Tresspass
Posted on Sun Jul 9th, 2023 @ 5:14am by Commander Peter Horn & Glin Slorir Varin
3,702 words; about a 19 minute read
Mission:
Episode 6 - Point Of Enlightenment
Location: CDS Thrarim
Timeline: When Merlin is docked
The station was immense, and Zirvell had been strolling around for hours, getting lost in this alien place which should be oh so familiar. Yet, despite his origins, Zirvell couldn't remember ever having set foot on a Nor class station when he was still a child.
Idly, he brushed his fingers along the walls, taking in the textures, glancing this wat and that to soak up as much as was possible. A vessel caught his eye as he wandered past the docking hatches, well away from where Merlin was berthed. The design was familiar, stirring a memory, yet alien in the same thought.
The Cardassian nurse found himself drawn towards the vessel and soon, he found himself just across the hatch and inside the ship. He stood still for a moment, listening for sounds and maybe voices. When there were none, he took another step ahead.
Jal Gholin was one of only two crewmembers on the Bridge of the CDS Thrarim. After the Iconian debacle, many of the crew had requested to transfer back to Cardassia with only a few of them having been replaced quickly by the Central Command. He could understand why they were so mistrusting. The Federation had been an enemy to Cardassia not long before and, for many like himself, the bad taste left behind by the treaty was still alive and well. When Cardassia signed the Treaty of Bajor to end the war, the Cardassian Union became a shell of its former self that had become locked behind bureaucratic legalities to limit its authority. If it hadn't been for the First Contact Day Massacre, the Cardassians would still be limited by the Treaty.
Despite his trepidation toward the arrangement, Jal was nothing if not a patriot. He loved Cardassia, he loved his people, and he would do all in his power to promote them in the galaxy. If that meant working with the Federation, the Klingons, Romulans, even the Dominion again to advance his people's agenda that was exactly what he would do.
With an audible clank the single door to the Bridge of the Thrarim opened behind him. Being one of only two people on the Bridge, both he and the other crewman looked to see their Technician, Mijal Josett, entering. Since no one else was scheduled for this shift, Thrarim sighed at her appearance, "Mijal you almost gave me a heart attack."
"Sorry," the young Gil answered. "I'd recommend if you do need to go to get medical help you visit the space station instead of our own Infirmary. Doctor Pazon is new and she definitely shows it. I waited nearly an hour for a basic scan and she, still, sent me to the Starfleet base. They had my scans completed in less than a minute."
"I'm comfortable with my own doctor," the Tactical Specialist answered. He jabbed at the controls.
Mijal came around the panel, "What are you on about?"
"I upped the security scans around key locations. Here, the Engine Room, the Airlock, but the scans didn't tell me you were coming." He accessed the scan emitters and protocols. "I'm trying to figure out why."
"I had to work on the sensors earlier. Let me check my panel," she walked over to the wall mounted workstation, typing on the interface.
As they worked, "I am still surprised you went to the Federation Station for help, Mijal."
"My time is valuable," she answered as she typed on her display. "I'm responsible for keeping this ship going after all."
"Our people need us to be supportive, to work together, not go to the hands of our enemies for help," Gholin said. "It diminishes us when we go to outsiders."
Josett disagreed, "It strengthens Cardassia to have its children safe and healthy. Surely you realize that."
"It strengthens Cardassia to support one another," he countered. "Had you worked with Doctor Pazon her skills would have enhanced. Instead you," he was interrupted by an alert from his console. "We have an intruder in the airlock."
The Technician smirked, "See. Had I not gone to the Federation Station, I wouldn't have been able to repair the sensors so that you could locate the interloper. Setting Condition One."
"No," the Security Officer ordered. "To do that and they will know they are found. I'll go myself. Keep the door locked. While one intruder isn't enough to take this ship, I do not trust the Federation not to try."
"You really are paranoid," Josett commented.
"No again," Jal answered. "I'm a Security Officer."
Having grabbed a Spiral Wave Disruptor Rifle from the storage locker outside the Bridge, Gil Jal Gholin had made it to the airlock in less than 45 seconds since the intruder had been captured. He tapped his communicator, "Josett, where is the intruder?"
"Somewhere around the third junction."
"Alright," the Cardassian Security Officer answered, knowing that the third junction was right around the corner. Holding his Disruptor at the ready, he turned the corner to find no one there, "Josett no one is here!"
"Hold your position a minute. I've lost the signal."
Jal rolled his eyes, "I thought the sensors were fine?"
"I'm getting interference. Are you sure there's no sign of him? He's gotta be around there!"
