Soylent Green

Posted on Thu Dec 15, 2016 @ 6:54am by Vashkele & Lieutenant Commander Alex Rho & Lieutenant Xylia Lischka

Mission: An Orion to Die For
Location: Brig
Timeline: MD 3 || 1125 hours

Outside of the Brig area, Alex had met up with Xylia and the medical officer that the Commander said would be there. "Now, according to what Commander Weisz said, no pheromone inhibitor will be administered until I'm finished speaking her. No sudden moves with that hypo, nurse. Lieutenant, I will proceed with the questioning despite what might happen. And this is crucial, when we enter, I'll establish the boundaries and appearances. Someone has to show initial control of the atmosphere and environment. And in these situations, it's usually the interrogator. There cannot be a division, or even the appearance of one. If the Orion woman sees that, she will...jump on it...as you humans say."

"I'm only here as a sign of force," Xylia stated, looking toward Alex. "I just hope the fact she doesn't have her inhibitor presently doesn't come back to bite you in the ass. Although... I know there's a chance she can use her wiles to get you to let her out. Please, don't take offense if I stun you."

Ensign Baker, the perky nurse piped up, "I have the inhibitor shot, but you already know that. So if anything does happen, I'll be nearby. Not so much as a show of force, but more like a show of determination."

Alex grinned and nodded at the two women. "I'll be fine," he said. "Especially with force and determination at my back." He'd wondered where the burst of...whatever that was...came from in the woman he'd just enjoyed a nice evening meal with. She was simply full of surprises. "Trust me," he said. "Now let's go. Ensign, you hold back a bit. We don't want her to think that we're here to dose her right away," he said to the nurse. Alex led the way into the Brig and over to the front of the cell where the Orion woman was being held.

Ensign Baker stayed back as she'd been instructed. But not too far back. She wanted to be close enough to jump in if she was needed.

"You're Intel. This is the kind of thing you do," Xylia pointed out. "You may have a plan in mind for how this is going to go, but the other half might, too."

"Welcome to the Orion Embassy," Vash said as she lounged on the thin bed that the brig contained. She wore only a black bra and underwear and looked quite content where she was. "I'd offer you refreshments, but the replicator isn't capable of providing quality foods and drinks that I would normally serve my guests."

Xylia looked to the woman laying on the bed in just her undergarments and fought back the urge to wrinkle her nose. She cast a glance to Alex before looking back to Vash once again. It didn't take a genius to know he was screwed, he just didn't know it yet. Still, the Lieutenant meant what she said about stunning him if the need for it came around.

Alex smiled as he neared the forcefield. "I've already eaten, but thank you for your hospitality," he said, allowing the Embassy comment to float by. He saw that she was laying rather contentedly on the spartan bed. Her attire was rather...non-brig to say the least. "I'm Alex."

Alex? Xylia questioned mentally, trying to force the green-eyed monster back down from whence it came. Why the hell was she jealous? That was his name after all. He was allowed to introduce himself any way he saw fit. She shook her head at herself and took a step back, deciding to stay quiet and keep all comments to herself during the duration of the interrogation.

"Hello, Alex," Vash said and looked from the human male to the human female. "I'm sure you know my name. What can I do for you?"

"Actually," Alex said, "I don't. All I've ever heard is that we have an Orion woman in the Brig. And I don't want to call you 'that Orion woman' at all. Care to share?"

"My name is Vashkele, but you may call me Vash," the Orion woman said without bothering to get up or attempt to hide her modesty. "What role do you and your silent friend play on this ship?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Vash. Though, I wish it could have been under different circumstances," he said. "As far as our roles on this ship, we do a lot of different kinds of work." He paused a minute and smiled. "I must say, the rumors are true, though. The Orion woman in the Brig is one of the most beautiful Orion women ever." Of course, he hadn't heard any such rumors. "What happened that got such a fine specimen locked up down here?" Alex immediately put up his Ullian mental shields just in case.

