Clever Jail Title

Posted on Mon Jul 13th, 2020 @ 2:04am by Ensign Michael Sloan & Lieutenant Samantha Leyton
Edited on on Mon Jul 13th, 2020 @ 2:37am

Mission: Mission 3 - 100
Location: Bridge, Deck F
Timeline: Day 31
1174 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Laying on his bunk, Michael turned to his side to make another mark on the wall. Looking at the tallies, he thought about the days that each of those represented. Before they had run into the Vrav and that planet, he had been himself. He had been accepted. Most of all, he had been Human. Now. Now he had no idea who or what he really was. Sure, the memories were there. Two people lived inside one head. He knew everything about both of them, he knew every detail about two lives. But that did not tell him who he was right now. He heard the hiss of the door open, was it lunch time already? "Just put in in the slot," Michael called out to whomever it was, in truth he did not feel like eating.

"Sorry, Sir. Doubt that I could fit through the slot," Leyton replied with a slight grin as she approached the cell that housed Sloan. She was unsure of how she felt about Sloan and she had managed the courage to finally visit him and to judge for herself if Sloan was himself, sane, insane, or someone else.

Sitting from his laying position, Michael immediately recognized the voice of Samantha. "Welcome to my new quarters, it could use some renovation but I still call it home." If he was honest, it was a lame attempt at humor. However, he was nervous. The man knew that word of his special condition had gotten out, and there was no way to tell what kind of additions were made to the story through the rumor mill.

"Yeah, I would definitely change the decor," she replied before pausing for a moment, trying to find the right words to say next. "Wh--what happened, Sir? There are all types of rumors such as you being a traitor to being a shapeshifting alien." Samantha didn't really ever buy into rumors but there are times when rumors' become fact.

Breathing in a bit, Michael tried to think of the words to say. "Apparently, I am not me," he stated rather bluntly. Adding a little, he continued, "Everything is still fuzzy and I don't know how it happened, but apparently I'm both Sloan and an alien called Romulan. Something, I don't know what, partially triggered the activation and here we are." It was as honest as he knew how to be at the moment.

Samantha sighed, leaning against the bulkhead behind her, crossed her arms and slowly began to shake her head as she thought about what he said. "I don't buy it, Sir. Those damn aliens did something to your mind. You were fine until we ran into them. Can you control this Romulan guy?"

"I don't know," Michael admitted. The more he thought about it, the more he seemed to fall into this alien. He could smell the homeworld as he remembered a life far from Earth. "I try, but I don't really know what causes him to come to the surface."

Samantha didn't fully understand what was really going on with Sloan. She wasn't a scientist or doctor but she did know that Sloan could use all the help he could to get through this. She hoped they would be able to convince the aliens to change Sloan back to normal. "Then let's not think about him again, Sir. Do you have any hobbies? Maybe something to occupy your mind?" she offered.

"I do enjoy reading, but I'm not sure how the Commander feels about me being given access to a PADD," Michael started. He pointed over his shoulder to the tally mark chart that showed the number of days he had been locked up. The tally marked showed twelve days. Playfully boasting, the man stated, "I have gotten pretty good at drawing tally marks."

"I can see," she said with a slight grin as her eyes moved to the marks on the bulkhead. As for reading, I can put in a request with the captain to give you a PaDD with some downloaded novels only with no access to the ship or any systems if you want, Sir."

"Please," Michael spoke up in a way that only someone who had spent twelve days staring at a wall would ask for something new. Before sounding too desperate, the armory officer in him spoke up, "Only if it is approved and has been cleared to remove all access to ship systems." Bringing himself back to more important issues, Sloan had been the Acting First Officer. "How is the crew?" he asked, hoping that his condition had not destroyed what little morale that had.

"About what you'd expect it to be, Sir--these attacks haven't helped any either," she commented with a shrug. Now being a senior officer, she had to keep a positive outlook on things for the morale of those under her but it didn't make it any easier on her mental state. It still seemed like a bad dream to her sometimes. "There have been a few heated exchanges from the crew about you."

"I can imagine," Sloan nodded. "I'm still here and haven't been thrown from the airlock, so I imagine the discussions have stayed civil," he almost tried to joke. In truth, it hurt that he could not be out there doing what he was supposed to do. He had the most experience as a Starfleet officer and had seen real combat more than once. However, it was also his mission to cause a disruption to Earth's defenses so the Romulans could get through. With their current situation, the second plan was irrelevant and he no longer wanted to complete the mission, but he did want to see home again. And that home was Earth.

"Civil," she sighed. She wondered if the discipline of being Starfleet would hold out being this far away from home. How long could they uphold Starfleet's principles and directives? "Let's hope they stay that way. So any particular titles you'd like?"

"Honestly, I'd read The Cat in the Hat if it meant I got to do something besides looking at the walls.," Michael replied. Looking toward Samantha, the man tried to gather the reason for the visit. Was it to just check on a friend, look at the captive like a zoo exhibit, or just to figure out her own feelings about his fate. "I know you didn't come here to take book orders," Sloan started, "Anything you want to talk about?"

"I don't know, Sir..." 'Did she have to call him Sir?' she thought to herself before pushing the thought away. As far as she was concerned, he was still a lieutenant commander. "I suppose I'm just trying to figure out if you are really you and so far you seem like it to me, though I'm told that could change due to what those damn aliens did to you." With a frustrated sigh, she pushed off of the bulkhead. "I'll see about getting you something to read, Sir."