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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 13, 2014 23:53:50 GMT -5
[Location: Captain's Ready Room
The engineer listened and seemed to be more relaxed with Stanton's candor.“Understood sir, I will make arraignments to see the councilor and speak with the doctor about a check up and any kind of requirements he might have of me.” He acquiesced. He noticed he wanted to continue, but was hesitant to speak more. He shifted again regaining his nervousness, but finally spoke.“I understand yer concern sir, and I thank ye for it. I believe that I am fit fer duty, if I did na think I was ready to come back believe me sir I would have asked for an extended leave,” He finally spoke. Stanton could tell he wanted to continue so he waited as he continued to shift nervously in his chair. “Honestly, I’m angry!” his voice moved up a notch. “No, no, I’m beyond that! I’m bloody furious!” he began moving nervously again, his voice was slowly elevating. “What bloody happened on that station was real! Starfleet sweep’n it under tha rug is beyond me, that’s not me Starfleet!” He had Stanton's full attention now. “Those bastards wanna save face in the public eye, that’s fine by me but not acknowledging what happened to those people, and to me!” He began to gesture with passion. “Tis maddening!” He was now in full anger. “Tis not me fault! By the by, I’m more than will’n to do me duty sir to bring those who are responsible back to justice or to the afterlife, then I am ready! I am focused.” He nodded with resolve. “I will be fine, and if not I’m sure that lass will let ye know as she’s got me on a tight leash.” He gestures to the device behind his ear. “She’s probably stand’n outside right now debate’n on if she should be come’n in here now to make sure I don’t have a bloody aneurysm.”
Stanton listened, and felt the rage and anguish in his words. This was not just a man who was recovering physically, but mentally too. It was clear he had a story to tell, but Stanton was equally sure it wasn't a story that should be told to his captain. "Son," Stanton said in a calm but firm voice. "I want to first apologize to you for my speech. It was given from the same place that you are coming from now. However, I didn't live through the tragedy that first hand as you did. Looking on from a star ship when what was once a space station become a ball of fire is bad enough, but to actually 'be' in that ball of fire must have been very harrowing for you." He stopped pausing to let his words hang there. "I also want to thank you for your candor. It's refreshing to see an officer that is focused on their duty and the task at hand. We need more of that in this man's fleet." He looked down at the report of the explosion that he was reading before the Chief Engineer had entered. "Hearing your resolve, I have a task for you." He said looking up once again. "I"m going to ask you, but before I do I must warn you. If you take this assignment it could put your name on some 'bad lists'. The assignment is this: Neither one of us believes what happened, but we can't prove otherwise also. I want you to use this report and whatever other information you can dig up to create a simulation of the explosion on the station. I want to have some proof in my hands to back up some decisions I'm about to make. If you wish to take this assignment, simply take the report and leave. If you do not, leave the report behind. No matter what your decision is, there will be no hard feelings. What I'm asking could get you in trouble with some high ranking people so refusal would be understood. One more thing, I don't know who I can trust on this ship yet. So if you do take it, you would report only to me. The two of us can be the only ones aware of what you are doing. It is against several star fleet regulations to reopen a case closed by the Admiralty." He slid the PADD across his desk in front of McTavish and waited.
Tag: Haemis McTavish
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Post by Haemis McTavish on Apr 14, 2014 0:31:56 GMT -5
Location: Sol, Earth Orbit, Starbase 001, USS Sotrila, Deck 2, Captains Ready Room
Haemis stood looking down at the Padd on the edge of the Captain’s desk; it was not what he had expected at all. His mind raced with the possibilities, the risks involved. He took a step back toward the desk his hands falling on either side of the Padd. His eyes never left the device. “It might take me some time.” His hands gripped the padd, they were trembling. “I donna know if I can do this alone.” He tapped the padd in the palm of his hand. “But it needs do’n.” he nodded to the man. “I will work on the data in my spare time, and in the meantime do my level best to work with the councilors to get my own personal demons on the matter in line and try and remember what I saw, but what I remember was a normal day.” He gripped the padd tightly in his hands. “But it will be done, and kept in confidence ye have me word on it sir.”
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Post by An'nux on Apr 14, 2014 12:32:59 GMT -5
An elongated Runabout sized craft exited from a small opening in space. This aperture was unnoticeable to the naked eye. Sensors would detect another system from the other side; picking up another Earth like world and moon, however, giving out readings found from centuries of earth's past. As quickly as the xenos vessel slipped in to the sol system the aperture closed behind and those mentioned readings disappeared.
This craft moved faster than full impulse but slower then warp. Headed straight towards the Earth’s sol Starbase broadcasting federation CRV codes. It slip through the hull of the station, as if it wasn’t there and proceeded to the USS Sotrila. The alien craft hails the Sotrila, “This is the Ra'meanna Kai Class Ttar'Vhek; piloted by An’nux Monnonau Grant, addressing the USS Sotrila. I would like to come aboard to see my son, Patton Samuel Grant. Make the proper arrangements.” She addressed whomever answered her hail. She spoke with confidence with a very polished UK accent. She still looked very much how she first appeared on the USS Terrasect. Young in her early twenties; impossible to look like a mother of the thirty year old man. Her clothing was different, clean, simple, casual; something originating from terran style from old era. She had piercing bright green eyes and her hair was wavy nearly in white in hue. Tattoos adorn her skin with white ink with a very faint hint of blue, almost blending in to her pale Caucasian surface.
Tag(s) – USS Sotrila
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 14, 2014 14:17:24 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
He nodded in satisfaction when he took the PADD. I have some business to attend to, but I should expect a report from the counselor that you have visited, and made arrangements for regular meetings." Stanton was feeling a little better about things. He simply said. "Thank you Commander, you are dismissed." He watched him leave quietly. Eventually he would meet the officer assigned him by fleet, but he had bigger fish to fry so to speak. Hopefully, Gtant had gotten the bridge on track. Stanton would like one less problem. He noticed his communication alert flashing. "Briggs here?" He said after slapping the button.
"Captain, there is an An’nux Monnonau Grant, asking to be cleared to dock."
"Really," He said in an almost predatory tone.
"Yes, sir." The Flight Control Officer spoke. "She requesting a meeting with her son, Captain Patton Grant."
"Allow her to dock," He said before a slight pause. "But tell her I'm requesting a meeting before she speaks to the Captain."
"Aye sir." the officer simply said then disconnected.
Stanton thought. Judging from his conversations with Patton, this didn't happen everyday. So is this a happy reunion or a warning. Either way, before mother and son had free reign of his ship he wanted to measure this woman himself.
Tag: McTavish, An'nux
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Post by Haemis McTavish on Apr 14, 2014 19:17:25 GMT -5
Location: Sol, Earth Orbit, Starbase 001, USS Sotrila, Deck 2, Captains Ready Room
He stopped and stood just beyond the doors to the Captain’s ready room just as the doors had closed behind him, the padd in his hands, its screen deactivated. His mind was still racing, more than it had been even now so realizing the magnitude of what he had just agreed to.
“You ok Mac?” a familiar voice asked from his right.
He had expected the councilor’s appearance and as it happens she was indeed standing to his right staring at him with concern in her eyes. She had a medical kit slung over one shoulder and a Padd in her hands. He turned and took a step away from the woman but stopped his advance toward the turbolift he remembering that she would only peruse him anyhow and pester him for doing so. “Please come with me.” He said lightly under his breath and over his shoulder.
She did as he asked following him into the turbolift. “Are you alright?”
