Natural Born Killer

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:26am by Captain Nycolas Temple & Lieutenant Krysia Kaleri-Smith & Sasha Vieers (Deceased)
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:53pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Brig

ON

Real life had started to creep back into the Pandora the closer they got to the Carnwennan Corridor and Nyx's duties were piling up once more. He decided to follow some advice he'd gotten long ago to tackle the worst problem first. 'Get it out of the way as soon as possible and it'll make everything else seem easier'. He couldn't remember if Emilie or his father, or even his grandmother had given that advice, but he decided to live by it today. Unfortunately, that meant having a conversation with Sasha Vieers, something he naturally dreaded. The former-Ensign-turned-killer had been locked up in the Brig since being arrested by Lieutenant Griffin - out of sight and definitely out of mind. But now Starfleet were asking the Pandora to perform the standard psychological checks on Vieers before she was handed over for trial.

Nyx was glad at least he didn't have to face this task alone; having asked Chief Counsellor Lieutenant Kaleri-Smith along for the assessment.

"Thank you for doing this today." Nyx said to Kaleri as the turbo lift descended to the Brig. "I'm sorry if I interrupted your schedule but this needed to get done."

“I had a break scheduled anyway Sir” Krysia smiled warmly. “I find if I sit around for too long be it at my desk or in a chair it plays havoc with my back so I try to schedule myself regular small breaks to get some exercise.” She rested her hands on her fair sized bump, which was bigger than normal for six months given that she was carrying twins. “I’d imagine your wife finds it just as uncomfortable.” She looked at Nyx curiously. “How long is it before your baby is due Sir?”

"About a week ago," Nyx said, trying to hide the concern he felt under a lighter tone. "Emilie is meeting with Doctor Alves to discuss her options. She may need to get induced, but hopefully there's some other options before we reach that point. We were hoping to do it naturally but the little one just won't budge." He smiled a little, "I'm just eager to meet my little son or daughter."

“I guess from that the two of you opted to go with not knowing what you were having” She smiled. “I wouldn’t worry Sir Emilie is in good hands with Doctor Alves, she’s made me feel a whole lot more at ease and I’m sure she’ll do the same for Emilie.”

"Of course." The Captain agreed as the lift came to a slow stop and the doors opened. Nyx fixed a serious expression on his face as the two walked towards the Brig. The cells had been given additional security, given Sasha Vieers' competency in avoiding detection and knowledge of the ship's systems, and even the Captain and Counsellor had to undertake numerous checks before being allowed inside to see her.

Krysia was nervous to say the least. She thought she new Sasha after their time in the bubble which Starfleet still considered as ‘never happened’ but she obviously didn’t know Sasha as well as she thought she had after all sided with Dorian for a time and the two of them were in a relationship before Dorian was killed.

After a few moments, Nyx and Kaleri were stood in front of the prisoner's cell. Sasha looked peaceful and calm, sitting cross legged on the bare bench that doubled as her bed. She had her eyes closed as if meditating, and didn't even appear to register the arrival of the Captain and Counsellor.

“Hello Sasha” Krysia spoke like she always had in the life of the bubble universe, like a friend would. In the bubble she’d have trusted Sasha with her life, now she had to wonder if the forcefield was to drop if Sasha would kill to be free.

Sasha stirred a little, opening one eye just a crack before closing it shut again. She took in a deep breath, before speaking softly, "Hello Krysia. Hello Captain."

"Have we come at a bad time?" Nyx couldn't help but comment, a little sarcasm in his tone.

"All I have is time." Sasha said vaguely, causing Nyx to roll his eyes obviously. "But I suppose I can spare a few moments." She finally released her breath and opened her eyes fully this time. She stood from the bench, her feet deliberately bare, and walked towards the force field that separated her from the officers.

Krysia observed her friend as she approached the force field, Sasha was doing a very good job of hiding her feelings, burying them nice and deep knowing exactly why Nyx had brought Krysia along with him. Her feelings were there but to read them Krys was going to put some work into it.

