A New Day, A New Case... Artemis Needs A Prosecutor

Posted on Sun Dec 1st, 2024 @ 12:15pm by Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal
Edited on on Sun Dec 1st, 2024 @ 6:21pm

908 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - The Sins of History
Location: Starfleet Command Legal Complex - San Francisco - Earth
Timeline: MD 011 0730 hrs

Lt. Commander Corin Layal stepped off the transport nearest to Starfleet Command's legal complex and began to make her way toward the complex's courtrooms. The Bajoran officer had pulled her dark hair into a sleek low bun. She was wearing minimal makeup and no jewelry, saving her Bajoran earring only for holidays and trips home. In her left hand was a small briefcase with the legal files for the handful of cases that were up for status hearings this morning. In her right hand was a large cup of coffee.

Her mind was elsewhere as she walked, and there were quite a few things swirling around her brain this morning. She was trying to predict how court would go this morning while also trying to remember what all was on her to do list for the day, she was also wondering how her parents were doing, and as she slipped her coffee she couldn't help but appreciate the morning chill in the air. Which is why she was somewhat startled when her path was intercepted by fellow judge advocate Jason Costello.

"Hey. Good morning." Jason said as he stepped in front of her and flashed her a friendly smile. Layal was tall, standing at 5'10. Jason was a few inches taller than she was with clear blue eyes and an easygoing personality. Layal had him categorized somewhere between a friendly acquaintance and a friend - the gray area that sometimes existed with colleagues that you got along well with. "I am stepping in for you in court this morning. Captain Vala needs to see you."

Layal's shoulder's slumped as she let out a defeated sigh. "Who's mad at me now? I feel like I've been pretty good about reigning in the smartass comments lately."

Jason let out a short laugh. "That you have. And I don't think you did anything." He leaned in and lowered his voice. "I'm not sure, but it sounds like you're getting deployed. I overheard her talking to someone about Artemis needing a prosecutor ASAP."

"The Artemis?" Layal repeated with interest. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure I heard her talking about the Artemis before she called me in to find you. I'm not sure what you're going into to talk to Vala about, but I wouldn't be surprised. If they're on something big, someone like you would make sense to me," Jason responded sincerely.

Layal's eyes looked down briefly, an unintentional tic she had when she was feeling modest. "I appreciate that," she said graciously. "There are a lot of attorneys qualified to prosecute a case for them. And I thought they were fully staffed."

Jason shrugged. "I don't know, but I think you're about to go find out. Have something for me?"

She shifted the briefcase, balancing it against her chest with her right arm, the coffee still in that hand. She peered into the briefcase and pulled out the one PADD that was issued to her, then handed him the briefcase full of case files over to Jason. "Just take this. I guess I shall go see what my fate is." She flashed him her own cheeky grin and kept walking alongside him.

"She makes me nervous," Layal commented without looking Jason's way as they walked.

"Captain Vala?" He asked glancing over at her.

"Mmhmm," she murmured nodding. "Some Vulcans can when we're one-on-one. Vala is so disciplined with the whole emotional suppression thing. And that is really not me at all. I can't tone it down enough, and I feel like she's silently judging me." She raised her eyebrows as she looked over at him.

Jason shrugged. "She might be." As Layal shook her head Jason added, "She probably is." His comment prompted Layal to laugh for a few solid seconds.

"Thanks, I needed that," Layal said gratefully. "Alright, here's where I get off. Wish me luck."

"Luck," Jason replied, winking at her before she turned to head up the stairs to Vala's office.

Two hours later Layal was back at home adding a few things to her go bag so that she could hitch a ride with a ship scheduled to depart from Jupiter Station later that day. There was another option a few days out, but given what little information she'd been able glean about the state of the case, the idea of leaving in a rush stressed her out less than sitting around for a few days trying to work a case from subspace while she waited on the next ride. At least this way she would be doing something.

After a quick look around her apartment to see if there was anything else she'd want to take for the trip, Layal was off to board the shuttle. She'd contact her family on the way so her people would know where she was. She couldn't say much about the case, but was hopeful she'd finagle a visit to Bajor before coming home so that she could see them when the case was finished. Based on what she knew it seemed likely that they could be in the neighborhood.

Satisfied she had what she needed she locked her apartment and set her security code for away. She was ready for the long trip and several hours of reading.

Lieutenant Commander Corin Layal
Judge Advocate General, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit

RSS Feed