This had to be the most uncomfortable feeling of his life. Not going to his knees after a forced mindmeld, not being shoved up against the wall, but this: being told he was wrong and doubting himself, not actually knowing for sure if he was wrong or not. What did he have to work on? A surprise attack that--while a little overblown for this universe--had been within Pike's right, and an assault that he was not entirely guiltless of (though his actions had failed, unlike Pike's retaliation). Other than that, he only had conjecture from others, speculation, and comparisons to a man that Pike was and simultaneously not. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he was being manipulated. Maybe it was both.

There was that hesitance again; the phaser felt cold under his grip and heavy on his hip and...odd, once again. After a long silence, he spoke up, in that concealing, quiet voice. "...if you want to be allowed outside the brig, I suggest you request an audience with the captain. Though I cannot say whether he will accept it, or be receptive to the idea." This wasn't betrayal--this was diplomacy.