Parole or Bust

Posted on Fri Aug 25, 2017 @ 9:23pm by Ensign Zahara & Commodore Michael Aravan

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: Security Brig Containment Facility
Timeline: MD 28 || 1500 Hours

After Michael discussed it with Commander Weisz and Lieutenant Rho, he decided to head to the containment facility on the ship where special prisoners were kept. It had more than standard protocols that were designed to hold a number of species and and was nearly impossible to break out of.

He nodded the Ensign on duty who stepped back and entered his authorization code before he went through the sealed double doors when the forcefield came down. When he passed through the doorway, he was scanned for any weapons, either physical or biological and had to give his authorization once again.

Once he was inside, the force field and doors closed again and he went to the room that contained the cube where the Thasian was kept. Starfleet Command had decided to leave her in the cube with rehabilitation scenarios playing at an accelerated rate and put her fate in the Commodore's hands. While it wasn't standard procedure, Michael had agreed with her decision and now he had a choice to make.

"Computer, deactivate force field," Michael said and gave his authorization codes again and stepped into the room, the force fields coming back up behind him. He walked to the cube set on a pedestal in the middle of the room and looked at it. The being inside of it had killed two hundred and one personnel and had wreaked havoc inside the ship before it surrendered and now he was considering releasing her.

"First, though," he said out loud as he reached to unlock the cube and gave his authorization. "A conversation." He stepped back and waited for the Thasian to appear.

Zahara didn't know if her prison being opened was intentional or accidental, but now that it was open, she was able to communicate with the person standing outside. It was the only way to know for certain if this wasn't some sort of cruel trick by someone to get her into more trouble. "Hello," she said simply.

"Hello, Zahara," Michael said as he looked around the room. "You can come out now. I wish to speak with you face to face."

"Captain Aravan?" Zahara asked as she began to waft out of her prison and into the secure room with him. As she billowed out of the cube she immediately went to the lowest point, which was the ground, and began to swirl. While secluded, she had plenty of time to think while going through her rehabilitation, and chose a form that suited her. It didn't take long before she was standing before the Commanding Officer, as wisps of herself floated around her bottom half. "To what do I owe this great honor?"

"It's actually Commodore now," Michael said as he watched the ethereal wisps form into an equally ethereal woman of extraordinary beauty. "Myself and the rest of Command have been discussing your fate and the possibility of giving you parole," he said. "Provisional, for the time being."

Zahara offered him a smile. "Congratulations, Commodore Aravan," she said, giving him a respectful nod of her head. The possibility of being free was quite appealing to her, but her fate was in the hands of the Command team. "I was not aware that I was up for... parole. What have you and the rest of Command decided? I am willing to atone for what I have done in any way you and your crew require."

"There's a list of conditions," he said. "First, you won't have direct access to ship systems which means Chief Barnes will be your point of contact for any needs you have. Second, no going to restricted areas of which a list will be provided for you. Third, no taking over critical systems, and fourth....don't kill anyone. If you have a hostile encounter with a member of the crew, return here immediately and contact me, Commander Weisz or Lieutenant Rho."

"As I am considered a civilian aboard your ship, I know I am not authorized to access to parts of the ship," the woman in white stated. "I do not wish to cause you, or your crew anymore trouble, and should you feel more comfortable, I will gladly accept a member of Security to be with me at all times until you and your Command team feel more comfortable with my being here."

"I don't think you'll need a Security with you," Michael said. "You've already proven that you can't be stopped unless you wish to be."

Zahara frowned. "My apologies, Commodore. I do not think I can make up for what I have done, but I wish to try. I am truly sorry for everything. I should not have gone about it the way that I did. Talking would have been the better way. You have my word that I will not do anything to harm you or your crew again. If I can help out in any way, please, let me know."

"I'm sure with your unique abilities that you'll find a way if we have need," Michael said. "In fact, we could have used you on a recent away mission where things went sideways, but that's in the past." He paused and looked at her.

"While I know you are sorry, there will be those that won't be so forgiving," he said. "Your best bet would be to avoid those people and let me and Commander Weisz handle those people."

"Whatever you think would be best, Commodore," she said with a nod of her head.

"I do have a few questions," Michael continued. "Do you sleep or have a need for sustenance?"

The woman in white shook her head. "I rest in my own way, but I do not require the need for food."

"Did you make use of the holo programs which played out while you were in the cube?" Michael asked. While in the cube, the rehabilitation programs had played and the eighteen days she had been in it would have felt closer to eighteen years, complete with counseling, education programs, and more.

"I did," Zahara replied, moving around the small room. It appeared as though she was floating with each graceful step she took. "Forgive me, Commodore. I may not have been inside long, but it felt that way. It is quite nice to be able to move about."

