Caught in the Act

Posted on Sun Jun 21st, 2020 @ 5:27am by Cailus Griffin
Edited on on Tue Jul 7th, 2020 @ 1:38pm

Mission: Into the Wild
Location: Katniss' Quarters
Timeline: After "Purging Emotion"

A Mission Post by Lieutenant Katniss Wakefield & Lieutenant JG Cailus Griffin
Mission: Into The Wild
Location: Katniss' Quarters
Timeline: After "Purging Emotion"
Tue Aug 1st, 2017 @ 5:14pm


On Deck 17, in the so-called "Security Division", the Pandora's Security Chief arrived. The large central room was surrounded by monitors and displays, with a large horseshoe-shaped arrangement of desks circling around the room, full as always with yellow-shirted security and tactical officers. Most of them worked at desks, idly talking to their fellows, and save for the phasers on their hips, it looked just like countless other Starfleet offices in the Federation.

It was the middle of the afternoon shift and one young woman, a stunningly attractive Vulcan ensign with long, dark hair and a curvy figure, noticed the entrance of her department chief. She didn't hesitate to stand up and walk directly to Lieutenant Griffin as he passed through, silently demanding his attention without preamble. Such behaviour wasn't exclusive to her Vulcan sensibilities. While Griffin had a disturbing tendency of intimidating his subordinates, often working them to the bone during training and drills, he nevertheless insisted that everyone feel comfortable with approaching him, even if for trivial or unimportant reasons. The contradiction had confused everyone at first, but over time, the department had gotten used to it.

"Lieutenant, sir," the ensign said in greeting, a PADD in hand. "You wished to be informed of anomalous computer activity with potential relevance to ship security or crew safety. I believe this would qualify, sir."

The Security Chief took the PADD, skimming it rapidly. "Lieutenant Wakefield disengaged the holodeck safety protocols," he said quietly, matching her Vulcan neutrality with his own. "This isn't unprecedented. I've seen people do that before. It's idiotic, but not under our purview. Why are you concerned?"

The ensign met his stony look without flinching. "Sir, the holodeck program was an adaptive combat simulation with an escalating threat level. Furthermore, the internal holodeck sensors registered a serious health alarm. By regulation, I am unable to access the precise medical scan without approval from Doctor Adaestron."

Lieutenant Griffin considered for a moment before nodding curtly. "Very well, Ensign, good work. Dismissed."

With that, he turned and left, having decided that this was something that had to be dealt with.

Katniss was sat on her sofa with her feet curled up, classical music gently filled her quarters as it played in the background. Her attention though was firmly fixed on an old leather bound book which was rested gently on her lap. This book was special, it was from her father and was a first edition. If money still played a part in the Federation, Katniss would be rich beyond her wildest dreams.

Then suddenly her trail of thought was interrupted by the door chime. "It's open," she called out.

She waited for the doors to open, before peering over the edge of her glasses to see who it was disturbing her. But she really wasn't familiar with the male stood before her, she did however note the colour of his uniform. 'That didn't take them long' she thought to herself.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Lieutenant...?" Katniss asked.

"Griffin, ma'am, Chief of Security," Cailus said simply, hands clasped behind his back.. He was surprised that Wakefield didn't recognise him, but then again, she did seem somewhat unfocused, and they had only met once before. "You may remember that I helped you with some security equipment for your laboratory."

Katniss smiled "That you did Lieutenant, I won't waste both our times." Katniss said slowly taking off her glasses and closing the book, "It's about me using the holodeck without the safety protocols, isn't it?" looking directly at Cailus and trying to throw him off guard.

"Yes ma'am," Cailus replied, Katniss' directness not affecting him in the slightest. "May I come in?"

"Of course, may I get you anything, tea? coffee?" she asked as she waited to play his game.

Stepping inside, Cailus waited for the doors to close behind him. He was tempted to say no, but he realised that if experience had taught him anything, it was that friendliness would yield more than hostility.

"Tea, please, if you would," he said formally.

"Of course," she replied getting up from the sofa and walking over to her kitchenette. Katniss didn't like the replicated stuff and lucikly for Cailus she had put a pot on just before she settled on the sofa. "Cream and sugar?" she asked as she prepared her cup to her specifications.

There was a tense formality in the air as Cailus sat in a chair opposite the sofa, his back ramrod straight even while sitting. "Just cream, thank you," he said in reply, waiting patiently as he organised his argument.

With that gently poured in the cream and stirred it gently before up both cups, one in each hand. She slowly walked back to him and handed him the cup in her right hand. "So, the holodeck. I'm sorry, I didn't think I'd breached any protocols," she said as she took a sip of her tea while sitting back down.

Cailus held his tea in both hands, peering at her intently. It was strange how friendly and welcoming Wakefield was given how isolated she'd been since they'd left spacedock, but he decided to simply accept it. "Strictly speaking, no, you didn't," he said quietly. "I'm here out of professional concern, Lieutenant, that is all. The holodeck registered that you suffered some form of injury or injuries after you deactivated the safety protocols. May I ask why you decided to engage in a combat simulation without the appropriate safety precautions?"

