A Frank and Formal Discussion

Posted on 15 Dec 2015 @ 5:31pm by Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D. & Corporal Abbey St James
Edited on on 31 Dec 2015 @ 6:20am

1,957 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 1 - Ready Room
Timeline: MD1 - 0740 hrs

[ON]

Holliday furrowed his brow for what felt like the thousandth time in the past hour as he fretted over what to do next. He had been given sound advice by his former Captain, an honest opinion by a very young and somewhat in-awe Cadet, and further thoughts from the little voice in the back of his mind.

Either way, the Captain knew that he wouldn't be able to make a final decision without meeting the subject matter again on his own terms, in his Ready Room, with his full concentration. With a sigh he tapped his commbadge.

=^=Holliday to Benice - I would like the prisoner escorting to my Ready Room on the double under armed guard - if you could do the honours? =^=

"Yes Sir," Gyce spoke and stood up from her desk and pulled out a set of stuncuffs. Then she walked over to Abby's cell and looked at the young woman calmly. "You think you can behave yourself? Because I rather not cuff you if I don't have to, Miss Wyatt."

Abbey stood up and smiled "I think you're as bored of this place as I am so lets say we both get out of here and maybe after we can go have a drink the mess, non-alcoholic of course"

Gyce was dubious of the latter offer, but lowered the field anyway and gestured for Abbey to walk with her to the turbolift.

Stepping into stride with Gyce she turned and faced her "What's Luke like?" The question was something that was bothering her and occupied her mind the entire time. "Is he ok?"

"His daughter is dead. A daughter he loved very much," Gyce told the girl very soberly. "So his world is shattered and he's trying to play it like he's not. Only, he wants any excuse to kill you, I imagine. So he's not doing well - Bridge," Gyce told the lift as they entered.

Her step faulted, as she stepped into the lift "I..." She stopped as the doors closed taking a breath of all the things she thought about Luke him wanting her dead was not something she thought off. "I know I will never replace her but... I thought that maybe me coming here I could help, I never." Her armour cracked and she had to concentrate not to cry. "I never wanted this, I am not a cold heartless bitch you know"

"Lieutenant Wyatt knows you're not his baby girl. We all know you're not our Abbey," Gyce spoke with sympathy. "And the unfortunate part of it all, is that if you're asylum request is granted? Staying here will be painful for you and everyone else. Because you're always going to be held to her standards. And you're never truly going to feel safe here, because of the collateral damage you've inflicted on a few of this crew."

She was taken back a little at the words from the chief, "But I haven't done anything to this crew not directly." She pleaded. "I'm not going to run away from this, I was never really safe with the Empire do you know how many girls go 'missing' on those ships, I've spent my entire life looking over my shoulder so people are going to have to take me with a pinch of salt and Luke... I hope I can make it up to him or something" She let out a long sigh "I don't know" The lift stopped and opened to the Bridge.

There it was. The smallest of slips that Gyce had patiently waited for. A debt. A debt she owed to Luke. Well the only sort of things Gyce knew that would bring guilt into the picture was...

"What's to make up to him? Is the reason he hates you got anything to do with how his baby girl died?" Gyce asked more directly as she halted them from leaving the lift.

Abbey didn't like the question, composing herself she shook her head "What other reason is there? I am here and she is not I feel a debt, I watched her be tortured for days and stood by and done nothing she died alone without her father as it shouldn't have been. Father's should die before there children not the other way round" She gave the Chief a firm glassy look. "Now, the captain wanted to see me?"

"You've a lot to learn on a ship like this," Gyce spoke with a shake of her head, then led the way to the ready room and pressed the chime


Captains Ready Room

Abbey stepped into the office wondering if the Security chief would follow her in, not looking over her shoulder she stood to attention in front of the Captain's desk. "Corporal Abbey Wyatt Sir" She said saluting uneasily still not sure if anything she was doing was what they did here for all she knew she just threatened to kill him with a wave of her hand.

"Trying something new Sir," Gyce told Holliday as she gestured to the lack of restraints with Abbey. He had full reports of Abbey's good behavior or late.

Holliday raised an eyebrow at the lack of restraints, but then again, if Abbey decided to attempt anything, it would virtually eliminate her chances of him ever taking her seriously in remaining aboard his vessel. Gyce had obviously thought something along the same lines, which Jonathan had to agree with.

"We'll see how it goes in that case Lieutenant. Would you mind waiting outside? I think I can handle it in here."