“No!” he said leaning heavily now against the side of the turbolift car as its doors snapped shut to close off the public eye. “Deck Eleven!” he spouted turning to face the woman. “I canna speak of it!” he said stopping to consider his words carefully. “I’ll be seeing the ships councilor in addition to the ships doctor. Not exactly my favorite people to be honest.”
She frowned, “Hope I’m not on that list!”
“Not yet decided that is!” he said looking up at her. “You said you wanted to help me?”
She nodded. “Yes!” the lift began to slow and the doors parted.
“Can ya help me remember and move past what happened on the station?” he met her eyes as he moved into the space between the doors.
“I don’t know, that’s more up to you than me.” She said, her curiosity somewhat piqued.
He nodded, looked down the hall toward engineer. “Lets talk later tonight.” He said as he moved to start down the hall.
“Mac!” she stepped into the hall and produced a hypospray holding it out toward him. “It’s an Anxiety medication, it will help!” she gestured toward him with it.
He stepped back over toward her, “Aye!”
She pulled down the turtleneck of his undershirt and depressed the device against his neck and the soft hiss of the device administering the does of medication was almost music to his ears, he could already feel his heart rate diminishing, he had been so focused on what had just transpired in the Captains ready room he couldn't feel the pounding anymore. “Call me if you need me!” she said laying a hand on his chest. “Not that I wont know but it would be better that way.”
He regarded the woman for a moment, he could see a certain level of concern in her eyes, “Alright, I will. I’ll warn ya now that most likely you’ll see a raise in me levels when I go visit the ships dungeon.” He jested offering a half hearted smile before turning and heading down the hallway.
She watched him go for a moment before pulling up her Padd, she watched the reading scroll by for the last several moments and nodded. Closing the monitoring program she pulled up another screen and set up an encrypted data packet and added all the data she had collected so far as well as her reports for the last several days into a data packet and had it cued to send to the stations medical division and Starfleet Command. Haemis walked into Engineering, took a brief look around before ducking into his office. Crossing the room to his desk he undid the latches on his tool box, and peered into the darkness beyond its opening. He took a brief moment and closed his eyes, before reaching into the box with the Padd in hand, he felt what he was looking for and deposited the padd in its place on a shelf somewhere in the depths of this place. He knew it would be safe there for the time being.
Closing the latch on the box he settled into his seat behind the desk with a squeak. This brought another frown to his face, as he grabbed both arm rests and shook the chair a moment, it did not squeak at him this time. He shook his head and pulled open his desktop computer access.
Pulling up the ships internal communications grid he opened a text file and began composing:
USS Sotrila NCC-10244-C - Intraship Communications System To: Davanoi, Linsey - Ensign, Medical Division, Counseling Department From: McTavish, Haemis Falkirk – Lieutenant Commander – Engineering Division.
Subject: Ongoing Mental Health Evaluation
=/\= Begin Text Communication =/\=
Councilor,
I hope the day is finding you well, the Captain has requested that I check in with you and begin setting up mental health evaluations as he is concerned or seemingly so with my quick return back to active duty. He feels that I should be seeing the ships services as well as those that have been supplied as part of my return to duty agreement with Starfleet Medical. When you have time and can look into your schedule and see fit to set up a time and date for us to meet in the not too distant future I would appreciate it.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
McTavis, Haemis Falkirk - Lt.Cmdr.
=/\= End Text Communications =/\=
Haemis nodded to the screen as he sent the brief message to the ships councilor, then pulled up the ships medical roster and found the new doctors name. He reached his hand up to his Comm badge and gave it a tap, “McTavish to Doctor Quigg,” he waited for the doctor’s voice then began. “The Captain has asked that I check in with you Doctor and see about setting up regular check up’s. When you have time could you please let me know when you’d like me in please?”
Tag: Dr. Quigg and Councilor Davanoi.
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Post by An'nux on Apr 15, 2014 22:27:49 GMT -5
Once she got the green from the USS Sotrila she dephased in to normal space. Made around about to the Federation CRV vessel towards the Primary Shuttlebay. The vessel that she was on was an organic entity that was nothing found in this reality. Not even close to the technology of Species 8472. Proceeded in to the cavity of the starship the Ra’Meanna Kai Ttar'Vhek halted, and never made contact with the ground. An opening from aft came visible from nothing.
The flight control greeted her and in formed that the Captain of the vessel wanted to see her. She gestured to the lads to take her to him. Once she was on deck one; she entered as if she belonged there at the same time it was beneath her. She acted and looked very polished; her attire, however, was toned down with a slight sass but polished. It was a white sleeveless, thigh length dress, with black authentic leather boots, and a locket around her neck. Her bare skin adorned with white with a faint hint of blue hue inked markings.
She proceeded in to the Captain’s Ready Room; ‘showing herself in’. She said in a direct but pleasant and non sarcastic way, “Captain you are keeping me from my son. I only came here to see him and I have nothing to do with anything that the CRV does. My wonderful Samuel makes sure that when I come to see them I am not detained.” She said. Still keeping a smile on her face, “Now, if I must. Do I need to talk to my husband or I can pleasantly dismiss myself to reunite with my boy?”
Tag(s) – Stanton Briggs
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 15, 2014 22:54:37 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
The Widow Grant walked into Stanton's office without prompt. Her entire demeanor was that of a woman in charge.She was not used to being summoned, and it was obvious that she considered whole affair beneath her. She kept a cheerful practiced tone. “Captain," She said with a hint of sarcasm. "you are keeping me from my son. I only came here to see him and I have nothing to do with anything that the CRV does. My wonderful Samuel makes sure that when I come to see them I am not detained.” She said with genuine confusion as to why she was called. It was clear by her lack of patience that she was used to coming and going as she pleased without question. “Now, if I must. Do I need to talk to my husband or I can pleasantly dismiss myself to reunite with my boy?” Now things had finally started to make sense. Stanton's first thought was to allow her to leave and let the younger Grant give her this news. He decided that this was something that be better to come from him. No mother wanted to have her son telling her that his father her husband was dead.
"Miss Grant," Stanton finally spoke. "First I'm sorry we had to bring you up here so abruptly. I'm sure you are used to having free access to your son as needed, and we can continue that. I need to tell you something: Your husband Samuel Grant, along with the Director General of the CRV were killed in what Star Fleet has deemed and 'accident'. There was an explosion of unknown origin that destroyed the CRV station. I'm sorry that I had to tell you ma'am. Truly, I though you had already been informed."
TAG: An'nux
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Post by An'nux on Apr 16, 2014 19:26:38 GMT -5
“Beg your pardon..” while leaning a bit forward. Her positive demeanor waned and her head tilted; awaiting for the imprudent joke to unfold. “I’m no where near amused. I demand a better explanation.” She said. “Please ‘choose’ your words carefully, or the very world your vessel is orbiting becomes a burning molten rock and the human race becomes extinct.” It wasn’t in her nature to threaten and she was stating a fact. Her eyes remained bright green and it has ‘not’ blacked over. Her control of her temper was in checked for the moment. As many things have degrees of emotions, she has levels of anger. This at the moment was purely confusion and disbelief. Her man, husband and mate couldn’t be gone. Every time she comes back to this place, Samuel was always there and she was aware that he would eventually die but from old age. Not from an accident….
It was those moments that the room goes silent. The deafening feeling coming over you. That was the very thing she was feeling, the lost wasn’t affecting her yet, not even denial but the possibility that Samuel wasn’t going to touch her again. Or hearing his voice and his laughter ever again. A lost of a mate once more was something she wasn’t ready to go through again. Her exterior froze and she was pulled in her thoughts.
