The Bad Place

Posted on Sun Jun 28th, 2009 @ 1:42pm by Lieutenant Commander Wesley Kemmer

2,110 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Behind the Mask of Familiarity
Location: Starbase 217
Timeline: Current

The shimmering light of the transporter beam fizzled out to non-existence, just leaving the plain and drab surroundings of a large transporter room in its place. The room really was quite large by any standards, even if it wasn’t a hub of activity given that Wesley Kemmer had just been beamed aboard the massive stardock class space station from the USS Yosemite at 2.30 in the morning. A stocky man in a wine red uniform stepped forward to greet the visitor, captain’s pips polished on his collar. “Attention on deck Mister Kemmer.� He exclaimed.

Wes wearily looked up, the trip having not gone so well in the Yosemite’s brig, fixing his eyes on the man in front of him, placing a name to the face, “Jake,� he paused before going on correcting himself, “I’m sorry, Captain Ti’Muir; I never thought I would see you in a red collar.�

Ti’Muir smiled broadly and held out his hand in warm welcome, “And I never thought I would see you in a position like this. It’s good to see you again, Wes. I hope your trip in the brig wasn’t too painful.�

“It went as well as to be expected I guess. What are you doing all the way out here?� Kemmer asked.

“I finally got the call of command, wound up doing some exec time on a starship before being transferred here as the station’s commanding officer just after the war. I can only conclude they were desperate.� Ti’Muir mused and took a breath before continuing, “Come on; let’s take a walk.�

As the two of them filed out of the transporter room, two security officers stepped up and followed them down the corridor. “Oh joy... more security guards. Please tell me you’re not going to throw me in the brig as well.�

“Those are my orders from Harwood.� He noted Kemmer’s unimpressed and disgruntled look and went on, “but no, no I’m not. I’ve seen the dossier and charges against you Wes, but I can’t believe you’d pull something like this, not on orders, not of your own doing, and certainly not by accident. I can’t see you getting caught out either.� He added as they turned a corner towards a turbolift.

Kemmer nodded grimly, “Believe it, Harwood has made a pretty tight case on me and I’m almost sorry to say, it’s true.�

They stopped in the hall at the lift entrance and turned to each other, “You’re saying she’s right, you are guilty?�

“You know the rules Jake; I can’t discuss any of the details with you, not without the charges being lifted.� Kemmer replied, resigned to the fact that his life as it stood right now was going down the pan.

Ti’Muir turned to the two security personnel, “You’re dismissed, chief.� And the two of them left, although not without a glance being exchanged between them. “Wes, this is me remember? We worked together for a long time out there, put our lives in each other’s hands, give me something to go on, maybe I can help.�

“Thanks, but I don’t think a character witness is going to get me out of this one.�

“Alright,� Ti’Muir started again as they entered the waiting turbolift, “you know where I am if you need me though ok?� When the lift started on its journey, he went on, “Despite Harwood’s orders, I’ve arranged some proper quarters for you with limited access to the rest of the station. Needless to say, C-and-C is out of the picture given your position, but you’ll have full view of the promenade and holodeck facilities, but I dare say you’ll be kept busy with this so called trial of yours.�

“With Harwood still in the Citadel sectors, do you have any idea who’s presiding, or representing either side?� Wes asked his old friend.

“Representing, no; presiding though we only have one officer from the judge advocate general’s office permanently stationed on board until next month, and that’s Admiral Margaret Rands. She’s stern but fair, so I’ve heard.� And at that, the lift doors opened and the two of them headed out down the hall, a left turn, then a right, until they came to a door with two more security officers standing guard. Their pace slowed a little but continued on course.

“There are those in Federation that will never tire of the sight of Starfleet security personnel, but I can’t count myself as one of them.�

“This is something I can’t relent on Wes. Because of the charges I can only go so far in protecting your pride and dignity, and the guards have to stay twenty-four hours a day until the trial’s over.�

“Thanks for the liberations Jake, I really appreciate the effort.� Wes said appreciatively.

“It’s no effort,� Jake started as he pressed the button to open the door, “as I said earlier, we’ve been through a lot together.� After a brief pause once the doors were closed, as if they were talking telepathically, Ti’Muir continued, “Listen, I’d love to stay and help you settle in, but I have an early morning with the Delkonian Ambassador, and you know how they are about punctuality and protocol,� he said with a slight smile.

“Oh don’t I ever.� Wes added knowingly. “I do have another favour to ask though, I wasn’t able to access the coms since I left the Archimedes and Harwood begrudgingly let me try to contact my sister. May I...�

“Of course, how is Abbie?� Ti’Muir cut in and asked.

