Change Of Scenery

Posted on Wed Oct 14th, 2020 @ 10:52pm by Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Ensign Michael Sloan

Mission: Mission 3 - 100
Location: Repurposed Civilian Quarters
Timeline: Day 61, Month 3, Year 0 11:45
1300 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Sitting without invitation, she had been working on the words for hours and she was scared the slightest distraction would make them evaporate. She sat down in front of the door and tapped the door frame to let him know she was there. She needed to get him back to being a member of the crew in some form for his mental health and for resources. Everyone had a job to do. “Can we talk Michael?” She wondered hopefully looking at the meal untouched by the hatch. “Not hungry?” She asked seeing that he was at least getting replicated food instead of the algae now.

"Sure," Michael said, swinging to a sitting position on his prison bunk. Glancing down at the food, the man took a look back at Beth, "If I wait fifteen more minutes, I will have divided my day equally into thirds." It sounded crazy, he knew, but it was really the only control over anything that he had in the brig. He had learned not to ask questions or start talking when asked if he could talk, less chance of an argument breaking out. He had spent much of his time thinking while being stuck in lockdown.

Beth raised an eyebrow at his words about dividing his day and glanced around to see not much in the cell other than a few books and clothing. She nodded, he was growing bored and it was evident by his crazy words and the sound of his voice. "Well with talk like that it is good that I am here to spring you out of the Brig then." Beth announced.

For a moment, Michael could not hide the excitement from his face. Did she mean it? Was he really getting out of his cell? “I can really leave?” He asked. He knew things were not going well out there and that he was needed. But, Beth and himself had been at odds almost since drydock over Earth. “Is it safe?”

"You can kind of leave. We are putting you are probation. You need getting out the cell and we need the manpower. Ensign O'Connery and a few others have offered to be your parole officers." She revealed glancing back at the brig officer who stood there watching. "How about you eat as we talk?" She wondered glancing at the growing cold food.

Lifting the sandwich off the plate, he held it up as a salute of thanks to the brig officer. "The mystery meat almost tastes like chicken today," Michael stated. Glancing at Beth between bites, the former Chief Armory Officer asked, "Are we talking confined to quarters and starting from the bottom?" It was a common punishment for people who had done wrong but were too valuable to lock away forever.

"Resquencers are getting better." The Brig Officer muttered before returning to his console. He was not going to engage his former department head in any more conversation. Beth stayed quiet for a moment before she nodded.

"We are talking confined to quarters and starting from the bottom." She said watching his intently to gauge his face for reaction.

“That is fair,” Michael replied. It was definitely a blow to his morale, but it was better than he would get anywhere else. Anything that got him out of the brig was good enough right now. Looking back to the Captain, Sloan asked, “Where do I start?”

Beth could see the cogs whirling in his brain as he thought about his options and going forward. “You start by not wasting the food and gathering your stuff. I have time to kill and then we will go to your new quarters.” She explained moving to her feet wishing she was more graceful with it.

Gulping down his last bite, Michael stood to match the Captain. He stood at the proper distance from the door for the guard to be happy. Too far to grab at hands, but far enough to no be in the way of the door. He grabbed his few belongings, which in there consisted of only a few books and a powered down PADD. "Lead the way," he replied, not that he was in any position to argue.

Beth nodded at him and indicated to the Brig Officer to follow. She was sure that Michael was not going to harm her or anyone on the ship, the man looked just to down in the dumps to bothered. The group moved in silence towards deck G, barely anyone noticed the group and if they did carry on quickly with a look from Beth. She had chosen this time specifically as it was deep in Alpha shift and most people on other shifts would be still asleep. "Home sweet home." She finally said pressing the door release to open the door to what was the mans new quarters.

"Much better than the brig," Michael replied as he made his way through the door. Outside of the bed, Sloan noticed a few books, board games, a deck of cards, and a lack of technology. Maybe he had overshared his escape from confinement. Turning back to Beth, he smiled and said, "I like it."

The woman was taken back by the smile. She had not seen it for a while and the look surprised the guard as well as he raised an eyebrow. "Wait here." Beth instructed him stepping into the room to have a look properly. She had stipulated a lot of things for the quarters and she was pleased that they were all there and that there was nothing like technology to assist him in escaping . The only control panel was communication, no access to doors or panels.

“You really put some thought into this,” Michael pointed out with appreciation. “And I don’t just mean in reducing chances for an escape,” he added. Looking around more of the room, it became apparent that he was the only occupant. “No one else wanted to bunk with the spy?”

"I did not think you would want a roommate after everything that had happened. Privacy would be needed to discover yourself and we have space right now to allow it." Beth admitted with a sigh. She hated how many crew members had been lost in three months. It tore at everything she had a leader let alone another human being who knew the people by sight and name. it would never get easier she knew that. "Well the mental health of everyone onboard is important. We all need to work together after all."

Staying quiet as she spoke, Michael’s thoughts took him to those he knew had been lost. News had been slow or non-existent in his cell. He still was not totally brought up to speed on all that had happened since the oasis. He could say that it was what they had signed up for, that they all knew the dangers. But, the truth was that no one signed up for this. “It’s all a tragedy,” he said quietly, not necessarily to anyone.

"It really is. I will leave you to your room. You can contact me through the intercom or anyone else you need. Meals will be brought evening and morning. Lunchtime you will eat in the mess with your parole officer." Beth said knowing he would know the process. He would not be able to leave and there was no way to get out other than someone letting him out. It was a brig for all purposes but at least he was contributing and

"Thank you for letting me be part of this again," Michael replied. It was a cell, of course. But, he was now being allowed to be useful, and that meant the world. Or at least what was left of his world.