Five pairs of tired eyes greeted each other at the 0730 meeting called by Commodore Miller to discuss the investigation and the death of Biln. The new figure at the meeting, which previously had consisted of Yilaan, the commodore, Siruk, and the security chief, was the station's chief medical officer, Dr. Lortsen.
"So, whoever hired him, killed him," Commander Kuchma was saying.
"Not necessarily, it could be that he was framed, and someone else who appears to have nothing to do with it is the culprit," Yilaan mused.
"Or maybe two someone elses," Dr. Lortsen added. "The poison used is very rare, and is only found on three planets. One of which, coincidentally, is Andora."
"Now look," Yilaan turned on the doctor angrily in defense of Jevor towards what he was implying. "Anyone could've gotten their hands on that stuff. That doesn't necessarily mean that Jevor or Hanarran did it."
"Alright, alright," Miller interrupted as Dr. Lortsen was about to make a retort. "Speculation of this sort isn't helpful. Yes, the Dranzaline makes it look like Hanarran or Jevor did it, but we should leave ourselves open to any possibility." He then addressed the doctor directly. "It seems to me that this poison is especially deadly. Any reason why this wasn't used on the Grizzelans instead of blowing up my base?"
"Yes sir; Grizzelans are unusually resistant to most poisons. They would've been able to summon help from anywhere in the station and most likely not died of the toxin," the doctor answered.
Commodore Miller nodded, "That makes sense to me." He then faced the red-haired, hazel-eyed Ukranian security chief of Starbase 39, "Since our lead suspect is no longer alive, tell us what you and your teams have discovered regarding the other three men."
"Well sir," she began. "Our investigations aren't yet complete, but here's what we have so far. Commander Jevor was fairly easy to account for. Numerous eyewitnesses and security check-points show him being where he claims he was for the majority of the time listed. The amount of time he was on the tape is insufficient, in my humble opinion, for him to have pulled off what we're accusing him of. Even if he had accomplices, it would've been hard to pull off."
Commander Yilaan was noticeably relieved that her chief engineer, and her friend, was not responsible for the terrible attacks on the Grizzelas.
"In addition," Commander Kuchma continued, "we're also now looking for someone that could've pulled off the poison gas attack; unless he had some sort of remote means for doing it, Jevor was on the Belize last night working on her impulse drive until 2300." She paused for a moment. "As for this Edward O'Rourke fellow," she began again, "he also appears to have been on his ship during the time-frame in question for both attacks. However, since we have no record of his beaming on, or docking with, the station, we have to assume he was indeed on his ship the whole time."
"You don't sound convinced," Yilaan observed.
"I'm not Commander," the security chief replied. "Most space travellers welcome the chance to disembark from their crafts every so often; it's unusual for someone to dock at a Federation base and not leave their ship to enjoy it."
"What about the other Andorian, Hanarran?" Commodore Miller inquired.
"Now Commodore," Kuchma began, "there's the puzzle. I cannot prove or disprove his claims of where he was during both time periods. People saw him go in to that play in the station's theatre all those nights ago, but no one saw him leave. The friends he supposedly met up with, say that they got together, but none of them can agree on the time. As for last night, he was alone in his quarters the whole time."
"That's all fine, but you've not established a motive," Yilaan inserted.
"Our investigations aren't complete either; give us time," Kuchma replied.
"How much longer do you expect them to take?" Miller asked.
"I should have a full report by noon today, I hope," Kuchma replied.
"Very well, let's adjourn until then. Though I've ordered that no one leaves the station, or their ships, until this is solved, we should keep a special eye on Hanarran," Commodore Miller ordered.
Everyone acknowledged and left the meeting. Commander Yilaan went straight for Jevor's quarters. Upon her arrival, she buzzed his door repeatedly until he managed to wake up enough to say "Who the hell is it?"
"Cecilia," Yilaan replied.
An audible sigh was heard by the Bristol's first officer, before Jevor then replied in a tired voice, "Come in, Commander."
She entered and found the blue-skinned Andorian very much still in bed and barely awake enough to acknowledge her presence. After a minute or so of silence, Jevor sat up on his elbows and said irritably, "Well? Did you need something or did you just want to see me in my bedclothes?"
