Building Trust

Posted on 15 Jul 2021 @ 1:57am by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Lieutenant Commander Camila Di Pasquale

1,103 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Extinction
Location: Security Complex
Timeline: Mission Day 19 at 1500

Joey took a deep, calming breath. Her meeting with Conrad had started off very rough, but by the end of it, things weren't so bad. She still needed to build up that trust, though, and that fell into the lap of the ship's Security Chief. She gave her combadge a tap as she made her way out of sickbay and into the corridor. "Geisler to di Pasquale... what is your current location?"

=^=I'm in Security=^= Came Camila's response.

"I'm on my way to you. I'll be there momentarily, Joey said, tapping her combadge again to end the link before stepping onto a turbolift. The journey from deck six to deck twelve didn't take long, and soon she was making her way into the Security Complex where she approached the receptionist. "Can you let Commander di Pasquale know Commander Geisler is here to see her?"

The Andorian looked pleased that someone acknowledged her presence and her antennae perked up. "Of course, Commander Geisler," she said pleasantly as she tapped a button on her console. "Go right in, please."

"Thanks," she said with a smile, then made her way into Camila's office as instructed by her Andorian receptionist. It hadn't been that long since the two had last seen one another, but here they were again. "Commander, long time no see."

"It's been what, forty five minutes?" Camila asked. "Time flies when you're working."

"Something like that. Do you know where Mister Hawkingsson's belongings were taken, or are they still on the shuttle?" Joey asked. "He asked for his notebook, but said you eluded to him not being able to have it."

"I eluded him?" The Security Chief asked with an amused tone. "He was in bed the entire time and wanted me to get him real paper after I gave him a sheet of memplastic to use. He refused. As for his belongings, the puck is where we left it and his notebook and other belongings are in quarantine."

This was news to her, and the surprise was evident on her face. "His belongings are in quarantine? Why? Does he have some kind of contagious illness no one told me about?"

"By quarantine, I mean it's been stored until it's proved they are no danger to the ship," Camila stated.

"When he's out of sickbay, he's willing to unlock parts of his personal computer so I can go over it," she told Camila. "In the meantime, it's being kept safe inside my office where no one can access it. If he's willing to do that, I'm not so sure he poses any kind of threat."

"That was the main thing I'm concerned about," the other woman admitted. "For being a simple assistant program, it's locked down pretty tight."

"Which is understandable. He told me that someone tried to destroy all of his work and attempted to kill him. Maybe not in that order," the taller woman explained. "He's worried about others stealing his work, which is why it's locked down as tight as it is. Given he's willing to unlock parts of it for me to look over his notes, I want to get his notebook and give it to him as a sign of good faith. There isn't much he can do with it given his lack of access to his personal computer."

"He didn't tell me any of that, but check the notebook before you give it to him," Camila said. "If there's any code hidden in it, your people will be able to crack it."

Joey wasn't surprised. Camila's bedside manner was a little... rough, but was effective in certain situations. "If there's anything in it that could pose a threat, I'll know about it," she assured the woman behind the desk. "I don't think we have anything to worry about, though. If you ask me, I think he's a paranoid man that's trying to fit into a world he no longer trusts."

"I don't care who he is or his past, but if he brings harm to this ship, I'll handle him personally," Camila said.

And that was why people didn't tell the Chief of Security things. She was rough around the edges, but much of that had to do with things that happened over time. And one didn't get to be in her position without a spine of steel. "Noted," Joey said. "Where are his belongings being held so I can retrieve his notebook?"

"It's in Security in a quarantine field," the ombre haired woman replied. "If you'll come with me, I'll get it for you." She got up from her desk and secured her terminal, then headed out of the office.

Joey turned to follow behind her. "Thank you."

Camila went around the corner to the Locker Room where they stored things that were questionable or had been seized by Security from crew that had contraband. She entered her access code and entered, then went to one of the sealed lockers, released the field and opened it. "I don't see what the big deal about paper is," she said as she retrieved the notebook.

"Everyone has their preferences," the taller woman stated. "I appreciate paper when it involves an old book. There's just something about the way they smell that is quite soothing."

"He uses it to write on," Camila grumbled. "You can make mistakes on it." She handed the notebook to Joey and sealed the locker again.

"And those mistakes can be corrected with the proper utensils," Joey pointed out as she accepted the notebook. "Thank you."

"Or not made at all using modern technology," Camila countered.

"Again, it's all about personal preference. What we may like, someone else may not. It's the same as knocking. Some still do that, too. Is it weird? Maybe a bit, but to each their own."

"Whatever the case may be, as long as it gets him to stop thinking we're his servants," Camila said.

Joey cocked her head to the side slightly and studied the woman across from her. She wanted to say so many things, but decided to lift the notebook. "Thanks again. I'm going to get this to back to Mister Hawkingsson. I'll see you around I'm sure. After all, our work is never done it seems."

"No, it isn't done and you know it," Camila said. "Maybe we can have lunch tomorrow?"

"Meet you at Talon's usual time?" Joey countered.

"See you then, Joey," the other woman agreed.

"Absolutely," the taller woman said with a smile before she turned to make her way back out of Security and head to sickbay once again.

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