"It was designed that way to accommodate your nature," Michael said. "In the Federation, we believe in rehabilitation even if it takes a bit of time. In reality, only eighteen real days have passed."

Zahara nodded her head, understanding the need for it. "Eighteen days? That is all it has been?"

"That's all," he told her. "We went back to Earth for two weeks for repairs and are back in space near the Gavarian Corridor."

"As I said... if I can ever help with anything, just let me know," she said, coming to stop in front of him once more to look up at him. Zahara was curious now, and couldn't wait for him to say it on his own. "What is your verdict, Commodore? Do you feel that I am worthy of being granted parole, or would you prefer we hold off on that? I am okay with whatever your decision may be, and should it be the latter, I will not hold it against you."

"You're granted your freedom, Zahara," Michael said. "With the listed provisions. I'll have a PADD sent to you with the restricted areas on it and arrange a personal quarters for you. I'm certain that you don't want to live in the cube anymore."

"You would be correct. While my accommodations weren't horrible, they were rather cramped. It will be nice to move freely once more. Commander Weisz... I wish to speak with her."

"Her office is on deck eighteen," Michael said. "And I just realized that I'm going to have to ask you to keep your physical form while you're not in your quarters. Every doorway is keyed to register physical forms and coded to specific people or personnel. We used to have that done with combadges, but it was changed after an incident where a stolen combadge was used to gain access to restricted areas."

"I think it would be best to remain in this form, too," she agreed. "And I do welcome advice of any kind that you and your Command team may be able to provide me with."

Now Michael did take a closer look to the form she had chosen and made a note to go visit Spencer after he was done talking to Zahara. "About that, yes. Keep that form and no more impersonating other officers or turning into something nightmarish. Also, no more flash freezing personnel."

"You have my word that none of those things will ever happen again. I am no longer angry," Zahara commented, offering him a smile. "In fact... I am calm and at peace."

"Calm and peace is good," he said, then another question popped in his mind. "Are those your clothes...or you?" he asked as he pointed at the gown she was wearing.

She looked down at the white gown she was wearing before returning her crystal blue gave back up to him. "They are a part of me. Are they not appropriate? I can will them away," Zahara said with a worried tone. In fact, she was so worried, she willed the gown away and stood before the Commodore in all her naked glory. "What should I wear around the ship?"

"Errrrrr," Michael managed while staring at her and imaging what he was going to do to his wife. "No. No. That, uh...that was fine...as long as it's not a Starfleet uniform. You can....can put it back on."

"Very well," the Thasian woman said, willing the same white gown back on. "No Starfleet uniform."

"If you'll come with me," he said as he turned to make his way back out, giving authorizations as he went. "We'll get you set up."

"Thank you, Commodore," Zahara spoke, her tone filled with genuine gratitude. She moved behind him, prepared to follow behind him. "What deck will I be residing on?"

"We have guest quarters on deck nine," Michael told her as they passed the Ensign on duty. The man did a double take at her and tried not to drool as she walked past.

She seemed to be completely oblivious to the Ensign nearly breaking his neck to look at her as she followed Michael out. The prospect of being able to move relatively freely brought a smile to Zahara's face. She was definitely not going to mess things up this time. "Will I have the opportunity to explore a bit? I know I am not permitted to access restricted areas, but there are still places I would like to see such as what the promenade has to offer."

"You can look, but unless you use the guest replicator or have a way to pay, I'm afraid you won't get served," Michael said. "We work on a credit system in Starfleet."

"I see," Zahara commented, looking thoughtful. It was going to take her some time to learn everything that there was to, and it seemed to be impossible. "There is nothing that I require. I am simply curious."

"Although some places on the Promenade may hire you if you wish to earn some extra credits," he mused. "My sister in law owns The Black Hole. It's a restaurant and does a lot of business."

"A job?" she mused to herself out loud. That was something she learned inside the cube. "Yes. I think I would like one of those, but..." Suddenly, Zahara seemed unsure. "I do not know what I would be suited for. I am a quick learner, so I may have that in my favor."

"It would also allow you to meet a lot of new people," Michael said as he exited the detention facility. "Now to meet Commander Weisz and get you a quarters set up."

"If it is all the same to you, Commodore, I would like to speak to Commander Weisz alone," Zahara said softly. "I have to beg her forgiveness, and I wish it to be the two of us. Not that I would really mind anyone else seeing me grovel. She is owed that and so much more. Could we get my quarters so that I might contact her and see when she is available? I do not wish to pop in unannounced."

"I understand," he said as he contacted Ops to open a guest quarters on deck nine and register it to Zahara. When it was set up with a generic code for the moment, he headed for the turbolift. "Once we get there, you can set up a new voice authorization code and it'll recognize your voice after that."

"That sounds easy enough," the Thasian commented as she began to think of what code she would use.

