Wasting Time

Posted on Thu Apr 14th, 2022 @ 10:18pm by Lieutenant Helena Issacks & Ranger Blue
Edited on on Mon May 9th, 2022 @ 12:02pm

922 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Roll With It
Location: Haumea Colony Brig
Timeline: MD1 - 0710 hours

“This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends, somebody started singing it not knowing what it was and now continue singing it forever just because… this is the song that never ends!

The first sound of the shift, the only sound that stopped the swirling pool of hatred, disgust and physical discomfort-namely, her raging head ache.

Sheri logged out of her duty shift and closed all her work before turning to her savior - relief - sacrificial lamb?

“Thank God you’re here! We have one, very noisy, prisoner. He has a small series of songs that he’s been…entertaining us with. I’m going to my quarters. If I come back to another of his unending songs, I may be forced to kill him.

Sheri walked before the prisoner’s cell, kicked the electronic shield and gave Ranger the serious side-eye.

Nick placed his packed lunch on the console. It was far too early to have dinner. He brought up the pertinent information on their guest.

“This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on my friends, somebody started singing it not knowing what it was and now continue singing it forever just because… this is the song that never ends!”

Nick rolled his eyes. Sternly he looked in on his keep. "So you think that being annoying and acting like a jerk to two Starfleet officers…you think that’s going to get early parole?”

“Listen here, Nick,” he waited for surprise to register on the younger man’s face. But there was no surprise. “I haven’t done shit to your colony. I even did everything in my power to avoid the colony. Now you’ve got me down here, coolin’ my heels.”

“You can cool your heels without your mouth. I’d like to suggest a shower and change of clothes. You do seem to have a nearly visible body odor about you."

"You know, we do have noise-cancelling forcefields for this," came a voice. Leaning in the doorway was a stern woman with dark, curly locks tied back in a loose ponytail. "And you," She zeroed her attention onto Ranger, "Maybe if you stopped running your mouth, you'd have ended up under house arrest instead of stuck here with our delightful faces. Well, mostly Ensign Devers."

Helena glanced over at brig officer, "Shift might end up getting long. Captain had to pull a couple extra officers for a colony emergency."

Nick’s brows bunched in confusion. Ranger made his way to the crackling force field, reminding him that he was too close. The Starfleet officers looked in his direction.

“First, I was gonna threaten to stun him, then stun him and then turn on the sound dampers,” he answered Helena’s advice. “Second, what’s the emergency?”

Ranger threw up his hands. “Come on, man…I’m just trying to pass through here. And what’s the emergency?”

Helena shook her head. "We don't do brutality here, Ensign. Regardless of how mouthy the prisoners get. He's under investigation. He's not a criminal." One talk with the Captain and various paperwork told her that. "Don't treat him like we've got him for illegal goods. And that, Ensign, will be your business when we're not in earshot of him."

Nick shrugged. Obviously Lieutenant Issacks had missed his attempt at a joke. Taking it in stride, he sighed. Touching just a few controls on his panel, he set the privacy screen up on Ranger’s cell.

“Okay, Lieutenant, we’re out of earshot now. What’s the emergency? I’m sure I could be more help with that than manning a…guest who is secured in the brig?” Nick suggested.

Helena shook her head. "We need you here. Half the colony is trapped in a forcefield and we can't determine the source just yet. Occurred overnight. We need someone to keep an eye on him, in case the two events are connected in some way."

Nick’s eyes narrowed. “You think he has something to do with this?” Nick wondered. “Seems unlikely considering he’s been in medical and now in the brig since he got here.”

Nick wondered why he was suddenly defending their guest. He mentally shrugged.

"Me? I dunno." Helena shook her head. "Who knows who did what around here, but we can't rule out the fact that his arrival and the forcefield's shortly after as a coincidence just yet. Who knows, maybe whoever's after him decided they wanted to show off their tech as an intimidation tactic. Too many variables, not enough evidence. So, keep an eye on him."

“I expected to do exactly that, Lieutenant,” Nick responded dutifully. “For as long as it takes, ma’am.” Nick wasn’t especially excited about the double shift, but needs must be met. He was happy he hadn’t ended up in some type of dome imprisonment.

"Good." There would be little time for more commentary, as Helena turned toward the door. She stopped, only to look over her shoulder, "I don't know how green you are Ensign, but regardless, maybe try not to communicate with our detainee so much. Guilty or not, you getting into trouble is more paperwork for the both of us. So let's try to avoid that, eh?"

Nick nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

She nodded. "I'll come to find you when we've got someone to relieve you. Don't get too comfy."

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