Not Dead Yet
Posted on Mon Aug 19th, 2024 @ 5:11am by Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Thu Aug 22nd, 2024 @ 6:40pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: Quarters of Major Cornelius Tremble - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD006 0930 hrs
As soon as she left sickbay, Jayna went back to Neil's quarters. Rommie needed to know the results of the autopsy as soon as possible. While she was an AI, she was Neil's AI and she'd been more than helpful (mostly) with Jayna's investigation. The exception was her predilection toward a full frontal assault. Still, she deserved to know right away, and Jayna needed to tell someone.
She palmed the door open and walked in. "Rommie!"
Materializing, Rommie faced the Lieutenant in what appeared to be a painted on skin suit of standard shadowed blue/grey. In contrast, she was barefoot and . Her hair swept back by combs in the shape of star-bursts and what apparently was a tattoo of the Cure's patch forward of her left ear. "Yes Lieutenant?"
"The body found in the Morgue is not Neil. The EMH identified him as Lieutenant Paul Michael, chief flight control officer. Someone made him look like Major Tremble, but it's definitely not him. Body mass plus DNA confirmed it. I thought you should know." Jayna was practically bouncing with the news. She'd believed he was alive from the moment the timing was shown to be off, and now she could relax--a little--knowing it was finally confirmed.
"Acknowledged," Rommie said evenly, command yellow piping growing back into the trim of her uniform. "The Major's status has been updated from KIA to MIA." Her eyes focused on the lieutenant then and the piping slowly bled to white and her posture softened. "That is a relief Lieutenant. But now the question remains to where he is and, more importantly, what is being done to regain control of the Pioneer and submit what appears to be the Captain and 2nd Officer for full psychic evaluation and possible Courts Martial if either or both are complicit in the death of a crew member." As she pondered this, her uniform took black piping and she commented, "Regardless of intent, Commander McGowan's apparent take over by an entity calls her ability to maintain a security clearance in question. And the Captain's ease at being so easily manipulated may suggest he needs a rest. A long one."
Jayna chose to take the questions and comments in order. "First, it's definitely a relief to find out who's really dead. But he did look a lot like Neil--until the Suit was removed. Then it was easy to see it was someone else." She smiled her relief that issue had been resolved--and that Edmund had listened to her.
"Based on what we know and what we've surmised, Neil and the other senior staff are in a pocket universe. Where it is and how to get them back, we don't know yet. I'm hoping they're working on a solution on their end." Jayna closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. "All the department heads--except for Rowena and Paul Michael--are there. They have the knowledge to figure this out. Neil won't give up, and I've worked with Alyssa. She's good at looking for solutions. I don't know the Chief Engineer, but her reputation is impressive. Combined with the others, they should be able to find a way to come back." If there was one. All Jayna knew was that this happened before on Rowena's previous ship and no one returned. But the ship was also destroyed, leaving only Rowena. That wasn't going to happen here, and she was confident it wouldn't happen with those trapped in the pocket dimension. She had to keep believing they'd find answers. She just hoped it would be soon.
"Finally, from what I know, there are plans to confine the captain and Rowena in sickbay until specialists who can help them arrive. Extenuating circumstances and precedents should exonerate both of them. As far as I know, neither was aware or complicit in the possession. I don't think they're in control of themselves. But that will ultimately be up to fleet admin. I just want everyone back." She sat down in the nearest chair. It had been a long day--or several days. She'd lost track as she hadn't slept since Neil disappeared. But there would be time for that later, too. "If all goes well, this nightmare will soon be over."
Rommie's uniform piping shifted back to gold and she commented, "Normalcy is preferred." Then the piping bleached and she looked Jayna over. "Lieutenant. You look like. How does the Major put it? Like you've been pulled through a keyhole? Perhaps now that others apparently are working toward a conclusion to this mess, it would be time to get some rest? I can guarantee no one will be able to access these quarters short of using breaching charges should you so order." The piping on her uniform turned crimson and armor appeared and Rommie was now holding an issue helmet and phaser carbine.
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. No one will be looking for me. Merrick and Barr are taking care of the ship and crew. I think science is still looking at how to find the pocket dimension." She was feeling tired, but knew she wouldn't be able to do more than rest. "I can't sleep until Neil and the others are back, but perhaps I could just sit here and meditate for a while?" At least here she could feel Neil around her and hold off the emptiness for a few minutes.
Rommie's martial display faded out and was replaced by a mediation wrap of pale blue and said, "If you would like, I'd join you in the meditation. Having a physical form is preferable, if I'm being honest."
It had been a long time since she meditated with anyone and the idea appealed to her. "Yes. I'd like that." It would help to get her thoughts organized. There was still much to be done--most of it out of her control. Normally, she'd focus on what she could do and leave the rest to others, but this was personal. Had it only been two days since Neil disappeared? It felt so much longer.
Jayna closed her eyes and began to breathe slowly. Then she imagined one single point of light in a sea of stars. As everything else faded away, she felt her muscles begin to relax. Thirty minutes, she told herself, setting a mental clock. Then she would find out how the retrieval of commodore Malbrooke went.
Rommie studied Jayna for nearly a minute, then took a breath and her own breathing matching, and her uniform switched to a short robe and her expressions softened. "Lieutenant, based on your bio readouts, perhaps you would like a massage as you meditate? I am versed in multiple stress relieving methods. The rooms lighting dimmed and the air changed as an aromatherapy program initiated. Rommie took a kneeling to one side and ahead and to the left of Jayna, her eyes changing, irises widening.
Her first reaction was to thank Rommie and decline, but she knew that a massage could help her better manage her stress. She knew her muscles were tight and as far as she knew, they only had a solution for removing the entity from the commodore and Rowena. No one knew how to get the senior officers back. Jayna had quickly come to realize that there was likely nothing they could do on this end. It would take those who were trapped in the pocket dimension to get themselves out. "Perhaps a brief one on my back."
Rommie nodded and moved behind Jayna, her fingers moving over the lines of muscles and vertebrae. "Would you prefer to disrobe? Perhaps lay down on the bed to enhance your relaxation?"
"No. I'm fine. I will need to leave shortly. There's a plan to get the captain off the bridge." She wasn't going to mention Rowena as she had no idea what Barr and Merrick had planned. She wasn't involved in that, but she did want to be available when the paranormal unit arrived. "I'd like to stay here until Neil returns." She could not let herself think he wouldn't. Even so, she felt better in his quarters where she could still feel his presence.
"I understand," Rommie replied soothingly. "Then take the time you need. I am at your disposal." The AI frowned inwardly, keeping her displayed face a mask. Being cooped up was starting to wear a bit. Or rather being put on pause was. She equated it to the lost time experience some races claimed to experience and she found it disquieting. She continued to work her fingers into the lieutenant's back and shoulders as she contemplated what might happen if the Major failed to return.
Most likely, nothing. She would just be put on pause, permanently.
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;
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