Chapter 6

A/N: I just realized I messed up the times, once in Miramar, CA, it should be PST. I will be going back and editing previous chapters to reflect this change.

And yes, I know, I'm a horrible person.

Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar, December 20, 1999, 9:15 PST

It was Monday morning - the start of a new week. Skates finally felt like she was beginning to understand the way things worked at Miramar. She found her people - the ones she could count on. She also figured out the ones who always wanted to pick a fight. She knew which guards were pushovers and which ones would knock you out for disrespecting them. Skates also knew when she could let loose and when to keep her mouth shut and work.

This morning was a time to keep her mouth shut. It was work and her job was laundry duty. She had quickly learned from other disobedient prisoners that when you didn't do your duty, you were punished by not having access to that thing that you are responsible for. If you were a kitchen worker and you chose not to work, you wouldn't get your meals. If you were in charge of trash and you refused to clean it up, it would end up in your bunk. If someone in charge of cleaning didn't clean, they couldn't go to that area whether that be the toilet, shower, or anywhere else. In the case of Skates, if you didn't wash the laundry, you weren't allowed your uniform. Luckily, she had always done her job without question.

"You're really starting to make a name for yourself," one of the women assigned to laundry duty said to Skates.

"So?" Skates asked, not making eye contact.

"Just an observation," she replied. "I'm Striker."

"Skates," she replied, though she figured Striker already knew who she was. "You're with Regi and Paityn, right?" Skates asked, knowing she looked familiar.

"Yeah," Striker replied. "I've been here a while so I usually don't take interest in the noobs unless they give me good reason to."

"Was our catching your attention good or bad?" Skates asked.

"Definitely good," she responded. "I need more dedicated women on my side. I know you're already familiar with Pinky and Blaze. I'm sure it's no surprise that they're with Mica."

"I guess?" Skates questioned. She wasn't really paying attention to who meshed with whom.

"You'd better start paying attention now," Striker told her as if she had read her mind.

"And why's that?" Skates asked.

"They're coming after us," she told Skates. "Before you all arrived, we managed to storm their cell block and confiscate some of their things. They're still pretty pissed but I think they realized they were outnumbered. Now, I'm not so sure."

"And you think I'd be useful?" Skates asked, confused due to her small stature.

"Totally. No one expects much from someone like you, but I know you can pack a punch." Skates nodded and smiled and the validation.

Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar, December 20, 1999, 12:05 PST

Skates was standing between Striker and Regi at a table in the cafeteria. Across from her was Paityn and a few other women Skates had seen in passing but did not know the names of. Across the aisle sat Mica, Pinky, Blaze, and more of their minions - again, Skates had seen them around enough times but did not have a name for the face. Once they were given the go-ahead, they all took their seats and began eating. Rumor had it that Mica and her gang were going to start something during lunch. The guards were obviously unaware because they still only had their typical four patrolling the area.

Almost as if on cue, Pinky pretended to be choking on her food. Two of the guards rushed over to her to assist. During that time, the rest of her gand rushed toward Skates and everyone else at her table. It was no surprise to her that Blaze came straight toward her. They never truly finished their previous fight, so Skates was happy to have a second shot at the woman. This time, they each felt more prepared. Each punch that was thrown was blocked. Kicks were deflected and heads were ducked at just the right moment to avoid hair pulling.

After some struggling, Blaze managed to get behind Skates and put her in a choke hold. Luckily for Skates, Blaze was right where Skates wanted her. She got into position and flipped Blaze over her. Blaze landed flat on her back and had the wind knocked out of her. Skates leaned in toward Blaze and looked her straight in the eye. She told her that she won both the race and the fight fair and square. She then spit in her face and put her foot on her chest to prevent her from getting up.

While all of that was taking place, Regi, Striker, and Paityn were all in their own one-on-ones. Striker was, of course, facing off with Mica. Both of them were very experienced and aggressive. Regi, on the other hand, was getting carried away. Not only had she knocked out two other women, she was being careless about her own people. At one point, she had come too close to Striker and Mica. While that happened, she got caught in the cross-fire and was hit by one of Striker's punches. Regi was pissed off.

"What was that for?!" Regi yelled at Striker.

"I'm out," Mica said, knowing Regi's reputation and wanting nothing to do with her.

"Wuss," Skates mumbled, but no one except Blaze heard. Blaze was still unable to move.

"You got in my way. Watch it!" Striker replied.

"You'd better watch it!" Regi shouted back and tried to go at Striker. Skates abandoned Blaze and tried to pull Regi off of Striker.

"Psychopath!" Striker yelled at Regi.

"Chill out!" Skates said to Regi.

"She needs to chill out! She tried to kill me!" Regi screamed.

"If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead!" Striker said and stormed off. Regi struggled but Skates kept a tight grip on her.

"Let go of me!"

"What do you think you're doing?" Skates asked her. "You told me you can't survive on your own. Don't turn on your own kind."

"She turned on me! Don't tell me you're on her side!" Regi's temper was flaring even more.

"You were careless, not paying attention," Skates said.

"You're a traitor!" Regi said. She managed to break free from Skates' grip. She immediately turned around and pegged Skates in the gut. She hunched over, grabbing her middle and breathing heavy. Her eyes were squeezed shut but she heard what happened next. She heard the guards coming over to Regi.

