STF

The Art of Psycho-therapy...Sickbay after meeting with Rogan....When the past doesn't match the present... or the future

Posted July 3, 2022, 9:32 p.m. by Civilian Jessa Novar (Child) (Kate O'Neill)

(SNIP)

“You probably don’t want to hear this, but it looks like what they inject you with are nanites that do heal you, but have a limited time of effect. That’s why they have to keep refreshing it every three months. You are probably close to the end of the three months that’s why its not working as effectively as previously.” He smiled. “I don’t imagine you think God requires a refresher every 3 months to keep being God, do you?”

Rinker

His statement felt like a backhand and instantly sent Jessa into the red zone. She had learned what asking questions like this caused. Everyone on Mischwald and Halston had died for uttering such nonsense. Jessa swore she would never let that happen again. “Shut up, ” she responded instantly in response to his question.

Raising her hand, it took every ounce of control not to slam Rinker and the rest of the people up against the wall to knock some sense in them. One flick of your hand and you can make it so they can’t stop you from leaving a voice said in her head. Curling her hand into a fist she screamed out a series of profanity struggling with her choice of inaction.

Her breathing started to take on the hiccupping effect like it did in his office. “This is why mind seers are not allowed in the Union,” Jessa yelled at him grabbing the towel on the floor and hurling it at Rinker. It was clear she wanted to strike out at Rinker but she also consciously made the choice of throwing a towel instead of the laser scalpel next to it. Both were within reach and both had the same accessibility.

Rinker didn’t look insulted. “I don’t know if I want to be a member of a group that doesn’t want to have me. And what is the reason why Mind Seers aren’t welcome… too many logical questions?”

“Because you twist things up. You make things confusing,” Jessa felt a knot in her stomach and her eyes starting to burn. Even since the disaster on Halston, she had felt confused and lost. Rinker was just making it worse, feeding into her own questions with his. Nothing made sense anymore. “You make us doubt what we know in our hearts.”

“That is how lies continue. Believing it… wanting it to be true doesn’t make it a fact.”

“But you want me to believe everything you say as a fact? How does that make you different from Rogan or the Elders? Why should I ever believe you over them?” Jessa wiped her face not wanting to cry in front of Rinker. Crying made her look weak. No one would follow someone or have faith in them if all the did was cry.

“If we have questions we go to the Rectoress. She doesn’t just make things up or answer a question with a question like you do? She had answers. She tells me whats right and wrong and why. You just ask endless questions and never tell me what you think.”

“For the same reason, because I want it to be true doesn’t make it so either. You must discern fact from fiction. Truth from hopes. Reality from illusions. Telling you doesn’t give you wisdom, it steals from you the ability to think. That’s why I ask you questions, and why they tell you their lies.”

Jessa felt like her chest was going to explode. She knew if she asked for help Rinker would give it like in his office but maybe that was why she was struggling now. Maybe that was why she could not help the woman or fix something as simple as Rinker’s arm. She had to prove she did not need them.

Inhaling and exhaling deeply she tried to breath like Rinker showed her in his office. Right now she could not pray to the Divine to help her. She had to help Rinker understand and if she was passed out on the floor that would not solve any of her problems. “I just wanted to help you,” Jessa continued to try and catch her breath. “It is why I came out here. I didn’t have to.”
Jessa needed to get away from Rinker. She needed time to think.

“I am not answering anymore of your questions.” Even entertaining the idea of a response was causing her chest to tighten and making it hard to breathe. Before she had come here, Jessa lived in an Ivory Tower where things made sense and some questions were never even dreamt of let alone asked. Heathcliff, Mardusk, Ian, and Chris were challenging everything she believed and wanted to know why she believed it. Without the Elders or Pellan to re-affirm her beliefs, Jessa felt off balance. She had to get away from Rinker so she could think but there was nowhere to go. Suddenly, Jessa remembered Aimee Rian’s statement when the light beamed her out of sickbay about not having to talk to Rinker. “I am never going to talk to you again,” she blurted out in a highly child-like response feeling dizzy as she felt panic rising in her chest. This was not going to solve anything but it would give her time to think of why Rinker was wrong in his statement.

“You don’t know anything. She said I don’t have to talk to you. She said I don’t have to talk to anyone. Get out,” she pointed to the door as if she could command Rinker to be dismissed from her presence. “Get out and don’t ever come back.”

Jessa Novar

“Most religions would like to educate those who were ignorant… I guess yours doesn’t have enough strength to deal with even the most basic investigation.”

Rinker

“That is all I have been trying to do,” Jessa blinked rapidly feeling her anger seep out in the form of tears, “but you won’t listen. You don’t want to understand. You want me to doubt everything that I am, that I believe, that I was taught. I answer all your questions but you never answer mine. All you want to do is make me pay for coming here but I had to.” Looking around, Jessa felt herself starting to lose control. There was no place to escape to in their sickbay. She had no doors to slam or corners to crawl into for a moment of peace or privacy. She felt like an animal at the zoo under the constant display. There was only one way out of this place.

“Why are you doing this to me,” Jessa yelled reaching out and shoving Rinker. It wasn’t hard but maybe if she pushed him, they would send her to the brig. She was so angry and felt so helpless, so alone and it was never going to change unless she forced that change. By shoving him, Jessa had broken her promise never to hurt Heathcliff but there was nothing to throw. Nothing to expel all the frustration building up inside her. “All I have ever wanted to do was show you how the Union could make your lives better. I hate the way everyone looks at me but I can’t change that. I hate that Elders have screwed everything up and left me to deal with the fallout.”

“You don’t have to make things better for us.. were doing fine,” He suspected most of the world the Union helped were doing just fine without them.

“No you are not. You need us. You have no idea what we can do for you. The technology we possess to make your lives better. You just think your don’t but you will see. We will come and you will be so desperate to join which is why you have to start being more receptive. If you resist like this it will…it,” her voice trailed off and she got a desperate almost pleading look on her face. She had no idea how to explain how critical this was for her to have the Federation successfully join. “You make it hard to think.”

“We don’t want it. You are forcing a perfectly happy Federation into something they won’t be happy in. How many worlds have you forced into your Union when they were just fine without out. I suspect you are from one of those worlds before you were stolen.”

“Halston and Mischwald were not my fault,” Jessa looked genuinely hurt and almost sickened. Her face took on a panicked expression as she looked rapidly back and forth between Rinker and Ian. “They didn’t tell me it was going to be different. Roh,” she began to stammer as the rush of emotion felt like it was going to drown her. Taking a breath she also took a moment to gather her thoughts. As mad as she was with Rogan and the rest of the Elders, Jessa could not let the Atlantis crew think anything bad about the people in their brig. If she did they would never let her see them again.

“What happened there that was so different that you want to say it wasn’t your fault.”

“I am not wanting to say it’s not my fault. I am saying that is was not my fault.” Guilt coursed through her body and no matter how many times she tried to remind herself of what Pellan said about one person not being responsible for the destruction of the planet, it was hard to accept. “I mean I was there on the planet and told the people if they didn’t want to come they didn’t have to but that was not enough to incite the rebellion.” Looking at Rinker she let out a huff. “Okay, you want me to say it. Fine I will say it. Maybe I am not ready to be a Patron. Maybe I need more training but what I know is I am pinning this conversation and going back to the only one that matters. I was not taken or kidnapped or stolen.”

” Rogan saved me. He showed up and rescued me,” Jessa hoped her break in the speech wasn’t noticed by either of them. By using Rogan’s name to start the sentence, she hoped it was perceived that she just needed a moment to think. “I told you about this already. Nuat was attacked one night. Everyone died. I was all alone when the planet was judged.” It was so long ago. Jessa didn’t remember much in details but more about the emotions and impressions swirling around a smattering of images. “There were shhhhhipsssss that…” Again her voice trailed off and she took on the familiar thousand-yard stare of someone lost in thought or memory. Jessa felt like vomiting. Suddenly the black streaks that reigned fire from the sky which destroyed everything on Nuat, looked more familiar. It looked like the skies on Halston only from an orbital view and not a ground based one.

“Well, I’m glad he saved you, but I never fully understood what happened that night. The Union judged your planet and everyone died?”

“No I mean yes,” she said closing her eyes and trying to ignore everything Rinker was trying to make her think about. Letting out a frustrated moan she locked her eyes on Rinker. “Not everyone died. There were evacuation ships where people were able to escape but before I could get on one the airfield was attacked but not by the Union. The Union sent an armada. I saw it in orbit but…but..” The more he talked, the more questions began to rise that she never thought about asking.

Rinker took a step back from the force of it… she was stronger than her little size suggested. “Its okay. Its hard to think when you’ve spent your whole life being told not to.”

“I wasn’t stolen,” she repeated and shoved Rinker again as she felt the room closing in. Pellan would help her understand when she got back home. “You weren’t there. You can’t ever give me a straight answer on anything because you say you don’t know or wasn’t around when I ask something but now you suddenly you have all the answers. This is why you are forbidden in the Union. You twist things so shut your mouth you varping Mind Seer.”

Rinker tilted his head, he’d never been illegal before.

“Whoa whoa whoa language little girl,” Ian snapped. “I told you to knock that off right…now or I will do something about it.” His expression was stern and ready to react if necessary. Emotional breakdowns, he would tolerate but not belligerence.

