Justice Denied

Posted on Thu Nov 7th, 2024 @ 3:56am by Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale

Mission: Starbase 364
Location: USS Chuck Norris
Timeline: Current

:on
{Captain's Ready Room, Deck 1}

Mira sat in the chair behind the desk in her ready room drink a cup of Raktajino and rocking Ashla as she got caught up reading reports. She was in the middle of reading about the proposed upgrades to the Chuck Norris when she received a notification from the Starbase's Staff Judge Advocate.

They had denied her request for charges against Captain Rashard.

"Son of a targ!" she swore before remembering that Ashla was asleep. With a grimace she looked to her daughter. Luckily the baby hadn't been noticeably disturbed by the sudden outburst. Mira released a sigh of relief then called Admiral Proll's office.

The Command Yeoman answered. "Connect me with the Admiral," Mira hissed quietly through clenched teeth.

"Why are you whispering?" the yeoman asked.

"Just put me thought, Lieutenant." Mira frowned, looking down at her daughter still asleep

The image of the yeoman disappeared and was replaced by the seal of Starbase 364. Mira impatiently tapped her foot while waiting the several seconds until the Admiral appeared.

"Mira, it is good to see you up and about," Proll said amicably.

Mira smiled. "It's good to be out of intensive care." she reminded him of how hurt she had been. She moved Ashla to a more comfortable position in her arms.

Then, she dialed back her temper and got to the point. " Why did Starbase's Staff Judge Advocate deny my charges against Captain Rashard? There was over a six dozen star fleet officers as witnesses. Then there is Skalvunn charges on the man. Do I need to accept General D'amish Kharon order to have Klingon body guards just to be safe as I walk around on our base?" She had been trying to get out of that, but if she had to, then she would. She just didn't want them on her ship.

"You haven't heard?" Proll asked in genuine surprise, "Captain Rashard was found dead aboard his ship less than a hour ago."

Now it was Mira turn to be shocked.

"Dead?" her voice was confused as if she just couldn't believe it....

Then she shook her head as if trying to clear it. "how..... "

She wasn't sure how she should word this. How was he dead. How did he die, or how was he killed on his own ship.? She couldn't see the man killing himself even with all the truths coming out about his crimes.

So.....that left one thing, justice unfulfilled. She cuddled Ashla closer to her. Death in itself was its own justice. She felt safer and was going to ask Kevin or Montgomery to start coming to the Captain’s meeting with her for that very reason, because Rashard would being there.

Mira must have missed what Proll had said "sorry Sir my mind is going unto too many directions."

He nodded "Mira I read the report from Skalvunn on what you went through. Is all of that true?"

Mira nodded. "I would prefer that not be made publicly knowledge, sir."

He nodded. "The files were sealed right after I read them and confronted Rashard. Are you going to be alright?"

Mira nodded "how did he die sir?" maybe if she knew that, then she could just deal with it. After this she wanted to go find Kevin. She needed to hide in his arms for a few moments.

"My Chief Medical Officer is conducting an autopsy," Proll replied, "but preliminary evidence is that he died of an undiagnosed heart condition."

Mira's brows knitted in confusion. She wasn't a medical officer but he had enough training to know that death from heart failure was all but eliminated in the modern age. Precursors had been know for decades and were easily mitigated. "And we're certain it is Rashard?"

"Most definitely."

"Thank you, Admiral," Mira terminated the connection. She wouldn't be completely at ease until she saw the body herself.

"Computer, where is Kevin Lance?" she asked aloud.

"Commander Lance is with Kolar Lance on holodeck 27-C," the dispassionate voice replied.

That would be on the Starbase itself. With Rashard dead, she didn't need an escort but Ashla would need to be given to Zimia for a while. Carefully, so as not to disturb her daughter's slumber, Mira contacted her yeoman.

{Outside Holodeck 27-C}

The display read "Versailles Palace, 1776" and indicated that Kevin and Kolar were still inside. Mira had assumed that Kevin was taking his son to modern day Paris and wondered at the selection of the year.

