[JP Lt. Pond and LtCmdr. Shayne: Goodbye for Now.]

@KriJBa @Randal Shayne you guys, made me have feels

Quote

((Outside Shuttlebay))

::This was it. Isabel walked down the hallway, travel bag on her shoulder, handbag in the hand. Starfleet officers travel light, even if it is a one-way trip. Well, one-way-ish. It seemed quite inefficient, flying out to the Athena, weeklong slipstream journey, just to tell them to come back with them. That’s how Isabel understood the mission, anyway. Maybe there was more to it than the eye meets.::

::But that was not Isa’s main concern. She looked at her bags. Her whole life fitted in there. Well, her whole life that she could take with her. It was quite a sad sight, to be honest. Most of the things, she just left there with Randal. Their glowing Bolian fish, for instance. And of course the cosy togetherness.::

::The doors to the shuttle bay opened. There it laid, the USS Aceso, standard runabout, medical version. A couple of people had found their way to here. Probably even quite a lot of people. But Isabel had only eyes for one person. Somewhere in the back, as she would have expected, he stood.::

::On her way there, she shook some hands, said thank you to some good wishes. In the end, she did not remember any of them very clearly. But she’d always remember the look on his face.::

::The Trill built herself up in front of him, arms stretched behind her back, trying to look cute for him a last time. She didn’t want to hug at the beginning, as she probably couldn’t bear it to break it twice.::

Pond: ::silently:: Hi…

::He refused to cry. That would be an indignity that no one could absolve him of. And besides, it wasn’t like he had more tears to shed. Call him whiney, call him weak. But when he’d heard that he would no longer being seeing his beloved on a daily basis, he had a bit of a breakdown. A private, dignified weep. He was confident Isa hadn’t seen it, but his red, swollen eyes might have given it away just as well.::

Shayne: Hi. 

::His voice cracked, and he felt his throat closing painfully. How badly did he want to avoid this?::

Shayne: Are you...are you alright?

::Isabel was as strong of will and mind as he had ever seen, but he’d known her too long- loved her too long- to ignore the loss in her eyes.::

Pond: ::applying a smile bellow sad eyes:: Everything’s gonna be okay.

::Words refused to come forward. He swallowed hard, attempting to clear an obstruction that wasn’t there. Somehow, his body found the means to send another wet, salty tear down his cheek. If he didn’t do it now, he never would.::

::Reaching behind himself, he unclasped the small box from his waist. It was quite flat, with a beautiful wooden body. With trembling fingers, it opened.::

::When Isabel spotted the box, she obviously thought what every girl would. She knew about earth customs regarding proposals and this very much looked like one. She wanted to scream, tell him not to do it, not in this entirely unhappy moment. But she stood still, accepting her faith, with her thoughts racing to find an answer.::

::Held within was a single combadge. It was obviously old, but it was clear that, despite it’s scratches and signs of use, it had been immaculately cared for.::

Shayne: You remember our first kiss, the night you were promoted? Well, um…

::He cringed inside at the sentimentality, but it was too late to stop now. Nor would he want to. This meant everything to him.::

Shayne: This was the combadge I was wearing that night. I’ve kept it ever since. I want you to have it.

::It wasn’t what might come to mind when thinking of something to give a significant other as they departed. But his possessions were few, and and even fewer carried the same emotional meaning for him. The picture Isa gave him would stay on his bed stand for the rest of his days. He prayed like never before that she would take it as it was meant.::

::What utterance the Trill produced was a huge sigh of relief, which turned seamlessly into a sound of admiration. She took the box very carefully, looked at it for a moment and pressed it against her chest.::

Pond: That is so very considerate of you. And I have got you nothing.

::Isabel looked at Randal with big eyes that must be glittering from all the water that is held in there solely by its own surface tension. For a moment, she felt bad for not getting him a present. It probably was because she had to deal with her own departure. It was a lame excuse. However, that feeling was swallowed immediately by the all surrounding ocean of sorrow.::

Shayne: I don’t need anything- except, perhaps, to know that I will see you again soon.

::He hammered his thigh with a fist to keep himself from dissolving into a sorrowful mess.::

::Isabel stood there, perplex. There was nothing she wanted more than to promise to see him again soon. But she couldn’t. Her next stop was the Gamma Quadrant. Yes, she would be back, in a couple of weeks, in the same region as the Blackwell. But soon wasn’t a couple of weeks. For lovers, soon was tomorrow. She shook her head.::

::The time was slipping away, but as it ran out, he just thought of more things that he wanted to say. How worried he was, how lonely he felt already. How proud he was of her. He’d said it a dozen times, but it was never enough. He longed to hold her and never release, but that was preposterous. So he said the only thing he could.::

Shayne: I love you.

::He embraced her tenderly, but firmly, as if trying to burn the memory into his mind.::

::Isabel returned the embrace, just as tender and firm as he did. The metaphorical floodgates were open now, the tears wet her cheeks, before they fell unto Randal’s back. It was a silent cry, no sobbing, no shivering. There was no way to know what was happening if one did not stand behind them.::

Pond: ::silently:: I love you, too.

::They remained in this position for a long while. Only when the a slightly louder hum gave away the starting up of the shuttles systems, Isabel knew it was time to go. While breaking the hug, she dried her eyes at Randal’s chest.::

::While turning around, she briefly brushed over his arm, before stepping with determined steps up to ramp, not looking back.::

End...or is it? 

