One Jump Ahead

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 1:14am by Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith & Katya
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:22pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Outpost

A Mission Post by Katya & Lieutenant Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Outpost
Timeline:
Sat Nov 17th, 2018 @ 4:52am

ON:

Once the small group of Pandora officers had left the meeting room, they were quickly hustled back into a waiting cube by the silver-helmeted Guard. The cube descended further into the station, with an internal narrator giving the guests a summary of each level as they passed. The Market Place, Hotel suites, Pleasure Centre, Entertainment. This made the Pandora's Rec Deck seem subtle in comparison. There were then a series of crew decks, offices, and "Restricted" levels, before they finally arrived at what was possibly the very last level of the station - Security. It certainly felt like they were at the lowest part of Paradise.

Krysia was astounded at just how far they seemed to have dropped. Not entirely sure whether she was comfortable with being so far away from the rest of the away party she did her best not to show it.

As the cube doors parted, two Guards were standing at the ready. They appeared identical to the Guard on the Atrium level, and identical to each other. One stepped forward. "Clearance granted. Your weapons are non functional?" Their voice was computerised as well.

The two Starfleet security officers assigned to Krysia's protection, both immaculate in their grey-and-gold uniforms, glanced at each other with shared unease. "Yes, our phasers were deactivated by your security systems when we boarded," one of them said, plainly uncomfortable.

The two guards gave a sort-of nod, which was hard to interpret with their shiny, round silver helmets. "Follow." The other said, before they both turned on their heels and walked down the corridor. This level was similarly decorated to the meeting room with plain white walls and a large silver circle every few metres. Each circle had a small plaque underneath with markings in a cryptic language. The corridor was brightly lit but absolutely empty. Not a sound could be heard down here.

The silence was almost deafening in its own way, Krysia was grateful for her senses, as they were picking up on those within Paradise making it feel a lot less quiet for her. She doubted there’d be a quick way out of here if one was needed given the distance between the levels. “May I ask what it is I’m required to do?”

"Here." One Guard said as they stopped in front of a section of wall. They raised their hands up in front of the silver circle and suddenly it turned into a video screen, showing what appeared to be a small cell on the other side. It was a brightly lit white room with a single occupant sitting on the ground, looking very dejected. He was an alien humanoid, with scaled skin of a burnt orange colour. His clothes were shabby and dirty, like he'd been wearing them for some time. He was sitting with his head resting on his legs, as if trying to shut out the bright lights of the cell.

"He was caught in possession with a single item of level-three merchandise, without corresponding proof of purchase." The Guard said. "Normally this would incur banishment or lasting punishment. However, he has two alibis that will attest that the merchandise was discarded, reducing the charge to misdemeanour misuse of refuse."

“I see” Krysia nodded. “So you need me to tell whether or not he himself or those providing the alibi’s are telling the truth.” She looked at the screen. “If I may ask how long has he been kept prisoner here?”

"He has been here the minimum required time for an investigation." One Guard said unhelpfully. "His appearance is... his own choice."

"The alibis are unreliable. We cannot take the word of children." The other Guard continued. "Our surveillance has proven inconclusive on the moment of possession of the merchandise. We can only ascertain their consumption of the merchandise, which none of them deny."

“You said Children?” Krysia looked at the guard. “I take it they are not in one of these cells are they?” She looked at the guard. Just the mention of children struck a chord with her.

"They are not your concern." The Guard replied, his tone noticeably more severe. "Justice on Paradise is swift but it is reasonable. This is how we maintain law and order on the station. You will interview the suspect and determine his guilt."

Krysia sighed and nodded. “Very well. Take me to him and I’ll do what I can.”

The Guard waved his hand in front of the circle again, and suddenly the alien jumped up, now able to see the group that had been looking inside at him. The silver circle had changed from a one-way screen to a direct video link to the cell. The alien banged on the wall and shouted something in an unrecognisable language. It took the Guard a moment to affix a translator to the words coming through, before stepping back and allowing Kaleri to approach.

"...will repay what it cost! Just don't banish me from the station!" He finished saying.

“Del’al, speak to this person.” The guard instructed.

“Human, you have to believe me. I not ever a thief!” Del’al cried. “I before worked at a tavern on six level until the Breen pushed us out of business. Now I survived on kindness and working odd jobs. I have never stole a thing! This is the truth!”

