Too Many Pieces
Posted on Thu Jun 13th, 2024 @ 8:01pm by Captain Edmund Merrick & Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Mon Jun 17th, 2024 @ 10:21pm
1,999 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Quarters of Major Cornelius Tremble - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD006 0700 hrs
It was disturbing to see Rowena in what was called the Morgue for the Marine's Marvel suits. And even more disturbing was seeing Neil's body, there had to be answers to this mess. And just how many people had disappeared. He tapped on his combadge, "Lieutenant Jayna, I've, uh, got something we need to talk about. And are you up for a drink, I think we're going to be needing one or two."
"Yes. I was actually on my way to see you," she replied. "Where do you want to meet?" She wasn't sure what he had to say to her, but she needed to talk to him about Neil, and the anonymous message she'd received the night before.
"What has eyes that cannot see." Edmund uttered, feeling just a tad paranoid. "Or ears that cannot hear." the Marine XO wishing he had a white noise generator like what Neil had when he and Merrick talked in After 11. He was wondering if Malbrooke or even Rowena were monitoring communications.
"Do you require a list?" Jayna asked. "Vegetables come to mind." She paused. "Captain, are you unwell?" She was sounding particularly Vulcan, but Neil's disappearance followed by everything else had shaken her more than she cared to consider. "Never mind. I'll find you."
Instead of using the ship's computer, she pulled out her PADD and looked up his current location.
His current location was heading in the direction of Neil's quarters. He was of the mind to see if he could find something there, thinking of those worms that would help him become undetectable.
Since Jayna spent a sleepless night in Neil's quarters after not finding a body in the Morgue, she wasn't far from there. She turned and headed back, arriving before Edmund. Besides, it was a more secure place to have a conversation. "Rommie, Captain Merrick is on his way here. I leave it up to you if you want to join us or stay out of sight."
Rommie formed, assuming a parade rest stance and said, "Lieutenant, thank you for the sentiment, but I really don't have any wants. The question is whether you require my assistance?"
"I don't know yet. That will depend on what he has to say," Jayna admitted. " She wasn't sure why Edmund would be heading toward Neil's quarters, unless he was looking for something, or he had some bad news. "He's been collecting information on what's going on, too."
Edmund arrived shortly, and rang the chime. He was still in shock, finding about the death of Neil. And then there was the strangeness of Rowena and Tyler. He truly hoped that the team they sent out a communication to will get back to them soon.
"Come in," Jayna said, turning to greet Edmund. At least, she hoped it was the Marine XO.
Edmund stepped inside and took a quick look around Neil's quarters. "This is the first time I have been here, and maybe the last time." He uttered grimly. " Hello Jayna, I have had a most disturbing encounter in the Marine morgue. " feeling his knees start to quiver, Edmund quickly found a seat, sitting on the chair heavily. Things were starting to hit him hard, Edmund leaning forward, burying his face in his hands.
Rommie glanced at the Captain and her aspect changed. The form fitting jumpsuit changed to grey with white and red medical trim and she asked, "Captain. Are you alright. Would you like to declare a medical emergency? Your bio-signs show that you are in distress. Perhaps a hot beverage?"
Edmund slowly lifted his head up, "Ginger tea please, and I do not think I need emergency medical. I just needed to gather myself. Jayna, I was shown what looked like Neil's body in his suit." His voice cracking with deep level of emotions. " Rowena was there, well it looked like her. It wasn't her. "
"No, I'm sure it wasn't." Jayna went over to Edmund. "I think Rowena has been possessed by an entity. On her last ship, the Maleficus, something like this happened. A number of the crew disappeared, the captain went crazy and killed the remaining crew, and only Rowena survived. Lieutenant Tohoyia was looking into it."
That was the easy part--if anything about this situation was easy. "First, this is Rommie. She's Neil's temporary AI. And she's classified. Right now, she has limited capabilities and stays in Neil's quarters or his office." Jayna smiled at Rommie. "I've told her everything that's going on. Well, everything I know."
"And I don't think the body is Neil's." She paused for that to sink in. "Someone called me on my combadge last night and told me about it. But the timing is a bit odd. It takes longer to get into a Suit than Neil had if you look at the time from when he left his office and when he supposedly died. And if he died when he disappeared from the ship, why did I only hear about it last night, and you today? I want to have the body scanned to verify that it's really him, and if not, I want to know who--or what--it is."
