What Goes Around ...

Literary Challenge 12 - Intruder Alert

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Kathryn sat down.  With a smug look on her face, she looked at the person sitting on the other side of the table. He was middle aged with short blonde hair and clean shaven, with high cheekbones and a square jaw.  She smiled to appreciate the man across the table. Looking to the guard that escorted her into the room, she nodded. The guard turned and exited the Spartan interrogation room. Turning back to the prisoner, her smile disappeared.  She acknowledged the scowl from his otherwise handsome face, then cleared her throat.

"Please believe me when I say I am sorry for what's happened."

The man looked away for a few seconds before replying. "Under normal circumstances I would be curious about it all. But this time I don't care. Fix it."

Kathryn nodded. "It won't be easy, Captain."

The man paused long enough to purse his lips as if holding back from saying something.  When he spoke again, he did not change tone or demeanor. "Let me say it another way: I don't care. Fix it."

Kathryn reached into her left sleeve and pulled out a small finger-shaped cylinder. Pressing a button and placing it on the desk, it hummed faintly. "This is creating a localized dampening field, blocking every signal transmission within ten meters. We have about a minute at most. Your name, well mine, is Ulric Solask. I don't want to be in your body any more than you are in mine. The transfer was an accident."

Ulric's demeanor soured. "So, what's the plan?"

Kathryn raised her eyebrows and shifted in the seat. "Well, if I can get to the artifact, then I can try the transfer aga-"

Ulric raised a finger to interrupt. "Do not try, Ulric. Do."

"Right. Can you ... I ... get you ... me ... out of here?"

Ulric crossed his arms. "You are a Starfleet Captain now. You have certain discretions. Yet, the truth will set you free, so to speak. Just tell them you need the confiscated artifact. We'll change bodies and go our separate ways."

"I must admit, Captain," Kathryn looked down and patted herself just below her breasts. "I would rather hope to get to know you more. But I realize this is not a good way to start anything."

Footsteps could be heard coming toward the door. Kathryn exchanged glances from Ulric to the door. Ulric snapped his fingers. "Stay with me. Just tell them the truth. There are stranger things that happen in the galaxy."

The Captain looked into Ulric's eyes. "I stole the artifact from the Zurich, can you promise me some form of asylum or immunity to help you?"

Ulric nodded quickly as beeps were heard as if to activate the door to open.

Kathryn stood and grabbed the dampening device, shutting it off. As the door opened, she tugged at the uniform jacket to smooth any creases then cleared her throat. Two station guards entered the room and flanked the doorway to allow a third officer to walk in. He surveyed the room quickly.

Before he could say anything, Kathryn spoke up. "Forgive me Commander, I needed a moment of privacy with Solask." She stepped toward the officer and presented the dampening device. 

The Commander accepted the device and inspected it briefly. "Why the concealment, Captain?"

Kathryn sighed. "Actually, Commander I can explain that. But first let me say -", Kathryn pointed to Ulric. "That is Captain Kathryn Beringer."

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The artifact was carefully placed on the table in the interrogation room and the guards stepped away not hiding their relief. The device was an equal-sided box, sand-colored, with a stylized dodecahedron on top. The side panels were blank, yet the eleven visible sides of the round-ish shape were iridescent, like the surface of a soap bubble.

Kathryn placed her hands on two sides of the box, then looked up to Ulric. "We'll need a little help because all you will do is touch any side of the 'hedron.  A guard will need to push you toward the device, without telling you when it will happen. We should try to think of something else -anything else - than what we are doing now. That should replicate the accident." A guard reluctantly volunteered and stood behind Ulric.

"Okay, Captain. Whatever meditation techniques you know, I recommend employing them." She looked to the guard. "Give us about two minutes. After that, push him toward the device. He'll need to touch it before he knows what is happening, so be forceful." She looked to Ulric. "Again, I'm sorry."

"This had better work." He closed his eyes.

Everyone in the room was silent and waited. The guard seemed to be counting seconds. After a few minutes, the designated "pusher" shoved Ulric toward the table. He was surprised as he collapsed onto the artifact and grunted as he recovered to stand. Everyone looked toward each other, wondering if anything had changed as if expecting an alien-inspired lightshow to reveal the life-energy transfer. Yet, there was nothing.

Kathryn stood away from the artifact and looked at her hands. She smiled and looked to Ulric who returned the smile. "It worked." She turned to the Commander. "You may arrest him again."

Ulric Solask was shocked. "What?! You promised!"

"Your right. Forgive me. Commander, Ulric Solask's charges should not include impersonating a Starfleet officer. Clearly, he did not do so with intent."

The Commander nodded. "Understood, Captain." he nodded and the guards grabbed Solask to escort him away.

"Wait! Captain Beringer, you promised immunity," Ulric pleaded.

Kathryn raised a hand and the guards stopped. She walked up to Solask and leaned in closer to whisper in his ear. "If you hadn't made a pass at me using my own body, then I wouldn't be whispering in your ear. I'm sorry, Solask." She stepped away and nodded to the guards.

Ulric Solask was visibly stunned as he was escorted out the room.

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Cast:
Kathryn Beringer - Rachel Nichols
Ulric Solask - Dominic Colesco
Commander - Vlad Ivanov
Two Guards - random street extras