Star Trek: Erin

Part 4: Compromise

     "If you are trying to look suspicious, constantly playing with your phaser is the way to do that." I resisted the urge to snap at Nowak. In the short time I'd known him, I'd discovered he seemed physically incapable of ill intentions. Maybe that was why he was on door duty, balancing out my shady-as-hell vibes. Anyway, his dead-serious voice carried a trace of amusement. Only reason I picked up on it was all the time with Vulcans at the Academy. Tutors, as I've said.

     I let my hand drop from my side. "Thanks for the heads up."

     "You can talk to me, Cobos. All we have for the next six hours is each other and this door."

     "And what a lovely door it is," I muttered. Heart-to-hearts really aren't my forte, and someone in my position shouldn't be stressing about how getting close to people means I know the people I fight in a mutiny. Or maybe that was a good thing, morally. Who knows? Either way, I'm not telling Nowak. One thing I hadn't figured out about him was whether he would report something said in confidence. Vulcans tended to think in terms of rules and greater good. And be a bit superior about how non-Vulcans can act logically too. I wasn't about to jeopardize the ship because of feelings, but would he know that? Best to play it safe. Play the game alone. I rubbed my eyes. "There's nothing wrong. It's just irritating when they put us on high alert and don't tell us why."

     "Perhaps Marple is testing us again."

     "He was upset when he told me. The high alert's legit."

     "Flawless logic." Nowak's lip twitched in a slight smile. Despite Vulcans being maybe the most uptight species, Nowak being raised on Earth with a human father certainly helped dispel the 'no emotions' thing.

     When I realized my life's goal was a chair, I started learning all I could about how people acted. I studied psychology, not just human but all the major species. Even got my hands on a couple Klingon books. Mind you, they were in—you guessed it—Klingon, but my sister's in linguistics so she translated and taught me basics. It was interesting to learn that they're not the bloodthirsty monsters the media makes them out to be. Not a very forgiving lot, what with all the murder and revenge, but they do have higher thought. It wouldn't be hopeless if I had to ally with one, temporarily.

     A good captain needs as many allies as they can get.

     "Cobos."

     I snapped into focus and immediately noticed the problem. "What the hell?" A red string, in the process of falling from Nowak's shirt, was suspended in midair next to his elbow. I plucked the string from the air and studied it. "What do you think? Magic string or space stuff?"

     "A test would reveal answers." Nowak removed his phaser and unceremoniously yeeted it at the wall. I gritted my teeth in preparation for the sound. It flew normally for a split second before catching on air. Nowak gently retrieved and holstered it.

     I raised an eyebrow. "That was a lot of trust it was space stuff."

     That slight smile. "You were expecting magic string?"

     "Fair point." I glanced down the hallway. "I'm calling it in. Might be a problem." I tapped the intercom panel next to the depot door. "This is Ensign Cobos. Anomaly at the weapons depot. Objects experiencing zero g. Requesting support. Over."

     Nowak nodded. "Is it possible the ship is doing... complicated maneuvers?"

     "If the gravity buffers were malfunctioning enough to affect our guns, we'd feel it." I tapped a jazzy beat on my phaser. "We have to assume something's up." I frowned. "Speaking of which, I never got a reply." I thumbed the panel again and immediately heard a weird buzzing. "Nowak? Doesn't it sound—"

     "Like severed comms? Yes."

     "Should be impossible, but we're on the ship that attracts the most anomalies in the fleet. Comms have been compromised." I drew my phaser. "Stay here, I'm checking the rest of the corridor."

     "Not necessary."

     I levelled my phaser on the speaker in half a second. "I'll be the judge of what's necessary. Don't move." I felt a slight pressure at my shoulder as Nowak pivoted to watch my back. The stranger wasn't wearing a proper Starfleet uniform. Dressed in black with leather tailoring, I would've assumed he was trying to be edgy, but the black Starfleet communicator badge spoke otherwise. I gritted my teeth. I might be having second thoughts fighting crewmates to the death, but none of those issues applied with this shady bastard. "Who the hell are you?"

     He tapped the black Starfleet badge.

     My stomach clenched. I had a bad feeling about what it meant. I maintained my glare. "Cool, you stole a communicator and spray-painted it. Do I have to repeat myself?"

     "You don't take shit, huh?"

     His voice reminded me of rapids back home. Smooth on top with a hell of an undertow. Set me on edge. Didn't help that he was annunciating too much. He's only swearing to adjust to what I've said. Talented actor then. I tried to keep the snarl from my face. "Drop the act and answer the question."

     He sighed. "God, I hate the intelligent ones. I'm Glasgow of Section 31. By now you've realized the ship is compromised." A small smile graced his lips. "And we're commandeering these supplies."