Lt Isabel Pond
Chief Medical Officer
USS Atlantis
D239212IP0

and

Lieutenant Commander Randal Shayne
Helmsman/Ops Officer/Second Officer 

USS Blackwell 
NCC 58999
G239202RS0 

 

[RAdm Renos - Starfleet Parents]

((USS Blackwell, Deck 1, Bridge))

Renos: We were on our way to investigate some strange signals detected at a nearby debris field. As we approached the helm console malfunctioned and we lost all control. We -literally- smashed our way through pulling off some insane stunt with the deflector dish. We later discovered a virus in the system was the cause and engineers have been running it down and purging our systems ever since. Doing a great job of it too since we’re nearly ready to depart dry dock once again and get underway.

Dirsye: Dear Altha, it’s good the ship is still in one piece. I’m good in security systems, if you don’t mind I’d like to see if I can find any traces of bad coding in the computer once we will be on our way and repairs are done.

::The Admiral wasn’t sure whether or not that would be necessary. Engineering and security had already been tasked with ensuring their systems were completely secure from top to bottom, from the tiniest grains of code and beyond. In nir time here viruses, sabotage and systems bugs had plagued nem. Ne couldn’t stand to see that continue to happen, and to plague this crew the same way. It was beginning to feel like some awful curse ne couldn’t shake, illogical as the notion was. Putting childish paranoia back in its place, ne gave the engineer a small sympathetic smile for ne knew there was a lot of work ahead of the young woman. Her contributions were much needed right now and certainly appreciated.::

Renos: I’m sure it’s not how you imagined your first day would bring.

Dirsye: Oh my. What I imagined my life will be and what it turned into are fire and ice, Sir. But the wisdom gained from fire is burning stronger and longer. ::Tya smiled and closed her eyes, apparently lost in thought for a moment.:: I learned to appreciate the pain because every joy is better after that. You know the saying after every rain comes the sun.

::Renos hadn’t heard the saying and didn’t believe it. Weather aside, taking things as ne believed she meant it, nir life had been one long storm. If ne was lucky, it stopped raining for awhile. Sometimes, when ne lay in bed at night ne wondered if happiness was a myth - or maybe just something out of reach for deviants.::

::Of course, ne loved Asana but ne worried constantly about nem coming to harm during events like this. Nir stomach was always knotted and ne felt ill with worry trying to do what ne could to hold things together, knowing duty kept nem apart from nir baby, who really needed nem in moments like that. Ne worried constantly that Asana would grow to love the nannys - even the holographic one better than nem. They were the ones who cared for nem in times of danger, when ne was occupied with nir duty - which was often. Ne tried to make what little time they got special - but was it enough?::

::Then there was Poppy. How they had hit it off. Asana had been the unexpected result of their passion. Ne hadn’t even known it was possible for J’naii to reproduce naturally any more! They didn’t do it and hadn’t done for centuries, it was considered too painful and dangerous. Ne had never seen or heard or a pregnant J’naii. Renos certainly wasn’t going out of nir way to break every social taboo in nir culture but was nevertheless well on nir way to achieving it.::

Renos: I’ve heard many sayings all with similar notions. I am fond of the one that goes along the lines of, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. We all have our challenges to overcome.

Dirsye: You can’t have everything. I resigned to have a family, I left my babies on Deep Space 26 with a nanny. I know having Family close can make you work better, but their security is more important and I was informed Deep Space 26 is our safe haven after every mission, so I arranged for quarters there.

::Renos could barely imagine how difficult it must be to have a family and then leave them behind. What was strange to nem, was resigning to have a family, and then leaving them behind. Her priorities had taken her away from Starfleet and that was fine but it seemed her priorities had once again shifted. Her family couldn’t be that important to her if she rejoined Starfleet and left them behind in the care of someone else. It wasn’t Renos’s place to judge. Nir baby was aboard and it was a much safer place than Deep Space 26, in nir view. Deep Space 26 was a Chon station. It was alien in design and had a significant Freeworlds presence. They were effectively guests in this region and didn’t yet have significant influence. There were too many people that could be bought, blackmailed or coerced into kidnapping nir child on behalf of deviant hunters who would be every bit as pleased to see nir baby exterminated as to see nem reconditioned - or worse. Asana was definitely safer here. Not to mention Renos couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing nir baby for an extended period. The ship had already been away from Deep Space 26 for many months and would not be returning there for a great many more either.::

Renos: I think you’ve been misinformed. We will not be returning to Deep Space 26 after every mission. It’s a secure station but in a region like this, no place is a safe haven. It’s not for me to tell you what to do but you might want to consider whether you’ve made the best choice for you and your family there.

Dirsye: Whatever you say, Sir. I’ll follow your orders, but I have to be honest and say I’d love to see engineering. It’s heart and soul of every vessel and to every engineer dearest place aboard.

::Obviously nir advise as a parent and someone with more experience in Starfleet was not particularly welcome. Maybe ne had touched on a nerve? This new Ensign seemed really nice and there seemed a certainty bubbliness about her personality that was endearing. It as certainly clear she loved her job. Perhaps ne was overthinking things. After all, if ne knew there was a medical emergency going on, ne would want to be in the middle if sickbay mucking in. Dirsye knew the ship was in trouble, so it was natural that her drive to get in there and put things to rights would be at its peak.::

Renos: Of course, I understand. Welcome aboard Ensign. Go ahead and report to Ensign Yesna in engineering.  

