Star Trek RPG - Mission #4: "Codex Aelyrr"

[CatInASuit]

Rangin was about to say something but the effect of Collins' last statement freezes his brain into submission and his mouth gapes slightly.

Woman...he...loves... Just what had Kylah been telling people. Hadn't she been the one wanting to keep it private, hidden, just between the pair of them? And now a Lt. who had the brain power and empathy of a brick wall is going on about them being in love.

"Just what did Ens. Kylah say about the pair of us?" Rangin's voice comes out in controlled fury, as his fists hands to bunch into fists and he forces himself to flatten them, knuckles white against the table, wondering if Kylah had decided to spin some set of lies to save her own skin.

[anyrose]

Collins is virtually pushed out of her chair by the intensity of Rangin's, what? anger? embarrassment? "She didn't say a thing, but I could see by how she looked at you, and you, well, you can't be that hurt by someone for whom you have no feelings." Collins leans forward and tries to sound calming "Look, I just say what I've observed. I've seen the dynamic before. Hell, I've been part of that dynamic before." She pauses a moment "If neither of you are willing to admit your feelings for the other, you'll just go on inadvertently hurting each other. Nobody wins. Don't be those people."

[Elendil's Heir]

Thalen pulls up a chair beside Kylah's bed and says, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I know the Captain was here earlier. I won't be long. Just wanted to look in and see how you're doing."

Lunnd stonily watches the interchange between Collins and Rangin, and says, "I will take your response to me as a 'no' to both questions I asked you, Lieutenant." He pulls out his own communicator and calls Thoth Constabulary HQ. "Lunnd here. Please put me through to the USS Yorktown."

"Aren't you there already?" comes the reply.

"Yes," he says. "Now do as I ask."

After a pause, "Yes, sir. Stand by."

[choie]

Kylah nods slightly and tries to look professional, or at least not like a physical and emotional wreck, in front of her superior. "I am doing better, thank you, sir. And you didn't wake me, not truly. I have been in and out of sleep for some time. They have given me some medications to calm me down, and..." She ends in a small shrug.

Looking at Thalen, she feels awash in guilt. If she had not sought the extra half-hour of shore leave, she would not have put herself into this position. Swallowing, she looks down briefly. "I--I am sorry to have caused all this difficulty. For such a superficial reason. You were so generous toward me. You do not know how much I appreciated that. And then all this happened. I should not have--" Lied to you, taken advantage of your good nature... "--asked for special favors as I did."

[general_urko]

Graham's surprised by Nia's question and starts to drop her hand, then realizes what he's doing and gives it a little gentle squeeze and lowers it to her side. He can't help but start to pace, though.

He clears his throat. "I, ah, wasn't kidding when I said I used force against Ens. Rangin earlier." He pauses and shakes his head. "And it wasn't any kind of fight, either, I meant it was in the line of duty."

He resumes pacing and frowns. "I didn't start out thinking Rangin was a suspect in what happened to Kylah, but he was..." Hostile isn't the right word, Graham thinks: I'd expect him to be hostile to me. "Uncooperative, even evasive down on Anubis. And I'd thought there was...something...between them."

"By the time he came to Sickbay, I knew he was the last member of the crew to have seen her--something he wasn't very forthcoming about--and I didn't have any hard evidence something could have happened between them after which Rangin beamed up, while she was MIA." He shakes his head again. "But I still didn't think he was a suspect until..."

He stops pacing, a few feet away from Nia, facing her. "Then he started talking to Kylah--something about being sorry, which got my attention..." He draws into parade rest, as if he's giving a report to Vargas. Well, she is a superior officer, and she asked... His voice is level, emotionless--she asked for a report, not a psychotherapy session.

"He laid hands on her, and she said 'stop' and 'you promised you wouldn't hurt me.'" He closes his eyes briefly as he recites those words, passing briefly to collect his thoughts as he remembers what went through his mind at that moment.

"At which point, in my experience, his behavior was consistent with abusers who express contrition but want to demonstrate that they still have physical control over the victim. So much the better that there were other people--me and T'Var--in the room. A little squeeze, a pinch..." His voice is no longer emotionless and his jaw tightens. "They want to force the victim to say--to convince herself--it's no big deal and even if it were there's no one to turn to."

He turns away, his hands still clasped behind his back. "This was on my watch."

He turns back toward Nia, raising his hands. "He needed to be separated from her without being able to do that, so I..." He starts to show what he did, but the proximity to Nia and the thought of touching her...that way...makes his stomach turn. He takes a breath and his tone becomes more clinical. "Well the details don't matter, I took hold of him in such a way as to cause a lot of pain or unconsciousness if he did not comply immediately."

He suddenly feels tired, pulls our a chair, and drops down into it. "I subsequently learned that, no, Rangin did not inflict these...physical...injuries." He spins the chair so he's facing Nia. "Although I don't think anything good is going on between them."

He looks down at his hands, turning them over as if deep in thought.

It's little known fact most Starfleet Security officers go their entire career without the need to use lethal force, they said at the Academy.

You beat those odds, Booker, he thinks. You sought out those assignments, assignments where it came down to them or you, after.... As if one or 10 or 100 or a million evil beings removed from the universe for good could ever make up for the loss of Jane...

"You must know wonderful things, Nia...how the ship behaves in a warp field, how to slingshot her around a star's gravity well..." He looks up at her, wondering what she's thnking. "Me, I just know how to sniff out the worst sort of human* garbage, and kill it, if necessary."


*I assume by the 23rd Century there's a word or a nuance to a word like "sentient" or "humanoid" that takes into account human-like but not human species, which is what he'd use if there is.

[SidonianGal]

The laser-like focus of Nia's attention is fixed on Graham, and she sees his discomfort, the barely controlled anger, and genuine concern he's going through while reciting what apparently was a far more intense confrontation between him and Rangin--not to mention Rangin and Kylah--than Nia realized.

She listens fully to this man, taking in the dichotomy between his gentle insecurity with her and the indignation, the threat of violence, against those who harm others. When he makes his final pronouncement about what he sees as the difference between her and him, Nia waits a moment before she kneels down beside his chair. She rests a hand on his knee, caressing it, and says softly, "Don't underestimate yourself, Booker. There's no 'just' about your ability--your willingness--to seek punishment for wrongdoers. As long as you genuinely feel you're right, and have evidence to back it up."

