Lt. JG Natasha Cole - One Decision at a Time
Natasha Schell
((Shuttle Griffin, Shuttle Hangar, Deck 11, Artemis-A))
Nat followed Alex, with Jaran on their heels. They entered the shuttle Alex dropped her duffel off to the side of the door. Nat tossed hers into the open door towards the rear of the shuttle before turning towards the pilot seats.
Storm: Nat, can you help me with the preflight checks? Jira, can you get clearance for our departure? Trust me, the paperwork is filled out, so it should be a matter of formality.
Nat clocked it instantly. Not the bad input itself, but the way Alex’s hand struck the console and then stayed there a fraction too long. The held breath. The apology that came before anyone had accused her of anything.
Storm: Sorry.
Nat stepped in beside her, not crowding, just close enough to be there.
Cole: Alex, breathe. We have time for a clean reset.
Jaran: Let's pause and all take a deep breath as a group. I don't even need a tricorder to see that you're physically overwhelmed right now.
Storm: I think it might be better, if you fly us out, Nat.
Alex gave Cole a wry grin.
Cole: Works for me. You’ve got enough on your plate without wrestling the helm too.
Nat slid into the pilot’s seat and swept her hands over the controls with practiced economy. No flourish, no hesitation. Just clean and certain motion.
Jaran: =/\= Shuttlecraft Griffin preparations complete. Artemis shuttlebay, prepare for departure. =/\=
Storm: Okay. My checks are done. Jira’s gotten us clearance to depart. Take us out when you’re ready, Nat.
Her fingers moved quickly, checking readouts, confirming power flow, aligning the launch sequence.
Cole: Copy that. Let’s go get your daughter.
She glanced over to Jaran and Alex. She didn’t need to be a Betazoid to feel the tension in the air.
Cole: Alright, Griffin. Be kind to me.
Jaran: I'm keeping my eye on you, lieutenant. Not just as your friend, but also as your doctor, at least for this trip.
Storm: As my friend, I don’t mind. As my doctor…
Out of the corner of her eye, Nat caught Alex tipping her head back and forth.
Storm: I’ll tolerate it.
Nat cracked a smile as Alex leaned toward Jaran and put her elbows on her knees with her hands clasped. Her voice quavered.
Storm: As a mother, I need your help. But please don’t get in my way.
Nat heard that as a plea. She couldn’t begin to imagine the pain her friend has had to carry.
Cole: We’re on our way.
Nat let the words settle in the cockpit for a beat... giving Alex the smallest possible moment to breathe.
Jaran: Nothing in between us and there now.
Storm: Let’s hope the Griffin does us well.
Cole: So… what’s the plan? Jira knocks your ex out, or do you need me to weaponize my charm in the name of justice?
Jaran: Oh no. I'm not dosing anyone against their will again. Not so soon since the last time, at least.
Storm: I won’t ask you to. Depending on when we get there…if we get there in time for the funeral, we’ll slip in back, wait until the room has cleared, and we’ll corner him. If we don’t get there in time for the funeral?
Alex shook her head.
Storm: I don’t know. All I’ve got is we knock on his mother’s door and ask her if we can talk.
Jira knew the sound of a plan that was still... planning. In her defense, she hadn't had much time to work on it, and this trip was the time she needed to file down the edges.
Jaran: Well, we have some time. Why don't you break down what we have to expect when we get there.
Storm: Well, if we do make it time for the funeral…
Alex gave a nervous chuckle.
Storm: Um…Betazoid funerals are like Betazoid weddings. We’ll have to go in the nude.
She looked between the two. Her smile was a combination of hopeful and nervous.
Storm: I hope that’s not an issue. During the funeral memories are shared mentally. Like the couple of non-Betazoid funerals I’ve attended, those closest to the deceased stay the longest. So I would anticipate Kona remaining until the end.
Cole: Well at least this time I won't be blindsided by a crewmate’s nudity.
Jaran: What are the views of the afterlife on Betazed? The ritual sounds fasci... ::beat:: Sorry. Not the point.
Storm: We believe the soul ascends to a higher plane at death. And that as we each die, we will be reunited on that higher plane.
Cole: That’s… a lot, but not in a bad way. Just tell me what I need to know so I don’t accidentally commit a cultural offense before we even reach the hard part.
She had barely finished speaking when a light on the console in front of Jira began to blink and beep. They were being hailed.
Jaran: Are we expecting a call?
Storm: Maybe. Open the channel.
Alex looked between them as if to ask for silence. Once the channel was opened, Alex spoke.
Storm: =/\= This is the shuttle Griffin. Who is this? =/\=
Nila: =/\= Alex, is that you? It’s Nila. =/\=
Storm: =/\= Do you have any news? =/\=
Nila: =/\= I’ve seen him. Kona. He’s here. =/\=
Storm: =/\= Cassie. Have you seen Cassie? =/\=
Nila: =/\= Not yet, but I’m following Kona. If she’s here, I’ll find her. =/\=
Storm: =/\= I have two people with me. Both from Starfleet.=/\= What’s our ETA Nat?
Cole: Just under thirteen hours at current speed. I can push a little harder, but I’m trying to deliver us as a shuttle, not a cautionary tale.
Storm: =/\= When we get closer, I’ll comm you with our landing coordinates. =/\=
Nila: =/\= Understood. I’ll keep you abreast of anything else I find out. Nila, out. =/\=
Cole: Good. Eyes on Kona means fewer unknowns, and right now I’ll take any reduction in chaos I can get.
Jaran: Response
Storm: She’s a friend from the Scimitar who left Starfleet. I knew she was still on Betazed, so as soon as I could, I messaged her.
Cole: Then I already like her. Anyone willing to help with this on short notice has good instincts.
Jaran: Response
Storm: She’ll help us get where we need to go once we arrive.
Cole: ::nodding:: Good. Now walk us through who’s likely to be there, who matters, and who might try to stop us from leaving with Cassie?
Jaran/Storm: Response
Cole: We don’t need certainty yet. We need something solid enough to stand on, and then we keep moving.
Jaran/Storm: Response
((Eleven hours Later))
((Shuttle Griffin – En route to Betazed ))
Natasha kept one hand light on the controls. She had managed to shave more time off the journey than she’d expected, while her other rested near the console edge. The briefing had gone from scattered fragments to something more actionable. Not stable, not safe, but workable.
Cole: I’m not saying I like our odds, but they’ve improved enough that I’ve stopped drafting apology letters in my head.
Jaran/Storm: Response
Tags/TBC
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Lt. JG Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240205NC4