A Matter of Contention

Posted on Fri Mar 13th, 2020 @ 11:32pm by Commander Victoria 'Enyo' Yamaguchi & Captain Tienn Kerris & Commander Erasmus Sorvok & Commander Gail Hobbs & Lieutenant Konrad Anjou & Lieutenant JG John Kemal

Mission: Mission 96: Settling Accounts
Location: Various Locations - USS Argonne
Timeline: 1400Hrs, September 5th, 2392

Ensign John Kemal raised an eyebrow. "Why is this hatch sealed,?" he asked aloud as he turned, thinking he heard someone. "Hello?" he called loudly. Hearing his voice come back to him. "Mmm... Maybe nothing.. but maybe not." as he decided to go and see what was out there, considering he was trapped in here.

John stopped as he could indeed hear another person so he set off in search of whoever this person was.

Dr. Gail Hobbs was in the back of the Jeffries tube. She was sitting on the tube with her knees up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. She stayed quiet, hoping to avoid detection.

John Kemal came around the corner, he spotted the person he was hearing. "Hello. I didn't know anyone else was working here."

Gail tried to speak but said nothing and buried her face in her knees.

John noticed something was really wrong here so he went over to her. "Easy. I mean no harm." he paused. "Oh a Commander," he added, noticing her rank. "I mean no disrespect, sir."

"No, it's okay Ensign," Gail replied in a subdued manner. "I know you're just here to get work done."

"I need that panel next to you ma'am," he commented evenly before moving his massive bulk into the room next to the woman who was more or less half his size. He pulled the panel off with one smooth motion. He handed it to her. "Could you put this somewhere"? he inquired of her.

Gail moved over to give Kemal room. As he handed her the panel she placed down and out of his way. "If I'm in your way, please ask me to move."

"Your not," Kemal answered evenly, just as he went to work. "So, what punishment detail did you get to end up in here?"

"I gave a marine NCO the finger." She told him as she stared down the empty tube.

"Wow, that's extreme," Kemal responded evenly. "What was your punishment?"

"It's difficult to explain." She answered.

"That's okay. I have time." Kemal responded with a smile. "I have got to hear this story anyway."

"I was operating on a wounded crewman when the marines barged in and interrupted. I flipped them off and they shot me. For whatever reason, I awoke in the ship's armory." Gail told him.

"Wait. What?" Kemal responded. "That makes no sense to me," he answered. "Why would marines interrupt you in sickbay. Wait, what ship was this on?"

"This was on the Farragut," Hobbs replied. "The Marines were being overzealous."

"The Farragut," Kemal answered. "I didn't think she was assigned here. I mean one of my friends was assigned to her and he mentioned that Captain Michael Yeager was a good skipper."

"He may have been a good skipper but I never heard of him. Our commander was Captain Yamaguchi." Hobbs replied.

"Captain Yamaguchi." Kemal shook his head. "Torilla was commanding the Courageous. I know of a couple of other Yamaguchi's but I didn't think there were that many." he paused. "Wait. I don't get it."

"Marie Yamaguchi, McKnight was the First Officer. It was your lot that boarded our ships." Gail told him.

"Well, I don't know anything about that Ma'am," he answered evenly as he continued with his work. "Besides. I've not heard anything about boarding operations or anything like that. I'm just on temp assignment here because my own ship was destroyed over Goranar at the hands of the Klingons."

"The Federation is at war all the time. Has the Federation made peace with the Klingons?" Gail asked.

Kemal regarded her in silence as he began to realize a few things. "Your Federation might be, mine is now at peace, our war ended a few days ago with a peace accord offered to us from Jm'pok. I heard he was assassinated, however." the massive human shrugged. "Besides. You're not exactly from around here. Are you?"

"You have more powerful weapons than we do. The man you supposedly made peace with is now dead. In my existence I'm a committed pacifist, in yours I'm a bloodthirsty marine. You attacked our ships as we were exploring. Every piece of evidence points to being a warlike people." Gail explained.

"Whats your name?" Kemal inquired softly. "I'm John Kemal. I find it best if I know how to address the other person," he explained. "I wonder what the other John Kemal was like in your reality."

