From: Katrina L. Browne (kbrowne_at_wellesley.edu)
Date: Sun Aug 26 2007 - 21:54:28 PDT
-=(^)=-
“Citizen Rixx”
Con’t From: “Vulcan Troubles”
-=(^)=-
Location: GS-2
Time Index: 2.70824.1325
Scene: Security Center -> Staff Meeting Room
Morning Staff Meetings could taken on half a dozen different tones, from
energized and inspired to dour, dependent on a number of factors. One of
the critical factors was the mood of the boss and in the case of the
Security Department that meant Chief Kor. The Andorian woman was usually
blessed with a certain morning zeal that helped keep things light around
the gray table in the small conference room. But sleeping with a room full
of children from 4 or 5 onwards could dampen even the most confirmed
earlier bird.
Eishnala had usually tried to arrive earlier to these functions, earlier
than the rest of her staff save Ensign Mason. Late night chatter between
three of the kids made that goal untenable. The woman with sky blue skin
had even dreamed of what “Joey said about Liz over lunch”, who “held hands
with Ezranna during lunch” and why “Lucius had broken so-and-so’s toy
during recess.” The officer with the mustard uniform that clashed
horrifically with her natural skin tone could not remember partaking in
such nonsense when she had been young. Though perhaps that was due in no
small part to the fact that she had only stepped out of adolescence a few
years ago and maintaining a psychological barrier against those events
helped Chief Kor maintain a grip on her concept of adulthood. She may
simply have been too young to appreciate the full nostalgic significance
of those conversations.
And so at two minutes past 0800 hours, the lead security officer showed up
to her own staff meeting late and looking slightly frazzled with one
stubborn curl sticking at an odd angle. Her usually tamed frizz announced
its presence to a room full of ensigns, petty officers, and crewmen;
almost all of the day shift had already assembled in a time fashion.
Crewman Katie Reese sat in her usual seat, equidistant from the door and
the head of the oval table where Lieutenant Kor usually rested, waiting
for the group to assemble. Her neighbor, Petty Officer Malcarn leaned over
and tried to inconspicuously whisper in Crewman Reese’s ear, “I guess she
had a late night. Hot date?” Katie tried to suppress the urge to chortle
as the Lieutenant briskly walked past them to her usual seat.
“Lets get this meeting started. I have a few duty assignments to hand out
before we move on to status reports and the like. I believe Petty Officer
Malcarn and Crewman Reese feel particularly sociable today. Ensign Mason,
haven’t the engineers in waste reclamation been reporting a few minor
thefts over the past week?”
Ariel looked down at her P.A.D.D. and drew up the files, “It seems they’ve
reported three bioconverter units have gone missing as well as a plasma
sanitizer.”
“I’m betting working down there can be lonely, don’t you think Ensign?”
Eishnala said with feigned lightheartedness in her voice as she stared at
her comedians.
Ensign Mason frowned slightly trying to figure out why these two were
being selected for ‘special’ assignments. But then she decided to just go
whit what the Chief had planned; she could always talk to the Andorian
later. Ariel nodded.
“That’s what I thought. So two young, *social* people like yourselves
might be able to give those technicians a hand? Watch while they do their
job, see if anything seems out of the ordinary. I think it may even take
all of today and tomorrow, don’t you think Crewman Reese?”
Katie blanched. **How did she hear him?** she thought to herself while the
explanation twitched pinned itself down, directed behind the Andorian
woman. The enlisted woman though thought it wise to nod.
“Good. And Petty Officer Malcarn, seems like it might take you a couple of
days as well doesn’t it?”
Malcarn O’car, who was one of a handful of Napeans to ever seek out life
among security forces answered, “Aye, sir” with practiced confidence. When
Lieutenant Kor’s antennae swiveled back to a less aggressive stance and
focused on the other matters of the day, he silently made a sigh of
relief. Being put on the spot had a tendency to cause Napeans to
involuntarily project their feelings on who ever was around them. It would
have been somewhat more embarrassing to have been dressed down by his
superior and than broadcast his emotions on the subject to the entire room.
“So how are we standing on the Rixx affair? Have they’re been any more
leads regarding his escape and has he been seen since the power failure?”
Chief Kor said as she leaned slightly back and began sipping her morning
pick-me-up.
Ensign Mason looked over the night shift reports, “No sightings confirmed.”
