Super Sluths
Posted on 06 Jan 2016 @ 4:45am by Ensign James Langley & Lieutenant Benice Gyce Ph.D.
1,905 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo; Deck 7; Calisto Bar
Timeline: MD 10; 1900 Hours
ON:
How does one properly meet the chief of security aboard a vessel for the first time? Certainly not in restraints and certainly not at the business end of an investigation of any sort. No. If one should have to meet the chief of security then it should be in the same way one would meet any intelligence officer or other person who had to use cunning, wit, and insight on a daily basis. It'd have to be in a far more intriguing method.
What better way to meet someone involved with information on a daily basis than to let that person divulge information about themselves without them even knowing it? He knew what she looked like and that her name was Benice Gyce. He obviously had to start with something. He also knew she was Bajoran. That didn't take a Keen intellect to find out. He just needed his glasses for that. But now he'd at least have a start in learning more from her just by using gestures and signals.
The first question at hand was whether she had been a member of the Bajoran resistance or at least if she had known enough about them. Probably an easy question to ask, but why ask a question when you could let your subject give you the answer without even saying a word? That was what the vase was for. An unspoken signal that spoke volumes to anyone who knew. All he would have to do was flip it and wait patiently and that's exactly what he did.
An intriguing man, Gyce mused to herself. The moment he walked in, his whole body language was sure of everything. For a new person on the crew, that made him stick out. Intelligence people were a bit hard to study too. They played they same game she did, which made them just as mysterious and hard to know.
Gyce normally ate lunch in the bar. It helped her understand some of the the people from afar and when the tables were full, she took a humored approach when someone had to sit at her table.
Langely, however, was not subtle. At least, not about meeting Gyce. Her time in the Resistance was a matter of public record and as she knew he was Intel, the vase was pretty clever to get her attention. Either he was really desperate to ask her on a date, or he wanted to impress her.
"I think you made your statement," Gyce laughed lightly as she decided to join him. "I was asked to join Intelligence after graduation, but I guess you can figure out why I declined, Ensign Langley."
There was one question answered along with some extra info. James hadn't actually bothered to look at the chief of security's file at all. It seemed too easy to just read the biography. Why do then when you could meet the author? She was a member of the resistance, which became obvious by her immediate answer of the subtle signal, and the statement she made had already answered itself with the way she aided her movement to his table. "Because you're a woman of action," he questioned with a confidence that made it seem like he already knew the answer.
Gyce gave an amused grin. "So what does the newest spymaster want with a detective?"
"What I'd like is to get to know you," James said with a confidence smile. "Because we seek the same thing: Insight. That and I have a feeling that as a member of the intelligence gathering staff you will no doubt use my services from time to time. Better we meet beforehand than in the middle of some heated investigation or some other exciting and suspenseful situation, don't you think?"
Gyce smiled before she reached in her bag for her SCIS badge. Then she showed it to James rather casually. "That gives me access to all criminal records and any sealed records that don't need flag approval to open. Of course, I can only use those databases for sanctioned cases and with my CO's approval. But it's a database compiled by Starfleet Security, Starfleet Intelligence, Federation Intelligence, and some smaller non-Starfleet branches I probably don't know exist."
Gyce was not gloating, for she took a breath and continued with, "While I have the ability to access this database because of my status with SCIS, I have not been taken seriously by the CO here. These people are scientists, and ideally believe the galaxy is a safe place for them because their idealistic training tells them their evolved... So I would very much like a partner who can help me validate some of my cases."
Cocky, confident, and perhaps a little too self sufficient. James couldn't help but smirk as she spoke. It seemed they at least had some traits in common. And there was also that touch of modesty. The willingness to accept help (though probably reluctantly). And with the Galileo being a science vessel he was more than happy to hear her suggest that the two of them work together because he'd otherwise be twiddling his thumbs as he waited to have to decipher and investigate some coded message between crewmembers which would end in some secret romance being exposed or something. Getting in with security would give him more to do. "I would be absolutely delighted to do so, but your statement leads me to wonder what exactly a skilled and experienced investigator such as yourself is doing aboard a science vessel? Is there more than meets the eye to this unassuming ship?"