Another few seconds pass as she mulls over his words. She finds herself resting her cheek against his knee, sighing. "You're right that I know some wonderful things. But I also know something about how men--well, anyone--can take advantage of someone who's vulnerable. How they can manipulate and hurt without necessarily lifting a finger in violence. It's a sickness. I don't know if it has a cure.

"And if that's really what Rangin was--is--doing with Kylah, then you were right to stop it. It sounds as if she's been hurt more than once today, by multiple people and multiple ways. Bastards." Suddenly lifting her head, she looks up at Graham. "You know that detective from Thoth--Detective Lunnd--he's interviewing Rangin now, right? Or was, last time I checked in. Have you told him all this? Because even if Rangin wasn't still on the planet when Kylah was attacked, that doesn't mean he couldn't have... I don't know... arranged for something. Maybe that's why he left early. Gives him an alibi."

This seems crazy. Could it be true? Nia can't be sure, and she shakes her head as her hand tightens around Graham's knee. "I think you need to tell Lunnd what happened, what you saw between Rangin and Kylah in Sickbay. I mean--damn, who treats a battered girl like that? Maybe you'd better see if he's still on the ship. He might be able to find out if Rangin had any contact with that sleaze you picked up, or whoever else was involved."

[CatInASuit]

"Admit our feelings? Ens. Kylah showed exactly how she felt about me not that long ago. You were there.." Rangin's exasperated tone punctuated by the force of his chair sent tumbling backwards as he stands up suddenly "Ma'am with the greatest of respect...oh what's the point, it doesn't matter what I think."

Rangin leans over the table to the pair of the them over the table. "Let's get this straight. I came here of my own volition to answer questions about a brutal assault that was inflicted on a fellow crew member. I wasn't expecting to be forced to answer questions and I wasn't expecting to have my, or that that matter Ens. Kylah's, private life asked about. You want to ask questions freely and get answers out of me, expect me to say no on occasion."

Looking straight at Lunnd, "I notice you didn't answer about me being a suspect, don't bother. You want to treat me as a suspect, forced to answer questions, go ahead. I'll be back with a ship's counsel, who will undoubtedly say that my only recourse is to say nothing at all. Now, I want the bastards who did this caught and locked away for a very long time, and I'm hoping so do you. So which option do you pick? The one where I got ordered to answer and say nothing, or the one where we sit down reasonably and continue this conversation like nothing ever happened and I don't necessarily answer all your questions."

Rangin reaches back, still shaking slightly from his fury, to pick up the chair and sit down in it again. "Your call."

[general_urko]

Graham pats the hand Nia's placed on his knee.

After all he's seen today, he's pegged Rangin as a psychological manipulator, probably prides himself on his big brain and never getting his hands dirty.

But regardless of whether there's more going on or not, nothing good is happening between them...

Graham gives her hand a squeeze and stands up and shakes his head. "I'm not sure what's going on, but whatever it is, it isn't good, and, no, despite what some might think, I don't believe some kind of mano-a-mano backroom confrontation where I tell Rangin to 'stay away from Kylah' is going to do any kind of good, so your point is taken I should report what I've seen to...well, maybe Lunnd and probably our chains of command, maybe more important."

He sighs and moves toward the door. This time his tone is sincere. "I definitely would prefer that shower, but..well, duty, and all. See you tomorrow, Nia."

[Elendil's Heir]

Thalen insists Kylah did nothing wrong, shouldn't blame herself and has nothing to apologize for. He does his best to put her at ease, and asks, "Is there anything I can do for you while you're here?"

As Lunnd waits to be connected, he says crossly to Rangin, "I already told you that you weren't a suspect, Ensign, but you've certainly given me cause to reconsider."

A voice Collins and Rangin don't recognize comes over the comm channel. "This is the USS Yorktown. May I help you?"

The detective identifies himself and asks to be connected with Rangin's superior officer. The voice replies, "Uh, that would be the Science Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Roble. Please stand by."

After a few seconds Roble comes on. Lunnd again identifies himself and says, "I am aboard your ship, in Conference Room 5 with Ens. Rangin and Lt. JG Collins. Ens. Rangin has repeatedly refused to answer several of my questions as to my investigation of the attack upon Ens. Kylah. I need your assistance, Commander. Could you join us here, please?"

"On my way," Roble says.

[choie]

At Thalen's offer, Kylah tries on a weak smile, but it does not suit her and she lets it fade away. "No, I cannot think of anything, thank you. I promise I will do my best to be back on duty as soon as I can. I would rather not be isolated or idle for long." Her gaze falls as self-loathing tightens her lungs. Yes, how very noble these words are, for someone so intent on abandoning her duties a few hours ago!

She tries to change the subject and searches for an idea--and, when her lowered eyes are aimed at the bag on the floor, she realizes there is something Thalen might be able to do for her. "Actually... sir, I could use some advice. Of everyone I have met on the ship thus far, you are probably the person who would most understand..."

Kylah swallows back her desire to cry. She gestures feebly toward the open bag, where fragments of her zither can be seen scattered almost everywhere. "I do not know if you have heard, but my grandmother's zither was destroyed during the--the incident. It cannot be fixed, as you can see. And even if I had the hope of purchasing anything in the near future, the heirloom was irreplaceable. Those zithers are ancient and not commonly made today. But perhaps I can find something else that would provide some--some solace? I can play multiple instruments, but the music I know best requires something that can produce multiple frequencies, chords, semitones--and it should be small, too, so I can use it when alone in my quarters--"

She realizes she is risking revealing too much about her unique uses for the zither, and draws back against her pillow. "I am sorry, I should not presume to be so particular. I just... I use the music to help me rest." Kylah flushes, again embarrassed at telling a half-truth. Her music does soothe her, but her purposes here are anything but restful.

"Anything available would be greatly appreciated," she amends softly. "Is there any such instrument on board? A Vulcan or Risian lute, perhaps? Obviously I do not need it now, but I just... I would rest easier knowing that I had some alternative available. Knowing that music is not entirely out of reach because of what happened to me--what happened to this." She stares at the bag, haunted by the shattered remnants of crystal and stone.

