Metamorphosis, Part One
Posted on Aug 22, 2014 @ 12:00pm by Lieutenant Commander Aerdan Jos & Thomas Varn & Phia
Edited on on Aug 22, 2014 @ 12:01pm
Mission: The Tangled Webs We Weave
(“Metamorphosis Part One”)
(Continued from “Deus Ex Acreman”)
Location: Earth
Scene: Office of the Secretary of Temporal Investigations
Stardate: [2.14]0804.0052
The office of the Secretary of Temporal Investigations was widely considered one of the most plain and uneventful locations within the building that housed it; and, this is how its occupant, Sardak, kept it. It was somewhat of an irony, at least to Sardak, that a Vulcan occupied this position as it was not too long ago the official “report” was, the Vulcan Science Directorate has determined that time travel is impossible. This particular thought and declaration had since changed.
Sardak’s desk was a model of a logical workspace with padds nicely and neatly arranged. His desk being exactly equal distance from the sides of his office, allowed Sardak to give equal visibility and footing for those who entered his office. Anyone that would peer in would say it is a picture of a Vulcan’s workspace; but, Sardak did not work here.
As the main door to his aide’s office opened Sardak took a padd to read before stepping into his office for the first time today, “Alex, are there any requests or appointments for today?”
The young Bajoran/Human woman smiled and nodded, “oddly enough sir there are three requests awaiting your approval from the office of the Secretary of Starfleet, Secretary of Interplanetary Relations; as well as, the Starfleet Chief of Staff.”
Sardak stopped mid stride turning to face the young fired red headed aide before raising an eyebrow, “fascinating, I have been approached by individuals wanting my impression of these two offices recently. Let us gauge their reactions to one another, schedule each meeting back to back.”
Alex nodded, “who will be first?”
Beginning to walk again Sardak slowly sat behind his desk, “the first to request will be the first to receive and do make sure that is understood completely.”
Nodding the young aide turned leaving the office setting the meetings along with a well worded and carefully crafted letter. Not many people expressed interest in working with Secretary Sardak due to his bluntness and difficulty to be read; but, Alex requested this position. In her mind this was the closest she would get to time travel, and she was right.
Looking over padds and information from previous reports filed after office hours Sardak slightly turned his gaze as the calendar display updated with confirmed appointments for both meetings. Sardak had not met his counterparts or any other office heads; but, it had not stopped him from learning about them.
It was Sardak’s job to find patterns and changes in those patterns, usually concerning timelines against reports and the occasional sensor scan of the current events. It was on those rare occasions that Sardak was able to move to a more central location of his departments operation.
Working in the position in which he did Sardak did not believe in coincidences and the fact that an urgent report for a possible temporal incursion on the same day that he has a meeting request from three very influential and currently publically active individuals was no coincidence at all. Sardak turned looking at the padd intently studying the scans and the coordinates of the sensor information looking over every detail before opening a secure channel sending a coded message, text only.
Scene: Office of the Secretary of Temporal Investigations
Time Index: Five Hours Later
Smiling warmly trying her best to greet the visitor as best as possible Alex stood and motioned to the door before stepping closer to open it, “Madam Secretary he is waiting.”
As the door slid open Sardak looked up from the display before deactivating the screen and standing, “Madam Secretary it is agreeable to finally be offered a chance to meet you.”
Although Marie-Claire Martine was known as being a no-nonsense kind of Secretary, even she was completely nonplussed at the organization and order that permeated Sardak’s office. Certainly, Sardak’s Vulcan nature may have had something to do with it. But somehow, she believed that he would be fastidious and detailed regardless of his race. “The pleasure is mine.”
MC gracefully took a seat across from the Secretary of Temporal Investigations. “I would appreciate confidentiality, Sardak, While facts cannot be disputed, what people might do with those facts is open to speculation.”
Sardak tilted his head and raised an eyebrow in inclination of her wishes. “And the facts are not completely known, but they will be.”
“Pardon me madam Secretary but could I interest you in something to drink or eat,” Alex stated looking to Sardak and back to MC.
“Black coffee will be fine, thank you,” she replied turning to Sardak who had sat back into his chair his back straight and showing correct support and posture.
“Mint tea for me please Alex,” Sardak stated before turning back to MC, “I must admit that I was intrigued by the sudden appearance of a request from your office to meet with me. I do not know of any missions or plans that would require my particular area of expertise.”
MC shifted in her seat as Alex handed her a cup of black coffee and sat down a glass of mint tea infront of Sardak, “to be quite honest, I am here to try and shed some light on the recent events that have taken place.”