“You don’t understand . You don’t understand anything,” she yelled at Ian. “Mind seers are criminals because they get into your head. They turn people away from the path.”

“From the path of poison Kool-aide and dirt nap slumber parties?” Ian knew Jessa had no idea what the references were and on some level he was glad. Maybe he was biased but the more she talked about life in the Galactic Union, the more he pitied her.

Rinker glanced at Ian, it was emotional less, he didn’t seem to care one way or another about Ian’s intervention. In all honest it probably wasn’t helpful, but everything doesn’t have to be right. People can learn more from their mistakes than they do from their successess.

“Stop it. Stop talking,” Jessa yelled locking eyes with Heathcliff. Her body shook and it was clear Jessa had no idea what to do right now. “Everyone just shut the triff up!”

Ian stood up not sure whether to intervene or not. Rinker said this would take time. It was insane to think the only times Jessa would struggle was in the man’s office but this impromptu session was the first time, Ian had actually seen Rinker in session with Jessa. It was extremely unsettling watching her fall apart but Ian would be a fool to believe this didn’t happen behind closed doors. Crossing his arms, Ian watched waiting for a sign from Rinker to step in.

” I thought could make it better by helping that woman but I can’t fix that either,” Jessa felt herself starting to cry and unable to stop.

“Its okay. You can’t know everything, you can’t be perfect.” He stepped back to his position but went down on one knee so they were at the same level. She could really let him have it right now.

She wanted Rogan in front of her right now but they had even taken him away from her. Closing her eyes she could however imagine it was Rogan and not Rinker. “I want to go home,” she yelled thinking more about the Elders who had promised to be by her side yet she hadn’t seen them in days. Pulling back her arms she reached out to shove Rinker again. What she really wanted to do was hit something so hard to have any feeling but fear and worry as her constant companion.

Jessa

Rinker didn’t flinch but he closed his eyes and she reeled back. “Go ahead. I forgive you, but it won’t make you feel better… not for long anyways.”

Rinker

His change in elevation and the fact Rinker was not putting up a fight stopped Jessa cold. “Don’t say that,” she looked around as if uncomfortable with someone on their knees promising her forgiveness for her actions. It reminded her too much of the man on Mischwald.

She could not attack someone that wasn’t trying to hurt her. Everything she had learned was to defend people not inflict harm. “Get up,” she said loudly still holding her hand up. Instead of hitting him Jessa grabbed Rinker’s arm and tried to pull him erect. “Stand up,” she yelled at him.

Even though Rinker wasn’t built like he lived at the gym, he was still a grown man probably double her body weight. There was no way she could pull him to his feet if he didn’t want to move. “I…I need you to… stand up.” Jessa leaned into his arm as if trying to push him off balance from his one-kneed position. It was going to be impossible to fight him when he was not standing over her. Rogan never would be in this position so it made it harder for her to imagine anyone but Rinker right now. Jessa needed him to fight her so she could force them to throw her with her friends in the jail cells deep within the ship.

“I don’t need to stand up.” He wanted her to look him in the eyes… well his eyes were closed most of the time, because despite the fact he believed he wasn’t in danger he didn’t much like being knocked around.

“Please stand up,” she moved in front of him and dropped to her own knees pushing him again. While it was not perfect, by dropping her stance, Rinker was now taller than her again. Leaning forward Jessa pressed her shoulder into his chest and her back into his knee. She had to knock him off balance. The position however made her instantly think of someone else. Closing her eyes she could pretend if she concentrated hard enough that it was not Rinker but Pellan. The uniform was not the same, the cologne was not the same, the physical build was not the same, but only Pellan would drop to her level when Jessa needed someone comfort her. “If you don’t stand up how are you going to make them let me go back home. I want my mom,” Jessa said in a hiccuping sob. “Stand up so you can take me to my shuttle so I can go home.”

Jessa Novar

Rinker rocked back with her comparatively unimpressive blows. “Make who help you go home?”

“The captain,” Jessa looked up at Rinker dropping to her floor in front of him. “He keeps promising things but I don’t think it will happen.” Jessa let her gaze drift briefly to Ian before returning back to Rinker’s. “Everyone listens to you. You could just walk me out. I will even wear cuffs or binders or whatever you call them.” Jessa didn’t move but stayed pressed up against Rinker. It is had been so long since someone hugged her, told her everything was going to be okay in a tone and manner she believed.

“I’m not nearly as powerful as you think, we talked about authority works on this ship. I have a lot of control when it comes to your well-being on the ship, but what you do off it… I’m not the final say.”

“Then why does he,” she pointed a finger at Ian, “when you have more rank than he does,” she tapped her neck.

Does he? Rinker’s face squinched up. “I didn’t award him that power. So you might have to talk to the person who did.” He did nod, “I do have more circles than he so technically I can give him orders, if someone who doesn’t out rank me say something different.”

“I don’t know her rank but I know she is higher ranked that Captain Bordeaux over there,” Jessa snapped nodding her head towards Ian.

“Of course she is, If you would direct me to her… then we might be able to clear some things up.” Rinker glanced towards Ian as he interrupted the question… Kelly hadn’t seen her had she?

The look of confusion swept his face for a second and he looked at Rinker and shook his head confirming to his knowledge Jessa had not met Kelly.

At times Ian was easy to read. He was processing the same question Heathcliff was. As a precaution, Kelly had been off-limits to Jessa. Since they could not close down multiple sickbays, they were only using this one to house Jessa and Kelly. While it didn’t make sense to have them close to some, from a security standpoint it meant they could have one team guard one and protect the other saving resources. Confident that Jessa had not seen or had contact with Kelly, the only assumption Ian leapt to was Jessa was being a smart arse and calling him captain once again.

“Jessa,” Ian groaned slightly letting his frustration seep out. “I am not the captain. I have said that over and over honey. Kelly,” he pointed behind him generally in the direction of Kelly’s biobed hidden behind an isolation field as she recovered, “is not trying to force you to stay here.”

The look of shock on Jessa’s face wasn’t in reaction to Ian’s comment but more her own statement. “I know that,” she instantly went on the defensive unsure how to repair the verbal slip of refereeing to Primrose instead of Bordeaux. She was letting her emotions cloud her ability to keep all her secrets straight. It was just right now there were so many secrets she had to juggle. Aimee Rian, just hours earlier, had said Rinker was with them yet here he was acting like he knew nothing about it. Rian said in the clandestine meeting their compatriots would be discreet, only this discretion constantly had Jessa off balance. Dr. Decker was obviously on her side. She was the one creating the distractions so Jessa could slip out of the sickbay undetected using the light slide but there had to be more people trying to help her.

Rinker thought for a moment thought she accidentally returned to Ian as the Captain of the ship, but her expression said something different. It was just that he had no idea what.

“Tell me where your mother is. I’ll do my best to help you.” He knew he couldn’t promise anything too much. It was his hypothesis that she was a hostage somewhere too far away and too ‘safe’ for him or the Atlantis to get to. Nor would the Federation allow the Atlantis to take an excursion into a hostile empire’s territory for one unaligned woman.

Rinker

“There once was a ship that put to sea,” Jessa murmured the words to the song in barely above a whisper. Her mother always sang to her when she was upset to calm her down. She had attempted to sing this to stop what Rinker called a panic attack but was too far gone for it to work. Letting out a breath she looked at Ian debating on if she should order him away or not.

Ian didn’t make a move to leave and sent Rinker a look saying he had no plan on leaving. He didn’t come closer but bent down in almost a sitting crouch with his elbows resting on his knees. Some of it was to not appear as imposing as he stood now several feet about both Rinker and Jessa on the ground. The other reason was to try and increase his ability to hear if Jessa continued to whisper.

Looking back at Rinker, Jessa decided not to ask Ian to leave. “I don’t know,” she looked back at Ian before taking a breath and returning he gaze to Heathcliff. “Can I tell you something and you not let it influence you. You know like we do in your office? I am scared if I tell you something it will make you act differently..towards me or to the Elders.”

“Sure same rules as the office.” Rinker wanted to hug her, but restrained himself.

Jessa closed her eyes and forced herself to put some space between her and Rinker. Rinker wasn’t Pellan. He wasn’t going to just hold her and tell her everything was okay. He wasn’t part of her world and never would be. Both she and Rinker were just using each other for a different purpose.

Jessa was tired of trying to juggle so much on her own. Maybe if she told them why it was so important Ian and Rinker would help her and stop fighting her. “Rogan knows where my mom is but he can’t tell me where unless I help him find the Prism. If I get the Prism he said he will help me make Da Mu understand that my mom is not a bad person. We need Da Mu because he is part of the quad and the quad has to stay together. We are a family.” Jessa needed Rinker to believe her and accept that the Elders were not the same people to her as they were to the Atlantis. “Da Mu thinks because my mom left and they had to come save me from the alien attack back on Nuat that she is bad. She isn’t. I promise.”

Jessa Novar

“Okay what is the Prism, perhaps we can find it and trade it for your mother?”