The computer opened the deck to Holodeck without objection at her request. The doors opened into a great hall filled with men and women in the fashion of the era. Although the holograms paid her no special notice, Mira ordered the computer to put her into an appropriate costume.

Immediately, she appeared dressed in a green silk robe à la polonaise adorned with red roses stitched into the fabric. The dress reached to the floor and possessed a scooped neckline with stays that pushed everything up and to the center. A silk under chemise preserved her modesty and the whole ensemble was topped off by a small hat with a ridiculous number of plumes in multiple colors.

The new outfit drew much more attention than had her Star Fleet uniform, mostly from the other women, who appraised her fashion sense in a mostly approving manner. Mira ignored the attention and looked for Kevin and Kolar.

Kolar was no where to be seen but she found Kevin, trying to remain inconspicuous amongst a group of courtiers. He was wearing a dark, long heavy coat with red cuffs and highlights along the shoulders and collar. A red waistcoat peeked out from underneath the coat that was secured with a broad leather belt with pouches. Two smaller belts cris-crossed his chest, bandolier style. He was wearing black gloves and appeared to be unarmed.

Mira thought that the outfit seemed out of place in the French court but the holograms themselves accepted him as an American sea captain. A few of the ladies were flirting with him from behind their fans but he was giving them no notice. Boldly, Mira walked up to him and slipped an arm into his elbow. "There you are, Kevin," she said loud enough to dissuade any potential rivals.

Kevin turned to her with only mild surprise. "In here I am called Shay," he told her in a thick Irish accent, "Your arrival is unexpected but most welcome."

She smiled, still looking for her son, "Sorry, Hon. I just needed..... "She bit her lip. Oh, hell, trying to say it sounded dumb. I needed a hug..... Son of targ what had she turned into.

"Something came up, and we need to talk." she looked around again. "Where is Kolar?" she didn't want him to hear this.

"He is in the courtyard playing with Arno and Elise," Kevin replied, "He's safe with them. Neither is a major figure in this event." His looked past her to a door leading deeper into the palace as if waiting for someone.

Seeing him distracted, she rubbed her forehead. "I am sorry I should have just dealt with this on my own instead of interrupting your...fun. I thought we had plans to do this all together and have a picnic? But I'll have Montgomery help me." She added weakly as she turned to leave before she did something stupid like cry... Maybe she would stop off at medical and have her hormones checked. She was a mess or maybe that Vulcan doctor could just mind meld some Vulcan logic into her brain....."

"No, you are right," Kevin said as he arrested her departure with a gloved hand on her shoulder, "Computer, save progress."

He took her hands into his and looked deep into her eyes. "What do you need," he asked.

Mira looked around at the frozen people perplexed. She had never had so many people in one of her Holodeck programs. In fact, for the most part, she was alone in them. "Rashard died, or at least that's what I was told. I need to make sure." she blurted out before Kolar could find them. "I have to know this isn't a trick."

"Rashard's dead?" Kevin asked in surprise, "When? How?"

"I don't know. Proll swore he died about an hour ago." She shook her head no, "More like three hours by now, and he died on his ship. They said it was a heart condition." Mira frowned. "I guess maybe being in the Matrix? I don't know." Mira let herself be pulled into Kevin's arms and rested her cheek on his chest. "I just...I don't want to run into him again. I have to know if Kolar and I are really safe." Mira closed her eyes. "Proll said he secured the doctor's report."

"We'll start there, then," Kevin said, "Computer, end program."

The simulation of Versailles disappeared and he and Mira were once again in their Star Fleet uniforms. Kolar was on the others side of the holodeck, looking around in bewilderment. "Dada, where Arno and 'Lise go?"

"They had to go home," Kevin explained simply, "You can play with them another day but now we have to go back to the ship."

"'kay," Kolar answered with a shrug.

"Is everything okay?" Kevin asked Mira in a hushed voice as the departed the holodeck, "This isn't like you."

Mira swiped a tear off her cheek. "I don't know. The doctor said trauma could show up in odd ways. Plus... hormones from after having Ashla. Then there is Rodale." Mira put her hand on top of her symbiont. "She is like a child jumping up and down on a panic button. She keeps setting off my fight or flight reflexes. I don't need that right now. Skalvunn is handling all the medical permissions. He thinks this will give me full closure." Mira shrugged, not sure anything, but time would do that.