::The Admiral hoped to catch up with Dirsye again later. Maybe it would be nice for a couple of parents to compare notes about the highs and lows of being a parent in Starfleet. With Brell having been given command of the Atlanis, he and family members Lyldra and Hars had moved on. Ne really missed them but was sure they would stay in touch. He had relied a lot on Lyldra in particular and her experience bringing up twins Renu and Lianu who were a little older than Asana. The kids would certainly miss each other but as the same time ne couldn’t hold back great officers for nir own selfish needs.::

::Stepping onto the bridge around the same time as the Ensign left it, was Commander Wilmer and Ensign Tu’Peq.::

Wilmer: Admiral Renos, we’re back from the Burellion cultural exchange, ner. We have some interesting findings to report.

Renos: That’s wonderful. I’d love to hear all about it.

Wilmer/Tu’Peq: Response

::The trio talked about all that had happened, with Renos wishing ne could have been there. Nir own trip to Burellion had been interesting in its own way and hopefully they would get something solid to use from the Consortium from it. Engineering reported the ship’s condition was sufficient to allow them to leave dry dock. It was still take weeks to get to the frontline where the Valcarians were aggressively expanding and they were well behind their targeted arrival date but there was nothing they could do. The ship would be operating on skeleton crews as they travelled the busy trade lane because it was the only rest they would get before an intense mission.::

Rear Admiral Renos - Commanding Officer, Andaris Task Force
* Executive Council & Captain's Council Member
A238805EB0
 

[PNPC Charlotte Farnsworth - Technicolor Yawn]

I've never had so much fun reading about somebody throwing up!

------------------------------------------

((Main Engineering, Deck 21, USS Blackwell)) 

Thoran: Nothing so far Commander. If there is a virus in the system, it’s an elusive little thing. It may be this device is related in some way.

Shayne: As much as I hate to simply abandon the computer like this, we have a clear and present danger on the hull of this ship. The Blackwell isn’t getting underway without our collective approval, so the threat of the virus is lessened, as long as we keep an eye on it. Who knows- if it reaches anything more, we might be able to identify it when we return. Something like that can’t hide forever. 

::Charlotte regrettably did not know much about computer viruses. That was more her fiancées speed. Once, aboard the Cardassian freighter Razbu, she had helped isolate a particularly nasty recursive line of code which began making all the replicators speak in fluent Romulan. But the malfunction had been the result of bad programming, not an incursive program. Either way, she could add very little to the moment.:: 

Farnsworth: I suppose I see your point.

::Charlotte turned to notice Yesna’s approach. She could tell that the white haired engineer seemed giddy and excited about something, as was evident from her beaming grin.::

Yesna: I’m Ready!! :: Her smile still ear to ear and her teeth shining white. ::

Shayne: Spacewalk. We’ve got to get whatever it is off the hull. And we’re not splitting up- I assume you are cleared for EVA activity? 

::Charlotte froze in her tracks, turning ghastly pale white on her skin. She had never anticipated during her application to the engineering department, that she might have to one day operate outside the vessel. Outer space EVA work made her sick…very sick. And yet, how could she say no? She responded with a nervous and stuttered half-hearted smile.::

Farnsworth: Sure…?

::Charlotte began to pray as they headed for the airlock that her mag-boots would not demagnetize and have her spiraling out of control into the deep, deep depths of uncharted space.::

((Timeskip))

((Airlock, Deck 13, USS Blackwell))

::Charlotte had never prayed before, and yet, as the airlock began to depressurize, she quickly found herself in touch with the almighty.::

Farnsworth: oO Keep your eyes on the hull… keep your eyes on the hull… Oo

::Following the leader, Charlotte stuck in tight formation with those around her, using them as a sort of anchoring point, so that she might not concentrate on where she was walking. One misstep in space, and one could find themselves floating free and unceremoniously away.:::

Yesna: Don’t worry you’ll be fine.

::Charlotte couldn’t tell if her nauseated state could be so easily seen through the Starfleet issue spacesuit. For a moment, she thought about addressing the statement, until Thoran spoke up instead.::

Thoran: ::Resigned smile.:: I know. Just like to make sure these ::pointing to the boots:: work and aren’t going to suddenly disengage. Especially given the quality of engineers we have on board.

::Charlotte felt somehow at ease with Thoran’s joking statement. She was glad to know she wasn’t the only one with butterflies in her stomach.::

Shayne: Mag boots ready. Oxygen ready. Tools ready.

::The room started to depressurise.::

::The doors parted to reveal the great void.:: 

::Charlotte’s heart began to pump as though she were running a marathon. In the infinite quiet of the internalized world of her own spacesuit, she could hear only her own breathing, the quiet release of marginally warmed oxygen, and deafening beat of her own fearful heart.:: 

::If she suffocated in space, her last thoughts would be of Nate, but the sound she would hear was her own heart drumming out anxiety.::

Shayne: Sound off, please. 

Yesna: Response

Thoran: All good here commander.

