A simple quest for freedom

[Erremnart]

Shuffling cards 1

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"Captain, please, come in.", said middle aged assistant medical officer as Virginia knocked and entered medical bay. Virginia looked around and haven't seen her senior medical officer, who was usually talking to her when she had some health issues. Assistant medical officer, Lieutenant Commander Grace Snows, was somewhere in her late forties and pointed at the chair in front of her, inviting Virginia to sit down.
Aw s**t, now she is going to tell me that I have a cancer or something, said Virginia to herself in her mind and sat down, starting to look nervously.
"I have run couple of tests, Captain...", Grace slowly started.. Virginia looked at her face - medical officer was worried, but she also had something else in her face, something she could not read now.
"Just tell me the truth, doc.", Virginia said as she sighed deeply and closed her eyes, preparing herself for possible death sentence - she grew up on Planet Houston with little to no medical care, served on numerous worn and damage starships and stations, so serious illnesses were not out of question even despite her relatively young age.
"... with due respect, Captain, you have... something we could call 'An Orange Nose'.", Grace lowered her voice and looked sternly at Virginia.
Virginia coughed with surprise and looked at the Grace, panic running through her mind. She knew that term well - a cardamine addict. Atmosphere in the medical bay changed gradually, and now it was Grace who was in charge.
"How do you know?", Virginia asked her quietly. She knew that if anyone can find this out, it will be physicians.
"A random chance, really.", Grace replied to younger Captain, "You are healthy, but when compared with your lifestyle and previous records... too healthy. I did a specialized test on your samples and you have addict markers in your blood. I have worked with junkies before.".
Virginia just sighed and stared into the floor, "What do you want from me to forget about all of this, Lieutenant Commander?".
"I first want to know how and why former Hellfire officer decided to take such poison.", Grace said quietly, but in very commanding manner.
"It was an accident.", Virginia looked around herself before she gathered enough strength to look into Grace's icy eyes, "I attented some wild party on leave with fellow junior officers at that time... and we drank and drank... and then someone got an excellent idea to try out cardamine.".
"Do you ally yourself with Outcasts because of that, Captain?", Grace was studying Virginia's face thoroughly for any signs of lying.
"Of course not.", Virginia shook her head.
"Do you know what I should do?", Grace asked her slowly, enjoying every moment of being in power.
"Yeah, I know.", Virginia said, "Report this to my superiors, I'd more examined, interrogated... and then returned back to duty with large, orange stain on my records. I'd be demoted if I'll be lucky, discharged and kicked out if unlucky.".
"Indeed.", Grace nodded and leaned closer to Virginia, "I can ruin your career. I do not know why Commodore White chose you as her executive officer, but I think you do not deserve your rank, Captain. But...", Grace flicked her tongue and made a dramatic pause.
"But?", Virginia looked at her.
"Your... stain can be useful to me.", Grace smiled at her, "You can help and you will help me, won't you Captain?".
"What do you want?", Virginia asked her quietly, feeling ashamed and powerless. Virginia hated Grace already - not because she found it out, but because she was enjoying her suffering and guilt. She wanted to kill her with her bare hands, but possibility of being charged with murder and cardamine addiction at the same time was not something she was looking forwards to.
"I have a future plans in Insurgency, you see... and serving as senior medical officer aboard battleship like North Carolina for some time with distinction would help me greatly.", Grace chuckled quietly, "What a coincidence - it would help you with your career as well, wouldn't it?".
"That's... corruption, something we all sworn to fight against.", Virginia hissed back with disgust and clenched her fist.
"Well... you are correct, Captain.", Grace smiled, "Then I guess I will do my duty to report it and you can fight against corruption as discharged, cardamine addicted criminal without any comrades in arms, my dear.".
"Wait...", Virginia closed her eyes and sighed deeply as she calculated her chances, "I changed my mind.".
"Oh, you did, my dear?", Grace grinned at her, "And what's on your mind?".
"I have...", Virginia exhaled deeply, "I have decided to help you.". Virginia stood up from the chair and wiped her wet eyes from all those emotions she has been feeling so far.
"Do not worry, Captain.", Grace offered her a hand, "Those records will be safe with me until you do your part of our deal.".
Virginia looked at her hand and decided to not shake her hand with her blackmailer, "Fine.". With these words and without saying any formal goodbye, Virginia quickly left medical bay.