Beg, Steal or Borrow – Finding Home
by Lieutenant JG Petro & Commander Karen Villiers
Post Details
ON:
Petro filed away the last of the PADD's she had been working on and decided that she would have an early lunch before resuming her studies. There wasn't much left in the course she was taking and only one more test remained. She was expecting the results soon.
Turning away from the file cabinet she noticed a figure darkening her doorway. The silhouette looked familiar, but then most of them did. It wasn't until the face came into view when you know who it was.
"Ensign Petro, isn't it?" Karen said stepping into the room. Discounting the fact that she had already seen Petro in the staff meeting earlier in the morning, it was the first time she had met a J'naii, "It was open," she added as if to imply that she did not habitually walk into other people's offices without warning.
"Oh." Petro said, unsure of what else to say. "Yes ma'am. I'm Petro. Please come in." She gestured towards an empty chair across from her desk. "How can I help you." She asked.
Karen nodded and took the seat, "Thanks," she said as she setttled herself down, "The timing of my arrival has been a little confused and I thought you would be the person to help me unravel the mysteries of where exactly I am supposed to sleep. I had my goods transferred to the JAG offices on deck 56 but I can't find a record anywhere of quarters being assigned to me."
"That is odd." Petro replied, sitting down in front of her computer. "Karen, right?" she asked, just to be certain.
"Right. I'd be happy enough to crash on a desk until it is resolved but people tend to get a bit strange if you don't leave the office at night."
"Could you spell your last name for me?" Petro asked.
"Villiers, V - I - L - L - I - E - R - S," Karen said glancing around the office, "You've been here a while, right?" she asked a little surprised at the lack of the typical accumulation of personal objects.
"A little while." She answered, typing in the name. "Why do you ask?"
"You must have seen a lot of comings and goings," Karen replied, "I'm trying to get a feel for the station, and my new colleagues before I have to get down to business and no-one can see me for the stack of padds on my desk."
Petro smiled. "I'm not sure that you'll get a good feel for things before then." Petro said. "I think at first, everyone acts differently with new people. Some puff themselves up and others play meek for a while. Then, after you've settled a little, you get to see who people really are." She said. "That's odd."
Karen smiled, "And no-one ever tells the truth to a lawyer ... what's odd?"
Petro looked up at Karen. "Well, I found where someone made quarter arrangements for you, but I think someone must have been confused or playing a joke." She said. "It says you're to be put up on deck forty three." She turned her attention back to the console. "No one tells the truth to a lawyer?" She asked, not understanding the reference.
"What's so bad about deck forty three?" Karen hadn't internalised the entire layout of the station and unless someone had decided she should be put in matter reclaimation ... "I have an extensive background in criminal law and whether I've been defending or prosecuting the default position appears to be for any party to try and present themselves in the best possible light - which is pointless really because it is impossible to properly represent someone who hasn't shared their mind with you."
"So why lie?" Petro asked. "Oh, Deck Forty three is for enlisted personnel. Shared quarters as well." She continued to type on her keyboard while she spoke. "Let me see if I can find something more appropriate for you."
"I don't know. Sometimes you find they're holding back the one little piece of information that can swing the case, you never know what is going to be relevant. Let's say you're on trial for murder and all the evidence suggests that you are as guilty as sin - you were seen arguing with the victim, you were seen buying the knife that later turned up between the victim's shoulder blades but you are innocent and you know it because at the time it happened you were in bed with someone else's wife - the problem is you've got a reputation for being morally whiter than white so you take a gamble and don't mention that part in the hope that you'll win even though the evidence seems to be weighed against you ... but it all comes out eventually and you've put yourself and everyone else through a wringer just because you thought you could get away with it."
Petro turned and looked at Karen. This was intriguing. "But if you have that kind of reputation why wouldn't it be perceived that you were set up?" She asked. "And if you did take the chance and say that you were with someone and that person denies it, wouldn't that make you seem doubly guilty?"
Her console beeped. "Oh, I think I found something for you." She said, looking at her screen.
"If they denied it they'd be investigated anyway, and while a reputation might influence opinion as soon as there is a whiff of scandal it becomes much harder to hide behind one. My job, in essence is to sift through the facts that the authorities have unearthed and to secure guilt, or innocence based on those facts. What have you got for me then?"
"Deck Twenty-Four." Petro said. "But if a person is willing to participate in an immoral act of one kind and it comes to light that their reputation is false, wouldn't that taint the beliefs of those involved in their fate to come to the conclusion that it would be probable and possible for them to commit the act of murder?" Petro asked. "Section thirteen fourth quarter, I think, would be more suitable for you." She said. "You are a senior officer."