Yilaan pulled up a chair. "Aren't we irritable this morning?" she teased good-naturedly.
Jevor growled at her and made some comment under his breath concerning how she might feel if she had spent 15 hours the day before working on the Belize's impulse and warp drives, only to be awakened early the next day by someone a little too cheery for their own good.
She nodded, "Sorry Commander, I'll get right to the point."
"Let me guess; I blew up the corridor and killed that Tellarite and they're going to haul me off," Jevor said sarcastically.
"Nope; as a matter of fact you've been cleared," Yilaan replied.
Jevor flopped back down on his bed. "Oh good. Thanks for setting my mind at ease Commander; now if you don't mind, I..."
Yilaan interrupted him, "I didn't come here to talk about you, Jevor." Jevor opened one eye and looked her, while she continued. "I came here to talk about Hanarran."
"What about him?"
"He's in real trouble, that's what."
Jevor sat up fully and stared at her for a moment. "What? They think he did it?"
"Well, they're suspicious, that's all. We get the feeling that he's not telling us the whole truth; several of his alibis either cannot be confirmed or don't check out."
"'We?' Whose side are you on, Commander?" Jevor accused.
"Jevor, dammit, I'm not on anybody's side!" she shot back hotly. "Well, actually, that might not be true. I'm on your side, or else I wouldn't be here."
"What do you mean?"
"Talk to Hanarran, Jevor. Make him tell them what he was really doing during those times. If he doesn't tell the truth about what he was up to, they'll put him away on circumstantial evidence, I'm sure of it. If he's innocent, he needs to prove it."
"So much for 'innocent until proven guilty' eh, Commander?"
She sighed and look at Jevor for a long moment. "Talk to him Commander. Please." Yilaan then left the Bristol's chief engineer alone with his thoughts.
Jevor took a quick shower and got dressed. He then went to pay a visit to his friend Hanarran, whom he found enjoying a light breakfast in one of several mess halls on the Starbase.
Hanarran half-stood and smiled as Jevor walked over to his table. "Hey, Jevor! Good morning! I'm surprised to see you this early! Usually you're not a morning person from what I remember." Hanarran began to notice Jevor's somber mood as the latter did not respond to his jests. "Jevor, what's up? You look upset or something!"
Jevor glanced over to his right, where a Starfleet security officer had earlier caught his eye. "They think you did it, Han. You're in real danger."
"Did what pal?"
Jevor slammed his fists on the table, "Dammit, don't play games with me Han! They think you set off the bomb against those Grizzelas, and they think you somehow poisoned the air in the Brig. They have a damn guard watching you now!"
"So what? I didn't do it. Let them waste their time; I'll be cleared sure enough."
"Why won't you give them straight answers as to where you were?"
"They're as straight as they need to be. What I do with my personal life isn't any of their business."
"It is now! If you don't tell them what you were doing, they'll fry you for sure."
"I doubt it. I'm sure someone else will come along and lay claim to that fine piece of handiwork." Hanarran replied sarcastically.
Jevor sat back in his chair. "You're just as cocky as the old days. Don't you realize that things don't always turn out the way we want them too, or the way they should? That you can't just rely on this sense of invulnerability we had as kids? Things just don't become magically okay, anymore, you know. We're not children whose blessed parents think we do no wrong."
Hanarran busied himself with eating his breakfast, while Jevor waited impatiently for his response. "Well?" Jevor finally said emphatically.
"Well what? What do you want me to say?"
"Say you'll tell them specifically what you did during the times they asked you about, so that they'll leave you be."
"Forget it!"
"But why Han? I don't understand!" Jevor pleaded. He then sat back in his chair a moment and studied his friend. "You didn't do it, did you?" he asked quietly.
Hanarran smiled, "Of course not silly!"
"Well then....," Jevor began.
"Look," Hanarran interrupted, pointing his fork at Jevor. "Some things just have to work themselves out, alright?"
Jevor stared his long-time friend with a pained expression on his face, before getting up and leaving the dining area.
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