[USS Tempest] "Trapped"

"Trapped." 
Ensn. Miranda Craig 
 
The message she received that morning told Miranda that  her CO had to 
reschedule their meeting and that he would get in touch with her  to do so. The 
sudden opening in her day gave Miranda a large chunk of free time  that she 
didnât 
know what to do with. She still didnât know anyone on the ship  other then 
Lindsey and Rosie, and they were both working, and Tawny was getting  settled 
on 
the Georgetown. So Miranda decided she was going to check out the  Tempest 
and itâs security department for herself. She smiled and waved at the  
officer 
standing guard at the air lock and then made her way to the main  security 
office. 
 
As Miranda checked out the large bullpen area were most  of the security 
officersâ desks and things were and the close by armory, she  wondered what 
her 
duties would be and if sheâd been partnered up with an  experienced officer. 
She 
also wondered if she would be given much guff about  being the Captainâs 
little sister. She had a feeling she would. 
 
After leaving the security offices Miranda made her way  to each of the 
security sub-stations and armories. She wanted to know where  everything was 
and 
how each station was laid out. After about an hour of just  wandering deck to 
deck, Mirandaâs little walk through landed her on deck  seventeen. The brigs 
on 
this deck.
 
Miranda knew that every wet behind the ears, fresh out  of the academy ensign 
had to do their time twiddling their thumbs on brig duty,  so she headed for 
the holding area. The main room that lead back to the cells  wasnât much. 
Actually it wasn't much more then a deck in front of a wall.  Behind the wall 
was 
a hallway full cell units. There wasnât anyone working the  front desk so 
Miranda  helped herself to the console that would unlock the  door. She 
ventured 
into the hallway and then into one of the cell units. 
 
A small control island with a single chair stood  inactive to her left. To 
her right was the actually cell. Miranda walked over  and examined the control 
island, making sure not to touch anything, and then sat  in the chair. She 
could already tell that this was going to be mind numbing even  though she 
wouldnâ
t have to sit here unless someone was in the brig. But still,  sitting out at 
that front desk wasnât going to be a joy either. Weâve all  got to pay our 
dues. 
 
Standing, Miranda walked over to the cell opening. She  outlined the hole in 
the wall and then stepped over the lip of the opening and  into the cell. 
Another part of her duties would be to do periodic expectations  of the cells 
to 
make sure they were in working order. This one looked fine to  her. A cot, a 
wash area, and a toilet which was hidden within the wall. Simple  and boring. 
She felt sorry for anyone who had to be put in the small space for  
disciplinary 
actions. She use to hate being grounded or sent to her room  and it wasnât 
anything like this, the dullness of the confined space was  draining. 
 
A sudden feeling of being closed in came over Miranda  as she stood inside 
the cell. She turned quickly on her heel and headed for the  opening but just 
as 
she was about to reach it the force field activated. âWhat  the hell. 
Computer lower force field.â 
 
âCan not comply.â 
 
Miranda blinked. The force fields had to be manually  activated and 
deactivate but the outer room was empty. âComputer lower the force  field. 
Authorization Craig Delta four four Charlie.â 
 
âCan not comply.â 
 
âWell, why the hell not?â Miranda huffed. She was  feeling more and more 
uncomfortable by the minute. 
 
âForce fields must be deactivate at the control  station.â 
 
Miranda growled. âI canât get to the damn station. Iâm  in here!â 
Taking a 
deep breath and letting it out slowly, Miranda reached for  her comm badge but 
then paused. Who was she going to call? Sure the hell not  Lindsey. Her 
sister would laugh her ass off over this. 
 
There was only one other person she could call. Craig  to Le Beau.â 
 
Nothing. 
 
âComputer why isnât my comm badge working?â 
 
âCommutations from within the cell are  inhibited.â  
 
Miranda smacked herself in the forehead. Comm badges  didnât work inside the 
cells so prisoners couldn't contact people on the  outside. âNow what the 
hell 
am I going to do.â 
 
Reaching out Miranda touched the force field to see if  it was still there. 
The burning tingle in her finger told her it was. This  is a joke right? Linds 
saw me come in here and sheâs out there somewhere  laughing hysterically. 
 
âLindsey!â Miranda called out; following her âthis is a  practical 
jokeâ 
theory. âLindsey Craig this isnât funny! Let me outta here!â 
 
There was no reply. 
 
Miranda started pacing the small room with a whole knew  understanding of the 
phrase âfeeling like a caged tigerâ. She started to chew on  her thumb nail 
the way she always did when she was nervous, upset, worried, or  just 
generally frustrated. Stopping mid-stride Miranda looked up as she spoke to  
the 
computer. âComputer, who raised the force field in this cell?â 
 
âThe force field in that cell is not active.â 

Touching the field before her, Miranda hissed.  âWhat the hell do you call 
that?â 
 
âPlease restate the question.â 
 
âI hate you.â Miranda told the computer as she went  back to pacing. 
 
Several long minutes later the cell unitâs doors  whooshed open. A tall man 
who looked to be in his early thirties walked in.  Miranda sighed with relief. 
â
Thank god I thought I was going to be stuck in  here. The unit's 
malfunctioning.â 
 
The young man stepped over to the control island and  looked over the 
display. âYour name's not on the recorder.â 
 
Miranda blinked. âItâs not suppose to be because Iâm  not in here on 
purpose.
â 
 
The man looked up at her. âWhy are you in the brig?â 
 
âI was checking things out and the damn field went up  on itâs own.â 
 
The man laughed. âNice try. Iâve heard that before.â He  looked down at 
the 
screen again. âDonât know why the officer who put you in  there didnât 
fill 
out your forms.â He sighed. âMust have been an officer who had  better 
things 
to do then paperwork.â 
 
âI put myself in here.â Miranda protested with her  hands on her hips. It 
was down right scary how much she looked like Lindsey when  she stood like 
that. 
Miranda started at the man. He was older then her by a  lot but he was only 
an NCO. She could order him to let her out. 
 
Looking up once again, the man opted to ignore the  girl. âName, rank, reason 
for being held.â 
 
Miranda sighed. âCraig, Miranda A. Ensign. The damn  computer locked me in 
while I was expecting the unit.â 
 
âThere were no expectations scheduled for the brig  units.â The Senior 
Chief 
Petty Officer said flatly. Then he looked up at  Miranda. âCraig?â 
 
Miranda rolled her eyes. âThatâs what I said.â 
 
âAny relation...â 
 
âSheâs my sister.â Miranda grumbled. âAnd Iâd like to  get out of 
this 
without her knowing. Sheâll never let me live this down so would  you please 
let 
me out!â 
 
The Chief just shook his head. âI canât very well take  the word of someone 
whoâs in a cell now can I? Iâm going to have to check to  make sure you 
really donât belong there.â 

âI donât!â 
 
âUnfortunately the only one onboard who can answer that  is the Captain.â 
 
Mirandaâs cheeks went red and her eyes wide. âUm..  Thatâs ok.. Iâll 
wait.. 
Ask anyone but my sister!â Miranda could have sworn  sheâd seen the tiniest 
of smiles on the Chief's face.  
 
The Chief reached for his comm badge. âSecurity to  Captain Craig. Maâam 
when you have a moment could you please come to the brig,  cell unit 3-B.â
 
âAcknowledged.â 
 
Miranda groaned as she throw up her hands. I should  have stayed in bed this 
morning.

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