She slowly kneeled down and stared blankly for a moment just before looking back at Stanton. “How did he die?” she said plainly. She could have hell rain over this system in a matter of moments but she cared more if her Samuel suffered or not. Never mind why, she knew he had many enemies and it could be a matter of any one of them. “Can I see his body at least?” she paused, “or is there even one to be looked upon?”
Her body became cold and the markings started to glow, as her body felt chills. It was a translucent glow of blue hue and her eyes did the same.
Tag(s) – Stanton Briggs
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 16, 2014 21:32:44 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
"Beg your pardon?" She stood gracefully, but her demeanor changing. It was not so much as one would notice right away if they were not trained it it. Stanton had delivered this news from nearly the first time he'd ever been on active duty. Something his father insisted on, and he would later thank him for. She looked at first as if she were waiting for the punchline of some sick joke of which only Stanton knew the punchline. When no 'punchline' was given, she finally spoke herself. “I’m no where near amused. I demand a better explanation.” Her voice again took the tone of formality. “Please ‘choose’ your words carefully, or the very world your vessel is orbiting becomes a burning molten rock and the human race becomes extinct.” It was a threat which took Stanton by surprise. He expect anger, it was part of the cycle of acceptance, but surprising the 'type' of threat. He noticed her eyes change color not like Grant or Photan's. She had anger in her eyes, but more. It was different in that it felt more powerful, but controlled. The silence was long, and it felt like a vacuum in the room had suck the air out. She stood frozen in place as Stanton stood up from his chair. "How did he die?" She finally asked, but it was the most humble he had seen her. The anguish on her face was apparent. She still kept her emotions in check, but Stanton could see it was starting to be struggle. "Can I see the body, at least?" It was less a question and more a plea. “or is there even one to be looked upon?” Her body started to glow, but this was not anger. It was pain, a pain so deep that it could kill you from the inside out. A pain so enduring that it could fuel a lifetime of hatred. It was a heart sickening pain that consumes.
Stanton noticed her eyes glowing along with the strange markings on her body. Stanton did no waiver as he walked towards her doing something that most would fear to do. He took he hand. He looked into her glowing eyes with the understanding of one seeing loss and knowing its infinite pain. "He was too close to the explosion." He said softly. "He was killed instantly, so felt no pain. I wanted to be the one who informed you. A mother should not hear such news from her son." He held her right hand in both his. "His loss is a loss to us all, but nowhere near what you lost. I've never connected with someone like that, but my parents did so I have seen this pain before." She listened, but did not cry. She would not allow anyone with the possible exception of her son see her show that kind of emotion. He gave her a moment to process the things he said. "Miss Grant," He finally spoke. "I know you are still grieving, but I need to ask some questions that will help me get to the bottom of what happened to your husband. They were things I believe he wanted to tell me, but died before he got the chance."
Tag: An'nux
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Post by An'nux on Apr 16, 2014 22:03:47 GMT -5
“How is my son?” she said softly. “Was he hurt from this accident?” she continued to give the same blank look. Lifted herself off the ground; slowly removing her hand from Stanton’s. Walking over to the replicator she placed her hand on the surface of the panel. The tattoos on her body slowly died down but the hand on the wall console remained glowing. “Whisky, the real shite.” It might have not been close to the real thing but she was able to override and modify the replicator to get what she needed. A glass she didn’t get but a bottle; she opened the bottle and drank the liquid slowly. She circled around him and looked out from the port, stared blankly out inside the starbase’s cavity. “Ask your questions.” Tag(s) – USS Sotrila
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 16, 2014 22:23:33 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
He saw her order 'real' liquor and was surprised. He walked over to his shelf and took a bottle and two glasses from it. "He poured a glass of brown liquid in both glasses then took the bottle from An'nux. He replaced it with a full glass. 'This' is the real stuff. Kentucky bourbon. "How is my son?" She said softly nodding in thanks for the drink. "Was he hurt from this accident?" She drank half the glass in one gulp as if to brace herself for more bad news. "Ask your questions."
"Before I ask mine I will answer yours," He smiled. "yes Patton is unharmed. Per your husbands wishes I have made him executive officer of my ship." He took a sip of the whiskey to summon a little more courage. "I have another officer who is not on this ship now. She and your son had a confrontation. When it happened they changed. Your son was unable to control it, but she was in full control. She baited him, and used his lack of knowledge of his own nature against him." He took another drink. "I ask you," He paused. "No, I implore you to tell me what your son and this woman are. I know you would know because I see it in you. Your husband, and the director general have them on my ship for a reason and I need to know why."
TAG: An'nux
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Post by An'nux on Apr 16, 2014 23:11:23 GMT -5
She was able to breath when she heard ‘Pat’ was unharmed. Continued to drink the rest of the liquid; when Stanton laid his query it began as an instructor telling a parent of her son. “First off, it wasn’t Samuel who wanted ‘Pat’ to be the XO. It was that xenophobic twat Director-General.” She looked a Stanton, “My son is capable and powerful but he is not ready for the trials that is set before him.” She then reacted to this woman Stanton spoke of, her immediate thought was to have ‘it’ killed. “Are you sure its not that abomination breathing the same air on your bridge deck?” she said with anger. “No? I'd pull out her inners while she still breaths.”
She waited for an answer, “If she is not on board I demand to know who she is!?” she asked. The Captain plead to have his questions answered, however, she wanted a detail cleared. “Baited? What did this woman do exactly?” She waited for him to tell her. “I can’t answer when you don’t give me all the knowledge of the confrontation. Clarify please.” As for the other part of his query; it was the Director-General’s orders. Where Samuel and her wishes to have Patton far away from the affairs of the Drak. She wouldn't share that info just yet until she was satisfied.
Tag(s) – Stanton Briggs
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 17, 2014 8:19:27 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
“First off, it wasn’t Samuel who wanted ‘Pat’ to be the XO. It was that xenophobic twat Director-General.” She responded in a tone that let Stanton know that the relationship between Lady Grant, and Director General Marchurius was suspect. He already had information that he did not have before. “My son is capable and powerful but he is not ready for the trial that is set before him.” He could tell there was some agitation in her voice tempered with patience. It was as if she was talking to her child and trying to explain to him the way the world worked. Stanton would have been insulted except at this point he did feel as a child in his situation. “Are you sure its not that abomination breathing the same air on your bridge deck?” Now this is where she lost Stanton, he was not aware of any of his officers being referred to as an 'abomination'. He knew it was an insult, but unsure as to whom it was aimed at. He thought breifly about Admiral Grabfoot of Two Dawns' child since she might be the only one An'nux had met. He only assumed this since the Admiral did mention An'nux by name. “No? I'd pull out her inners while she still breaths.” Stanton now saw anger. It was the anger of a mother protecting her young.Stanton too felt protective of his crew so giving her the name of any of his officers to loose her ire on was out of the question. She had paused long enough for Stanton to answer, when it was clear he would not she continued. “If she is not on board I demand to know who she is!?”She said again with less patience. “Baited? What did this woman do exactly?” He could see An'nux was now processing all the information and becoming more agetated by the minutes. “I can’t answer when you don’t give me all the knowledge of the confrontation. Clarify please.”
