A wolf in sheep’s clothing Part 19

Posted on Tue Jul 16th, 2024 @ 2:05pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Lieutenant Commander Wyatt Steele & Lieutenant Evelyn Steele

Mission: The missions never over.
Location: Captain's Ready Room, USS Thall.
Timeline: Current.

Having had a night to dwell on events Eve made her way to Finchley’s Office, she had an idea that she knew Wyatt wouldn’t like but she had little choice. Pressing the chime she barely waited for Finchley’s voice to call ‘enter’ before she walked inside. “Excuse the early morning intrusion Captain, I’ve had time to think and I have a plan.” She paused briefly. “Reverse the conditioning...bring out the sleeper agent, you can use her to find Brown.”

Sat in his seat, drinking a cup of chamomile tea, Finchley listened as Eve spoke. When she'd finished he asked, "What does Commander Steele think of this plan?"

“I haven’t told him yet” Eve gave Finchley a determined look. “I need to prove my loyalty, and if this is how I have to do it then so be it.”

Wyatt sat alone in the quarters he and Eve shared. He knew she was still smarting from the chewing out her uncle and captain had given her. He also knew Eve was determined to prove her loyalty to the captain. He didn't think she needed to, but Eve was of a different mindset and had gone off to speak to the captain. He prayed she didn't do anything rash while meeting with the captain. He loved her dearly and totally and didn't want any harm to come to her or put herself in harm's way. So, he sat and waited for her to return.

"You do indeed need to prove your loyalty Lieutenant, to me, no-one else, that much is very clear" Finchley replied. "If reversing the conditioning to bring out the sleeper agent personality helps, I can go along with that. I can get Karadis to provide me with the name of the psychoanalyst she used before and we can take it from there."

“That’s where you have a problem” Eve sighed. “The psychoanalyst disappeared after helping me, we don’t know if it was voluntary or if Brown had something to do with it. I don’t know if there’s anyone else out there who can help, but...” she paused. “There might be another way. I...as you see me now, am a blending of both personalities, her memories are a part of me. I’ve never tried accessing those memories, maybe there’s a way we could do that?”

"When you say 'we don't know', who else are you referring to?" Finchley asked.

“Karadis, she’s the one who helped me.” Eve gave Finchley a curious look. “I’d have thought you’d have guessed that given her involvement.”

Finchley wasn't convinced about the idea, besides, they were still on their way to Base One with T'Klar and Jara, that situation had presidence over anything else, they had to complete their mission.

"Look, I get that this whole Brown situation has you itching to go after him, but we're still on our current mission" Finchley said, "That needs to be our focus, in fact, that will be our focus, anything else can wait. Once their trial is over, we'll see where we are and take it from there."

Eve nodded. “Of course Captain, it was just an idea. I still want to know what happened to my mother, Brown is the only one who might know something.”

"And we'll get to that Lieutenant, but our focus will be on our current mission" Finchley replied. At that point a message came through from the bridge informing him that they were on final approach to Base One. Inwardly he gave a sigh of relief, it meant they could get repairs done to the ship and more importantly take their prisoners onto the base to get their arrests completed and trials started.

"I want you and Commander Steele to oversee the prisoners release from our custody to Base One custody" he said to Eve, "and contact the bases Counseling team, I want every Senior staff member to have the opportunity to use their services if they require them...including yourself if you feel it necessary."

Eve nodded. “Aye Sir” With that she stood to leave. “We’ll get on it right away.”

Finchley nodded and said, "Let me know when you're both about to disembark with the prisoners, dismissed."

Heading out of the Ready Room Eve headed back to Wyatt, she needed to relay their orders from Finchley. Walking in the doors of their quarters she offered a smile. “Hi honey, I would say I’m home but we have work to do.”

Wyatt was reclining on the couch when Eve came through the door, a bright smile on his face as she greeted him. "Hiya sweetie. Oh, say it anyways. I like hearing it." He then grinned mischievously at her. "Work? I wouldn't call it work Eve. more like fun, good healthy fun." His eyes dancing with delight. Oh, wait. You mean ship work don't you? What is it we have to do and when?"

Eve smiled. “We’re to oversee transfer of custody of our prisoners to Starbase security. There’s also the option to speak to Starbase counsellors if we need to, I get the feeling that it’s expected.” She sighed.

Wyatt stood up, "Well, transferring the prisoners to Starbase security isn't too involved. Just make sure we get them to acknowledge receipt of the prisoners. However seeing the Starbase counselors, I don't see a reason for that. I see a counselor every night and every morning and she assures me I am just hunky dory." He said doing his best not to chuckle though there was a wide smile on his face.

“I think it’s me that the Captain has concerns about” Eve offered a wry smile. “I’m going to have to spend the rest of my time here proving myself all over again. Anyway...let’s get this transfer over with and then we can have some time together.”

"Sure thing." Wyatt replies, "But first...." He moves to her, wraps his arms around her in a hug and brings her close. He kisses her gently, lovingly. "Eve. Some advice. You have nothing to prove. Not to Finchley not to anyone. You will make yourself sick worrying about this. Just do your job and the captain will come around I guarantee it. He will see and come to know what I know. That you are and outstanding officer and counselor "

Eve smiled, Wyatt always had ways of making her feel better. “Thank you Imzadi, you always know what to do or say to make me feel better.”

[Sickbay]

Finchley walked into sickbay and motioned to the on duty doctor to follow him to his office. Closing the door, Finchley turned to him and asked "Is Commander Karadis fit for duty?"