“How has the investigation into the odd activity around his club been
going, Petty Officer Salek?”
“As you know we picked up holofootage of a group of known Rixx underlings
heading towards the promenade the other day. Three of them have since been
seen in and around the Bolian’s headquarters with clear signs of physical
trauma. The fourth is still missing. We have had no success in determining
where that one could be. All we know is that these men were last seen
entering a Mr. Tee’s shop on the Promenade…”
Eishnala nodded, “And you have talked with the owner concerning them?”
The Vulcan thought for a moment before he continued speaking, “Yes, Ma’am.
He claims that they were looking for an ornate gift box for one of their
fathers. He had to inform them that was not his store’s specialty. I must
admit that while the story sounds far fetched considering the
circumstances, he displayed none of the common signs humans do when they
are lying.”
“So you believe him?”
“I do not have enough evidence to determine my beliefs on the matter,”
Salek said simply.
Lieutenant Kor didn’t need any more evidence to find that story highly
implausible, but her people did need evidence to figure out just what
untoward things had been occurring between Rixx’s people and Promenade
shopkeepers. “Your last reports indicate that the three who have
resurfaced showed clear signs of having undergone impromptu medical
treatment.”
“Aye, Sir.”
“Perhaps you should go talk with people who specialize…in these sorts of
cases.”
Salek raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Lieutenat, the concept of
Doctor-Patient confidentiality would preclude them from being able to talk
with me,” he reminded.
The azure officer shook her head, “Only if they are a licenced medical
practioner. By the sounds of things, who ever the people saw doesn’t have
that legal protection. It was probably even questionably illegal for them
to help Rixx’s people. Use that fact as a negotiating point.”
Ensign Mason than looked at the rest of her meeting agenda notes and
added, “We still have yet to receive a call from Medical concerning the
Changeling.”
“Who feels liasoning with the doctors today?” Chief Kor asked, searching
for volunteers as she knew that her past disagreement with the head of
that department made the Andorian woman a bad candidate.
-=(^)=-
Scene: Chief Kor’s Office
The head of security sat reviewing the all of the surveillance footage
they had for the Rixx case, including the odd occurrence, what ever it
was, with his people and the owner of Impulse Drives. The chime at her
door sounded. Eishnala wondered why they had selected such…a musical
method of informing people of visitors. The choice did not really ring
true as something an engineer sitting at Utopia Planitia would have come
up. **They must have done surveys and studies about what is informative
but not startling,** the cerulean female thought to herself. “Come.”
Ariel walked in.
**Or is she running?**
“Chief, you’d better turn on your station FedComm channel,” the ensign
said quickly, confirming Eishnala’s suspicion that woman had run to her
office, rather than walked.
“Oh, something interesting?”
Ariel shrugged, “I bet you’ll think so.” She then had the computer display
the current broadcast.
A very familiar Bolian man, dressed a lot more sedately than was his
custom stood in front of a group of reporters and a crowd of others on the
station. Some looked like they wanted to be there. A few did not look
quite as enthusiastic and the Chief had her suspicions as to why. In the
corner of the screen, unbeknown to the person operating the recording
device two bruised but still menacing Rixx henchmen stood fingering
something out of view. The people who looked particularly uncomfortable
were a few of the Promenade’s leading business figures known for running a
bit more of an honest shop than the type Zane specialized. It looked like
the Bolian was trying to convince the rest of the station that he had the
support of some of these leading men and women.
{{…and that is why I am pleased to announce that I am forming an
exploratory committee regarding my potential candidacy for the leader of
this fine station,}} Rixx continued with his speech. It was fairly clear
that the Sec/Tac and her assistant had only caught the tail end of this
speech.
“That Indarian toad spawn is actually thinking of running?” Eishnala asked
incredulously.
Ariel nodded. “I caught a little more when he was deriding the
former-Ambassador as being a pawn of military dictatorship that intended
to continue even after the transition into ‘civilian’ hands.”
“That’s ridiculous. People are smarter than that.”
The Ensign shook her head. “I don’t know about that. This provisional
military council has left a lot of people very uncomfortable. I mean there
was talk of martial law *before* the secession. Now it looks like a right
old conspiracy if spun a certain way.”
“You mean the way Rixx is spinning it? Well, it doesn’t matter. He’s still
wanted for murder and host of other charges. That should definitely impede
his candidacy. I think I’ll pay him a friendly visit,” Eishnala said as
she stood up.