Stanton put his hands up in a gesture to say 'whoa' then took a deep breath. "Miss Grant, I'll be happy to answer all of your question, but you have to ask them one at a time." He said lowering his hand. "Frist, no one on my bridge was part of what I described. Second, the identity of the officer for the moment is of no import. We can find out if it is after I describe what happened. I will tell you that the officer is currently on planet and not aboard Sortila." He stopped to take a drink himself. "What I witnessed was this: This officer worked very hard and illiciting an emotional reaction from your son. One that caused him to become angry enough to draw a weapon given to him by you that I know is too advanced, and brutal a weapon to have been created by star fleet. He reacted extremely and the other officer not only expected it, but welcomed it. In my mind at least, it was as if they needed this to happen in order to kill him or have him kill them with impunity." He said the last part while looking out in space thinking for a moment of the air of anger and desperation in Kate's eyes. " Anyway," he snapped back to reality. "I interceded stepping between both combatants. I could not have this on my bridge you must understand. Rather than take my life," He paused for a moment to make sure he got the description of the ritual he witnessed right. "The officer sheathed their weapons, drew a small blade and cut themselves almost to the bone. They handed me the bloody weapon, and told me I had disgraced them." He walked over to the table and took the blade from it. "This is the weapon. I don't know what that meant, but was hoping you might." He sat the blade on the desk in front of them both.
Tag: An'nux
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Sgt. Major Patton S. Grant
Junior Member
"Nobody ever won a war dying for his country, you make the other poor dumb bastard die for his..!"
Posts: 30
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Post by Sgt. Major Patton S. Grant on Apr 17, 2014 20:46:29 GMT -5
Back Post Tag – if the Ships Counselor wants to meet with Patton, it will be covered in a back post as things move forward; fyi
Location: Sgt. Major (Captain) Grant’s Office, outside of the Barracks
Patton sat at this desk, twirling his apparently antiquated (but by far not) sidearm his father gave him on his finger tip, then holstering it, then doing it again. He was reviewing PADD’s with regards to most of the reports he’d requested, and he very much knew that a lot of this was over his head. He’d likely have to go and look into things himself for clarification.
Mixed in, and around, the PADD’s, was his console screen that was showing old data files on the CRV, his father, and the ship’s crew/personnel; he was multi-tasking in much the same way his father did. He was trying to figure out why the name ‘Kate’ had struck him so oddly when Captain Briggs had mentioned it, and why his mind was racing to put a trillion piece puzzle together, with no base of reference. His head pounded, and he rubbed his nose. “Ugh…” he sighed allowed.
Patton was able to figure out that his uncomfortable feeling, the ‘tingly sensation’, was that both Photan and their Tactical Officer were in one form or another like him, some part of them was ‘Drak’, but that was about all he knew. A bracelet that he wore, which his father helped turn into an old style ‘watch’ to make it ‘fit in more’, glowed while other Drak were present. He often kept it under his uniform apparel, or played it off as a novelty gift upon graduation. He’d seen it, or rather felt it as it was covered, activate and oscillate when he was around Photan, and their Tactical Officer.
His parents raised him human, and focused on the Humanity part of him. As he grew through puberty, they had to start helping him with his temper and outbursts, as the Drak part of him lashed out uncontrolled, in an adolescent body. A combination of drills, exercise, discipline and knowledge helped fill in some of the holes, and his mother always told him he’d learn more as he grew older, his father kept his lips tight on most things, and stressed that while it was part of him, his “humanity was the dominate part of him”.
They did struggle to explain that Patton shouldn’t be ashamed of what he was, for neither parent thought him a bastard by any stretch of the word. But there were always ‘bigger’ questions to answer, concerns to be wary of, and the constant threats that the CRV was discovering and facing, Patton’s life became a security concern not just to get at his father, but to discover that which he, and his mother were. A grave secret, a grave alliance and a political powerhouse show down that constantly worked to keep The Federation (and likely ALL life within the Alpha Quadrant) in existence occurred almost daily.
Patton eyes ached, finally forcing him to put the PADD down and turn off the screen. He replaced his duster on his head, and adjusted the brim, before departing his office on a set of rounds; rounds that would have to START in the Mess Hall…
As Captain Patton Grant began walking down the corridor, his head began to pound again, and he was sure another one of his migraines was going to come on at any minute. But he’d had no warning, no buildup of pain. Patton stopped, and placed his hand on the corridor wall, has everyone spun around him. It was like nothing he’d ever felt. He noticed blood was running from his nose, and his vision blurred as well. With a grunt, Patton collapsed to the floor, landing hard on his wrists and his knees, as blood ran from his nose and his ears, his eyes screwed shut against the pain. It was sudden, total, and unbelievably personal, as if an ear piercing, psychic scream, was aimed right at him; as if something cried out in immense pain all at once, then fell silent.
He struggled to right himself…
Location: On the decking of the Corridor down from Barracks Hall
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Post by An'nux on Apr 18, 2014 12:49:52 GMT -5
She tapped the right temple of her head three times, from hearing the captain tell her that the ‘woman’ was on Earth. Her Ttar’Vhek lifts off the ground another meter, its battle blades extend from the ‘wings’ of the entity. She listened to Stanton’s story and knew that this woman wasn’t just a random Drak but a Lord. Someone knew of her secret that she had an offspring hidden from the Drak. An anomaly from time and space that breaks the rules of the ‘sequence’. She continued to listen and watched him reveal a blade. Looking down at the blade, then towards Stanton; walked over to the replicator asking for a plastic glove. She didn’t put on the glove but she placed the white glove over the blade. She examined it and she uttered, “Your stupid.”
She looked deep in his eyes; this human made a mistake, that would cause him more problems then protecting this ‘Lord’. The vessel in the Shuttlebay opening an aperture within the space. It looked like a clear doorway that lead to a planet. It over saw a clear blue sky and a city below; the craft bolted through the opening.
“Captain, you are a liar.” She handles the blade in the air; examining the details of the handle and the markings that only showed up when she held it. “Whoever this woman is has given you her disgrace. You stepped between a warrior’s challenge; you took away her right to carry her own Kno’kah.” Putting the blade down with the glove, “Now you carry her Kno’kah, however, you 'old chap' is still lying to me.” The ritual is specific and the details that he explained where out of order and incorrect. “Why the bloody fuck would this woman give a blade to you? A blade that is her’s! This blade if it were done proper, was meant to be given to my son. So HE may cut he’s own to draw blood, his own blood. If my son knew of this fucking ritual; he would have done the same for her!” She kept a serious gaze in to Stanton’s soul. “Allow me to correct what actually happened.” She stepped a few inches to her left. “This ‘officer’ suspected my son of weakness; unfortunately he drew his weapon. Giving the challenge to fight to the death and you! Like a ignorant child....” She paused and continued, “Saved my son.” Only Lords practice this ritual and the woman knew Patton was a easy win.
“Old chap, your still a liar. Just since you saved my son unknowingly, you keep your life. Next time don’t lie to my face again…” She didn’t need to finish it was understood where that would lead to. “I will deal, with the woman.” She afterward said, “Where is my son? I’m done talking to you.”
