The Voices We are Stuck With
Posted on Thu Dec 22nd, 2022 @ 11:04pm by Crewman Melly
Edited on on Fri Dec 23rd, 2022 @ 12:20am
1,067 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Short Treks
Location: Starfleet Judical & Terrigan Transport
Timeline: 2430-09-00, 12:00
Location: Starfleet Judicial
Melly stood before the tribunal, wearing the drab gray detention jumper she had worn for the past six weeks of trial. Her hands and feet were bound in binders that would auto restrict to fit perfectly, this had been the first time they had to restrict this far. She was a small girl of three foot eight inches and the outfit seemed to swallow her up, all except a long braid of hair down her back.
She did not look up as the Tribunal read their verdict, she had not looked up at anyone since the incident. She had done bad and was ready to accept her fate. She felt justified, but a voice in the back of her head kept saying how wrong this was. How could anything justify what she did? Yes he had done bad things to her, but it wasn't her place to try to kill him. That's not how justice works.
Floating cameras broadcasting to the FNN danced in the air around Melly and up to the Tribunal and back as her verdict was read. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Melly of Miri."
Melly didn't respond, she just kept her eyes to the floor. She held no disrespect for the Tribunal but she could not look up. It just wasn't in her anymore.
The presiding officer cleared his throat but another put a hand to the officer's shoulder and shook his head.
"Fine. You need to at least acknowledge you can hear us. So that judgment can be read.", the human Admiral said sitting back. To his side was a male Andorian Admiral and a male Betazed Admiral. The Betazed was the one who interrupted the presiding officer before. He could feel the pain in Melly, it was so obvious a non Empath likely could.
"So can you hear me clearly?", the human Admiral repeated.
Melly quietly nodded to the floor.
"The following charges stand. Attempted Murder of a Flag Officer. Conduct Unbecoming an Officer. Disrespect of a Superior Officer. You have given very little evidence to your claims of your reason. However certain things have come to light that have given reason for this tribunal to lower the attempted murder of a flag officer instead of assault with a deadly weapon. However with this being a Flag Officer, and your disrespect of him by the reasons you have stated but did not give proof. We find that charge stands. This in conjunction with counts for conduct unbecoming. You have stated unwanted actions by the Admiral, but gave no proof. You have stated a long term one sided relationship but showed no proof. However.. Section 31 has provided information on your behalf that has made this situation murky. So you are not getting life imprisonment. Which for your species would be inhumane at best. Instead you are to be stripped of your Commission as an officer and not permitted to regain, you will be stripped of your Star Cross, your Citation of Conspicuous Gallantry, and your four Commendations as well as your pilot wings. You will be related to Tantalus Penal Colony for at least one year or more depending on the recommendation of mandatory psychiatric treatment. You got off lucky. If Admiral Norith had died this would be much harsher. Do you have any words?". The Admiral sat back and waited.
Melly said nothing. Just stood there with her eyes to the floor and a blank expression of the hurt she felt.
"This tribunals judgment stands.", the Admiral said before striking a gavel.
Location: Prison Transport
The sound of the gravel shook Melly out of the memory she had been reliving since being taken out of the tribunal. She was now sitting on a prison transport, shackled and sitting between a Kazon and a Delbian. There were a number of other species on the rows before her and on each side of the two beside her. Other cells were present on the vessel but were not filled. A slow day perhaps.
The guard on one side of a forcefield leaned within view, "Tantalus Penal Colony, one hour away."
Melly had not said one word the entire trip, maybe shock, maybe just giving into fate. The voice in the back of her head reminded her this is her fault, everything is because she was bad. Maybe it was not a good voice to listen to but it was there and vocal. All you had to do was let the Admiral do whatever he wanted. You would be the first Only Captain in a couple years. He would be dead within a few blinks of your lifespan. But no. You had to stab him. Over and over and over, forty times. Did it make you feel better? No. You were crying like the child he enjoyed calling you. Every single stab just made you cry more. When the security arrived from the Admirals alert you were crying and sucking your thumb, curled in a ball, knife still in the other hand? Brave officer.
She hated listening to the voice. It was of her own conscience and she was stuck with the voice. She felt she deserved the hate, the mockery. She felt she deserved anything she got. She was bad in her mind.
The Kazon reached over and picked up her braid, lifting it off her back. "Human girl. You know I could get a few million dejebbits for you on Orion." He pulled the braid causing Melly's head to tilt back. But she said nothing. "Can you speak human girl?" He yanked her braid causing her to yelp. "Not mute it seems."
"Let go of her", a large Lurian said from the bench across.
The Kazon kept a grip on Melly's braid, "And if I don't?"
The Lurian leaned forward and swiftly headbutted the Kazon knocking him senseless. He then yelled out, "Guard!"
The guard quickly looked over, pointing to the Kazon, "What happened to him?"
"He tripped.", the Delbian beside Melly said.
"Yeah tripped.", the Lurian nodded before motioning with his head toward Melly. "Guard. Get the little girl to a different cell. Some people here are not polite members of society."
The guard was quickly in, helping Melly to her feet but she motioned for him to hold a moment before turning to the Lurian, with a weak whisper, her first words in a while.
"Thank You."
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