"So that's how you wish to be, is it, Alex?" Vash asked as she got up and went to the replicator where she ordered a drink, sashaying her hips as she did so without looking over her shoulder. "Never believe a rumor until you have facts."

As Alex watched Vash make her way to the replicator, a smirk crept across his face. But only while her back was turned. "I don't think I still have all the facts about you, Vash. Why don't you fill me in. How did you end up in our Brig?"

Xylia stood quietly during the exchange, but pushed herself away from the wall she'd leaned against. Was this some kind of punishment for a horrendous act she'd committed in a past life? Maybe. She shook her head again. There was zero reason for her to be jealous. After all... Alex was a single guy. The fact they had dinner together didn't mean much more than they were acquaintances... and maybe sometime in the future... friends. She had a job to do, and that was all she planned to focus on. That meant being the silent force Commander Weisz wanted her to be. That's exactly what she was going to do.

Vash turned with her drink and studied the human woman before she gave a nod. "If I understand Starfleet colors right, you would be either Operations, Engineering or Security. Since you haven't volunteered to fix the replicator or adjust the heat in this prison I'm in and you're staying silent, I would guess you are Security," she said while ignoring what Alex had ask her.

"Who and what I am is irrelevant," the female Security officer said, though the phaser at her hip was a dead giveaway as to what department she was in. "Lieutenant Rho is here to speak to you, and I believe he asked you a question." Formalities were necessary. Alex was a senior officer, and they were on duty.

Alex made a few mental notes. One, her replicator needed fixing. Two, she wanted the heat adjusted. And three, she recognized Starfleet departmental colors. Alex turned to the Assistant Security Chief, "Lieutenant, how about adjusting those protocols for the Brig and having the computer lower the temperature for our guest to a more comfortable level for her. If anyone gives you problems later, send them to my office since it was my call."

Xylia couldn't help but raise a brow. It wasn't her job to do any of the things he'd just asked of her, but it was her duty to follow the orders of a senior officer. "I'll get right on that, Sir," she said before casting a glance at the two armed female officers present and excusing herself.

Vash went to take a seat on the bed again, one arm on it as she leaned back. She smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant," she said before she looked at the man who called himself Alex. "As for who you are being irrelevant, that doesn't give me a lot of motivation to say anything to either of you. It isn't my fault that you weren't informed as to who I am or why I'm in here."

"And I can look into that later," he said. "I've been...away. But as for me, Lieutenant Alex Rho, Starfleet Intelligence, Chief Intelligence Officer of the USS Triumphant. Your turn."

"Vashkele, Orion, temporary prisoner," she said. "I've requested asylum from the Federation in exchange for information. I've already given Starfleet twenty men who are pirates and slavers and this is what I get until the rest of my information pans out."

"I'm working on the heat, Vash. The replicator is another story," he said. "But thank you. So while we wait for the rest of your information to pan out, can you tell me why you've requested asylum in the first place and from whom? That information might be helpful when we encounter the twenty pirates and slavers."

A young woman, an Ensign, followed Xylia back into the brig. She carried a fluffy pillow, a change of clothes and an inviting fleece blanket under one arm, and a plate of food in her free hand. She paused while Xylia lowered the forcefield, then stepped inside. "I'll adjust the temperature now," she said, offering Vash a polite smile as she settled the items and food on her bunk, then turned to move out of the cell once again to move over to the controls to adjust the heat in her cell.

Xylia raised the forcefield once again, then moved back to her spot where she leaned against the wall once again.

"Why, thank you, Lieutenant," Vash said with a smile to the Security woman. "Although the replicator was fixed already, but the quality of the food still leaves something to be desired."

"You're welcome," Xylia said. She wasn't a heartless woman, and if it were her on the other side of the forcefield, she'd want someone to show her a bit of kindness, especially if she wasn't considered a prisoner. And it was true. Vash wasn't a prisoner. She was being held for her own safety as well as the safety of the crew until it was proven she could be trusted.