Tag(s) – Stanton Briggs
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 19, 2014 23:51:40 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Stanton watched An’nux. She was a woman practiced in masking emotions. She surreptitiously tapped her right temple three times. It wouldn’t have been out of the ordinary, he’d seen many people tap there temples as they thought. It was her reaction previous to the act. As he told his story there was a brief moment of alarm. He had known what happened on the bridge was serious, now he knew how serious. He revealed the blade, and she reacted as if she were surprised for him to have it. She walked over to his replicator ordering one rubber glove. She looked down at the blade again with a sigh and dropped the glove on to the blade picking it up with a knowing eye. “You’re stupid.” She stated calmly. “Captain, you are a liar.” She continue her examination the blade, but this time symbols began to appear glowing on that had been there previously. She had activated something as if the blade knew she was ‘safe’ and responded in kind. “Whomever this woman is, she has given you her disgrace. You stepped interfered with a warrior’s challenge. In doing so, you took away her right to carry her own Kno’kah.” She put the weapon down dismissively with the glove laying on top. “Now you carry her Kno’kah. Which is why, 'old chap' I know you are lying to me.” Her tone was accusatory. “Why the bloody fuck would this woman give a blade to you a blade that belongs to HER! If this ritual was done properly, the blade would have been given to my son. So HE may cut to draw his own blood. If my son knew of this fucking ritual; he would have done the same for her!” She continued looking at Stanton as if she were seeing through some grand masquerade. “Here is what actually happened.” She moved just slightly to her left. This ‘officer’ suspected my son of weakness; unfortunately he drew his weapon. In doing so, He challenged her to fight to the death. You! Like an ignorant child....” She paused momentarily before continuing. “Saved my son.” The last part caused her voice to soften just a little. “However old chap, your still a liar. Albeit unknowingly you saved my son, so you get to keep your life. Don’t ever lie to my face again…” She turned toward the door as if to dismiss Stanton, but he heard her voice in a low tone: “I will deal, with the woman.” She then raised her voice slightly louder as she had her back to Stanton. “Where is my son? I’m done talking to you
Stanton listened to this diatribe looking upon An’nux. He felt her pain. She was a mother protecting her son. That being said, he also found himself out of patient only three words rang in his mind: ‘that tears it!’ As An’nux turned to walk toward the door Stanton strode across the room putting himself between An’nux and the door. “I have man called many things in my life madam,” He said with resolve. “But a liar has never been one of them. I understand that you are grieving, and I am more than happy to let you talk to your son or anyone else on my ship you need to, but I’ve had enough of vague responses and accusation. I don’t know what the hell a ‘hookah’ or whatever you call it is. I will tell you what I do know. I know that two starfleet officer, one of them your husband, are dead. I do know that it is obvious to no one but me that someone or ones wanted them dead. I know that I have unknown beings aboard my ship that have been amongst us for at least the lifetime of your son, but has not been recorded by star fleet. Which means I now know that your husband was part of keeping this secret. I know that I have two officers on my ship who want to kill each other. I know they are part of this unknown race. I now know that you are too.” He walks over to his desk and grabs the blade holding up with the blade facing upward. “If you are asking me why this was given to me instead of your son, I don’t have an answer for you. Hell, up till five minutes ago I could only venture to guess what was going on when it was happening right in front of me.” He slowed himself and forced his voice to calm. “I won’t give you information about this woman for three reasons. Reason number one: I have a connection with her. I don’t know what it is, but I know she feels it too. It’s why she handed the blade to me. Second reason: She is important to this mission. I don’t know how yet but there’s a reason the Director General put her on my ship. I owe it to the mission to find out why. The third and final reason: whether the first two reason are true or not, she is one of my crew, and just like your son, I will protect her. I will tell you one more thing, if it helps me get at the truth. I asked her a question, and when she answered it didn’t sound like something coming from thought, but from feeling. A feeling deep inside fighting to get out. I heard this answer and saw someone worth fighting for. It was one simple word…’Yes’.
Tag: An'nux
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Post by An'nux on Apr 20, 2014 17:41:27 GMT -5
Stanton walked between her and the door, “Stand aside!” she uttered; the captain continued to speak over her. She had no choice but to let the human talk but when he was done she had something to add. “You want to know what we are?” She hit the blade out of his hand and she moved towards him and lifted him from he’s neck. “I am a Drak. A force that is best kept unknown, unless what you want around you to be come another form of hell.” She dropped him to the ground, “My son is here to be safe from them and this woman you think you have a connection with is one of the worst ones of us.”
“I don’t understand why you need to keep telling my husband is dead? Don’t you think I know? when you say it on and on” She felt empty, “I don’t feel him anymore and I always feel him when I’m not even around! Why do you throw this shite back at my face!” She was upset, however, not the kind that her eyes turn any dark shade. “You don’t know what your asking! And yea you are a liar. You couldn’t even tell me the truth about the blade. I could easily ask my son what had happen and I’m sure what he will say won’t coincide with rubbish you have fed to me!” Looking at him picking himself off the floor.
“What connection do you think you have with this woman? You hardly know her.” She continue to look down at him. “Your rather old to be her prodigy.” She smirked, “Perhaps the connection your speaking of the stiff end of your bits in her'. Are you her little bitch?” Her face became serious. “You have no idea what we are. She is working you and why the hell do you think she would help you? She is helping herself! Ha a Drak an officer to Starfleet, that's nothing more then a wolf in sheep's clothing.” She turned her back at him to adjust herself, “I care little of your authority Captain” She said sarcastically. “I will come and see and speak to whomever I damn please, with or without your permission. If one of us can do as I can, just imagine more of us.” She said candidly. “Last thing Stanton Briggs. Did this woman say 'yes', as if she sounded possessed by something?” She left it for him to examine.
Tag(s) – Stanton Briggs
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Post by Madalyn L Price on Apr 20, 2014 18:04:37 GMT -5
Location: Uss Sotrila, Deck 2, Living Quarters.
Madalyn passed through the doors to her quarters and moved swiftly over toward her desk, she dropped into the chair rather hard setting the Padd down upon her desk. She quickly raised the lid of her personal computer and began keying in her password to unlock the device. As soon as the screen came alive a secure communications line popped online and the face of her employer appeared.
“Hello Ms. Price,” his thick southern accent filled the room. “How are things progressing?”
She frowned, “You could wait till I sent you a comm’s request!” she said flatly as she grabbed up her Padd, and began to link it into the data link down the Earth. “So far so good, he seems to be responding to me better than we could have hoped.” “Good!” the man leaned back allowing the view of the old style plantation home in the background to come into view as well as the sunset beyond. “Then we are right on schedule and that should make our friend back at Starfleet very happy. This is a right sorry business but it has to be done.” he took a short drink from a tea cup. “When can we expect your next data update?”
“Well I’m sending you everything from this afternoons meeting with the Captain which seemed to have produced some fairly high emotional responses enough to get him motivated to want me to help him remember what happened, that In itself is a breakthrough. The Captain must have said something fairly profound to him during there meeting.” She shifted in her chair, tapping a few buttons on her Padd. “We are meeting tonight to discuss it.”
“Think you can coax out of him anything more about that station incident?” he asked flatly glancing off screen nodding to someone whom wasn’t in the picture.
“I honestly don’t know but we’ll find out soon enough, the rest of my data transmissions may come in longer spurts, as they will have to be sent with the rest of the ships normal subspace traffic once we leave port.”
“Understood,” he leaned back in toward the screen. “Stay the course Ms. Price, we’ve a lot riding on this.” He regarded her for a brief moment letting his words sink in. “Will be looking forward to further reports from you soon, Good Evening Ms. Price.” He nodded tipping the bill of his hat to her as the image went black and the communications window closed.
She shook her head and frowned; standing up abruptly she crossed the room to her bag and pulled a bottle of light brown liquid from it, then moved to the replicator. “Computer I need a four ounce glass with ice please!” it took only a few moments for the glass with its frozen contents to shimmer into existence from the subatomic suspension it was normally held in. She took up the glass and crossed back to desk and settled in behind it. She pulled back up the data stream that was in real time from the Engineer’s medical monitor, and settled back into her chair pouring some of the light brown liquid into the glass, she took a drink off the glass and let it burn its way down. “I hate this job!” she remarked.
