So, About Your Dead Boyfriend...

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 2:57am by Cailus Griffin & Sasha Vieers (Deceased)
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:42pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Deck 5 - Pandora's Box
Timeline: Current

Sasha Vieers cast a lonely figure in the Pandora’ Box restaurant, staring off into nothing as she sat alone at a table in the corner. In front of her was a bowl of miso soup, stone cold but barely touched by the Ensign. She had ordered it in the hopes of eating but her mind had wondered into a deep chasm and the meal had long been forgotten.

It was a relatively quiet time of day, but even so, when the Chief of Security strolled into the Box still armed with his phaser, he attracted more than a few strange looks. The sidearm indicated that the gruff man was still on duty, and as an unofficial rule, security officers on duty didn't go to the Box. The establishment, part bar and part restaurant, was a refuge, a place to unwind and interact socially with others. The always stern presence of Lieutenant Griffin was an ominous indicator that something was amiss, and he made a beeline for the table where Sasha Vieers sat.

"Miss Vieers," he said after he reached her table, speaking with surprising gentleness.

There wasn’t an immediate recognition of the Lieutenant’s voice, she just blinked a little and gave a soft, “Hmm?” in response, without looking up.

Tolerating her discombobulation patiently, Cailus merely quirked an eyebrow. "I apologise for the intrusion, Miss Vieers, but time is in short supply. Can we talk?"

Sasha blinked when she saw who her company was and withdrew for a moment, before finally nodding. She had wanted to be alone with her sorrow, but she had also expected Griffin would pay her a visit eventually. Her heart beat a little faster in anticipation of the dreaded conversation to come. “Sit.” She replied hoarsely. “Don’t waste time on my account, Lieutenant, speak directly.”

The Security Chief considered Sasha as he sat down, his blue eyes focusing on her with his usual analytical focus. Even so, he paused. While many of the memories of their time in the bubble universe had begun, gradually, to fade, he and Sasha had nevertheless known each other for twenty seven years. They hadn't been friends, necessarily, but so many years had nevertheless forged a connection that persisted far beyond mere memory.

And so, quietly, with more compassion than usual, Cailus asked, "How are you handling this, Ensign?"

Sasha let out a long breath, finding her focus turning to her hands as she wrung them together, "It's like I'm in a fog, really. I keep trying to tell myself that Vic is gone, but it just doesn't sound real, you know? It feels like a lie." She looked up the Cailus. "Is it a lie?"

"No," Cailus answered quietly. "I'm sorry. Mister Sandoval is arranging for the return of his body for burial."

The Ensign let out a deep breath as she took in the news, closing her eyes for a few moments. She opened them again and sighed, "I feel so guilty." She confessed, looking down at her hands, "I was only really hanging out with Vic to make Dorian jealous. I thought he knew that. We were just having fun, nothing serious. But then he spends way too much on the Casino suite. It must have been fifty thousand credits! He wanted a relationship, started talking about having feelings." She shook her head, "The others, they don't understand. I lived an entire lifetime in the Bubble, I had a relationship with Dorian, only to wake up and find out all of that wasn't real? I'm still trying to get over that, still mourning that life I lost. I couldn't commit to him, or to anyone just yet."

Cailus nodded, listening patiently.

"I told him so and left the Casino." Sasha continued, her tone heavy, "It broke his heart, I'm sure of it. I guess because of me, he ended up getting mixed up in something else? I don't know where he went after I left, but I know it was my fault. If I had stayed with him, he would still be alive."

At that, Cailus didn't comment. Instead, he frowned. "And your headache?"

Sasha flinched at the question. 'Of all the things I just said, that's what he's concerned about?' She wondered, her brow furrowing. She knew Cailus could be officious to the point of being cold, but she had hoped for a better reaction. Shaking her head, Sasha said, "Fine, now. I had a nurse give me something. Actually, while I was in Sickbay, I heard that you have Dorian in custody in the Brig. Is that true, Lieutenant? Do you think he's... part of this?"