She took a moment to pull the white blouse and pair of dark jeans that the Ops officer set on the bunk on before she looked at Rho. "You're the Chief of Intelligence...and you didn't know that I turned on the twenty imposters who came with me to the ship?" she asked, a bit incredulous. "If I'm correct, we're at warp now and I would guess heading for the Sappora System?"

"Once again, something I intend to fully take care of," he said. "But for the moment, humor me. Who were the twenty impostors impersonating? And why do you request asylum and from whom?"

"I have a question if you and Lieutenant Rho don't mind me asking," Xylia said, moving away from the wall and making her way over to stand next to Alex. Of course, she didn't wait for permission to ask the question. "What can you tell me about the explosive device that was found on the Zeus? I know there was one on the freighter, because I'm the one that disarmed it."

"Asylum from the Syndicate," Vash said to the Intel Chief. "They were impersonating Starfleet officers from Orion Sector Tactical Command." She looked at the woman and blinked. "A bomb? I knew nothing of a bomb on it..."

Alex was processing what she had just said. "So, the Syndicate was impersonating Starfleet officers at Orion Sector Tactical Command." His mind raced to the away mission and the information from the sabotaged records. It was then that he wished he had a chair. "And you're seeking asylum from the Syndicate in the Federation. The commonalities in those two statements are the Syndicate and Starfleet or the Federation. What doesn't fit is you and the Orion Sector Tactical Command. Why would the Syndicate be trying to kill you for their impersonations of the officers at OSTC?"

"I never said that," Vash said, her green eyes flashing. "They were given to me along with a set of instructions that I was supposed to carry out. They were already impersonating Starfleet officers when I came. The Syndicate is trying to kill me, I suspect, because they know I'm a traitor."

Alex grinned. "No, you didn't. So as I understand it, you turned against the Syndicate and refused to carry out their instructions regarding their Starfleet officers. That's a pretty bold move, considering that most members would take their own lives before doing something like that. The Orion Syndicate demands loyalty. That said...." He actually had a few questions based on her last statement, but he had to carefully choose which one to ask. "What were those instructions?" Perhaps he could get the other one in later.

"I am my own person, Mister Rho," Vash said, the fire still burning in her eyes. "Despite their every effort to make me their puppet from the day I was found. They wanted a Federation ship to come and we were to intercept it posing as Starfleet officers with me as the prisoner. Once aboard, they wanted us to infiltrate and take over."

"The Syndicate wants a Federation ship, then," said Alex. He could hear her defiance of the Syndicate in her voice and in her statement. Until now, he had kept up his mental shields, just in case. The Ullian-by-birth began lowering them, opening his mind to the emotions in the room and the thoughts that freely floated at the front of minds. He blocked out all the others in the room and focused on Vash. "The simple fact is, Vash, that people on this ship will no doubt question whether you speak the truth." He paused a second, looking straight into her green eyes in order to get a read on her response. Was she as defiant of the Orion Syndicate as she said?

"Of course they will," Vash said with contempt. "Why should they believe someone who turns on their own?" Her thoughts matched her words, but there was a reason behind her desire to turn on the Syndicate which was behind her actions, buried in rage.

Alex could sense it; contempt, disdain. But there was something else, something boiling under the surface. Something that he would leave alone for the time being. He decided it was time. Then allow me to help with making them believe you. The mind cannot hide things and they know that. No matter how far down we put them. You see, Vash, I'm just as much human as you are. He smirked at the Orion woman standing in the cell.

For a second, the Orion woman was caught off guard when she heard him in her head and the name Mothers Without Mercy went through her mind before she began calling upon every memory of every lewd act she had seen or performed in her life. She narrowed her eyes and screamed at him from behind the force field and looked as if she would have attacked him if it weren't there.