::Charlotte separated herself from the hull, allowing the great miasma of nothingness to embrace her. Her stomach released from its grounded perch inside her, and did somersaults. Still she did her best to reply.::

Farnsworth: I…am…. ::fighting queasiness.:: …alive…

::She stayed in focus on the backside of Shayne. He would have to be her focal point. To look anywhere else was to invite still more fear and nausea.::

Shayne: Tricorder readings.

Yesna: Response

::Time slowed to a crawl with every breath. Charlotte imagined herself in her wedding dress, to try and calm herself. The wedding was not far away now. She had something to live for, she would not die in space.::

Shayne: Very well. Let’s head out. 

::Charlotte again responded.::

Farnsworth: Head… ::fighting the tumbling of her ever approaching lunch.:: …heading out….

Thoran: After you. I insist.

::Free floating in space, to Charlotte’s estimation, was not like reentering the womb, as some had so artistically put it. It was more like riding the tilta-whirl cup at Disneyworld, but with no motion suppression system engaged. Charlotte felt woozy, but pressed on.::

Yesna: Response

Farnsworth: We’re not…..::she hiccupped, feeling the acrid taste of her own stomach contents in the back of her throat:: …we’re not…far…from it now… 

::She was becoming disoriented, unfocused, she didn’t know how much longer she could hold out.::

Shayne: Response

::Charlotte’s eyes focused on the box. However, all her stomach could focus on was emptying its contents.::

Thoran: ::Looking to the group.:: So uh, now we’ve found it, how do we get rid of it?

::Charlotte did not how to respond. She suddenly hated all of her ambitions. She hated that she had volunteered for this mission, hated her space suit, hated this stupid box and its stupid contents. She hated space. She hated the fact that she had Mexican food for lunch.::

Farnsworth: I… uhm…::choking back her nausea:: I… uhhhhhh….. I’m going to be…. 

::At once, an explosive cavalcade of partially digested materials projected from her mouth and into the helmet of her spacesuit. The sounds of regurgitation filled the commline, and Charlotte could not help but feel intense embarrassment as no doubt every member of the team knew what was happening.:: 

::Lunch had been officially lost.:: 

::Her vision now was obscured, as the material and mess free floated in front of her transparent helmet faceplate. She couldn’t see and how no idea how she might get back to the ship, with reduced vision.::

Yesna/ Response

Shayne: Response 

::Charlotte felt immediate embarrassment. She hoped that Nate would not learn of this fiasco, for he would never let her live it down.:: 

Farnsworth: Sorry… I’m sorry…. ::Now beginning to feel better:: What should I do? Is there a way to clear this out easily? Or am I just going to have to hope it doesn’t float into my hair and eyes??? 

::Charlotte was beyond saving face at this point. There was no aristocratic way to vomit, no stately way to upheave in front of ones coworkers. This was about pure damage control now, in more ways than one.:: 

Shayne: Response 

Thoran: Response 

PNPC Charlotte Farnsworth

as simmed by
Lt. Cmdr. Nate Wilmer 
Helm Officer 
USS Blackwell (NCC-58999) 
E239107NW0
 

[Lieutenant JG Anath G'Renn - Eager for Answers]

((Corridor - Deck 2, USS Blackwell))

 

::With their team assembled, it was time to track down the telepathic affliction spreading aboard the Blackwell and drive it away. But before they began, there was a matter of disclosure to take care of. It was better to get it out of the way at the start than after her symptoms chose to resurface.::

 

G’Renn: Commander ::Turning to look at R’Ven:: It would also be neglectful on my part if I did not mention that the symptoms have begun to affect me as well.

 

R’Ven: I have been told that different individuals have been presenting the illness in different ways. How is your presenting.

 

G’Renn: I have found myself losing discretion over which thoughts I share with others. Counselor Sindrana and I shared unintended telepathic communication multiple times earlier today in sickbay. I also suffered one episode where I temporarily lost consciousness and, “relived” a memory, for want of a better term.

 

::The vivid recall of Jolash’s birthday had not just been a dream or a reflection. She had been there in her mind. Every last detail, not a single sensory input left out. The slight creak of the floor in her room had been right where it should have been and the cool desert dawn before the sun had risen made her feel homesick. She had been back home that day, somehow. She just couldn’t easily explain it.::

 

R’Ven: I understand. I thank you for sharing. We will do everything we can to help you. Have you found that it is impacting your ability to work?

 

G’Renn:  I… ::momentary pause of reflection:: I do not believe it has impacted my ability to perform research as of yet. Surgery or other sensitive procedures where each millisecond counts might be another matter.

 

::She looked over at Stennes as he began speaking, wondering what he thought of what all he had seen. Did he still trust her judgement? Did he still find her competent of working with them after the events between her and Sindrana?::

 

Stennes:  My observation of Dr. G’Renn indicated that despite a momentary disorientation during her... episode... she maintained control over her judgment and her faculties throughout.  In my opinion, she is fit for duty.

 

::So, he trusted her for the time being. That was excellent and immediately boosted Anath’s confidence. The momentary rush of confidence was quickly pushed aside when Captain Zaekia arrived behind them, causing Anath to involuntarily straighten up slightly at the sight of their commanding officer.::

 

R’Ven: ::turning to face Zaekia:: Greetings Captain. I have been discussing with Doctor G’Renn and Counselor Zaekia the effect that this virus has had on Doctor’s G’Renn. ::slight tilt of the head:: You are telepathic. Have you noticed any adverse effects?

