Jailed
Posted on Wed Nov 26th, 2025 @ 4:01am by Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva & Captain Remy Johansen & Josef Forstinger & Lieutenant JG Leilani
1,847 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Conference Center Basement, Barisa Prime
Timeline: MD 08, 1915 Hours
The cell was colder than it should have been. None of that was surprising to Tenzi--the cell itself was built out of a makeshift storage room in the basement of the Conference Center. There were no windows and the faint sound of plates and cutlery clanking together echoed from the corridor beyond. Only the hum of the forcefield kept them company. Two solid benches bolted into the floor were the only comforts offered.
Them being Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva, Lieutenant JG Leilani, and the man-out-of-time, Josef Forstinger. The forcefield shimmered blue when touched, but Tenzi had avoided doing that half an hour ago. She stood near it, arms crossed and jaw tight.
Beyond the forcefield, a lone Vulcan guard of indeterminate age remained seated behind a mobile console that had been installed in the event someone required detaining during the Unification Accords--and evidently, it was.
Tenzi cleared her throat once. Nothing.
The again--louder this time. "Excuse me, officer."
The guard's eyed lifted from the console and settled on her briefly before returning to the console. "You are not in distress," he said evenly. "Communication is unnecessary."
Tenzi blinked at him, antennae tipping forward. "Well, forgive me for trying to understand why we're locked in a linen closet instead of being questioned like civilized beings."
Silence.
She let out a breath, muttering something in Andorian that sounded as cold as frost, then turned to face Josef. "And you," she said, her voice low but sharp, "what in the seven icy hells made you think bringing a fucking weapon to a diplomatic reception would be a good idea?"
Josef was being uncharacteristically quiet, at least from what the two others in the cell were somewhat used to from him. He was simply sitting down, his head pointing down, as well as his eyes just staring without clear focus. It was like he was deep in though-but not in the way of regret, no, this was different.
He did however finally move by standing up as Tenzi turned to face him. "Because you never know what would or could have happened. And look, something did happen--and I was ready to defend us... but now I--who never did anything wrong--am now the bad guy in this ?" he argued, though it seems he himself doesn't quite believe his own words.
"I had to get my stuff back in the first place. I felt wrong without it. Helpless and defenseless." There was now a noticeable strain in his voice, some form of anger rising uncontrollably.
"AND NOW I'M STUCK IN SOME CAGE LIKE A FUCKING MONKEY!" he shouted, though not at Tenzi, as he had turned away to deliver a swift frontal kick to the forcefield, which promptly sent him stumbling back. The behaviour and subsequent frustrated noise leaving his throat made him seem more Klingon than Human.
Tenzi didn't flinch when he kicked the field. She simply watched the blue shimmer swallow his anger and hum back at him, steady as a heartbeat.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "That's what cages do."
Leilani sat on the floor quietly in a Dragonian meditation pose as she did her best to try and reach out for Xalanth and to steady her nerves. Someone was going to get into trouble on the ship, though she would like to know how their time-travelling guest had managed to sneak into the cargo bay and retrieve his weapon. " If you want to be out of this cage then I suggest you sit down and calm down."
The Andorian engineer turned her attention to the Vulcan security officer. "Officer," Tenzi called out, "you may want to send word to the Astrea. You've managed to arrest one of their counselors and engineers." She paused a moment to see if the guard might react. When he didn't, she continued. "And you've arrested a human civilian learning to adjust to the twenty-fourth century."
The Vulcan's eyebrow raised slightly, but his attention remained fixed to the console's readout. Upon seeing the lack of any reaction, Tenzi decided to heed Leilani's words and sat down across from the Betazoid woman, crossing her long legs.
"Come sit, Josef."
At first, Josef's outburst didn't cease, just devolving into him circling on the spot. He wasn't swearing anymore or shouting his lungs out, but by his rapid breathing, it was clear that he was very worked up, concerningly so.
One might think he ignored their words, only staring at Leilani and Tenzi when they talked. Though that wasn't true, his mind was racing. And then, like with a snap of the finger, he stopped and sat down on the floor. Slightly hunched over as he reached inside his shirt to grab.....
A small golden crucifix on a light gold chain. Staring at it for a second with empty eyes before twirling it through his fingers. Sitting in sheer silence while doing so. His agitated breathing, while still present, calmed slightly as time passed.
"I'm sorry." he finally answered--or at least addressed the two. Barely louder than a whisper. He didn't look up, his eyes continuing their empty stare. As if, for just a moment, he was not in the cell with them, but somewhere else. Somewhere long ago.
"Take your time." Leilani replied, doing her best not to think of the words her husband would be having with Josef when they got out of this mess.