Alex didn't flinch. He knew the forcefield would hold her and that his show of force was behind him. His time on Farius prime in deep cover had also taught him much in dealing with Orions, male or female. He also remembered his introduction to Captain Aravan and the ensuing conversation. "Now neither of those things will help either one of us. You want asylum. You want us to trust you. Yet you want us to take you at your word. I've provided you with food, clothing, and cooler temperatures. You've provided me with information. Information that cannot be corroborated. Help me help you, Vash."

Xylia wasn't really concerned with her antics, either. The forcefield was going to do its job. Given the fact that they'd both fallen silent and Vash's reaction, she was certain Alex entered her mind uninvited. What could she possibly say that would calm the situation? Not much. She'd asked what she wanted, and the Orion woman claimed to know nothing about it. Did the Security officer believe her? Not a chance. However... she was going to let Alex handle this until an actual threat was posed.

"No, she provided me with food, clothing and cooler temperatures," Vash said and pointed at the human woman. "You pose as a human and enter my mind without an invitation? You had no right! Everything I've offered, I've offered freely, but that wasn't enough for you, was it? You will get nothing more from me!"

"Then so be it. For now." Alex turned to Xylia. "Let her keep the clothes and the cooler temperatures. We have enough for the Captain and the Commander. Especially when added to the information my team obtained from Tactical Command's computer before... well, before everything went awry. I just wish we had been able to capture one of the pirates for questioning." He paused a few seconds before continuing. "At any rate, both reports together will make for some interesting reading and debriefing for the Command Staff and Starfleet Intelligence." He turned to look back at Vash. "Unless our guest has anything to add? I mean, other than the interesting movies, er, moves, I had the privilege of learning earlier."

"If I do," Vash replied. "They won't be given to you, Lieutenant."

Alex walked towards Xylia. "I think she's more willing to talk to you than me at this point. Care to give it a go?"

"Sure," Xylia said, looking toward Vash. "I'm sorry if you're feeling like you're being kept in here as a prisoner, but you're not. It's a matter of keeping you safe as well as keeping our crew safe as well. Your pheromones... well... I definitely don't have to explain to you how they work." She offered the Orion woman a reassuring smile. "Is there anything else you want to add?"

Vash cast a look of contempt at Rho and back to the human woman. "Not while he is here or in range to invade my thoughts again. That violation makes me want to provide nothing more and let Starfleet fumble along blindly. You are alone out here and there is no one who can make it in time if I do not guide you through it unless you choose to retreat. As for my pheromones, give me that damnable shot and confine me to one of your VIP suites and I might be more ameable."

Xylia frowned. "I don't have the authority to make that happen, but I can talk to my Captain. He might be willing if you agree to having a guard." She looked to Alex. "Can we have a few minutes?"

Alex smiled and nodded to Xylia before leaving the Brig. He stood outside the door and hummed a tune from his past as he waited. He knew full well that the Brig was equipped with recording equipment. Even if he weren't in there, he might still be able to access it as Chief Intelligence Officer. And the fact that with protocols, it would take quite a bit to have it turned off.

Vash went back to her bed and picked up the plate of fried chicken, rice pilaf and coleslaw, then back at the woman. "Doesn't Starfleet have some protocol for the ethical treatment of prisoners?" she asked as she sniffed the food.

"Yes, 49.09, which is why I tried to make you more comfortable. It will have to do until I can speak with my Captain.... and I will speak with him. You've been cooperating with us willingly, and I think that will serve in your favor," the Lieutenant replied, hoping the food she'd chosen wouldn't offend Vash. "The guard would simply be a precaution. If you're moved to quarters, you wouldn't be confined to them."

The Orion woman picked up a piece of fried chicken and bit into it. She tasted it for a moment before she chewed and swallowed, then took another bite. After her mouth was empty, she took a drink from the glass that had been brought with her meal and sighed. "Would I have to continue taking the shots?" she asked. "I did not like that I am allergic to them. The Doctor said he would include something called epinephrine if I had a reaction, but that only gave me a nasty headache."