Rinker

This isn’t his office. The rules don’t have to apply, she mentally told herself knowing it was just a blatant lie. The rules always were simple. If she didn’t lie, Rinker wouldn’t lie. It was just that too much was at stake for honest truth. “You don’t need to do anything but give it to me. It is a religious artifact you have on this ship. Pellan said Ian had it. That is why we came. That is why we asked for him when we got here,” she said in a low tone pushing up from the ground so she could stand taller than both men in the room. The movement allowed her not to make eye contact with either of them. “It is only important to us. We just need it back. If you could maybe let me look around? Let me find it and they we can go back home?” Her tone was hopeful as she glanced at Ian before directing her gaze at her shoes as she pulled her hands into her sleeves and fiddled with the cuffs.

“I know of no religious item of yours on this ship. Actually, I don’t know any of your religious items at all.”

“If you let me back on my ship I can show you,” Jessa suggested a bit too overzealously. Rinker was right. She could show him any decoration and Rinker would believe any significance she assigned it. At least back on her ship, Jessa could get a few things that would help her on the mission.

Ian let his gaze drift to Rinker. He did not need to be a therapist to know when someone was lying. The question was which part. None of what she said made any sense. Having spent as much time with Jessa as Rinker, Ian was also learning that when she lied Jessa tended to avoid all contact, lower her voice, and became fidgety.

You have no idea Rogan told us its a weapon and for the first time I believe him over you, Ian thought rising to his normal height.

Jessa Novar

Rinker didn’t care why she wanted it, it was enough to know she wanted it and once they knew what it was, then they could figure out the why. “You’re going to have to describe it to us.”

Rinker

“No,” she crossed her arms. “You can take me to my ship and I will show you. Other than that this conversation is over and I will never speak to you again.” Now that she had given Rinker a choice, he would have to decide what was more important to him. Learning about the mission or continuing to have their little chat sessions. She was vaguely interested in seeing what choice Rinker would pick.

Jessa Novar

“How can you show me something we have here by going to your ship. Ignoring the fact, that you and your friends have informed us that your ship is very dangerous to us.”

“Well,” Jessa looked at Ian as if he was suddenly going to help her. The raised eyebrow and cross of his arms said she was on her own. Rubbing her hands together in a slight gesture like she was wringing them she continued. “We have a picture of the religious artifact. If I get it you will know what it looks like and then it will make our search easier here. Also,” she began to talk a little faster showing she was starting to think the reason was a viable one. “Our ship is not dangerous if you have the code. I can open it for you. We won’t get hurt. I promise.”

“And that code would be?” Rinker already knew of the blood they paid on that ship. But the code could be useful for other things later.

“One, two, three, four,” she responded as a true smart arse rolling her eyes. “It’s not number or word. How dumb do you think we are? Although,” Jessa’s gaze drifted as if thinking about something, “usually we don’t arm the ship. Everyone knows what an Elder craft looks like. They also know that even if they got past all the defenses, stepping foot on one without permission is an immediate sentence of dea…” She instantly stopped talking. Jessa’s face went blank along with her mind. While she had just been telling the truth, this was definitely a time lying was better option.

“It’s a biometric code but not like a hand or a retinal scan,” she rapidly began to talk faster. “You can’t just cut off our hand and open the ship…okay?” As much as some of this crew seemed to hate them, Jessa did not want the Atlantis crew to start lobbing off appendages or pulling out eyes to try and get into the ship.

“I am just saying that it would probably not be a good idea to try and board the ship…so don’t. If you want to get on it I can take you but don’t try to get on the ship without one of us as an escort. All I need is for one more reason for you all to hate us.” Jessa let out a sigh hoping through all the lies and half truths she had told this would be seen as truthful and genuine.

Too late there, her biometric code wouldn’t be helpful to him, maybe security could make head or tales of it later.

OOC: link to occurring to events happening at the same time as Jessa, Ian, and Rinker talk. https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf3/atlantis/posts/175418/

IC:

Oh for the love of God can you please shut the hell up, Celia thought as she prepared to cross the space. Why can’t you just be like every other moody teen and avoid adults instead of taking them head on.

Seemingly out of nowhere Dr. Celia Decker moved from a corner of sickbay directly into the middle of the conversation between Ian, Rinker, and Jessa. Ian would have seen her around sickbay recently but only because he had spent so much time here over the past few days between Jessa and Kelly. Rinker might have seen Celia around sickbay but she was newly transferred to the Atlantis about a month ago and tended to keep to herself. “Hey Jessa,” she breezed in as if she had always been a part of the conversation. “How’s that headache you were complaining about earlier? Need an analgesic,” she held out her hand completely ignoring Ian and Rinker. Her orders had been clear. Separate or at least disrupt the current conversation occurring between the girl and the two officers.

Celia Decker

Rinker looked at the doctor squinting at her for a moment. “We don’t need any additional support or treatment.”

Celia resisted the urge to turn around and deck the man. Unlike most doctors, she was trained in intelligence before getting her medical degree. The reason was never to heal someone but made it far easier to extract information in a much more timely manner.
Playing the simpering do no harm type like she had been for a month was starting to grate on her nerves. Turning her head to face him she did not move but sent him a warm, reassuring smile. “Of course Commander but before you came here she was complaining of a headache. I don’t mean to interrupt but I really didn’t want Jessa to think we don’t care about her.” Turning back to Jessa she wore the same smile but looked for a response from the girl and not him. “Do we?”

“Um, no,” Jessa said not sure what was happening right now. Decker made it a point to avoid direct contact with everyone and only came in when people were gone or to wake Jessa up to talk to her.

For all the lies and subterfuge, Jessa was too young or too inexperienced to naturally go along with Decker. The furtive glances between her and all the adults was like a klaxon going off on a superficial level. On a deeper level, it showed Jessa was used to following the lead or guidance by others she trusted. It would be obvious to all the adults involved, Jessa did not know where her loyalty should reside in this situation confirming that on some level she knew Decker but also had not aligned with her.

“Good because you are very important. You know that right?” Celia’s words were awkward and felt forced behind the smile plastered to her face. She rarely had the opportunity or desire to associate with children. Normally convincing someone to stay the course involved either a weapon or less clothing; however, now all she had was words. The smile might have meant to show reassurance but the cold, stare locked onto Jessa made the words more of a threat than a consolation.

“You did mean to interrupt.” Rinker said aloud as he processed the situation. People were by nature horrible liars. It was against the social covenant that they all grew up with. Its the same with poker, you present to opposite of what is true. Her saying she didn’t mean to interrupt meant she did. It was true with small lies and big…

The behavior was so odd that Rinker actually got defensive standing up. “You can step away.” He actually used a hand gesture to almost wave her away. Rinker wasn’t a highly trained combatant, but the hand concerned him…

Rinker

“Dr. Rinker,” she stood up trying to keep the annoyance out of her voice or at least to a minimum. “You are kinda overreacting. I know you are treating her for some services but you aren’t really here on the day-to-day. That’s my job to take care of her. She tends to get headaches and has trouble sleeping. It is just an analgesic,” she leveled a confident gaze at the man. “Besides I am not sure all of this,” she waved her hand around, “is good for her. Maybe she should go lie down and let you finish with your patient?”

“Is good for her.... You don’t think.” He started and then stuttered to a stop. His emotions whirled… It started as annoyance, then moved to being insulted… but it only took a moment more for his mind to wrap around the sheer ridiculousness of a fringe doctor interrupting him mid treatment… especially after the medical part of the crisis had past and the therapy part was in full effect along with the intelligence gathering. It was such a stupid interruption… it was almost intentionally stupid… in fact it was intentionally stupid.

The tension was escalating in the situation. Wiggling her fingers a bit for Jessa to put her hand in hers, Celia hoped the young girl complied. It would make the situation less messy.
It was risky but hopefully Jessa got the point by her interfering that she should just shut her mouth, take a hint, and go back to her room.

“I do think I have a headache coming on,” Jessa rubbed her forehead slightly hoping it would help Celia’s story

Dr. Celia Decker

“I thought she said you already told her of your headache, not one she psychically diagnosed before it happened.” He stared at Jessa for a moment.

Jessa wore the expression all adults recognized on site. Her slightly open lips and widening of her eyes meant Jessa was caught in a lie. “I..um did…but,” she let the words roll off her tongue slowly, deliberately stalling as Jessa’s brain worked through the endless possibilities to get out of it. Things were moving too fast and there were too many stories to keep straight. Lying to one person was easy to remember. Lying to several people was much more difficult to have all the versions match up.

“That a lie.” He then pivoted at Decker. “You don’t THINK… Do you think you have the knowledge, experience, or rank to tell me where the bathroom is much less to tell me how to treat my patient?”

A fleeting flash of anger rolled over Celia’s expression before she quickly adapted to a more passive state. “No sir but I,” she began a weak lie however Rinker appeared to be in a state few if any saw. The man never pulled rank or authority, yet it was clear that in the right time and situation, Heathcliff Rinker was able to efficiently and effectively dress down another officer.

“Where would that level of confidence come from? The Captain doesn’t tell me what to do with my patients… Ian standing here practically mute” He gestured quickly in that direction.

“Well I wouldn’t say mute,” Ian casually added slipping for a moment into the slight banter that was so common from him. Rinker’s comment clearly didn’t bother him and he wasn’t going to press the point which allowed Rinker to continue his controlled and clearly articulated disciplining of this subordinate.

”… and you interrupt for a headache that she never reported…”

“You have no basis to refute my medical determination that she was experiencing prior discomfort,” Celia responded in a softer more apologetic tone however it was clear, Celia Decker was playing with fire.