"Well...by and large she's recovered from her injuries, we're just keeping her here for precautionary measures" the doctor replied.

"But she's fit enough for going back on active duty, it's most important I know now doctor" Finchley said.

"Yes, I would say so, but nothing too strenuous for her, it'll still take a few days for her to completely recover" the doctor answered.

"Thank you" Finchley said and about turned and opened the door again. Walking out, he looked at Karadis and said, "You've been discharged from Sickbay and are back on active service, my office...now!"

Karadis sighed, the shit storm she knew was going to roll her way had hit. Getting off the biobed, she walked after Finchley who had already left. A few minutes later she was in the Ready Room, standing in front of Finchley's desk, waiting on him speaking.

Finchley looked at Karadis for a long time before her began speaking, "You're a bloody good officer Commander, but you've got a nerve speaking to me like you did in Sickbay."

"I was tryin..." Karadis began to say, but was cut off by Finchley slamming his hand on the desk.

"Be quiet! You speak when I tell you to, and you'll stand to attention when you're in front of me!!!" Finchley barked.

Karadis slowly drew herself up and stood to attention, staring straight ahead.

"You had a duty of care to Lieutenant Steele, I got that, but you had orders that superseded that saying you reported everything that went on with her...to me, everything" Finchley hissed.

"Couple that with your arrogance, flagrant disregard to orders, being a smart arse and insulting a superior officer, you're in all kinds of trouble" Finchley said, finally taking a breath. "Now, I've tolerated a lot of your actions over the years, but this time round you've gone to far. Effective immediately, you're demoted to Lieutenant and you'll be restricted to any Senior Officer meetings that I deem necessary you attend. Furthermore, you'll take a bridge duty till you're fully recovered and will do that for as long as I see fit, dismissed."

Karadis didn't reply, she simply saluted, about turned and left the Ready Room.

Making her way back to her quarters, she got changed into a fresh uniform and changed the pips on her collar. After updating her personal log, she left her room and started to make her way back to the bridge. By chance, Kilbane was walking the opposite way and on seeing her a curious look crossed his face and he asked, "Did we forget something today?"

Karadis looked at him and said "Like what?"

"Putting the correct pips on your collar" Kilbane replied.

"No, they're the correct ones" Karadis answered.

"But that's Lieutenant pips Commander" Kilbane said.

"Yes, the eh...Captain and I exchanged words earlier...I spoke out of turn and his decision on me doing that was to demote me" Karadis replied.

Anger was now the emotion showing on Kilbane's face, and that anger transferred to his reply "Oh, did he now..." Kilbane said, hands now opening and closing into fists. "We'll see about that!" and he turned round and stormed off. Karadis just shook her head and carried on her way, she wasn't going to try and stop Kilbane, there was no point, he was head strong when he was angry.

Minutes later, Kilbane stood outside the Captain's Ready Room, jamming his hand on the buzzer making it sound incessantly.

Inside, Finchley looked up at the sudden din of sound and shouted "OPEN!"

The second the doors parted Kilbane marched in and walked up to the Captain's desk, "Are you fucking insane???"

Finchley sat back and regarded the red faced Kilbane, "Can you be a little more specific Commander?"

"You know fucking well what I mean you sad Napoleon complex moron...demoting Karadis" Kilbane replied, "have you taken leave of what little sense you have left???"

"Till you know the full ins and outs of the situation, you'll do well to calm down and remember I'm the Captain of this ship and if I warrant a decision, that decision will stand" Finchley replied.

"She's saved your miserable life a dozen or more times, I don't give a rats arse what she said or did, demoting her is the stupidest thing you've ever done and you've done plenty of stupid things in your time!" Kilbane almost shouted.

Finchley tried to remain calm as he replied, "She told you we had words then?"

"YES!" Kilbane said, "but that's how it works between the three of us, we speak our minds you arrogant fuck, or have you forgotten that?"

"If I were you Commander, with the way you're acting now, I would be more concerned that I don't demote you as well for your insubordination" Finchley replied.

"Oh kiss my arse you deluded idiot" Kilbane answered back, "you can burst me all the way back down to Crewman and I wouldn't care. Karadis has saved your skin, pulled you out the shit and done more in all our missions than you and I put together, she doesn't deserve what you've done to her!"

"Your opinion on the decision is dully noted Commander" Finchley replied, "Now, go and see to it that Lieutenant Steele and Commander Steele get our prisoners off the she ship and onto Base One where they'll hand them over to base Security."

"This isn't over Captain,not by a long fucking shot!" Kilbane retorted then turned and walked off.

Finchley watched him go,then returned to the PADD on his desk, there was more work to be done, and more trouble ahead.

In the brig, Wyatt and Eve waited for the ship's security officers to bring the prisoners before them. They were to be placed in five-point restraints for the trip to Base One's security center. All precautions were being taken. Escape was not and option.

The emergency call had come through to Finchley's office, and he immediately acted on it, tapping his COMM badge he said "Captain to Lieutenant Steele, report to Sickbay straight away, your assistance is required."

Tapping his COMM badge again he said "Captain to Commander Kilbane, report to Security, take over from Lieutenant Steele in taking the prisoners from the holding cells to Base One Security."

Kilbane tapped his COMM badge and replied, "This is Karadis' duty, but, as you're being a tit about her, of course Mein Fuhrer, your will be done..." and closed the link before the CO could reply, he didn't care anymore about what Finchley thought of him or what he said.