[CatInASuit]

Rangin sits back in the chair, calming his nerves. As detective Lunnd talks to Lt. Cmdr Roble and mentions the several questions, Rangin holds up two fingers to signify just how many he hasn't answered.

Roble, at least, has a grasp of logic though Rangin hopes he doesn't immediately just use the "nothing to hide" line or order to him to answer without at least considering a right to silence. Perhaps he might be able to persuade Lunnd that the questions he is asking have no bearing on what happened and were only being asked to satisfy Lunnd's own personal prurience.

He sits back and waits for his commanding officer to arrive.

[anyrose]

As Roble and Lunnd talk, Collins watches Rangin. Why won't you just admit it, she thinks at him, knowing there isn't even a remote chance he'll hear her. Ugh, you're acting like a primary school kid. The more you like a girl, the more you do to hurt her so your buddies don't suspect you like one of 'the enemy'. And Kylah was devistated when you verbally spat on her. I've seen her upset before, but not like that.

[Elendil's Heir]

Thalen looks off into space, thinking. "Hmm. Let me ask around among the Lyceum members. I'm sure we can find you something." He smiles. "No one who craves music should be deprived of it. Anything else I can do?"

Lt. Cmdr. Abdi Roble soon arrives, looking calm and unruffled, and Det. Lunnd briefly explains the situation. The Science Officer asks, "You've been recording your interrogation, your interview with, Ens. Rangin? Please play it for me."

Lunnd doesn't look pleased, but he complies. Roble then says, "Please excuse us for a moment. I would like to talk to Ens. Rangin alone."

The Thoth cop looks even less pleased, and seems about to say something, but instead heaves a disgusted sigh, grabs his things and heads for the door. Does Collins follow?

[anyrose]

Collins follows Lunnd. "Would you like to talk with Ensign Kylah again, maybe? Or I could show you the Mess and you could get some coffee and a bite to eat if you'd like."

[choie]

Kylah shakes her head and brushes a hand across her eyes, pretending to push some hair away in an attempt to hide her tear-glazed eyes. "No, sir. I will be fine. And you have been too kind already." She means the words quite literally. If Thalen shows her any more generosity or compassion she might lose her composure altogether.

Before he leaves, Kylah suddenly remembers a question that has nagged at her on and off since she awoke in sickbay. "Oh! There is one thing I do not know. The thieves smashed my communicator, and I had been beamed far away. How did the crew know where I was? At first I thought perhaps some civilian discovered me and got in touch with the ship, but once I realized they took my uniform, there was no indication that I was from Starfleet." She shakes her head again, confused. "So how was I located?"

[general_urko]

Graham finds a private location--such as a small conference room--in which to to compose a report to Cmdr. Vargas.

This is a formal report on the use of force in the line of duty.

He looks up and notes the Stardate as closely as he can identify it to the incident in Sickbay, an the location not only by location but also by intra-ship coordinates.

Dr. T'Var was a witness to the entirety of the incident. Lt. Collins was a witness to part of the event, and, in consequence, I submit this report directly to you, leaving her to submit her own unbiased perspective on the incident.

This report does not address the entirety of the investigation into the assault and robbery of Ens. Kylah but rather the circumstances surroudning my use of force under color of law against Ens. Rangin.

I was beamed down to Anubis and at such time did not consider Ens. Rangin a suspect. However, I found his responses to my questions about the circumstances of the assault to be evasive.

On the planet I concluded that it appeared that Ens. Rangin was the last member of the Yorktown crew to see Ens. Kylah prior to the assault.

Subsequently, In the Yorktown Sickbay Ens. Kylah was recovering under medical care and apparently unconscious. I and Dr. T'Var were present. Ens. Rangin entered the room and proceeded to aggressively look into Ens. Kylah's bag that she had had on the planet, without grant of permission Ens. Rangin expressed contrition for something indeterminate, and subsequently took hold of Ens. Kylah's arm. At which point Ens. Kylah stated "stop" and "you promised you wouldn't hurt me."

At this point in time in my professional judgment and experience Ens. Rangin's behavior was consistent with that of abusers who seek out their victims to express contrition while at the same time demonstrating their ability to exercrise physical control or inflict physical pain at any time and in any location, including the presence of of others. I was not aware of any evidence that would preclude Ens. Rangin having been the assailant and the beaming up before Ens. Kylah was located.

My professional judgment at the time was that Ens. Rangin posed a threat to her physical safety, psychological well-being, and ability to testify in court assuming Ens. Rangin had been the assailant. Accordingly, I immediately placed Ens. Rangin in a control-and-compliance hold designed to inflict either extreme pain or unconsciousness immediately should he fail to comply with instructions, in this case instructions to release and move away from Ens. Kylah.

I disobeyed a direct order from Dr, T'Var to--and I quote--release Mr. Rangin immediately. I believed that with additional information Dr. T'Var might change her order, but this point was made moot by the arrival or Lt. Collins. Lt. Collins physically attempted to separate me from Ens. Rangin, and I complied, believing that trying to maintain control of a suspect while struggling with a trained Security officer posed too great a risk of injury to the victim or others.

Subsequently, conversation with Ens. Kylah led me to conclude that that Ens. Rangin did not personally inflict these injuries on her. At the same time, Ens. Rangin was verbally abusive toward Ens. Kylah in Sickbay, as witnessed by Lt. Collins and Dr. T'Var, and while it may not violate criminal statutes I wish to express my concern.

Graham makes the appropriate signatures and attestations.

And, as I stated verbally earlier, I waive any rights to representation or appeal of the decisions of the Yorktown command staff.

With respect I request this report be shared with Ens. Rangin's superior officer and Detective Lunnd of the Thotth Constabulary.

Graham flags this as "important" and transmits it to Cmdr. Vargas.

[CatInASuit]

Rangin waits to see what Lt. Cmdr. Roble wants to say to him.

[Elendil's Heir]

Lunnd says to Collins, grudgingly, "Yeah, maybe some coffee. Thanks."

In response to Kylah's question, Thalen grins. "Ens. Rangin did some magic with the sensors and was able to isolate your zither's crystals from all the other readings down on the surface. He gave us the coordinates we needed to send the Security landing party which found you." He leaves with a cheery wave.

