Prison Diary 01 - Welcome to Purgatory

Posted on 01 Apr 2015 @ 12:07am by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark

1,707 words; about a 9 minute read

ON:

:: 2383 ::

His slender, tense body jostling lifelessly from side to side, the young man just stared straight ahead in the sterile transport, his dark eyes seeing nothing.

He wore a simple, grey jumpsuit, his dark hair starting to curl slightly at the ends where it had grown out a bit. A dusting of stubble across his jaw showed that the routine of the usually neat and primped young man had been well and truly thrown.

His hands resting in his lap, the slight rattle of the handcuffs around his wrists could be heard with each rock of the vehicle. And of all the things weighing on his shoulders, it was really starting to grate on him off.

Gabriel Stark had found himself in trouble in his time, but this was a whole other level.

He was still in a state of shock from it all. The guy trying to hurt his friend, the fight, the drug sweep showing positive, being found guilty of the assault and using illegal drugs...and then being given his sentence, that not only ended his chance of becoming a Starfleet Officer in the Academy, finishing his career before it had even started, but also sentencing him to a year in prison. And actual proper prison too, not even an open penal colony.

He jerked forward as they came to a stop, grimacing at the pull on his body with the sharp movement.

He gasped as the guard grabbed his shoulder to pull him up to his feet and marched him down the ramp.

Looking out, Gabriel's eyes darkened to a near black at seeing the reality of the bleak, harsh lines of the prison in front of him.

It took a shove from the guard to get him walking again and it took all of his stubbornness, to not show weakness in front of the bastards, to force himself to walk in.

The prison officer at the desk looked up when she saw him, looking him over with an arched eyebrow before looking back to the PADD with a frown. "Name and age."

A prod from the guard at Gabriel's side made him realise she was asking him.

"Gabriel Stark. 20."

She looked him up on the PADD before a slight chuckle came to her at seeing who he was. She looked back to him with slightly narrowed eyes, a small smile on her lips. "Here, you are Stark, and I am Officer Ward, but you can call me Ma'am. Unless, of course, you'd prefer we call you 'Cadet'...or how about 'Lord Stark' or simply 'Milord'..."

Gabriel held her eyes firmly, despite the jibing. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, his jaw tight. But he was too tired after the whole ordeal to truly get angry like he might have usually. "Stark will do just fine."

"How kind," she ran her eyes over him, taking him in slowly. "You look pale. White as death. Hope you're not sick."

"I'm fine," he murmured, motionless, just wanting to get some time on his own.

"Yeah, probably right," she chuckled as she looked down to his file and his crime. "Probably just going through withdrawal, right?"

Gabriel averted his eyes but kept silent, pressing his lips together. In all honesty, with the sentence he'd been given and where he was, he would give anything to be able to get high.

Ward's smile evaporated as she waved him forward. "Through the scanner."

"You know I've come straight from sentencing, right?" he pointed out quietly.

"Would you prefer to be strip searched?" she replied pointedly, motioning to him.

Gabriel glanced down, a frown settling on his features as he shook his head weakly.

"Didn't think so. Get in the scanner," Ward ordered firmly, moving to take hold of him herself to get him inside.

He closed his eyes as the doors closed, to try and stop the claustrophobic feeling as the light ran over him. He let out a tight breath of relief as it beeped he was clear and he virtually stumbled out the other side. A firm hand caught him and led him out without pause.

Gabriel frowned at being manhandled, but in truth was in too much shock and fatigue to fight against it. "What about my things? I had a bag...."

"It's being screened," a male guard stepped forward, reading from the PADD he held. He lifted his eyes and gave a small smile, watching the pale man in front of him before looking at the other guard, giving a nod. "It's okay, I'll take him," he said lightly and moved to Gabriel's side. "We will go through your things and you should have it in a few days. I am Wilde, I will be taking you through to your cell. You should see the nurse soon too judging by your colour, Stark."

"I'm not sick," he insisted again, but he was tired of this all and his voice was quiet for it.

"Maybe not, but it's a strain...going from out there to in here," Wilde said gently, giving him a small smile. "Now, we have simple rules here. No fighting, no sex, no disrespect towards the guards, no contraband..." he stopped before grinning, shaking his head. "Well, I'll give you the reading material. It's pretty straight forward."