"I can't say," Cailus said cryptically. His earlier kind regard seemed to have vanished completely now as he glanced around them at the rest of the restaurant, although there was nobody within earshot of him and Sasha. A group of engineers walked in and initially made to sit near them before one of them realised what was happening and diverted elsewhere.

"Your report mentioned that you saw Ensign Rochester and Lieutenant Arnaldo as you boarded the station," he said finally, returning his intense gaze to Sasha. "Can you add anything else to your report? I wasn't aware that they were friends."

"The Bubble made friends of us all, didn't it?" Sasha replied drily. "I don't think they hang out, if that's what you mean. But even now, when you pass someone in the corridor, someone you experienced that with, you still have that little moment of... remembering." She bit her lip and looked around the room, before leaning in to the Lieutenant, "I know you won't say, but if Dorian was in custody, what if I went to see him? I could get him to talk. I mean, he'll probably lie to me, but at least now I can tell when he's doing it. I can let you know if he's hiding something."

Cailus simply shook his head. "That will not be possible, but thank you for the offer. I take it, then, that you and Lieutenant Vicuno shared a transport cube with Ensign Rochester and Lieutenant Arnaldo to the commercial area? Did they separate once they arrived there?"

"Yes and yes." Sasha replied diligently, "Vic and I went to the Casino. Dorian said he was going to let off some steam, and Mauricio was going to find his Marine buddies. That's the last I saw of them."

"I'm nearly done, Ensign," Cailus continued, his left hand resting palm down on the table, sitting straight. "And I apologise if this is insensitive, but I must ask. Did Lieutenant Vicuno have any possessions with him when you left the ship, or when you last saw him at the casino? We need to ensure that the items we found on the body are his rather than someone else's."

"Oh..." Sasha paused at the question, something she hadn't considered before. "Well yes. He had an overnight bag with him at the Casino. I can't imagine there would have been much but a change of clothes and toiletries. And his book. He always did like to read paper books." She smiled a little at that, eyes misting over, "He liked to find a quiet corner of the ship and read for hours while off-duty. He was halfway through a book called 'Giovanni’s Room', so that was probably in his bag." She cleared her throat, "Would the Casino still have it? Could we ask them to bring his bag over to the ship?"

"It's being looked into," Cailus said tersely. "My last question, Ensign. Do you have reason to suspect anyone in the murders of Lieutenant Vicuno and the Paradise guard? Anything at all that seemed suspicious in retrospect that may not have come to mind when you wrote your report?"

At this, Sasha sighed, "I don't want to say Dorian, I really don't. There's a part of me that still hopes he's just a misunderstood, sometimes jerk-of-a-guy and not a murderer. But Paradise seemed to bring out the worst in a few of us." She shook her head, "I couldn't say. If you let me speak to Dorian in the Brig, I could find out if he's hiding something or not. That's the only way I can say for sure it wasn't him."

Cailus frowned, considering Sasha for a long moment, his expression indecipherable. Finally he sighed, relenting. "Very well. It goes against my better judgement but it may help the investigation, and he is entitled to visitors. Mister Rochester has been relieved of duty and is currently confined to quarters pending the Captain's decision. I'll inform the guard that you are authorised to visit him at 2100 hours. If he tells you anything of substance, I expect you to notify me immediately, regardless of your feelings on the matter. Anything less will be considered dereliction of duty and, should Mister Rochester have committed a crime, conspiracy. Am I clear, Ensign?"

Sasha looked to Griffin with a slightly exasperated squint. "Yes." She said shortly, her tone betraying the annoyance she felt at being so distrusted by him. She was flustered at the way the Security Chief had been addressing her, but felt no choice by to comply. "Of course." She added quickly. "I have the first Beta shift of Bridge Watch tonight, so I won't be able to speak to him until afterwards. Speaking of, I really should be going. Unless there's anything else, Lieutenant?" She realised she was being curt in her answers now, but felt she was merely matching his demeanour.

"That will be all, thank you," Cailus said as he stood up. "Good luck with Mister Rochester, and you have my condolences on your loss. Good day."

Sasha watched pensively as Griffin walked away, the clouds returning to darken her mind once more. She gave a slight shy before standing up and heading out of the restaurant.

OFF