Deep As A Mudd Puddle

Posted on Thu Jun 27th, 2019 @ 3:31pm by Captain Enalia Telvan & Az'Prel & Commander Rita Paris & Lieutenant Commander Sonak

Mission: Fractured Fairy Tales
Location: USS hera, Deck 11, deep security wing of the Brig
Timeline: 2396, Post-Tribunal

Standing in the outer security ring of the brig located in the center of Deck 11, chief of Security Commander Rita Paris discussed the possibilities with the Chief Science Officer, Lieutenant Sonak.

“Given the bloodwork we’ve gotten from Sickbay, it appears that he’d likely be resistant to any number of pharmaceutical treatments we might employ to get the truth out of our Mr. Mudd. Apparently being a Terran scientist prepares one quite well to resist interrogation. So at this point, I would prefer to fall back on a mind meld only if absolutely necessary. But we need information from him- with Arenara dead…”

At that, Paris paused to steel herself., The accidental manslaughter of Arenara Artan was still quite fresh to her, and she was still struggling to deal with the guilt. While the Captain had cleared her of any charges and the Admiralty agreed, that did not ease the burden of her own conscience. Rita was a firm believer in the power of redemption, and that option would now be forever denied the Artan matriarch, as her life had been cut short by a phaser turned up too high, and an officer who was too slow in thought and fast on the trigger.

“Well, Doctor Davos Mudd is the one who likely knows all of the dirty secrets, all of the hidden plots and the machinations that the Queen Regent likely had in motion. The captain wants to know what he knows, and that’s where we come in." Paris paused to indicate the Vulcan freedom fighter from the Mirror Universe where Mudd himself had come, somehow. "I've included Miss Az'Prel today as I suspect she knows him better than most and can certainly contribute here, as well as to formally introduce you two, as I feel it would be good for Miss Az'Prel to get to know one another. So, how would you like to approach this, Mr. Sonak?”

While on duty, their relationship was professional and courteous, just as it was with any other shipmate. One would not know from seeing them interact in such a manner that they had actually been a couple for a number of years now, and that they shared intimately with one another on a regular basis.

Save for the matching Duranium bands of dove-grey starship hull material, which identified them as two who were one.

As would be expected, the Vulcan's thought were far from those personal considerations at this moment; not to mention that, to him, their bond was to him as deep, as natural and as necessary as breathing. Thus, he was frowning, pondering several permutations of the situation before replying.

''The point of origin of our suspect is irrelevant; our laws and principles apply to us and to our actions, else they mean nothing. In this regard, I would not be able to force a mind meld upon Doctor Mudd. This would violate the charter of rights applicable to any individual, even a prisoner of war... unless a life would depend directly on finding an answer from him. Even then, there would be boundaries we would not be allowed to cross.''

Already sensing her objections forming in her mind, he looked at her straight with his steely grey eyes.

''That being said, considering the universe where he comes from, he might not be aware of that. Of course, a lawyer would insist that all his rights be read to him... but I am not a lawyer.''

“I’d not want to force it- that is a valid point. But he doesn’t know that, necessarily. And his point of origin is relevant to his mindset, thus why I bring it up. Miss Az’Prel, do you perhaps have some insight into this man that would be applicable in this instance? Our options are somewhat limited, as we are not monsters nor war criminals, and the Captain isn’t terribly willing to cut a deal for his freedom in exchange for facts which may be shaky at best.” Paris was doing her best to lay out the facts and prepare the trio for the debriefing, but she had very low expectations for this exercise.

Sonak nodded.

''Indeed, in regard to his psychological profile and possible reactions, this is where his point of origin is definitely relevant.''

The displaced Vulcan woman was struggling to maintain her Vulcan composure while the subject of Dr. Mudd was on the table. "You should be aware that he and I shared an... Intimate... Relationship... For a time. To the point we had a child that he said he sold into slavery in our universe. I do not know what became of our daughter. As for a mind meld... I have some training in the methods employed by the Vulcans of my universe."

Az'Prel paused a moment before continuing.

"He is the one assassination target that I never completed my assignment. The night I was to do so, I was able to remove my other targets, but failed to remove him. I then spent an inordinately long time in an agony booth."

