Plumley's voice was loud and sharp, cuttingoff McKenzie's attempted reply. "Some of these injuries are within the last couple of hours." She leveled a harsh glare at Black. "What did you do to her?"

With a casual air that McKenzie found irritating, Black shrugged. "She sustained some damage while resisting the efforts of security personnel charged with restraining her. It is an unfortunate consequence."

"Unfortunate consequence? She is now suffering from severe intracranial trauma."

"Why was she being restrained by security at all?" McKenzie asked, already knowing the answer. "You interrogated her, didn't you?"

"She was questioned." Black countered, malice now creeping into his voice. "Standard procedure when dealing with enemies of the Empire."

"Even though, the war had ended and you were ordered not to harm any Federation personnel in your custody?" Plumley asked. She looked to Nivek. "Is this true?"

Nivek nodded. "She has the least amount of injuries at the time and I ordered the interrogations to stop once I learned of them but by then it was too late."

"You're damned right it was." Plumley snapped. "She's sustained a cerebral hemorrhage and there's blood in the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid." She leveled another withering stare at Black. "You didn't waste any time with this bit of idiocy, did you?"

"We each have our respective duties to perform. I suggest you see to yours, rather than worrying about mine."

Shaking her head in disgust, Plumley turned to Nivek. "We need to start prepping for surgery right now."

"That is," McKenzie said, glowering at Black, "unless you plan to 'question' her again."

"Jules." Plumley said, and McKenzie heard the warning in the single spoken word.

For the first time, Black frowned. It was clear that he was unaccustomed to being addressed in this manner. His eyes narrowed, boring in to her, and McKenzie was certain she saw anger and determination there. He was dangerous, she decided; particularly if provoked.

Easy. She cautioned herself, though her body tensed as Black stepped forward.

"As it is obvious that you are neither a doctor nor an engineer, perhaps I should question you, to determine your true identity and reason for being here."

"No, thank you." McKenzie said. "I like my body in one piece."

Black was fast, very fast. He lunged forward, raising his right arm. She registered the movement, but by then instinct had taken over and she stepped into the attack, her left hand blocking his arm before it could complete its downward movement. Knowing that the Lieutenant Commander had the advantage in weight and strength, McKenzie wasted no time following the hasty defensive movement with something more aggressive.

"MCKENZIE!"

She heard Plumley's cry but ignored it. Gripping Black's arm at the wrist, McKenzie shifted her weight and pivoted to her left, carrying his body across her hip and dropping him to the metal deck plating. She heard the man's forceful exhalation as he slammed into the deck, the impact echoing in the crowded infirmary. She twisted his wrist, eliciting a sharp cry of surprise and pain.

"Do not move!"

McKenzie looked up to see the security guards moving toward her. One of them had drawn his phaser and was pulling it up to aim at her, giving McKenzie only a moment to consider the notion that she should have taken Black's own sidearm when she had the chance.

"Stop."

Though the single word was spoken with relative calm and restraint, there was no mistaking the commanding presence behind it. Coming from directly behind her, it made McKenzie flinch, and had a similar effect on the guards, both of whom halted their advance. The guard who had brandished his weapon promptly lowered it and both guards turned their attention to the new arrival. McKenzie did likewise and immediately recognized the speaker's mature countenance. It was Commander Cullen.

"Lieutenant Commander Black." Cullen said, the infirmary lighting playing off the gray in his otherwise dark hair as he stepped farther into the room and allowed the doors to close behind him. "I trust there is an explanation for this disruption?" The commander's voice was low and raspy, whether a sign of age or some unidentified health issue, McKenzie could not surmise. He moved slowly but retained the confidence of an experienced, even comfortable commander.

McKenzie stepped to her right as Black pulled himself to his feet, making no attempt to straighten or brush his uniform. Fury burned behind his dark eyes, not merely at having his attack thwarted but also, she suspected, that his attempted at retaliation had been interrupted by the superior officer's appearance.

"Commander Cullen." Black began but stopped when Cullen raised a hand and shook his head.

"Wait outside." Cullen said before nodding to the pair of security guards, motioning to them to join the security chief. He moved past Black to where Plumley and Nivek still stood, their faces bearing matched expressions of surprise.

Emitting a grunt too low for Cullen to hear but audible to McKenzie, Black tugged on his uniform. We'll finish this later." He hissed, glowering at her as he passed her on his way to the doors with the guards following behind him. Not until they closed did McKenzie allow herself to exhale in relief.

"Doctor Plumley," Cullen said his hands at his sides as he addressed her. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, though I do regret the dire circumstances that have prompted our meeting." Nodding to Lieutenant Zofchak, he asked, "Have you have sufficient time to examine your patients."

McKenzie saw the uncertainty in Plumley's eyes as she reached up to brush a lock of black hair from her eyes. "Two of them will need emergency surgery. I can perform that here and stabilize them for transport, but they need better care facilities than you're able to provide. The Alexandria sickbay will do, but a starbase would be better."

"Then we shall endeavor to get you on your way with all due hast." Cullen replied. Turning to McKenzie, he added. "I apologize for my security chief's behavior, Lieutenant. Rest assured it will not happen again."

McKenzie was not so foolish as to be taken in y the commander's apparent civility. Still, she was forced to admit, there was something in the commander's eyes, weariness, perhaps even guilt, which implored her to believe him.

Watching Cullen leave the infirmary, McKenzie pushed aside her thoughts of unease. Doctor Plumley might need her help as she prepared for surgery, and she would not benefit from a distracted assistant.