Lt Jovenan – Clues, computers and culs-de-sac
Jovenan
((Chez Adea, Dekoa, Betazed))
Since their most immediate threat was neutralized, the team had had a chance to learn more about the cause of them being in this peculiar situation. As Genkos had previously encountered this CloQ being, he had the honours of being bombarded with questions.
Jovenan: May I ask, when you’ve met CloQ before, have people… died? Or has something else permanent happened to them? Even if they don’t want to kill us right away, do we have any chance they would hurt us indirectly?
Their previous threatener put her hand in Genkos’. Jovenan wasn’t entirely sure if Tevet was trying to encourage Genkos or vice versa.
Adea: They trapped us in a time loop the first time; the loop restarted when the ship exploded, and we all died. But only Nurse Nusin remained dead when CloQ freed us… ::he paused:: And believe it or not, but Vitor is a lot older than he looks, thanks to CloQ.
The fact that there was at least one person killed, or caused the death of, by CloQ indicated that they were not just in for a fun game, at least not for the pawns that they were. Jovenan had from the beginning assumed that CloQ might not be interested in reviving them should they meet their mortal peril during this encounter, but having an actual confirmation of it…
Well, at least she finally got a reason why Vitor looked so much younger than his birthyear indicated. Wherever he was. And speaking of youth, Jovenan’s attention turned to Tevet. They still didn’t know if it was just a coincidence they happened to meet her here.
Jovenan: What about Tevet? Do you think she has any role in this? Would CloQ just ignore her, or is she a part of whatever twisted thing this is?
Tevet perked up immediately.
Elain: I can help you! What do you want me to do?
Jovenan wasn’t sure what to say. Tevet certainly was an energetic child and had experience in defending herself and others, but she was still a child. Jovenan wasn’t sure if she’d want to endanger a – what, eight, ten years old? Genkos apparently had similar thoughts with her as he shook his head.
Adea: I don’t know - I think our recent reunion in the present cannot be a coincidence - CloQ delights in messing with us, and I bet if we could see the others from our crew, they will be in unique prisons all their own.
Jovenan nodded a bit. For all they knew, the others were timelines and universes away. That made communicating with them exceedingly difficult.
Sadar: It could be as simple as ensuring a vested interest, but I suppose nothing to do with a Q is simple for long. ::pause:: That being said, considering their mercurial nature, I don’t think getting more people involved is wise.
Jovanan: ::looks at Elain:: That would be safer.
Elain: But I want to help! I can do it! ::pause:: But can I ask a question as well?
Jovenan raised an eyebrow. She didn’t know how much they should be revealing about CloQ or their timeline to Tevet, but since they had been talking about them in Tevet’s vicinity, it wouldn’t hurt to hear her question at least.
Adea: Of course you can.
Elain: ::smirks:: Are you married yet? How many kids do you have?
For a few seconds, a confused silence fell onto them, but it was broken by Genkos’ laughter. Jovenan joined him with a wide smile, despite the confusion persisting in Doctor Sadar’s countenance.
Adea: I’m not, and I don’t have any children. But I do have someone I love.
Jovenan: ::at Tevet:: You really are still the same person I’ve met.
Elain: Response
Jovenan felt a bit more relaxed about the situation, wanting to continue chatting with Tevet until they all forgot what they were here for, but Doctor Sadar quite firmly redirected the conversation to their correct tracks.
Sadar: Sir, if there’s a purpose to our being here, and Miss Tevet, do you have any idea what it might be?
Genkos straightened his robe, the Starfleet equivalent to rolling up one’s sleeves.
Adea: Right, we need information - my father’s study has a terminal. If we’re lucky, it’ll have power, and if we’re really lucky, it will still be connected to the network.
There were uncomfortably many “if we’re luckys” for Jovenan’s preference, but it seemed the best course of action for now. There was very little they could do from the basement, except maybe wait for CloQ to get bored with them, and since they had been blocked from leaving, checking out the house was probably the only thing they could do right now. Leaving the basement increased their chances of being detected by the Dominion forces, though, so Jovenan really hoped they were going to be lucky.
Sadar: Well, the lights are on at least, so the power grid is accessible.
Jovenan looked at the flickering light. It didn’t promise good.
Adea/Elain: Response
Jovenan: Would you like to show the way, then?
The team and their new friend left the basement, leaving the uncounted number of animals rest from the anxiety caused by their intrusion. Up the stairways, Jovenan tried to look around, trying to find any clues or details she should account for. She hadn’t quite gained a detailed mental map of the building the time they visited it in the future, but she could see well the differences. Even if later modifications were accounted, the most notable change was that the Vets N Co hadn’t been this badly trashed.
They reached the study, finding it at even worse condition than the rest of the building. After a quick look at Genkos, Jovenan stepped closer to the terminal, covered in dust and other substance Jovenan didn’t want to think about too much. She tried wiping it clean with sleeve, only managing to smear some on her dress uniform. For a few seconds, she wondered how her alternate universe sister had managed to keep her white uniform so clean, but Jovenan then focused on the job once more.
The device flickered but didn’t stay active.
Jovenan: I don’t suppose any of you happens to know engineering?
Jovenan cursed in her head the small number of engineering courses she had taken. Her ComOps minor could, in theory, be useful here, but if the problem was in the energy source, she was less than useless.
Adea/Elain: Response
Sadar: Well, that it’s even intact is a miracle, considering the state of this room. ::considers:: But why would they raid a study? It’s not somewhere where food or important rations are generally stored…
That was… very much true. Jovenan looked around. She hadn’t seen many crime scenes, but by the way document safes and other meuble had been opened or tossed aside, she wondered if someone had been going through them.
Jovenan: Maybe they were looking for medicines, this is a medical facility after all. Or maybe they tried finding a list of customers, with their addresses and names.
A list like that would have greatly helped the occupiers, but Jovenan doubted Genkos’ father would have kept one on paper or even a PADD instead of the house computer.
Adea/Elain: Response
Jovenan: Or maybe your parents were suspected of being in the resistance and the Dominion wanted to find something to help them find the other members. ::pause, to Elain:: Tevet, do you happen to know why, um, Genkos and his family were taken to the camp?
Adea/Elain/Sadar: Response
Jovenan: We could try looking for clues why this place was burgled and what was taken, if that helps at all… ::pause, looks at the terminal:: I could also try to set the computer to base operations mode which should be easier for it to run, but if it’s more broken than that, it would all just be waste of time.
Adea/Elain/Sadar: Response
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant Jovenan
Chief Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
E239911J11