"You should know yourself, Lieutenant, you can't fear for your life knowing fine well that the safety protocols will prevent any major harm. It just isn't the same," she replied before taking another sip of her tea. "I certainly appreciate your concern, but you said yourself, you are the Chief of Security, not the ships counsellor or medical officer, and as you can see with your own eyes, I'm fit and well." she didn't want to rub him up the wrong way, but Katniss always like to be to the point, she was an adult after all.

Cailus didn't react in the slightest, his mind working fast as he analysed her words and posture. "Do you have a particular proclivity for close quarters combat?" he asked quietly, continuing to look at Katniss without looking away, even as he sipped his tea. "Advanced training beyond the basic CQB course at the Academy, for instance?"

Katniss raised an eyebrow "Actually, I do." she said again taking a sip of her tea. "It all stems from when I was a young cadet, not a care in the world, engaged to marry, 36 weeks pregnant ready to give birth any day, walking home when bang, caught right in the middle of a situation I shouldn't have been, wrong place wrong time. A scuffle followed, a fight, a blow to the stomach." she paused looking him straight in eyes. "The next thing, I was bleeding, semi-unconscious, ringing in my ear then, suddenly I was a hospital, I'd given birth to a daughter, but she had suffered injuries during the fight, my little girl clung on for life but sadly a few months later she passed away..." Katniss's grip began to tighten around the cup, but she maintained her composure. "So yes Lieutenant, I have a proclivity for close quartered combat, I vowed I'd learn to defend myself and basic training just doesn't cut it, it doesn't give you that life of death situation." With that, she placed her cup down on the small table in front of her. "Biscuit?" she asked.

Cailus listened to Katniss' story calmly, patiently, occasionally sipping his tea. He was still as cold as ever as he considered her. "No, thank you," he said evenly without a trace of emotion. "Lieutenant, you were quite correct earlier. I am not your counselor, or your doctor, or your superior officer. I am, however, most likely the only person on this ship who understands what you are going through." His voice adopted a harsh, ruthless edge, and his pale blue eyes pierced right through her. "You are not fit or well, Lieutenant Wakefield. I know this because, a few months ago, I was more or less the same, and I refuse to allow you to continue down this path. The next time you go onto that holodeck, you might be a little too late to block a knife, and we'll have our first shipboard death."

"Again, I appreciate your concern Lieutenant, but I am both fit and well. Sometimes, I darkness I keep buried and suppressed just comes to the surface and I can't control it, the holodeck is the only way I know how to get it back under control and unless I have broken any protocol then I consider this poking your nose where it does not belong."

"Perhaps," Cailus answered with a shrug, still seeming quite placid despite Katniss' subtle hint to back off. "Regardless, Lieutenant, I'm here, and I'm going to offer you a compromise. The next time you feel the need to hit something, call me. Regardless of the time, day or night, I am prepared to accommodate you with an individual CQB sparring session, in private. If I am not available, I will ensure that one of the CQB specialists in my department will be. You can take out your frustrations as much as you like in a safe manner under professional supervision. You can scream and punch to your heart's content."

Katniss contemplated for a moment, the holodeck was certainly more private and she wasn't going to hurt anyone other than herself. "I shall consider it, but I wouldn't want to hurt you." she said with a slight smile "at least in the holodeck I only hurt myself."

He didn't smile, but there was a certain gentle amusement in the way that Cailus raised his eyebrows. "Lieutenant," he said as he sipped his tea, "with all due respect to your training, if you're able to hurt me, then I have a very serious problem. Rest assured, we'll be fine. In any case, as I recall, you are a doctor of medicine."

Katniss nodded, that she was. She had treated her own injuries many times before. "I shall consider your request Lieutenant," she said placing her cup down as she finished the last mouthful. "Anything else I can help you with?" signalling that her patience was wearing thin, after all he had disturbed her just as her book was getting interesting.

Cailus hesitated, wondering whether he should push the issue further, but reluctantly decided against it. He wasn't a personable man after all, even after spending so many years married to Harriet and acting as her arm candy at endless political functions. In all likelihood, pushing her further would be counterproductive. Instead he stood, placing his teacup and saucer gently on the table, before giving Katniss a piercing look.

"Nothing, Lieutenant, thank you," he said evenly. "I'll make the necessary arrangements for our sparring sessions, should you find a need. Regardless, I hope that you do not try those programs without the safety protocols again. If you truly wish to refine your skills, you can do that best under professional supervision." He took a couple of steps towards the door before looking back at her, frowning. "Take my word for it, Lieutenant. That momentary thrill of risking your life...it's a temporary measure at best. It doesn't do a damned thing for the real pain."

Katniss made a dismissed gesture with her hand, flicking it back and forth twice. She had a tendency to do that with junior crew when she didn’t want to be disturbed or speak, he had made his point, but this was her domain, her home.

Concealing his concern at her attitude behind an impassive mask, Cailus nodded curtly and left, the doors closing behind him with their usual quiet whish.