 

Zaekia: Response

 

::As the captain spoke Anath began compiling mental notes of what he said, comparing it to what other telepaths had reported in the interviews with Stennes, Sindrana, and Ilsam. There would be time to write it all down later. For the moment, her brain was just as reliable as any PADD.::

 

G’Renn: oO Well, my brain’s reliable assuming this… affliction isn’t slowly eating away at it Oo

 

Stennes:  We have collected a great deal of data from our current patients.  It may take some time to isolate the cause, but I wonder if we could identify some chemical or biological or physiological changes that accompany one of these telepathic episodes.

 

G’Renn: I would like to run some more detailed neural scans in the lab. If possible, for a patient currently expressing symptoms. It could be possible that the biological component is most visible or only enters an active phase when symptoms are active.

 

::Anath didn’t envy the idea of scanning and testing disoriented, confused, or possibly terrified patients eager only to return to duty or otherwise regain control of their abilities. Were she in the same position she probably wouldn’t enjoy being a lab rat for the medical department either, but if they didn’t run their tests they couldn’t get a cure for their patients any faster.::

 

Zaekia/R’Ven: Responses

 

Stennes: If we knew what happens in the body when an episode begins, we might be able to predict when one is coming.  Then–with all due respect, of course, Captain–the medical computer could monitor whoever is in command, and should that person suffer an episode, it could transfer command codes automatically to the highest ranking officer who is not afflicted.  It’s not a cure, but at least it is a backup plan to keep the ship safe.

 

Zaekia/R’Ven: Responses

 

::Before any safety procedures could be planned out and put in place, they would need to find a way to predict the somewhat episodic symptoms before they struck. As the group neared the turbolift, she began working on the logistics of research aloud.::

 

G’Renn: We will need to decide on which patients to bring to the research lab from the recovery areas on Deck 20. Perhaps looking over the interviews conducted by our counselors would-

 

::There was little warning, nothing to indicate any meaningful change. No key to predicting the onset of symptoms. One moment she was there in the real world with the captain, R’Ven, and Stennes. The next moment, she was again swept from the present and taken back through her memories.::

 

 

((Flashback - Outside the First City, Qo’noS - April 2nd, 2382))

 

::According to the indicator along the bottom of her datapad, there were only a few pages left in the current chapter of her biology textbook. It was fascinating, moving past the basic building blocks of cells and proteins to the more complex topics of biological systems and specialized tissues. If she could, Anath would have been more than happy to read until it was time for bed. Her uncle O’Trel, however, had very different plans.::

 

O’Trel: Anath, the front door is this way. There is a Bat’leth tournament being held in the Old Quarter shortly, and we don’t want to be late!

 

::The sword fight wasn’t something that Anath was particularly eager to see. As a very young doctor in training, all she could think of when she saw such tournaments were all the health risks involved. She never understood what enjoyment anyone could get out of watching them.::

 

G’Renn: Is there, any way I could remain here father? Bat’leth tournaments are not enjoyable for me, and I find them painful to watch. The casual disregard for safety is terrifying. Did you know that a T’Gha maneuver of sufficient strength could…

 

O’Trel: Listen to her, brother! A true warrior would worry not about the possibility of minor injury. A Klingon instead focuses on honing their skills so they need not worry about being struck by their enemy. You aren’t raising two Klingons. You’re raising a Klingon ::shifting his gaze from Jolash to Anath:: and a Vulcan!

 

T’Shol: Anath may not have the same respect for our culture as-

 

::No, that was not the answer either. She was Klingon! It was in her blood, in her heart, in all the stories she had heard as a child. She bolted up from the chair she had been reading in and dropped the datapad before retorting.::

 

G’Renn: But I do respect Klingon culture! I love the poems and operas! I could spend hours working with the artisans in one of the workshops or listening to the songs of great battles of the past.

 

O’Trel: Yes, you can stand our customs like any other alien. You can appreciate the beauty of our arts but you don’t have the heart to embrace the warrior spirit!

 

G’Renn: So I have to embrace senseless violence to be a true Klingon in your eyes! I cannot show my honor through healing and using my mind as warriors use muscle? Go see two sentient beings with so much potential bludgeon each other to near-death with swords for no reason if you want! I will stay here and continue reading so that I can improve myself, and enrich my spirit through healing.

 

::A silence filled the foyer, as everyone processed what she had said. Anath looked to her father for support, only to see T’Shol looking conflicted. There was no way that he was doubting her, was there? O’Trel on the other hand only scoffed and continued along towards the front door with his back to her. For him the conversation was over.::

 

O’Trel: Stay here if you wish. ::Pausing in front of the door:: Perhaps when you are a doctor you can remove those forehead ridges. They’re unbecoming on a Vulcan.

 

((End flashback))

 

 

::She immediately noticed that the group had gotten a few paces ahead while her feet remained rooted to the floor right where they were when the memory struck her. She couldn’t believe it! Again, she was again taking leave of reality to instead wallow in unpleasant memories of the past. As she realized what had just happened she squeezed down on the PADDs in her hand, surprising herself by not breaking the screen of the topmost PADD with the force of her grip.::

 

R’Ven: Response

 

::Such a display in front of the captain and her research teammates was the last thing she needed. But it was unavoidable, clearly something had distracted her. Simply lying wouldn’t do her any good, and at least she could take comfort in the fact that this time she had remained upright and not had a second close encounter with the floor.::

 

G’Renn: I just suffered another temporary lapse into memory. How long was I non-responsive?

