Ensign Paarus - Startling Explorations

[Lucas Peterson]

((Personal Quarters, Marrakech District, Habitat Ring, Amity Outpost))

Alone in his quarters, Zal was laying on the couch. Ruth was curled up between his legs sleeping. She was warm and Zal felt cozy and content. He let his mind wander a bit, reviewing the recent happenings of his life. From trying to escape a medical examination to the peace offering with Dr. Aleksandrove to the Athania's School sharing some Bajoran history and culture to karaoke with his roommate, Zal had realized he had only just scratched the surface of all Amity had to offer.  Ensign Paarus found himself wondering just how vast the station was and was curious about the plan that Scotty had set into motion. It was about an hour before Zal had agreed to meet up with Kivik and Reade. Zal sat up and decided he was going to do some exploring.

This naturally disturbed the cat nestled between his legs. Ruth looked up at him in her usual disgruntled way when she was disturbed out of a dead sleep. Zal gave her a few long strokes down her back and tail and she stretched in response. .oO What a cat! Oo. Picking her up out of his lap and setting her on the floor, Zal stood up and looked around the room. It had been a couple of weeks since he and Bec had moved into their quarters and they STILL had not yet completely unpacked. His luggage crate had been moved into the corner behind the table and chairs but was sitting open with his things still in bags and boxes. His yellow uniform jacket was laying on the back of the couch, a few empty glasses were sitting on the coffee table. The pillows from the couch were smooshed into the corners and the blanket had been plopped on the couch and slid onto the floor. .oO I should probably clean just a bit before I leave. Oo. 

Zal picked up the blanket and folded it neatly on the back of the couch. He fluffed and reset the pillows, then grabbed the glasses and took them back to the replicator for recycling. Punching in the commands to the replicator, the glasses were demolecularized in sparkling light vanishing before his eyes. Zal picked up the Starfleet jacket and threw it on, not bothering to zip it up. .oO There. Now Bec won't yell at me for leaving things a mess. Oo. Zal walked out of the quarters and headed towards Archer Station to catch a train to the science and research facilities in The Basement.

((Level 9, Science and Research Center, Amity Outpost))

 Zal stepped off the train and into the open space of the train station. The space was rather sparsely populated with only a generic sign pointing out that the Holodecks were up one level. It was a clean slate. Since Zal knew what was above him, he decided to take the elevators down a couple of levels to see what else he could find in the science and research center.

((Level 6, Science and Research Center, Amity Outpost))

Stepping off the elevator on level 6, Zal stood in the corridor listening to the hum of the energy conduits of the station. Another generic sign pointed out that this level held a number of science labs. He strode off to his left. .oO Science Lab A. Science Lab B. Science Lab C. Oo. It was eerily quiet in the corridor. He tapped the button to open the door to Science Lab D. With a hiss, the doors slide open revealing an eerie green glow coming from one side of the science lab. A chill ran down Zal's spine. The iridescent glow was coming from a Borg alcove that was set up in the corner.

Zal had known that Amity's original purpose was for research on the Borg. He had never seen Borg technology up close but anyone with any familiarity with the history of the Alpha Quadrant was familiar with Borg.  The fearsome cybernetically enhanced species from the Delta Quadrant had played an intimate role in shaping Starfleet. From Wolf 359 to the Battle of Sector 001, the Borg had proved to be a formidable enemy. They were to be avoided whenever possible and Zal wondered if and/or when they might show up at Amity.

Suddenly, the silence of the science lab was pierced by a chirp from his comm badge. It nearly sent Zal through the roof. He had let his mind wander a bit too far with the Borg. His attention was brought back to the reality of the science lab.

Reade: =/\= Response =/\=

Paarus: ::tabbing his comm badge, in a startled tone:: =/\= Paarus, here, go ahead. =/\=

Reade: =/\= Response =/\=

Paarus: =/\= Just doing some exploring, I'm in Science Lab D on Level 6 of the Science and Research center. =/\=

Reade: =/\= Response. =/\=

Paarus: =/\= Understood. I will meet you and Kivik at Science and Research train station on Level 9. Paarus out. =/\=

Zal took another look at the Borg Alcove and shuttered. He wondered how much more Borg tech was left around the station. He made a mental note to look into a manifest list later. In the meantime, he had to meet with Scotty and Kivik as they began their project to set up the Science and Research center. Zal exited Science Lab D and headed for the elevator.

((Level 9, Science and Research Center, Amity Outpost))

Zal stepped off the elevator just as Kivik and Scotty were stepping out of the train car at the station. 

Paarus: Hello and welcome to the Science and Research section of Amity Outpost. ::gesturing about the cavernous space that was the train station::

Reade/Kivik: Response

Zal noted that Lieutenant Reade was holding several PADDs. .oO Those must be the plan and our assignments. Reade seems so organized. Don't mess this up Zal! Oo. Reade handed one PADD each to Kivik and Zal.

Paarus: ::Accepting the PADD:: What's this, Lieutenant?

Reade/Kivik: Response

Tag/TBC

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Ensign Paarus Zalbac

Operations Officer

Amity Outpost

A239811PZ4