From: Naomi (naomi_lara_at_optusnet.com.au)
Date: Mon Dec 10 2007 - 02:53:47 PST
"Gloomy Sunday" Continued from Shawn's "Things to Do" Location: EARTH Stardate: 2422 [2.7] 1210.1948 Scene: Cemetery Teneill stood with the sun to her back. The light rays that shone through the dappled layer of tree leaves warmed her. It was sedative and calming. But there was no cheer in it. No happiness. It shone off her burnished mahogany hair that was partly streaked with grey. She used to love days like this. She would laugh and roll around on the grass with him in play. She could close her eyes and almost relive the memory. It was just there, at the edge of her mind, but it always seemed elusive. The woman sighed and lifted her eyes to look at the grave marker. She felt lost and directionless. Her passion for life had petered out. She lived because she had to, not because she wanted to. As a psychologist she knew it was a passage of mourning, that it would pass, but it didn't quite seem real. "Time changes for everyone. Time if fleeting, and never still. It lives, but never dies, and cannot be ended unless the gods themselves will their own extinction. Time is forever and waits for no man." Teneill didn't start, didn't flinch at the words that spoke from behind her. A quick flick of her mind confirmed what she knew; there was no one really there, it was just a hologram. And she knew the voice. While she wanted the world to stop to give her the time she needed, apparently it had other plans. "Now is not the time." The woman replied softly. She wasn't sad, or even angry that her grief had been intruded on. She just felt numb. "He's been dead for six months. Mourning his passing will only tie you to that time, you will never escape it unless you let go." The words seemed innocent enough, but nothing here was said plainly. Her visitor was speaking in riddles and she hardly had the patience to play games now. "You are not my confessor, Joran." Teneill replied firmly, refusing to turn around and face the El Aurian. "Why are you here?" "Some say that the end is neigh." She could almost hear Joran's holographic shoulders shrugging. "Others say that times are changing." The analyst in the woman ticked over. He had to be close, as there was no perceptible lag in their exchange, definitely in the solar system at the very least. That was odd in and of itself. "I say you're giving me a headache." Danara-Bennow shot back with a little heat in her voice. "There's the girl I knew." Joran smiled, then it saddened slightly. "Although not a girl anymore." Teneill didn't reply to that. "Please leave." "The dynamics in the Universe are shifting, Teneill." "I am aware of that." She felt the breeze pick up, it cooled the sun's warmth for a moment, and then it moved on. She was also aware that the activities on GATEWAY could well have been stirred along by the man standing behind her. But she would not reveal her suspicions. She had no proof. Besides, knowledge was power. Let Ming spin his little webs and think her to be ignorant of it. One day, she was going to blind side him. Until then, she had let the game play on as it had for years. "Then perhaps now is the time to act. Maybe it is already too late. Perhaps, it could never have been saved. Some things are fated to happen. The Bajorans may be right, the universe may really be ending." If Ming had approached her to talk about the workings of the wormhole and its meaning to the universe, then maybe she should be worried too. Not much happened without Joran's knowing about it. She didn't respond, but merely noted his concern. It was true that the Bajorans were uneasy. There was talk about the end of existence, and not just from their culture, but from dozens of others. The fabric of the universe had wrinkled, and it was causing turmoil. The question was, would it just pass, or was it really the first of a chain of events that would lead to the end of everything. No one knew. The fact that Kane and Gateway Station had all gone to hell didn't help matters. The unease there was representative of the unease in the Quadrant. "For quite a short lived species, you humans have many metaphors for time: Strike while the iron is hot; time flies; a stitch in time saves nine; time waits for no man; time is fleeting; the end of days; time heals all wounds." Joran said after a minute or two of silence. "Interesting, isn't it?" The woman turned around and found herself talking to the tree. She scowled and muttered something uncharitable under her breath when another voice demanded her attention. "Teneill?" This time she knew he was real. She straightened up and smiled as she saw Temmy approaching her. "You're looking handsome today." He was wearing practical clothing, but it looked smart. It definitely showed off his trim body and blue eyes, with mousy brown hair. She felt a stab of pride as she looked at her foster son. He had grown into a man, and a wonderful one at that. James had been a good influence to him. "I've got a date in an hour." Temmy confessed with his cheeks blushing slightly. He hugged and kissed her on the cheek. He had even worn some aftershave, Teneill discovered, as she deeply inhaled the masculine fragrance. Temmy's girlfriend really must be special. "Hmm, good to know. She'll be a fool if she wasn't taken in by your good looks." She smoothed his hair down. After all these years, it was still unruly and refused to be tamed. "Thanks, but you're biased." Temmy grinned, his eyes flicked to the ground and he reached down into the grass and emerged with a silver necklace. "Did you drop this?" He asked as he handed it to her. Teneill took it and studied it for a minute. It was just a plain chain with a small phial as a pendant. In the phial was a clear liquid. Its contents very definitely a mystery. "Maybe I did." It was highly likely Joran left