Plan ?

[Ethan Neufeld 0]

Following sim 10/17/2011 and "An Impressive Exit"

 

“That’s not a pacifist,” Ethan dryly remarked, pointing across his body at the closed doors as the turbo lift descended from the bridge.

 

Alex grinned, but her attention remained on the control panel, watching the decks count down. “Closet Klingon,” she quipped with a shrug; then added: “except for the giving up part.”

 

Ethan smirked wryly, but the atmosphere in their lift car quickly sobered. Standing aside from the doors and with his left side angled toward the other passengers and center of the car, Ethan studied Tomar. The Bajoran was quiet, absorbed by some thought.

 

“Captain, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry things turned out this way,” Ethan candidly expressed after a moment.

 

The statement drew Alex’s gaze. It was Tomar’s people who attacked and took the Verbistul hostage. The bloody pirates got what they deserved, didn’t they? Why was Ethan sorry for them? More curious, why did he feel the need to say as much? Alex felt only a hunger for justice, if not biblical payback; and other things her mother would have told her to keep to herself for a lack of anything nice to say.

 

Still -- though it didn’t do much for her sense of empathy -- she couldn’t forget that, if not for Ethan, she’d have found herself on the wrong end of Captain Maxwell’s sights, too. She hated to admit that after Maxwell had commandeered the Capricorn without filling her in, she’d become caught up in the heat of the moment.

 

 

“Hold up, Alex,” Ethan called out to Alex.

 

Gaining nearly three meters in her rush to jump into action, Alex turned and seeing that Ethan had taken cover in a maintenance niche, she sighed at what would inevitably become another delay.

 

“What?” she impatiently asked, moving back and entering the niche.

 

Ethan was unsmiling. “Alex, do you know what's happening here?”

 

Quickly putting the pieces together – a boarding party from her ship transporting unannounced aboard the Capricorn with unknown intentions – Alex balked at the implications. “What kind of jyking question is that?”

 

“It's one you know I have to ask, Alex,” Ethan replied evenly.

 

“This is some kind of jyking joke,” she spat, angry that he believed she might be a plant. That he believed she would think of betraying him.

 

“Alex,” he firmly cut her off, “you’re part of their crew.”

 

“And I don't know what the jyking qo is going on, you---,” she cursed. “I can't believe you think I'd be involved.”

 

“It's nothing personal, Alex,” he tried to calm her. It was simply something he needed to know.

 

“Yeah, whatever. Not like I haven't had your back enough times.” Fuming, she turned and began to walk away, convinced the conversation was over. “I should just leave you here on your own.”

 

“Whoa, Alex,” Ethan caught her by the arm. “Where're you going in a hurry?”

 

“I'm gonna prove you're wrong.”

 

“You're not going to fight off the Verbistul one-handed, Alex.”

 

“What makes you think I can't?”

 

“Just a hunch; I think we're outnumbered.”

 

“You're not gonna just give up,” Alex protested. She restlessly rocked on her heels, scarcely aware of the fact that the niche in which they were hiding was only a few junctions from Main Engineering. “We’ve been up against worse!”

 

“Odds have changed, Alex,” Ethan calmly replied.

 

“What’re you sayin’?”

 

“Your Captain’s behind this -- probably planned it the moment the Lucky Hand radioed pursuing the Capricorn back here. Looks to me like he has the Lucky Hand’s support, controls the Verbistul, and he has taken control of this ship. That’s at least 3 to 1.”

 

“So you want to join Maxwell?”

 

“Cooperate with Maxwell,” Ethan corrected and paused, furrowing his brow. “Is it just me or are you quick to change sides?”

 

Alex scoffed. “I only took this job for the money. But don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”

 

Ethan half-feigned a look of skepticism. “Really...”

 

 

 

Securing Tomar and his guards in the Capricorn’s brig was a short, uneventful formality. Tossing the used flex cuffs into the trash, Alex glanced back at the active cell, eying its occupants between the glowing bars. Eventually, she would have to post a guard and two were on their way, but, for the moment, she didn’t care to wait. Confident that Alex and her crew mates could safely handle the remainder on their own, Ethan was already leaving the brig and she jogged after him.

 

“You didn’t tell Maxwell I’m going,” she called out.

 

Ethan glanced back, pausing long enough for her to catch him. “I’ll have to ask for forgiveness this go around,” he explained. “I don’t want exhaust the concessions he’s already made. He’s not too happy that I won’t give him the information he wants and isn’t what I’d call cooperative.

 

“That means we also have a problem.” He stopped in the corridor again, turning to meet Alex’s gaze and emphasize his point. “Someone needs to stay here and make sure Maxwell doesn’t split; that we can get back to the ship; someone we can trust.”

 

“I trust Kelin,” Alex quickly offered.

 

“But I trust you more and that’s why we need you to stay here.”

 

“What?” Alex snapped. “You can’t just change the team on me; I’ve been looking forward to this. I worked hard to get you here.”

 

“I know; I appreciate everything you’ve done,” Ethan worked quickly to mitigate, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. “But the situation’s changed and Kelin can’t do this.

 

“You’re Maxwell’s Security Chief: you’ve got access that Kelin doesn’t. You’ve got Maxwell’s confidence and he’s counting on you; he’ll notice if you go missing. Only through you can we minimize his interference and guarantee a successful recovery. We’re counting on you to get us home at any cost.”

 

A strained silence fell between them as Alex glared at the man she’d come to admire, her mind stumbling. She wanted to be a part of this mission; she’d daydreamed about this mission more often than she could remember. But, more than anything, she wanted to impress him. She wanted to prove he’d been wrong about her now and the year before. She knew she’d be the most indispensable teammate, if he’d just let her prove it.

 

“Va,” Alex finally cursed, reluctantly accepting. “Okay.”

 

“Thanks, Alex,” Ethan said, faintly smiling and squeezing her shoulder. “I knew we could count on you. Have Kelin meet me at the transporter in ten.”

 

He released her and resumed, increasing his pace down the corridor. He still had sensor data to review, a few preparations to make, and not a lot of time.

Edited November 1, 2011 by Ethan Neufeld