Wait another clue, “No, all of it a lie, a headache she can’t even have because of her nanites? How many times did you say she reported these fictional headaches.” He shook his head. It was actually falling into some strange pattern that screamed one thing that didn’t make any sense. “What was your assignment before the Atlantis? Doctor?” The Doctor was said as an accusation.

The slightly remorseful, downturned face that Celia was exhibiting evaporated like a drop of water on a hot griddle. Dammit, she thought. Rinker was far smarter than any of them expected. They had mistaken his quiet, reserved manner for one of lassiez-faire. It was a deadly and costly mistake. One that would extract a high price when the bill came due. Celia silently cursed that braggart Primrose for his pompous crowing about turning the head psychiatrist to their team. She should not have believed him and that mistake was going to screw her.

“Outpost 42,” she replied immediately using the cover that was in place. “My executive officer was Commander Jessica Teller although she would not know me by Decker. I got divorced recently. Blackstone,” she replied. “When I served under her my name was Celia Blackstone.” Teller was a wild card with the intelligence agency since she had married Aedan Teller but the woman did understand the importance of supporting someone in the field. She would confirm Celia’s identity at the very least.

“And I surmise that no one aside from Teller would even remember you… you would be some name and rarely seen figment that everyone knew existed but no one could tell any details about. Maybe there wouldn’t even be a picture of you just a name on a file.”

“Commander,” Celia tried to de-esclate the situation but Rinker was smart enough to snap in a few pieces to the puzzle and there was no stopping him now.

He turned back to Jessa. “Is she the one who told you not to speak to me?”

Jessa wore the expression of all kids caught in a lie. She avoided all eye contact and fiddled with the sleeves of her shirt. As her lips parted for a reply, Celia stopped it cold from ever being spoken.

“This is ridiculous. You are scaring her,” Celia interrupted again. “Why would she tell you something that can only get her into more trouble?” The words were meant as a threat even if they were said in a soft and gentle tone.

She was desperate now, each one of her lies and threats unraveled before him as quickly as she spoke. To Rinker the mind wasn’t really a mystery anymore, of course specific people and specific situations were but the foundations about how people thought and acted were fairly simple… and now he was a dog with a bone and he knew panic when he saw it. “No I’m not you are, your body proximity, your demand of her hand, your mysterious unneeded hypo-spray. She literally just struck me and I did nothing. One thing is certain, she isn’t scared of me. And why would telling me who talked to her get her in trouble.... you are threatening her?”

“Of course not,” she let a side glance drift to Jessa. The child was desperate and it did not take much to control her. As long as she kept the pressure on the kid, it would keep her mouth shut. “She and I are friends. I would tell you Dr. Rinker,” Celia used his medical title as she set her cold, dark gaze on Heathcliff, “but that would be violating doctor-patient privilege or does that not apply to you? I respect this privilege but if guess you have different orders to share what she tells you so privilege doesn’t apply to you.” Looking over at Jessa she finished her last sentence. “Everyone reports to someone. Remember that.”

” What mysterious danger do you represent?”

“I am not the danger,” Celia leveled a gaze at Jessa. “Tell him it was not me.” Celia sent Jessa a look that made her instinctively put another step between her and Celia.

“Don’t you talk to her, you conniving back stabbing snake. I know what you are.” He spat out the word what. “Victimizing children, you are just as bad as a pedophile.”

Jessa started to panic seeing whatever was going on not going down the way any of the adults expected. She had never seen Rinker this angry at someone. She was also a fool thinking Rinker did not do exactly what Celia was saying. He wore the uniforms of this Starfleet. He did have to report to someone. Rinker continued to always say he could protect her on the ship but not off. Maybe Celia wasn’t completely lying. Rinker tended to just let people talk. Now he was trying to shut her up. It didn’t make sense but out of all the adults in the room, Jessa knew exactly what Celia doing. There was an odd comfort to that even if that meant Decker would screw her over in the end.

Jessa’s mouth opened wide but no words came out as she looked back and forth to all the adults. “No…I mean yes,” she struggled to reply not sure what answer was going to be the right one. Her lips moved letting out small sounds that were not words as Jessa worked on trying to produce an answer to Rinker’s question. Right now Jessa was being forced to publicly pick a side and she did not know which to choose. Rinker and Ian had been the most honest she believed, yet Celia appeared to have the more powerful allies.

Rinker glanced at Celia for a moment and them back, “No not her, not enough circles on her neck. The circle woman is the person who gives you the confidence to interrupt me” He pointed at Celia… His eyes widened as his stare became more intense at Jessa. “You’re lying to me… or is someone lying to you?” He gave her that little out to induce her to confess… The faster he thought the more he came with. “And you fell for it.”

Jessa took a step back and closer to Ian. This was the closest Rinker had ever come to being angry with her and losing his temper. It was the first time however he was demanding and answer and expected one. Everything in her gut told her to explain what was happening to him and Ian but the fear of the unknown scared her more.

“Who on this ship would empower you to lie?” Both of his hands went to his temple… “That prick from intelligence, but he’s a he…”

Rinker

“No one I,” Jessa started. Her voice was shaking along with her hands as she began to panic trying to find the words to make this fit a narrative that kept all the stories straight but isolated.

“Jessa,” Ian’s voice barked out much louder and sharper instantly pulling her attention to him. “You had better think before you answer that little girl.” Much like Rinker, Ian was suddenly displaying an authoritative side she had not experienced before. Jessa became silent as she looked away from him shutting down. “No,” he said firmly. “You are not going to ignore me or him,” he pointed to Rinker. “Mr. Rinker asked you a question and you are going to answer it but before you do you had better think. I don’t care what lies or truths you have stretched before now but it stops right here and right now,” he stabbed his finger at the floor. “You hear me?”

Jessa glanced up giving Ian a side glance before desperately trying to find somewhere to look that wasn’t at Ian, Rinker, Celia.

“Look at me! Do you hear me,” Ian snapped a little louder and far more parent-like making it clear he wanted a reply before he continued?

“Yes,” she replied back in a softer tone glancing up to look at him.

“I don’t care if the answer is yes it was Celia or no it wasn’t. All I want is the truth. Whatever that truth is we will deal with it. I promise whatever it is things are going to be okay.” While his tone was firm and demanding, his mannerisms were a bit softer. “Your answer right now isn’t dependent on you presenting the Union or the Elders in one way or another. It is dependent on whether someone on this ship is trying to force you to lie to us. That is the question you are answering. Nothing more Nothing less. You have a chance this one time to show a little to get a little. All we want is the truth.” It was important to Ian that Jessa knew exactly what was being expected from her. They had talked about respect and honesty over dinner. Now they were going to see if Jessa trusted them enough to answer yes. Even if this Celia was not the person, both he and Rinker knew anything other than a yes was a lie.

Jessa and Ian

“I don’t know what to say to make you believe me,” she looked back and forth to Rinker and Ian. No matter what happened, she was sure neither of them would hurt her.

“It’s not her,” Jessa extended a small amount of protection to Celia. She could not burn every bridge. “She…she isn’t dressed like you or Ian in the blue, red, or yellow. She wears clothes like you but the are all black. She doesn’t have any circles on her neck.” Looking guilty she turned to face Rinker. “I was mad at you,” she confessed. “I told her I was mad at you and she said I didn’t have to talk to you. She said there were other people and if I wanted she could let me talk to someone else but…I…I don’t mind talking to you…most of the time.” Jessa looked down at her shoes feeling ashamed and guilty. Once Rinker asked what he had ever done to her to elicit the profanity and anger she displayed to him. Then, like now, there wasn’t anything. “I’m sorry. I…I don’t know what to do. Everyone is always yelling at me or trying to ask me things and I don’t know what to say.” For the first time Jessa looked desperate and lost not because she was trying to hide anything but because she being honest. “Please…don’t be mad.”

Jessa Novar

Section 31, he thought why were they here, why did they want her. “You can be mad at me Jessa. It happens all the time. Its hard to work through hard things and sometimes that makes people angry.” He found his way into the old parent refrain. “I’m not mad I’m a little disappointed, you could have told me the truth. But you did the right thing, you came back and talked and in the long run that was the best thing you could do.”

He took a step closer to Celia, tactically a foolish thing for someone as incapable at physical combat as Rinker against someone he was now confident was an agent probably from section 31, but that hypo-spray concerned him and he would not let Jessa get injected.

“Commander you really need to think carefully about your next move,” Celia moved the threat off Jessa and made it a warning to him.

He tapped his com badge, =^=Security to Medical Bay Urgently.=^=

“You should not have done that,” Celia repeated in a more firm tone.

“You are under arrest.” He had multiple charges he could threaten her with, but it didn’t matter. Section 31 was going to swoop in and get her out sooner rather than later. But he was going to get Mardusk to squeeze her like an over-ripe grape for as long as he could and maybe he could force their hand.

Rinker

“You are going to regret this,” Celia said to Jessa not making any sudden moves. She needed to fill the girl with enough fear that she would keep her mouth shut until they could re-establish control of the situation.

Rinker looked at her coldly, “NO I’m F@cking not.” He snapped angrily, “You don’t know who the F@ck I am, I’m your worst F-in nightmare an old man who doesn’t give a damn about himself or his career.”

“Ian,” Jessa knew enough not to be around adults that were acting like Rinker. They tended to be short-tempered and often apologized later but not before yelling a lot or worse it was an angry Elder. “Ian, stop him.”