“Your guess is as good as mine at the moment; I haven’t been able to get a hold of her in almost seven months.� Wes said with an obvious look of concern, “She was busy, I was busy, she’s... unavailable, I don’t know�. His sister had been one of the driving forces of confidence, belief, and support throughout the toughest times in Kemmer’s life, and the fact that she had apparently vanished with no word worried him greatly. “But thanks.�

“No problem, but um, also speaking of punctuality, I’ve heard that Admiral Rands is a stickler for time-keeping and punctual behaviour, even more so than the Delkonians, so don’t stay up too late huh?� Jake implied with a nod and raise of his brow.

“I don’t think I’ll be getting any sleep tonight, the trial is due to start at 0800, so...�

“Even so, try to get at least some rest in, even if it’s just a cat nap... you look like hell.�

“I’ll try.� Wes said unconvincingly even for him, and he knew that Jake would have picked up the tone. Jake just nodded, made a slight exhaling sigh and left, leaving Wes once again alone. He hated feeling this way and was determined that it wasn’t going to make him do anything that he didn’t feel that he should, not this time. Flopping his body down in one of the lounger chairs though, causing it to shift position on the carpet slightly, his mind began to wander. What had he done?

He started making a mental checklist as he stood and started to pace around the spacious living surrounds; first up, treason, among other things by his own determination as well as that of another officer. Even as he was doing it though, he felt that he was doing the right thing, if only in the wrong way, the inconvenient way. He’d lost his rank, his title, and his job – his job, one of the most important things in his life, he thought as he sat again in a different seat. And to top it all off, he’d lost contact with his baby sister, the last remaining member of his family.

“Computer, open up a communications channel to Earth, residential complex three-two-seven, Vancouver Central District.� He said standing once again and walking to the monitor recessed in one of the walls just as the familiar UFP logo was displayed.

“Yes, can I help you?� The balding man asked as he looked up at the screen from his control pad on his desk.

“I hope so, I’m looking for Abigail Kemmer,� Wes started, “she should be in apartment three-alpha-seven.�

“And you are?� The reception director asked suspiciously.

“Her brother.�

“One moment, please.� And the screen went blank, coming to life about thirty seconds later. “I’m sorry; Miss Kemmer is not answering the com signal at the moment.�

Piquing his concern, Wes asked “Has anyone seen her recently? I haven’t been able to speak to her for several months.�

Looking down at his console, he browsed the logs looking for the name. He didn’t know her from Eve but he had to try to find a clue. “I hate to say it again, but I’m sorry, I can’t find any information here.� He noticed the grave look of disappointment and worry on Wes’ face and went on “she may have moved or someone may have forgotten to log any events.�

“She would’ve said something.� Wes weakly protested.

“The logs indicate that she last entered and exited the building a week last Tuesday. I apologize I don’t have any further information.� Nothing was said for a few seconds before he went on, “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you further.� And the com was closed.

“Thank you.� Wes said after the channel was closed down and sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair, his thoughts plaguing him, his mind telling him what he didn’t want to hear. From his perspective, it now seemed as though he’d lost everything, especially the things that were most important to him, his job and his sister. With the problems and the issues, the trial looming and the defining stops released, he no longer had the means or the will to resist any longer. He exited his quarters and started making his way down the corridor, turning back to the two security personnel that immediately followed him in his footsteps, “Do you guys really want to watch me shop?�

The Lieutenant smiled, “not really Mister Kemmer, but if we disobey orders, it wouldn’t be very healthy.�

“It’s probably not going to be healthy if you obeyed them either...� Wes trailed off, thinking about the fact that he was already on harassment charges. “Alright, come on.� He said plainly as he started down the hall to the turbolift and requested it take them to the main levels of the Promenade. He’d been on stardock stations before, but no-one could ever seem to get use to just how huge these bases really were. He browsed around several of the stores and trade stands littering the Promenade, almost in an effort to delay the inevitable, until he happened upon a store that sold just what he wanted – alcohol.

He picked up a bottle of his favourite whiskey from the stand, ‘paid’ for it with his service credit chip that all Starfleet personnel got issued when stationed on or visiting places like this, and walked out. Throughout this and all the journey time, the security officers to their credit kept their distance and allowed Kemmer to do what he pleased, but above all were silent, which he personally appreciated. Whether any of this would go on record he didn’t know, but at this moment, he couldn’t really give a targ’s buttocks about.

Returning to his quarters, the guards again took up their station outside leaving Kemmer to his own devices. He turned on some soft music that he let the computer choose from the database and replicated a glass. Sitting on the chair by the table, he unscrewed the cap on the bottle and poured it into the glass for a double measure, all the while thinking about the past week, his past experiences with this caramel coloured poison, his present situation, and what was coming; and what the hell he was doing about it. Tipping the liquid into his mouth and swallowing, he allowed it to take hold; he felt it was once again destroying his soul, what little he had left after the last time, and the time before.

Then the glass was empty, and he stared at the empty vessel, knowing what he’d done, where it now led, and poured another.

 

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