Fall From Grace, Incarcerated

Posted on Wed Sep 27th, 2023 @ 5:47am by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Chief Warrant Officer Carol Dolton

Mission: Season 6: Episode 3: Far From Home
Location: Brig
Timeline: MD4 - 11:00hrs.
800 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Carol had been waiting for all the hullaboo to die down, it appeared little miss goody-two-shoes Lia Taylor was now in the brig. She watched as first the Commodore then her First Officer left, *That guy's her husband? Girl you'd be better off without him!* was her thoughts. Making sure the coast was clear, she entered. "Well, looks like you've burned a few bridges Commander. Wanna talk about it?" Lia turned to see Carol, "Oh it's you, guess your here to gloat Chief."

Dolton shook her head, "Not my style Commander, I'm more the revenge kinda girl." Looking at Carol, Lia now smiled slightly. "You can drop the Commander shit, while I'm in here for the next two weeks. Lia or Taylor will do, no doubt other forms of address will be used." "Not on my watch they won't, one word outta place and I'll bounce the idiot who uses it." Carol replied, "You were one of the few who trusted me on this rust bucket, took your time to get to know me." Lia glanced up at the ceiling, "Yeah seemed a good idea at the time Chief, you know your job inside out. I needed that, but it may backfire on you now." Carol looked puzzled, "How do you work that out?" She moved closer to the cell, "Just because your in there and you're the one who picked me?" She shook her head, "Girl you got a strange outlook, I pick who I trust and who I don't."

"Trust isn't the issue, is it? My behaviour is the problem, my fall from grace and my disrespect towards the Commodore and her First Officer is." Lia looked straight at Carol, "Mud sticks Chief, and the splatter from my escapade might catch you on it's spread." Carol now laughed, "Let one stuck up Officer say the wrong thing to me, and you could end up with a cell mate." Taylor shook her head, "What!! Are you nuts! Why would you risk your freedom and career for an idiot like me?" Dolton stopped laughing and gave Lia a hard stare, "Simple Lia, I don't drop friends when the going gets rough. Like I said, you took the time to get to know me. Not many in this bloody universe even bothered, just judged me and wrote me off. You didn't, you even gave me something I haven't had for fifteen years. Respect."

Lia looked back at Dolton somewhat dazed, "Why wouldn't I respect you? You're a combat veteran, ok not in this universe but you've fought and survived." She stopped and thought, then continued. "You've also held the rank to be a First Officer, that's not be sniffed at. Experience gained in that fashion shouldn't be overlooked, I was hoping for a few tips to give my career a boost. Guess that's out of the window now." Carol smiled, "Only if you want it to be over, so you dropped the ball. You telling me Lalor or that husband of yours ain't done the same thing at sometime? Course they have, wouldn't be normal if they hadn't. Difference is they've forgotten that slight mistake, now they're high and mighty with delusions of bloody grandeur."

"Carol, why did you come here? I mean you don't seem to be on duty, and the way your talking it's as if you're reaching out. Only I can't help you while I'm in here, or ever if the little princess gets her way." Dolton took a breath, "You ain't been listening, you're the reason I'm here. You and what you did for me, it may not seem much to you but it meant a hell of a lot to me." Carol turned and looked around, then turned back to face Lia. "Who's the snotty little lieutenant hanging on the princess's hemline?" Lia bit her lip as she replied, "Oh you mean Lieutenant Serenity Triannth, Lalor's little pet JAG. Don't go near her, she's a mean bitch who'll turn on you faster than a Klingon gets drunk." Carol nodded slowly, "Oh yeah! Well I've got a few tricks of my own, plus unlike you I don't play clean or fair."

Lia now held up her hands, "Carol, Triannth is dangerous. Between her and Lalor, you've got no chance of doing anything." Dolton simply waved of Lia's worries, "Who said I was going to do anything? This is a big ship, and accidents do happen. But that's for another time and place, it's gonna be lunch time soon so chin up and I'll visit again ok." Taylor nodded, "It's not like I'm going anywhere soon, so I guess you'll find me right where you left me."

Carol laughed, "Well you'd better be right where I left you, otherwise I might have to come find you."

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