Voices In The Dark

Posted on May 15, 2016 @ 10:47pm by Lieutenant Eve Dalziel & Thomas Varn
Edited on on May 15, 2016 @ 10:47pm

Mission: Fortress: Earth

“Voices In the Dark”

(Continued from “The Matchbook”)

=/\=

Location: USS PHOENIX
SD: [2.16]0320.2047
Scene: Engineering

=/\=

The console lay dormant its screen reflecting for the moment only the passersby. The attitude in engineering was that of a fully functional and operational department busy with the day to day maintenance and care of a starship like that of the Phoenix. The station was one that regularly went without occupants, having only been used by a few people since the Phoenix’s launch and today, it would begin its life anew with three simple words.

[Are you there…]

The panels and displays seemed to activate and being their normal routine as the sentence appeared; but, a small panel in the upper left corner usually filled with redundant information had disappeared and now was black displaying these words with a small flashing line following them. Asta’s shift had started moments later but she now found herself standing before her console staring at the displays and the words. She glanced around at the other consoles, wondering who it was. It must be the work of one of the other engineers, only an engineer would rig up a mode of communication like this. She reached out and tapped some keys.

[I am now. Who is this?] She leaned back and craned her head around Engineering, trying to find the source of the text. She wondered if someone was messing with her. Commander Crichton didn’t really seem like the sort to encourage hazing of new officers, but that didn’t mean one of the junior officers might not take a notion to do it anyway, just to see what she was made of.
The flashing icon flashed for a few moments as if thinking, calculating its response. It came all the same but only adding to the already building questions.

[What do you mean?]

Asta tilted her head unsure if the question was meant as a joke or if the sender was truly perplexed by her inquiring as to their identity. There hadn’t been much that was told about the crew that managed to keep engineering running without a full compliment of staff here; but, stories has circled nevertheless. Stories that would make even the most hardened explorer stop for a moment, if just a moment, to take a deep breath at the reality that seemed to escape them all so quickly. In truth, space was death wrapped in darkness delivered in a cold embrace, when it wanted to be.

[The question was clear, as I was asking who you are?] She stated leaning forward now staring intently at the console trying to glean any sense of who it may be. People, she should say every individual, is unique in the mannerisms and verbal syntax that is used when constructing a sentence as it generally will match the mannerisms and verbal syntax of a spoken conversation with said person. Asta knew she hadn’t been on the ship long; but, long enough to pick up on who it may be especially if they were from engineering.

There it was again, another long pause from the sender. Asta had begun to slowly realize that who ever this was, was not from engineering or at least not anyone who knew she was at this station. Her mind wandered slowly as she looked around just to be absolutely sure that no one was playing a trick only to find every face focused and almost enthralled in their duties.

[It’s me…]

Asta’s mind raced as she tried to find the words to say that would provoke a direct answer of a name. Who was this? What did they want? Could it be a threat she should be worried about? As she began to type the words for a reply the screen went blank and they were there no more.

=/\=

Scene: Counsellor’s Office

=/\=

The ship’s Cns leaned back in her seat and heaved a disgruntled huff for the benefit of no one. Eight years was absolutely, decidedly too long to be out of the spy business. Eve grimaced as she took a swig of stale coffee.

She’d started by listening to the frantic chatter of subspace. It was a heady mix of propaganda and targeted hearsay, frantic merchant ships trying to get their goods to the planet below, and civilian conversations that implied people were trying to carry on with their normal lives.

The backdoor protocols she held were useless in accessing present day computer systems. Edgerton had cut his teeth in Intel, and that combined with the normal constant shift of security and data protection had shut her out.

“He couldn’t have built Aegis by himself,” she said quietly. In fact, she wasn’t sure if one person could be wholly responsible for the network of booby-trapped satellites. And where would a mastermind go after rendering such an item? The short answer would be as far away from Earth as possible. Unless Edgerton had killed or imprisoned them to keep the deadly secret under wraps.

Eve gave consideration to the prisoners on the LOWE. She wasn’t above interrogation. But would any of them know about the shield system? Not likely. The enemy officers were little more than pawns in a larger game- a much larger game than most of them realized.

Amidst these frustrations, thoughts of her parents intertwined. Dad was an Engineering instructor at the Academy, and her mother had opened a private psychology practice nearby. She was so close to them, closer in distance than she had been in years, but the situation at had made contacting them too risky.