Mira held out her hand. "How about we have dinner on base? There is a oriental restaurant I think you would like. They have chicken nuggets. For Kolar." Well, it was sweet and sour chicken with refried rice. She also wanted beef and snow peas too.

"Yea! Nuggies!" Kolar exclaimed as Kevin swung him up into his arms.

Kevin could only guess at how difficult it was for Mira. He struggled with his own demons but at least he didn't have to contend with the emotions of another sentient being, and a child at that, within his own body. Mira needed his support and he vowed to be her rock in the storm.

"Sounds delicious," Kevin smiled as he put a protective arm around Mira shoulders. He would reach out to Admiral Proll's staff later to gather information on the situation since Rashard's death and any additional threats. There was still the Klingon situation to deal with. And the more mundane refit of the Chuck Norris.

"When is your next appointment with Skalvunn?" he asked.

She snuggled into him. "Tomorrow morning unless this thing we have to do sets problems off. Let's eat then take kolar ........"

She frowned for a moment "either to the ship or our quarters here on the base." she wasn't sure where they should sleep. Right now, Ashla was on the ship, but they could just as easily have Zimia bring her to them.

"Can we have ice cream too?" Kolar asked, "and since Ashla can't have any, can I have hers?"

Mira smirked as she nodded. "we weren't planning on ordering her ice cream. But if you eat all your food. We can have ice cream. "

Kolar nodded. "You do remember what ice cream is? Right, Mama." Kolar asked her in a rather loud whisper

Rising an eyebrow, she smirked. "Are you telling me that at some point I forgot what ice cream was?"

Kolar nodded. "And dada told you to bark like a big dog too."

Mira frowned. "Did I do it?"

Kolar nodded as he giggled. "You did everything dada told you to."

Mira looked up at Kevin. He looked as surprised as she was. "Let me get this straight. You had me doing anything you wanted, and you went with me barking?" She frown for a moment. "Do you have any other fetishist that you haven't told me about?"

"They turned you into a plaything," Kevin replied, suddenly cold and distant, "I made them pay."

"What?" Mira asked in surprise and a little confused at the change in his voice.

"I said 'I can't imagine you being a plaything'," Kevin answered in a happier tone, "You'd make me pay."

She had thought for a moment there, he had a memory of what had happened to them but it would seem she miss heard him so she smiled "If I was your plaything i don't think it would be that bad."

She nodded to a few people as they walked. "Proll said that all the repairs on the ship can't be done here. Any idea where we could go?" She was sure that Kevin would have at least a few ideas.

“Starbase 234 is the closest but if mainly handles repairs not upgrades,” Kevin mused, “Any of the Sol system shipyards is a possibility, excepting Utopia Planitia of course. But my best guess is that they will assign our retrofitting to Beta Antares. It is closer than Earth but still has the facilities for full upgrade work.”

“How long is the work expected to take?” Mira asked.

“The mission profile doesn’t give specifics about the upgrades we will be receiving. Security concerns would be my thought,” Kevin shrugged, “The estimate for reconditioning the hull is one week but we are scheduled for two months in space dock. Enough time for a trip to Trill, if you care to go.”

Mira shook her head no, "I can't go." She bit her lip for a moment, "my hosting Rodale wasn't sanctioned by The Symbiosis Commission. It's one of the reasons I have kept that I am a joined Trill quiet. They could be vindictive enough to remove her and put her in another more fitting host. That was why I went to Vulcan doctor.."

Kevin took that all in. "You said one of the reasons?"

Mira nodded as they took a seat in the restaurant. "My biological brother and There are also many Trills that would do whatever they needed to in order to be a host. I would rather avoid all that." She gave him a smile, "so we might get a vacation out of the deal. I could live with that."

Kevin nodded, "Not much for the crew to do while the design engineers are crawling all over the ship. So, if not Trill where would you like to go? Earth? Caitia?"

