What About Mauricio?
Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 1:30am by Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Eiri Ashshy Ph.D
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:23pm
Mission:
Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 17 - Security Office
Timeline: After "Sans Guitar"
A Mission Post by Lieutenant Cailus Griffin & Lieutenant Eiri Ashshy Dr.
Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 17 - Security Office
Timeline: After "Sans Guitar"
Date: Wed Dec 12th, 2018 @ 12:49am
ON:
Dr. Eiri Ashshy made his way to the Security Office. It was still strange to think of himself as Dr. Eiri Ashshy. He certainly didn't set out to be a ship's doctor. He had all the proper degrees and training, but he had always thought of himself as more of a scientist, even though he had spent most of his career as a counselor. He wasn't totally familiar with the location of the security office. Medical deck was on six, but according to the ship's layout, security was all the way down to deck 17, which Eiri had yet to go to.
He accidently stepped off the turbolift at deck 16 and had to get back on, but once he was on deck 17 he had no trouble finding the office he needed. He really only had one thing on his mind. Mauricio. He had plans to speak to the man's commanding officer as well, but he thought he would start with the shrewd mind of a man that had spent time in the actual bubble with the young marine.
Eiri entered the main area of the security and tactical department. There were actually quite a few more people in the area then he expected. The desks were arranged in a horseshoe fashion around the room and there was a practice mat in the middle of them. Several people in security yellow looked up when he entered the room. The doors whooshed shut behind him. "I am looking for Lieutenant Grifin," he said to the room.
A young man pointed out Cailus' office. "You'll want that office, Sir."
"Thank you," Eiri said politely and nodded and walked his way across the room to the office suggested and tapped the door buzzer.
In his office, the security chief was mired in a morass of paperwork with no end in sight. Lieutenant Sandoval's staff was handling most of the legal gobbledegook that came with liberty aboard an alien station, but there was still enough left over to give Cailus a headache. Even bizarre tiny things, such as the station's strict prohibition on certain kinds of chilli, required an exhaustive search of the Federation culinary database cross-referenced with the Pandora's crew manifest and cargo inventory to ensure that some unfortunate crewman wouldn't be charged with being an accidental chilli smuggler. Which, since it was technically a matter of criminal law, apparently fell under the jurisdiction of the security chief thanks to the whim of the long-dead Federation bureaucrat who had penned the regulation.
The headache, therefore, was rather infuriating in nature.
Thus, when Cailus' chime rang, he was rather relieved for the break from the monotony, getting to his feet. "Enter!" he said, and upon seeing the newly minted CMO, Cailus frowned, plainly surprised to see Eiri. "Doctor Ashshy. What can I do for you?"
Eiri looked around Cailus' office and nodded as if he was satisfied. "If you have a moment, Lieutenant, I would like to speak with you about Mauricio." He tucked his hands behind his back and gazed, expressionless at Cailus.
"Lieutenant Arnaldo," Cailus said with a heavy sigh. He gestured at one of the seats across from him as he sat back down. "Take a seat, Doctor, please, and explain."
Eiri looked at the chair that was offered and then took a seat stiffly. "I asked him to come to the infirmary so that I could look at his progression." His eyes roamed the room again, coming to rest briefly on the replicator and then back at Cailus. "The First Lieutenant does not show any signs of physical damage to his body or brain, but he is definitely still suffering the effects of being in the bubble. I would qualify his reactions as post-traumatic stress, but I am concerned." He sat forward in the chair until he could put his feet flat on the ground and look at Cailus across the desk. He didn't really ask a question, but he was hoping that Cailus would perhaps offer an opinion.
For his part, Cailus was as impassive as ever. "I am not certain how I can help," he said, frowning once more in concern. "Arnaldo was only in the Bubble for a month before he died. Lieutenant Vecon knew him better than anyone else during that period, and witnessed his death when our forcefields on Deck 3 began to collapse. How can my expertise assist you in this matter?"
"I am not certain, but you are a man of combat and have seen the effects it can have on people. You also understand training for combat situations. I do not think that the First Lieutenant is wholly truthful about his current state and I am afraid that our current counselor may also be in no shape to help him. Because of his training, I am afraid that he has the potential to be dangerous. I dropped a glass during his exam. I did it on purpose to... how do you say... test his mettle? He did not pass."
Cailus nodded, his gaze as severe as could be. "I suspect that I know what troubles him, Doctor. In truth, I have suspected since Arnaldo started sleeping in the Brig. I have tried to talk to him about it, but I am not the friendliest of people for such a conversation." He paused, clearly uncomfortable. "He saw the abyss, Doctor. And it frightened him more than anything else in this universe could, more than most people can understand."
One of Eiri's Vulcan eyebrows lifted slowly. "The abyss, Lieutenant?"
