Chapter 10

The senior officers sat around the briefing room table focused on Jacobs who was standing before the large data terminal which was displaying a picture of Pagano along with a scrolling dossier. "According to what information I have been able to obtain. Mr. Al Pagano is but one of the aliases used by one Anthony Corzine." Jacobs relayed cool and collected to the group. "Not much information appears for his early life other than he is from Earth and floated around several colonies in and around the Alpha Quadrant growing up. Basically, the only thing that shows up is that in 2371, he did a six month term for transporting contraband in the form of… get this… a hundred gallons of Romulan Ale across Federation territory."

Jacobs nodded and raised a shocked eyebrow as the officers looked about in varying states be it disbelief, mild amusement, or curiosity, at what Jacobs was telling them, except the first officer who seem lost in her blank state as she seemed to scan why this was so strange. Jacobs continued, "Yeah, no easy task in getting and no easy task in not drawing attention. Aside from that, he seems to have kept his nose clean and stayed out of trouble. That's about all I got."

Bridger nodded, "Thank you, Chief. Mr. V'Ren what did get off the wreckage?"

"It would seem that he would telling the truth, Captain. The ship did take multiple hits and given the state that the wreckage was stand to affirm that the ship took several direct hits from medium grade disruptor fire, resulting in multiple hull breaches.

Logically, as the vessel collided with the planet's atmosphere, ship ultimately fractured into multiple pieces. No larger sections, such as the two distinct pieces on the surface we found or appear to be on the planet. If there was anything of value, to either party concerned, it was apparently destroyed due to the conditions of the crash. I have found no evidence of any stores of materials on the planet."

Bridger nodded in understanding and continued around the room, "Doctor?"

"Both crash victims did sustain minor injuries incurred by the event. However, the one called Pagano, or Mr. Corzine now, had an aged injury from a phaser discharge that had not been treated and it happened approximately within the last thirty days. The one known as Aria also had some aged injuries that had healed over, but were far more… questionable in nature."

"Explain." Bridger raised a concerned eyebrow.

Shalin sighed heavily, "The female had multiple hairline fractures and signs of separations along her rib cage, upper arms, and jaw line. Most of her vocal cords were barely, and I emphasize the word barely, attached at best. She could not speak with any reasonably clarity if she tried."

"How did the latter of your prognosis happen, doctor?" V'Ren asked curiously.

Shalin turned to V'Ren and bit his lower lip slightly. "Well, it pains me to say this, however, given the evident signs of a mild form of hyperextension to the neck muscles; I can only venture the guess that she was struck in the face, head, or throat or any combination of the three, with such force that it twisted her head slightly beyond its normal range of motion, thus resulting in the sustained trauma."

"Are you stating she was tortured in some way?" Rolet implied flatly.

"I can not outright say tortured, but physically assaulted, yes. The nature of the injuries only suggests that multiple assaults over a period of time. Possibly six months to a year given the growth of bone over the fractures."

The room went still and quiet. Brooding developed over the doctors words. Sabra cleared her throat to break the apprehension building inside them. "I have to agree with Doctor Shalin. Aria's mental state is aggressively paranoid. Her mind has digressed into its own state of self preservation and fear induced, reflexive flight responses when threatened with possible physical touch. She is not only physical resilient but is subconsciously resilient as well.. She is all but detached from any form of known reality, save one."

Jacobs scoffed, "Let me guess..."

"You would be correct, Lieutenant. He has made grounds in maintaining her relatively normal state of mind and doing so with out any form of specialized training. Again, another impressive feat."

"I would appear we are in a losing situation." Shingure added calmly.

"So, are we going to give in to this Clarin guy? 'Cause more than likely he will be headed this way. If he stays at his current speed he will be here in few days. Sooner, if he goes to warp, he can make Warp two or three at best." Ramirez questioned nervously.

Jacobs leaned in on the table, "Either way we will have to deal with him eventually. Doesn't mean we have to like it."

"It does not mean we have to freely give him up, either." Bridger pressed firmly.

Rolet turned to Bridger, "There is still the matter of the one called Aria. There was no mention of her and she would become a ward and a possible liability aboard this ship. Should Corzine not be turned over, it would add to the problem."

