Generis

20. Plazmarine

"But plazmarine is illegal, is it not?" Ithella mused, folding her arms. The bracelets stacked symmetrically on both her wrists jingled in protest when they caught the light of the sun, causing her to eye them for a second. Her eyes drifted back to Zaphron, "I'm pretty sure it is. Even the mere act of digging with the intention of pursuing such a stone could result in long term house arrest."

Zaphron sighed, looking at Kariba, who had just a few seconds before covered her forehead with her white curtain bangs, "That does not mean we should completely exclude the idea. And so, even you suggested that it could be that as well. When investigating a case like this, any atom of constitution can't really be considered."

"So you're suggesting that there is an illegal item in her head?"

"I'm suggesting that those chances are possible," He pointed out calmly, "And, mind you, Ithella, I guarantee that whatever we had just rescued this girl from was anything but legal."

Ithella raised an eyebrow, beckoning him to continue. He removed the bajoran earrings from his upright, fluffy ears before speaking, "Let's put this into perspective. There is no doubt that there is an element of maltreatment with this child. Why? We don't know. Where? Possibly Fardi, because though it is massive, is it but an island, or could even be in Fardi Jungle itself. As for how..."

"I spoke to Adriel already," Ithella dismissed, waving her hands indifferently, "I will be able to find something worthy of getting my hands on."

"Fine. As for who, though..." He sighed, turning to Kariba, who was using a discarded stick to whack at a ladybug. Although it looked harmless from his viewpoint, the insect was desperately flying around to avoid pathetic death, before it narrowly escaped a life-threatening hit and buzzed away. By the time the girl looked up, she met Zaphron's gaze on her. He knelt down and took her small, frail hands in his big, veiny ones.

He heard Ithella exhale irritably, "I keep saying, Zaphron, pushing the little angel is not going to get us anywhere. It's never going to work. The girl can't even smile, let alone answer our questions about whose control she was under!"

He ignored her, facing Kariba, "Sweetheart, I understand you may not be mentally well enough to meet the demands I inquire of you. But it wouldn't fare well, say this person came back; we wouldn't know how to find you again, and I presume that it will just all go downhill from here. All we're asking for is a name."

Kariba was silent, looking down at her feet. After a while, she shook her head.

"I promise you, this is to help no one else here but you."

Silence. Now she had stopped moving, still as a stone.

"Why not? Does it bother you?"

The silence that stretched between the three of them was long, thick, and overwhelming. Kariba didn't say a single word, and it almost looked like she held her breath in.

"Even a description would help—"

"I'm not allowed.." She said all of a sudden, before twiddling with her thumbs and going back to silence.

That had peaked Ithella's curiosity. She looked at Zaphron, before she spoke, "What do you mean, you aren't allowed?"

Kariba looked up for the first time in a while, dropping her hands onto her lap, before saying in a quiet voice, "He told me... never to reveal his name... or what he looked like..."

"So it's a he. That leaves any females ruled out."

"Although it significantly decreases the amount of suspects that could be guilty, the amount of people it could be is still significantly large." He muttered, rising, "And also, Ithella, disguises exist."