"I'm at the third junction and I see no one," the Gil answered. "It's not a big ship, I can see down the corridors."
"He's moving right towards you!"
Walking carefully, Gholin held the Disruptor close as he looked for the intruder. Disabling the safety, he turned down a corridor holding the rifle at the ready. Moving purposefully he heard Josett again.
"Not that way! The other way!"
Gholin turned, Disruptor at the ready.
With noone there to either greet or stop him, Zirvell had ventured further into the alien vessel it was a slow venture however as he stopped often to examine different structures that were so strange and yet vaguely familiar to him. He turned when he finally registered voices, only to be met with the barrel of a rifle. "So this is how Cardassian visitors are met?" He ventured as he took a small step back, knowing all too well that his Starfleet uniform set him apart from the other Cardassian.
Still holding the Spiral Wave Disruptor Rifle at the ready, Gil Jal Gholin quickly assessed the intruder to the Thrarim and was surprised to see that the intruder was a Cardassian. He was about to pull back at the rifle when he processed that the other was wearing a Starfleet Uniform, most likely medical or sciences from the look of it. "This is a restricted area," the Security Chief informed. He lowered the weapon, slightly, but still kept it at the ready, "State your business, please."
"I saw the ship in dock and was just admiring her," Zirvell concessies, "there was no one at the hatch so i just...walked on." He shrugged. "Since when can't a Cardassian walk into a Cardassian vessel?" He tried to challenge, though it didn't come out as confident as he would've liked. "I'm Zirvell Khen."
"This is a Cardassian military vessel," the Security Officer informed, "Not a pleasure craft. Our Commander has restricted access to only the crew of this vessel. I'm afraid you'll have to meet with him before i can release you. Josett, have you been monitoring?"
"I'm always monitoring."
"Ask Glinn Varin to meet me and our 'guest' at our current location," the Security Officer directed.
"He's already on his way."
The young medical officer shrugged. "I don't have anywhere else to be right now," he said, though inwardly he did feel a little anxious. What if this person knew his 'real' father and had ties with him? The one thing he dreaded most of all, was encountering the one person he was endeavouring to avoid at all cost.
Glin Slorir Varin sped down the corridor toward the airlock, curious about who would be brazen enough to board his starship. The standing orders, as approved by the Commodore, were that the Thrarim was restricted to his crew and only the Senior Staff of the Station, as needed. No one else. Whomever had been courageous enough to board his ship was brazen, that was for sure, or a fool.
Turning the corridor, the Captain of the Thrarim smirked, "Oh, it's you, Starfleet."
The younger man smiled. "Ah the tea loving captain," he smiled, expression brightening, "this is your ship then? Did you get it all repaired?" Zirvell relaxed visibly upon the sight of the slightly older commanding officer. "You have a very well trained crew, but it seems your security is lacking. I could walk right onto your vessel."
Varin unconsciously glanced at the Security Officer that stood next to him, noting that the Disruptor was still in hand pointing at the Starfleet Officer, "I suppose that it's safe to put that down now. I doubt that the Starfleet Officer will be trying to overtake the ship."
Gholin lowered his weapon slowly, but kept it ready should it be needed, "If you say so, Sir."
"So what brings you to my ship?" The Captain of the Cardassian Escort asked with crossed arms. "Thinking about skipping out on Starfleet and joining your brethren?"
"Curiosity sir, it's been a very long time since I've seen the inside of a Cardassian vessel. The last time, I was fifteen and I don't remember much of it as I was quite drugged." Zirvell maintained his pleasant smile even though the memory was far from. "No sir," he then smiled, "I'm quite happy with my service in Starfleet though I'm sure I could take a brief tour on your vessel if you have absolute and dire need?"
Slorir laughed at the answer, "You certainly have moxxy, I will give you that. The Thrarim is a military vessel, assigned to a diplomatic mission here on the station. We don't typically offer tours of it," he glanced at the Security Chief, "but I will allow Mister Gholin to take you on a tour of the ship."
Jal Gholin looked, sidewise, at his commander before returning his gaze to the Starfleet Officer, "Yes Sir."
The young officer's eyes lit up. "Thank you sir!" He beamed. "I'm particularly interested in your medical facility, if permitted of course." He needed as much information as he could find regarding his own people.
"I will take you to Medical," the Security Officer answered a bit gruffly and more directed to the vessel's commander.
"I am certain that you'll enjoy your visit," the Captain of the Thrarim noted. "If you'll excuse me."