“Jessa you should go back to your room,” Ian gave a direction instead of answering a question. It was not going to do Jessa any good to see what was going to happen next.

“They are going to use you and toss you away far from your friends. You just lost the only people that have been fighting for you,” Celia began saying the exact things Jessa most feared from the crew. It wasn’t hard to figure it out. All the little brat did was tantrum about wanting to see her friends and to go home. Eliminate those options and it would make her think before she started talking.

“No,” Jessa yelled taking a step forward. Her movement towards Celia was stopped however by Ian grabbing the back of her shirt and pulling her farther back and out of the way. “Rinker…Rinker you can’t do this,” she began to beg and plead. “Ian,” she snapped her attention back to the man holding her. “Let me go. You have to stop this. Heathcliff…call them back. Please,” Jessa began to beg and struggle, fighting Ian from keeping her back.

“Too late,” Celia worked to amp up Jessa. She had seen the epic meltdowns and once started, the child seemed to lose her mind. “When they come for me you are on your own.”

“Rinker. Rinker,” Jessa yelled. “Please…please don’t do this. I lied. I lied. She didn’t do anything. It was my fault.” Jessa began to ramble anything and everything she thought was make Heathcliff and Ian change their minds.

Jessa Bordeaux

Heathcliff looked at Jessa for the briefest of moments and then literally clothes lined Celia.

Jessa felt her heart race. She had been around enough people that knew how to hurt others to see what lay beneath Celia’s eyes. Everything in Jessa’s gut told her she had to help. This was her chance. Maybe it was the chance the Aimee Rian mentioned but Pellan’s voice rang out in her ears. Never let anyone know what you can do because they will fear you for it. Never hurt someone for the sake of it. Always help the weaker person. She could not take the chance that Celia would hurt Rinker. She had to do something even if that meant ruining the mission and postponing how long it would take her to get home.

Celia reached up feeling Heathcliff’s forearm impact her throat. She reached out to deflect it. The man might get in an easy blow but it would be his last. Opening her hand to bring it up sharply to Heathcliff’s face, Celia Decker suddenly found she could not move it. It was as if her arm were asleep. The brief pause in her delayed reaction caused the blow to knock her back as effortlessly as if she were an untrained agent and just a doctor. Her eyes flew off Rinker and to Jessa for half a second until the wind was knocked out of her and she looked back at the psychiatrist.

He pinned her to the ground with his knee in her chest and his hand clamped on her throat. “I know what you are now. You can’t threaten children in front of me… you piece of filth.” He was so enraged the spittle flew from his mouth a rageful dog barking “You’ll get out soon, we both know that, but remember I’m the crazy mother f*cker that had his hand on your throat. You’d be dead right now if I wanted it. So threaten her again… go ahead see what happens.” He had a death grasp on her larynx so she could have spoken right now if she wanted to.

There were a million ways to take this man out. Yes, he was strong, much stronger than he appeared or acted but it was not just the rage and adrenaline. Her hands reached up to grab Rinker’s wrists and pull him off her. Celia was slightly blue. She was starting to fear this unassuming psychiatrist might be a real threat caused her expression to turn stony. Her grip on Rinker’s wrist was sloppy not targeting the median nerve of the wrist which would have forced the man’s hand open. Gurgling and choking sounds erupted from the woman’s mouth as she desperately tried to talk to Rinker. Her jaw however felt locked in place as if the man had a death grip on it instead of her throat.

“Oh I’m sorry,” he lightened up just enough so she could speak…”Threaten her again… tell me I’m going to regret it again. Maybe I will, but you wont be around to see it. Go ahead.”

Rinker

OOC This would be a hilarious time for Mardusk to show up

The doors to the Sickbay opened up with a quiet hiss and a large man entered in a yellow marked Starfleet Uniform, pips of a lieutenant Commander on his neck. Well to say that he was large was an understatement but for people used to the sight of the Atlantis’ Security Chief, he wasn’t that large in retrospect. His square face had a passive expression as he surveyed the scene, he made a twitching motion with his arm and something metallic seemed to fly up his sleeve out of his hand. He took a few steps in and clasped hands behind his back then looked down at the floor, he stood directly in front of the entrance blocking it with his body.

Jessa’s eyes immediately processed and recognized the man shirt and what it represented. Yellow meant security. It meant that they were going to take the woman away and any chance of Jessa making Rinker and Decker see reason, and find common ground.

Peter Sigmundsson hadn’t been on the ship long but he was familiar with most of the major crew members, the fact that the Chief of Psychiatry was pinning down a doctor on the floor was a surprise but he’d managed to catch a few snippets of conversation. “Commander Rinker I presume?” His Federation Standard had no recognizable accent “Lieutenant Commander Peter Sigmundsson, I’m the new intelligence Chief.” He spoke calmly “Do you need a moment of privacy?” He asked looking towards the young child clearly terrified. His question was simply to give the implication of whose side he was on for this struggle.

CIO

“Lucky you.” He said to the young ‘doctor’, well she was young to him. He never removed his eyes from the lady. “Place this piece of garbage under arrest, well start with what I know is true, making a false report to a superior officer, medical malpractice -intentionally prescribing the wrong medication, things that are likely, conspiracy, harassment I’m sure there are plenty more.” He smiled.

Celia desperately tried to talk but the man’s iron grip on her did not let up. Her feet kicked out limply but not because of the shortage of air. It was as if two man were holding down her legs and not just the man with a knee on her chest.

“She’s also section 31. So don’t be surprised if you get a call from some higher up. To forget all that happened here. Don’t put her in the same section with the other prisoners.”

Rinker

“Don’t touch her,” Jessa screamed out. Releasing the woman she locked eyes with the mountain of a man that was now in the room. Jessa lunged at Peterson pulling out of Ian’s grip and moving to stand between him and the two adults brawling on the floor. “Turn around and get the triff out or I will make you get out.” Her hand clenched into a fist at her side and every muscle tightened ready to fight back if she had to. There was enough space between her and Peterson that if the man tried to grab her, Jessa would see it coming but she was close enough that she could fight back if needed.

Peter didn’t react beyond a raising of his eyebrows, it wasn’t often that a child had the courage to step up to him and so he was genuinely surprised at the action. He noticed Commander Bordeaux preparing to chastise her so he took the extra time to properly survey the room and the situation.

“Jessa,” Ian snapped closing the space behind her forcing Jessa to pivot so she now had all three people directly in her line of vision. “Go to your room. Now,” he barked out in full command mode. Ian had no idea who was who anymore nor their intentions past Rinker’s. He needed to get the kid out of the mix before she made the bad choice of provoking this new player in the nightmare of the past four days.

“No,” she said putting up both her hands as if gesturing to keep everyone back.

“I’m sorry did you just say no to me,” Ian looked at Jessa as if she had just grown a second head.

“Yes,” she answered Ian before looking at Heathcliff. There were too many things to try and manage. It was starting to press her to the breaking point. Celia could not leave the room and Jessa had to find a way to make Ian and Heathcliff see this. “Rinker…make him go away. Now,” she yelled at the counselor. “You make people talk. I won’t let her hurt you so get off her okay,” her voice was a little calmer and gentler as if trying to talk Rinker down. “However you said this is like your office so he,” she screamed pointing at Peterson, “is not allowed in here. Tell him to go. Tell him,” she yelled squinting her eyes as if the light was too bright in the room or she was getting a headache. Jessa did not want to slam everyone against the walls to make them listen but she would if it was needed.

Jessa Novar

The man in yellow was huge as most of the security officers here on the were. The fact he seemed to be not complying with her order but thinking about a course of action made Jessa tense. She had taken on the security chief but that was a doomed proposition from the start without using her divination. Taking on this man with Ian and Rinker in the room was going to be impossible. The Elders would force the man to his knees for not instantly obeying them but Jessa had to get the man to capitulate with less aggressive action.

“Drak it Rinker tell him to go. You said this is like your office. You don’t have groups in your office so make him go,” she glanced back and forth to all three men as if they were menacingly approaching her instead of just standing their ground. Back in the Union, no one in the general population would dare refuse her command however it was becoming exceedingly clear no one on the ship seemed to care about her authority.

“Our conversation is like my office. And even if this was my office.” He nodded towards Celia, “she is a criminal. I suspect she is trying to harm you and she already lied to me. In the Federation an officer lying to another on duty is a conduct crime and is subject to summary discipline.”

“And you said here people are innocent until proven guilty and everything we say in your office is only for us. That no one can use it so why isn’t that the same for her now if I say we are talking like we do in your office?” Jessa was pulling at straws to try and force the situation in her favor. She understood the need control on the ships and within ranks. It was the same in the Union but she could play dumb if it helped the cause.

“Because I am the only one that cares about you for something other than a purpose,” Celia choked out the words between coughs. Rinker’s grip was iron clad and it was not needed to be faked how hard it was to talk or the slight red of her face as she fought against his grip. Instinctively Jessa moved a hand towards Rinker directly while still holding up one facing Peter as she saw Rinker was not going to back down and the woman struggling. It was not hard to see Jessa was had a soft side that needed to help those she perceived as weaker. It was something Celia could use to her advantage.

“Let her up before you make me do something I don’t want to.” Jessa’s tone was not authoritative or demanding but more pleading for Rinker to comply or give guidance.