Taking a sip of his tea Sardak raised an eyebrow, “you are quite aware Madam Secretary that even if I did have any information regarding the sudden appearance of a lost ship captained by a commanding officer of another ship it would be turned over to you immediately.”
Nodding MC took a sip of her coffee before taking a deep breath, “yes, I am aware of your department’s efficiency under your direction; but I am also aware of the delicate nature of what your office does.”
Sardak nodded, “and as equally aware that if there is any information that would violate any temporal directive that has been setup, prime or otherwise, then said information would not be shared.”
“You must understand my situation,” MC began.
Standing Sardak raised his hand slightly, “Madam Secretary your position at the moment and the predicament that the return of the Century has put you in, is not a concern of my department. I can and will assure you that if the ship and her return or those involved were temporal in nature then I would be completely involved and resolving said situation. I do thank you for visiting; but, I have several appointments today and must prepare for my next one. Alex will show you out, and have a transcript of this meeting delivered immediately for any recording keeping you wish to compile.”
Standing with a smile Alex motioned to the door that would lead to her work area and served as the sitting and/or waiting area for Sardak she began work on sending a transcript copy to all parties involved, “Madam Secretary the transcript will be awaiting your arrival in your office. If you should have further need of speaking with Secretary Sardak I am at your disposal on making additional appointments.”
MC had heard of the straight forwardness and abruptness of Sardak but to feel it first hand was a different occurrence all together, “thank you, and please extend my thanks to Secretary Sardak.”
As the door to the office slid open MC stopped in her tracks as the next appointment stepped in. Alex smiled and extended a hand shake, “Admiral Edgerton, it’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”
Scene: Starfleet Medical
Thomas had not been quite the same since the ordeal had left his wings once again damaged and his body reeling from the drug infusion and combinations that were injected into him. It had been sometime since the doctors on Earth had to deal with someone that had so much drug induced internal damage; but, never have they had damage that seemed to be designed to attack specific organs and produce certain chemicals not only in the body but in the mind. Thomas’ unique genetic physiology and structure had reacted differently to the toxins and drugs magnifying them and altering their makeup causing them to linger.
“He’s sedated based off the medical records that were provided by Dr. Foster; but, i’m not sure how long he will stay that way or if its more of a paralyzed stated to be exact,” the attending physician stated, “his neural makeup and chemical balance is going crazy trying to stabilize itself so I can’t tell if he just can’t move and is awake or if he is completely sedated.”
“Doctor would it matter if he was one or the other,” a nurse stated moving to the doctors side.
Nodding slowly the doctor closed her tricorder and sighed, “to us no; but, to him very much so. Due to the chemical imbalance he will and has been having relapses to the point where from what we have been told he believes that he is experiencing the events that caused and lead up to the drug injections. From the reports, its something that no one would want to live once let alone over and over again.”
The nurse frowned and reached out moving Thomas’ hair from his face in motherly fashion only trying to figure out what would have happened if it was her son, “but, weren’t their reports of him having a lucid moment before relapsing.”
“This is true, and its a sign that his body is trying to balance itself; but, that occurrence is a memory buried deeply and to him it never happened or at least it won't until this is over,” Cade stated stepping forward looking over everything.
Looking from Cade then to Thomas the nurse nodded before leaving them all to talk and work. Turning from the scans and readings, Leila Havre, blinked at her cousin before shaking her head, “you do realize how many times I’ve had to run out and order out several different science and medical personnel some of them outrank me.”
Cade smiled, sort of, before nodding, “yes, and I thank you on behalf of him and me.”
Leila for the first time seeing this man care for someone other than himself smiled, “you’re welcome; but, I did it more for him having read the reports and seen the intense desire to get hands on him.”
“How’s he doing,” Cade asked catching himself up with the readings.
Handing a padd over Leila sighed, “He’ll be fine in about a day or two. As best as I can understand it, thanks to your help, his body is purging itself; however, it will be a torment on him and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Cade sighed, “come on wingboy.”
Location: San Francisco
Scene: Apartment of Sylvia Warren
Quickly shoving clothing into a bag Sylvia looked around frantically as she did her best to look for anything else that she would need while doing her best to convince a doctor who has not allowed anyone in to see Thomas, to let her camp out near him. Rubbing her temples Sylvia couldn’t understand what exactly happened; but, she was there when Thomas suddenly snapped back into the hallucinations in the middle of a corridor screaming at the top of his lungs at the mystery individual who had convinced him that Sylvia was being tortured and killed; but, this time he was not restrained. Looking at her hand Sylvia clenched them as they began to shake with her adrenaline rushing just from the mere memory of the four security personnel firing phasers on stun just to get him to a point where they could restrain him was almost too much.