Mira picked up a tea cup to take a sip. Her eyebrow raised. "Oh, let's see, go some place that tormented me as a little girl or earth. " she put the cup down. "You could have just said," Let's go to earth." she grinned. "it does sound fun. ok, so we go to Earth. I can introduce Kolar and Ashla to my Uncle Thor. But where would you like to go on earth?"

"Where ever you and the children are," Kevin replied nonchalantly, "I didn't grow up on Earth so I have no great feeling about her one way or the other." He eyed the chopsticks dubiously and hoped that he wouldn't need to eat with his hands.

Mira nodded. "Didn't grow up on earth either. The first time I went was to join Star Fleet."

The food came, and Mira grinned. They had ordered a few different plates, not knowing what they would like more. She uncovered them and looked over at Kolar. "Chicken nuggets?" he nodded

She started to add some to his plate with the red sauce on the side. "Mommy like this this. will you try it?" she pointed to her beef and snowpeas over the refried rice.

Kolar nodded slowly, so Mira added some. "Now, if you like more of anything." She waved her hand around the food." You can have more. This is to dip your children in. Don't make that face you will like it just try."

Mira handed him a fork. Then she watched Kevin and his chopsticks. "You don't need to use them. There is a fork in the napkin." she remembered the first time she put the napkin in her lap, and the silverware had gone flying. M'Niras had frown at her. She had asked him, 'Why are they hidden in the napkin?'

"Mama, why that man watching us?" Kolar's little voice was almost a whisper.

Mira had felt someone watching them but hadn't had the time to pinpoint the who. Looking over, she frowned, then tapped her commbadge.

"Rodale to the Norris. Has an Orion ship docked on the base?"

=/\= No captain =/\= was the reply

"he must be a mercenary." Mira frowned, but she turned to Kolar. "I'll watch him hun you eat your food."

Kevin munched on a piece of broccoli as he surveiled the man watching his family. A darkness within began to rise in anticipation to the threat to Mira and Kolar. He was unarmed but gripped his fork against the need to use it.

"Mama, why everyone looks different?" Kolar asked her.

Mira raised an eyebrow. "How so little man?"

Kolar frown "Zimia is blue. Uncle Awal has." his little fingers went to his forehead.

"There called ridges, and why do you and I have spots, but dada doesn't?" Mira finished for him "because we all come from different worlds, Kolar. It would be very boring if we all looked alike." That was probably as much as her son could understand, so she left it at that.

"What's this?" Kolar asked. Of course he went on to more questions.

"Snowpeas. I like them." Mira told him. He put it in his mouth and grinned at the little crunch.

"if we are going to Earth anyways," Mira asked " we might just take the ship there for repairs. Otherwise, if we have the ship repaired at Beta Antares, then we have to find transport to Earth."

She frowned, not liking that, then she tried to remember what was around Beta Antares' shipyard. "Or we stay with Beta Antares and pick one of the world's close by. I am good with either plan. Since you are in charge of repairs you can decide." She gave him a smile.

"I will put in a request for one of the Earth yards," Kevin answered, "but I expect that it will be dependent on their work schedules and occupancy. Admiral Proll has delayed our departure until you finish therapy with Doctor Skalvunn. Would you like to try some beef and broccoli, Kolar?"

"No."

"Fine," Kevin shrugged cheerily, "All the more for me." He took a bite and chew vigorously, making appreciative noises all the while.

Kolar look a little dubious.


Mira laughed. She didn't understand her son's problem with broccoli. "it's good." She smiled at Kolar.

"You not eating it." Kolar told her

Kevin's fork had a piece of broccoli on it, holding it out for her to eat. Without any real thought, she opened her mouth and let him feed her. After chewing and swallowing, Mira added, "That is really good! I am not sure that one I like more now."

Kolar just frowned at her, making her laugh. "Broccoli is bad, very bad." He told her as he ate a piece of beef. Oh, the little joys in life were so important, Mira thought.

After the meal, they got the ice cream and headed back to their quarters. The meeting in sickbay wouldn't be very enjoyable, but it would be necessary.

:off

Captain Mira Rodale
CO USS Chuck Norris

and

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris