Oh oh... Busted

Posted on Mon Apr 27th, 2020 @ 8:39am by Quinn [ADMIN NPC]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Vaii's Office
Timeline: After Kidnapping Attempts
3996 words - 8 OF Standard Post Measure

Jess entered her office and sat down in her desk. "How the hell did that warbird just slip away?!?! It couldn't have retreated, we would have picked up a warp signature." She said to herself. "Wait a goddesses-damned second here!?!?!" It finally hit her in a moment of profound revelation.

"QUINN!!! GET YOUR OMNIPOTENT ASS IN HERE!!!" Jessica shouted.

The Q appeared yawning and her hair in disarray. "What is it Vaii?" she asked sleepily. Then her lips quirked "I had to leave Anje and it was getting good."

"You probably think this is a game don't you?" Jess started chewing her out. "You probably thought Starfleet was a game when you masquerade as a Starfleet Officer all those years."

"uh I didn't masquerade as a Starfleet officer. I am one. Completed my 4 years at the academy and everything!" Quinn replied her tone going hard.

"I was going to put several large holes in those Romulan bastards. Now we cannot. Care to share where you popped them away, or even better, pop them back so I can blow them up properly." Jessica mentioned. "Wait a minute, what were you doing with Anje?!?!?!"

Quinn's lips curved with a very knowing smile. "Ah now Jessica, I don't kiss and tell, it will cost you." she smirked. "And no. I am not popping that lunatic and her ship back here. I have no plans to pop you there either."

"I don't get you. Why become a Q? That sounds like something Ba'au would do."

"Its part of my charm" Quinn flashed a grin.

Jess shook her head. "Can you do me one favor?" Jess moved to a replicator. "One can of Sardines." The can replicated.

"Kindly put this into Sha'nae's sock drawer if you don't mind. I'll owe you big for this."

"I would but she currently does not have a sock drawer. She is too busy hunting down cardassian guls to kill. You missed a lot when you transferred here." Quinn smiled.

"Well put this in her pack." She opened the lid a bit. "She'll smell as fishy as the old bat she claims to be."

"A bit jealous there?" Quinn asked. "jealous that she looks like a teenager at nearly 155?"

"And acts like a teenager. And how can I be jealous of her. I have something she'll never have." Jess disposed of the Sardines in the replicator. "The respect of my peers. What is she doing? She thinks killing Cardassians will make a better world? What a waste of a lifetime for the Ba'au symbiote. I really hope I'm there one day to save her worthless ass one day." Jess picked up her flight jacket and left the room.

"1. Ba'au is El-Aurian not Trill. 2. You missed a lot after your departure. She had the respect of her peers and her CO. And 3. She isn't just killing them for fun. Shall I show you why? Maybe you will understand her better?"

"No doubt an ill-concieved mission of revenge." Jess left the room. "It's very likely I'll outlive her after all." She said as she left the office

"I should let you live as long as she has and even tie your life forces together, but I won't." She snapped her fingers and said "Look into this," she placed a small crystal in front of Jessica. "Look" she commanded, making Vaii look deep.

The world blurred and Jessica found herself floating above a scene.

===/\===


It was late. She had closed up the shop and bay just after sunset. Sha’nae had worked hard that day. Fixing farm equipment was a change from Starship engines but it was a living. And it was a quiet life. She had not left Starfleet to fight aggressively. She had left to help those trapped between the two armies. The Civilians. She gave aide to those who needed it. She taught children the basics of Computers and fixing farm equipment. She helped their parents with maintenance and bringing in the harvest. If she occasionally gave aide to those with sympathies with the Marquis, she didn’t ask nor did she care.

Now, she sat in the small living room in the apartment above her machine shop. She had cooked herself a simple meal and after eating it, she now curled up with the latest Engineering manual, she had gotten on her last run to DS9.

Just because she was no longer fleet, did not mean she had given up her passion for Engineering. Sitting there, in her baggy Starfleet Engineering Corps jumper and black leggings with thick socks on her feet, she was in her own mind, comfortable. The silence of the night, interrupted only by the sounds of the native insects, was perfect for her. She had missed it over the past few years. And now that the shop and bay were her’s, as her parents had left for destinations unknown, she had what she had always wanted.

She had been just drifting off in the middle of a paragraph on transwarp beaming and its possibilities –YAWN-, when there was a loud thudding on the downstairs door, then, a loud bang, which had her bolting up right, the manual falling to the floor as she scrambled to her feet. Outside she could hear shouts and people yelling in fear. Cardassians. She knew it before her main door burst open.