Cmdr. Vargas's yeoman immediately acknowledges receipt of Graham's report. The First Officer will read it in due course.

Roble asks Rangin quietly, "Other than 'it's none of his business,' is there any particular reason you're not answering all of the detective's questions, Ensign? Of course you have a right against self-incrimination, but if it's just out of a concern for your or someone else's privacy, or out of irritation - as I have to say it sounded to me, from the recording - I hope you will reconsider. Cmdr. Vargas promised our full cooperation with the local authorities."

[WES]

T'Var acknowledges Bennett's greeting and joins her on the cycling machines. "I need a bit of a workout before heading to the mess hall for a game of chess with Mr. Johnson," she tells her cabinmate. "I believe he is planning a nice dinner for us as well."

[general_urko]

His report done, Graham uses the terminal to look up information on Sidonia.

And...Sidonian anatomy....well, just in case. I figure if there's anything....weird...Nia would tell me, but...just in case...

[Elendil's Heir]

Bennett smiles. "That sounds nice. You've been seeing a bit more of him lately, haven't you?"

The Library Computer whirrs as it accesses the Sidonian anatomical database.

[WES]

"Mr. Johnson is a worthy chess opponent," T'Var says. "He is also an excellent cook."

The doctor pauses a moment. "And I do rather enjoy his company."

[CatInASuit]

"Sir. The only questions I have not answered are those relating to Ens. Kylah's personal life and whether I wished her any harm. I wouldn't dream of answering the first and the second is both incriminating and insulting. Everything else asked has been answered."

Rangin sighs as he thinks back over the questions. "I'm sorry sir but from my point of view, some of those questions are only being asked because he can and not because they have any relevance to the assault."

"If he is asking those questions because he thinks they are relevant, then his comment earlier about not being a suspect are false." Rangin looks squarely across at Roble. "At which point sir, my only recourse is to say nothing. Sir, do you know of any alternative?"

[Elendil's Heir]

Bennett's smile broadens. "Well, good for you, T'Var. I'm glad."

Roble says to Rangin, "I have no law-enforcement experience, so I'm probably not the right person to ask. But if you think it at least somewhat possible that your answers might be incriminating if you do, indeed, later become a suspect, then perhaps it would be best for you to stand on your right against self-incrimination. It might form the basis for later Starfleet investigation and discipline, however. The decision is yours."

The Library Computer tells Graham the following:

The planet Sidonia is located in the Sinam system. Sidonia was thought to be uninhabited as late as the mid-22nd century due to its unusual Class H atmosphere (containing an extremely rare gaseous compound of Bilitrium, normally a crystalline element) and proximity to the late-stage Sinam star, which makes the planet extremely arid and its atmosphere toxic to most humanoids. However, it is home to a humanoid species that evolved from creatures similar to Terran lizards.

By 2185, the increasing size of the dying star Sinam led to Sidonia's dwindling water supply and increased solar radiation took its toll on planet life. That year, a solar flare ignited a substantial portion of the Bilitrium-laced atmosphere; on the now-solely habitable Southern hemisphere, inhabitants began dying of dehydration and radiation exposure, and fewer infants survived childbirth. Sidonians are thus in danger of becoming extinct.

About biology:

Due to the composition of their planet's atmosphere, Sidonians can only tolerate the standard oxygen/nitrogen air found in M-class planets for a period of 36-40 hours before their health begins to deteriorate due to suffocation. Until recently, this prohibited Sidonians from traveling outside their star system. However, recently-developed concentrated respirators have made such emigration possible by replenishing Sidonians' bodies with the compounds they need to survive.

The most populous race on Sidonia, the brown-skinned Ne people, have some reptilian features: in addition to being semi-chameleonic (able to change color matching the local desert environment) and most comfortable in very hot temperatures - as well as sluggish when cold - their skin is covered by smooth scales, normally only visible around the eyes, edges of the forehead and body (mostly upper arms and legs). At times, either by conscious decision or instinct, the subcutaneous scales can emerge to cover all or part of their bodies, providing limited protection against blades and sharp hazards such as horns, claws, and teeth. Conversely, the usually visible scales can also be retracted entirely, particularly as a sign of heightened sexual arousal. This too can be an automatic reaction or a conscious act to display vulnerability to a potential mate.

His curiosity piqued, Graham reads on:

Sidonians' survival on a dying planet led to the Propagation Act of 2200, which attempted to stem the dwindling population through strictly regulated procreation practices. Under this new law, male and female Sidonians are now required to reproduce as early and often as possible once they reach sexual maturity (which occurs as early as 11 years old). Though multiple births are common, so is infant mortality. Non-reproductive sexual activity is discouraged unless adults are infertile. Birth control is illegal, as is terminating a pregnancy for any reason other than the imminent death of the mother.

Such laws can only be enforced against residents on the planet itself, though some emigrants continue to follow these proscriptions. Although emigration is still a relatively recent phenomenon, most of those who are among the Sidonia Diaspora - as the scattered emigrants are called - still adhere to these proscriptions, and also rarely mate outside their own race, although biologically they are compatible with most humanoid species with male external/female internal sexual organs, including Humans. As a result of this rarity, fertility status of such pairings is currently unknown....

Does he wish to read further?

[choie]

The door whooshes shut behind Thalen, but Kylah is too stunned by his revelation to acknowledge the departure. "Ens. Rangin did some magic with the sensors and was able to isolate your zither's crystals... He gave us the coordinates we needed...."

Her gaze is fixed on the room's far wall. He found me, she thinks. He used my zither and found me.

It is not surprising that Velir would come up with a clever scientific method for locating her, of course... yet Kylah remembers all too clearly those contempt-filled words just before he planned to beam up from the planet. He never wanted to see her again.

How easily he could have made the wish come true by simply not putting forth the effort to assist the search.

But that would have been antithetical to this man. His conscience, his responsibility, his selflessness, his intelligence--all part of the reasons Kylah cares so deeply for him--are why she is now safely back on the ship.

Kylah looks blindly toward the new communicator on the table nearby, so shamed and emotionally exhausted she can no longer hold back her tears. She reaches for the device and holds it in her lap while she tries to rally her courage.

At last she flips it open. "Ensign Kylah to Ensign Rangin," she whispers.