Slumping down onto her bed Sylvia looked around at the room slowly letting the lack of personal touches sink in along with lack of family ties. As her mind began to wonder slowly into times past it was interrupted by the chime of her front door. Reaching up wiping her eyes Sylvia zipped up her bag and made her way to the door to run off whoever it could be.
As the door slid open Sylvia’s eyes widened, “mom, dad what are you doing here?”
Smiling a warm smile Ethel and Gerald Warren stepped into their daughter’s home hugging her. Sylvia had not seen or contacted her parents since the ARMSTRONG arrived back on Earth and she definitely had not told them where her apartment was, as she tended to spend a few days with them at their home.
“Well sweetheart we thought since you normally come and see us when you are back that we should come and see you,” Gerald stated looking around at the apartment.
Ethel gently slapped her husband’s arm, “don’t let him lie to you honey, he saw the opportunity to come close to Starfleet and into San Francisco he jumped on it.”
Sylvia’s father had always been fascinated with how things work, mostly devices and technology; but, anything truly would fascinate him even the inner working of politics or Starfleet itself. Her mother on the other hand had always been one to stay at home desire for her children to stay close by, a mother hen, as most people called her.
Scene: Starfleet Medical
Time Index: Two Days Later
Sylvia paced back and forth as her mother and father watched on in both delight and fear. For just two short days ago, they found out that a “friend” of Sylvia’s had been seriously injured or hurt; but, now after coming to the hospital with her for the last two days they could obviously see that there is so much more that their daughter was trying to hide from them. Ethel and Gerald both had discussed the possibility that their daughter would never find someone; but, in their hearts they knew that she had and the very real possibility of losing this person was here.
“Ethel, you’ll never guess all the things that they have here,” Gerald stated his eyes gleaming, “it has given me a few ideas of how to fix and make that tractor at home even better.”
Ethel Sylvia shook her head before touching Sylvia’s arm handing her daughter something to drink, “Gerald.”
Sylvia smiled softly, “it’s ok mom, if it wasn’t for his curiosity then I highly doubt I’d be where I am now.”
Gerald smiled at his daughter before his brow furrowed seeing a doctor walking towards them, “Sylvia.”
Turning to Leila, Sylvia’s heart jumped and quickened hoping the best and fearing the worst all at once. Leila simply smiled looking at the trio, “he’s awake and doing fine. The worst of it is over; but, I must warn you he has been through a lot mentally and please don’t be surprised if seeing you is a bit of a shock to him.”
Sylvia nodded only wondering what her mother and father were thinking as Sylvia had only told them that he was injured during their last mission leaving tremendous details out, “thank you doctor.”
“Gerald, why don’t we go find some lunch and tour Starfleet Academy,” Ethel stated as her husband stepped forward to Sylvia to begin asking questions stopping with the understanding of what his wife was trying to accomplish.
Patting his wife’s hand Gerald nodded, “it’s a date my dear. Sylvia we’ll see you back at your apartment later.”
Sylvia watched slowly as her parents vanished in the shuffle of those that worked in or were visiting the hospital and for a moment her mind traveled back, before the ARMSTRONG had left for Earth.
Location: USS ARMSTRONG
Scene: Engineering
Time Index: Before Departure for Earth
“Blasted it all, it’s pure genius,” Sylvia shouted looking over all the design and schematics of the enhancements that the ARMSTRONG’s chief engineer had made, “and I believe that it’s possible.”
Nodding Aerdan stretched his back slightly before looking around the engine room and then to Sylvia, “relay the information to the ACERMAN, so they know what to do.”
“Yes sir,” Sylvia stated giving a halfhearted smile.
Aerdan’s antennae lowered slightly, “how is Commander Varn?”
Jerking slightly at the question as if it was something of a dreaded moment in conversation Sylvia took a deep breath reigning in any emotion that tempted to spew forth, “as far as anyone can tell he is stable, heavily sedated; but, stable. Dr. Foster doesn’t think that there is anything in the ships medical bay that can be of use to fully treat him; but, he will be contacting Starfleet Medical when we get back.”
“Lieutenant, I,” Aerdan began.
“Sir, you know as well as I do the displeasure that Thomas has for doctors, even scientists and he is one but,” she trailed off looking into the reflection of a nearby console.
Moving closer Aerdan sighed and nodded, “what Cade has decided is necessary and he will understand you not opposing.”
“Thank you sir,” she stated softly before shaking herself back together and looking him square in the eye, “I’ll notify you as soon as we are ready sir.”
Scene: Bridge
Time Index: One Hour Later
“Helm engage,” Aerdan stated and like that the ARMSTRONG lurched forward along with the ACERMAN in her wake.
