Posted Dec. 26, 2021, 5:15 p.m. by Fleet Captain Kelly Bordeaux (Commanding Officer) (Kate O'Neill)
Della cracked her neck trying to relieve the tension in it. The entire crew was at odds with everyone. Half the crew wanted to string up the aliens for what they had done. The other half of the crew were taking a more habilitative approach suggesting those in command strive to find the common ground with the people in the brig based on the ideals of Starfleet. Della was somewhere in the middle. She believed everyone had the chance for rehabilitation yet to her knowledge only she had had direct access to one of them. Showing her credentials at the door, the guards let her pass into the now-familiar body of the brig.
Looking to the left, the room still had the smattering of officers on duty plus the large Orion security chief at the desk. Moving up to the men, Della looked at all of them. “I am not suggesting anything but please do not lose your temper or provoke the prisoner until I am gone. Usually, individuals in these situations love to talk and gloat but Rogan quickly grew tired of this. I am not sure if this person will react the same way but we need to find out information. ” Della did not want the men to feel like they were being lectured. The issue was everyone was tense right now, security most of all. These men and woman were the first to be praised and the first to take the blame when things went sideways. Della knew Mardusk was allowing her down here as a curtsey not because he liked control but because he was worried about putting any of the crew in harm’s way. She respected the chief for all he did to keep them all safe.
Moving to the front of Da Mu’s cells she made a swirling motion with her finger as she sat down. “Open it up,” she said getting comfortable in her chair.
As the lights came on, the individual in the cell was not lounging about like Rogan. Instead, Della and the security officers in the room were greeted by Da Mu staring back, both hands resting on the forcefield as if he had been waiting for them. His lips were moving in a rhythmic motion mouthing the same thing over and over as he locked eyes with Della.
It was slightly unsettling seeing his reaction but Della did her best to look undisturbed. “Activate the comm channel,” she said.
“Where is the girl,” came over the comm system. The voice had a well-practiced urgency to it. If one had not known this was the man that had injured the captain, one could mistake the tone for actual concern. He didn’t really care where Jessa was as long as she wasn’t in the cell next to him which he already knew. If she had been there, Jessa would have let them know like before. Glancing to the right and the left, all Da Mu saw was a series of dark cages probably holding Zala Tsu and Rogan. Since they could not be seen, this meeting must be just for him.
“Hello my name is Della Mah,” she began in a calm and gentle tone.
“I don’t give a triffing trife who you are. Where is she,” he growled with some spittle spraying out and splattering on the forcefield. “Where,” he balled up his fist bashing it on the field.
“Della Marx,” she continued as if Da Mu had not interrupted her. “I am here to discuss with you the events that happened upon your arrival and try to answer any questions you may have,”
Again Da Mu interrupted her but this time with far more emotion. “Great you can start with where is Jessa?” There was simmering anger in his tone, a barely controlled rage but at least he had stopped the outward aggression against the forcefield. These people were soft. If he was on the other side of the invisible wall instead of the child, things would have been different. He would have cut through them like a knife through butter, retrieved the prism, and be returning home by now. Their softness however was problematic. Jessa did not yet have the will and drive to implement the goals and aspirations of the Order. Maybe a demonstration would nudge her in the right direction. Da Mu’s eyes drifted to everyone in the room. An Honor Sacrifice would help. He would round up every person in this room and find all their friends. With any luck, the ship would house these people’s families too. Honor Sacrifices were always more memorable when children and lovers were involved. People always fell into line the second you began slaughtering those one held most dear. If they were spared, the image of the others dying horrifically tended to prevent any further acts of aggression. Da Mu could feel himself aching for the need to hear these people beg and wipe the smug expressions off their faces.
Della ignored his request but continued on with her questions. “We want to help you but you need to help us. I might be able to arrange for you to see her if you cooperate.” She knew promising something she could not deliver was a reflag in therapy however, it was unlikely she would ever see this man or his friends in the future.
Reaching out his hand, Da Mu closed it around her throat watching Della’s eyes bulge and lips begin to turn blue. He savored the scratches on his hands as her fingernails dug into his flesh trying to release his grip so that she could breathe. Da Mu took a deep breath relishing the shake in his arm as he tightened his grip and choked the life out of her. Looking into her eyes, Da Mu watched the light disappear.
Unfortunately, this daydream would have to remain in his mind…for now. “Then cooperate I shall. What do you need to know Ms. Marx or it is Mrs.?”
Della Marx
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