But if she couldn’t reach out to them, was there anyone she could reach out to?

“Computer, please attempt to locate Commander Marshall Smith.”

[[That information is classified.]]

Eve frowned. That meant he was on an assignment. “When was the last time his location was not classified?”

[[Commander Smith was on EARTH eight months and four days ago.]]

“When was the last time he checked his messages?”

[[Three days ago.]]

At that moment, the chime sounded for her appointment with Thomas Varn. Eve paused, then shrugged off any thoughts of leaving a cryptic message for her former handler, deciding for the moment that maybe she should focus on those right in front of her that might be able to help.

=/\=

Scene: Quarters of Thomas Varn

Stepping away from the replicator console Thomas called out, “Enter.”

Lieutenant Dalziel had become slightly uneasy while waiting outside with Ensign Elgin and one of the Security staff. She was filled with anticipation as she drew closer and closer to Thomas’ door, but now that she had arrived the feeling was more conflicted than before. Despite assurances, Eve knew that Jim was still highly concerned about what Thomas would do, while Eve was worried what Barton might do. But they were up against a dilemma that required all the resourcefulness and initiative they had. As the door opened with an almost spectral sense, the air rushed out into the hallway as if escaping. The light flooded the entry way only showing the form of a man standing there, his clothing now covered with a long coat, white in its very nature with his face covered partially in darkness. His eyes seemed to reflect the light entering the room with swirls of reds and blues.

“May I help you?”

“Thomas, It’s Eve. Can we come in?”

A flicker of hospitality shone on Varn’s face as he turned more towards his unexpected guests. He knew Eve, but young woman and the Security officer were both unfamiliar to him. Thomas didn’t know their purpose for being there. Thomas fought an unnatural urge to say “No”, but being isolated was worse than the anxiety of why they was here. “Okay.”

Eve edged into the room, hesitant at what she might find there, the sting of her altercation with Barton still echoing in her mind. She did her best to push it away.

The air stood still in the room as if they were almost unable to speak. Thomas only watched and waited, not sure what was happening and still weary as to why the Counsellor was here. Several different hypotheses formed in his mind and he knew as time went by one by one they would be discarded for the most logical outcome; but, for now he would start with Eve checking on him, the security evidently sent for her protection and the young ensign who was probably here to fix the broken fixtures or anything else.

Reaching up in an almost civil tone Thomas used his fingers to brush back the out of place hairs before smiling a toothy grin, “please excuse the mess, the cleaning lady thinks I’m dead.”

The group paused a moment at the joke unsure as to respond or just ignore it all together. There was a weird sense of pleasure gained from seeing them squirm in their discomfort almost enough to invoke a smile from Thomas’ lips, which he quickly hid by turning and moving further into the room. Leaning down and picking up a table setting it up right Thomas took a deep breath before spinning on his heels facing the group again.

“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of engineering, counseling, and security?”

Leaning to the side Thomas smiled and waved to the marines now looking into the room acknowledging their presence; but, leaving them out of the pleasantries. The small group composed of Eve, the engineering officer, and security officer entered the room bringing several devices and consoles that were not meant to be in a quarters setting.

Eve took a breath. “I wanted to thank you for your work on Aegis. As you’re aware, there was a briefing this morning. “

Asta, who had been watching the awkward exchange with curiosity, motioned to the Security guard to help her. She’d been given a quick rundown by Maynell, in between his “flight simulations”, that the additional devices she needed to install were necessary to allow Varn to continue assisting them.

A more serious look crossed Thomas’ face. That meant the fleet was aware of the monstrous nature of Edgerton’s device.

“Thomas we, well, we wanted to give you the chance to ask a few questions and possibly gain your help with some questions of our own,” Eve said moving further into the room.

Nodding, Thomas smiled before holding his hand up, waggling his eyebrows and whispering as if trying to hide his conversation directed to the stalwart security officer, “I think she’s talking about that big yellow blanket outside my window turning the Earth into a beacon of thalaron goodness. Remember, don’t eat the snow.”

The security officer, who had positioned the new equipment for installation, merely shifted his eyes to Eve and moved away from Thomas, discreetly standing by the entry way. Ensign Elgin looked around with an eye for detail, making mental notes of the mess and damaged areas, especially dents that seemed to have appeared. She considered the possibility that Varn had an object that he could use as a weapon if needed; but, where it was would be anyone’s guess.