 

Zaekia/R’Ven/Stennes: Response(s)?

 

::While glancing at Zaekia, Anath felt a momentary panic. What about his telepathy? There were so many unknowns in the situation, too many unanswered questions about the specifics of the affliction. How much control did each telepath still have? What were the flashbacks to memories long past? Could other telepaths sense such memories? It made her both somewhat self-conscious, and more importantly much more eager to find whatever was causing all the problems and wipe it out.::

 

G’Renn: If such lapses continue, we may have a promising candidate for help in tracing a physiological cause for these symptoms.

 

Zaekia/R’Ven/Stennes: Response(s)?

 

 

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Anath G'Renn

Medical Officer, USS Blackwell - Andaris Task Force

A239402AG0

[Graduating Class of 239410.03]

Congratulations and welcome to you all. 

Glad to have you here and look forward to seeing you around

[Graduating Class of 239409.18]

Welcome to the fleet and congratulations. Please to have you with us and looking forward to seeing you around

[Graduating Class of 239408.13]

Hello and welcome. Congratulations. Look forward to seeing you around 

[MSPNPC Froid Olin: Impressive multipurpose biomechanical... goo]

((Shuttlebay, USS Atlantis))

:: They were checking the code, and at least that put some of their doubts at ease. But they were certainly not a welcoming public, and Olin was a bit frustrated. They openly distrusted his demonstration about the robotic... instinct. Maybe if they were able to  run their own experiments with the robots... He looked at the shuttle. There was, of course, their best model. It was technically impressive and totally multipurpose. But a bit too alien for some. ::

Olin: Ah, of course. There is a new model I haven't shown you yet.

Udro: New model? How does it differ from the ones we have seen?

Olin: Not much in the programming, but a lot in structure. This one is multipurpose. 

Udro: If we may have a quick moment to discuss, we would be happy to see your final product.

:: His eyes reduced to a slit, considering whether they had already reached a decision and were just planning how to tell him. But there was little he could do about it either way. ::

Olin: Of course, of course. I will get the new model, meanwhile. 

:: Leaving them to conspire in a small group, Olin went to the shuttle. Labetha was there, playing with something, and Olin doubted for a second. Labetha was an autistic child (well, she was 17, not a child anymore, but anyway). But she was a robotics genius, and had come a great part in designing their current line of robots. Showing her work always had a great impact. But it was a wild card. Let's first show them the base for her work, and then we'll see. ::

:: He grabbed a big box and downloaded it from the shuttle. Then two similar ones, and finally a small suitcase, with three spherical components, the size of his fist, together with a PADD for control. Once on the shuttlebay, he opened one of the boxes, which completely retracted. Inside, there was a dense grey mass. It was called Biomechanical Multipurpose Gel. Some company workers called it goo, but the marketing department had made it very clear that nickname had to be kept in private. With it ready, he just waited for the team to approach. ::

Udro: What is it?

Pond: Wow, that looks cool.

Olin: Thanks. I present you the Biomechanical Multipurpose Gel. By itself, it's just a gel with components similar to the ones from the other robots. They have no processors, so don't interpret it as a nanite mass.

:: He pulled one of the balls from the suitcase, and showed it to them. ::

Olin: Now, this is the processor. You can check the programming later. And with this PADD you can change the basic functions. 

:: He left the sphere on the gel, and pressed a few commands on the PADD. The ball slowly sank into the gel, and the gel got lit in a brownish pulsating color, looking as a brownish core inside a grey net. After he pressed another command, the gel started to take a humanoid form, one similar to the security robot he had previously showed them. ::

Udro: Astounding .. so it could be any of the robots you have shown us?

Olin: Correct. Although we do sell this model, most buyers are looking for a particular use. In this case, our other models are more specialized, and cheaper. But we use the multipurpose gel to design them, and then when we see a model we consider practical, we redesign it with more standard pieces.

:: He looked at the rest of the group, in case they had further questions. ::

Pond: How does it work?

Olin: Think of the components of the gel as cells. They can be repurposed on need for specialized functions. So, for example, the ocular components are now working as a receptors, while the external layer has become a hardened surface. Feel free to touch it to check for consistency.

Oswald: Interesting, very interesting.

Olin: Right now, it has the same programming the security model has. That's the point, using this, you can change the programming in the central processor.

:: He pointed at the gel humanoid and entered a few commands. The gel compacted again into a box, and then a small portion of it climbed out in the form of the spiderlike engineering bots. ::

Olin: Of course, they are not limited to the current models. And, as this model shows, they are not limited in size. They can walk out leaving part of the element behind. Or several materials can be joined to form a larger one. 

:: After a few commands, the spider itself walked to the other two boxes, opening them. Then it returned to the central box, which started to crawl towards the other two. Once they were touching each other, the whole mass started to take form. ::

Udro: What are the limits of this ability?

Olin: Of course, that would depend on your needs. We usually sell one of these boxes, which contains a hundred... litres. A bit over the average volume of a humanoid.

:: He struggled for a second trying to remember the right units the Federation used, according to the information he had on them. ::

Olin: A single processor can seamlessly control around five hundred litres. We generally don't recommend building robots larger than that, but the programming to do so does exist, and it allows the linking of several processor spheres.