"Straight forward," Gabriel whispered, a soft, weak laugh escaping as he shook his head, the kind of laugh that only sounded when it was an either laugh or cry situation.

Wilde stopped him, touching his arm. "Look..." he said, meeting his eyes. "It will be okay, Stark. You focus. You do your time, no one else's. You stay clean and respectful and I promise you, it'll be okay. You will be okay, Stark. So chin up," he squeezed his arm reassuring and got them walking again.

Gabriel let out a shaking breath at the words, walking thoughtlessly at his side as he watched the guard rather than where he was going. "No one else's time?"

"Don't let people take advantage. Don't smuggle for people. Don't take risks for people. If you are caught, time gets added," Wilde said and met his eyes with a weak smile. "You make your alliances, but you need to keep yourself above...the crime. Don't get sucked in."

Gabriel searched his features as he swallowed, nodding with a frown, trying to take it all in, but his mind was so foggy and cold that it seemed like hard work.

Gabriel's head turned at the sound of shouting, seeing a human and a Klingon arguing, the human's hand pulling back from where he'd just hit the Klingon, and the Klingon snarling and lifting his hand to thump him back.

"Stay here," Wilde said softly, before moving forward. "Hey!" he moved to them, grabbing the Klingon's shoulder. "Break it up, or I will send both of you to the hole!" he said firmly, one hand on the baton at his belt.

The Klingon moved to turn on the guard, but when he saw it was Wilde, he stilled. He looked back to the other prisoner, showing his teeth before it became a half smile. "He barely tapped me anyway..." he said with a gruff laugh, lifting his hand in a dismissive motion before turning and walking away.

Gabriel watched with interest, especially at how the Klingon had reacted. Both in his shrugging off the hit easily enough, and also how he backed down to Wilde. He tried to work out what it might mean about the guard, but he was too out of it to get far.

Wilde looked at the human, shaking his head. "I am disappointed in you, Dorian," he simply said. "I'm putting it on report. No privileges for a week." He pulled back and moved to Stark, giving him a weak smile. "I'm sorry about that. Come on, let's get you to your cell."

"I thought a Klingon would massacre him..." Gabriel murmured as he half stumbled with him.

"He would," Wilde admitted and frowned, gently taking his arm to support him. "I will make you see the nurse today. You seem...off."

Gabriel was silent for a long moment, frowning stubbornly as he glanced to him before licking his lips. "Probably just the shock of it all," he admitted quietly.

"It'll wear off," Wilde said reassuringly. He led him to his cell, getting him inside and sitting on the bed. He stood there, watching him for a moment. "Lights go out at 9. But you should be able to read...the forcefields have a bit of glow. There's a panic button by the forcefield, that red one? It alerts us. Use it if you feel poorly or if you are in fear."

The words registered somewhere, but Gabriel's eyes were on the second bed in the room. "I...I have to share a room?"

"Yes," he said softly, smiling weakly. "Everyone does, Stark. It will be okay. You're with someone who has been here awhile, who can be a decent influence in how you serve your time. Now, we have running water...drinking water too. No replicator, we...found people could tamper with that. You will be on suicide watch this week, it's standard practice. And...I am working tonight, so I will come by and visit to make sure you are okay."

Gabriel nodded numbly, looking back to him and meeting his eyes. "Thank you," he said quietly, and he even meant it. After the woman at the front, he hadn't expected much help.

Wilde nodded, holding his eyes before moving to get him some water. He handed it to him, holding his eyes. "Have a few sips. I am going to go and arrange the appointment with the nurse. You...try and rest, Stark."

Gabriel nodded gently, obeying without really thinking before setting the plastic cup aside, watching him leave.

Looking around the small, barren cell, Gabriel sat on the bed, motionless. He shivered with cold as he sat there, staring straight ahead, but he hardly noticed, his dark eyes taking in the reality of his new home.

OFF:

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PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Officer Wilde
Prison Officer
[NPC Markos]

Officer Ward
Prison Officer
[NPC Blake]

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