"Thank you captain," the younger man answered happily, "I really appreciate this." He directed his attention towards his guide. "Are Cardassian medical facilities much different than starfleet?" He enquired curiously.
The Security Officer answered gruffly, "I wouldn't know. I've never had medical treatment by Starfleet before." He motioned down a corridor that was nearby, "The Infirmary is not far from here. Please," he wanted the Starfleet Officer to start the travel first. While the Captain had authorized the visit, Gholin wasn't a fan of letting anyone aboard the Thrarim.
"I don't know either," the young medical officer admitted shyly. "Would.." he hesitated, casting the man a hopeful look. "Can I make a scan, using your equipment, and mine? Perhaps of myself....or you?" He offered an uncertain smile. "Just to learn an operation difference sir. I won't keep a scan, you can even delete it to make sure."
Instinctively Gholin wanted to say a resounding "no" to that request as they walked toward the Infirmary. This wasn't exactly a good idea to him to allow this Starfleet Officer access to the ship. There were so many possibilities that this was a spy and not a routine occurrence of someone just being curious about the ship and their history. He was still surprised that the Captain had allowed this to occur.
"That will be at the discretion of the Corpsman. I'm not authorized to make those types of decisions."
"Of course Sir..." Yet the young man seemed disappointed. "But I'm Cardassian, why shouldn't I use systems I'm supposed to be familiar with? How am I to learn, if I don't seize the opportunity? The only difference is me wearing a different uniform, we still have the same blood. Right?"
Jal Gholin walked with the poise and precision that was expected of a member of the Cardassian Guard's Security Service as he heard the question, holding his face as impassively as he could possibly muster as he proceeded toward the entry to the ship's Infirmary with the Starfleet Medical Officer alongside. Inside, he was screaming. There were so many things wrong with the statement that the younger Cardassian had made, so many other possible questions that could have been asked other than the one that the Medic dared to share. He wanted to answer, every fiber of Cardassian DNA inside him wanted to answer. Instead, he pressed a control on the side of the door.
"This is the Infirmary. Stay as long as you like."
"Thank you. Who can I address when I have questions?" Zirvell didn't need to be a telepath to know his escort preferred to see him gone, and he did his best to keep the hurt from his face.
"The Ship's Medical Officer is inside. I'm certain that she'll be able to answer any questions that you may have," Gholin answered as he looked toward the open portal. "I'll be here waiting, should you want to visit any other locations."
"Thank you sir, that won't be necessary. I'm only interested in medical..." Zirvell smiled gratefully as he entered the medical facility, looking around in awe. It didn't really look that much different from what he was used to, just.... different. "Hello?" He called out, "anyone here?"
Doctor Nyasha Poyo was in the small pharmacy area of the Infirmary going through the inventory of medications that were in stock. Despite the relative sparse nature of the Cardassian Military these days, she was amazed at how well stocked their medication inventories were. It really was a testament to the logistics of the day, especially for a culture that was down and out in resources only a short while ago.
Hearing the call from the clinic area, well if you could call it that, she exited and into the main room, "Hi, how can I help you?"
"Uhm....Hi. my name is Zirvell Khen and I'm a medical officer. I was wondering..." He hesitated, nodding towards the Cardassian equipment. "I was wondering if you could show me how this all works. I'm not familiar with my native uh... equipment." He cast her a pleading look. "Please?"
Nyasha looked at the Cardassian in the Starfleet Uniform, quickly diagnosing a problem, "Let me guess: everyone else on the ship has been treating you horribly for wearing a Starfleet uniform?"
"I am Starfleet ma'am," the young officer admitted, "but I want to know more about my heritage, and well especially medical equipment. Can and will you help me? The security officer said no to my request of making a few scans just to see how things worked. I won't be taking any data here with me...I promise."
"You'll probably be surprised to learn that a lot of the technology was developed by the Federation itself," the Doctor revealed as they stood in the Infirmary. "When the Federation took control over Terok Nor they became incredibly aware of Cardassian medical technology and capabilities. After the Dominion invaded our world and caused the decimation the Federation supported us, provided us with medical technologies to help our world rebuild and treat the injured and sick." She picked up a dermal regenerator from the equipment tray, "This model, for example, should look familiar. It's older, but Starfleet circa 2375."
He did recognize it, having lived on a starfleet vessel since about that year. "I am surprised," he admitted, "but I'm not overly familiar with my own people. Something I do need to rectify somehow. I was adopted by a starfleet captain when I was fifteen. No family stepped up to take me in, and I have resented my own people for too long. I just want to learn more... without becoming a soldier I need to learn what it means to be Cardassian, and understand so I can help others understand their prejudice. Can you help me with that?"
