In Between Days {Star Trek Enterprise fan fiction}

Shell Shock (Chapter 2)

When Malcolm stumbled into HQ, it was about oh six thirty or so. His plastic key card opened the door and he fell into bed, not even bothering to strip out of his full dress uniform, he was so tired. 

=/\= 

He didn't know what time it was when there was a door chime. Disoriented, he answered it, feeling grimy and unshaven and otherwise unkempt. "Yes?" 

"Lieutenant Malcolm Reed?" It was two men in military police unis who were asking. 

"Yes, that's me." 

"You're being detained. You are not to leave this building except under escort." 

"I beg your pardon?" 

"Lieutenant, the Judge Advocate General's Corps has been called, and they will provide representation." 

"Representation? But why?" 

"For the rape and attempted murder of Ruby Brannagh." 

=/\= 

Similar scenes were playing out all around Starfleet HQ, and even in the places where all of the male crew members from the NX-01 and the NX-02 had gone, if they were offsite. 

Bruce Chalfont was located at his family's farm in Iowa. Rex Ryan was picked up from a transport station in Holland, where he had wanted to go sightseeing. Lloyd Ketchum and Kelsey Haber were in Vegas. Frank Todd was in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Gavin Prentice was playing golf in Atlanta. Tony Vittorio and Craig Willets were brought in from their parents' homes. 

Everyone was told as much as Malcolm was and, after he'd been allowed to shower, shave and change into clean clothes, he was brought to the building's huge Mess Hall. Everyone else was there. The men of the NX-01 and NX-02 were on one side and the women were on another. Even Captain Archer was there. 

There was a ding on Malcolm's PADD, a message. He noticed there was actually a pair of messages. He got a cup of tea and set Lili's aside for later, for private time. But first there was a note from the investigative team. There was only one question – Did you go to the 602 Club on August 15, 2160? 

He answered in the affirmative and was immediately sent an automated response. Go to Room Six. He got up, and noticed other men getting up as well. They'd undoubtedly been given the same instruction. 

It was Brooks Haynem, Daniel Chang, Tristan Curtis, Mario Lattimer and then he saw others he didn't remember seeing at the bar. They must have gotten in after he'd left – Mark Reilly, Connor Greer, Gary Hodgkins and Billy Dane from Security. There were MACOs who must have also arrived later – Victor Brown, Neil Kemper, Eddie Hamboyan, Brad Moreno, Eric Forbes, Walter Woods and Oscar Tiburón. 

And that was just the Enterprise's complement. There were plenty of men from the Columbia. And there was a MACO Major who Malcolm did not know but he thought might have been the fellow he'd nearly collided with when leaving the 602 Club. They, too, walked to Room Six. 

=/\= 

A Sergeant took attendance at the front of the room. A large man came over to Malcolm as soon as Malcolm acknowledged that he was present. The man stuck his hand out. "I'm Dash Nolan, and I've been assigned by the Judge Advocate General's Corps to, if it comes to that, represent you in this matter." 

"Dash?" Malcolm asked as they shook hands. 

"Yeah," he replied, "My twin sister is Dorothy. Our parents thought they were pretty funny. Anyway, about your case – we can get some privacy by heading out and talking a walk. There's a courtyard. It's technically on building grounds so we aren't offsite. That good for you?"