“You know that, you wouldn’t be allowed to hurt me, even if it were in my office.”

He was right. Of all the people here in this room only two meant something to her and above all Jessa did have a profound sense of loyalty. Snapping her hand off him, she turned them both back to Peter unsure how he was going to react and what she would need to do to safely contain him. “And I would not hurt you,” Jessa sounded almost hurt as if Rinker still didn’t believe that.

Letting out a groan, she rolled her eyes in a very child-like manner realizing Ian and Rinker were going to be of no help in this situation.
“Man in yellow,” Jessa snapped not knowing his name. She tried to keep a steady and firm tone but it was not often she had ever had to force her point and authority. “Get the trif out of here. Your presence is not needed here. I will mediate the conflict. You are dismissed.”

“Hey, hey hey whooooooa there Curious George,” Ian shot out sarcastically but in a firm tone, “you want to be an idiot fine. Let’s see how that turns out for you but watch your mouth.” He knew she would not get the pop culture reference of the man in the yellow hat leading around a curious monkey from the children’s book series but the reference was appropriate. Right now she was slowly settling into seeing who was in command and wasn’t. Rinker was right, Jessa could be broken from her indoctrination given time. Sliding her into obeying them instead of the Elders was like a chess game with a novice opponent. It did no good to beat them in three turns. They had to learn while they were being beaten at the game. The time would come for it to be instant checkmate; however, Peter was capable of taking Jessa on and out if needed so Ian did not intervene. She needed to see more adults in power positions besides just himself and Rinker. If the call was wrong, Rinker would be there to casually steer it in the right direction.

As if in an afterthought, she added, “If you would please go?” Jessa’s rhetoric and speech showed a glimpse at how she envisioned herself one day. The social nicety at the end; however, showed she had not still crossed the threshold of seeing herself as an equal to those older than her regardless of the power and status she thought she possessed.

The child is emotionally distraught over removing the (Possible) section 31 operative, she’s too recent an addition to be a member, she fears losing her, possibly due to some sort of threat, blackmail or similar. Rinker has a relationship with the child, seems to trust him, can’t break trust. Establish my own credentials, strengthen his or ignore completely? Peter thought as Jesse ranted, as she order his own removal he made his choice, he took a knee.

Her eyes widened and the fact the man wasn’t forcing his obvious advantage on Jessa confused her. “Get up,” she yelled no longer caring about Ian or Rinker as she watched his massive frame suddenly cut by half. While years of training negated this, Peter could kill you seven ways from Sunday with one hand behind his back, when one was on a knee it made them appear more helpless and submissive. For Jessa, this act of capitulation increased her frustration instead of easing it. It meant if she reacted it would be offensively instead of defensively. “Drak it, drak it, drak it,” she cursed furiously losing her calmness. “What is wrong with you people? Why can’t anyone do as they are told? Get up or you will make me do something I don’t want to. Get off your knee and follow my orders or fight me.”

“He has no intention of fighting you Jessa. He here to enforce rules which are based on justice and laws. Not to attack young ladies.” Which was an ironic statement given the position Rinker was currently in. Having just finished attacking a young lady.

“Then make him go. Red overrides Blue but Blue overrides Yellow. You said that. You said if you had to you could control Mardusk. He is yellow,” she nodded towards Peter’s shirt. “So either you or Ian make him go.” It was clear Jessa was trying to pidgeon hole the people into the room into some hierarchy she could understand. She now had a basic understanding of rank but not how rank worked within departments. Her wording showed her immaturity and her ability to observe and deduce conclusions. In a negotiation, one did not give power to the people you were negotiating with but it did not take a degree in psychology to see Jessa understood who was really in charge here even if her actions spoke otherwise.

Even on one knee he was still taller than the child but he was closer to her height this way, children never did like it when you talked down to them “He won’t be able to order me out, young miss. But perhaps you could convince me to leave. Why is it so important that this woman stays in here?” He didn’t speak as one might to a child but kept the same tone he did when addressing another officer. He took a moment to look at Rinker and then the Operative in his grasp, he then stroked his chin and used the action to cover putting a single finger across his lips whilst staring directly at the young Doctor.

CIO

She didn’t like the way he still seemed to hold the authority even though he was on bent knee and using questions instead of demanding responses. It made her feel on edge, off-balance, and strangely compelled to answer. Squinting her eyes hard, Jessa held the position for a second as she shook her head slightly to push away the ache behind her eyes before dropping her hands and touching her nose feeling the sensation of a bloody nose coming on.

Celia let out a groan feeling now only Rinker’s hands and knee holding her down. The man had a grip like iron but the morality not to kill her in cold blood. She let her gaze drift to Jessa, locking on it hard. Decker had no interest in provoking the psychiatrist but she did the child. She would only get one chance at this so the message had to be clear. Now that she could move her hands without some invisible resistance, she pressed hard into the medial nerve of Rinker’s wrist allowing her to produce a single message. “He came for the Elders. He is now coming for you.” The message was a lie of course but Jessa had no proof it wasn’t. She clearly had never met the new officer but Celia knew the man by reputation. Sigmundsson was a brilliant agent. Hell, even she didn’t know if the man was part of Perkin’s plan or not. The evening though was full of tidbits for Jessa to over-analyze and incorrectly process. All Decker needed was time for her superiors to intervene.

Rinker pivoted his arm releasing his grasp and dropped his forearm into Celia’s throat. It was with significant force. It certainly was enough to damage her larynx perhaps enough to crush it but that wasn’t his intention. He was going to put her into a choking fit for a long time. If he did indeed fracture her wind pipe they were in the right place to fix it. She wouldn’t die unless he wanted her to.

I am far smarter than you because I don’t care about her, Celia thought. It would be a gamble but she was anteing up that Rinker would not let Jessa see him actually choke her unconscious and if he did it might be advantageous. It would take weeks if ever to fix that image he had carefully created in their sessions as the calm and patient man.

Peter lowered his hand and slowly turned his gaze towards the young spy, it seemed she either lacked all tradecraft or was in a full panic, both would be useful. That one comment also confirmed his theories regarding the situation and why the head of psychiatry had been choking her out, the man was by reputation a calm and collected individual for the most part.

The news seemed to hit Jessa like a backhand. Emotions of fear and confusion washed over her face. “Did you? Are you?” Her question was rhetorical and open to everyone in the room not just the man in front of her. Jessa took a step back and paced slightly feeling panic starting to swell. If they had removed the Elders that meant she was alone and without any way to escape this ship and the Federation. Her mind began to spiral. Maybe she needed to force them finally to take her to the Brig. She could do it. It was just a matter of how without people getting hurt.

Jessa Novar

Peter put a thick arm over his knee, his expression hadn’t changed before the accusation “The Elders are of some interest, yes but I have no authority over them, you are of no particular interest to Starfleet Intelligence and even if you were I wouldn’t be able to bypass either Commander Rinker or Commander Bordeaux,”

Jessa looked at Ian and Rinker as Peter spoke. There was something about his tone. It was not syrupy sweet like some adults used when trying to convince a child to see their point. It was calm but firm imparting facts mixed with some opinion. He did not deny that some other division of this Starfleet was interested in the Elders but backed up Rinker and Ian’s statements about Jessa being inconsequential compared to them. He also stated that the only way to get to her was through Rinker and Bordeaux. This fact seemed true as both men seemed to be dominating presences in her life. His sentence calmed her enough that Jessa stopped passing and looked at the man as he spoke.

” I wouldn’t even try to speak with you without either present and any who do only do so because they know that they don’t have a leg to stand on” He paused “I don’t know how well you know Human Idioms”

“I…I don’t know that one but I think I understand it. You mean they are hiding doing it because it is was okay Rinker or Ian would bring them in as they did with some of the other crew.” The panic was starting to ebb away enough, Jessa was able to react using some logic and not purely on her emotions. She wiped the drop of blood from her nose caused by the divination from her nose on the back of her pants. Hopefully, no one would have noticed it happened as soon as she dropped her raised hand. It was stupid to try and help Rinker but she was scared Celia might have hurt him. It was worth the risk.

“Or making you their unknowing hostage,” Celia coughed out a devils advocacy in a cracked whisper. In a way, it was good seeing this. Given the right person and wording, Jessa would believe whatever they spoonfed her. She was impressionable like most children and desperate for someone to tell her what she wanted to hear. Jessa had been vocal about the nagging suspicion the crew of the Atlantis was using her but the more time the girl spent with Rinker, the less she mentioned it.

He turned his gaze once more towards Celia “Lie to the child once more and won’t like the result” He didn’t give a specific threat, the imagination was always worse than whatever he could say.

She opened her mouth to speak but closed it debating her next move. How powerful would the statement be to have these men drag her physically out of sickbay? The image might burn in the child’s brain of it happening to her one day. Between the three men in the room, Celia did not have a chance of running out but she could put up a spectacular struggle. Tensing her muscles, Celia began to scan the room marking the positions and time of reaction for those involved when she decided to run.

He then turned back to Jessa “Now my previous question stands, why is it so important that she stays? Convince me and I’ll convince them” He pointed to the other officers.

CIO

Rinker shook his head in distinct negative fashion. Celia was too dangerous in both deed and word.