The Doctor stood, wondering exactly how she should approach the subject with the young refugee. Cardassian society was highly hierarchical, with the State at the top in public life, and parents within the home as the top of the family unit. The struggle for the young one would be that family was so important to the Cardassian structure, unless you didn't have one. Cardassian culture disregarded orphans, providing no social welfare programs for them. This would be a struggle.
"What exactly would you like to know?"
A grateful smile crosses the young man's features as he stepped closer. "Everything you're willing to teach me," he requested, "I won't keep any scans you don't want me to keep."
"Alright then," the Cardassian Doctor answered. She typed on the workstation in the small infirmary, "Feel free to go lay on the biobed." She was grateful, and perturbed, he wouldn't have to ask which one because there was only one to choose from. The hazards of being on a small vessel.
Zirvell eased himself down on the one bed, eyes never leaving the woman. Had she understood that he had wanted to use the equipment? That he wanted to learn how? Not wanting to alienate the first one to be friendly since boarding the -to him- alien vessel, however, he had done as he was told. "How long have you served here?" He asked.
Doctor Poyo, standing at the central workstation, was busily programming a PADD as Zirvell spoke. Alternating between him and the workstation, she politely answered, "Not long at all. With some of the happenings within this region several members of the crew, including the former Medical Officer, chose to return to Cardassia or petitioned for other assignments. I was chosen to be the replacement as the prior Medical Officer is now serving on Eskei Nor."
Having programmed the PADD, Nyasha approached the biobed and handed it off, "I thought you may want to run your own scans since this is not an actual medical appointment."
Zirvell nodded. "Petitioned other assignments so they wouldn't have to deal with starfleet?" He asked curiously, "I get the feeling some don't want to be here." He studied the PADD for a moment then laid it aside as he sat up. "Would you like to spend time in a starfleet medical facility?" He continued. "Perhaps we could somehow both benefit and perhaps improve relations at least from a medical point of view?"
The Cardassian doctor nodded, "I would like that very much." Then she paused as if the weight of the galaxy crashed down upon her as she thought about the other part of the other's words. "The problem is that I won't be able to. As you said there are limits to how much interaction we are permitted to have with Starfleet and the Federation. To visit the station I have to contact the Captain of this ship, submit a formalized request, and detail why I am making such a request. The Central Command, despite its more democratized state recently, is worried about cultural contamination."
"Aren't you able to just 'sneak' away for a moment? Enjoy leasure time and use that to visit the station's infirmary?" Zirvell seemed perplexed by her words. "Like I am doing now? To be fair though I would probably try to visit any alien vessel's medical facility for educational purposes."
"If only it were that simple. The Central Command is that worried about contamination while we restabilize ourselves as a galactic power. They're a bit paranoid about it, even pulling us from the interspecies exchange programs." She sighed as she thought about that, "Any Cardassian found operating outside of the mandates could be subject to criminal charges. It may surprise you that even the Captain of this ship is limited in his ability to leave to visit the station. To be fair I am a bit surprised he approved you to explore this ship, but Slorir is a bit of a rebel compared to some within the Cardassian hierarchy. He's probably thinking he could potentially recruit you to return home one day."
"Cardassian isn't my home ma'am," the young man replied softly, "I've never even been there. The union isn't home either, it never felt like home to me. In the federation, I'm free to be myself, whatever I want to be. I crave that freedom even though I do want to know what it's like to be Cardassian."
The Medical Officer of the Thrarim listened carefully to what the young Starfleet Officer was saying, nodding politely as she processed the information he was sharing. "That's the sad part," she said glancing at the monitors, "young people like us could bring that about within the Union. If only more were willing to try." A series of beeps went off on the PADD, "I think your scans are complete."
"Thank you ma'am. You know...if you can steal a moment away, come see me on the Merlin I'll show you around our sickbay." He gave her a boyish smile. "It'll be our secret."
"I'd like that," Nyasha answered. "So, do our scans say that you'll live?"
"Yes ma'am. Your scans say I'm in good health." The young man smiled at her. "Thank you ma'am. I've taken up enough of your time, I should return to the Merlin. Remember...if you've got time...I won't tell anyone."
The Cardassian Doctor smiled and nodded as sincerely as she could, "I will. Thanks for visiting."
Zirvell beamed at her, certain he had found a friend as he started to make his way back to the station. He knew he was watched as he left the ship, but he didn't care. Today had been a learning experience, just like he had wanted, and he was happy.
RSS Feed