[anyrose]

In the Mess, once Lunnd has his coffee, Collins taps the panel and gets one for herself. "Off the record, Detective," she asks him, "why do you believe that what Rangin is keeping to himself is so vital to the investigation? Do you think, after his fight with Kylah, that he hired some low lifes to cause her trouble? He is intense, but I've been on missions with him. He's neither violent nor vindictive. Even when injured and threatened, he is still in full control of his impulses."

[CatInASuit]

Rangin sighs and looks down at the table. "That's just it sir, those questions have nothing to do with what happened to Ens. Kylah. Although I suppose that there is only my word for it. Besides if the detective is asking me, and has already talked to Ens. Kylah, no doubt he has already asked her the same question."

Rangin shakes his head wondering how having nothing to hide could wind up with the threat of a Starfleet tribunal now hanging over his head. "Sir, the problem is that I don't know where I stand with Ens. Kylah and with the Detective having spoken to her, I have no idea what she has said."

Rangin hears the communicator go and looks down in horror. Why would Kylah be trying to contact him, now of all times, didn't she know where he was. He flicks the communicator out of his hand, as if it is burning hot and it skitters across the table top away from both of them.

"I can't talk to her," he quickly says before Roble can react. "I didn't mention to you but Security have said I cannot contact her unless I have someone present at the time." Rangin's voice goes hoarse as he continues. "I wasn't planning on speaking to her anyway, I don't believe she has any feelings for me."

Rangin sits and watches the communicator beep waiting and hoping that she will give up.

[choie]

Kylah clutches the communicator tightly, waiting in vain for the sound of the familiar voice. But she is not surprised when there is no response. Indeed, after the insults Velir flung at her earlier, so perfectly aimed to cut with the force of her now-missing dagger, the coward within Kylah is relieved. Now she will be able to say her piece in full, without any vitriolic interruptions.

She still does not know what happened. After she woke up, her mind was too much in a haze to understand anything before Collins ordered Graham to release Velir. Once Kylah at last comprehended the barest facts of what was going on--Graham suspecting Velir of something--all she could think of to do was to distract Graham, to talk to him privately and calm him out of his violent mood.

Yet it had the opposite effect on Velir, although his assault used brutal words rather than brutish muscles to wound.

This flashes in her mind before her connection is redirected to the automated system where she is given the option to leave a message. She desperately tries to find the right thing to say, something he might be willing to hear. She can only blurt that which she must say.

"Velir," she begins, timid and weak as no Elasian woman should sound. "I know you do not wish to talk to me. But I just learned--I just heard--"

Her voice breaks and she closes her eyes. "You saved me."

She pauses, shaking her head at her inability to express the depth of what she feels, and forces herself onward. "Lt. Thalen told me how you were able to locate me after I was attacked. Without you, I doubt I would be here. I might have died, alone, on that planet. You saved my life.

"I must tell you how grateful I am. I am also sorry, sorry for everything, unbearably sorry you hate me so deeply. And I am humbled that despite that hatred, you acted as only you can. With the compassion and honor I always admired. I still admire you. And more. So much more, you will never know. I wish you would listen, I wish you would let me tell you."

Kylah stops and begins to weep. "Please, Velir," she chokes out. It is all she can say now, and she closes the communicator to end the connection.

Sinking down onto the bed, she clutches the device to her chest and cries into the damp pillow until the well of her tears finally runs dry.

[WES]

"I find social interactions with fellow crew members quite gratifying," T'Var replies. "And I do believe such interactions are most beneficial to both our personal and professional lives."

[general_urko]

Graham rubs his forehead. Well that may have been too much information...

He decides to quite while he's behind.

Did Nia have to...?

When she was 11...?

Does she want me to...?

[Elendil's Heir]

Lunnd sips his coffee. "I don't know. But when I'm interviewing someone about a crime, even someone who seems from the outset to be just a witness and not at all a likely suspect, and he tells me something's none of my business... well, I get a little ornery, a little suspicious. I've been at this for a long time, Lieutenant, and 'none of your business' more often than not - not every time, but pretty damn often - turns out to be very much my business." He takes another sip. "You know Rangin one way, in one particular context, but people can have a lot of different layers. Someone who seems absolutely calm and peaceful under normal circumstances can do some pretty terrible things, under different circumstances."

"Well, of course," Bennett says to T'Var, pedaling a little harder. "That's one of the advantages of having this big a crew, at least."

Roble looks at Rangin and the now-still communicator, clears his throat and asks, "So do you wish to speak to the detective again?"

[SidonianGal]

After she leaves the conference room, Nia naturally keeps her gift bag but ends up dumping the now-cold coffee, instead heading to the mess to grab a bite. She's actually starving but knows she can't eat anything too heavy; she needs to get to sleep soon. Her lungs are beginning to burn--seems a little early for that, by her reckoning, but when she checks her chronometer it's a little later in the day than she thought.

She chows down on something pretending to be an open-faced steak sandwich, needing the protein enough to ignore the beef's somewhat tough texture. Wish A.J. was cooking my dinner instead of the guests'. Nia smiles ruefully as she sops up some gravy with a crust of bread. Maybe we'll catch up later this week. Been a while.

Having made short work of the first half of the sandwich, she wraps the rest up and takes it with her as she leaves the Mess. She moves as quickly as she can, although offering a pleasant nod to any friends she passes by, and makes her way to her quarters. The trip feels longer than the one from the conference room to the Mess, but that's not surprising--it is longer, but more to the point, Nia's losing her stamina. By the time she enters her cabin, sinks into her desk chair and takes a long, deep inhale from the mask to her respirator, she's shaking her head with a combination of annoyance and amusement.

And Booker thinks I'm some kinda endurance demon. If he actually joined me in the shower for some real exertion, I'd probably be dead in the water.

It's an exaggeration, but not by much. She closes her eyes and continues to take deep breaths until after only a few moments she's quite refreshed. This will tide her over until she can get a full night's worth of replenishment under the mask. And how hot would that've been for Booker to see? Nothing's as sexy as a woman with half her face hidden beneath a blue plastic dome.

She places the gift bag on the bed, smiling warmly at it, and strips off her clothing before at long last entering the shower to partake in her third favorite activity.