"You've come to assess me." Sasha commented, cocking her head slightly as she looked to Kaleri. "Regulation two-point-fifteen, subsection twenty-five. If I remember, Captain?"

"Correct." Nyx said, showing no hint of awe at Vieers' ability to recite some numbers.

"But you're a bit late, aren't you?" Sasha asked pointedly, looking between both the Counsellor and Captain. "You should have done this after the mandatory forty-eight hour threat observation period. Regulation two-point-one, subsection four."

The Captain stared back in response, "Our apologies. Seeing as you know the procedure, Vieers, what comes next?"

"Kaleri here asks me a series of inane questions about my health, sleep patterns, food intake, thought processes." She replied with a smirk, eyes locking on the Counsellor. "Go ahead, Doctor."

Krysia could see she was going to have to toughen up if this was how Sasha was going to act. “Very well” she nodded and took a slight step forward pulling out a PADD she’d brought with her upon which to record her official observations. “Let’s start with the burning question shall we? Why did you feel it necessary to kill Dorian Rochester? The two of you were once lovers, were you not?” She didn’t think it was common knowledge about Sasha and Dorian but Dorian’s actions and feelings around Sasha had been like an open book for Krysia.

This caught Sasha by surprise and she took a noticeable step backwards. But she soon recovered her veneer and gave a laugh, "You never wanted to kill someone you loved, Krysia?" She sighed, "Hate to tell ya, but it's not always going to be rainbows and perfection, my friend. You might feel happy now with your oh-so-perfect fiancé, but it doesn't last. It never will. Eventually reality will creep back in and you find yourself forced to do the unthinkable. Not even love can stop you."

Krysia gave Sasha a curious look and tapped some notes into her PADD “That’s where you and I differ Sasha” She looked back at Sasha. “I don’t see myself wanting to murder my loved ones. Why is it you think Dorian had to die? Was it because he knew too much or that he...” She paused to look at Nyx. “Killed the Captain in the bubble?” She knew Starfleet wouldn’t pay any attention to speak of the bubble but it was worth the question just to see what Sasha’s reaction would be. “We were all angry at him for that but surely he didn’t deserve to die.”

Sasha gave a larger laugh this time, "You obviously didn't know Dorian Rochester very well. I had to make a choice, Doctor, and whether you think you're like me or not - you would have done the same thing. I remember how you chose to punish Dorian in the Bubble. We are all capable of terrible things when given little other choice." She looked to the Captain, "Isn't that true, Captain?"

Nyx smirked, "You couldn't imagine."

Vieers shook her head, "Next question?"

Krysia’s hackles went up as Sasha mentioned what she’d tried to do to Dorian after Nyx’s death. Nyx knew nothing of it and she’d hoped it would stay buried but now Sasha had said it in front of the very man she didn’t want to know anything about it. She cleared her throat and moved on to the next question. “Have you ever harmed or killed anyone prior to your time aboard the Pandora? Not including those you’ve wounded or killed in the line of duty?” She was pushing the hard questions instead of the bog standard ones Sasha was expecting and had no doubt been rehearsing her answers to.

Vieers thought about this for a moment, her face consumed in reflection. Finally she gave a shrug. "Only ever in the line of duty. But that line has been blurred at times. I helped to rebuild Bajor after the war, worked on security forces there, and it wasn't always cut and dry. The Federation likes to live in black and white, but the rest of the galaxy has already accepted the many, many shades of grey. That's the best way I can answer that question."

"I know about the lines getting blurred." Nyx spoke up, seeing how Krysia had brought this trail of thought out of Sasha. "Is your position that anything is justifiable if the circumstances allow it?"

"Perhaps." She said curtly, not really giving his question much weight.

"So if I were to drop this force field and shoot you dead, it would be okay if I could justify it later?" Nyx asked, a darkness in his eyes. The suggestion was never out of the realm of possibility, and Sasha knew it.

Sasha took in a breath, "I don't see how you could justify that, Captain." She said defensively.