Pond: Could we do whatever we want with that gel?

Olin: We also sell the tools for limited... reprogramming. That is, to use the gel to design new robots. I am not an expert on that subject, but they basically allow for direct sculpting and programming by assigned body parts. I can ready a demonstration if needed. 

:: That was the very reason why he took Labetha with him. On that aspect, she was an artist. But maybe they were impressed with what they had seen. ::

Udro: Your demonstration thus far speaks for itself.

Froid Olin - Taventa Robotics Representative
as simmed by
Lieutenant E'riQ, son of Lo'PeH - HCO - USS Blackwell, Andaris Task Force
PotW facilitator 
D238701JV0
 

[Graduating Class of 239407.016]

Hello and welcome Jon. Good to have you here and looking forward to seeing you around.

[Cmdr Brell & Family - Time for talk]

((Brell’s Quarters, Deck 4, USS Blackwell))

 

::Brell moaned, crawling on all fours as Renu and Linalu yelled. He rounded the corner moaning again like a six legged flen beast, Renu and Linalu riding on his back. He had pushed all the the furniture back to ensure there would be nothing to fall on. He had also stacked every pillow in the place around the edges. He would have felt better doing this on the holodeck where child safety protocols could be set to sense a falling toddler and alter the density of the floor to create a softer landing. But the twins were having fun and Blackwell was a giant sickbay so he was not too worried.::

 

::Another lap around the room was followed by a fourth and, he knew he needed to stop soon The kids were getting a bit too excited and on top of unintentionally kicking him in his behind a few times, he knew the chance of one of them falling grew the more caught up in their excitement they became. Rounding over to the pillows he had left on the ground for just this purpose he tilted the two off each taking the chance to jump off dad without getting into to trouble with a squeal of glee.::

 

:: He rolled onto his back and was immediately greeted with Renu bouncing onto his stomach, followed moments later by his sister. The twins had apparently thought now it was the time to jump on his front side like they had on his back.::

 

Renu: Jumpee jumpee

 

Linalu: Jump jumpee jump

 

::It was awfully cute but was already beginning to hurt, and the Bolian commander was still sore from his sparring match the other day with Ensign Thoran. He was also still a bit full from his rather excessive meal from the day before that he had enjoyed when dining out with G’Renn and Morin. He sat up causing a howl of disapproval from one of the twins, who seemed fully intent on more rough housing.::

 

Brell: Come now, let’s read a story.

 

Linalu: Gre-ean fishy GRE-een fishy!

 

Renu: Gree fishh .. gree fish!

 

Brell: Alright, The Green Fish tales it is.

 

::He reached over to the table that had been pushed up to the couch, and grabbed a large screened PADD. The twins were ready once he had it in his hand snuggled up close to him so they could see the pictures move as he read to them. A few shouts of fishy fishy came as he brought up the collection of tales of the green fish and its adventures in the deep sea. This one was about how the green fish met its friends blue fish and yellow fish. The little ones hung on every word he spoke and animation on the screen, he gave each a fish slightly different voice none sounding overly masculine or feminine in keeping with the spirit of the book. He had the thought of sharing the Bolian series with Renos to read to nir child as so many stories featured gendered characters, ne might appreciate one that did not. He kept on reading as the twins clapped and enjoyed the story.::

 

::The three Bolians walked down the hall of the Blackwell still discussing the topic at hand. Morin felt as if his peacekeeping efforts were about to come crashing down. Lyldra and Hars were intent on talking to Brell, and Brell had expressed his wish to hear them even if all they wanted to do was scream at him. They were in fact pass that however the sting of of Brell’s deceit wound linger for sometime, years most likely.::

 

Lyldra: You will be fine with them for awhile it could be hours.

 

Morin: Yeah, I’ll take them to the arboretum here on Blackwell, then maybe around the public sector a bit.

 

Hars: If they end up getting too sleepy you are voice authorized to enter our dwelling on the station. ::He hoped the youth would have known that already but felt the need to say it aloud.:: We can call you when we are on our way.

 

::He gave Hars a nod, Brell’s spouses had been close with him and he felt as if he were more than just a part of just their extended family by marriage. Just as Brell was more than his uncle and had been a father to him, Lyldra and Hars had become as close as co-parents to him as well. Lyldra having had lost one of her parents, connected with him on a level most could not. While, Hars had inspired in him a sense of wonder at the life in the seas and of study in general. The strife between the three of them had affected the youth quite a bit, his picture of perfect family obtainable and pure, had been cracked by the harshness of reality.::

 

Morin: Alright. I’ll keep that in mind. ::He stopped.:: We are here.

 

::Lyldra reached out and rang the chime. Morin lived here so it felt odd to stand at the door. Brell and the twins being inside and ringing a bell made all three of them feel odd, but it also did not feel right to just barge in.::

 

::Brell looked up and frowned, he hated having to split time with the twins between himself and his spouses. He missed seeing them at any time and waking up with his family all around, but he also felt like he deserved the pain of being without them. He deserved whatever they deemed he should suffer. The story had just finished and they had been looking for which to pick next, he knew they would get distracted by the arrival of Lyldra or Hars to not notice the adults being uncomfortable.::

 

Brell: Enter.