"You would. You have to understand that as a Starfleet vessel, we can't afford to have our male crewmen fawning over you while our female crew try to hurt you," Xylia answered. "I don't want to hurt you. If I did, I wouldn't have brought you the things I did to make you a bit more comfortable in here."

"Thank you," Vash said. "Although I would not mind if one or two did decide to fawn over me, as you say." She tried a bit of the rice pilaf, but set the fork down after a taste of it and eyed the coleslaw suspiciously before she looked back up at the woman. "I appreciate everything you have done, Lieutenant. All I want is to help."

"Xylia... my name, and you're welcome," she said. "And I'm sure you can attract men the old fashioned way if you tried. You're gorgeous and exotic. I can help you with that, but I think we should get back to there being anything else you want to add. I'll be able to speak to Captain Aravan about moving you out of here. Also... we can talk to Doctor Caticasse about adding something to your inhibitor for headaches."

"Thank you, Zee-lee-a," Vash said as she tried out the woman's name. It was an odd one to be certain, but who know what humans thought when they named their offspring. She took another bite of her chicken and wiped her mouth before she looked at Xylia again. "Orion space is a very dangerous place and your mission will not be easy."

"We didn't think it would be easy," Xylia said, smiling when Vash pronounced her name for the first time. It was always interesting to hear others do that without the accent to go with it. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"That your ship will be one of the most hunted in this sector," Vash said. "If you aren't ready for it, or don't have the means to protect yourselves, I suggest getting Raimus and making a run back to Federation space."

Xylia by took a deep breath and let out slowly. She hoped the plan was to escape. Even though the ship was basically a floating city, they were going to have a fight on their hands. Raimus wasn't going to be easy to take. And having to deal with multiple ships out to get them... and not necessarily at the same time... that just spelled disaster. "I don't know what the Captain or Commander have planned. I'm not privy to that kind of information until it's passed on to my department head, then to me. I do appreciate the heads up, though."

Vash snorted. "Just like in the Syndicate. Everything is filtered down and you never know what's going on until you're told."

"It's Starfleet Chain of Command," she said. "I thank you for the time you've given us, and I hope that if any other questions need to be answered you'll be willing. I'm going to see what I can do about getting you moved from here. In the meantime, if you need anything, have one of the guards contact me directly."

"I will and thank you again for the clothes and meal," Vash told her. "I will do that and you've been more than accommodating for me."

"I'll be in touch soon. I promise," the human woman said, offering Vash a smile before she made her way out to where Alex was waiting. She just couldn't help herself. "You angered her quite a bit."

Alex turned to Xylia. "I did," he said. "But I was able to get a little out of her before she closed up. And...she opened up to you. I do everything for a reason, Xylia. For example, when I ordered you get those things for her. You see, when I angered her, she recognized that you were the one who brought the food, you were the one who brought the clothes, you were the one who cooled her cell. You were the one who helped her while all I did was gently interrogate her. And make her angry." He paused a minute and smiled at her. "She trusts you now."

"And she can continue to trust me," Xylia said. She turned to the Ensign from Medical. "Let Doctor Caticasse know that the epinephrine he puts in her inhibitor gives her a headache. That needs to be fixed before she gets another one. If there's any fallout for that, I'll deal with it." She looked back to Alex. "You are quite sneaky."

"I will, Ma'am," Ensign Baker replied. She held up the hypospray and continued, "I'll take this right back and let him know immediately." Baker headed down the corridor to the turbolift.

Alex watched her depart and turned to Xylia. "It's a job requirement," he said, chuckling. "Thank you for being here. I couldn't have pulled it off without you."

"You're welcome, though it would have been nice to know beforehand," she said with a smile. "I'll see you later?"

"While that may be the case, your genuine response was more believable by and acceptable to Vash," he said. "And yes, you'll see me later." Alex grinned.

"Until then," she said, smiling again before she began to make her way out.