"Hardly..." Gyce shrugged, as if trying to put that part of her life aside. "SCIS got a bit of a shakedown when I arrested my former boss. And the things we arrested him for were so disturbing, that Starfleet JAG Corps and Starfleet Security HQ both agreed to regulate SCIS for a while."
The implications of that statements were extremely varied and Gyce let him make his own deductions on that.
James smiled as the deductions were made. It didn't take long for him to draw a satisfying conclusion. "Ah, a trouble maker, are we? You must be good at your job."
"It's more that I personally, can't do my job effectively when bureaucratic ass hats want to watch my every move," Gyce spoke a fair bit irritably. "So I chose an assignment that took me away from that."
"A sharp detective with an investigative eye, a nose for trouble, and a strong dislike of bureaucracy? Say no more, my dear." There was a tone of excitement in James' voice as though he were making a new friend. Someone he found himself on the same page with. There'd be no conflict between these two departments, he thought. "I think we're going to get along great."
"I don't mind giving you access to our security systems, provided you're open with me about why you need to look at the feeds," Gyce agreed.
It seemed the two of them were getting off on the right foot. It hadn't taken long for James to get on the Chief of Security's good side and all it took was some honesty and perhaps a bit of charm. “Of course,” he answered back. “I think transparency is key with us intelligence types. And you will have access to my wealth of knowledge and skills whenever needed. That is, of course, if your myriad sources, both overt and covert, prove insufficient,” he concluded with a grin as if to imply that he took his relegation to the back of the line of supposed informants as a bit of an insult.
"I'm glad to have you on my side then," Gyce agreed with a huge grin. She did not have many friends on this ship for good reason, so it was nice relating so someone who understood exactly where she came from.
“And you on mine,” James concurred. “So,” he continued on with a bit of a relaxed smile on his face, the feeling that formality was no longer necessary coming across him as the two of them became more familiar. “I feel I must inquire about your cane. Being an investigator and a PI for none other than the Federation itself I have to assume there's either a blade or a gun concealed within it somewhere,” he questioned cheekily, trying to break the ice of cold formality in a way that could end up drowning him in the water beneath if the question was not taken in just the right way.
"A bioweapon in the form of a neurotoxin, was dropped on my Resistance Cell, not six months before the Cardassians pulled out," Gyce explained in a manner that suggested she accepted her fate long ago. "The cane holds no tricks, except that which an opposing's mind gives to it."
James winced visibly at the Bajoran's reply. He wasn't always the most tactful and this was one of those moments, but rather than apologize he figured he'd simply move their conversation along. “You can see my mind gives quite a lot then. So I do hope you will utilize it whenever you can. Otherwise I'll just be wasting away in the intelligence office losing its namesake by the minute.”
"It's not easy, doing the analyst job," Gyce agreed with a knowing nod. "But I prefer it these days, over front line."
"Then I shall endeavor to keep you entertained," The now mischievous sounding ensign spoke through a smirk. "I could be your," he began as he forced a raised eyebrow. He wasn't very good at these facial cues. "Partner in crime?"
"I already have one," Gyce laughed. "But thanks for the offer."
"Oh," James queried curiously. It shouldn't have come to a surprise that she already had a team to work with, but a part of him felt a little let down. "And who might this partner in crime be?"
"Are we talking about the same thing?" Gyce asked with confusion, for she was sure he had propositioned her.
The thought of his statement being taken in any other way hadn't occurred to James, but he had often found himself using Earth-born phrases around species who would take it more literally than others of his own kind. “I don't wish to break any federation rules and I don't wish to bed you,” he started with a bit of a blush as he clarified what he had not wanted to say. “But what I was thinking was you'd have someone to rely on when you found yourself in trouble's way or in otherwise uninvited places. What I meant to say was we could watch out for each other.” He could have gone on clarifying, but instead of turning into a bumbling mess of clarity he stopped himself. It was probably enough.
"That, I can commit to," Gyce agreed with much ease. "It is not easy, thinking no one else has common sense."
"Well, the sense might not always be common, but I promise to deliver," the super-sluth said to what would seem to be his new 'partner in crime' as he extended his right hand out with a smile. "Partner?"
"Partner," Gyce agreed as she shook his hand.
[OFF]
Lieutenant JG Benice Gyce
Chief of Security/Tactical
USS Galileo
Ensign James Langley
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
PNPC played by Jynn
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