February 2007 - Post Selection

ON: "Talking it Out"

Day:8, Time: 12:35 Scene: Kriin Mining Base Residential Quarters, Floor 5

Tyvek counted the number of doors he passed as he walked down the empty, warmly-lit hallway. 9....10...11..12. Here it was, room 512- or so Tyvek guessed. He couldn't read the Kriin's language, however it was the 12th room on the Fifth floor.

Tyvek was here to interview a woman named Leri Drit. She was one of the technicians, but more importantly, the widow of one of the miners. Tyvek couldn't be sure what her exact emotional state would be like, as he had very little data on the Kriins, let alone the way they coped with tragedy, or their views on death. Dr. Kurada had said that Ms. Drit was a prime candidate for Tyvek to speak with for possible information gathering because she had appeared to be coping with the loss better than other loved ones of victims who were living here. According to the Doctor, she had barely cried and had moved on seemingly quick

Tyvek would be the judge of that, though. This could also mean the opposite- that she was not healing quickly at all. She could well be suppressing it all, which could lead to a blow up down the road.

This highlighted another outstanding issue: The people here on Khella had to be in rough emotional shape. Between living in fear from the killer, and people losing their friends as victims, many of them were no doubt in need of a good counselling session or two. The way Tyvek had heard it, the only mental health professional available on the base was an occupational therapist, who had to do most of the counselling with the widows of homicide victims. Ideally, Tyvek would like to have time to counsel everybody on Khella who needed it, but for now he had to focus on stopping a serial killer.

With no visible button for a door chime, Tyvek simply knocked on the door. It was answered by a middle-aged woman whose height almost matched the Counsellor's tall frame.

"Leri Drit?" He inquired.

"Yes, I am." the woman (npc) replied, looking surprised at Tyvek's appearance.

" I am Lieutenant Tyvek of the Federation Starship Dark Matter. I am a counsellor, and I have been asked by Administrator Torin's staff to come here."

"Yes, of course. I was told you would be coming, forgive my surprise, Lieutenant, we don't get many offworlders here, especially ones from halfway across the galaxy, from what I hear." Leri Drit explained. "Please, come in." She added with a certain caution.

Tyvek did as he was asked, taking a seat on a cushy easy chair when offered.

"Ms. Drit, my purpose here is twofold. As a counsellor, I can help you work out any deficiencies in your current emotional state brought on by your circumstances, and my primary visit today is to seek your assistance in discovering who is behind the murders which have taken place. I am told your late husband, Treb(npc) is one of the more recent victims. How long has it been?"

"8 weeks tomorrow." Leri replied. "Then another occurred about a week ago I think." She sat down with a cup containing a steaming beverage, possibly a hot tea, Tyvek supposed. She didn't offer him anything to drink, and Tyvek didn't know whether that was a social faux pas on her part or if it was a cultural factor. Tyvek was not offended anyway, so he did not address it.

Tyvek looked around the living room area, his eyes glimpsing a picture of Leri hugging a man that was sitting on the coffee table next to him.

"This was your husband?" He inquired.

"Um..no. that is Cyryn. He is...an old friend. He has helped me through my difficult times..." she responded with quiet awkwardness.

Tyvek raised an eyebrow, but did not say anything. It was not his place to judge her actions with men who were not her husband. "I was wondering if you would be willing to tell me some more about your husband. I also plan on speaking with family of other victims. It is my hope that I can find a common thread between all victims to lead our investigation in the correct direction, and perhaps anticipate and prevent then next attack."

Leri seemed hesitant to talk about her husband.

"Ms. Drit, I understand that it may be difficult for you to broach this subject, but it might prove helpful in preventing future harm to others. I am told your outward display of grief was minimal. As a counsellor, I am well aware that people each deal with grief in their own way. However, withholding too much cannot be healthy. I understand that it may also seem awkward to be delving into personal thoughts with a alien stranger, but I submit to you that as a complete stranger who you may never even see after today, I am the perfect unbiased ear."

"Oh I cried a great deal when I realized the man I had loved for so long was now dead," Leri began with a cynical half sneer-half laugh, "but that was years ago. Treb changed. He was longer the man I had fallen in love with. He was a despicable greedy shell of a man. Oh, maybe I was naive, a fool blinded by love when I first met Treb and married him. But no, working here changed him. This place will warp you if you let it get to you."

"Oh?" Tyvek inquired, encouraging her to continue. She obviously had some things that would be healthy to get off her chest, and perhaps it would provide Tyvek with valuable information to boot.

"Did you know that after nearly 15 years of service at the mine Treb made less income than I did, and I have only been working here for the last 5? The miners have always been some of the most poorly paid people here, and they are the key to this MINING operation. Does that make much sense to you Counsellor? They are paid a pittance because the Klaamarq pay practically nothing for their precious ore that we do all the work for. Thus, the Kriin Occupational Management and Income Regulatory Board recompenses the miners accordingly. Whereas, our engineering skill keeps the whole place running so the board pays us more. Though not by much."

"I see." Tyvek acknowledged quietly as she continued, the subject Leri Drit's rant deeply interesting to the Vulcan officer.

"This mining facility is the kind of place for people with competent skills, who happen to be in desperate need to simply find a means to put a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. Some have taken to collecting more valuable mineral than the Klaamarq's fuel source for themselves. Iridium; Platinum. They can fetch a pretty high price out the market out here. Of course there's rapid competition to get a hold of the good stuff. We can't just do management for it, as resources are directed at getting the Klaamarq's ore, and miners don’t actually have much time or privilege to be digging up the mines for their own personal gains." Leri continued, pacing back and forth, her voice getting louder and her hands waving about vigorously as she spoke. "Backstabbing, undercutting, stealing. All to get a small amount for minerals to sell off on the market in this sector to the occasional trader who happens by this place."

"I had no idea things were this unpleasant for you all, " Tyvek verbally empathized. The Klaamarq did not inform us of any of these thing."

"Of course they wouldn't. They might not be aware. They don’t care. This discontent is something of an open secret among most staff here, but the Klaamarq pay us too little to get a good deal, and that Graat(npc) just sits in his fancy office washing his hands of this whole murder situation." She said, flopping into a chair with an angry sigh before pounding her fist down on the armrest.

"Graat?"

"Yes, Representative Graat. He's the official liaison between the mining facility's management and the Klaamarq government. Pompous bastard. Only here for show I think."

"You mean to tell me there is an active Klaamarq presence here?" Tyvek asked, showing no more surprise than the typical Vulcan arched eyebrow.

"It depends on what you mean by 'active.'" She replied, without the slightest hint of sarcasm. "Now is their anything else?" She rose to her feet, and Tyvek followed suit, presuming this was an indicator she was ready for him to leave.

"Ms. Drit, I thank you for your time and information today." Lt. Tyvek said. "Your situation sound rather grim. If there is anything else you need to discuss with me, I should be around for a least a few more days still, if there is anything else you need to talk about."

"Thank you, Counsellor, but Cyryn and I both help each other get through the days here. He's been such wonderful support since we first met." She said with a faint smile, offering up some hope to her situation."

Tyvek nodded and bid her good day.

A Klaamarq working at the facility? More information the Klaamarq had conveniently forgotten to mention to them. Tyvek presumed this Graat would not be so forthcoming as Leri Drit had been, but Tyvek knew he needed to speak with him. He would still need to consult with other personnel here to try and corroborate what Leri had said about everything as well, but first things were first, he would need to inform Commander Vahl.

+Tap+ "Tyvek to Vahl, I have made some interesting progress sir..."

OFF:

Lieutenant Tyvek
Ship's Counsellor
USS Dark Matter