"Hence the reluctance to sacrifice the reputation by telling me the truth ... of ocurse I am not obliged to use that information to support the case, I can where necessary, but I prefer to know everything so that I can better divert the opposing counsel. We're slippery fish, Ensign Petro."
"Fish?" Petro asked, scrunching her eyebrows trying to understand. "Are fish put on trial as well?" She asked in utter confusion.
Karen shook her head as she chuckled, "Its an expression ... a slippery fish is literally very hard to keep hold of, if I call a person a slippery fish it means they're unpredictable, and difficult to keep track of - its part of a lawyers job to keep the other side guessing - it tends to mean there are quite a lot of interesting characters in my profession, though no more than there must be round here ..." Karen said leading the Quartermaster to talk about her colleagues.
Petro looked around then smiled, realizing her error. "Oh, I suppose." She said. "The station is quite a hub of activity with people coming and going. I think I heard someone once say that everyone has an agenda. It seems that way sometimes."
"Basic humanoid nature," Karen nodded. "What are your thoughts on the crew as a whole?" she asked, "Anyone I should watch out for?"
Petro leaned forward, her short stature not making it far over the edge of the desk. "I imagine that would depend on what particular attributes of a person you wanted to watch out for." She leaned back, her shoulder aching just a little. "I can tell you who I wouldn't trust."
"I'd be interested in hearing your opinions, Petro," Karen encouraged, "In confidence, of course."
Petro nodded and lowered her voice to a near whisper. "Personally, Dorian Gabriel is someone that, I think, will make Deep Space Five a less than friendly place to visit. The man has an agenda and I don't think it includes non humans." She said, speaking the last words in disgust. "And then there's the Marine, Darson. I've read about people like him in the earth history books and," she leaned back in her chair. "they weren't talked about kindly."
"Interesting," Karen said in a non-commital tone, it tied in with what others had already told her even if the J'Naii was a little more direct that others had been. "I could understand a lot of people round here having a problem with Romulans at the moment," she said as if the alleged 'non-human agenda' might be a bit more specific than a blanket revulsion.
"Romulans?" Petro asked. "I don't know about that. Most people liked Isha, but then..." She paused, trying to put into words what she felt. "I'm not sure anyone really trusts Romulans. Not at first. I think after this battle there's more untrust." She seemed to stare out into space for a moment. "I think Cardassians aren't much liked either."
"Wasn't she the ambassador ... or was it a journalist? I haven't met her. I've met my share of Romulans, and ... well, they're as trustworthy as most people are. Cardassians I'm less familiar with. I guess a lot of us still have raw memories of the Dominion war ... still, I like to keep my mind open."
Petro smiled, remembering the first time she had met Isha. While she didn't so much remember the words that she spoke, it was her attitude towards her that made a lasting impression. "She was the Romulan Ambassador." Petro said, almost laughing at the sound of it. "But she made you feel like you were worth something."
"So much for that reputation for arrogance," Karen said, "But wasn't she mixed up in the attack?"
"I'm not sure." Petro admitted, a little perplexed. "I heard whispers that she was but..." she stopped to think about it. ~Isha involved in attacking the station? Why?~ she wondered.
"You think its unlikely?" Karen surmised. "Removed from the station during the attack by a ship belonging to her family before being returned ... that's more or less the extent of her involvement, of course sending the ship in question back home was an odd move, and the claim that its all about the House could be farfetched. I don't know. We might never know fully."
"Without all the facts, I'm not sure that we could come to a solid conclusion." Petro looked down at her hands, folded on the desk. "I heard she left anyway. I received a request to have some of her things stored away until she could retrieve them."
"So she'll either be back or ask to have them sent on ..." Karen wondered what she would find in there if she had the chance to look, not that she would do a thing like that. "You're right though," Karen agreed, "Half baked conclusions are best avoided," immediately regretting using a second metaphor.
"Half baked?" Petro asked, thoroughly confused by the term. "I don't recall any kitchen staff being aprised of the situation."
Karen's brow wrinkled slightly as she considered a response - her own speech was littered with cliches and other overly used figurative language ... it added colour for the audience, and maybe the J'Naii, maybe Petro would beneift from not being so bewildered by some of the less literal aspects of human communication. "Have you had lunch?" she asked.
Petro shook her head. "Not yet."
"Then if you can recommend a decent place that serves 'real' food, its on me - I'll explain that one to you as we go. OK?"
Petro nodded, thinking of how food on her might look and wondering if she wanted Klingon food. She thought about Rakka and the way that she ate. "I know just the place." Petro said.