"That depends on perspective I guess… As we go along, I am led to believe that it is not going to be as civil, simple, and quick as Clarin proposed." Bridger noted firmly.

"Like Corzine, there is little info on Clarin or his supposed trust of merchants. The only reference was that there is a guild of merchants in this area . Each trustee apparently has claim on two or three trades, such as, mining, manufacturing, commerce, and the like. Clarin has control of raw materials and civil equipment which makes him a prominent figure to all the others as he has the materials and equipment, in a logistical sense, that all the other members' need in their operations." Jacobs imparted to the group.

Bridger scanned the table as many of them were weighing the decisions over the vague facts and immediate information. "Well, I guess it is time I had another talk with our guest. Mr. Ramirez, in three hours I want the ship out of orbit and skirt us along the system; XO, I want you to keep a passive scan on the area for any other ships nearby. I have a feeling somebody else is out there or on their way; Mr. Jacobs, signal Clarin and tell him we have Pagano but keep it as vague as possible; Mr. V'Ren… Mr. Shingure I want you two go beam up a couple pieces of debris. Go over those shot pieces, and see if can match the pattern with a type of array or ship; Counselor, if you think you can get her to come with you, I want Aria brought down to the brig, but take the scenic route; Dismissed"

The group exited and pursued their related orders as Bridger made his way down to the Brig. Inside one of the cells, he saw Corzine sitting on the floor with his back to the wall, rubbing his injured shoulder. His hair was damp and slicked back casually with a few locks dangling loosely. His beard growth was groomed down to a pencil line beard. He was dressed in a simple grey tunic and pants and slip-on shoes. Corzine casually glanced over to Bridger and rolled his eyes averting his attention away from him. "So, Captain… here to give me my last meal and request?" His pseudo-accent was replaced by modern terms with a slight native Italian-American accent.

Bridger stepped up to the containment field and scanned around it as he looked down on Corzine. "You lost your accent, Al… or is it Anthony?" he implied firmly.

Corzine slowly rose to his feet and headed towards the bed to which he laid out. "I figured you all would have time to do some background on me. By the way, your right hand is a heck of shot."

"I will be sure to extend your compliments."

Silence rose between them as Corzine laid there focused on the ceiling above. Corzine looked to Bridger coldly as Bridger drew his attention to the floor then back to Corzine. "Although it goes against my better judgment, I am giving you one… and mean just… one... chance… to convince me out of turning you over to Clarin." He stated resolutely as Corzine sat up and leaned on the edge of the bed looked to the floor before him. "So, what do you want to know, huh? Not like I'm going to be going anywhere."

"Why does Clarin want you so bad?"

"Ain't it obvious, Captain? I'm a loose end."

"Convince me."

Corzine looked up slowly with hardened eye as he folded his hand in front of him, "Before I tell you anything, I want to know what my options are."

"You are in no position to negotiate. Depending on your answers to my question will depend or whether or not how I decide your fate."

"So that's how it's going to be, huh? You're ok with banter, but no barter or quarter given."

"Just answer the question. Your option is to convince me one way or the other on what I intend to do."

Corzine took a deep breath and raked his palms over his face. He took a moment to weigh it out in his mind. His body obviously had a burden of concern weighing down on him. "Alright, you want to know what happened I'll tell you. Clarin and couple of his little trust pals are in league with some rather unsavory types and I stuck it to them."

"Go on."

"Captain, I admit, I'm no angel. I've done a lot of not so above board things in my time. But I'm done with all that. You have to believe me. I worked for Clarin off and on doing little milk runs for him and his trustee friends. A couple shipments here, a couple shipments there, no big deal right? Then the truth comes out…" Corzine paused as he stood up and headed towards the sink, splashed some water in his face, and looked at himself in the mirror long and hard.

"And what truth was that?"