"My name is Dr. Gail Hobbs." She told him. "Your name precedes you. Your name is Crusher Kemal. I had to deal with your handy work. On Chugnak VII you broke every bone in a political dissident's body. It took me seven hours of surgery to make sure she could just breathe on her own. Some of your other victims were beyond medical care. Your master, commissar Nakamura, was quite pleased with your performance."

John paused as he swallowed. "What?" he paused. "On second thought. Maybe I shouldn't have asked," he responded with a sigh. "Well, whatever I might be elsewhere. Here I am an engineer and I fix things. I love my job." he regarded her as he finished his work. "Pass me that cover. Please?" he paused. "But if you want to run, I won't stop or chase you but before you decide. May I recommend at least considering the possibility that you are in a different reality then you knew."

"And why should I believe you?" Hobbs asked. "Can you tell me why you're so different?"

Kemal regarded her. "First I am not him," he growled at her. "I am an engineer and I love my job. I fix things and I make things work. I take great pride in my work. I'd go ten miles out of my way before I'd harm a fly. You think I want to hurt people like the monster in your home reality?" he asked of her. "You must so little of me. But then I'd think little of me too. Considering what you told me." as he placed the covering over the top of the panel he was working on. "Allow me to prove it to you."

"Okay, please do," Gail answered.

"You're alone, outmatched and outnumbered. You mean no harm to this ship o this crew, if you did, then you'd have done it already," he responded. "I mean no harm to you Gail but like I said, if you have a cause then go ahead. I won't stop you but if you turn yourself in, I'll go with you. I promise you won't be harmed. I will try my best to help you."

"You haven't been very aggressive with me and have been rather polite," Gail told him. "That said, I'm still not sure the rest of your colleges won't execute me."

"They won't. They simply assume you are a threat to the ship." Kemal responded. "If you turn yourself in, I'll go with you and you won't be harmed. I promise."

"You ask a lot of me," Gail told him.

Kemal regarded her, he nodded his head. "I do," he answered. "But you won't be alone when you deal with Security. They'll catch you sooner or later and I'd rather you get it over with. Let's look at your situation. You're trapped here and they'll simply squeeze you out, sooner or later. I'd rather be there beside you because had you intended harm. You would have clubbed me when my back was turned any one of the half dozen times."

"I'm going to get captured anyways. Might as well do it on my terms." Gail took a deep sigh. "Alright, let's go."

Kemal tapped his combadge. "Kemal to security. I have found her. Send one man to my location, she is surrendering."

A minute or so later, the door nearby suddenly opened and a Bajoran female was standing there wearing security orange, she also wore the rank of Lieutenant Commander. "Hello," she commented evenly, wearing a smile on her face. "Oh my, you look just like Brianna Hobbs. I assume you are surrendering to me?" the tall Bajoran inquired with a wide smile. "No need to cuff you so we can keep this quiet. I'll inform the skipper that the issue has been tended to and we can look at what to do with you."

"Commander," Kemal commented. "I am going to go with her."

"Why Ensign, you did nothing wrong. Or did you?" Tienn Kerris responded before she asked her question of him.

"No sir," Kemal answered. "I gave Gail here, my word that no harm would come to her. She believed that she is going to be executed."

"Well now, that's just overkill," Tienn answered. "Okay fair enough." she paused. "Ms. Hobs. I am Commander Tienn Kerris. I'm the Chief of Security aboard this ship. I have many questions for you but shall we go?."

"Very well, Commander. Show me the way." A resigned Hobbs answered.

Tienn smiled. "This way." and with that, the three of them set off towards the brig. They led her to a cell and she was let inside before the forcefield was raised. Kemal sat down in a chair outside her cell, he also closed his eyes as he settled in for a long wait.

Gail waited on the bunk patiently. So far, she hadn't been killed.

Tienn came back a moment later. "Ms. Hobbs. Are you prepared to answer some questions?" the tall Bajoran inquired as she deactivated the force field. "This way please?"

Gail followed Tienn down the hall. In the adjacent room, Sorvok and Anjou were observing the interrogation. "Why is that engineer here?" Anjou asked.

"He is the one who coaxed her out to surrender. He seems to have a calming effect on her. I see no reason to excuse him." The Vulcan answered. Anjou nodded in agreement.

Tienn led the older human female into an interrogation room. "Please have a seat." as she turned to the Engineer. "Do you wish to join us for this?"

"I do, Lieutenant Commander." Kemal responded in a quiet tone of voice.