The room was dim, and the only light was from the small lamp beside her couch. But the laser sights on the Cardassians rifles made up for that. Shae stood still. She didn’t even flinch as they stormed into the room. 5 of them. She only had one phaser in the entire place and it was down in the shop and was used mainly for those customers who thought that her mechanical services also came with a more personalised touch. They didn’t.

Slowly she raised her hands. She didn’t know what they were looking for or who but she was not about to antagonise them. A few harshly barked orders in rudimentary Fed Standard had her kneeling with her hands on her head. Shae gave no resistance as she was frisked and then cuffed and hauled out of her comfortable home and down the stairs and out into the street. There she found herself placed with other villagers.

One by one, they were dragged forward, their faces compared to a hand scanner and an image. They were put into two separate groups. One group, it was clear to see was going to be let go. It held mainly women and children under the age of 15.

One man, was so belligerent that, he was dragged away into the trees, and they all heard the whine and fire of the phase rifles as his shouts were abruptly cut off.

Shae was among the last to be looked at. But the man before her was a slimy weasel of a man and he blubbered as he was brought forth. He begged, pleaded, and in his fear revealed that he had brought the Cardassians down on them, telling them that there were marquis in the village. That caused issues as men cursed at him and women screamed.

Sha’nae just stared at him icily. The Cardassians let him stand and told him to point them out. He did so. And several children under the age of 15, lost both parents, all of them were tradespeople. He probably owed them money. Sha’nae watched him as he went around. His gaze landed on her. She hated him and he knew it. He had tried to get her into bed, and had an outstanding debt with her as it was. His hand raised and she knew before it even stopped that she would be pointed at. He was blaming innocent people. And she knew she would be blamed.

His finger pointed accusingly. “And she is ex-Starfleet. A Marquis spy with Starfleet training!”

Shae rolled her eyes. Oh for the love of the gods. She was hauled to her feet and she was dragged before the Gul. She kept her eyes on him.

“You are Starfleet?” he sneered

“Ex- Starfleet. I retired a while ago.” Shae answered honestly. “I was born here, so I came home to take over the family business. My parents have left the village.”

“Retired?” he sneered. “You are a child.” His gaze swept her up and down with a crudeness that she ignored.

“El-Aurian” She replied. Her gaze didn’t waver.

“He says you are marquis.”

“He is wrong. And he is also a liar.” Her tone was even. It showed no fear. Shae’ was not going to show that sort of weakness.

“He brought us here.” Replied the Gul. “We have people here who betray the Cardassian union.”

“Do you? Or do you have people to whom he owes money?” She asked curiously.

“She lies! I saw her. She gave a marquis room and board... Slept with him, fixed his ship!” the man screeched in a high pitched voice.

She gave him a cool glance. “Peeking through windows are we?” she asked curiously. “I wonder how you could see something that never happened!”

The man glared and tried to straighten his back even more. “Spy, whore and mechanic. There is your cell leader Gul Morg.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh for the love of all things holy. You are delusional. I am not marquis. I am a mechanic!”

“EX STARFLEET OFFICER!” the man screeched. “She is a MARQUIS!”

She rolled her eyes again and shook her head. “Insane.”

“No he isn’t. He has been very truthful with us.” Replied one of the other officers around the Gul. His eyes focused on her. “though.. how a child…”

“El-Aurian” she replied coldly. “I am 131 years old.”

That caused some silence. A young woman looking like she was 17, was 131. Before she could say more, the weasel was spouting more lies. He rambled on and on and Shae chose to remain silent so she didn’t castrate him verbally.

The Cardassians had already made up their minds. She could see it. She had a major in intergalactic law but she also knew that the Cardassion union did not abide by it at all. She was manhandled into the group who were being bound together. A glance over her shoulder had her spotting the weasel grinning evilly at her. He would pay, she silently vowed. Not today. But eventually. His usefulness would end and they would kill him.

But she knew she would never see it.

It was hours later, maybe even days, she could not tell. Locked in the dark, crammed in with other prisoners, Sha’nae struggled with her thoughts. She had to keep herself calm. She had known the risks of returning home. She knew it was a major risk but she could not leave them suffering. Around her, people sobbed, pleaded and called out at the guards.

Pulling her knees to her chest she sat curled in a corner. She knew it would be a matter of time. The words of the informant would soon wind her up in an interrogation room, and it would not be pleasant.

==/\==

"so now you know part of it Ms Vaii. Want the rest?" Quinn smirked. "Never mind, let me show you the rest."

Again Jessica and Quinn were plunged into memory.,

==/\==

When she was finally dragged from the crowded cell, she had no idea how long it had been, and she knew no answer would be forthcoming if she asked. She had, over her years in the fleet seen and heard about various races and their interrogation techniques. Romulans were particularly scary but they used drugs more often than not, and Klingons used knives, but she knew that the Cardassians who were just as barbaric, would be as bad. She knew knives and other implements were in her future.