OFF:
Ensign Petro
Quartermaster
Commander Karen Villiers
Executive Officer
by Lieutenant JG Petro & Commander Karen Villiers
Post Details
| Title | Finding Home | |
| Mission | Beg, Steal or Borrow | |
| Author(s) | Lieutenant JG Petro & Commander Karen Villiers | |
| Posted | Fri Aug 14, 2009 @ 8:21pm | |
| Location | Quartermaster's Office | |
| Timeline | SD9 - 1130 hrs |
Petro filed away the last of the PADD's she had been working on and decided that she would have an early lunch before resuming her studies. There wasn't much left in the course she was taking and only one more test remained. She was expecting the results soon.
Turning away from the file cabinet she noticed a figure darkening her doorway. The silhouette looked familiar, but then most of them did. It wasn't until the face came into view when you know who it was.
"Ensign Petro, isn't it?" Karen said stepping into the room. Discounting the fact that she had already seen Petro in the staff meeting earlier in the morning, it was the first time she had met a J'naii, "It was open," she added as if to imply that she did not habitually walk into other people's offices without warning.
"Oh." Petro said, unsure of what else to say. "Yes ma'am. I'm Petro. Please come in." She gestured towards an empty chair across from her desk. "How can I help you." She asked.
Karen nodded and took the seat, "Thanks," she said as she setttled herself down, "The timing of my arrival has been a little confused and I thought you would be the person to help me unravel the mysteries of where exactly I am supposed to sleep. I had my goods transferred to the JAG offices on deck 56 but I can't find a record anywhere of quarters being assigned to me."
"That is odd." Petro replied, sitting down in front of her computer. "Karen, right?" she asked, just to be certain.
"Right. I'd be happy enough to crash on a desk until it is resolved but people tend to get a bit strange if you don't leave the office at night."
"Could you spell your last name for me?" Petro asked.
"Villiers, V - I - L - L - I - E - R - S," Karen said glancing around the office, "You've been here a while, right?" she asked a little surprised at the lack of the typical accumulation of personal objects.
"A little while." She answered, typing in the name. "Why do you ask?"
"You must have seen a lot of comings and goings," Karen replied, "I'm trying to get a feel for the station, and my new colleagues before I have to get down to business and no-one can see me for the stack of padds on my desk."
Petro smiled. "I'm not sure that you'll get a good feel for things before then." Petro said. "I think at first, everyone acts differently with new people. Some puff themselves up and others play meek for a while. Then, after you've settled a little, you get to see who people really are." She said. "That's odd."
Karen smiled, "And no-one ever tells the truth to a lawyer ... what's odd?"
Petro looked up at Karen. "Well, I found where someone made quarter arrangements for you, but I think someone must have been confused or playing a joke." She said. "It says you're to be put up on deck forty three." She turned her attention back to the console. "No one tells the truth to a lawyer?" She asked, not understanding the reference.
"What's so bad about deck forty three?" Karen hadn't internalised the entire layout of the station and unless someone had decided she should be put in matter reclaimation ... "I have an extensive background in criminal law and whether I've been defending or prosecuting the default position appears to be for any party to try and present themselves in the best possible light - which is pointless really because it is impossible to properly represent someone who hasn't shared their mind with you."
"So why lie?" Petro asked. "Oh, Deck Forty three is for enlisted personnel. Shared quarters as well." She continued to type on her keyboard while she spoke. "Let me see if I can find something more appropriate for you."
"I don't know. Sometimes you find they're holding back the one little piece of information that can swing the case, you never know what is going to be relevant. Let's say you're on trial for murder and all the evidence suggests that you are as guilty as sin - you were seen arguing with the victim, you were seen buying the knife that later turned up between the victim's shoulder blades but you are innocent and you know it because at the time it happened you were in bed with someone else's wife - the problem is you've got a reputation for being morally whiter than white so you take a gamble and don't mention that part in the hope that you'll win even though the evidence seems to be weighed against you ... but it all comes out eventually and you've put yourself and everyone else through a wringer just because you thought you could get away with it."
Petro turned and looked at Karen. This was intriguing. "But if you have that kind of reputation why wouldn't it be perceived that you were set up?" She asked. "And if you did take the chance and say that you were with someone and that person denies it, wouldn't that make you seem doubly guilty?"
Her console beeped. "Oh, I think I found something for you." She said, looking at her screen.
"If they denied it they'd be investigated anyway, and while a reputation might influence opinion as soon as there is a whiff of scandal it becomes much harder to hide behind one. My job, in essence is to sift through the facts that the authorities have unearthed and to secure guilt, or innocence based on those facts. What have you got for me then?"
"Deck Twenty-Four." Petro said. "But if a person is willing to participate in an immoral act of one kind and it comes to light that their reputation is false, wouldn't that taint the beliefs of those involved in their fate to come to the conclusion that it would be probable and possible for them to commit the act of murder?" Petro asked. "Section thirteen fourth quarter, I think, would be more suitable for you." She said. "You are a senior officer."