Krysia took a moment before introducing herself. “I’m Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri, from the Federation Starship Pandora. I’ve been asked to....interview you with regards your crime.” She looked at the man hoping he’d calm down long enough to at least get the full story from him. “From what I understand you’re accused of stealing food?”

“Yes, but I didn’t steal it!” Del’al protested again. “Nakog, that slimy Ferengi, stores his old produce in a ventilation space behind shop. That is where I find fruit. Nakog is just saying I stole it to hide the fact that he dumps his stock!”

“We found no crates of level three merchandise in the area.” A Guard interrupted.

“Because he moved them back!” The man cried. “He accused me of thief and while you were chasing me through station, Nakog moved the crates back to his shop to hide his own guilt!”

Krysia let her senses do their job. “I sense no dishonesty in what this man is saying, but I do get a sense that there’s more to the story.” She looked at him curiously. “The guards mentioned children, tell me about them. How do they fit into this.”

There was an obvious resign from Del’al, as he shook his head. “Leave the younglins alone! I took the fruit and gave it to them, they were starving!”

The thought of Children starving struck an emotional chord in Krysia but she did her best not to show it, it would be unprofessional of her to do so. “Now you’re telling me the whole truth.” She looked at the guard standing beside her. “Do these children not have anyone to provide for them?”

“The younglins are part of a secondary investigation that Del’al is refusing to comply with.” A Guard said, his tone displeased.

“I don’t know where they went, but I know you won’t find them!” Del’al replied with a sneer. “We are the outcasts of this station, forced to live in the shadows because of Katya’s servitude to -“

“Enough!” The Guard hissed, quickly waving his hand in front of the screen and shutting it off before the alien could finish his sentence.

“What is your testimony, Federation mind-reader?“ the other Guard stepped forward, getting closer to Kaleri.

“Give your evidence.” The first Guard stated. “Del’al is accused of thievery with a single item of level-three merchandise. Is he guilty?”

Krysia couldn’t lie as much as she wished she could. “Yes....but with extenuating circumstances!” She looked at the guard. “You didn’t let him complete his sentence either. He mentioned banishment from the station...if that is his punishment at least let me speak to my Captain about it. We can offer him safe passage from here aboard our ship!” She looked at the guards. There was obviousiy more going on here than Katya had let on, but given the security measures she couldn’t safely say anything to anyone until they were back aboard the Pandora.

“That’s not your concern.” The Guards both said at the same time. One continued, “You were asked to determine whether Del’al stole the merchandise from Nakog’s establishment or acquired it from the ventilation space.”

“I told you he admitted his guilt, I also said I sensed no deception when he told us about the ventilation system. In my opinion he got the food from the ventilation system as he admitted he had.” She looked at the guards. “Does that clear it up for you?”

The guards looked to each other and then back at Kaleri. “Yes. His crime will be reduced to a misdemeanour.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Came Katya’s voice from behind them. One of the circles had turned into a video link to her office. “It was a tricky situation that we needed clearing up.”

“So what will happen to him now?” Krysia looked at Katya. “I am understandably concerned about his welfare although I am glad that his crime is now being classed as a misdemeanour.”

“He will be handled delicately.” Katya replied, the smile never leaving her face. “We remain concerned about the younglins though. We’re afraid they were scared by the commotion and have gone missing somewhere in the station. It’s possible they could be hiding in amongst the automatic machinery without us knowing.”

Krysia couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to finding the children than it seemed, the guards had cut off the conversation with the prisoner when he was about to say something to her. “Is there anything I can do to help find them?” She looked at Katya. “I take it they won’t be charged with anything, being children?”

“No, we just want to find them.” Katya replied. “Do you think you would be able to use your abilities to locate them?”

Krysia hoped she wasn’t making a mistake but nodded anyway. “I can try. How many of them are there? Are they young children?” She looked at Katya, hoping she wasn’t letting her pregnancy and it’s related hormones, draw her into something that she really shouldn’t get involved with.

“We don’t have a lot of details on them. It is possible they were abandoned. But we’ll give you everything we have on your way back up” Katya said firmly. “They were last spotted on the Marketplace level. If you and your security team are willing, you could walk around and see if you... pick them up?”

Krysia nodded. “I can only try.” She smiled relieved to be leaving the lower levels. “If you could inform me when the Irokar arrive, I will be needed to return to my diplomatic duties when they get here.” She looked at her security detail glad she had their company and wasn’t on her own.

OFF