Two guards held her by the arms and she refused to give them the satisfaction of dragging her. She kept pace with them and was quiet even as they all but threw her into a chair and chained her legs and wrists down.

The Gul from the village appeared in her line of sight as the lights went out except for the one above her. She knew the Gul’s name. She remembered it. “Gul Morg.” She said calmly. “If you wanted to talk there are easier ways to request a conversation.”

His response was a backhand across her mouth. She grunted and tasted blood. But she refused to cry out. She absolutely refused to give them that pleasure.

“You will tell us all you know.”

“Well in 131 years I have learned a lot. What was it you wanted to know? Do you want to know what Admiral Archers’ favourite tea was? That would be Japanese Green tea. What about Kirk’s favourite underwear maker…it’s a human brand called Calvin Klein by the way”

Another backhand answered her smart arse comments. This time she spat out blood. “No not what you wanted?”

“You have been identified as a member of the Marquis. You will tell us about your activities and the others in your cell.”

“My activities? I fix farm machinery. The odd shuttle or two and basically do supply runs to outlying farms.” Shae replied coolly. “And the person who identified me? Nothing more than a cockroach who should have been stepped on years ago. You listened to a liar.”

“You are Starfleet.”

“Ex-Starfleet. Twice now.” She added almost offhandedly. “I get bored. And when I do, I change careers. I resigned over 18 months ago. And came home to take over my father’s workshop. No brother to do so. Only child. My parents left and went … well last I heard they were on Risa… looking to go to Andoria next I think, that was a couple of months ago.”

The Cardassians around her growled. “What?” She asked coldly. “Not what you wanted again?”

“Tell us the truth! You are a Marquis spy!”

“Spy? Are you loony?” She laughed. “A spy in a mechanic’s shop? Not doing much learning of secrets there. Surely the space port would have been a better place.”

Gul Morg narrowed his gaze at her. She was smart, he could see that. “Take her to the tank. Let’s see how much she laughs after that.”


===days later===

Shae wanted nothing more than to sleep. Either that or die. She was exhausted. The tank was a horrible place, water poured in for hours, filling the room until she could barely breath then it drained away swiftly flinging her to the floor, drenched and gasping for breath. This was repeated over and over again. Each time, she grew less and less able to keep her head above the water. The last time, which felt like minutes ago, she had failed to maintain herself and had sunk beneath the churning water, thinking it was ending. Then the water had been drained away and she now lay gasping and coughing up water on the cold wet metal floor as she had for the past few days. Her body shivered, her limbs ached and her eyes burned as there was surely something in the water to cause that. She was stripped to her underwear, and it made it harder for her to maintain her body heat. Food, such as it was had been sparse and barely above a mouthful.

She knew she was innocent, but knew that it didn’t matter. She in the years in the fleet had seen prisoners of war and knew it didn’t matter if they were innocent or guilty, they were treated the same. Badly. And she knew some who were tainted by this, in the eyes of others. As she lay there gasping for breath and struggling not to cry in pain, Shae heard heavy boots coming towards her. Mentally she shuddered as they stopped before her. Opening her eyes slowly she studied the steel capped boots in her line of sight. He'll even Cardassian shoes were ugly.

Rough hands reach down and hauled her upright. Standard Cardassian grunt Shae’s brain registered.
“Ready to confess yet?” He sneered at her.

“Kiss a jem’hadar.” She spat back though her voice was weak.

He smirked “Maybe the Gul will let you try that. I hear they have a lot of… stamina.” He cuffed her hands behind her back and shoved her out of the tank. “But now you have an appointment with a doctor.”

His words puzzled her even as she was shoved and dragged down a dank corridor. A door opened at the end of it and the light from it silhouetted a tall Cardassian female. “Bring her. Let's get this started.”

==/\==

Quinn paused now and looked at Jessica. "Well?" she said. "There is more you know. Do you want to know it all?"

Jess looked at Quinn silently for a few moments. "No...."


"Are you sure? Well then, let me break it down for you. Sha'nae Ba'au was tortured, and sentenced in a Kangaroo Court as a Marquis, Which she is not. Her genetic material was taken, and a child was created. She then had her memory wiped and sent back to the federation, where they imprisoned her for treason. For 25 years. And when, the Federation realized they needed Engineers, they offered her a 'deal'. What deal? Best you hear it from their own lips." She snapped her fingers and another scene appeared.

===

1095 days into her 25 year sentence, 3 years to the day, since she had been delivered to New Zealand Penal colony, Sha’nae was called into the Visiting room. In the 3 years she had been here, she had never once had a visitor other than her agent. So to be called into the visiting room, at a non specified time, was different for her.

