A New Twist

Posted on Sat Nov 1st, 2014 @ 9:02pm by Lieutenant Raymond Benson & Lieutenant Bajun Julisa

Mission: Breaking New Ground
Location: JAG Offices

"Moron," Julisa muttered under her breath. She had her head ducked down and was reading the contents of a file. She flipped a page, shook her head and added, "Truly stupid," to the list of pejoratives she was uttering against the defendant. Finally, she sighed and asked the room, "Who attacks two Starfleet officers on their own station?"

“A stupid moron,” Ray’s voice called out from just outside her office door. Then his face appeared as he peeked in. “Good morning Julisa.” He wore a smile far too cheery for this early in the day.

"Don't read my mind like that," she answered. "I'm going over your attacker's statement, such as it is. I think it's all of twenty words. No real sentences. There were a few times when I interviewed him that he just grunted in answer to questions. This is an example of the infamous Suresh's gang? Pretty poor."

“The former Suresh.” Ray stepped in and leaned against the door frame. “And I don’t read minds, you just think out loud. You have to admire the logic, however. He hired them stupid so they couldn’t reveal too much when they were inevitably caught. Our former staff member should’ve taken that lesson to heart, but he folded and Li had only given him a mean look.”

"He succeeded with this one. And he'll be spending a few years in the closest penal facility." Setting the file aside, Julisa looked up at Ray. "What's on your agenda for the day?"

“Besides popping in to be annoyingly cheerful? I’ve been wondering about something.” Ray moved on into the office and settled his tall frame into a chair before her desk. “Why does someone with your qualifications move out here to the ass end of space? I know...adventure, new frontier, blah blah blah….I want the real reasons.”

"Why are you here?" She countered.

“Well, I have no real ties back on Earth, no one missing me and pining for my return. I know that will come as a great shock to you.” Ray’s tone was dry. “Starfleet needed someone with my particular talents out here, read that a tough asshole who’s not bothered by much.”

"We're a matched pair, Ray. You've seen my file. It's been claimed that I don't play well with others, which is why I was a traveling prosecutor for awhile." She shrugged. "Admiral Chlis assigned me here for two reasons, I'd say: one, because your team had issues with loyalty; two, she wagered you and I would get along just fine." There was a third reason she knew of, but didn't want to bring up: Solis and her need for some stability in her living arrangements in order to be with him.

Ray nodded. “So it would seem. Aside from Chelsea, you don’t seem too bothered by me, which is a refreshing change. She’s used to my mouth, you will be before long as well. It’s never anything personal unless I say it is.” He smiled at her across the desk. “As for this moron in your file there, has he given you anything useful?”

"Not really, no," she shook her head. "Prosecuting him is easy. If that's even necessary - he'll likely take a plea. But if he had dead man's orders, I wonder who else did. And who the targets would be."

Ray considered the question for a moment. “Good question. Two months ago I’d have said it was Suresh, but he, that is the one from our dimension, is gone. There would be no point to having left attack orders. The only thing to gain there would be a longer sentence. Granted, we’ve put our share of miscreants away but still….” He paused and frowned. “What if it is a diversion?”

"From what?"

“That’s what we need to find out.” Ray shrugged. “I’m not anyone’s likely first choice as a target, so we need to know why. I think you can get that outta this guy. If anyone can. I’m not so worried about it happening again, but the whole thing spooked Chelsea.”

"I'm sure," Julisa said. "I'll have another shot at this idiot. Maybe I can get the why from him."

“And the who. I have to confess, I’m really curious if there was a point or if it was just random.” He leaned back in his chair and smiled. “How’s things going otherwise?”

Her Betazoid side picked up that he was asking about Solis, not her job duties. She gave him a small smile. "They're fine. Solis has accepted a temporary assignment with Doctor Harding."

Laughter escaped Ray instantly. “Him? And Harding? Well now, that should be interesting. Doc Harding’s not the most….relaxed man I’ve ever met. Solis might be good for him.”

Julisa's grin said that Solis was good for her. "Maybe, though he'll be putting up with Earl Crane, too. Beware of him: he's a crazy old mad hatter."

“Crane….that name sounds familiar,” Ray mused. “Where have I heard that before?” He drummed his fingers on the desk, then smiled. “Oh yeah. An incident down near Tholian space some time ago. How he lived I’ll never know.”

"Sheer bulldogged stubbornness?" She shook her head.

“That sounds about right. You know Commander Winter’s assigned here now, so i’m guessing he will be staying a while. As for you --”

His terminal beeped and Chelsea’s voice came through. “Ray, I got a call from security. Seems like our man in the brig is begging to talk all of a sudden.”

“Thanks Chel.” Ray looked to Julisa, his eyebrows raised. “What do you make of that?”

In return, her brows furrowed together. "Nothing. It's rather odd, considering I was just in with him earlier." She shrugged, started to gather herself and a PADD and added, "Looks like I'm busy for at least a few minutes now." Stepping past Ray, she waved. "Talk later, boss."

“Later, Julisa.” He watched as she departed and when the doors closed he shook his head. “That poor bastard,” he murmured.

****************
Lt. Ray Benson
Chief Delegator

Lieutenant Bajun Julisa
Surly Minion