A reporter in the background pointed mini microphone at Rixx and asked,
{{Some people are asking if you are Bolian enough for the job? What would
you respond to that claim?}} The woman flipped her hair as she smiled at
the newest candidate.
**Always nice to meet an ethical reporter,** Lieutenant Kor thought before
she added sarcastically, “Who would be asking that? He’s been in hiding
until now and *just* announced he was running. Besides, how big a Bolian
constituency is there on this station?”
“You’d be surprised.”
-=(^)=-
Scene: Campaign Headquarters
The head of Security strode toward her target, the rotund Bolian man small
talking with a new group of campaign workers. A hand caught her wrist
lightly, stopping the woman. Eishnala looked to see who was trying to
impede her from doing her job. A Deltan face she fuzzily recognized.
**Rixx’s lawyer**. “Look, your client or candidate is under arrest for
murder, attempted murder, and obstruction,” the Andorian said loudly
enough for the staff members in the room to all turn towards her. She kept
her gaze on the Bolian, but an antenna tracked towards the man who had
grabbed her.
Rixx walked over to join his lawyer and his accuser. In a loud voice and
with a smug look on his face he announced to the room, “See, I told you
these former Starfleet types would do anything to make sure their favored
candidate wins. Free and fair elections, I think not.”
Someone in a corner shouted, “Free and Fair,” and a few others mimed him.
Eishnala crossed her arms over her chest and stated incredulously “I
arrested you for the same crimes, before your election bid, Mr. Rixx. That
pesky little fact weakens your election tampering argument just a little
bit, don’t you think. I mean even the Prophets couldn’t tamper with an
election that no one knew was going to take place,” though the Prophets
probably could have done just that, but not in the silence they had
retreated into.
Rixx’s Deltan lawyer smiled and with a self-satisfied voice pointed out,
“That’s just it though, isn’t it. You arrested him *earlier*. The
situation has changed. We no longer belong to the Federation. It’s even my
understanding that you were present at the decision to secede. Now perhaps
we should step into Mr. Rixx’s private office, the three of us, to discuss
this more privately?” He asked the last part while directing her to the
office and gently rubbing his thumb on her forearm where he had grasped
hold of the Sec/Tac. She could have easily broken free from his grasp if
physical force were the only thing at play, but like all non-Starfleet
Deltans, he had another card up his highly tailored sleeve.
While they walked into the room and before he shut the door so the
conversation between the three of them would be a little more
confidential, she asked stubbornly, “Your point…Mr…” While the Andorian
woman’s tone remained combative, it was a little less so since the lawyer
had touched her.
“I’m Mr. Rixx’s lawyer. We’ve already met. I was attached to the Bonviva
case,” he said simply, dropping her arm simultaneously.
Eishnala had recognized, but the part of her brain that hadn’t begun to
become fuzzy wanted to display what she thought of his. “Yes…of course…”
The Chief than placed a hand on her hip and opined, “But you still haven’t
demonstrated your point counselor.”
The Deltan man tugged a little on his sleeve that had become maladjusted
through coercing the woman into the office, “I would think that was self
evident. Since we are no longer a Federation satellite, Federation law no
longer applies. You can’t arrest Mr. Rixx for those alleged crimes now.”
Lieutenant Kor shook her head, “I actually consulted our own legal counsel
before deciding to pay you lot a visit. I’m informed that the vast
majority of societies condemn murder. Which, if I understand correctly,”
her tone left no doubt that she indeed did, “…your client committed a
series of acts in violation of common law which applies regardless of
which banner we’re under. So, I’m afraid you’re client is going to have
cut his campaign short. Or end his exploratory committee.”
The laywer snorted a little at the fact that she didn’t seem to get his
point, “You misunderstand me.” He than flashed her the smile that had made
him one of the most successful trial lawyers in three sectors,
“Hypothetically, even if my client were guilty of a common law violation,
*you* don’t have the authority to re-arrest him.”
“Excuse me,” Eishnala said. A touch of anger laced her voice as the effect
of his touch began to wear off.
