Post by Lt. Commander Alyssa Jenison on Sept 5, 2018 19:53:16 GMT -8
"You don't have to answer that without representation. You don't have to answer anything."
Alyssa looked to the younger officer as if she had just dug a dagger into Alyssa’s side. Was she just playing a part, or was she truly choosing to cross a line.
“Nivans, don’t!” But she was too late. Eden pushed herself in between Hunter and Alyssa and acted with apparent insubordination. What hurt so much about the act was how quickly Eden turned. There was no request for Alyssa to stop—no attempt at reason. Just an insult and an order. Did Eden believe that her superior was so far beyond reason that she could act like this?
And for what? Love? Eden was throwing her career away to stop an act. The sheer waste and utter disappointment of it all was tragic. But the die was cast, and Eden had challenged Alyssa in a way that couldn’t be ignored.
"How is it out of all the ears in here yours are the ones that aren't listening. Why don't you stop being pissed off for two seconds and actually listen to what the man is trying to tell you?"
There was a deadly silence between them while two immutable wills clashed in a cell far too small for the both of them. It was clear both felt betrayal from the other, and neither willing to surrender their beliefs. Finally, Alyssa’s thoughts found her voice.
“Lieutenant,” her tone was harder than duranium. “You—”
"I don't know who released it.”
Alyssa eventually looked to Hunter again.
"I don't even know how anyone would've been able to do it. Everything was protected. When I went to package it up, there were so many missing. I thought I made a miscalculation in my sleep-deprived state, but not by that many. By then, it was too late."
The lights dimmed, again distracting Alyssa from Eden’s actions. Concern for the other cells turned her eyes towards them. The fields remained steady. Her concern waned—if only a bit.
"So, you're saying you have no idea. You either miscounted, or someone else is running around on this ship playing god.”
“Meaning…there is another threat still aboard this ship, and we don’t know who that is.” Her voice was still full of repressed anger. She didn’t even look to Eden. She needed to stay focused, and Eden was making her too angry at the moment.
“Can you recall anyone accessing your work station? Your terminal... anything that narrows it down?"
The lights more than dimmed this time. A near blackout overtook the room, pushing Alyssa out the cell and into the main security complex. The lights came back up again, though not at their original illumination. No one had died. It seemed the power loss was reserved to lighting. More small mercies.
The main console was beeping an orchestra of warnings. The weapons array had been overtaxed due to power shortages, leaving the system in bad condition. They had engaged in yet another conflict? She accessed the console, which had a waiting message for her. It was from Bergin, which helped explain Monroe’s last orders.
Had Monroe’s negotiations failed catastrophically? She pulled up the Bridge feed since Monroe’s departure leading into Freeman’s arrival. And it did little to ease her anxiety. She took a nearby PADD, and began a brief download from the console. She looked back to Hunter…and Eden before she stepped to the only person she could hope that might bring a constructive resolution to this situation.
“Commander,” Alyssa spoke up as she stepped to her XO, leaving behind her conflict with Eden for later.
End Alyssa
Alyssa looked to the younger officer as if she had just dug a dagger into Alyssa’s side. Was she just playing a part, or was she truly choosing to cross a line.
“Nivans, don’t!” But she was too late. Eden pushed herself in between Hunter and Alyssa and acted with apparent insubordination. What hurt so much about the act was how quickly Eden turned. There was no request for Alyssa to stop—no attempt at reason. Just an insult and an order. Did Eden believe that her superior was so far beyond reason that she could act like this?
And for what? Love? Eden was throwing her career away to stop an act. The sheer waste and utter disappointment of it all was tragic. But the die was cast, and Eden had challenged Alyssa in a way that couldn’t be ignored.
"How is it out of all the ears in here yours are the ones that aren't listening. Why don't you stop being pissed off for two seconds and actually listen to what the man is trying to tell you?"
There was a deadly silence between them while two immutable wills clashed in a cell far too small for the both of them. It was clear both felt betrayal from the other, and neither willing to surrender their beliefs. Finally, Alyssa’s thoughts found her voice.
“Lieutenant,” her tone was harder than duranium. “You—”
"I don't know who released it.”
Alyssa eventually looked to Hunter again.
"I don't even know how anyone would've been able to do it. Everything was protected. When I went to package it up, there were so many missing. I thought I made a miscalculation in my sleep-deprived state, but not by that many. By then, it was too late."
The lights dimmed, again distracting Alyssa from Eden’s actions. Concern for the other cells turned her eyes towards them. The fields remained steady. Her concern waned—if only a bit.
"So, you're saying you have no idea. You either miscounted, or someone else is running around on this ship playing god.”
“Meaning…there is another threat still aboard this ship, and we don’t know who that is.” Her voice was still full of repressed anger. She didn’t even look to Eden. She needed to stay focused, and Eden was making her too angry at the moment.
“Can you recall anyone accessing your work station? Your terminal... anything that narrows it down?"
The lights more than dimmed this time. A near blackout overtook the room, pushing Alyssa out the cell and into the main security complex. The lights came back up again, though not at their original illumination. No one had died. It seemed the power loss was reserved to lighting. More small mercies.
The main console was beeping an orchestra of warnings. The weapons array had been overtaxed due to power shortages, leaving the system in bad condition. They had engaged in yet another conflict? She accessed the console, which had a waiting message for her. It was from Bergin, which helped explain Monroe’s last orders.
Had Monroe’s negotiations failed catastrophically? She pulled up the Bridge feed since Monroe’s departure leading into Freeman’s arrival. And it did little to ease her anxiety. She took a nearby PADD, and began a brief download from the console. She looked back to Hunter…and Eden before she stepped to the only person she could hope that might bring a constructive resolution to this situation.
“Commander,” Alyssa spoke up as she stepped to her XO, leaving behind her conflict with Eden for later.
End Alyssa