"Then please have a seat too." Tienn indicated a chair.

Tienn then slowly sat down in her chair. "Much better. Are you comfortable?" she inquired with a smile. "Feel free to sit back and put your feet up. Do you want anything to eat and drink?"

Kemal nodded his head. "I do please Commander."

Tienn nodded as she produced a PADD. "Feel free to write out your request for dinner here." as she slid the PADD across to Kemal.

"Just some tea and a grilled cheese sandwich, please," Gail replied.

Tienn smiled. "What do you want in the tea?" she inquired. Meanwhile, Kemal slid the PADD across back to Tienn who added her own order.

"Oh, green tea with some honey would be perfect," Gail replied in a subdued voice.

Tienn nodded before she handed the PADD off to an aide. "Send this to the Green Dragon." Tienn commented with a gentle smile.

"Yessir. Right away." and with that, the young guard disappeared out the door leaving Tienn. Kemal and Hobbs alone. "Do you mind if I get a little background before I start?" the tall Bajoran indicated. "I'm wondering, how do you come to be here...?" she inquired.

"I arrived on the Farragut. I stayed in sickbay all the time." Hobbs told her.

"Do you were not told about the ship's mission here or what else is going on?" Tienn inquired. "Ahh. Good. Bring her in."

The door opened as Enyo was escorted into the room. "Hello, Gail. Fancy meeting you here." The new arival greeted the medical officer, a wide grin on her lips.

"No, the rest of the command shunned me," Gail told Tienn. "They kept me in the dark about a lot of things. I wasn't even in command staff meetings."

Enyo nodded as she went and sat down next to Hobbs. "She's right. Doctor Hobbs here is a pacifist, she has no reason to love the empire, in fact, she has more cause to hate then I myself to.. and that's saying something." she turned to Hobbs. "Have you been well treated.?"

Gail was cautious. She kept a safe distance from the woman she thought was unstable. "Yes, I have been treated fair."

Enyo sat back before she put her feet up on the table. "I love my attitude problem." she grinned over at Hobbs. "Besides, these people are so much more creative than the shitbags we left behind. You should remain here, these guys are like the Federation we lost."

"Yes," Gail agreed tentatively. "What else do you need from me?" She asked Tienn in a nervous voice.

"I'm actually looking for information on how you came to be here. What was your mission here and the like? But first. I am hungry and so I'm going to eat, there is no need for me to be an ass about it. So we will all eat dinner. I can't exactly set you free Ms. Hobbs but right now I need information from you.". While the door opened suddenly and in came six people with several trays of food. "

Gail ate a little of her food. Despite not eating for several days, she lacked an appetite. "I can't give you any more information because I have none to give."

"Fair enough then," Tienn commented with a smile. "Now we eat. Your meal looks rather lacking, you sure you are good with that?" the tall Bajoran inquired.

"The food is good but to be honest I'm not hungry at all," Gail replied.

"Tienn," Anjou talked into her earpiece, "When you're done eating I'd like to give her a quick checkup."

Tienn nodded. "Okay," she answered the two people. "Gail. I am sure you have already judged us and found us wanting. Considering we seem to be much like what you left behind."

Enyo regarded Hobbs. "Eat something Gail," she said quietly. "I'm willing to bet you've not had a decent meal in a while," she commented before she ate a french fry. "Mmm. The food is actually real and not the cheap crap from a replicator."

Tienn regarded Gail Hobbs with a critical eye, as a mother looking at one of her children. "Gail, when was the last time you even ate?" she asked gently.

"I don't even remember." She replied. It was then that Anjou entered. Gail watched him warily as he approached.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Anjou. I just want to run some quick checks, if that is okay with you?" He asked in a kind voice.

Tienn decided not to protest the Doctor entering but he was doing his job, she didn't mind as she had her own concerns as she went back to her meal. She would then ask her questions afterwards but this woman was coming across like she was little threat so Tienn was going to see about putting her into guest quarters until her situation could be sorted out, she was going to ask for Enyo's assistance on the matter with the small fortune of knowledge she had brought with her. "Would you guys mind excusing me a moment?"

The tall Bajoran rose to her feet and went out the same door, she walked into the other room. "Colonel. Captain. What do you two think of all this?" Tienn inquired of Hobbs and Sorvok. "I don't believe she'a threat."