Sonak turned to face her.

''You are as obligated as I am to follow the rule of law. Would you or I impose a mind meld without his consent, anything revealed by the meld would become void and null in a court of law. In essence, you or I would help him escape justice by our own violation of the law.''

"Let's try the truth, then, and see where that gets us. Who knows, perhaps he'll listen to reason."

''According to his record, he is a man solely out for himself. Such men always look for opportunities... especially if they appear to benefit them. In this regard, he should prove quite reasonable.''


"I demand to speak to the Captain! I'll not deal with a minor functionary. Who ordered you to come interrogate me, anyway? What is it, what do you want to know- the body swapping technology, that's what you're after, isn't it? Or is it the knowledge that is mine alone to traverse freely between dimensions?"

From the moment they entered the questioning room, Mudd had streamed words at them in a verbal assault that was less a discussion and more of a stream of consciousness rant that barely counted as a diatribe of grievances.

"I'm an endangered species, according to the laws of your Federation. There's only me and my Eve over there to keep our species alive. So you can't harm a hair on my head, no matter how many delicious pointy-ears you bring around. So what's it to be? Torture? Agony? Thumbscrews? Polka music? Oooh, do you have Ceti eels? I've been dying to try those out. Does the torture come first, then the questions, or do we start with the questions first so I can tell you all sorts of outlandish lies and we'll all have a good laugh together before you start slicing parts off to eat in front of me."

Smiling benignly, Rita Paris lowered herself into a chair opposite the intergalactic criminal, flanked by Az'Prel and Sonak, each with quite similar body language. As Mudd babbled, she let him go on for another forty seconds, just to see if he'd run out of steam on his own, but he did not. Tapping the sleeve of her uniform, she checked the time, nodded down until she had given him a full minute, then she began to speak. The old school officer did not raise her voice, nor did she attempt to compete with the boisterous and loud blabbermouth- instead, she spoke with quiet earnest.

"Mister Mudd, this interview is vitally important to your future. It is a turning point for you, whether you embrace it or not. So you can continue to talk over, me, or you can listen to what I have to say. If you chose not to, that is an answer in and of itself. Apparently, the DTI is somewhat interested in your case, and they'd like the opportunity to study you. They've agreed to keep you in cryosleep while they do so, to ensure you don't pull one of your patented disappearing acts. If that's your choice, we'll just put you in a stasis field right here, trasnsport you to a stasis container and drop you off with them when we get the opportunity."

"Not that you'll be in a hurry, right?"

Mudd abruptly stopped talking.

"I'm guessing that you, as a veteran and studied liar, can read falsehood in others very well, Mr. Mudd. So now that I have your attention, I'm going to run a few ideas past you, and then we're going to talk. If you don't mind?" Paris asked indulgently.

"By all means. I am at your disposal, Madame Anachronism." Mudd offered magnanimously, taking a poke at Rita's display of her lost in time nature.

The Vulcan woman in the grey intel uniform cocked one eyebrow and looked to her male counterpart. She had never known the man to be willingly silenced for any reason, even in sleep. In that moment, her respect for Commander Paris grew two sizes.

"Rather than threaten you, Mr. Mudd-" Paris began, before he interjected.

"Doctor. It's Doctor Mudd, actually," he smiled.

''Actually, your credentials have yet to be authenticated... among many other points relevant to your identity and activities,'' Sonak pointed out.

"Rather than threaten you, Mister Mudd," Paris began again, "I'm going to give you an opportunity. As a man who appreciates an opportunity, I imagine this will appeal to you. Because the alternative is stasis. Which, on the bright side, means you get to time travel into the future, so that's a positive of that option. Just trying to point out the silver linings."

"Now, that opportunity. You see, I assume you know all about the Federation and our policies. Although it would be poetic justice for, say, Mr. Sonak to transfer all of the detailed memories Az'Prel has of her association with you into your mind so that you could experience it from the other side, we don't do that sort of thing."

"Oh, I don't know, that might be kinky..." he mused with a leer at Az'Prel, but Paris didn't rise to the bait.

