The first piece of the puzzle...

Posted on 10 Jun 2023 @ 9:49am by Petty Officer 1st Class Gabriel Stark & Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Inaros

1,566 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo-A - Security Office
Timeline: MD 11, 0452 hrs

[ON]

"Aria is going to explode like a firecracker when she gets back..." Gabriel murmured to himself as he set up the surveillance ready for the interview. It was unusual for an interview to be conducted by a single person, common procedure would usually have two people leading the questioning. But as the only Security body left on the ship, and no counsellor to call upon either, he'd just have to suck it up. He was compensating by ensuring they had multiple recordings running, so that it was patently clear that everything was above board with no other witnesses to verify. " 'I left you in charge for 5 minutes, Gabriel...' "

Inaros let out a breath before he walked in, meeting Stark's eyes. With Stark the acting Chief of Security, the other man seemed to have ill luck. Not that Inaros felt better, seeing as a patient had died on his watch. Sorry, been murdered on his watch. Even worse somehow. "Chief," he said, giving the other man that title. It set the tone.

Gabriel blinked. He managed to keep his reaction just to that blink, but he did blink. Because that hadn't occurred to him, not consciously at least. "Nurse Inaros, thanks for coming, take a seat," he motioned to the other side of the table. The upside of him being the only Security body around was that he could use the tiny Security area as an interview space without disrupting general operations. "So you're aware, I'm recording this interview."

Inaros nodded, meeting his eyes before he gave a small smile. "Understood," he said, because he did. This was an investigation now, and he was a witness or a suspect...depending on how you viewed it. "Anything I can help with, I will."

"Take me through what happened in the run up to the Captain's death, or at least as much as you remember," Gabriel set a padd on his knee, ready to take his own notes as he gathered his thoughts.

Inaros nodded, sitting back as he remembered. "I checked on the patients, they were both stable. I then went to sort out some supplies and paperwork..." he paused and met his eyes. "I remember feeling someone close, but...that is the last I remember before I came around again."

Gabriel nodded slowly, making some pointed notes. It was being recorded, but he preferred to take notes as he went along, it often shone a light on what stuck out on immediate first impression. "Can you remember anything about the person who came close to you?" he asked, looking back to him. "Anything you caught a glimpse of? A smell? A sound?"

Inaros frowned as he thought about it, clearly being serious with it. "Just..." he paused, meeting his eyes. "I think I thought it might be someone transporting in? I think? I didn't see anything. I just felt the hypo and then I was gone."

Gabriel nodded slowly as he tapped on the padd. It seemed plausible enough, and in line with the sedative listed in the medical report. "What's the next thing you remember?"

"Feeling sick," Inaros admitted before he shook his head. "Wylde...woke me up. I felt disorientated. It happens if you're...woken quickly after being sedated. Makes you feel...like someone's moved your guts about."

Despite trying to pretend like he was a serious, experienced security officer, the kind you didn't cross even on a good day, Gabriel couldn't help a small smile at the words, because he knew exactly what he meant. "And at what point was this? In relation to the Captain's death?"

"I...after," Inaros said, trying to think about it. Wylde had told him. He met Stark's eyes, holding them for a long moment. "It was after. I woke up and he was...dead. He had died on my watch."

Gabriel was silent for a long moment. Because he hadn't meant to imply fault with the line of questioning, but it's where Inaros had ended with it. "Are you able to confirm what Mimi's condition would have been over that time period?"

"Vitals were holding stable, we had her sedated," Inaros said as he looked at him, giving him a small smile that spoke of experience. "You don't just walk away from being stabbed like that."

"In your medical opinion, do you think she would have been capable of attacking KehG during the time you were unconscious?" he asked bluntly.

"No," Inaros said as he met Stark's eyes, his own serious. "No, I do not think she would have been capable. If I thought so, or any of the doctors did, we would have asked for Security to be present."

Well, that was abundantly clear. Gabriel tapped on the padd, sighing inwardly. It was a shame that it couldn't be that simple. "Before the death, did anyone other than medical staff come to visit, or check in on the patients?"

"Doctor Wylde and Locksley checked in," Inaros said as his eyes followed Gabriel's fingers on the PADD. "But that was over an hour before. The patients were stable and...well, we all needed our rest considering the last few days."

"But the patients were...stable, all things considered," Gabriel double checked, glancing up to look across to him.

"Yes, vitals were good," Inaros nodded, watching him for a long moment. "It wasn't an easy task getting them there, but Doctor Locksley and Doctor Wylde did it."

"I'm sorry," Gabriel suddenly said, frowning. Because it had to be hard, seeing someone they'd fought to save die so senselessly, only hours later.

Inaros shook his head, a frown coming to him. "I should have been more alert. I was a Marine. I let someone sneak up on me and sedate me..." he let out a breath, closing his eyes. He would have to live with it now. "I thought it was safe," he suddenly whispered, as an explanation, or an excuse, he didn't know anymore.

Gabriel watched him steadily, his eyes dark as he shook his head. "Security on this ship isn't your job. It's mine," he said quietly, his usual sharp tongue and humour gone. "I know the whole day and night must have been a blur, but if there's anything else that comes to mind, let me know."

Inaros met the other man's eyes, studying him. He had seen him as so young when he first saw him. But now he realised before him was not a young man, but a capable member of Starfleet. Someone whose job was Security. "I will. I'll...try and see if I remember anything else."

"Thank you," Gabriel nodded, standing to indicate that he was free to go. He shut the recordings off, letting out a long breath. "What a mess," he murmured, shaking his head. "Thanks for your time. I'll let you know if there's anything else."

Inaros watched him before he stood as well, slowly. "Please do," he said, giving him a small and reassuring smile. "And once this investigation's over, if you need a drink...we should have one."

"Oh, I'll hold you to that..." Gabriel assured with a weak, wry smile, shaking his head as he let out a tired sigh. "Keep me updated on Mimi's medical condition, we still need to keep her welfare at the forefront."

"Will do," he said as he watched him, with a slight frown. "May I...give you some advice, Chief?" he asked, his voice gentle as the frown eased and he gave him a small smile.

Gabriel blinked with surprise, not having expected the question. He nodded all the same, settling back on his heels as he watched him with a weak but genuine smile. "By all means."

Inaros nodded before he smiled, a gentle smile of experience. "No matter what rubbish lands on you, with work and duties, it's important to take the time for food and sleep. If you can't do one, do the other...even just for twenty minutes." He chuckled, knowing he sounded old. "Take my medical advice, stay here for twenty minutes and close your eyes."

Gabriel relaxed slightly at the gentle advice, grateful for the check in from another human being. He nodded slowly, locking his padd before dropping it lightly on the desk. "Well, the entire Security contingent right now is...me. And beyond this investigation, well...frankly, if Mimi didn't do it, we have an even bigger problem on our hands."

"True," Inaros said, giving a small nod. "But that's when you get the others involved. You might be the only Security we have on ship, doesn't mean there's not people here with skills in their backgrounds to assist. Delegate what you can, Chief."

"Very good advice," Gabriel admitted with a soft chuckle, tapping his arm lightly. "Let's catch up for a drink when things are...calmer," he added with no small amount of wryness.

"I'd like that," Inaros admitted before he nodded, moving to the door. "And stay hydrated, Stark, or else I will find you and make you drink water!" he said before he left.

Gabriel sighed, shaking his head tiredly as he ran a hand over his face, looking to the haphazard pile of padds on the table. "It wasn't water I had in mind..." he muttered.

OFF:

PO1 Gabriel Stark
Security
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

Nurse Leon Inaros
Medical
USS Galileo
[PNPC Rice]

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