“How can you convince them,” she looked at Peter scrutinizing not his size but his neck and chest. “I thought…you said,” she looked at Rinker with a scowl and then back to Peter, “the circles show who is in charge. You all have the same circles,” she touched her neck. Jessa had been highly observant but the colors had to mean more than just duty on the ship if this man could order Rinker or Ian to do anything.

Jessa closed her eyes and hummed a few bars of the song her mother taught her to calm herself down. She needed to do something but the what was still in the air. On some level, Jessa was scared of Ian and Heathcliff. They did not seem to care about her rank and position in the Union which made them unpredictable. Maybe this man would see her importance. Opening her eyes, she took a step forward and extended her hand. “I’m Jessa,” she said before a look of shock spread across her face. “I mean Patron Novar. I am Patron Jessa Novar of the Galactic Union,” she corrected herself far more forcibly than needed. All the men in the room would have the experience to see for the briefest moment, that Jessa had forgotten the thing that had always defined her. It was clear she was angry but with herself more than anyone in the room. The slip more than anything freaked Jessa out enough to cause her desperation to protect Celia surface. The more she was with Ian and Rinker, the more she was slowly absorbing their rhetoric. Squaring her shoulders, Jessa tried to appear haughty and regal like the Elders did to gain respect.

Peter inclined his head and took the extended hand, a brief human handshake matching the firmness of her grip. He hadn’t missed the slight wiping of blood earlier but didn’t mention it, he’d converse with either of the two officers about it later.

Jessa did not like the feeling of the emotions coursing through her as she took his hand. Everything in her gut was telling her to trust him but these people were slippery and it was not like there were just two sides: the Union against the Federation. Jessa both for and against the Elders and factions of the Union. It was clear as day that the Federation had two sides but what side and what crew on the Atlantis was on perplexed her. Jessa was definitely against the Federation but was she against everyone in the Federation? Rinker and Ian, Evrilla and Lauren....hell even the big green alien Mardusk was only trying to look out for their own so was it fair to blindly just accept the Union was good and the Federation was bad? Now there was a new player who Jessa had to fit into a category and it was setting her on edge.

“I don’t need to convince you to let the doctor stay. She did nothing wrong. She is nice to me. When I am lonely at night she talks to me but she is not sneaking in. She works here and when I have nightmares she…comes in …when Ian is not in the room but she works here so it is not like she is sneaking in.” The more she talked the more the knot in her stomach grew. Her confession would not answer questions but raise more. Celia had told her that Ian could never see them together but Jessa had to hug the truth to sell the lie.

“When,” Ian snapped looking at Celia with a murderous expression. “I have been here every night.” Ian only stepped out of the sick bay long enough to shower or attend meetings. That had to be the only time Celia had access to Jessa but the larger question was what lies had she been feeding into Jessa’s head.

“I…I don’t know,” Jessa instantly dropped the haughty persona she wore like a disguise when introducing herself to Peter. “She…she is just..nice to me.” Every word spilling from Jessa’s lips was that of a child trying to dig themselves out of a lie. The rate of her speech increased, her shoulders slumped slightly, and she was avoiding contact with everyone. “She,” Jessa’s mind went blank trying to come up with anything that would be seen as affection but there wasn’t a single provable instance. Celia had done a wonderful job of being present but not seen until Jessa just splashed her with an X marks the spot icon.

Moving forward she took Peter’s hand with a look of pleading desperation. “She is not bad I proha,” Jessa stopped before saying promise. Celia was not someone Jessa could trust but only someone she needed to complete the mission. Suddenly Jessa remembered something Aimee Rían had said and maybe Rinker or Ian had mentioned. Looking up at Peter she announced as confidently as she could. “Dr Decker applied for assylum which I granted. She is a citizen of the Galactic Union. That is why you can’t remove her.”

Jessa Novar

Petr raised an eyebrow then after a moment he smiled slightly and inclined his head again, a way of saying good move. The child’s hand could barely cover a part of his own. “Ms. Novar, perhaps I should tell you who I am, or more precisely what I am. I am an Intelligence officer, used to work Security but I’ve always dabbled in intelligence. What this means is that I am somewhat of an expert in lying and knowing when someone is lying” He kept his tone even and light “So how about you try this again but with all of the truth and I’ll promise the same, no lies or half-truths. That woman is trying to threaten and scare you isn’t she?” He asked directly

“I put a pin in it,” Jessa stated firmly looking to Rinker almost for help. No one but him would understand that was her secret code for not wanting to talk about something that was hitting too close to home. It was her way of not lying in sessions but spoke volumes to people with Peter, Ian, and Rinker’s background. “New question.”

“Now another part of my skillset is detective work, let’s put together this puzzle. She’s been meeting with you in secret, whispering about how you can’t trust those two or anyone except her and her friends” He didn’t know if Celia was working alone or with others but he doubted the former. S31 always worked in cells or so he’d been told over twenty years ago and he was certain not much had changed in that time. He was also watching the girl’s face carefully for any reaction “Now she’s what we call an operative but not one that’s in charge. Not very good under pressure or she wouldn’t be lying on the floor there” He shot Celia a warning look to reminder her not to speak

Peter then turned his gaze back to Jessa, softening his expression “Now you say that she asked for asylum, that implies that you believe that she’s someone on the side of the Union, which in turn implies that she’s made promises, or that someone she’s working for has made promises… what do you think, warm or cold?” He asked.

CIO

Rinker

Jessa was easy to read either by her nature or inexperience. Peter did not need a verbal response to see everything was on the mark as Jessa glanced at Celia everytime he asked a question. “She said she can help me get home,” Jessa admitted looking down instead of anyone in the room. Ian and Rinker promised the same thing but it was clear Jessa was willing to do whatever was needed to make this happen faster and on her timetable. “You all promised us safe passage and now we are trapped.”

Celia had to press her point to stop the kid from talking. Jerking her hands down , she made it appear as if she activated a device although there was nothing there. The gesture was only a rouse for one person in the room. “Containment lost” Celia said pushing up hard on Rinker. The comment was vague enough for everyone to question it“Say another word and you rot here”.

His grip was already iron clad and black dots were edging her vision but she had to sell it. Thrashing her feet, Celia did not have to fake trying to get up. She was trained but she was in a difficult physical position to get leverage. She bucked her hips trying to get up. The plan however was not to fight the men in the room, but let Jessa watch they take her down and end the fantasy that these people were sweet, soft, and gentle.

“Stop,” Jessa took her eyes off of Peter and lunged forward towards Rinker in some blind attempt to help one of them.

Jessa Novar.

Peter sighed and then moved. In only a few quick strides he’d overtaken Jessa and knelt in front of Celia.

Height and bulk typically were only beneficial in physical combat. It tended to slow things like agility and speed, yet Peter’s motion was fluid and blindingly fast. His height meant one stride for him was equal to almost two of Jessa’s allowing him to reach Rinker and Celia before Jessa could even get close enough to make any difference. Jessa skidded to a stop after one step watching in horror as Rinker moved the woman from flat on her back to a standing position. It was clear, Celia was on the verge of blacking out or being strangled.

“Bad bluff, worse move.” He put a large hand across the back of the woman’s neck and looked at Rinker “Please release her” His words were not an offer but a directive.

Jessa skidded to a stop after one step watching in horror as Rinker moved the woman from flat on her back to a standing position. It was clear that Celia was on the verge of blacking out or being strangled. Suddenly Jessa had a profound and new level of respect for Heathcliff Rinker the seemingly weak and combat ineffectual psychiatrist.

“Rinker,” Jessa yelled. “Stop, please. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.” Her concern was more for the man than the woman he had in her grasp. He was better than this. His reaction seemed to be motivated by worrying about Jessa’s safety more than anything else. She needed to convince him she could take care of things on her own.

Celia had stopped thrashing in the unwavering and relentless grip. It was past the time of fighting back and the time for fighting to keep the blackness from engulfing her. They had gravely underestimated the crew of this ship.

Rinker pursed his lips at Sigmundsson, “Every word she says is like poison, she’s killing her by just sharing the same air.” It was an issue he could solve in just a few more moments. “She’ll just go to sleep in a few more moments.” It wouldn’t be fatal. Fortunately for Celia even in this short period of time he had calmed far too much to kill a harmless opponent. Not that she was truly harmless. How much he was releasing her was up to debate.

Raising her hands, Jessa threw the security team and medical staff against the walls hard enough to knock them out. There were too many people to manage on her own. The action caused the three men closest to her to react. Only Peter had the possibility of being armed so that was her first target after eliminating O’Neill and his security team. Jessa flicked her left wrist sending Peter hurdling across the space and into the wall where he was pinned as if held there by invisible magnets. Using her palm she held him there like an invisible vice. With her right wrist, she pushed Ian and Rinker to the opposite wall holding her palm up to keep them there as Celia crumpled to the floor. Moving slowly and purposefully, Jessa kneeled down next to Celia who hacked and coughed trying to regulate her breathing now that she was no longer in a sleeper hold. ‘Call Aimee Rian. Tell her we go now.’ Walking up to Ian and Rinker who were trapped like flies on flypaper against the wall, Jessa stood there listening to the alternating pleas for her to think about what she was doing and the barrage of consequences that would happen to her the second they got off this wall. The more they spoke, the more flustered and angry Jessa was becoming at everyone in the room and the situation. Now that she had started this event, she had to finish it but how? She did not know how to make them sleep as Zala Tsu did. She could not rip their tongues out like Da Mu would to silence their blasphemous mouths. She could not make them suffer by snapping bones so they laid there, writhing in pain watching her leave the room. Ian and Rinker began to belt out commands the longer they were held in place demanding she look at what she did in the room and pleas to let them help the people she had just knocked on conscious. A thin trickle of blood seeped from Jessa’s nose the longer she held them in place. She could feel the wetness but was unable to wipe it with her hands occupied. As the seconds ticked by it was very apparent to Jessa that if she did this there was no way to leave this room without someone getting hurt.

