Time to meet the accused

Posted on 11/20/2020 @ 4:23am by Lieutenant T’Lanna Vali & Lieutenant JG Larissa Syndel
Edited on on 11/20/2020 @ 5:16pm

Mission: S3E1: Time of Change
Location: Earth- Holding facility
Timeline: Day 84 at 1700

Making her way to the holding area T’Lanna showed her credentials as expert witness to the security personnel and made it clear that she wanted to talk to Lieutenant Syndel in private, or at least as private as it got in holding with security monitors everywhere. Walking inside she nodded politely as she was brought over a chair to sit on, carrying around a seven month bump was work in itself, it was especially hard on her back.

“Lieutenant” She smiled politely. “I’m T’Lanna Vali I’m here to act as expert witness in your case. I’d like to talk to you about what happened.”

Larissa sat up from the bed she was getting accustomed to in the new holding facility. "Good afternoon Lieutenant." She smiled back at the older lady.

“Just so you know, I’m in the process of talking to those that know you and what happened so I can get a full picture. I’d be remiss in my duties if I testified without getting the full picture.” T’Lanna smiled warmly. “Do you feel up to talking me through what happened and how you felt?”

"What are you an expert witness in?" Larissa asked.

“I’m a Psychologist and a Counsellor.” T’Lanna offered a friendly smile. “I’ve worked with JAG before so I know how all this works.”

'Here to see if I'm crazy or not' Larissa thought. "What would you like to know?

T’Lanna got more comfortable, or at least as comfortable as she could be. “I’d like to know what made you pick up a phaser, and kill someone? What was going through your head at the time?”

"A lot." Larissa replied. "You want the short answer or the long one?"

“I think the long one would give me better insight” T’Lanna offered another smile. “I’m not here to judge you, that’s up to the court. I’m just here to understand what went through your mind.”

"Me and Chief Boudreaux got captured out on an away mission by Orion slavers, they were going to sell us so took us to the 'auction house' they threw me into a cell with a few other women, the conditions were close to inhumane." Larissa began.

T’Lanna nodded. “I can’t even imagine what that must have been like for you. Please continue.”

"They were taking us up to the sales floor when the away team from the Crazy horse ran into us, took the guards out and unchained us. Lieutennt Lae'Or gave me a phaser and I led them back to where me and the chief had been seperated and we searched for him." Larissa got off the bed and slowly walked around the small cell. "I stunned one of the guards by the cell he was in, Lieutennt Joral stunned the other then we went to check on the Chief but he was already dead."

“May I ask” T’Lanna studied Larissa. “Did you have any feelings for the Chief?”

"No, he was a little old for my liking." Larissa chuckled slightly, "but he was my responsibility."

“So you felt, and still feel, responsible for his death? Is that what made you kill the guard?”

"Maybe partly. I was angry with them," Larissa said, the same anger that had influenced her actions that day started to be evident in her voice. "They kept innocent men and women in horrendous conditions, then murdered a perfectly healthy and useful to them man for no good reason."

T’Lanna nodded understandingly. “So you were angry? Do you have problems controlling your anger?”

Larissa shook her head. "No, I've never had any problems with anger but I did then and I let it get the better of me."

“You went with your anger? Let it control you?” This wasn’t what T’Lanna was hoping to hear. “Do you feel remorse for your actions?”

"I let it control me for a moment." Larissa stopped by the bed and sat back down. "But then I realised what I'd done and I regretted it straight away."

T’Lanna could sense that was the truth, an encouraging sign. “Question is if you were faced with a similar situation would you let it happen again or would you stop yourself?”

"I can't just turn off my emotions like a Vulcan... no offense." Larissa said, she'd noticed the womans pointed ears straight away. "But I would do what I could to not let something like that happen again.

T’Lanna nodded. “No offence taken. Thank you for being so open and honest with me. I appreciate it.”

"Probably still won't help me." Larissa remarked. "What's the going rate for murder these days? Life?"

T’Lanna gave Larissa a concerned look. “Don’t dwell on that. You need to keep yourself positive, give your defence team a chance to work for you.”

Larissa laughed. "Even as positive an outcome as I could dream of is still at least the best part of my life gone, and my commission, the trust of a lot of people."

T’Lanna nodded as she listened. “All I can say is be honest on the stand, tell people how much you regret your actions. It will go in your favour.” She moved to get up ready to head on her way. “Good luck.”

"Thank you," Larissa replied. "I'm going to need it."

A post by

Larissa Syndel
Prisoner

Lt T’Lanna Vali
Expert Witness/Chief Counsellor
USS Standing Bear