[CatInASuit]

Rangin nods his head slowly. "Yes, let's get it over and done with. I'm not sure what to say and I don't know if I will wind up being silent all over again. But I'm willing to at least try and answers his questions. Sir, would you be able to stay for the short time it should take?"

Sitting there, he wonders what he is letting himself back in for. He doesn't know what Kylah might have said and how much further into trouble he is going to find himself. The fact she is trying to contact him only adds to the worry, that he is being set up. He begins to regret ever falling for her. If he had not gotten so close, once again, none of this would be happening. He could be blithely away chatting with friends, researching the new sensor array or a hundred other things.

Instead, thanks to Kylah, Rangin is here wondering what on earth he did to deserve this.

He gathers himself up and walks down to pick up his communicator, ignores the messages and opens it. "Ens. Rangin to Lt. JG. Collins. I'm ready to speak with Detective Lunnd again in Conference Room 5."

[anyrose]

"Granted," Collins admits between sips of her own coffee. "But have you ever heard the ancient saying 'you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'? Please see if you can shed the orneriness for now, and talk to him man to man instead of cop to suspect. I'll wager he'll be much more cooperative if he doesn't feel persecuted." She sweeps the air with her arm towards the door, indicating they ought to head back to the conference room.

[WES]

T'Var stops pedaling. She wipes the sweat off her face and arms. "I do not wish to be late for my chess game," she tells Bennett. "Have a good evening."

The doctor leaves and heads to her cabin. She will freshen up a bit, then head to the mess hall for yet another battle of the mind with Andrew Johnson.

[general_urko]

After the day he's had, his encounter with Nia, and now what he's learned, Graham concludes there is clearly only one thing to do.

Go lift the hell out of some really heavy weights. He heads for the gym (stopping off to change at his quarters if workout clothes are not available at the gym itself).

[Elendil's Heir]

Lunnd finishes his coffee and sets down the cup. "Thanks. And may I say, Lt. Collins, how happy I am to have so many Starfleet officers willing to tell me how to do my job?"

Roble says to Rangin, "Of course I'll remain, if you wish."

Back in the conference room, Roble briefly explains Rangin's decision. Lunnd nods and says to the Coridanite, "Thank you, Ensign, for agreeing to fully cooperate." He checks his notes, then asks:

"When you later met up with Ens. Kylah, what did you argue about?"
"Are you and she romantically involved?"
"Do you have any reason to wish her harm?"

Bennett bids a cheery farewell to T'Var and speeds up on her own cycle.

Graham is able to find workout clothes at the gym. After he changes he spots Bennett from a distance; she has not seen him yet. He usually thinks of her as calm, cool and collected, but she seems to be working up quite a sweat on a cycling machine. He also can't help but notice that her civilian unitard shows off her lithe figure quite well indeed.

[anyrose]

Inwardly, Collins rolls her eyes at Lunnd and considers hurtling a few epithets his way, but she is a professional, so she just walks with him to the conference room.

In the conference room, she sits across from Rangin and Roble and observes this round of questioning.

[CatInASuit]

Rangin thanks Lt. Cmdr Roble for staying and then waits for Lunnd and Collins to return.

At the mention of the words fully cooperate Rangin raises an eyebrow but says nothing, he just wants this over and done with.

"When you later met up with Ens. Kylah, what did you argue about?"
"Us. She left me in a bar unnanounced." Rangin was going to tell the truth, whether he liked it or not.

"Are you and she romantically involved?"
"No, we are not romantically involved." A few hours or days ago it might have elicited a different answer, but now...no at this point in time, there is nothing between them.

"Do you have any reason to wish her harm?"
"I have no reason to wish Ens. Kylah any harm." If he had, she would still be on the planet somewhere.

Rangin waits to see what else Lunnd is deciding to ask him.

[general_urko]

It's not the image of Bennett he expected: neither the exertion on the bike nor the skimpy outfit.

Of course, Nia didn't turn out as expected, not earlier, and not...not as coming from a culture dominated by some kind of desperate breeding program...

Given how focused she is, he doesn't want to interrupt....

No, you're also worried Booker, given how weird today's been. Bennett rushes up to him, grasping his bare arms and whispering breathlessly, "Do you know what I love to do? Compete with another woman for a man's attention. Can you help me with that, Booker?" He eyes bore into his from inches away. "Please...?"

Graham clears his head and practically hurls himself onto a bench to start lifting.

[Elendil's Heir]

Lunnd looks at Rangin for a long moment, then nods and puts away his datapad. He says, "Thank you. I appreciate your time and your candor, Mr. Rangin. I'll be in touch if any further questioning is necessary." He turns and says to Collins, "Unless there's anyone else you think I should speak to up here, I'd like to return to Thoth now, please."

Graham soon has worked up quite a sweat. He is focused and doing well with the weights.

[anyrose]

"Right this way," Collins escorts Lunnd to the transporter room, surprisingly glad to be rid of him. As he steps on the pad, Collins tells the chief "To Thoth, as soon as the detective is ready." She waits for Lunnd to dissolve into glittering particles.

[CatInASuit]

Rangin nods slightly to Lunnd and waits for him to leave the room before sinking into the chair and letting out an explosive sigh of relief. He looks across at Roble, "Sir thank you for staying, but please don't say, 'there see how easy that was'", he comments with a slight grin, "I thought it would be a little more drawn out than that." The grin slowly fades as the thoughts of the day slowly overtake the relief he is feeling.

He rises from the chair, steadying himself as the adrenaline slowly begins to wear off. "It's been a horrible day, in more ways than one and for more than just myself. I should put the past behind me, unwind, grab a bite to eat and get back up to speed on that new sensor." Rangin shakes his head remembering what state he had left it in. "I had a plethora of ideas about what to look for, and I can't even remember if I had a chance to write them down. Typical."

He looks down at the communicator, signalling the messages awaiting his attention from Lt Onn and Ens. Kylah, but he decides to leave them until later, when he feels more able to deal with them.

Taking his leave of Lt. Cmdr. Roble, Rangin heads out to the Mess Hall.

[Elendil's Heir]

Det. Lunnd says, "Thank you again for your help, Lieutenant," and is beamed down to the surface.

The Science Officer nods. "I understand. Glad to be of help... if indeed I was. Carry on, Mr. Rangin."