She entered and was directed to a table in the far corner where a man in Captain’s pips sat. She knew him. And was not very happy to see him. She sat down “Captain Miles Hohn. Well isn’t this a surprise.” Shae drawled as she studied the human male before her. “They actually advanced you to captain. Will wonders never cease.”

“And you ended up in jail. Seems that you got what you deserved.”

She rolled her eyes. And recited in her head - only 8,028 days to go- “Why are you here Miles?” She asked after allowing the silence to stretch.

“Starfleet needs engineers Shae.”

“And?” she asked bored.

“They are offering you and others a deal.”

She raised an eyebrow. “A deal? I have 8028 days to go until I am free. Why should I even consider some blasted deal from an organisation who sold me and others out to the cardassians?”

He studied her. “And what do you intend to do once free Shae?”

“I am going to the house in Colorado. I am going to relax, live, write and basically not do anything to do with Starfleet. I am not taking any deal Miles.” She said coldly.

He shrugged. “It's called conscription Shae. They can force you into it.”

“And that's Illegal now days in the federation.”

“There is a war on Shae. Or don’t you get the holonews in here?”

A smile flitted across her lips. “Ah yes. The Cardassians have joined with the Dominion. Such a coil the Federation finds herself in. Tell me, how many people are getting apologies for being criticized for telling people that this would happen? Or are we no longer allowed to say ‘I told you so’?”

“Are you done?” He asked cooly.

“No.” She said softly. “I spent 3 years Miles. 3 years of my life in a Cardassian’s Prison and you know what I got for it? 25 years. No trial. No questions asked. Just Jail because the Cardassians told the Federation I was a Marquis.”

“You were”

She sighed. “No Miles. I am not and never have been. I lived at my family home and that was enough to convict. But I am not going to take any deal. Go away.” She stood. “I have no time for the Federation or Starfleet. I will serve my time for a crime I did not commit and then I will go and write, the truth. And when it comes out, and it will, Starfleet will find its sheen looking as black as the Cardassian heart!”

“You can’t do that Shae!” He stood to face her. “You cannot throw what happened into the Federation's face.”

“Yes I Can.” She replied. “My life. One I will live longer than you and those who put me here. I am happy here Miles. It's quiet no one beats me, no one starves me, no one fills the room until I can barely breath with water and almost drowns me! I am here, alive and when my sentence is done. I will go to my home in Colorado and I will live, love and write. No one can stop that.”

He calmly placed a PADD on the table between them waving off guards with a look. “The deal is, 3 years time served. You rejoin the fleet as a ensign and work for the fleet for 50 years, and for 60 after that you can not practice Law. Once your 50 years are up, you are home free.”

She stared at him. “No.”

“You do not have a choice Shae. You have to take it.”

“Or what? They are going to extend my time in here? Legally they can’t. And If I wanted to Miles I could fight the 25 I am currently serving.” She watched him. “I am not taking that deal. It's worse than I am currently doing!”

“It's the best you are going to get!”

“No the best is staying here and doing the 25 years.”

“After which they will automatically increase it to 100.” he dropped the bombshell.

She stared at him. “So the Federation will illegally do this?”

“They are on a war footing Shae. If the war does not end they will.” He sighed. “Look I know this sucks. But you have no choice. Do you want to be here for the next 122 years?”

She didn’t. It had to be a scare tactic. She watched him carefully. “And if I take the deal, i have it in writing that at the end of the 50 I am out right?”

He nodded.

“Leave the deal I will look it over. I am not signing anything without reading it.”

He nodded again. “If you accept, i will be here to escort you to your new posting.”

She didn’t reply. She just picked up the PADD and left the room without a backwards glance.

===

"And you wonder why she has a chip on her shoulder." Quinn said as they returned back to the present. "Well she took that deal."

"That's the difference between us." Jess noted. "I wouldn't have taken that deal."

"Wouldn't you?" Quinn smiled. "Hindsight and all that I guess. You didn't go through what she did. You didn't have freedom snatched away the instant you were freed from a hell. You didn't have the federation overtly screw you over. But then, I guess, she deserved it right?"

Jess got in her face. "And that is where our differences are. This is the United Federation of Planets, not the Romulan Star Empire. Whatever she's done, whatever she's told herself. It is of her doing!! I would not have taken their corruption. There's times you talk.... and times you keep your mouth shut." Jess noted. "Goodbye ma'am."

Quinn considered zapping the mouthy woman into a water tank like what had happened to Sha'nae. But she changed her mind at the last second. Some people never learned.

Quinn merely said "One day, you will face the same. One day you will be like she was. And when that day comes, you will see me, a la Cheshire cat, watching." And with that Quinn vanished.