The three of them remained there for several silent minutes, seated on the cold floor, in a circle. Tenzi considered speaking her mind more than once--another reprimand for Josef's poor decision, a general complaint about the condition of their 'cell'--but thought better of it. The quiet had become light and calming.
Tenzi had been asleep on the floor for who-knows-how-long. After a few minutes of breathing techniques, she'd decided to curl-up in the fetal position and rest her eyes. Clearly, the medical emergency in the reception hall was the priority for security--Josef's firearm and their subsequent arrest were tertiary issues that would eventually be dealt with. But the Ambassador's health was obviously of paramount importance.
When she awoke, it took a moment to orient herself to the makeshift cell.
She sat up and groaned. "Are we still in here?"
"It appears so," Leilani replied, still in her meditation position. " Xalanth knows we are here, and he will recover us when he can. "
Josef for his part had not moved, though unlike Leilani he was not meditating either. The Cross was still clutched in his right hand. Still going through that same motion as when Tenzi dozed off. That same empty expression and stare on his face. "You guys, definitely."
Tenzi had begun to feel the pull of drowsiness once again when footsteps finally broke her reverie. They were two sets moving in measured and confident authority.
The Vulcan guard straightened ever-so-slightly in his chair--the closest thing to emotion Tenzi had seen out of him. Administrator M'Tret entered first--tall, trim and severe in the most Vulcan of ways. His black uniform and silver sash seemed like less of an indication of status than his experienced eyes.
Behind him came Captain Remy Johansen, her expression stoic and unreadable.
The Vulcan guard stood. "Administrator. Captain. These detainees--"
M'Tret lifted a bony hand, so subtle it was that it qualified as a gesture. "We are aware."
Tenzi scrambled to her feet, the stiffness in her legs making her feel every hour they'd spent in that icebox of a room. Her antennae angled forward before she could stop them.
Leilani heard the captains footsteps and calmly rose from her meditation pose.
When they first entered, Josef did not move or react. Continuing to sit on the same spot on the Floor and fidgeting with his crucifix. Though upon hearing mention of the Captain, and Tenzi scrambling to hee feet, he too stood up. Faster and more rigged than the women, surpsingly so with how long he had sat in that position.
Lieutenant Leilani, Ensign Sh'reyva, Mr. Forstinger," Captain Johansen addressed each one individually. "We will deal with this once we are back on Astrea."
M'Tret's gaze found its way to Josef. While Captain Johansen had satisfactorily explained the young man's situation, the older Vulcan couldn't help but wonder if Josef's war experiences might become more of a hindrance in his adjustment to life in the twenty-fourth century. Perhaps more than simply arriving armed to a diplomatic reception.
"Mister Forstinger," he said calmly and evenly. "I would speak with you for a moment." M'Tret glanced over to Remy, eyes searching for approbation.
"If you have something to say to Mr. Forstinger, I'll be happy to have you on board Astrea as my guest after he's had some rest, time to decompress, and access to counsel if he chooses, " Remy stated staring down the Vulcan coolly. "Now, if you'll excuse us."
Bowing his head in deference, M'Tret replied, "Of course, Captain."
Tenzi felt like a small child who had disappointed her parents, eyes and antennae downcast.
"Captain, I'd like to take full responsibility for this situation," Leilani said calmly. "Josef is my patient and is my responsibility."
"Like hell you are," Josef added onto Leilani's words almost immediately, in an aggressive tone at first on accident before taking a deep breath, having finally broken his blank stare and silence by turning his head towards the Counselor. He continued, turning back to face the Captain. "If anyone's gonna get punished. Punish me. Throw me into a cell, a padded one for all I care. These two didn't do anything." This was the longest sentence he had spoken since they had been arrested. And by his tone of voice it was clear his emotions were quite volatile. Something was clearly going through his head.
Tenzi's eyes widened a little as Josef's sudden outburst. She felt herself holding back a breath as her eyes wandered to Captain Johansen--intent on seeing what her reaction might be.
"We will sort this out later," Remy stated,. "Right now it is time to go."
Remy gestured to a nearby corridor. "Their transporter room is this way."
At the response to his outburst, which Josef only now seemed to realize had happened in the first place before looking over at Tenzi and Leilani with a more sorrowful expression. Before his stoic mask slipped back on. Moving as instructed by the captain, only giving a nod to her in response to her instructions.
Captain Remira Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant J.G. Leilani
Counselor
USS Astrea
Ensign Tenzi Sh'reyva
Engineering Officer
USS Astrea
Josef Forstinger
Civillian
USS Astrea
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