"Hence the reluctance to sacrifice the reputation by telling me the truth ... of ocurse I am not obliged to use that information to support the case, I can where necessary, but I prefer to know everything so that I can better divert the opposing counsel. We're slippery fish, Ensign Petro."
"Fish?" Petro asked, scrunching her eyebrows trying to understand. "Are fish put on trial as well?" She asked in utter confusion.
Karen shook her head as she chuckled, "Its an expression ... a slippery fish is literally very hard to keep hold of, if I call a person a slippery fish it means they're unpredictable, and difficult to keep track of - its part of a lawyers job to keep the other side guessing - it tends to mean there are quite a lot of interesting characters in my profession, though no more than there must be round here ..." Karen said leading the Quartermaster to talk about her colleagues.
Petro looked around then smiled, realizing her error. "Oh, I suppose." She said. "The station is quite a hub of activity with people coming and going. I think I heard someone once say that everyone has an agenda. It seems that way sometimes."
"Basic humanoid nature," Karen nodded. "What are your thoughts on the crew as a whole?" she asked, "Anyone I should watch out for?"
Petro leaned forward, her short stature not making it far over the edge of the desk. "I imagine that would depend on what particular attributes of a person you wanted to watch out for." She leaned back, her shoulder aching just a little. "I can tell you who I wouldn't trust."
"I'd be interested in hearing your opinions, Petro," Karen encouraged, "In confidence, of course."
Petro nodded and lowered her voice to a near whisper. "Personally, Dorian Gabriel is someone that, I think, will make Deep Space Five a less than friendly place to visit. The man has an agenda and I don't think it includes non humans." She said, speaking the last words in disgust. "And then there's the Marine, Darson. I've read about people like him in the earth history books and," she leaned back in her chair. "they weren't talked about kindly."
"Interesting," Karen said in a non-commital tone, it tied in with what others had already told her even if the J'Naii was a little more direct that others had been. "I could understand a lot of people round here having a problem with Romulans at the moment," she said as if the alleged 'non-human agenda' might be a bit more specific than a blanket revulsion.
"Romulans?" Petro asked. "I don't know about that. Most people liked Isha, but then..." She paused, trying to put into words what she felt. "I'm not sure anyone really trusts Romulans. Not at first. I think after this battle there's more untrust." She seemed to stare out into space for a moment. "I think Cardassians aren't much liked either."
"Wasn't she the ambassador ... or was it a journalist? I haven't met her. I've met my share of Romulans, and ... well, they're as trustworthy as most people are. Cardassians I'm less familiar with. I guess a lot of us still have raw memories of the Dominion war ... still, I like to keep my mind open."
Petro smiled, remembering the first time she had met Isha. While she didn't so much remember the words that she spoke, it was her attitude towards her that made a lasting impression. "She was the Romulan Ambassador." Petro said, almost laughing at the sound of it. "But she made you feel like you were worth something."
"So much for that reputation for arrogance," Karen said, "But wasn't she mixed up in the attack?"
"I'm not sure." Petro admitted, a little perplexed. "I heard whispers that she was but..." she stopped to think about it. ~Isha involved in attacking the station? Why?~ she wondered.
"You think its unlikely?" Karen surmised. "Removed from the station during the attack by a ship belonging to her family before being returned ... that's more or less the extent of her involvement, of course sending the ship in question back home was an odd move, and the claim that its all about the House could be farfetched. I don't know. We might never know fully."
"Without all the facts, I'm not sure that we could come to a solid conclusion." Petro looked down at her hands, folded on the desk. "I heard she left anyway. I received a request to have some of her things stored away until she could retrieve them."
"So she'll either be back or ask to have them sent on ..." Karen wondered what she would find in there if she had the chance to look, not that she would do a thing like that. "You're right though," Karen agreed, "Half baked conclusions are best avoided," immediately regretting using a second metaphor.
"Half baked?" Petro asked, thoroughly confused by the term. "I don't recall any kitchen staff being aprised of the situation."
Karen's brow wrinkled slightly as she considered a response - her own speech was littered with cliches and other overly used figurative language ... it added colour for the audience, and maybe the J'Naii, maybe Petro would beneift from not being so bewildered by some of the less literal aspects of human communication. "Have you had lunch?" she asked.
Petro shook her head. "Not yet."
"Then if you can recommend a decent place that serves 'real' food, its on me - I'll explain that one to you as we go. OK?"
Petro nodded, thinking of how food on her might look and wondering if she wanted Klingon food. She thought about Rakka and the way that she ate. "I know just the place." Petro said.
OFF:
Ensign Petro
Quartermaster
Commander Karen Villiers
Executive Officer