"She looks harmless," Hobbs replied. "Considering how borderline psycho everyone else's double has been, I'm surprised how meek she is."

"While she may give us the impression of meekness, we won't know until she is put under stress," Sorvok said. "I wouldn't let any of them free anytime soon."

Tienn noticed Hobb's interaction with Anjou. "Well she seems scared witless of him." she turned to the Colonel. "She's the spitting image of you. What will you do if she's stuck here?"

Anjou ran his tests. He couldn't help noticing how afraid Gail was of him. Is everyone treating you okay? Did anyone here threaten you?" He asked in a careful voice.

Gail just nodded. "I have been treated well." She quietly answered.

Kemal watched Anjou in silence as he had a steak knife in his right hand and a fork in the left, he had stopped eating his meal. "Doc?"

Enyo noticed the reaction, she raised an eyebrow as she wondered. 'Is he protecting her.?'

"Our guest seems to be very nervous," Anjou told Kemal. "I'm just curious if there is something we can do."

Gail looked at Anjou but avoided eye contact. "It's you."

"Excuse me?" Anjou replied, a little surprised.

Kemal regarded Anjou. "I think she's scared of you Doctor," he said quietly. "and I don't think you standing around is helping," he added quietly.

"Oh?" Anjou was a little taken aback. He looked at Gail. "Sorry Dr. Hobbs, I meant you no harm."

"Don't be sorry doctor. It's you but it's not you." She told him. Anjou just looked confused.

Kemal regarded Anjou. "Don't worry about it, Doctor. You should have heard the horror story that Doctor Hobbs told me about my counterpart in her home reality. I'm a monster, I break and abuse people and apparently I love it." he explained. "It's not you Doctor Anjou, its who you look like," he added in a gentle tone.

Enyo meanwhile was sitting back, trying to keep as much distance from Anjou as possible. "Well since you are standing here Doctor. Mind if I share a little something with you?." she inquired. "The man whose face you wear was a man who loved to play games with his victims, members of the Farragut's crew were not immune from his vindictiveness or his cruelty. He was the ships political officer and he did all sorts of nasty crap to ensure the crew was loyal or afraid of him. Which means... You are stuck dealing with his reputation." Enyo explained in a soft tone.

Kemal regarded Enyo. "You have met the alternate version of me. I assume?"

"You assume correctly. I've worked with Crusher Kemal in the past. I had to shoot him to get him to stop beating a pregnant woman. He tried to murder me in my sleep in revenge. I walked away and he didn't."

"Good," Kemal answered. "We all got our choices to make."

"You'll forgive me Mister Kemal. That's not what I was expecting you to say." Enyo commented quietly. "I did not wish to kill him but it was either him or me. I am sorry."

"You owe me no apology, ma'am," Kemal responded.

"So...I guess I'm some sort of monster?" Anjou asked, a little dejected.

Enyo nodded her head. "You are not at fault Doctor," she commented. "It's just unfortunate that you have to deal with it."

Anjou grimaced a little. "Okay then. Have you been treated well Enyo?"

"Oh, my treatment has been wonderful. I have no complaints, the food is great, the companionship has been good, the people don't try to violate me and they don't beat me, everyone is polite," she commented. "I have my own quarters and the locals ask little of me. It's all quite disconcerting, to be honest Doctor." Victoria Yamaguchi explained. "

Kemal shook his head. "That statement does not compute," he muttered.

"Doctor. One minor detail. Enyo is my callsign. My name is Victoria Yamaguchi. I am the counterpart to Celeste Yamaguchi. I should mention however that once my former compatriots find me, they will try to murder me and her." she indicated Hobbs as she spoke.

"I'll bring that up with my command. I'm sure you'll be in custody until we catch them all." Anjou told her, also aware that Sorvok was listening.

Victoria nodded. "That is as it should be," she answered.

Meanwhile int he next room. Tienn Kerris watched and listened. "I don't think Ms. Hobbs will be much use to her but I'll question her all the same. Colonel. Would you like to be present?" Tienn inquired. "I might ask if Commander Yamaguchi can be spared from the Dreamcrusher for this."

"Celeste isn't in my chain of command." Hobbs smiled at Tienn. "I'm sure she can get here. And yes, I would like to be there."

"Very well. I'll ask for the Commander then."