Shaking her head, Jessa pushed the fantasy of using her divination to end the standoff occurring in the room. One blink and she was out of her head and back to reality. The only outcome would have to be making these people listen to her.

“Both of you stop this,” Jessa yelled trying to make the two men focus on her and not Celia. “Let her go.” The intent of the command was for the men to follow her direction. The result was Peter turning all his attention on Jessa. The man emitted power and authority like an aura yet without having to say a word or overtly threaten someone.

He turned to Jessa “Now we have established a pattern of behavior, every time you come close to a decision or a thought that doesn’t benefit this woman or her allies she threatens you or tries to scare you.”

Jessa held her breath not saying a word or taking her eyes off Peter. It was rare anything held her attention like this without her interrupting or acting.

He applied some pressure with his hands, to him it was only a slight squeeze but to Celia, it would feel like someone trying to crush her spine “She isn’t scary” the large man said calmly “Rinker isn’t scary, not really, and you Miss Jessa are not scary, in the Union you might have some authority and your position may have mattered but right here right now you are just scared and feel as if you are alone but you are not alone”

Ian moved behind Jessa while all her attention was focused on the two other men in the room. He had restrained her before and had no problem doing it again.

“I…I am not scared,” Jessa countered immediately raising her chin some. The action was just a facade. She was trying her best to look and act as powerful and in control as the rest of the adults in the room. She felt uneasy being the focus on all three men in the room. She needed an ally.

“Rinker tell him I am not scared of anything! Without hope and heroes, life is spent in malaise. To defeat malaise identify the keys to life. Life is sacrifice so offer it. Life is trust so give it wisely. Life is a struggle so conquer it. Be the force of change in the galaxy no matter the cost,” Jessa began to delve into the rhetoric she had learned all her life trying to find stable ground in the words.

Peter looked intensely at the girl “Now decide, do you still want to side with someone who has spent time giving vague promises of aid, threatened you, and done their best to scare you into submission?” He only stopped squeezing the woman’s neck for a moment so that she wouldn’t lose consciousness but kept his iron grip “Will you grant this woman power over you?” He asked.

CIO
rinker

His intense stare caused her to immediately back down. Peter was unpredictable and a new player but everything in Jessa told her Sigmundsson did not talk to hear himself speak nor would issue empty threats.

“And just give you power over me,” Jessa countered taking a step back instead of forward. The action allowed her to bump into Ian who was now directly behind her. The contact did not amplify her emotions but settled them some. In a strange way, she knew Ian would not let Peter hurt her. It also fueled her resolve to control the situation. “That is exactly what I would be doing if let you take her. Giving you the power and putting my faith and trust in one stranger for another.”

“Why should I believe you over her? Why should I believe any of you,” she gestured around. “Are you going to risk everything to get me back home? To my people? Everyone has an agenda. At least I know what to expect with her,” she pointed at Celia. “Why should I trust you?” Jessa struggled not to let her emotions overtake her. She had to be strong and independent. Anything less and these people would not see her as an equal.

Jessa

“Because we didn’t threaten you. We didn’t offer you favorable treatment for gifts. We might not be raining tribute on you, but we aren’t lying either.”

His comment made Jessa’s forehead screw up in annoyance. “I never once asked for tribute. That is Rogan and Zala Tsu’s thing but you haven’t helped me either,” Jessa felt her emotions moving from anger to guilt. She felt guilty over how they arrived, the captain being attacked, failing the Union’s mission, and being responsible for an ever-growing number of people. The woman on the medical bed, the safety of the crew on the Atlantis once the Elder’s were free, and now Celia.

“No, unless you call giving you food, saving your life, and giving you a safe place to stay while we figure all this out not helping you,” Ian snapped. Eventually, the kid gloves needed to come off with Jessa and have a good old-fashioned come to Jesus moment as his grandfather said.

“Yes but she promised to help me get free and go home,” Jessa blurted out before realizing she had told the men in the room exactly what they had known but were just looking for confirmation.

” You might not know the saying, but I’m sure you have something similar. A snake speaks with forked tongue.” He looked at Celia.. “Everything she says to you either is a lie or has a secret second purpose. Every action you ever took with her you were probably figuring out what she really meant, what you really had to do, what you were actually going to get. There was no such question with us. You may have not liked what we said or what we promised. But you knew what was happening was what was going to happen,” He eyed her, “The only one plotting in our conversations were you.”

Rinker.

Jessa felt small and vulnerable right now. She had just given up her secondary plan for escape on a silver platter. Everything Rinker said was true. Celia’s people wanted something. It was the reason she had not been more eager or supportive with them. Jessa felt her shoulders sag as she spoke. “We say lies are like Chrisven mice. They are always around even if you can’t see them and harder to get rid of than a Plackvik vine when they take root.” She swallowed and took a deep breath trying to calm the wave of selfish sadness crushing her small amount of hope in Celia. Jessa fidgeted with the sleeves of her shirt not wanting to meet the gave of Ian or Rinker.

“The problem is I don’t know what is going to happen to me,” Jessa wiped her nose with her sleeve. “Right now I have a place to live and food but I am not stupid. That is going to change and you all don’t know how to get me home. You don’t have the technology and I don’t believe you are going to use your light slide to send us back to our ship…so what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, or a month from now. One day you,” she pointed at Peter, “or you,” she looked at Rinker, “are going to come in here and say it is time to go, and then what? At least they promised a future plan even if it was a lie.”

Ian glanced at Jessa and then Rinker. She was not wrong. At some point in the future she would be moved but where was the question. She was too young to live on her own and that was out of the question if the paternity mystery was solved. The more Ian learned about where she was from the less apt he was to send her back. His mind ran through a litany of responses to her question but none of them was anything but vague.

“What’s going to happen to her,” Jessa asked looking at Celia, “and me now?” Her stomach knotted and Jessa felt sick. Wiping her nose again the tiny trickle of blood was visibly gone, but she could feel the side effects of the divination still in her nose.

Jessa Novar

Peter suppressed a frown at the appearance of the blood, if this kept happening he would have to speak with the other two officers after putting the child to sleep. The only reason he hadn’t done so already was that it might ruin their plans “What happens to her depends entirely on the plans her friends have made but most likely I’ll speak with her for a few hours, throw her in a hole until we get somewhere she can be released, then she’ll disappear, be granted a new name and identity and go do the same elsewhere” He was certain to not lie as he had promised “Worst case scenario she’ll get berated by her superiors” He hesitated.

Jessa was young and naive but quickly losing her innocence between Halston, Mischwald, and this mission. She did not need elaboration of more facts. Everything Sigmundsson said was plausible to her. Enemies had to be dealt with and the deep dark hole which the Federation placed them was at least life. In the Galactic Union, one paid for treachery and treason with thier lives. There was no second chance like Peter was alluding to.

“What happens to you depends in large part on you and the Elders. For now, I’d like to take this young woman out of here and you can continue this conversation with these two fine gentlemen.” Peter flashed a gentle smile at Jessa then looked first at Ian and then Rinker, his face returning to stone “You two know her better than I but I don’t think she needs any further admonishment for today”

CIO

“Or,” Jessa instantly added her own option. “You could stay here and talk to them.” The last thing she wanted to do was be alone with anyone in sickbay. She needed time to think and both Ian and Rinker seemed to know exactly how to pepper her with questions so that she was not able to preplan any answers.

“Or you can take your little butt back to your room and wait for me there,” Ian stated firmly but in a slightly upbeat tone. There had been enough drama during the last hour. Jessa had seemed to self calm and it would exacerbate things if she saw Celia being hauled out over Peter’s shoulder or slip completely into unconsciousness.

Jessa took two steps towards her room before turning back around. “I’m sorry,” she let the apology float in the room for whoever wanted to accept it. The silence made her feel uncomfortable. She was smart enough to know that men in the room wanted her gone but not for the reasons why.

“It’s okay. Go,” Ian said in a soothing tone. The second Jessa slipped from the main area and into her room his demeanor changed as he approached Celia. The idea that someone like Celia had had access to Jessa suddenly had Ian on edge. The woman appeared to be a perfectly fine doctor. She had transferred in about 6 weeks ago and fit in as if she had belonged here yet she clearly did not.

“I am going to take you apart piece by piece until you give me answers,” Ian growled. The only reason he had retained any part of composure was because of Jessa. Now that she was gone, he could focus his anger where it needed to be.

“No,” Dr. Lauren Shan appeared out of seemingly nowhere. “Peter has Celia. You need to go deal with Jessa. Rinker…back me up,” she looked to the psychiatrist for help.

Staring at Lauren and then Rinker, Ian rubbed his jaw. “We are not done. Not by a long shot,” he leveled a finger at Celia before taking a step back.

Ian and Jessa Bordeaux


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