Corzine sighed, "Early on, I didn't ask too many questions about what I was hauling. When I first started doing this trading business, I learned that if you wanted to live longer, you kept your mouth shut and your eyes looking the other way. That bit me and I paid for it. I got out this way to get away from that." Corzine turned to Bridger who was standing firm as he continued, "Clarin and his group seemed on the level. I ship their junk between them, no problem right? Yeah… wrong. Clarin was offloading unwanted persons onto this mining co-op he and another trustee formed on this planetoid known only as 4712." Corzine stepped right up to the field and faced Bridger his solemn expression rose to a tempered anger, "So help me you even THINK I'm a slaver or did those things to Aria… you can go to HELL!!!"

Bridger remained firm and exhaled harshly. "Who said I was accusing you? I just want the truth."

Corzine spun away from Bridger and paced in the cell. "Clarin is right… I did take from him… but I only took what didn't belong to him or his little friends. The people that died in the crash weren't my crew they were slave labor I was trying to get out."

"The thought never occurred to you that you were actually seeing a penal colony and committed a prison break?"

Corzine's eyes darted at Bridger. "I told you. I have done some bad deals in the past and from that I know the difference between a slave and a criminal. So, don't even go there, capisce?"

Bridger rubbed the back of his neck. "See this is where we are going to have a problem. It is your word against his and from where I stand his is more credible."

Corzine snapped, "More credible, huh? Alright, Captain… explain how Aria got there, huh? Oh that's right… you can't… does it look like she was doing any digging, no! She was the higher ups plaything. Every time I put in on that miserable rock I saw how they treated her. Hell, the offered her to me a couple times... like she was… she was nothing!"

Bridger was taken back by his reactions. He apparently had a temper but he was still hesitant if it was an act. "So, you are the good Samaritan in all this, I take it?"

Corzine got up as close to the field as he dared as if trying to get in Bridger's face as close as possible. "You know, Captain. As far as I'm concerned…" Corzine seethed arrogantly, "You can go take a long walk out an open airlock. You want to turn me over to Clarin… fine! I'll be dead in those mines within a week. But so help me I find out Aria is back there, I swear I will bust out of there and push you out the airlock myself."

Bridger's gazed shifted to an intrigued leer. The doors to the Brig opened as he and Corzine saw Sabra casually coaxing Aria who was now attired in a patient's scrub attire, bearing the colors of medical, flanked by a Caitin security officer. She was taking near baby steps with arms firmly wrapped around her body in a defensive posture as she walked. She looked about for a possible means of escape till Aria's attention locked on Corzine. She cried out, "Ohn-neee!!!" in a scared yelp as she flared past Sabra making a beeline for Corzine.

Bridger quickly side stepped and tapped the panel dropping the force field. Aria tripped over the rise of the field generator and collapsed at Corzine's feet. He immediately dropped to one knee as she grabbed onto his leg with death lock rigidity. He soothingly stroked the top of her head and consoled her. Aria whimpered softly as Corzine looked up at Bridger with mixed emotion of resentment towards him and hurt towards her, in his eyes. Bridger stepped back in line as Sabra and the security officer flanked Bridger.

Corzine looked down and brought himself and Aria to their feet. Aria quickly locked onto Corzine's arm and shielded herself behind him. "You're a cold hearted-"

"Hold on, Corzine!" he exclaimed, "Before you get all riled up, again. Know this… I am going to take what you said under advisement and check it out myself. If what you said was true. Then we will work something out. If it is not-"

"You'll see it. But I meant what I said, capisce?"

"Very well. I will have the both you confined to a set of quarters until such time as your statement can be proven."

Corzine glanced back to Aria who looked at him with tear filled eyes. "Ohn-nee?"

He looked back to Bridger with a steel-like expression but apologetic in his eyes, "She can talk again…"

"The doctor was able to undo the physical damage done upon her. As for the psychological side…"

Corzine looked down at the floor with pent frustration. "Guess I owe you my thanks then…"

"Just keep it under your hat, I am not as cold hearted as you think. Ensign, escort them to Deck 3 and see they are made comfortable."

The Caitin acknowledged the order as Corzine led Aria out of the cell and were led out from the Brig area. Bridger and Sabra nodded to one another and followed a few meters behind. "Sad… yet so tender at the same time. I only hope that this has positive outcome in the long run." Sabra commented.

"I can not argue with that." Bridger replied solemnly.