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Post by Captain Stanton Briggs on Apr 21, 2014 8:56:21 GMT -5
Location: Captain's Ready Room
When Stanton walked between her and the door, she uttered “Stand aside!” It was said with the air of someone who was used to giving orders not receiving them. Stanton has been possessed by his own temper. He was still holding the blade up as he finished and saw it slapped out of his hand. He had managed to step aside before he finished, but closed on him and put her hands around his neck. “’You’ want to know what we are?” She said in a low, but intense voice. Stanton felt himself lift off the ground. A normal response would have been fear, but Stanton had crave this some much that he was looking at the entire display with an analytical eye. For instants, this woman was strong enough to have easily crushed his throat but she left him able to breathe…slightly. The whole thing was done quite gently. This was a warning of sorts, but she was in full control of her emotions. “I am a Drak. A force that is best kept unknown, unless what you want everything you know turned into a living form of hell.” She dropped him to the ground unceremoniously. “My son is here to be safe from them and ‘this woman’ you think you have a connection with is one of the worst ones of us.” Stanton had fallen on his leg and bit and was untangling himself when she leaned down closer to continue. “Another thing, I know my husband is dead. “She said as he voice went off to another place for a brief moment. I don’t feel him anymore and I always feel him when I’m not even around! Why do keep throwing that fact that he is in my face?” She was a lot of things, outraged, anguished and frustrated. None of the things that he saw from Photan or Grant. “You have no idea what you are asking of me,” She said as she watched Stanton pick himself up from the floor. He took the blade of the floor as he got up and this time holding it by the blade and not the hilt. It was as if Kate’s blood gave him strength that allow him to recover quickly. No, I don’t believe your story. You couldn’t even tell me the truth about the blade. I could easily ask my son what happened, and I’m positive he will have a different accounting of the events than the shite that you just fed me.
Stanton didn’t feel anything said wasn’t deserved. She didn’t know him so how could she believe him. Apparently Kate had chosen to adhere to the ‘spirit’ of the ritual, but to leave some things out. What An’nux got is that Stanton was lying. What Stanton got out of it was that Kate wasn’t done with Patton Grant, and unless he got them to do it right this would continue. “What connection do you think you have with this woman?” She scoffed. “You hardly know her.” Stanton held the blade and continued to look An’nux in the eye. He would take her dressing down, but he would take it with dignity. “You’re rather old to be her prodigy.” She said with sarcastic smile. “Perhaps the connection your speaking of the stiff end of your bits in her'. Are you her little bitch?” Stanton was sure this was meant as an insult, but he had pushed the buttons he wanted to and was getting his answer no matter how much venom that accompanied them. . “You have no idea what we are. She is working you. Why the hell do you think she would help you? She is helping herself! A Drak officer in Starfleet, is nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.” She turned her back to Stanton finally breaking their stare. “I care little of your ‘authority’ Captain” She said in a disrespectful tone. . “I will come and see and speak to whomever I damn please, with or without your permission. If one of us can do as I can, just imagine more of us.” It was in the form of a statement of fact, but Stanton also knew it was a threat. Last thing Stanton Briggs. Did this woman say 'yes', as if she sounded possessed by something?” She left it for him to examine.
Stanton absorbed all the things that she said. It was her last statement that intrigued him most so he would answer it first. “Lady Grant,” He said in a tone of respect. “First of all I want to thank you for your candor. You have been the first person during this entire affair that has talked to me with honesty. If you don’t like me, I can live with that. As you have so succinctly, you don’t serve on my ship so that won’t affect anything I need to do. Now allow me to match your candor.” He said calmly. “You’re not my favorite person either, but understand that keeping this truth about the Drak ‘unknown’ has been thrown in my lap. I think it’s part of my mission. “He stopped to think again. “As far as your query about how the officer sounded, yes. She did sound like she was possessed. “I asked her did it matter whose blood was spilled, and she said yes as if she were possessed by some unknown force. “He left that for her to consider confirming her question but adding information of his own since she seemed particularly interested in Kate. “As far as talking to you son,” He concluded. “I welcome it. He is an honest man with honor and integrity, so I have no doubt he will corroborate my story. By the way, you may not respect my authority be he does. He does because you and his father taught him to respect our ways too. I hope that respect continues.
Just as he was finishing his speech his communication alert sounded. He walked over to desk opening the internal channel. "Captain, your executive officer is down here after taking a hard fall. You may want to be down here to question him.". Stanton looked up to An'nux. I think we both need to go down to sickbay.
Tag:An'nux
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Post by Haemis McTavish on Apr 21, 2014 23:16:13 GMT -5
Location: Sol, Earth Orbit, Starbase 001, USS Sotrila, Deck 11, Main Engineering
Ah reports, something that Haemis actually did enjoy, it was a time when he could get off his feet and do some busy work other than hands on work. A lot of people did not seem to enjoy this part of the job but he didn’t mind it so much. Right now it was a division scheduling report to which his assistant had put together earlier that day in preparation of him coming aboard. Haemis had to admit it but this man was good. Might even make this an easy posting if things kept going this smooth.
“Hey Chief, you got a minute?” a young African American man called to him from the door, the rank pip on his shoulder shown him to be a Lieutenant in rank.
Haemis waved him in. “It’s open for a reason Lieutenant, come in.”
The man approached him and handed him a Padd, it came alive as he took hold of it data quickly scrolled by on the screen his eyes seemed glued to it for a brief moment, data from a hydraulic load lifter appeared toward the end of the chain of what seemed like raw data . “Sorry Chief, Padd’s been doing that all day, I really need your help, there is a Hydraulic load lifter in one of the cargo bays that is having an overpressure problem and we cannot seem to get it straight.” He said in a flat and steady voice. “Wouldn’t normally ask you to handle a problem like this but I think you’re just the man we need for this kind of work.”
“Aye,” Hameis said nodding to the man his attention clearly on the information on the screen. “I do believe I am the man you need for this specific job.” He looked up and met the man’s eyes. “Aye! The right tool for the right job!”
“I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier, I’m Ryan Jackson one of your Warp Theory specialists.” he said offering a hand.
Haemis stood grabbing his tool belt from the desk, taking a moment to shake the man’s hand, he regarded him a moment. “You sure we’ve not met Mr. Jackson?”
“No sir, I don’t believe we have.” He said with a bit of a confused look on his face. “We could have run into one another aboard Starbase 234, I was aboard when the accident aboard occurred.”
Haemis nodded, “Twas no accident!” he said flatly and knowingly. “Let’s go take a look at your Hydraulic problem shall we!” It was a short turbolift ride later that Haemis found himself in one of the Cargo Bay’s with Ryan and they had managed to field strip the hydraulic lifter and reassemble it with new seals. They both sat there a bit weary, sweaty and with new stains to boot on there uniforms. “Well Mr. Jackson, its good to know you math types can keep up with the dirty work!” he ribbed the man.
“Indeed,” he said putting the last tools into the tool kit. “Your not bad yourself Sir.”
Haemis nodded and ran a quick test diagnostic on the lifter and everything seemed in order. “Twas a simple matter, but a unique one to say the least. Off to see the wee golden haired lass again?”
“Yes it was. Must be why it took us so long to get the job done I suppose don’t you Haemis?” Jackson said as he started toward the door. “Yes, the golden haired lass, so have a drink on me for both of us to a job well done Irish!” he said as the doors closed behind him leaving Haemis standing in the cargo bay alone.
Haemis stood there a moment, then looked at the door. “I told ya not to call me that!” he chuckled to himself as he too started toward the door; the time struck him as odd as he spied a glance at the chronometer on one of the wall displays next to the door. It was time to head home, but he needed to make a quick stop back at his office to pick up his tool box before heading back to his quarters and what was to be an interesting evening of conversation with Ms. Price.