"Instead, we ask you to act in your own enlightened self-interest. You see, we know that Arenara Artan has some rather extensive plans brewing out there. Quite a few irons in the fire, as it were. And we're going to give you the first chance to tell us about it. We've her first officer and the rest of the crew, each of whom will likely be willing to tell us the portion of her plans that they know, in exchange for some leniency... oh, and to NOT be turned over to the Artan pirates, almost forgot that part. because they most certainly do not play by Federation rules when the Federation isn't watching. As you saw firsthand yourself." Paris was still keeping her voice calm and gentle. This was a discussion, after all.

"So you can tell us what you know of what she's been up to out there, or one by one we'll plea bargain her crew out and put most of it together. But you... you know where the big skeletons are in that closet. You were her chief scientist. You brought her agonizer technology and closed her iron fist over her crew for good. Every soul on board lived in fear of her wrath a tenfold worse than when she was just a demanding captain. So I'm sure they'll be happy to know that you stayed strong and didn't say a word. Given how loyal to you they are, after that little gift to the Captain."

At that, Mudd smiled, although it wasn't quite as cocky as before.

"Now, I know what you're thinking-" Paris started, then she wagged a finger before her. "I misspeak- they know what you're thinking. I merely surmise. But I suspect you're thinking this is all a test, somehow. That the Captain sent me down to see if you would crack, to see if my polite and civilized method of interrogating you might work. To see if you would surrender the secrets of Arenara Artan. In which case, of course, you'd not breathe a word. You'll play this little game and pass the test- heck, you might even misinform us for fun, just to throw us off the trail or lead us straight into a trap. Because Her Majesty the Queen Regent really would enjoy that."

The narrowing of the eyes showed that Mudd was at least curious as to where this was going.

“I’ve got some news of the world you might have missed while Miss Az’Prel was graciously putting you in a sleeper hold. Arenara Artan is no more. So your loyalty is to a dead woman, Mr. Mudd. So if you are even considering cooperating, let’s factor that into your decision, shall we?” Paris watched the mischievous glint light up in the conman’s eyes as she spoke, that faint glimmer of ‘I know something you don’t know’ that she recognized clearly, even though the consummate conman was still playing it cool.

“I had no loyalty to the Artans. Arenara was just an employer- she paid well and gave me interesting projects. Given that your toothless Federation has no money, and your projects are bound to be dreadfully dull, I can’t imagine that you’ll be very interesting to work for at all,” Mudd explained in a rare moment of honesty. “But it beats being put into stasis- I mean, can you legally do that?”

“According to Commodore Meowlith, you are classified as an ‘extradimensional invader who presents a significant threat to the citizens of the Federation’. So she has already authorized that plan, thus reducing your flight risk, given the tricks and schemes you have already displayed,” Paris summarized, not bothering to look at the PaDD she had brought in, and just quoting from memory. “So yes, Mr. Mudd, we can and will put you into cold storage for a few decades while we work on rehabilitating you. Or Starfleet Intelligence will decide, much like crews of genetic augments from the 20th century that we find floating derelict in space, to leave you in stasis in storage somewhere very secure, to ensure that you will not bedevil future generations.”

There was consideration and scheming flickering behind the eyes of the extradimensional escape artist, but when he spoke, he spread his hands wide and asked, “What do you want to know?”

Which was when Enalia Telvan, mistress and commander of the USS Hera, burst into the questioning room in a haughty, righteous fury.

"You there!" Enalia started off, getting in the faces of the two Amazonian security that were watching over the brig. Or at least trying to, as they had a good 5-10 cm on her. "Why are you peons so relaxed? Your ~Cap-tain~ has entered the room! You should be at attention! And make sure your uniforms are freshly pressed next time or you'll be in the brig as well!"

Turning her attention away from them, she zeroed in on the interrogation team and Mudd, adopting the same pose she'd seen her mother use hundreds of times while commanding her forces - left side relaxed and right fist on her hip with her right foot slightly forward and braced. "Haven't you gotten anything out of that useless pile of puss yet? Or can we just toss him in cryostasis now?"

