Jailbird

Posted on 19 Nov 2014 @ 11:22pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Pieter Van Zyl Ph.D.

1,089 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 3, Brig
Timeline: MD-23, 0930am

[ON]

Tyrion sat in the corner of his cell, his head resting against his knees, which he held together with his arms. He still couldn't believe it. Even hours after the surgery, almost a full day in fact, he still couldn't believe that he had killed Tyrek. But why? The motive eluded him, why had he killed poor, sweet Tyrek?

He had cried so much, his eyes were red and puffy, his irises hollow black dots in a sea of red. His face was all blotched, though he mostly looked pale. He had long since ran out of tears, but the sobs still wracked his body. He felt alone now, he had no-one. No family to turn to since he'd abandoned them all, and insofar he could see, no friends. No, he felt alone, and utterly, completely, miserable.

The hiss of the door outside of Tyrion's cell went unnoticed as Pieter made his way inside. Immediately, his eyes fell on the boy inside and he frowned. Looking down briefly at the small box in his hands, he made his way forward. Pieter placed the box nearby.

"You look terrible," he said suddenly, then frowned at his bad choice of opening words. He shifted awkwardly, cursing at himself for his lack of social graces.

Lifting his head, Tyrion saw the figure of his roommate. Shaking all over, he got to his feet and walked forward. "I feel terrible," he confessed, his voice an image of how he felt. "I didn't think you'd come visit...."

"Why?" Pieter asked, genuinely perplexed by such an assumption. Did he really give off that much of an antagonistic vibe that his own roommate thinks he wouldn't visit him at a time like this?

"Who'd visit a murderer?" Tyrion feebly retorted, "no-one else has..."

"People are stupid," Pieter said, shaking his head. "You're not a murderer by choice." Although it would probably surprise people, Tyrion's entire situation was clear to Pieter. There was no real moral dilemma. If someone brainwashed you and forced you to murder someone, it wasn't your fault. It was that simple for him.

"It was still my hand that killed him..." Tyrion's voice broke, as he lowered his eyes. "But I don't understand why. Even so....my memory is the evidence, and security has my confession. The profile fits." He shook his head. "I don't know what to do now, I don't even know what will happen now."

"Have faith," Pieter told him, taking a step closer to the forcefield for a lack of having anything else to do. "They won't hold you here long. When you are released, you can go to see a counselor."

"And then what? I doubt I'll be allowed to stay in Starfleet. It's all I have now Piet, I have nothing else, nowhere to go either."

"Why wouldn't you stay in Starfleet? It's not your fault, what you did," Pieter insisted. "It's like..." Piet stopped, choosing his words carefully. "When people get assimilated into the Borg, and they kill someone, they're not held responsible for what they did as drones once they're fixed." Not satisfied with his choice on the last word, Pieter just continued. "This is just like that."

"Oh I don't know Piet. I know you're trying to help, but I don't know." He drew in a shaky breath. "But thank you for coming, it eases the loneliness."

"I brought you something," Pieter suddenly said, reaching down to pick up the box before turning to the brig officer. With a nod from Piet, she tapped at her console. The forcefield lowered long enough for Pieter to place the small box inside the cell before coming back up just as he pulled his hand away. Giving the Petty officer behind the console an unimpressed look, she just grinned at him playfully.

He turned back to Tyrion. "I hope you like it."

Inside the box was a single cupcake, chocolate with caramel frosting. Sticking out of the side was what looked like a small, silicone nail file.

Despire his situation, Tyrion chuckled as he held up the file. "I appreciate the thought Piet, I really do. Wish I could share this with you but I'm going to be selfish..." He set the cupcake aside and smiled sadly. "I do love chocolate," he said, still holding up the file. "And here people thinkg you've got no sense of humour..."

"Don't let it get out, I have a reputation to uphold," Pieter warned, smiling and feeling pleased with himself.

"I can keep a secret," Tyrion promised. "Seriously though, thank you for coming...it makes me feel a little better."

"Good," Pieter nodded. "Now eat your cupcake, it's good for you."

"I don't want to be rude," Tyrion objected. "I'll save it, but I'll eat it I promise. I don't know when i'll be given something to eat, so far I've only got a bottle of fresh water."

Pieter raised an eyebrow, then looked over at the brig officer who wasn't paying attention to them. "I'm sure you'll be taken care of," Pieter assured his friend.

"Maybe. I'm not hungry anyway." Tyrion bowed his head, heaving in a deep breath. "I'll save the cupcake for later, I promise I'll eat it and not give it away. You probably have work to do... and... just leave my side of our quarters as it is...just do your part and I'll do mine, whenever."

Pieter nodded. "If you thought I was going to let you get away from your part of the housework, you'll have to do better than this," he told him, looking as serious as he could manage.

"I wasn't..." Tyrion walked back to the cot and sat down on it, feeling exhausted. "I'm sorry Piet, I didn't sleep too well and I'm really tired. Would you mind coming back later? Keep me company? maybe we could play a game..."

Pieter frowned but said nothing. What could he say? 'I'm sorry' seemed so cheap in a situation like this. "I'll bring something. Get some sleep," he said instead.

The Betazoid nodded. "I'll try. Maybe I'll ask for a sedative... Take care Piet, and thank you for coming by. You're the only friend I've got on this ship."

"I'll see you later," Pieter just replied before giving both the younger man and the brig officer a nod and taking his leave from the room.

[OFF]

PO1 Pieter Van Zyl
Botanist
USS Galileo
[PNPC by Idris]

Ensign Tyrion Faye
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

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