it for her. As to why, she would have to find out. Temmy looked at the grave and hugged his mother closer to him. "You miss him." He said softly. "He was my soul mate, Temmy. I can't stop missing him." Danara replied truthfully. He turned her around and they slowly walked together away from the site. "It'll be alright. Time heals all wounds. Even ones as big as this." He promised her. "Time." Teneill repeated softly. Maybe the universe was telling her something. =/\= Location: USS PATRIOT/GATEWAY STATION Scene: Sterling-Jade's Office =/\= Lawrence walked into the tiny office and was suitably unimpressed. It was cramped, the walls being no larger then three meters from the other. He glanced around as the doors closed behind him, his hooded eyes taking in the shelves with books and other paraphernalia. The walls were bare, no pictures or paintings. Nothing, it was all very bland and impersonal. He finished his visual inspection and then turned his attention onto the woman who stood staring at him from behind her desk. "We're in a war zone, Lieutenant. Why aren't you armed?" Lawrence asked, his own weapon felt snug against his hip, and the absence of hers was quite obvious. The other question was, given her particular skills, was she not on GATEWAY helping them mopping up the Jem'Hadar? Catherine wanted to show her displeasure with a frown, but kept her face devoid of emotion as she avoided the question with one of her own. "What are you doing here, sir?" Jaxsper strode forward and realized that there was no visitor's chair. So, he leaned against one of the book cases with his hip, and folded his arms across his chest. "The New Order is a eugenic army was originally created during the Cardassian and Dominion alliance." He didn't have a lot of respect for Catherine. She was green, horribly green in the Intelligence fraternity. And it was experience that made for a good agent, none of which she had. "The first attempts were disasters and let to the termination of the project." Sterling warily replied as she resumed her seat behind the desk. Lawrence was aggressive and hostile, he walked into her office like he possessed it. "Which was resurrected by the Cardassians in the last two decades." He replied back quickly. "And we know that some of the instructors were former Dominion Jem'Hadar and Vorta. You've probably had the most direct experience with their battle tactics in the field. So, start talking." He demanded. Catherine literally had to swallow vitriol, but she didn't dare speak out of turn. She took a breath and struggled to keep her temper in check. "I was infantry, Lieutenant Lawrence, I know nothing about their particulars in terms of space or ground tactical warfare. We were taught to fight, not to think." The young woman returned. "Come on, Catherine." Jaxper was less then impressed and wasn't holding back. "With the benefit of your tactical training, what do you think would be their first step when they return?" He needed to have some idea of what they would do, and start focusing on developing the best defenses for it. "The battle always begins when negotiations start. They're designed to be demoralising, and to increase fear, and it is used to give the Dominion time to settle into attack formations." Catherine sighed and leaned into her chair. "The main tactic in terms of warfare is to overwhelm the enemy in numbers and firepower. Target the biggest threats first, pick off the smaller ones." "That's nothing new." Lawrence shrugged. Sterling resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. She told him she had nothing to add. "There's not much more I can tell you. That is how they fight, both on the ground and in space." "What if they have a hostage?" Catherine locked gazes with Jaxsper. "They don't take hostages." She replied evenly. "This time they did." The man looked a little smug. Was it because she was wrong, or because he had foreseen that this would happen. Catherine was too new to the situation to figure it out. "Ambassador Bolvia was on the Vorta ship negotiating their withdrawal, then your fleet appeared and they bugged out." Sterling shrugged slightly. "Then she's probably already dead. They don't take hostages." She repeated. "Even high powered ones?" Catherine sighed. Just because of what she was, didn't make her the Federation's magic-eight-ball to the Dominion war plans. She had nothing to give them. "In my experience as a -former member of the Order and not of the Dominion- they do not take hostages." She repeated, more firmly this time hoping he would take the hint and leave her be. "Throw me a bone, Catherine." Lawrence changed tact and softened his approach a touch. "Unless they plan to substitute her?" It was the first idea that came to mind. He shook his head and sighed. "It's a little obvious, don't you think?" "The only reason that she might be returned to you is if the Founders wish to speak to her, and for her to carry their message to you." Catherine told him with a shake of her head. "There is nothing else." Jaxsper was silent for a moment before pushing from the bookshelf. "When you think of something useful, let me know." He turned and was out of her office in two strides. Catherine exhaled a breath she had been holding and rubbed her hands across her forehead. =/\= Location: GATEWAY Station Scene: Medical area =/\= "Commander!" Daniel hoisted the sobbing child in his arms as he pushed through the crowds to get to Daisy. He felt the familiar tug on his belt and knew that his other charge had not let go of his death grip. "Major." Daisy took in the scene and quickly scooped up the child from Daniel's arms into her own and hurried over to a biobed. "What do you have here?" She asked briskly. "Major lac to the inner right leg, I think it's transected the saphenous vein. Applied a pressure bandage and got here, no other