A Continuing Investigation

Posted on 14 Jan 2016 @ 8:30pm by Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D.

1,385 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: Security Office, USS Galileo
Timeline: MD9- 1045 Hours

[ON]

Gyce had asked Jynn's roommate to come down to Security after she received word about her new investigation. Going over the notes so far, she was not sure if Jynn was a sexual predator, or just an idiot that had one weak moment.

Objectivity had to be the key though, so she sat in her chair and waited for the Petty Officer to arrive.

Not quite sure what this was all about, Rheneas made his way down to security and entered the office after making his precence known. "Petty Officer Malachy reporting as ordered ma'am," he stated, "may i ask why I've been summoned?"

"You're not in trouble," Gyce assured him, and gesture to the chair in front of her desk. "I just wanted to discuss some things about your roommate. Nothing that would reflect poorly on your record."

Rheneas sat, back straight as a rod as he listened. "Is he in trouble?" he asked carefully. He liked Jynn, and he got along well with him.

"He is innocent until proven otherwise," Gyce answered honestly. "My recommendations on if he is or is not in trouble, depends on what I find. But what I will say, is that the truth always has a better outcome than unearthed lies... So I ask that the questions I ask, you tell me the whole truth. Can you do that?"

"Yes ma'am," the young petty officer replied formally, "I can do that. What do you need to know?"

"Very good," Gyce nodded and turned her hidden lie-detector program on as she began to write on her PADD. "How long have you been roommates with Lieutenant Jynn?"

"Since about the wargames with the Klingons I think. On or about there anyway, so a couple of weeks?"

"In that time, did you see much of him in your quarters?" Gyce asked next.

"Yes ma'am, we saw each other more than a few times. After all we do live together so we try to be a little social." The young scientist and engineer looked confused. "What's going on ma'am? Jynn doesn't really tell me about his personal life, nor do I ask..."

"I am just trying to understand your roommate," Gyce assured the young man. "He confessed to breaking his oath and now it is my job to determine if it was deliberate or not. That is why I wish to know his mood. Was he depressed at any time you two talked?"

"I don't know if he was depressed but something wasn't right. When we first met he was always so chipper and happy but as time progressed and especially after our first night together....things just... went downwards? He became more quiet, and moodier, as if he was brooding. I kind of opted to leave him alone. Shouldn't I have done that?"

"Depends on the person," Gyce tried to console. "Some people want to brood. Others want a hug. Some just want to know you're there for them when you need them."

Gyce pulled a handful of jumja corn sweets from her desk jar and ate a few while she made personal notations.

"Did he ever talk to you about any romantic interests he had?" the Bajoran asked carefully, for she did not want to lead in any direction that seemed so imply Jynn was anything but innocent.

"Oh no... All I know is that he did his very best to uphold his oath. I mean....him and I we got very very drunk on our first night as roommates and we did fall asleep together but uh..." His cheeks flushed scarlet and felt as if they were burning. "Nothing happened ma'am. We just fell asleep. And I know that alcohol can have someone lose all inhibitions, and he didn't. Nothing happened."

"I didn't think anything did," Gyce smiled to the lad before she ran a hand through her hair to push some loose strands from her face. "You did mention that he did his best to uphold his oath... Does that mean he has struggled often?"

"I don't know ma'am," Rheneas answered honestly, "but I do know that he feels kind of...I don't know..excluded? He's very lonely ma'am....and I'd love to help him but I can't. It's not allowed and too dangerous. I wouldn't mind helping him if somehow I could do so safely, but I can't. I feel bad for him ma'am and I'm at a loss on what to do."

"It is not against the rules to hug, hold hands, or even kiss a Deltan," Gyce reminded the young man. "They only rule is that we don't partake in intimate acts. If aiding him in a platonic way is possible, I see no reason for you to befriend him in those rough times."

"If he'll let me," Rheneas murmured sadly, "I'm very sure we didn't get intimate ma'am...when I woke up the next morning I was still fully clothed and I don't remember getting undressed at any time. We just got drunk, which is something that's unlikely to happen again..."

"I am fairly certain there would be visual signs still, if you had," Gyce assured. "As I said, you are not in trouble. I do not suspect him of breaking his oath to you. I only wish to know about his emotional well-being."

"Not to me..." Rheneas picked up on the slip. "But you suspect he did with someone else... All I know is that he's lonely ma'am, but I doubt he'd consciously break his oath...Starfleet is all he has."

"I know his confinement to quarters may cause worry with you, if what you say is true," Gyce spoke with much consideration to the man's feelings. "I'd like to know if he gets worse, so I may call on the both of you just to make sure he is all right."

"I'll do what I can to help him ma'am...maybe all he needs is the occasional hug to feel better. If you say it's permitted, can I get that in writing ma'am just in case? I really want to help him...he's one of the first friends I made when coming on board and gave me a place to stay when there was no other room available. As a department head, he didn't have to share you see..."

Gyce smiled and pulled a PADD from the top drawer in her desk. On it, she typed: Platonic hugs are perfectly fine for Petty Officer Malachy to give to his roommate, Lieutenant JG Jynn.

After she signed her name on the PADD and handed it to him, she added, "Ask how his discipline is before you hug him. Just a precautionary measure."

"I will ma'am. Thank you. He's not in any trouble is he? I don't want him to get into any trouble over what I told you..." Worry creased his brow as he accepted the PADD.

"Without divulging... He did confess to something. What you told me, does not make his confession worse," Gyce tried to assure him. "I do, however, need to inform you that as this is an ongoing investigation, you are prohibited from speaking about everything that occurred in this room."

Rheneas nodded. "But what if he asks about the hugging and what prompted him....can I tell him I've been interviewed?"

"You may, as he knows you were likely to be pulled in for questioning," Gyce allowed. "If anyone else wants to know why I asked you here? Say simply that you asked for a permit to carry a phaser, and you were denied."

"Understood ma'am," the young NCO replied, smiling uncertainly. "Anything else ma'am?"

"No. I wish not to take anymore of your time," Gyce spoke with a wave of her hand. "And I do thank you for being honest."

"It lasts longest," Rheneas admitted as he rose. "I'll be in my quarters if you need anything else. Good luck ma'am, with your investigation, and whatever it is...I hope Jynn will be alright."

"Stay out of trouble," Gyce smiled. She waited for him to depart before she spoke under her breath, "I hope he's all right too."


[OFF]
Lieutenant JG Benice Gyce
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Galileo

PO Rheneas Malachy
Engineer/archaeologist
USS Galileo
[pnpc Tyrion]

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