“Errrr… no, Captain Telvan,” Paris replied, in a tone that clearly reflected her confusion at the captain’s manner. “We were... discussing the facts, and giving Mr. Mudd the opportunity to plea bargain. I believe he was about to comply-“

"Oh come on! You're smarter than that!" Enalia rolled her eyes so hard she almost flipped her hair. "We all know that no Mudd in any universe or any timeline would ever comply unless there's money or his life on the line. In which case, he goes on ice! Right now!"

"You have a point, captain,'' Sonak then said in an icy tone, even flatter than anything he was already known for. ''I studied the record of this universe's Hartcourt Fenton Mudd and, if any indication is to be taken from the native universe of this present incarnation, this one would logically be even more devious..."

''Ahem herr... no, resourceful!'' protested Mudd.

''Scheming...''

''Cunning...'' the prisoner insisted.

"Conniving...''

''Dealing!''

''Even murderous,'' finished the Vulcan.

''Why Mister Vulcan, what would ever give you such a bad impression?''

The steely grey eyes froze him for a moment.

''On my home planet, I was born with an unprecedented level of psionic ability. While most Vulcans need to touch their subject to connect with their minds, I was able to do so without such a need from birth, much like Betazoids.''

Beads of sweat started to appear on the brow of the man.

“Captain, I really don't think-“ Paris stood as she protested, coming around her chair only to be shut down with a thunderous roar from the trill starship captain.

“I am NOT in the habit of repeating myself, Miss Paris!” The spotted captain got in the gold-clad commander’s face, a few centimeters from being nose to nose, despite Paris’ slight height advantage. When the captain spoke, she shook her head slightly from side to side, a trait of Arenara Artan’s that she knew all to well when belittling or threatening someone. “If you can’t do the job, how about if I demote you back to lieutenant? Then I’ll find some halfwit with more brains than breast to do your job, one who knows how to take ORDERS? Since it’s rapidly becoming so painfully clear that you are incapable!”

“Uh, ma’am, I think-“ Paris started again, only to be cut off by a low, dangerous tone.

“I… don’t… care… what… you… THINK,” Enalia hissed. “On my ship, you follow orders or you get keelhauled. So what’ll it be, Ensign Paris? Would you like to try for Petty Officer next?”

It was abundantly clear that Paris was both confused and flustered, and that this behavior was uncharacteristic to be coming from her commanding officer. Silently she nodded, then in a terse voice replied. “Yes, captain. I’ll make the arrangements to have Mr. Mudd put into stasis immediately.”

“Goooooood,” Enalia stretched out the word, another habit of her mother’s that she combined with a patronizing pat on the head, before turning to regard Mudd. “Whatever he has to say about my dear, dear departed mother, I don’t want another word of it heard. This man is a menace, and the sooner the universe is rid of him, the sooner we can all breathe easier.”

At that, the captain eyed Mudd meaningfully, with a crooked pirate’s grin that silently conveyed ‘enjoy your double-cross’ before she turned to exit the room, then stopped and slowly turned back to face Rita Paris again, patting her on one cheek almost tenderly, a sneer on her face.

"You know, you saved me from my dearly departed..." Pausing dramatically, Enalia's eyes flickered to Mudd for the briefest of seconds. "Mother... I suppose I owe you for that. Thank you for saving my life and disintegrating her as she threw herself on my sword. My goodwill, however, does not extend to leniency in regard to insubordination. I will not repeat my orders again." And with that, she stormed out of the room, a foul expression reminiscent of her mother's on her face.

Looking to the Vulcans, Paris looked confused, wounded and befuddled all at the same time, but she reluctantly took her seat. “Well, Mr. Mudd… I’m not entirely sure why the captain wants you gone so strongly, but orders are orders…”

“You can’t put me in stasis! I know things! Things you need to know! Perfidious plans that are in place, menacing machinations in motion, sinister schemes slowly simmering. I was her right-hand man, you can’t just toss me aside! Look, if I give you something, can you keep me out of a stasis tube long enough to smuggle me off this ship? I can make it worth your while, I’m a very wealthy man! You could afford to buy your own moon! You’d be rich enough to wear that outfit and not have people laugh at you! Come on, Commander, let’s make a deal!”

