"That doesn't make sense."
"Tell me about it. But that's the way it works. People figure if someone's charged with something so bad, there must be good reasons." Bashir slapped his desk. "Even if there aren't. Tell me about Jen Shen."
Paul spoke, at first hesitantly, then more quickly. Bashir listened closely, occasionally asking questions. "She sounds like a great officer."
"She is a great officer!"
"But they're trying her for some pretty horrendous crimes. Why?"
"I hoped you know."
Bashir thought, looking up at a corner of his office. "This is a big deal, of course. The Maury badly damaged. A lot of her crew dead. Lots of attention. A lot of people wanting to blame the South Asians even if that means we start shooting. The authorities have to find a cause, and I'm sure they don't want to find one involving the SASALs."
"Are you saying they're going to use Jen as a scapegoat?"
"Maybe. She seems like an odd choice, though. And they'll have to fill in some blanks if they hope to make that stick. I can't see Alex Carr playing along with that kind of thing, either." He looked closely at Paul. "You could be asked to testify against Lieutenant Shen, you know."
Paul's laughter sounded harsh even to him. "Let them. I'd back Jen one hundred percent."
Lieutenant Bashir rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and smiled halfheartedly. "I'm sure. Odds are the prosecution realizes that. Besides, they don't want to build sympathy for Lieutenant Shen, and putting her officer boyfriend up on the witness stand is likely to do just that. Still, those questions you said the agents were asking Lieutenant Shen. If they uncover any evidence which might make you look wronged, they might still do it."
"Evidence that I've been what?"
Bashir looked away for a moment, plainly uncomfortable. "Is there any of that?"
"Any of what?"
"Indications that since meeting you Lieutenant Shen has committed personal indiscretions, been involved in other relationships-"
"No!"
"Paul, I understand your emotions, but I need to be aware of anything which might impact on Lieutenant Shen's defense. I assure you nothing you tell me will ever-"
"There's nothing to tell you!"
"I won't be able to prepare to counter anything they find if I'm not already aware of it."
Paul fought to control his temper, feeling his face warming with anger. "Sir. There's nothing to be aware of."
Bashir looked down at his hands, speaking carefully. "Nobody's perfect. You know the Navy. Long separations. Close working relationships-"
"It hasn't happened. Jen would've told me. She's not perfect. But she's honest. She wouldn't lie to me."
"It wouldn't have to be an actual indiscretion, you realize, just something that looked like one. Anything which an outsider might interpret as, uh, infidelity towards you."
Relax. He's trying to help. "I swear I don't know of anything like that."
"Nothing that anyone might twist around?"
"No. I've never heard of anything."
"What about you?"
"What?!"
"Anything that might imply fooling around on your part? Something that would've made her jealous."
I don't believe this. I do not believe it. "No."
"Are you going to be available at any time during the trial?"
"I'll be there every day."
Bashir's eyebrows rose. "I thought you were assigned to a ship."
"I am. They just put her in restricted availability. She needs a lot of work inside and her hull took a lot of damage from debris from the Maury. Not structural stuff, but sensors and that kind of thing. The Michaelson won't be going anywhere for months, and my department head and commanding officer have both told me to take as much time off as I need."
"Well, good. I guess."
"I want to be able to see Jen. In person."
"I'm not sure-"
"Please."
Bashir rubbed his forehead. "Okay. I'll do everything I can. If you know anyone with any influence at the brig, it wouldn't hurt to ask them to help. And I'll have to make sure the government doesn't object."
"Commander Carr and I… have worked together before."
"Really?" Bashir's smile was rueful. "Then you know what a challenge defending Lieutenant Shen is going to be. I understand the government even tried to get a statement out of a chaplain who counseled Lieutenant Shen after she got back to Franklin."
"Commander Hughes?"
"Yeah. She told them to pound sand. My kind of chaplain."
"Mine, too."
"I'll let you know as soon as I've had a chance to look at the government's case. I want you to see everything as well, since you apparently know Lieutenant Shen better than anyone else." Bashir paused. "Except maybe her father. And his ship, I understand, won't be back from patrol until the court-martial's likely to be over. I wonder if he even knows what's happening?"
"I don't know. Jen asked me not to send him anything, but he might hear from someone else. If the Mahan gets any mail or news updates."
"Well, nothing we can do about that." Bashir rose and extended his hand. "I won't say anything stupid like 'don't worry.' But people like to say I'm smarter than I look."
Paul grinned, feeling a bit better, and shook Bashir's hand. "You'll win this case."
"Against Alex Carr? That'll be a feather in my cap. I'll call you, Paul. Try to get some rest until then. You look pretty beat up."
I bet Jen looks worse. How can I rest with her alone in the brig? "Okay."
His parents took the news with outward calm. "Oh," was all Paul's mother said. His father said nothing at all and just tried not to let anything show in his expression.
Somehow, Lieutenant Bashir, Sheriff Sharpe and Chaplain Hughes were able to get the necessary strings pulled for a visit to the brig to actually see Jen in person. Jen had obviously done her best to look good, though given the limitations of her cell and her unadorned uniform that still left her appearing far from great, especially in the bare surroundings of the brig's secure visiting area. From the look in her eyes, Paul could tell Jen knew that she looked every inch a prisoner. But she stepped forward as if she were on the bridge of her own ship, managed a small smile and extended her hand to Paul's father. "Commander Sinclair. It's a pleasure to meet you."
To Paul's relief, his father took the offered hand. "Retired. I'm just plain Frank Sinclair, now." He gestured to Paul's mother. "And this is the other Commander Sinclair. Also retired."
Jen nodded and smiled again. "A pleasure, ma'am."
Paul's mother made a small smile as well. "I have to admit, Lieutenant Shen, I never imagined meeting you for the first time in this, uh, environment."
Jen's smile grew even more forced. "Believe me, it's not my idea. And please call me Jen."
"Alright… Jen. Please, let's sit down."
Jen sat in one the plain metal chairs, which was bolted securely in place like every other object in the visiting room. Jen's movements were stiff, and she shot Paul a quick glance before looking back at his parents. "Thank you. How'd you get up to Franklin?"
Frank Sinclair shrugged. "A couple of retired commanders ought to know enough people to get them a space-available slot on a shuttle. But actually we're up here working for Con-Dyn on some system upgrades for the station.;"
"Paul tells me you've both been in space before."
"That's right. I rode one of Genghis Conner's research platforms. That's where I met Mrs. Sinclair. She was a ship driver like you two."
"That's what Paul said. What ships, ma'am?"
"The Glenn and the Carpenter." She smiled ruefully. "It was rough duty. They made me chief engineer on the Carpenter. I was always afraid I'd mess something up…" The smile vanished. "Oh, I'm… sorry."
Jen's polite smile froze. Silence fell, increasingly uncomfortable as the seconds ticked by. "I'm innocent of these charges. Totally innocent."