Break-out

Posted on Thu Sep 20th, 2018 @ 12:39am by
Edited on on Thu Sep 20th, 2018 @ 1:43am

Mission: A Majestic Affair
Location: Brig
Timeline: MD 4 0600
1458 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Part of his job, Lhaes reasoned, was to make sure that if any targets or subjects were captured, they wouldn't be able to get out of the ship's resident jail. Though having no security training, Lhaes did possess some knowledge about breaking out. "Good morning Ensign," he called out, far too brightly for the time of day, "are we ready to test the cells?"

Mid-yawn Wilfred heard someone speak and he glanced up from his PADD. There was absolutely nothing on there work related as the Majestic had yet to leave the starbase. It took him a moment to register what was said and then he snapped to attention. At least his back didn't hurt this time. "Yes sir, they're all working sir, I already tested them." A dozen times since he'd been assigned this incredibly boring job. But boring was how Wilfred preferred it. He was afraid of anything else.

"Are you sure?" Lhaes challenged, grey eyes boring into the man. "At ease ensign, I don't want to have to go doctor on you when I'm not here to play doctor. I'm here to test their safety, and the safety of those on duty here."

"We can always check them," Wilfred said, his voice faltering. He knew he'd tested all of them, but perhaps he had overlooked something. It was certainly possible.

"Tell me how you usually test their safety and containability?" Lhaes took out his tricorder, walking towards one of the holding cells.

"I usually put myself in one and then remotely deactivate the field." Wilfred replied. "Not that I'm an expert at getting out of one or anything."

"Breaking out can be taught." He nodded ahead. "Go on, get in." The Romulan smirked, hand hovering over the control panel. "Get in ensign," he repeated, more firmly now.

Wilfred swallowed. "You want me to try and get out?" He said as he moved toward the brig. Was this really what he had signed up for? "Yes sir," He had no choice, the man far outranked him. Suddenly he wished that Lieutenant Rai was around, she'd been nice to him, even though he'd acted like an idiot in her presence.

Once the nervous man was inside, Lhaes activated the control panel and the forcefield shimmered into view. "I'd recommend not trying to get out through the gate," he smiled, knowing from personal experience that walking into a forcefield was definitely not a good idea. "Are there any panels that can be pried off, that you know of?"

"Sure," Wifred said nervously. "I mean I think so, never actually done it though. You want me to try? Well of course you do. I can't stay in here forever. I guess Lieutenant Rai would probably come find me eventually but it might be days and then I'd starve." It was honestly the longest sentence Wilfred had said since coming on board and with the mention of Rai's name his face colored.

"Yes, I want you to try," the Romulan prompted, "there is nothing to be anxious about Wilfred, I won't leave you in there." He smiled think. "You won't starve and the lovely lieutenant won't be finding your body here."

Wilfred blushed further. "Oh god, don't tell her I thought that." He turned around so he didn't have to face the other man and began trying to pry off the panel, if nothing else he thought extreme frustration might get him somewhere and he was bound to get frustrated in this cell.

"Thought what?" Lhaes smiled. "Don't worry Wilfred, I can't read your thoughts without touching you and some serious effort. But i have no trouble sensing what you feel, and I wouldn't act on that unless I have cause to believe you mean to hurt the ship." He grinned. "And I don't think I have such cause so your secret is safe. Now....are you making any progress?"

"Ummm . . ." This was much harder than he thought it would be. If he'd been allowed to bring in a tool belt or at least something a bit sharper that he could stick on the edge of the panel then perhaps he'd have it pried off by now. "No," he said sheepishly.

"Do you have any items on you, which you could use?" Lhaes suggested calmly, aiming to make the young man consider that anything he had on him could be used as a tool.

Wilfred started searching his belongings. He had a PADD with him, his hands dug into his pockets. There was a tiny bit of paper he'd been saving to crumple as the sound and texture helped to calm him. "I don't have any tools on me. My pip is too large to fit onto the edge. I don't see how I'm going to get out of this." He was starting to panic now.

"What about your combadge?" Lhaes suggested calmly, as though he was instructing a child. The man's panic was starting to give him a headache. "Can you use it for anything?"

"I think it's too thick to pry the panel off?" Thinking hard of what the man might mean he looked down at the PADD he was holding. What if? Nah. But! Nope, that wouldn't work either. Snapping his fingers he used the combadge to pry the screen off his PADD.

Lhaes nodded in approval as he watched the man work. he took a small step back to take himself out of the brig officer's perepheral view so he wouldn't be a distraction. Now was not the time to break him from his concentration.

Then Wildred placed the combadge down on the PADD and slipped it over to the forcefield, pressing down on the badge so that it continually applied pressure. He was hoping he could get it to overload and short out the forcefield long enough for him to escape.

The Romulan smiled as the forcefield fizzled and sparked until it suddenly zapped off. "Well done," he praised after giving him a few seconds to appreciate his victory.

Wilfred sighed. He was out, and extremely happy to be. He wasn't going to let this go to his head however, everyone else on this ship knew he was in this assignment because he was an idiot and it was true. "Yeah, yay . . . it's lunch time now right?"

"Wilfred.." Lhaes stopped him. "Do you even understand why I gave you this assignment?"

"So you could make sure I was competent enough to be in this job?" He asked curiously.

"I didn't need an assignment to know that," Lhaes smiled, "I already knew you are competent. The question is, did you know?"

"I was pretty sure I could make it out, before I started to panic." Wilfred answered him.

"Then why do you question your own competence? The Romulan arched a single eyebrow at him. "Your confidence in yourself is lacking but there's nothing wrong with your brain. Why did you panic?"

"I don't know, I get too many thoughts going in my brain and it's hard to sort them out and focus. I always go to the worst thoughts first. And so I get overwhelmed."

"Have you ever considered meditation?" How easy it was to slip from spy into doctor mode. "Why do you think you go to the worst first?"

"I'm just wired that way." Wilfred sighed, he'd talked to a million doctors. This was all in his head and he knew it. It was up to him to change things, if he ever became brave enough. "I've tried everything."

"Have you?" Lhaes watched him closely. "You didn't answer my earlier question. Have you ever tried meditation? Or another sport to hone your focus?"

"Yes, meditation, yoga, even alien forms of relaxation, alien to me anyway. Nothing works except . . . being by myself. And well," Wilfred almost stuttered. "Heat, hot water. Something about water flowing seems to relax me, but I have to be in the water."

Lhaes shuddered visibly at the mention of water. "Have ever tried something a little more strenuous to hone focus? Martial arts? Another sport?"

"I'm a huge klutz, I'd never make it in a sport. I can barely walk down a corridor without running into someone." The pitch of his voice had ridden. It was bad enough he had to do phaser certification with Lieutenant Rai, he didn't need something else to make him look like a fool.

"Have you tried though?" Lhaes insisted, wondering how he could help the man.

"Yes," Wilfred said, digging his heels in. "And I'm not doing it again."

"Easy...we'll think of something to help you gain focus." He nodded towards the cell. "Good job there though."

---

Lieutenant Commander Lhaes Sommers
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Majestic

Ensign Wilfred Wexler
Brig Officer
USS Majestic