"You've earned your first stay in SC," one guard told Regi as they put her in a restrained position and led her away.

JAG Headquarters, Conference Room, December 20, 1999, 14:45 EST

"Harm, I really don't know what you expect me to do," Captain Pike said to Harm.

"You know she doesn't deserve confinement," Harm said to his former commanding officer.

"You know as well as I do what a fantastic RIO Skates is, but you also know that the law is the law. When a jury makes a decision, it sticks, Harm. I know we sometimes think they made a mistake, but this is the way our justice system works."

"Sir -" Harm began, but was interrupted.

"Harm, I can't do anything further. I tried to talk Captain Ingles into nonjudicial punishment but he wouldn't go for it. The reason he wouldn't go for it was because of what Commander Bates said. He told her not to bring in the plane -"

"When the deck was foul," Harm added.

"I know you want to spin the truth in favor of Skates, but you know that Bates didn't mean that order only if the deck was foul and that it would be lifted if the deck was clear. If you were on the other side of the case, that would be your exact argument." Harm sighed. "I know it's not what you want to hear, but she did make some mistakes."

"Do you think she deserves what she got?" Harm asked.

"Not confinement, no," Captain Pike said. "But I do think she deserved some form of punishment. It will take some time before she is trusted with LSO duties again.

"So you think she'll still be able to return to a squadron?" Harm asked.

"It's possible. I am not sure that Captain Ingles or Commander Bates will want her on board again, but I don't think her military career is over."

"You don't sound too hopeful," Harm added.

"It won't be easy," he said. "But her flawless fit reps as a RIO will certainly help her."

"And Boomer?" Harm asked. Captain Pike shook his head.

"I don't know where you're getting this deck spotter thing from. You don't see it on his tapes," Captain Pike said.

"What about his inconsistent Greenie Board scores?" Harm asked.

"Harm, you know you can't use that as evidence," he told him. Harm hung his head. He was losing a legal battle against someone with little legal experience.

"I'll find a way," Harm said.

"Now I do believe that if there is a way, you of all people will find it," Captain Pike said. And I hope you do find it, he thought to himself.

Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar, December 23, 1999, 8:30 PST

The past three days went by without much excitement. Ever since the cafeteria fight, both sides kept to themselves. They each had people in SC or solitary confinement, and they each had people injured from the fight. Luckily, Skates felt better after just a couple of hours. Blaze, however, needed to go to the infirmary. She had a few bruised ribs but nothing more serious. She had been released by that evening. Each time she passed Skates by, she gave her a look of death. So far, no moves had been made.

After breakfast, the doors opened and the guards escorted some people back into the general population area of the prison. All of the women put in SC from the day of the fight were now back. Skates saw that Regi was coming back but she didn't acknowledge her. Instead, Skates went to her bunk area and laid down on her bed. When Regi came over and tried to talk to her, Skates ignored her. Regi's temper began to rise but Paityn was there to help calm her.

"What's your deal?" Regi asked Skates with a nasty tone in her voice.

"I can't count on you," Skates told her.

"What? Because I nailed you in the gut?" Regi asked. "I'm sure it won't be the last time…"

"That's just it - you don't care!" Skates yelled, beginning to attract the attention of the other women. Striker came over to see what was going on.

"I do care, that's why I was there in the first place. I was watching out for Striker and you all," Regi told them.

"There's a difference between watching out for someone and getting in their way," Striker told her. "I'm sure if I had gotten in your way, you'd have punched me, too."

"Maybe…" Regi said, though she knew the answer was a hard yes.

"Just drop it," Paityn said. "We can't turn on each other," she said.

"Alone, you'll crumble. Together, we'll rise," Striker added. Regi and Skates nodded their heads but didn't change the annoyed expressions on their faces.

Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar, December 24, 1999, 15:15 PST

Though it was Christmas Eve, it certainly didn't feel like it in Miramar. Yes, the common room area did have a Christmas tree and some small decorations, but it lacked the warmth that one normally felt during the holiday season. Being in California, it wasn't that cold outside, so the women still had their afternoon yard time. Skates was still barely talking to Regi, so it surprised her when Regi signaled for her to meet her over in the corner of the yard.

"What?" Skates asked in a harsh tone.

"Peace?" Regi said, holding out her hand.

"Excuse me?" Skates asked.

"Just take it," Regi said. Skates reached out her hand and a small object was placed in her hand. When Skates brought her hand close to her, she noticed that Regi's peace offering was a cigarette.

"I don't smoke," Skates told her.

"You should start - it really takes the edge off," Regi told her. "If you know where to stand in the yard, the guards won't even see you."

"I can't be a smoker and pass my flight physical," Skates told her.

"Do you really think you'll be allowed to fly when you get out of here?" Regi asked her. "Your career in the military is essentially over once you come here."

Skates looked around and didn't see any of the guards in sight. She also didn't see any other prisoners likely to snitch on them. Skates also knew how much cigarettes were coveted here at Miramar. She took the cigarette, got a light from Regi, and took a deep inhale. She fought the urge to cough. The sensation burned her throat and stung her lungs, but at the same time, she felt exhilarated. She felt a whole new burst of energy she hadn't felt before and it drove her to take another and then another inhale from the stick between her fingers. Regi smiled and gave a friendly pat on the shoulder to Skates, thankful to be on speaking terms with her again.