There are about two dozen people in the Mess Hall. Rangin recognizes only Ens. Giya, a female Deltan chemist, bald as are all of her species, and Ens. Chris Johnson, an American sensor specialist. They are dining together. Giya gives a friendly wave when she sees Rangin.

[anyrose]

It suddenly occurs to Collins that she's hungry. It hasn't been that long since lunch, but the events and activity of the last two hours have consumed her energy, so she heads to the Mess. She chooses a hearty pasta dish and looks around for a place to sit. That's when she notices Rangin. She torn between letting him have his space and apologizing for ruffling his feathers. After a brief mental coin toss, she decides to apologize. She approaches Rangin. "May I join you?"

[CatInASuit]

With a plateful of food, he sees Giya wave to him and with a relieved smile Rangin nods back to her noticing she is sat next to Chris as well, who could certainly help out with his thoughts on the new sensor, if he wasn't already up to speed on it.

And then Lt. JG. Collins suddenly appears in his eyeline between the relative sanity of fellow scientists and being diverted to share a table with her. Is she really going to chaperone him here? Did Security really distrust him that much? It isn't like Ens. Kylah is going to be walking through the doors any time soon. But from her opening line, it doesn't feel like it. No Ensign Rangin, no orders, just a simple request.

Cursing himself inwardly for being caught like this as well as being polite to the fault of stupidity, like his next action, he keeps a straight face as he responds. "Sure, why not." He gestures to a table for Collins to sit at and while her back is turned to place her tray down, he looks back across to Giya, shrugs his shoulders slightly with eyes rolling and mouths out "Catch you later." before sitting down opposite.

[CatInASuit]

After a long day, including some cordon bleu preparation for a dinner with several guests at the Captain's table, Johnson is itching for some downtime, and T'Var said she was interested in playing some more games together, perhaps all night. Then again Johnson also picked up a call that Ens. Kylah wanted to see him in Sickbay, apparently happy with her little gift, so off to see her first and pick up T'Var on the way out assuming she is still in Sickbay.

And with that in mind, he sticks his head round the door to her room and in the light spilling from the door can see her outline in the bed, breathing lightly and lying there in what looks like troubled slumber. Her hair lying all over the place, casting shadows, and her hands are clutching at the pillows her face is buried in.

"Damn," he mutters, shrugging to himself as he stands next to the bed, "She's asleep. Oh well there's always the morning I guess." Sniffing the air slightly he can smell the sickly sweet scent of the Bellaque lingering in the atmosphere and then spies the dessert half eaten, with the rest neatly wrapped up for another time.

* * *

From her not-very-deep rest, Kylah senses emotions not her own. She opens her bleary eyes and inhales sharply when she spies the figure not far from her in the darkened room.

"Who is there?" But almost as soon as she says the words, she recognizes the visitor. Not just from his tall, lean form, but by his thoughts and his very scent: she recalls that lotion he uses on his hands from their first meeting. Kylah pushes herself up and brushes away the messy curls that have fallen over her eyes so she can see him properly. The communicator falls from her hands and she flushes at having kept it so close by, as if Velir is likely to contact her ever again.

"Oh... Mr. Johnson, excuse me," she murmurs weakly as she hurriedly replaces the device on the stand near her bed, then wipes her face free of tears. "I forgot I asked for you. I appreciate your coming. But..." She frowns, looking more closely. "You seem so tired. You could have waited until morning."

* * *

Johnson turns a dim light on and gets a better look at the troubled young ensign. She's been crying, the eyes puffy and red, her face drawn from days events, in short she looks a mess. He decides to keep it lighthearted, probably the only thing she hasn't managed to be today. "It's alright ma'am, I thought I'd drop in and see how you were doing and how the Bellaque tasted. Really sorry to hear about what happened, and I hope the dessert helps. Seeing as half the plate has gone, it can't have been that bad." Johnson leans across and pinches a piece of it off the plate, savouring the taste and nodding at how well it come out. "Not bad, for about a dozen different goes at it. You were right, it was a tricky bugger to make."

He licks his fingers off noisily as he heads back to the chair and sits down. "So, how you managing? Heard about what happened, and thought you could use the pick-me-up." Johnson stops speaking. He may have a load of questions to ask, but he'll let Kylah at least answer the first one before he starts again.

* * *

The ma'am makes her shake her head. "Please call me Kylah," she says, and then gives a weak smile at the truth of how much of the Bellaque has disappeared through the afternoon. "I feel better than before. The wounds are almost completely healed, although there is some soreness. Mostly I just feel..." Her weary head droops. "...Drained. So much happened over the past day, I can hardly move."

Then his earlier words sink in. Of course, the dish must have taken a number of tries to get right. She glances at the plate, her depressed mood lifting enough to let her focus on Johnson's effort. "You took such time and care with this. Indeed you must have started the Bellaque even before I was injured. And it was delicious. Truly. Almost indistinguishable from what I would get at home." Reaching out, she dabs a finger into the honey-colored liquid that covers and surrounds the dessert, daintily licking her fingertip for a quick reminder of how excellent this dish is.

"Only this syrup is different--naturally enough. The sap of an Elasian Aldex tree is unlikely to be part of the ship's stores or replicator. But whatever you used is an elegant substitute. Stickier, but the consistency actually makes it richer." She stops her dissection of the dessert and looks up at him in wonder. "I just cannot believe you went to such trouble for me. That is two nights in a row you have been so generous."

More Yorktown officers displaying kindness despite her willingness to abandon them. This, plus the memory of the aborted dinner with Velir--ruined by her clumsy attempt at seduction and Velir's rejection--drains even more energy from Kylah and her ability to maintain a social façade slips. "I did not expect you to put in so much research and work. I am not worth it," she ends in a whisper.

* * *

"That's only one night in a row, Kylie. I was going to give it to you last night, but there were a few reasons." Like Ens. Ragdoll he thinks to himself. "Seriously, I like cooking. I do this for most people on the ship...and I owe you for that first meeting...and it's nice to see it appreciated. And after I saw the recipe...yeah there are a couple more reasons, but don't worry about it." Johnson tries hard to keep his grin hidden, but the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. Getting you to admit you enjoyed me giving you sticky lips.