“You see its that uniform you were. While Starfleet plays a role a little
outside the bounds of a traditional military within the Federation, you’re
no longer Starfleet. You now belong to some sort of provisional military
authority until a formal government can be set up, and as your commander
has made painfully clear, he’s not prepared to initiate martial law. If
*citizen* Rixx were a member of the military, he’d be under your
jurisdiction, but as we all know he is not since Captain Kane hasn’t give
such an order,” the lawyer developed his legal loophole almost as well as
he could manipulate a jury. He needed both skills to have the record he
did become even a Deltan male never knew for certain what sort of judge
would take his cases. It also shielded him from the very serious
allegation of jury tampering. The few times someone, usually a losing
prosecutor, had made that allegation he was easily able to point to his
often successful legal motions and flawless briefs.
Lieutenant Kor shook her head and tried to make her 5’11” stature seem
even more imposing to psychologically bolster her argument. Yet it was a
technique that was unlikely to work on two seasoned specialist at
intimidation. “He’s clearly under my jurisdiction; there’s no civilian
legal authority on the station if we employ your definition.”
Rixx smiled this time. It did not have that same self-assured quality that
his Deltan friend’s did. “Shame about that isn’t it. Something my campaign
will have to look into I fear,” he noted making it painfully clear to the
Andorian woman that he neither saw it as a shame nor intended to do
anything in the event he one the election. It would be a field day, and
everyone who knew anything about his business dealings was fully aware of
that fact.
The lawyer spun his client’s words in an attempt to make Zane not sound
quite as self-satisfied as all three knew he was. “As my client points
out, it is an unfortunate oversight but one that you cannot single
handedly rectify. Now, I’ll escort you out.”
“I can find my own way,” Eishnala said as opened the door that the
crimelord turned candidate had shut behind her. She started to head as
prominently as she could for the gaggle of reports that hung around the
front entrance of his new campaign quarters.
Screwing up his overly expensive suit for the second time since the
Station’s resident police chief had entered the office, he gripped her arm
again, forcefully but not unbearably tightly. Pain had a tendency to make
a target less receptive to his phermamons. Before speaking, he thought
that perhaps he should get a second paycheck as a strongman on Mr. Rixx’s
staff, “I really must insist.”
“It would be in your own best interest if you removed your hand this
instant. I’d hate to see it accidently dislocated since there’s *no*
justice system on this Shunta,” the woman said, though it was difficult to
make lavender eyes seem particularly menacing. She had always been better
at intimidation that relied on calm and collectiveness; Eishnala had
always specialized in the sort of methods that made someone belief their
situation could continue in perpetuity and it was that fact more than any
other that drove people to speak on the occasions when they did. There was
a logical reason for being better at that skill: being accused of abusing
a suspect ruined any possibility for successful prosecution without an
associated cover-up.
The Deltan flashed his unusually white teeth again. Their flat nature gave
the smile a look that was anything but predatory. “I don’t see why.” He
then gently drew the back of his other hand along her tensed forearm and
watched her noticeably relax. His smile widened a little more, but this
time for his own benefit. He loved the way his pheromones could affect
these sorts of situations. “We still have a few more things to discuss” he
added as he removed the hand and drew a tress of shockingly white yet
surprisingly silky hair from her eyes. The deltan noticed her breathing
slow and a hint of slightly darker blue blossom a little over her neck.
**Too easy,** he thought to himself before he dropped her hand completely,
sufficiently satisfied that she would no longer take a B-line for the
reporters. “Considering you can’t actually arrest him, it would look a
little childish and highly manipulative if you actually talked the press
about any of these incidents, don’t you think?” He added a touch of logic
to his chemical persuasion.
Chief Kor’s mind began to become fuzzy again as she absently answered his
question, “I think I see your point.”
“Excellent. Now if they talk to you maybe it would be best to simply say
that your department was in consultation with Mr.Rixx and his staff. He’s
been fully cooperative, don’t you think?”
“I could see your point,” the Andorian repeated as hint of deep Autumn
afternoon blue spread up an antenna. “It has always been very agreeable to
talk with the both of you,” she added with polite formality that reflected
fake emotions.
The dark haired man smiled again, this time with a hint of true
genuineness, but only a *hint*. “I’m so glad you think so. We’ve certainly
found the conversations…” he stopped mid-sentence and looked at her for a
moment before drawing a finger delicately down the small exposed portion
of her neck. The slightly darker cerulean turned a shade of indigo where
he had touched her. “…stimulating.”
-=(^)=-
Katrina Browne kbrowne [at] wellesley [dot] edu
Lieutenant Eishnala Kor
Chief of Security
GS-2
From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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