"I'll be by the door if you need me," Gyce assured him before she nodded in respect to him, then walked out the door with a skeptic look at Abbey.

Holliday took a deep breath and exhaled before continuing. Now he was alone with their prisoner he could finally try to get his head around what exactly the situation was, and hopefully work towards a route forward.

"I am unsure as to how to address you Miss Wyatt. Your military rank doesn't seem to apply here, but I can appreciate that said rank is very much a part of who you are. Please take a seat."

Abbey took a seat after watching Gyce leave the room, another person who probably rather see her dead. "It's all I had" She said quietly correcting and facing the Captain. "Abbey will do now I guess"

"Very well. Abbey. Speaking frankly I am having a hard time making sense of any of this. In the forefront of my mind you are or were an enemy combatant who invaded my vessel, enough for me to be satisfied that the only place to put you is our Brig, pending your transfer to a Starfleet Penitentiary."

The captain leant back in his chair, crossing his arms and looking towards the window and the emptiness of space beyond. The universe was a frightening place as it was, even more so when you were no longer in your own version of it.

"That said...at least one member of my crew believes that you saved their life, and in a way I owe you a debt of gratitude. So, moving along that line of questioning - what is it that you want from me?"

She followed his gaze out of the window, "I did save his life and he saved mine too, in a matter of speaking." She faced the Captain again and tried a smile. "What I don't want is to be locked up, I don't deserve that. Did you throw Klingons into your prisons when you were at war? Or the Cardassians? I was a soldier who was told to fight and so I did, what I want is to become a citizen of the Federation and"

she bit her lip.

"a member of Starfleet and this crew. I know it's a massive leap of faith and well I know if it was the other way round I'd have my doubts too."

That was something that Holliday was afraid of hearing. Taking someone who had grown up in an entirely different universe and somehow moulding them into a Starfleet officer? The idea was almost unthinkable. It had been done before of course, with officers such as Seven of Nine from the Voyager mission, but at least she had the advantage of an understanding of their universe to begin with.

"You realise that's going to need far more than just my approval, don't you Miss Wyatt?" Holliday replied solemnly.

"I'm not sure there's even a legal precedent for what you're asking. As a human you would be entitled to Federation membership and protection, and in theory you could therefore submit an application to attend the Academy....but quite what Federation law says about an individual from an alternate reality, I must admit I am utterly perplexed."

Jonathan already knew he would need to talk with Lirha. If anything was going to come out of this, he was going to need at least one flag officer involved, and she was the closest one that he felt in some way at least, he could trust.

"And why Starfleet? We aren't exactly a military force in the sense that you were used to - of course there are marine elements within the Federation, but this is a science vessel, hardly a ship of conquest."

"Because when I was in my universe I didn't have a choice between good and bad It was the Terran Empire or nothing at all, my father was already in the Marines and I followed. Here I have a choice and I want to choose, to help people so maybe I can make up for some of the things I have done. That's why Captain, I was born and raised in the fires of war and look where it has landed me" She let out a long wishful sigh.

"I know it wont be easy but I will do anything to make this work. I just need a chance." Abbey said, spending time in isolation had made her go over in her head what she would say and how but now, she was tired, desperate and scared.

"I will need to discuss this with the Admiral before I decide on a route forward. For now I have no choice but to return you to the Brig."

And with that he tapped a key on his console to summon back his security chief from her vantage point outside his office.

"Sir?" Benice spoke respectfully as she re entered. She did not want Abbey in her department. Not after attacking one of her men and not with Luke feeling as he currently does.

"Lieutenant - thank you for your patience. If you could escort Miss Wyatt back to the Brig for the time being. I will provide further instruction once I have spoken with the Admiral. See that she receives a good meal and suitable bedding. I do not believe she is an immediate threat at this time."

"I would like to discuss some security matters with this request, after I've resettled Miss Wyatt. If that's all right with you Sir?" Gyce asked respectfully as she gesture to the exit for Abbey.

"Carry on Lieutenant. I'll be here when you return. " Holliday replied with a nod, before turning his attention back to the work on his desk.

"Yes Sir," Gyce nodded, and led Abbey back to the brig in silence.


[OFF]


CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Cpl Abbey Wyatt
Marine Specialist
ISS Galileo
[Pnpc by Jake]

Lieutenant JG Benice Gyce
Chief of Security and Tactical
USS Galileo

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