meds on board. Wound was probably caused by shrapnel and tract is clean." Clarkson quickly shot back and disengaged the other child and sat him down on the chair by the bed. Daniel would have loved to take the time to confort the children, but there was no time. He had ten teams spread out doing search and rescue, crowd containment and hunting down the Jem'Hadar. They were spread out thin and far, and under constant battle. He had to get back to them. "Aww, that's no fun. Come with me kiddo and lets see what we can do about that, huh?" Daisy cooed the young boy on the bed, distracting him so she could take a look at the bloody wound. It was pretty bad, but the pressure bandage that slowed the bleeding a treat. Daniel continued and ruffled the other child's head. "This one's okay, just a little shell shocked." "Alright, I've got it Daniel." Daisy nodded and released the marine back to his work. "Thanks." Clarkson gave both children a friendly wave and sprinted from the impromptu medical area. Daisy smiled, and laughed and chatted with the children as she quickly worked to treat the wounded one, and reassure the shocked one. Inside, her heart was breaking. She had seen this before, but it still didn't make it easier. Children had no place being exposed to such violence. "Tracy, have those supplies from the MERCY arrived yet?" She asked when one of the nurses approached her. "Yes, Commander, they're being distributed now." As she spoke, Daisy could see orderlies, nurses and officers restocking the supply stations scattered every couple of beds apart. It would keep them going a while longer. Byrne nodded. "Start beaming over casualties to the MERCY. They can do the surgeries, all we have to do is get them stabilized. Nothing fancy." She said as she booked at the two children. Rory, the little boy with the slashed leg, had stopped crying and was now hiccupping. "I think we'll get you two shipped to the MERCY. They'll be able to look after you, and it's a lot safer there then here." Daisy smiled and hoped to god she was right. They had to get the children off the station and the war zone before the Dominion returned. =/\= Location: USS PATRIOT Scene: Kenta's office Time: A while later. =/\= Ben Kenta's door chime sounded and he let out a gusty sigh. His neck was throbbing and he sat up and rotated his head, hearing an awful lot of crushing and clicking coming from his neck and spine. "Come." It was late night, or very early morning. He looked at his watch and softly groaned, it was just past 0300 hours. He had been too busy with the work required of him to worry about things such as sleep. The main raised an quizzical eyebrow as Catherine walked into his office. She never walked into the lion's den willingly. In her hands she cradled a mug and the moment she entered he knew its scent immediately. Wordlessly she deposited the cup of his favorite drink onto his desk. "What's this for?" Ben asked, warily. Its sweet overtones made his stomach rumble and he perked up. Catherine was already leaving the room and she glanced at him over her shoulder. "You've been working for well over twenty hours, and I thought you may appreciate a drink. Does everything have to be for a reason?" She asked simply. "Thank you." Kenta nodded briskly and accepted the small offering and went back to his work, wordlessly dismissing the woman. He frowned when he heard the door close behind her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NRPG: Alrighty. I am actually not supposed to be posting as I am about to move into my brand, spanking new house this weekend if all goes well. But.I couldn't resist. I'm looking forward to writing with everyone! Any doctors/nurses/medical students/health scientists going to critizise me for my medical mistakes.bite me! It's been too many years since I did anatomy *L* Gloomy Sunday is in reference to a song by that name, sung by Sarah McLachlan. Very sad and haunting. Kim, Ken: thanks for your help! Ken: I'll send you something in the next couple of days, I just have to get a better grasp on the events that lead to all of this before I do anything. Tay: Congrats! Rahul: POST! Right, so a real brief heads up on the characters in play. Catherine is a former soldier of the New Order. She's a genetically modified soldier, which a very dark horrible past that we are not going to explore. She's also currently in the dog house (i.e. being punished) after a major screw-up on her part several months ago. Ergo, her being stuck in her office and why Lawrence was pretty harsh on her. Whether she'll emerge from her office remains to be seen ;). She's also about ten years old, so sometimes she's a little too reckless - tends to jump into things first and thinks later. Commodore Teneill Danara-Bennow is the deputy chief of Intelligence. She's been in that field for most of her career. The long timers in the FRPG would/should know her, as she was my first player character. Anyway, she is not really relevant to *this* story line, but she is relevant to a story plot Erik and I are working on for the future. Joran Ming, scary dude. Again, another very old character (literally and figuratively-he's about 400 years old). He runs an organization called the Trinity Syndicate. The Syndicate specilises in trading, and most of it is of information. So while shadowy, it's not necessarily criminal. Again, the Syndicate is not relevant to the story line, but I have hinted that through some of its agents, may have been involved in causing the instability of the Gamma Quadrant for its own reasons. We'll probably never know. Naomi Lara Lt. J.G. Catherine Sterling-Jade Intelligence Operative USS PATRIOT And Commodore Teneill Danara-Bennow Deputy Chief of Starfleet Intelligence From HyperNews_at_youth.net
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sun Feb 17 2008 - 03:10:48 PST