“Slipstream is viable and the ACERMAN is in tow sir,” the helm officer reported giving Aerdan a bit of relieving news.”
“It will be sometime before we arrive on Earth, I would like to begin an evaluation of the sensor logs that we collected while at Nimbus III,” a voice stated from behind Aerdan at the science console.
“Yes, very well process Mr. Varn,” Aerdan stopped for a moment before turning looking at the young officer, “I apologize Mr?”
“Sutter sir, Francis Sutter,” the young officer stated turning and beginning the evaluations.
Location: Sector 001, Earth
Scene: Starfleet Headquarters
Time Index: One Hour after Appearance of the USS Century
Sitting at her console an operation officer busy filtering traffic about the CENTURY trying her best to make heads or tails of it stopped and slowly turned to the officer in charge, “sir, I believe you need to hear this.”
Walking over a stern face from the Vulcan officer greeted the young operations Lieutenant, “I believe we have heard all the news we need to hear about the USS CENTRUY for today don’t you?”
Shaking her head she merely replied, “sir, it’s not the CENTURY. Report from Space dock, the USS ARMSTRONG has arrived. A Commander Jos, commanding.”
“Jos? That’s Harcourt’s ship,” the Vulcan stated before leaning in, “we best make sure this is reported.”
Nodding the young officer nodded before forwarding all relevant information to the proper channels, as well as, Admiral Edgerton’s desk coded priority one.”
Scene: Starfleet Medical
Time Index: Present Day, Forty Minutes after Sylvia’s Day Dream
“Thomas!” Sylvia shouted moving to the corner of the room dodging a pillow that flew at her.
Crawling his way up the bed against the wall stood science officer in tears shouting, “no, no, no, you’re dead! You’re dead! Why won’t you go away?!”
Standing there Sylvia could only hold back the emotions that were now trying to burst forth as she watched the medical staff rush in and quickly incapacitate Thomas. Leila rushed in looking around at the disheveled room before wrapping Sylvia in her arms holding her close feeling the sobs and tears begin, “oh my dear its ok, it will be ok.”
As the medical staff moved Thomas to the bed and quickly made him comfortable again while in his sedated stated a nervous Cade Foster stepped into the room. Cade knew firsthand the damage Thomas could do, as his nose had a personal greeting with Thomas’ fist earlier in their careers. Shaking his head Cade walked over patting Leila on the shoulder trading positions with her holding onto Sylvia.
“Ms. Warren, please understood he is still coming out of the constant replaying hallucination of what was fed to him during the whole ordeal. For you it’s been a few days, for him he has almost spent a life time in his mind watching you die,” Leila stated checking Thomas vitals trying to comfort Sylvia as best she could.
Time Index: Next Day
Thomas sat there blinking slowly taking a deep breath as he listened to Cade recount the story of what happened after he was taken from the ARMSTRONG for the third time. Sylvia who had agreed to allow Thomas time to take in all that would be explained to him by Cade and the reports that they could get to him. Stepping forward Cade patted the end of the bed looking at Thomas.
“You, you mean,” Thomas stated his voice wavering as he swallowed.
Cade nodded and smiled softly, “yes for the third time, she’s alive.”
“And waiting to see you if you will let her,” Leila stated stepping beside Cade hoping for Thomas to be in control now that he could see Sylvia.
Looking from Cade to Leila Thomas eyes seemed to light up but dim quickly with his response, “no.”
“Thomas, she has been,” Cade began stepping closer to the side of the bed.
Waiving his hand, “I said no, send her away.”
“Mr. Varn,” Leila started.
Thomas’ eyes swirled a storm of red and yellow, “I said send her away!”
Time Index: One Day Later, Three O’clock
Sylvia took a deep breath stepping up to the door as it slid open revealing the entry way to Thomas’ room. She had not informed any of the attending staff that she was there and did not give Cade a heads up that she was coming. She had to see Thomas, she had to know and see for herself that he was ok, she needed to see him. Moving slowly and further into the room Sylvia stopped as he gaze fell upon the bed.
“He was discharged earlier this morning,” Leila’s voice stated as she made her way into the room.
Sylvia’s eyes began to fill with tears as she slowly moved to the windows looking out at the cityscape in front of her, “where are you?”
NRPG: A lot I tried to do, I think too much, but I cut it short lol part two to come!
A Joint effort by (even if you don’t think you helped you did)
Susan Ledbetter
Marie-Claire Martine
Acting Secretary of Starfleet
&
Sarah Albertini-Bond
Lt. Phia
USS ARMSTRONG
&
Jamie LeBlanc
Lt. Commander Aerdan Jos
Acting CO
USS ARMSTRONG
&
Justin K. Owens
Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Varn
Science Officer