"I had the body sent to medical." Edmund replied, then accepted the tea from Rommie with a grateful smile , before he took a sip. "Thank you Rommie." He took another sip of the tea enjoying the heat from the ginger tea, it helping to invigorate his flagging spirit. " It was a bit of a shock to see that. And also seeing Rowena in the Marine morgue, as well as Malbrooke on the viewscreen telling Rowena that she was now the Executive Officer. "
"Oh dear." Jayna did NOT want Rowena messing around in Neil's office. "We have to get whatever entity is possessing them out so we can get Neil and the others back. Rowena mentioned a paranormal team. I need to look into that."
"Barr and I got hold of the paranormal team and they are on their way. I do not know how long it will take for them to get here. Hopefully we will have Malbrooke safely captured and not in command of the ship by the time the paranormal expert arrives." Merrick answered .
Jayna nodded. "I'm glad you got a hold of them. I haven't had time to look yet." She also wasn't sure she wanted to be the one to try and convince them to come to the Pioneer. "So, where do we go from here?
Rommie listened. Weighed what she was hearing, and said, "Excuse me Captain. There is this..."
The AI glanced to one side and a vid of Neil appeared in the air, "Ed. If you're seeing this, then the feces has hit the flywheel. I'm issuing a direct order to preserve Marine Country, the suits, armory and our personnel. That kit can't fall into wrong hands. You know the drill. Do what you think best. Blow it if you have to. Remember when in doubt, go on the attack. Attack when, how and where you can and where they least expect it."
The image shifted as another vid cut in and the vid moved in front of Jayna. "Jayna, if I've messed up enough to have gotten dead, then know I love you. If I don't see you in this life, I'll see you in whatever comes next."
Then the image vanished.
Edmund's lips went into a thin line when he heard the message from Neil, "I'm not about to have the suits destroyed but the code needs to be changed to keep Rowena from getting back in there. I don't care how smart she is but, if it can be done then we may need to do a bio-code to allow entrance until this whole mess is cleared up." he then looked towards Jayna, to see her reaction as to the message Neil had left for her.
Jayna was crying. Again. Seeing his image again and hearing him tell her he loved her made her heart ache. But she would not, could not, believe Neil was dead. She couldn't lose him. Besides, there were still too many questions. "Yes. We need to protect Marine Country. With Neil missing--he is NOT dead--we need to protect it from Rowena and the captain. Or from whatever has taken them over. They can't get a hold of that equipment, or the information." She'd been looking at where Neil's hologram had addressed her, but now she turned to Edmund. "You're in charge until we find Neil, and I'm the intelligence liaison to the Marines. Together we should be able to come up with something that doesn't involve an all-out attack." At least not as long as they still had a hope of controlling the ship. "Containing the captain is in progress, but we need to do something about Rowena until we can get those paranormal people here." She sighed. "We'll need to get a few other people involved, too."
The piping on Rommie's jumpsuit slowly transitioned from medical to tactical yellow, then to command red and her arms crossed. "If the Commodore can be placed in check, time will be of the essence. Having command of the bridge is one thing. Command codes are another. If and when Captain Malbrooke is removed from full command, it would fall to the Major. With him removed Rowena will be in command, according to the ship’s computer. Even if Sergeant Major Lachlan keys in an over-ride. This functioning is to prevent mutiny, ensuring command remains with Line officers following chain of command. If I may be so bold, I might suggest taking out the Pioneer's computer to prevent that..."
Jayna nodded to the AI, then turned to Edmund. "Rommie's right. We need to get her removed from command as well. Even if Barr takes command, she'll still be first officer. We have to keep her from using her command codes. But first, I want to go to sickbay and prove that it's not Neil in the Suit."
"I suggest that we head to medical and find out the results as to the autopsy or scans whatever they are needing to do. All I know is this, I am going to be having to coordinate things in order to help capture Malbrooke. Find out if that is Neil in that suit. I-I- am worried if it is him, or someone else." Merrick reeling in his emotions.
"It's someone else." Jayna was ninety-nine percent certain, and she wasn't going to give herself room for doubt--as long as there was room for doubt. She turned to Rommie. "I'll let you know what we find out."
Then she turned to Edmund. "Let's go."
Edmund gave a nod heading after Jayna. He paused to look back at Rommie, "Thank you for the tea and your help."
Rommie bowed her head and then glanced at Jayna. "Lieutenant. It's strictly against the Commodore's wishes and orders to the Major, but if you need a hand to dealing with Pioneer's computer, the Major... Well. The major didn't erase the keyhole backdoor links that would let me into the mainframe. I would be seen as a virus by Pioneer's computer, but I believe I could keep it at bay long enough to matter.
"Thank you, Rommie." She smiled at the AI. "I don't think we need it right now, but I'll keep it in mind." But only as a last resort. She didn't want to get Neil or Rommie in trouble unless she absolutely had to.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie;
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure;
USS Pioneer;
Captain Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
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