Realising that more explanation was needed, Cailus reluctantly continued, his words heavy with the weight of memory. "Arnaldo was exposed to the vacuum outside the hull immediately before his death. He saw and experienced an absolute totality of emptiness in a way that very few people ever experience. Simply looking out a viewport or doing a spacewalk are entirely different to truly comprehending what space really is. It's cold, it's dead, it's infinite, and it leaves a mark on anyone who bears witness to it. Arnaldo sleeps in the Brig because it's the most secure part of the ship, heavily guarded by security officers with no view of outside the ship."
Cailus hesitated before continuing with his haunted tone. "I can only speak from my own frame of my reference, but in my experience, seeing that kind of infinite void completely warps a person's sense of reality. They could feel cold. Constantly frightened and agoraphobic. Paranoid. Their sense of personal safety and security is completely destroyed. The two other people I know who witnessed this had to retire from Starfleet and live on Vulcan permanently. I do not believe that they will ever travel through space again, nor would I blame them for such. Lieutenant Arnaldo may face a similar fate."
"Ah," Eiri said, as if this made it all make sense. He nodded curtly, his face still expressionless. "Your description seems accurate as far as his security being destroyed, which is why he is in the brig. I feel like the brig might be an appropriate place for him. I am concerned that his training might lead to someone getting hurt, including Mauricio. I am reluctant to base any opinions on Lieutenant Vecon's observations because their relationship was more intimate. Not that I do not think the Lieutenant does not have worthwhile information, but intimacy is different and I need to know how he will be around everyone. Did you see anything about him in the bubble that would indicate that he was unstable before he died?"
“No,” Cailus said firmly, shaking his head. “Arnaldo is a good Marine. Professional, smart and tough. I would’ve trusted him on my flank without question. He was adapting as well as anyone during those first few weeks, perhaps better than most.” Then the security chief’s eyes turned steely and cold. “Doctor, if Lieutenant Arnaldo is a serious threat to himself or others, I need to know. i have restricted his access to weapons and my personnel are under orders to treat him with care. Are more precautions required until he can be transferred to a starbase?”
"As a medical professional," Eiri started. "I would definitely be of the opinion that all of those measures should continue. I worry though, that if he is startled or stressed or if he were to actually feel threatened, he could very much be a danger to himself or others. It is a very real possibility." He tipped his head to one side, lifting his chin a little. "If I were still a counselor I might suggest some way to monitor his activity and potentially restrict his freedoms." He paused again. "It is very difficult to predict human reactions. Logic dictates action and reaction, but humans often experience reactions that are disproportionate to the action."
That prompted an amused grunt from Cailus, the sober man relaxing fractionally. "Not just humans, I'm afraid. Few species are as enlightened as Vulcans. In any event, Counselor, we are in full agreement. I will have the computer maintain continuous monitoring of Lieutenant Arnaldo's whereabouts and lifesigns in addition to the other measures."
Then he stopped, frowning at a private realisation. "Counselor, I have been in Lieutenant Arnaldo's position exactly. I have been the subject of similar cautionary restrictions, both while in the custody of the Romulans and then by Starfleet. However you treat him, I urge you to be compassionate and direct. Help the man find some joy, something to smile and laugh about. I cannot stress enough how much such a thing can help given his current circumstances."
Eiri nodded in agreement. "I understand the importance of such things. Lieutenant. Just because Vulcan's are logical does not mean they do not experience joy. I wanted to ask you, is the First Lieutenant still considered active duty?" Eiri scooted to the edge of his seat, almost perched in the chair.
"No, of course not," Cailus replied, frowning in confusion. "Arnaldo has been on indefinite medical leave pending your authorisation, Doctor. If you're asking about his career, then that will depend on how he responds to treatment. If, after we get him back to Federation space and a proper facility, he is still unable to return to duty, then he will given an honourable discharge from the Marine Corps. If he recovers, however, I expect that the Corps would transfer him to a groundside regiment rather than an elite detached posting onboard a starship. Arnaldo's career in Spec Ops is almost certainly over, but he can still continue his service as a Marine. He could even become a general some day should he choose to pursue high rank."
Eiri nodded again. "I think those are good options. I am hopeful that the First Lieutenant will make a recovery, but we are not off on a good... foot? Start? I think you understand what I mean. The fact that he is willing to conceal his "condition" behind a sense of good will is worrisome to me, Lieutenant. I am glad that I can come talk to you like this. I am not certain that our current counselor is in any condition to diagnose him." Eiri stood and tucked his hands behind his back. "Do you have any questions?"
Standing as well, Cailus shook his head. "No, Doctor. If you need my perspective again, feel free to seek me out. Regardless, take good care of Arnaldo. He deserves it, and he's a good Marine."
"I do not disagree, but I wish to remain cautious for now. I will do what I can. Unfortunately, I am not the only one responsible for his treatment. There is also his own commanding officer to take into consideration. Thank you very much for your insight." Eiri bowed a little. "I will return to my duties."
"Very well," Cailus said, his formal tone matching Eiri's as he made a mental note to spend more time with the man. With exuberant friends like Nyx and Mindo, not to mention Shae's natural warmth and Aoife's youthful happiness, it was occasionally good to spend time with someone who was more cool in their manner. "Have a good day, Doctor."
OFF