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Post by Haemis McTavish on Apr 22, 2014 22:43:50 GMT -5
Location: Sol, Earth Orbit, Starbase 001, USS Sotrila, Deck 2
Later that night...
The turbolift doors hissed open admitting Haemis out onto deck two once again; he had been too and from here all day long between little jobs here and there. He had in tow his Red Tool box as he strolled down the corridor. His work cloths had seen some ware on the day, they featured several new stains which would certainly come out in the wash but it was surely a sign of a productive day to say the least. He came to a halt at his door, and punched in his security code, the doors parted and lights inside came on slowly rising in intensity. Crossing the room he set the toolbox down onto his desk and spared no time moving to his dresser rummaging through its contents where he grab a comfortable change of cloths. Dropping his tool belt with a clank and clatter onto the desk next to his tool box, he walked over toward the bathroom the doors parting without hesitation as he approached.
Setting his change of cloths down on the counter he didn’t miss a beat as he stripped out of his work cloths and activated the sonic shower, stopping only to make a few slight adjustments to the controls before stepping into the sonic shower chamber. He let the sonic tones and light misting of water do their job of pulsing the bits and pieces of debris and lubricants off his body.
He pressed both hands to the back wall of the shower and laid his head against the cool wall, he didn’t bother to turn around when the doors beyond the stall made a hissing noise and parted to admit his neighbor whom he shared the bathroom with. He didn’t flinch or bother to cover up, she had already seen him in the shower once before so what was the point. He just continued on enjoying the sonic pulses as they too helped ease his aching muscles.
“Rough day?” she asked from beyond the sonic shower stall.
“Aye,” he said his voice muffled somewhat by his position in the shower. “Twas indeed.” He turned around now leaning with his back against the wall. “Sorry I’m late getting in; we had a hydraulic system malfunction that needed attention. Twas a minor thing but I felt the need to get my hands dirty!”
“It’s no worries, you still up for a late dinner and a chat?” she asked.
He nodded though knowing she probably couldn’t see him through the frosted glass of the chamber, “Aye that sounds good!” he touched a couple of controls on the wall and the intensity of the sonic waves went up.
“Alright, would you like me to replicate anything in particular?” she asked over the sound of both the power increase in the sonic shower and the toilet cycling.
He turned again leaning heavily on the wall once again, “Surprise me!”
“Alright, your place or mine?” she asked with a hint of humor in her voice.
“Either is fine!” he said as he reached over and keyed the end of cycle sequence on the control panel. In turn the tones of the sonic shower changed frequencies and the water mist began to dissipate, and slowly the device went quiet. He noted that she had already vacated the space leaving him alone in the bathroom once more. He opened the doors to the sonic shower and grabbed a towel and began to wipe what little water remained on his body clean. His muscles ached less but his hip and knee still burned as they usually did, his near constant reminder of his ordeal.
As he began to pull on his T-shirt he stopped and regarded briefly what still remained of his burn scars, the ones too deep for even a medical regenerator to fix. His fingers dug into the bathroom counter as his mind flashed back to that moment, the bulkhead seeming to spider web like glass breaking and erupting. He shook his head, and closed his eyes hard willing away that image. The doors parted on Madalyn’s side of the bathroom, she stopped and regarded him for a moment holding a tray of food.
“You alright?” she asked, “You grip that thing any harder and you might break a piece of the counter off Mac!” she held some concern in her.
He nodded, and sighed. “Aye, I’m fine!” he stood upright letting go of the counter. “Shall we?” he gestured toward the doors to his room then bent over to gather his things.
She walked passed him and into his room with the tray, she headed for the table and set the tray down as he disposed of his close into the cleaning unit. “I hope you don’t mind that I went a bit healthy,” she pulled the tops off of the plates which produced two plates of some form of a salad. “They are something I’ve been meaning to try, Pacifican Caesar salad.” She regarded the plates herself for a moment.
Haemis crossed the room, and pulled out a chair and gestured to her. “Sounds interest’n, but I canna promise I’ll be a fan!” he pushed the chair gently under her as she settled into it. He moved around the table and sat down across from her, now able to take stock of the contents of the salad. “Ach, is this seafood?”
She let out a bit of a chuckle, “You don’t know much about Pacifica do you?” she took a forkful of what she was fairly certain was seaweed, some for of grasses and another substance that looked much like fish and took a bite. Her face was a wide range of odd emotional states as she began chewing. This brought Haemis up short the fork full of sea life just a hairs breath from his lips, his eyebrow went up as she held out a hand in a stopping gesture. She quickly took up a napkin and covered her lips with it as she ejected the contents of her mouth into the napkin.
“I take it your not very strong in your knowledge of Pacifica either?” he said with a grin on his face as she took up a glass of water and began to drink rapidly from the glass.
She set the cup down and gave him a humble smile. “Perhaps something different!” she said standing and collecting both plates. “How about…” he voice trailed off as she moved over to the replicator. “Something a bit more Earth Traditional?” she glanced over her shoulder as she sent the two plates off into molecular oblivion from which they had come.
He nodded, “We can stay with your theme and do…”
“Chicken Caesar?” she asked before he could finish.
“Sounds good to me!” he nodded in approval.
“Computer, two chicken Caesar Salads!” she said looking back to the replicator terminal.
“Please specify origin!” the computers female voice called back to her.
She shook her head. “Earth, Simple!” the replicator went about processing her request and after a brief moment she returned with two plates. “There we go,” she settled one of the plates down in front of him. “All better!”
He couldn’t help but chuckle, “Thank ye for protect’n me from the evil’s of Pacifican Caesar.” They both shared a good laugh over that.
A few moments went by in silence as they ate, it did not dawn on Haemis that he had not stopped all day to actually enjoy a meal, as a matter of fact the only thing he had eaten today aside from breakfast was a nutrient bar he had picked up while moving from place to place through the ship, though his stomach had apparently failed to remind him of his duty to himself. “Thank you for this!”
“It was your idea!”
He set his fork down, his demeanor shifting to a more sullen tone. “How do I put the pieces back together, the things that happened that day and move on?” he asked flatly.
She sat back and likewise set down her fork, “Well there are many ways you can, but I think the best way is to talk about it.” She took up her glass in both hands and took a drink holding it, watching him over the glass. “It certainly won’t be easy for you.”
“I know!” he nodded. “It’s very hard to remember that day before in detail, and I’m trying very hard to do that but it’s like I have a fog over my head.”
“What do you mean?”
“I remember the explosions, I remember the station coming apart and being ejected into space but I cannot for the life of me remember much of the day prior to that.” He shifted uneasy in his chair taking a drink from his glass, he stopped as the glass came close to his lips, and he could see his hand was trembling again.
“Well what can you remember?” she asked pulling a padd out and setting in on the table after hitting a couple of buttons.
Haemis closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, “Bacon and eggs!” he smiled. “I had Bacon and Eggs that morning!”
She chuckled, “You can’t remember what you did all day but you remember the Bacon and Eggs? Must have been some damn good bacon and eggs!” she ribbed him.
A smile did appear briefly on his lips but was quickly gone. “I gathered up me tools and went off to work in the stations engineering department. It was a routine day, right boring actually.”
“Do you remember what you worked on?” she asked.
“Several things actually, I ended up doing a lot of work with the stations environmental systems that day.” He shifted in his chair again; he could feel his heart starting to beat in his ears. “That’s it, that’s all I did, but that should have only taken a few hours!” his eyes came open. “I canna for the life of me remember what else I worked on that day!” a touch of concern filled his voice.