"If you need to know where anything he," Michael said as he pointed at one of many wall displays. "Just asked the computer to display the location for you at once of these displays and it will give you a map, then small red arrows will appear on the walls pointing in the direction you need to go until you arrive at your destination."

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I know I keep saying it, but I mean it."

"You're welcome," he said as they came to the turbolift. "You're going to be facing a lot of suspicion, Zahara, and it won't be easy. Come and talk to me or Commander Weisz if something happens."

"I will," Zahara assured him. "I know this will not be easy, but I wish to make amends with everyone as best as I can. First person, though, is Commander Weisz, then Chief Barnes. Everyone else will fall in line as time progresses. But you, Commodore... what can I do to make amends with you?"

"Stick to your word," Michael said as he requested deck nine once the turbolift arrived. Seeing you naked again might be nice, too, but I have my memory for that.

Zahara smiled as she stood next to him inside the turbolift. Michael was quite sweet, and seemed to be very understanding. If only the others would be that way. "I will stick to my word. I will not let you down, Commodore," she said, wondering if there would ever come a time that he would allow her to call him by name. For now, she wasn't going to push it.

He looked over at her and thought for a moment. "There is a dance club on the Promenade called Subspace Sound," he said. "Can you go translucent and dance? I bet the young woman who owns it would pay you a mint to act as a living holographic dancer."

"I am afraid I do not know how to dance, but I can learn," she replied, thinking of the possibilities. "Who would I speak to?"

"I'm not sure that it could really be called dancing in that place," Michael said. "It's more like moving to the beat. The owner's name is Ailyssa Wells."

Zahara smiled. "I am pretty sure I can do that. Maybe I can speak with her once I get settled."

The turbolift came to a halt and he gestured for her to step out first. "I'm sure she'd appreciate it," he said. "You're sure to bring in a lot more business for her."

"I am?" she asked, genuinely curious about why that would be.

"I'm pretty sure," Michael said. "You've got the appearance for it and that's what a lot of people would love to see shaking and moving."

Zahara nodded her head in understanding. "Then, I will speak to Miss Wells as soon as I am able. Thank you yet again for your help."

"You are welcome," he said. "You can use the holosuites to learn to dance, too. There should be plenty of programs in the computer library for it."

"It may help to have a real partner sometimes, too. Do you dance, Commodore?" she asked innocently as she looked up at him.

"Actually, I do," Michael said. "It's just been a while since I last danced." He paused to think for a moment. "In fact, I think the last dance I attended was at the Academy."

Zahara smiled. "Will you teach me?"

"I think it may be better if you started out with holoprograms first," he said. "Especially since I haven't danced in a couple years. I'd hurt myself if I tried to dance like they do in the club I told you about."

"I will practice on my own, then," she said, stepping out onto the deck once the turbolift arrived. Still, Zahara had to rely on him to get her where she needed to be. "I do not want you to hurt yourself trying to show me something you have not done in a while. That would make me feel pretty horrible. Perhaps... you should practice a bit yourself, then?"

"I'm going to have to do that, but the life of a starship commander doesn't leave much room for the nicer things in life," Michael said as they walked down the corridor until he came to a stop in front of a door. He pointed at the panel. "Just press the green button and then speak your name and the code I gave you. After that, it'll ask you to set up a new personal code which you can enter manually on the pad."

"You should make time, or you will end up missing out on something others may view as important," the white haired woman said just before doing as instructed. When prompted, Zahara put in her new code and entered it, then smiled when the door opened. She slipped inside and took a moment to look around. Her new accommodations would definitely be better than the cube she was in for what felt like an eternity.

"It isn't much," he said. "But I'm sure it's better than a cube. The shower and bedroom are through that door," he said, pointing the way. "This is the living room. The replicator is on the wall beside of you."

Zahara looked around and smiled. "This is definitely better than the cube, and I have no intentions of landing myself back in there," she said matter-of-factly. "Thank you, truly, for allowing me a second chance to prove myself."

"There's no need to keep thanking me, Zahara," Michael said. "If you need anything or to contact me, or someone else, just ask the computer. I'll let you get settled in for now."

"Th... enjoy the rest of your day," Zahara said, catching herself before she thanked him yet again. "I will contact you if I require anything."

He stopped to show her how to activate the shower if she needed it and how to use the replicator. "You, too," he said with a smile. "The replicator can make PADDs and you can have the computer transfer a map of the ship to it and information so you don't have to ask the computer for everything, but it can't hold all that the computer knows. You have to be specific in what you ask for. I'll see you soon." With that, he gave her a smile and headed out.

After Michael departed, Zahara took a quick look around her new him in an effort to familiarize herself with everything. Life on the outside was definitely going to be a lot better than being inside the cube, and she planned to do everything she could to keep from going back inside. Now, though, she had a Commander to see.