Lt Alex Storm - I Have to Go

[Karen Morris]

((Shuttle Griffin –Orbit of Betazed ))

Jaran’s question hit hard.  

Jaran: Are you sure? How do you know? 

Because it should have been obvious - as obvious as his voice.

Storm:  I felt … 

She shook her head.

Storm:  I felt him.

Alex groaned, tipping her head to the side.

Storm:  I didn’t know it was him.  It was just … a familiar presence trying not to be noticed. 

Cole: Then you didn’t miss him. You caught a piece of him without knowing what you were looking at. That still counts.

Jaran: She's right. You can't beat yourself up over catching a familiar scent and not realizing what you were smelling until later. 

Tension crept across Alex’s jaw as she shook her head.  Her eyes shifted from Jaran to Cole.

Storm:  What next, then?

Cole: Then our first stop stays the same. Spaceport, records, and anyone who thought holding us in orbit was ordinary.

Her thoughts tangled—Kona, Cassie, Elsine, Nila.

Too many pieces. Not enough time.

Jaran: If that happened without him having someone inside who owed him a favour, I'll be shocked. 

Alex’s face lost all expression.

Storm: I have to get to the funeral.  That’s my best chance.

Cole: Funny thing about clever exits, they usually depend on at least one person assuming no one will look too closely. I’m in the mood to disappoint somebody.

Jaran: Oh, I plan on doing nanosurgery on those records.

Storm: Nila will help.

Alex crossed her arms over her chest, and her expression stilled.

Station Alpha Control: =/\= Station Control. Shuttle Griffin, you are cleared for Berth Delta-7. =/\=

Jaran: =/\= Copy, Station Control. Proceeding to berth. =/\=

Jaran: ::to the others:: Put on your serious faces. It's time.

Cole: I was under the impression this was my serious face.

Turning, she tried to smooth the jumble of thoughts from her face.

Storm: I’m sorry.  ::Shaking her head:: What were you saying?

(( Shuttle Griffin, Berth Delta-7, Spaceport Alpha, Betazed ))

The shuttle touched down lightly.

Betazed Greeting Message: =/\= Welcome, travelers, rest your mind.

Leave your guarded thoughts behind.

On Betazed, where hearts are clear,

Every soul is seen and near.

Feel the calm, no need to hide.

Truth and peace walk side by side.

Step ashore, let silence speak.

You are known the moment you seek. =/\=

Jira glanced at Storm with a puzzled expression.

Jaran: Does that happen every time?

Storm: No…Yes?  

Alex paused.

Storm:  I can feel the gathering.  I need to get going.

Cole: That somehow made me feel both greeted and monitored. 

Jira opened the shuttle's door.

The door opened, snapping Alex’s thoughts back.

Jaran: Fair enough! We have work to do. I'm leaving my bag here. Prophets grant we'll find what we need and be on our way again quickly.

Cole: Leave it. First stop’s still records, then whoever signed off on that delay. 

Alex stepped out, her eyes didn’t have to search far.  Nila stood at the entrance to their berth.  She exhaled and waved.

Storm: Nila!

The two women met in a quick embrace.

Storm:  Jira, Nat, this is Nila.

Jaran: Response

But Nat was already in motion.

Cole: I want the first person who can explain why we circled while outbound traffic cleared. After that, I want the person who told them to make it happen.

Alex touched Nila’s arm.  

Storm:  They’ll need help getting answers.

Nila:  Because you’re…

Storm:  I’ve got a funeral to attend.

Nila:  Aren’t you a little overdressed?

Storm:  That will be remedied shortly.

Alex tried to catch Nat’s attention, but she was in investigative mode.

Jaran: Response

Cole: Let me talk first. People tell you interesting things when they think you’re only half suspicious.

Natasha’s eyes settled on the woman by the berth marker.

Cole: Ms. Pell, right? Lieutenant Natasha Cole. I’m sure this is all perfectly ordinary, but there’s one little thing about our approach delay that keeps bothering me, and I was hoping you could save me from overthinking it.

Pell adjusted her grip on the data-slate and her smile appropriately.

Pell: I assure you, Lieutenant, your shuttle was never in any danger. We were instructed to delay inbound clearance for just a few minutes while a priority departure window was maintained. It was administrative, not personal.

Alex stepped up behind Pell

Storm:  It may not have been personal…

The woman hadn’t expected Alex and swung around quickly with her hand on her chest.

Jaran: Response

Storm:  But it was intentional, and …

Nila’s words overlapped Alex’s.

Nila: … And my friends and I here would like to know why.

Jaran/Cole: Response.

Pell:  You’d like to know why…what?  

Alex breathed in…then suddenly turned to Cole and Jaran.

Storm:  I’m sorry.  I need to go.  ::Turning her former shipmate:: Nila?

Nila:   I’ll help them get to the bottom of this.

Jaran/Cole: Response

Storm:  The funeral’s already underway.  I…

Her voice trailed off.  Alex turned to go, but stopped, walked back, and gave both Nat and Jira a quick hug.

Storm:  Thank you both.  I have to go.

This time, she turned and jogged away.

Jaran/Cole:  Response

Nodding toward Nat, Nila refocused the group.

Nila:  ::To Pell::  I think you need to answer the woman’s question.

Tags / TBC!

~*~

Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2