 

::Lyldra stepped in first, followed by Hars, and Morin. The twins unsteadily stood up and ran over to the door. Seeing them there reading a story book made Lyldra feel a pang of sorrow for what all of this must be doing to Brell as much as she was on another level pleased to see him suffer. That level was small, and now she wanted more to begin to put the pieces of their family trust back together. Doing his part in things Morin dropped to his knees to talk to the twins on their level.::

 

Morin: Hey there kiddies let's go to the arboretum and play in the grass!

 

Linalu: Areee.bore..et..tum..tum

 

Renu: Tum..tum..tum.

 

::The cadet corralled the toddlers over to their double seater stroller and saw to getting them into it. Brell stood up with a bit of a grunt and a guilty look on his face. He could not help it, though he was ready to hear what they wanted to tell him. None talked as Morin got Linalu and Renu ready and then out of the door. They all simply looked at eachother for a few long moments. Then Lyldra and Hars moved into embrace their co-husband, like that they stayed for awhile while hurt their love was still there shaken but not broken. When they parted all three needed to wipe their eyes free of tears, and it was Hars that chose to break the silence.::

 

Hars: We won't be able to trust you implicitly for a long time … I don’t know how long.

 

Brell: I know.

 

Lyldra: We also miss you, and do not wish for the twins to know the pain we feel being apart, and angry. I am ready see you again and share our bed … but we must discuss things a bit more.

Hars: I will start with the questions, why after Turisan II when it was just a kiss did you not tell us then?  … That was before the human asked you lie to us, so why had we not already heard something?

 

::Hars had honed in on something that had occurred to Brell during one of the millions of times he had gone over all the ways he could have avoided this situation in his head. Things on the industrial era planet were not simple, the crew of the Darwin had been under considerable stress having to live there disguised as locals. Stennes had been the person he talked to then, as both had trouble sleeping. He would have normally spoken to his spouses about his fears, but at that time they had their own worries brought on from being on that planet and it all seemed bigger than it really was. He did not know what to say, and was pained by the flaring of emotion in his co-husband’s voice.::

 

Brell: I .. I do not have a good answer. I do not know why I did not then is what I mean.

 

Hars: No taboo had yet been committed, even if you had slept with him. What I can not get over is that is when it was all on you … no human ideals making you keep things to yourselves. Between that kiss and going back to the darwin, to the next time you and the human spoke you did not say anything to us .. for what .. thrill of an illicit affair …  fun … shame .. well what was it?

 

::Brell was on the spot Hars had not spoken to him since the night he told them both about the affair and having kept it secret. He saw why, his co-husband was a scientist and looked at the world around him as such. He had picked apart the whole situation and looked at it logically through a filter of their culture. He had found the timefarme where Brell could not share the blame of his lie with anyone but himself.::    

 

Brell: I was not sure of anything then yet. Things on the surface had been so odd and when we got back everything else moved so fast.

Lyldra: Still every night when we all gathered in bed you did not tell us, we heard about everything else, but this part of your life .. ::loudly.:: A area where our concern should be the most important mind you! ::Regaining composure.:: We should have been the ones you talked to.

 

Brell: I know, and I wish I had ..I know I should have and once the lie had begun I felt trapped by it.

 

Hars: ::Mockingly.:: So we should be pleased that you have told us at all.

 

::Lyldra shot him a look that said that is not helping anything. She did however agree with the comment somewhat. Brell felt horrible, but knew this had to happen if they any hope of returning to how things once were.::

 

Brell: I can not undo what I did, I can only throw myself on your mercy and beg forgiveness. I felt the pain of keeping this from you both for some time .. it was not better or worse either as I knew I was only making things worse. .. I felt trapped in the lie, and yes shamed by it at the same time.

 

Hars: That I do believe. Now tell us about it all as if we were not being kept in the dark, the good times and this pain of keeping it secret.

 

::Brell did as he was told and retold the entire tale of events from the first kiss on newgrange eve still disguised as a turisan right up unto how they broke things off for good the last time the counselor was on the Darwin. He told them about the meetups they had shared, on the holodeck a few nights in Stennes’ quarters, of lunches spent flirting and of how it felt to come home and look them in faces afterwards. Of how he had pleaded with Didrik to talk to them and of how when he agreed to do so the human had been recalled to earth making things prolonged once more. Lyldra and Hars told him of how they were made to feel foolish thinking his sometime aloof behavior was due the incident with the borg girl or from when had had been captured and tortured by a rogue consortium goon. How they let those things blind them to his guilt that they should have seen. They then began talking about how to move forward even if it seemed a distant possibility right now.::

[Star Trek Videogames]

I remember playing Star Trek Generations before I even knew what Star Trek was. I was never able to get past the first stage though. BOTF was a game I sank many hours into, along with both the Armada games, Elite Force 1 & Away Team.

[Graduating Class of 239407.04]

Congratulations and welcome! 

 

I look forward to swimming with you

[Graduating Class of 239406.27]

Congratulations and welcome aboard!

[2017 Red Carpet]

Hello A-Team,

Awards season is now here!

I’d love to see what everyone is going to be wearing on the red carpet, so much so that we have our own gallery on the wiki.
https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php/Andaris_Task_Force_Gallery:_Annual_Awards_2017
Post your images here and on the wiki.

If anyone needs any help with an image for their character then the Image Collective and I are more than happy to assist!

[Graduating Class of 239406.05]

Congratulations and welcome to the fleet