Shaking his head a couple of times he looks across at Kylah face filled with concern, wondering how much he should ask or say. "I'll be honest, it would have been last night once I got your treat across to Ens. Rangin." Johnson shrugs as he remembers the miserable little ensign, sat looking guilty in his cabin. "But he seemed to think you wouldn't be in the mood for it. At all. In the slightest. Asked very nicely if I could wait until today. Don't think he was expecting all this."

Johnson's head tilts slightly as he looks across judging her reaction, seeing the hurt on her face, something approaching shame, as she tries not to meet his eyes.

"No, I don't know what happened between you last night, he wouldn't say, but I'm guessing the pair of you had a blowout?"

* * *

His use of that nickname for her almost lifts her spirits for an instant, but it is short-lived. His account of last night confuses her. Velir asked him to wait until today. Was it truly to save Kylah's feelings? Or... was it because he suspected she would discard her robe again and fling herself upon Johnson?[/i] Kylah is too tired to dissemble, and something about Andy Johnson makes it feel unnecessary to try. He seems to lack much of a filter and this invites similar openness.

"It was a disaster," she says flatly. "He and I have not known each other long, and our... connection... is very new. Things have not progressed very far." She avoids Johnson's gaze in the darkened room, knowing he can guess what she means. "But though our connection was new, I cared--care--for him a great deal. He possesses so much that I admire. He is moral, compassionate, brave, respectful, and... forthright."

Perhaps too forthright, her traitorous mind thinks, considering all he has said to her today. Kylah's head bows, but something stubborn--some need to hold on to her feelings--will not let her chastise Velir. From his point of view she is a deceitful harlot; why would he treat her any differently? "He has a strong code of ethics, and does his best to live up to them," she murmurs. "That is rare, in my experience. I have never met such a good man."

And yet this good man hurt her so deeply today, not just when he left her on the planet, but even after she was attacked. She cannot reconcile the Velir Rangin who is so kind with the way he spoke to her.

But he still saved my life. That is proof he is remarkable: helping me, after I disappointed him so... Having redeemed Velir in her mind, she hurries on. "I know he deserves better than I can give him. I am a very... a very private person, and I do not open up to others easily. I cannot match his candor. And he mistrusts me because of it." Kylah's gaze reluctantly meets Johnson's for as long as she can bear. "Yesterday, when you and Mr. Graham were visiting me, he was very displeased. Seeing the two of you, while I was in nothing but my robe--it made him suspicious. Although I cannot imagine what he thinks I would do with both of you."

Kylah shakes her head in shame. "And when I--when I tried to let him know that he is the only man in my life... when I tried to--to show him..." She flushes at the memory and at the words spilling from her lips to this man she barely knows. "He just--rejected me. As if touching me had stained him."

She blots her eyes with the flat bedsheet, no longer able to look at Johnson. "Today was even worse. When we were down on the planet, I left him for a--for an errand--and he accused me of seeking out another man to... to replace him, for what he did not do last night." The thought is just as revolting as it was when he first brought it up, and her next words run on in a flood.

"I cannot do anything right, I cannot live up to what he wants of me. Even after the attack, when I woke up here, in sickbay, he... he made it clear I am beyond hope. Earlier he said he wishes he had never met me. He assisted in finding me, but once he saw me back on the ship, everything got worse. Somehow he and Mr. Graham ended up in a confrontation, and before Velir was released, he ended everything by--by basically telling T'Var she was wasting her time. That I was too broken to fix." Kylah stares bleakly at her communicator. "Perhaps he wishes he had not helped find me after all. Perhaps it would have been better if he had not."

* * *

"Bullshit!" Johnson's reply cuts across the room. Then suddenly realising what he just said, he starts up, looks round nervously and then subsides back into the chair looking slightly relieved. "Sorry about that, but...no actually, I'm not sorry, that's bullshit. Better off being not found at all, just because he doesn't like you?" Johnson stops and his brows furrow as he thinks back to their first meeting. "Oh crumbs, you really are that naive."

He draws in a deep breath before moving forward to the edge of the chair and exhaling, hands now clasped in front of him resting on his knees. "Ok, no-one, and I mean no-one, is worth getting yourself into this kind of situation. You can't live up to his ideals? Don't. He wants some perfect porcelain pretty to be just like him? Let him find some other doll. It ain't worth sticking your life on hold just to please him, 'specially if its all one way. And if he doesn't want to accept the kind of gift I think you're offering, he's the one with problems."

"I'd say just be you, but I'm not sure you even know who you is." Johnson leans back into the chair but still keeps his gaze fixed on Kylah. "Anyway, he needs to accept you for you. If you're private, then he needs to get off your case about it...as long as you haven't given him a reason to think he can't trust you. That's a relationship killer right there. On both sides thinking about it. But if you're honest, and he wont accept it, he isn't worth it."

"Now, you might consider what I'm saying is not true for you, that you do feel bad about him, how it's your fault. And how whatever you had is gone. And you don't understand it. You'd be amazed how often I've heard it in the mess. What I mean is you're not alone, there are people around who are friendly, apparently I'm included, and not everyone is a troglodyte on the Yorktown, unlike your two not-very-gentlemanly callers from last night. Are you seriously telling me they go into a fight over you?"

[anyrose]

Collins waits for Rangin to sit and appear settled. "I wanted to apologize," she tells him "I don't know if it was the situation, or because I was way off base, But I didn't mean to upset you earlier." With her fork she moves some of the pasta around before spearing a good bite. "But I don't think I was off base." She brings the forkful of food to her mouth and begins to chew, indicating it's his turn to say something.

[CatInASuit]

"Ma'am, if you don't think you did anything wrong, why are you apologising?" Rangin replies quietly, "I suppose this means you fully agree with Ens. Graham's comments on the restrictions to my movements."

He takes a small mouthful of the food, eating it quickly before continuing. "and yes, you did hurt my feelings earlier."

[anyrose]

"What? No!" Collins tries to parse Rangin's comments "The comment about supervised visits was to placate Graham! To mollify him. I know you'd never hurt Kylah. Not intentionally, anyway." Do I know that? Collins shrugs internally and continues. "And I am talking about during Lunnd's interview. I'm sorry I upset you with my comment about you being in love with Kylah. But I still say you are, and it's because you got upset that I still think I'm right about that."