“Now we need help with determining what to do with the lovely devices that now encircle the planet,” Eve stated, moving to the window her hand resting near a dent in the bulkhead on the wall adjacent to it, “and I’m here to see if you would be able and willing.”

Nodding Thomas slowly sat down in a chair, “able, more than likely. Willing, not so much.”

The group stopped in their tracks and Asta, who had been assigned to enable and bring needed consoles for him to work, paused with a scanning tool in her hand, staring at him. Frustrations began to climb, compounding on previous experience. Thomas only watched, studying the twitches and body language of those before him.

It was true that his particular field of study was xenobiology; but, Thomas enjoyed the sciences outside the field as well. His mind began to match the responses and facial expression found in many mammal, primates to be more specific, that the trio of officers were displaying. There was a delicious quality to the experience that he had never noticed before but now, now it was so glaring obvious that he could not ignore it. The genes that caused these reactions and innate reflexes were so ingrained into the fabric of human, no, animal nature he began to wonder could it be removed.

Eve stepped forward, closer to Thomas Varn, trying to understand where the man’s head was at. “Wait, you mean you *won’t* help us, or *can’t* help us?” She felt helpless.

Asta stood up slowly, surprised at the man’s answer, observing her brother’s superior as much as she was the stranger holed up in his quarters speaking in self deprecation and riddles. She wasn’t really sure why someone that had been served with the men and women on this ship and was from Earth would just refuse to help. Eve was attempting to keep her face neutral, but somewhere behind her eyes there was a disturbance that tainted her gaze. Thomas lifted his head looking to the ceiling before sighing and throwing his hands into the air.

“Counselor, let me put it to you this way. I am in full control of my faculties; but, I am unwilling to acquiesce to your request for me to use my knowledge to any aid or assist.”

Asta couldn’t stand it any longer. “So, that means you *won’t* help,” she stated, staring Thomas in the eyes.

Sitting up quickly Thomas smiled a toothy smile, “Ooo, the young one speaks and with a stern sense of authority.”

Eve quickly side stepped moving to fully block Thomas’ gaze that had locked on Asta, “Why *won’t* you help?”

Thomas eyes narrowed and his smile disappeared quickly behind his lips before he straightened his posture, “Again, counselor I am not inclined to do so. In fact I don’t believe I will be inclined for much of anything for the foreseeable future which the warden can take or leave. ”

“Wait, warden?” Dalziel huffed. The seeds of doubt that Jim Barton had forcibly planted in her were sprouting and growing under the strain of Varn’s recalcitrant behavior. “If you’re of sound faculty, you understand the circumstances surrounding your current existence are not ordinary ones.”

Varn shook the hair off his face. “No, I suppose not.”

“And you understand because of that, the very definition what constitutes a living being was called into question by nearly every member of the senior staff?”

Varn looked past Eve at the young Ensign. Her eyes were a clear, familiar shade of blue, and while the first thing he saw in her was grit and determination, there was a hint of fear behind that. Her hand trembled as she tried not to move.

“Furthermore…” Eve continued, “what’s the difference between a human, a clone, and what you are now? Even if we decide what the answer is, that doesn’t mean everyone will accept you. And it doesn’t mean you don’t need more time to figure out what that means to you and what you want to do with the rest of your life. The trauma you went through can’t be measured.” Eve wanted to tell him what he had done on the Bridge of the ANNABELLE’S LAMENT, but somehow she felt that she had already gone too far. “Security is here to protect everyone as you navigate that slippery slope. Thomas we aren’t-”

“Well, it has been fun but the steely gaze from the guard there is letting me know visiting hours are over.”

“Thomas,” Eve said pleadingly. “Whatever you think of procedure, don’t you care about the Earth? Your *home*?”

Ignoring her question, Thomas moved towards the door and smiled at the Marines standing outside. They were now looking in with slightly raised weapons. Waving before turning back to the group Thomas holds his hand out directing them to the corridor once again. As the trio moved out of the quarters into the corridor, Thomas took a deep breath before fixing his hair.

“Counselor, the next time that someone wants to recruit me, you can tell they can take the request and…”

The trio watched as Thomas took a step back causing the door to shut purposefully cutting him off mid sentence leaving each to fill the missing word or void with their own assumptions.

=/\=

A Joint Post by

Susan Ledbetter
Lieutentant Eve Dalziel
Cns
USS PHOENIX

&

Justin K. Owens
Thomas Varn
Resurrected Individual Numero Uno