A dubious expression settled on the face of the curvaceous commander, then she pursed her lips, folded her hands on the table before her and leaned in to whisper to Mudd. “I could try to go over the Captain’s head and put this through to the Commodore, and she could offer you a ‘stay of stasis’. But you have to give me five actionable pieces of intel, right here and now. And not little bread crumbs, Mudd- if you try to con me, I will not only have you placed in stasis, the yeoman might just lose the paperwork and you’re liable to end up in a storage closet on the polar moon of Rimbor.”

“So talk… and make it good, Mudd. Because if I am crossing the Captain for this, she’s been… moody since the Tribunal,” Rita Paris explained… all of which was true, as was what she said next. “So I doubt she would be happy about me going over her head should she find out. Ergo, the intel you give had better be worth it, understand?”

-------------

Half an hour later, Az'Prel, Sonak and Rita Paris strode out of the questioning room, after Mudd had been beamed back to his cell. Waiting outside, having observed the entire conversation, was Captain Telvan. Handing over the PaDD upon which she had collected the data, the old-school officer smirked at the clever Captain.

“Heck of a performance, ma’am,” Paris complimented the spotted starship captain.

''I think this is what on your Earth they called the ''good cop bad cop' routine,'' Sonak explained, nodding to his commanding officer.

"Please send my compliments to Jones and Piron as well as letting them pick a bottle or two from my personal stash." Enalia had her patented piratical, lopsided grin as she greeted them. "For the tree of you... Thank you. I owe you."

"Captain... He claims my daughter is on the fortress," Az'Prel blurted out with a hint of emotion. Trying to cover it up, she continued. "He also provided quite a bit of other intel, including what we need for our mission to the Drelax club on Indris four."

"We'll find her, Az'Prel. It's at the top of my to-do list- take a security team and go now," Paris ordered. "I assume she's either IN danger or IS dangerous. Assume nothing, and go find her."

"Thank you, Commander," Az'Prel replied, bowing her head in respect before heading off to collect a security team, firing off a very brief message to Jaeih as she did so.

"I might be able to get a bit more out of him, captain..." the old-school officer opined. "I've an idea I'd like to try that's a bit risky, but it might yield us some fairly significant results. After that, I think Mr. Mudd's going to take a nap until we can get him transferred to Starfleet Psych or Tantalus, wherever the Commodore decides to put him. With your permission, Captain?"

Enalia nodded without hesitation. "I trust you on this. Just don't let him escape, okay? One thing I did mean in there is that he's far too dangerous to be out loose in the galaxy. Especially with his knowledge of Terran Agony tech."

"No argument there, Captain. I'll get him on ice as quickly as possible," the conventionally cheerful commander confirmed. "But we can't pass up the chance for the intel he's giving us. What we've got already is... impressive. Unverified, but if it checks out it could change the face of the galaxy."

''Suspicions and speculations about one's potential danger to society, or potential gain of any kind resulting from custody, is not enough to deprive any individual from one's inherent rights,'' Sonak pointed out. ''Would it be so, we would be no better than him and the universe he comes from. Fortunately for us, his criminal record allows us to keep him in a proper penitential colony for quite some time; even if the best legal counsel in the Federation could possibly manage to alleviate his sentencing.''

"He not only imported, but refined Agonizer technology, Mr. Sonak. This is beyond suspicion and speculation- that alone is a war crime," Paris defended. "Keeping him confined in stasis until he can be safely interred at a rehabilitation facility hardly puts us in the same class as him or his universe. If you're referring to the deception we are playing out in order to glean actionable intelligence... again, I hardly think a ruse puts us anywhere near the amorality of the Terrans."

"This man has proven that he's one of the biggest indirect threats to this galaxy and the Federation that we've seen yet. Thus, he will be treated appropriately as per regulation." Enalia was grim and serious as she spoke. "I and the Commodore place him on par with Khan Singh, the Founders, and Species 8472 so all precautions must be taken. At the end of the day, he will find his way into stasis for the safety and stability of the Federation, and all surrounding governmental bodies in this timeline and others."

Sonak 's right eyebrow rose.

''I believe I said that.''

This was the closest ever his deadpan tone could ever come across, for anyone else but him, as nonplussed.