Protocols

Posted on Fri Sep 6th, 2024 @ 8:13pm by Lieutenant Colonel Cornelius Tremble & Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Mon Sep 9th, 2024 @ 8:54pm

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: MD008 0930 hrs

Rommie transported Neil’s limp form to his quarters, having rescanned them before even initiating transport when the Major had initiated one of the few protocols he’d installed. Simultaneously with arriving, a level ten forcefield went into place on the outside of the quarters, tapping into the ship’s emergency systems in case of hull breach. Portable shielding units in place and independently powered snapped into existence from around the hatch and the rooms access controls were limited to internal activation only.

The AI picked up Neil and deposited him next to Jayna’s slumbering form on the Major’s bed. Her armor momentarily took on white crosses as she assessed the major and decide he was dehydrated and suffering from stress and likely shock. She cut the uniform from him, removed the boots and then covered him with a blanket and applied a medical vambrace to his left arm, administering fluids. Then the crosses faded and she glanced toward the hatch again, where one of the B-35 snake-like drones had materialized, coiled and flattened, blending in with the carpeted deck as an anti-intrusion counter.

Rommie also linked with the anti-personnel mines embedded in the doorframe, initiating but not fully arming them. She thought it unlikely anyone would try that hard to break into the Major’s quarters, but protocols were protocols. The quarters were now cut off from the rest of the ship, running on stand-alone backups. Moving to the doorway between the sleeping area and rest of the living quarters, she initiated wake up routine, softening the natural lighting to a pre-dawn conditions and adjusting the atmospheric conditions to include the smell of coffee and bacon into the mix slowly.

Jayna felt someone next to her in the bed and caught her breath. She didn't plan to fall asleep, but all the stress of the past few days made it difficult to stay awake. She meant to take a short nap, but she must have been deeper asleep than she thought to not feel someone climb into bed beside her.

She kept her breathing slow and even as she assessed the situation. Whoever it was wasn't moving. That, and the slow, even breathing, made her believe they were asleep. And then there was Rommie. Only one person could get past her. She desperately wanted it to be Neil, but she was afraid to hope. Ever so slowly she turned--and then caught her breath. "Neil." It was barely a whisper. She put a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, the warmth of his body. She noticed the vambrace on his arm and glanced to the door. Had Rommie done that?

She wanted to throw her arms around him and hold him. She wanted to curl up next to him until he woke. She wanted to cry. Instead, she gently put a hand on his cheek and kissed him. The physical touch of skin on skin confirmed it was really Neil. "I love you," she whispered. Then she slowly moved back, keeping one hand on his arm while she wiped the tears from her face with the other.

Neil felt like he was climbing up out of a well as he heard Jayna's voice and he auto-mumbled, "Love you too. What in the Seven Sisters hit me?" He peeled one eye open and tried to get his bearings, finding he was now in his own bed. His own quarters.

But was he really?

Slipping onto his back he looked at Jayna's face and reached out and pinched her in a fleshy, posterior region, wondering if this was just another part of the game.

Rommie, noting the Major's awakening, stepped through the doorway allowing them their privacy. She cycled the hatch closed and allowed herself to access the Pioneer's net, sifting through information from the ship quickly, compiling a report she knew the Major would want as soon as he recovered sufficiently.

"Aren't you supposed to pinch yourself to be sure you're awake?" Jayna teased. She put her hand back on his chest. "You're back. It's been a little crazy around here, trying to find out what happened." She paused, looking him over. "I missed you."

Neil looked her over from crown to heel then said, "You're a sight for sore eyes. I take it McGowan is responsible for all of this? I remember her somehow getting into the Morgue and then nothing. Senior staff ended up in some mirror pocket dimension thingy, according to Alyssa. How bad is it?"

"It's Rowena, or an entity that's inside her. The commodore's been possessed, too. They're now in sickbay. Sergeant Major Barr and Captain Merrick took back the ship and are holding things together." She proceeded to tell him everything she'd learned since he disappeared. "I've got everything backed up on a crystal, including the data from the Serenity." She looked him over again, just to be sure he was really there. "Thanks to some of the scientists on board, we figured out what probably happened to you, but we had no idea how to get you back."

Neil's mind began waking up and he slithered closer to Jayna as he processed. He was fairly certain he was on the actual Pioneer when his contact responded to the reboot order and went online. He couldn't access anything though, a message from Rommie floating through his vision telling him his quarters were in full lock down.

He picked at the IV sleeve and noted it wasn't quite done so restlessly ran fingers through his hair and moved to sit up. "I missed you too. Getting back to you was a definite incentive. Now though, I'm going to have to take things to hand." Meeting her eyes, he took her fingers and kissed them as he stood and moved toward the shower. I need to clean up...you're welcome to join me though," Neil said as he entered the small fresher cubicle off of the bedroom.

There was still a lot to sort out, but Jayna wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to spend more time with Neil while she could. Feeling better than she had in days, she slipped off the bed and followed him into the cubicle.

A Joint Post By

Major Cornelius Tremble
Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Commanding Officer, The Cure

Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure
USS Pioneer

Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure

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