Ensign Reine'X - We are not that different

[Reine'X]

(( Main Sickbay, Deck 5, USS Valkyrie-A ))

The situation in Sickbay was picking up speed. Charn was now talkative (although not forthcoming in sharing vital information), and conversing with them. Doucet, Strathmore, and Reine'X were also trying to wake up the remaining six patients.  

Charn: No way. Not gonna do it. I tell you, and then you say thanks and you turn me loose. I'm supposed to be unconscious in a shipping container. What do you think they'll do to me, eh? Don't you care even the slightest bit what will happen to me? You're no different from the A-- from them.

Reine'X raised one eyebrow, her attention snapping to him. What was he talking about? That certainly seemed like he had disclosed more information than he wanted to… valuable, new information. She didn’t get a chance to ask about it; not just yet. 

She had a feeling that, up until now, Charn had not been paying much attention to her.  

Doucet: Oh, we were going to wake up the rest of them, Commander. Would that be an issue here?

Sherlock: ::not taking her gaze off of Charn:: No, Doctor. I don't believe there's any issue with that. Wake them, please.

The Orion was now only reading out the biosigns that were available to everyone, so she stated it more plainly:

Reine’X: Not all of them are Caraadians. One of the patients is, according to the Starfleet database, a Cullum.

It was obvious which one, so she didn’t bother pointing at the huge biped lying at the far end from them. The creature seemed as if it were made of stone, and on the heavier side. It didn’t even fit the biobed, but surprisingly, the biobed was still holding on. The Cullum was probably one of the smaller ones of their species. Reine'X also had a chance to learn, while briefly scanning the database, that Cullums were not native to this region of space. Also, that they were traders.

Strathmore: Am I belaying an order or delaying an order?

Charn: So what's the in it for me, huh? You gonna whisk me away into your shiny Federation? You're going to save the poor, backwards, miserable man? "Surely, he must yearn for a life in the utopic Federation. We'll house him, feed him, educate him. We can make him into something!"

Sherlock: We're not going to do anything you don't feel comfortable doing. That's not what we do at all.

Strathmore: I can assure you, you’re not being kidnapped.

Reine’X::turning her full attention to Charn, speaking politely, and in her own way, softly:: I understand why you are reluctant to talk to us. You probably have not had much contact with the Federation before, so you don’t know that they… I mean, that WE really are good guys. And only trying to help.  

Doucet: Response

Charn: No, I won't be your little backwards pet. Held aloft so you can feel good about yourselves, a gilded cage. Listen, my life is garbage here. But it's my life.

Strathmore: I can assure you I am in no cage, not even a gilded one.

Reine’X: Nor am I, :: she said, more to Strathmore than to their guest :: I mean, I’m here, am I not? A non-Federation citizen. I’m proof that they accept the “outsiders.” If I were a prisoner in the Federation, would I be willingly serving on their ships, wearing their uniforms? ::She was now fully focused on Charn, realizing he most likely didn’t know that the Orions were not part of the Federation of Planets. :: Me and you have more in common than you realize, Mr. Charn. 

She wasn’t just trying to get in his good graces. She believed it. Well - - both. 

What is more, back in her “old days,” she would have definitely considered trading with Charn; although not a person to be trusted, he seemed resourceful. Reine’X might have even considered hiring him for some of the dirty work in the past (if he had proven capable, that is!).

And Reine'X was telling the truth about who she was. Although she was an Orion by blood, she was officially a citizen of the Klingon Empire, which made her a kind of an outsider in Starfleet. But she wasn’t about to confuse Charn with all those details-- not right now.

Doucet: Response

Sherlock: Mister Charn, we just want to talk, that's all. We're not here to change your way of life. But we can help, if that's what you want.

Reine’X: So you do not need to be scared..

Doucet/Charn: Response

Strathmore: You have freedom of choice, moment, and rights, Mister Charn. I won’t bore you with the statues, but I can cite them if you do not believe me.

Sherlock: Even non-Federation citizens are afforded the same rights as citizens on our ships.

Reine’X: You see? ::She pointed at herself, nodding in agreement with what Sherlock had just said.

Doucet/Charn: Response

Strathmore: I can tell you from experience, the Federation acts in good faith. I can assure you wholeheartedly.

Reine’X: This means it maintains a lot of good relationships with other entities across the galaxy. Its history is proof. What’s more, the Federation comprises of many different species, living in harmony.... Embracing their differences, not putting them down.

Reine'X knew there was nothing more her or her colleagues could say to persuade him. They had tried their best, but sometimes words simply aren’t enough. 

Doucet/Charn: Response

Sherlock: Like I said, we just want to talk.

Charn: response

Sherlock: I'd just really like to know more about you and how you came to be in contact with some of our officers and how we can help you.

Now was Reine’X’s chance to ask what had been meddling in her mind all along. She cleared her throat and looked Charn straight in the eyes.

Reine'X: You mentioned earlier that someone might hurt you…? What do you mean? Who are you talking about?::She paused just for a second, then continued:: You also said that we are no different from… them? Who is “them”? I understand that you are scared… of them… but you don’t have to be. You are on a Federation ship now, and you are quite safe here. 

She spoke with confidence, even though it might not have been entirely true. She still had no idea what was happening on the bridge, and the yellow alert was a clear indicator that not everything was as dandy and safe as she claimed. But she wanted Charn to tell them more. No matter how they would persuade him to cooperate. It was very unlikely that he would start trusting them anytime soon, so even if he slipped some information by accident, that would be more than helpful.

Charn: response

Doucet/Strathmore/ Sherlock: response

While they were chatting, Reine'X realized that she hadn’t been paying much attention to the other patients, or  what was their current status. She shifted her attention to Doucet.

 oO They have probably already administered the adrenaline Oo 

It was only a matter of time before the patients began waking up, or before any complications revealed themselves.

Charn/ Doucet/Strathmore/ Sherlock: response

Ensign Reine'X
Medical Officer
USS Valkyrie-A
V240302R14