"I'd find a way." Nyx said cooly. "We're light years from Federation space still, I have plenty of time to come up with a reason. Or just say that you escaped."

"I have a right to a fair trial!" Sasha suddenly shouted. "Regulation - "

"Oh the regulations?! The regulations matter now that you need them!" Nyx retorted sarcastically, "You've spent your life justifying your actions by your own rules. You blamed the Bubble, Dorian, the crew, the Breen. But they were just instruments you used to get what you wanted, Sasha. Are you even remotely sorry for the damage you've caused?"

Sasha hung her head and shuffled back to her bench, "I do." She said softly.

Krysia’s eyes widened, there was a spark of remorse that she’d caught from Sasha but given how she’d hidden her feelings so far was it just a ploy? “Sasha...do you regret your actions?” She stepped closer to the forcefield now Sasha had moved away. “If you had this time to do over, would you still do it all the same way?” She was hoping there was something that could save Sasha, to give her a second chance. Krysia didn't care if Nyx was standing there or not Sasha deserved a chance. "Please Sasha, at least give me something I can use to help you!"

Nyx cleared his throat, loudly, before Sasha could respond. "We are not here to help former Ensign Vieers. She can have all the regret in the universe but it will not bring back Ensign Rochester and Lieutenant Vicuno, or undo her betrayals, or make up for the chaos on Paradise Outpost." He sighed a little, "But I suppose it's good to know there is some decency left in you, Vieers."

"How thrilling." Sasha replied, dejected. She laid down on the bench again, looking up the ceiling. "Is that all?"

"What do you say, Lieutenant Kaleri?" Nyx looked to the Counsellor, "Do you feel former Ensign Vieers is competent to stand trial?"

Krysia stood looking at Sasha for a few moments longer before turning to look at Nyx. “In my opinion Sir, Ensign Vieers is more than competent.”

Sasha didn't react, she merely remained staring at the ceiling, trying to hold back the tears she so desperately wanted to shed. She would have to wait until they left.

"Very well. Thank you, Counsellor." Nyx replied with a curt nod before turning back to the cell. The Captain took a moment before saying calmly, "We have attempted to make contact with your family, Vieers, before comms went into maintenance. Unfortunately, it appears the Trill Government have issued a notice of expulsion upon you; they won't be sending you assistance nor will they seek extradition after the trial. We will try again to reach your family once we're into the Carnwennan Corridor."

"Okay." Came the meek response from Sasha.

Sensing she wanted to be alone, Nyx sighed once more and looked to the Counsellor, "Anything further?"

Krysia turned to look at Nyx. “I guess that depends on Sasha Sir” She took another look at Sasha and sighed.

"I'm not a bad person." Sasha spoke up, still not looking at them, "I made terrible choices and I do regret that. I was going to make a name for myself, become a Trill Captain, become joined with an esteemed symbiont. I was going to be better than everyone." Her words were passionate but her tone was dull, as she reflected on a life that would never be. "Everyone would have known my name."

After a moment, Nyx retorted, "Well that last part will still come true."

"It's a shame it has to be under such circumstances though." Krysia looked at Sasha.

When Vieers rolled over, deliberately putting her back to the officers, Nyx merely gave a shrug and indicated to the Counsellor that they should leave. He paused for a moment and opened his mouth to speak. In truth, he understood Kaleri's desire to help Sasha, or at least try to find some semblance of reason for her actions. He didn't want to fight or yell at her, as he still felt responsible for all the tragedies that had occurred from the bubble universe to Paradise. But that chance to make things right had been and gone now - there was no helping Vieers. It would be a swift trial and life imprisonment in a Federation facility; which was still a far better fate than Dorian or Vicuno received. Even if it left Nyx and crew still searching for understanding, what had happened would never fully be resolved. Or forgotten.

Realising it was pointless to say more, the Captain and Counsellor walked out of the Brig and back into the corridor. Nyx asked Kaleri-Smith to send in her report before she departed for Carnwennan Station. Their only recourse now was to get Vieers off the Pandora and into the hands of Federation security, never to return.

OFF