ssecurity. Do not confront him. He will not hesitate.

He gave her one last look. Jera grew pale and nodded. Her hand had clenched around the table.

The gorn turned and departed the bar. He left behind a feeling of fear and unease - and the faint hope that this nightmare would soon be over. 

--

***

MSNPC Jera
Maintenance Worker

as simmed by

Lieutenant Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2