[ussgeorgetown] The Case of the Dead Diplomats: Interview #3 by Viviana Lazzara & Pas Kaartaren
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 19:24:31 EDT
Things were going downhill fast, and Vivie couldn't find the break. She stood
outside the counseling center trying to get her thoughts in order, knowing
that after this case was over, she'd be the one in need of a shrink. After
ringing the door chime she waited until she heard the customary "Come in" and
then
stepped inside. She looked at the two men in the room, one human looking and
the other Andorian. "Doctor Pas Kaartaren?"
"I had heard you were aboard, Lieutenant. It's good to see you again. I hope
your wife is doing well," Lish said, his eyes crinkling. It was a gentle
reminder that all officers were supposed to meet with a counselor eventually.
He
tilted his head toward his partner. "And this is Dr. Kaartaren."
Pas offered Vivie a smile and held out his hand. He knew who she was, having
heard the name before and knowing what he knew about Calista. That, though,
was not a problem for him unless it was a problem for her. "Pleased to meet
you, Lieutenant. Is there some reason you were looking for me in particular?"
Despite her reasons for being there, Vivie couldn't help but smile at Lish.
"Ya know it really helps to make this place a little more like home with all
these familiar faces." She offered the blue man a warm smile. "And don't worry,
Alex and I will both be in to see you, whether she likes it or not."
Turning to the other man, Vivie accepted his hand. "I wish I were here under
better circumstances, Doctor, but I'm afraid I'm here officially. I need to
ask you a few questions about Joshua Garrity."
As Lish's look of concern, Pas shook his head and told him, "It's okay, Lish.
I'll let you know if it's something you need to be concerned about."
Lish made a soft noise that Pas interpreted to mean he sure as hell wasn't
going to forget then offered both Pas and Vivie a respectful nod before
leaving.
It wasn't until the young Andorian was gone that Pas turned back to face
Vivie. The smile was still there, and his dark eyes were just as warm, but
business was business.
"Have a seat if you want, Lieutenant, and tell me what you want to know."
"Thank you," Vivie said softly as she took the chair in front of Pas' desk.
"I need to know what the Maritu female said to Josh in the hallway a few weeks
ago. I'd also like to ask you, though I know you don't have to answer me, if
you think he would be capable mentally of killing her, or anyone else, for that
matter."
Pas sat back down behind the desk and propped his elbows up on the desk,
resting his chin on the tips of his fingers. "Ah, you mean Torae. She doesn't
seem to like me. She thinks I'm the captain's pet mind reader, you know," he
mused. "But that's not what you asked, now is it? I'm going to assume you've
spoken to Tawa Pax or the captain about this incident since they're the only
two that know I have knowledge. I can tell the words she said, Lieutenant, but
anything other than that strict word for word recounting I can't do. It's a
question of patient confidentiality you know."
Vivie nodded as she pulled out her note PADD. "I understand you can't tell me
what's been said in sessions, Doctor. This, however, was said out in the open
so I'll need that translation."
"Alright, but you ought to know I got the exact translation later on from
Commander Menkara's linguistics program. To whom do you belong and why do you
flee them, Creature? Where are your Keepers? Come that I might return you to
them and speak with them myself. And then--Face your betters, insolent
creature.
Lastly--I see you have displeased them before. Perhaps you should be more
compliant and careful that your Keeper might not find reason to be so harsh
with
you," Pas said, very carefully noting Torae's words exactly as he had heard
them through Tawa's thoughts.
He ran a hand over his hair, disturbing the rather wavy strands, as he
pondered her second question. "As to whether I think Joshua is capable of
killing
anyone, I can't give you a definite answer. In some ways, I know Joshua much
better than Counselor ch'Thane. I know you three were together on your last
posting but perhaps you don't know that I was the one the counselor called in
to
help Joshua and the other three who were injured through that JOLT
experiment. I know him well in that way but Counselor ch'Thane knows him much
better
than I do. I can give you a general answer, though, if that will do."
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Vivie knew that she'd just been handed her
reason to arrest Josh without a shadow of doubt, and it made her sick. "A
general answer I have, Doctor. The three you pulled out of their heads weren't
the
only ones hurt on that holodeck. I know very well what happened there, what
he'd been through, and what he can do. I'm asking your professional option
because he's going to need the professional back up."
"Then I can tell you this, Lieutenant. Any being is capable of killing--and
I use that word and not murder--in defense of oneself or in defense of one's
family," Pas said simply. He tapped his collar, showing the lack of any rank
pips. "I haven't gotten beyond the military rank that I am because I'm a
pacifist. Yet, if any one were to think of causing harm to my daughter or
my...to
Calista..." He shrugged slightly. "I drilled any number of JemHadar soldiers
with a phaser rifle trying to protect my daughter, Lieutenant."
"So you're the one." Vivie said, breaking the formality of her conversation
with the doctor. She looked him over a moment. He was the one who'd helped to
change Calista. He'd be worth getting to know. Switching back to the topic at
hand she said, "I understand the sentiment, Doctor. I feel the same way about
protecting my family." Vivie paused a moment as she looked down at her notes.
"Do you think this protection, as far as Josh was concerned, includes wanting
to protect and defend Doctor Coyne?"
"I don't know the man well enough to answer that. You'd have to ask
Counselor ch'Thane," Pas told her simply. "I'm sorry I can't be of more help,
Lieutenant." He offered her a questioning glance. "May I make a suggestion
that has
nothing to do with your investigation, by the way?"
Vivie nodded. "At this point, Doctor, I'll take any pull away from this case
that I can get."
"You know Counselor ch'Thane doesn't bite but neither do I. Feel free to
come and talk to me, too," he said simply.
Vivie couldn't help but smile slyly. "Your offer wouldn't have anything to do
with what you've heard about me and Calista would it?"
Pas sat back and laughed, his eyes brightening as the laugh reached them,
too. "Not at all," he said warmly. "I love her dearly, I don't deny that at
all, but I stay out of a lot of things unless they become problems, if you
understand what I mean. You ladies seem to have worked things out quite well
so my
offer was purely as a counselor, not an overly interested party."
"Tell ya what, Doc," Vivie said as she pocked her padd and slipped to the
edge of her chair. "My wife isn't the type to express her feelings to anyone. I
would, however, like her to pick up with Lish concerning her leg. Perhaps it
would be easier if she didn't fear that I'd find out what was said between
them.
I'll make my appointment to see you officially, but I wouldn't mind
unofficial get together either. Perhaps after this hellish mess is behind us
you and
Calista could join Alex and I for a drink?"
"I'll ask her but I don't think she'd mind," Pas said with his usual smile.
Calista had been a rather good mood after the blackout and he was pleased when
he heard her retelling of the encounter between her and Vivie. "Scheduling
can be a pain but I really think we can make time to sit with friends on a
casual basis but don't mind my daughter's nanny. She's suspicious of
everybody."
"So is my Mum." Vivie replied as she stood. "If it weren't for Mama, Mum
wouldn't trust anyone. I'll look forward to that drink, Doc. Thank you for you
time."
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