She frowned, “You certain? I know that life support systems are complex pieces of machin…”
He gave her a very serious stare, his words came out a bit harsher than he might have intended. “I know me job! It was simple diagnostic work mostly, few simple parts replacements. It shouldn’t have taken that long, not the entire day!” he stood up and started to pace the floor.
She held up her hands, “Ok, ok!” she watched him as he went back and forth.
“Sorry!” he said stopping. “It’s frustrating!”
“I know,” she regarded him a moment and stood herself. “Well if your certain that’s not all you did perhaps we can try an exercise, if your game!” she said gesturing to the couch.
He nodded, and moved over to the couch. “What do I need to do?” he asked as he settled down.
“Just lie down and get comfortable!” she said helping reposition some pillows on the couch to help him get comfortable. “This is a pretty easy exercise but it doesn’t always work on everyone.” She settled onto the chair across from him.
“What do I do?”
“Well for the moment, close your eyes and just breath.” She sat there and watched him. “Just keep breathing, in, and out. In, and out.” She continued to coax him through the breathing cycle repeating it until she was certain he had the correct sinus rhythm. “Now, just listen to the sound of my voice. Realize you are safe and in control, you can stop this whenever you want!” she said in a soothing sort of way. “I want you to think back, back to that day that you had your amazing breakfast of eggs and ham!” she said
“Eggs and Bacon!” he said correcting her.
“Perfect!” she smiled, her test having worked. “Alright, you went on duty?”
“Yes!”
“You worked on the Life Support subsystems on the Station?”
“Yes!”
“How did that go?” she watched his facial features as he began to recount for her exactly what he had done with his diagnostic and replacements of minor wear and tear parts. “How long did that take you too accomplished?” she asked, when he didn’t respond it brought about a bit of concern. He seemed to be struggling with something, as the look on his face was somewhat pained. “How long did it take you to do the life support job Haemis?”
“About,” he paused again and seemed to lock up. “It took…”
“How long Haemis?” she pushed him using a more stern voice.
“Five Hours!” he was starting to sweat. “It took five hours!”
“What did you do for the rest of your day?” she continued with the same tone of voice. “If the Life Support systems only took five hours what did you do for the rest of your shift?”
“The life support subsystems…” he said.
“No, you said that only took you five hours, what else did you work on that day?” she asked again, her voice conveying with it authority. “What else did you work on Haemis?”
His face seemed to contort as if he was fighting with something internally, his chest began to rise and fall at a quicker pace. “The life support.” He stammered out angrily. “The EPS Life Support System, the Life Support Power…the power.” he jerked upright on the couch, his breath coming in gasps now. “Life Support Subsystems!” he said loudly and forcefully. “I worked on the Life Support Subsystems!” he looked over at her; his eyes were pleading with her as if asking her to stop, there was a hint of pain behind them. “Life Support!”
Several long silent minutes went by as she sat watching him continue to mumble almost incoherently about the life support work he had done, recounting the work progression as he already did. It was almost like a broken record. She knew that they would not get any further tonight. What she did know was that she needed to calm him down. “What did you do after you were off duty?” she asked him changing her tone of voice to that of a smoothing and calming tone. “What did you do after work Haemis?” She asked again trying to pull his attention away from the path it was on.
He was still sitting up, his eyes were closed again. “Went to the bar and had a drink with Ryan Jackson!” he seemed to calm almost immediately. “I hate it when he calls me Irish!” a momentary flash of pain graces his facial features. “Irish!” he repeated angrily, his eyes flutter open and they find focus on the woman sitting across from him, his breathing normalizing. “So, did it work?” he asks her while she’s staring at him.
“Yeah, I think were getting somewhere,” the surprise in her voice was obvious.
“Well, did I say what I was doing the rest of the day?” he asked as he turns himself into a more comfortable sitting position on the couch. “What was it?” he wipes away some of the sweat from his brow.
“Well,” she considers her words more carefully. “Its not exactly what you said, all you really said was Life Support really but you seemed to be conflicted over your own answer. You mentioned EPS Life Support, and Life Support power!” she frowned as if unsure if they were one in the same.
He too seemed to retreat into his own thoughts, “I never worked on the EPS power connections to any of the life support systems that day, not directly!” it was said very flat and matter of fact.
“Never the less, it is what you said.” She shrugged, “This doesn’t always work, and sometimes it’s hard to interpret things when they come out especially when you’re in a suggestive or agitated state.” She stood and moved over to the table to retrieve the Padd she had left there earlier. “You don’t particularly care for this Ryan character calling you Irish!” she said as she regarded the data streaming past the monitor.
“Ryan?” he looked down at the floor a moment. “Who’s Ryan?” he glanced over at her.
“You said his name was Ryan Jackson, you had a drink with him and it sounded like you were not to happy with him calling you Irish?” she asked looking up at him from the padd.
“Ya canna mean Lieutenant Jackson the Warp Theory specialist aboard?” his nose wrinkled up as he tried to remember anything he could about this young man whom was part of his engineering team. “I’ve only met this man today!” he looked over at the woman again after staring at the ground a moment lost in thought. “Not that I can recall anyhow!”
“Interesting!” she said now lost in the data scrolling by the screen. She watched as all the data over the course of the last few minutes went past. “Oh,” her facial features shifted through a variety of emotions, without word she stood abruptly headed for her own room.
Haemis stood there, his brain churning over this man’s name; he didn’t notice that she had left the room. He crossed the room and pulled back the lid to his tool box, and reached inside digging around his fingers grasping for the Padd he had stored there. Surprisingly so he found what he was looking for on the first try. He moved back across the room and entered his bedroom turning down the sheets before dropping heavily on the bed, taking only a moment to bunch up the pillows behind him. He could still feel his heart racing as he settled in pulling up the recovered sensor data from the Station and the other vessels in the area at the time of its destruction.
Haemis looked up over the top of his Padd as Madalyn came into the room; she stopped just past the threshold of the door, holding a padd in one hand and a Hypospray in the other. “Anxiety Meds!” she gestured with the Hypo. He noted she had changed her cloths in favor of something more comfortable clearly getting ready to turn in for the night herself. She glanced down at the padd again and watched something on it for a moment then crossed to the opposite side of the bed and plopped down beside him.
He nodded his approval knowing that it might help calm him down some; he craned his neck slightly to accommodate her as she pressed the device to his neck. He was rewarded with the soft his of the injection and the warmth it brought as the medication eased its way into his system. “Thank you!” he said, rubbing at the spot as she set the Hypospray down on the nightstand on her side of the bed.
“It also had a very light sleep aid in it,” she said as she fluffed the pillows behind her. “I figured it might help you get some rest.” She settled back into the pillows next to him on the bed.
He sat watching her for a long moment unsure as to what it was she was doing, clearly she was reading, but why was she doing it from his bed. He yawned and looked back at his own Padd now full of raw sensor data, he shrugged and locked the padd and set it down on his nightstand. His eyes were getting heavy; it seemed like as good a time as any to call it a night. His eyes slowly fell shut; he could feel a light hand on his arm as he pulled the blankets up round his shoulder, it was a reassuring touch.
Madalyn sat there for several minutes reading the various levels of chemicals and hormones as they fluctuated over the course of the last hour, she finally turned away from the display long enough to realize he had fallen off to sleep. Slowly she swung her legs over the side of the bed taking care not to disturb him. She could hear his sinus rhythm as he was already deep asleep. She stopped and sat there lost in her own thoughts for a good long moment before she hit the light control on the night stand bringing them down and laying down herself rolling onto her side so she could watch him. He was on his side facing away from her; she could still see him in the dim light of the room, she reached out and placed a hand on his back and slowly fell off to sleep herself.
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