PNPC Charlie McQueen: Promise You Believe Me? (tags: Mika, Foster?)

[Kayla Drex]

((OOC - For the sake of perspective, I've dropped some dialogue Charlie wouldn't have been listening to. I think this also makes sense, considering she's now in conversation with Mika. I'm not omitting or undermining anybody's work; I'm just trying to keep the scene continuity from Charlie's perspective.))

((USS Eagle - sickbay))

Foster: So apparently we’ve met another alien species. I guess they belong to that drone you found, Hal.

Charlie: ::a bit scared:: Are they dangerous?

Mika: The drone I ran into wasn’t hostile, but I wouldn’t suggest attacking them; they could have the ability to defend themselves.

Waters: Based on a personality assessment, I believe it is safe to conclude that Lieutenant Commander Pavlova has already engaged the drones in combat, provided the opportunity has presented itself. According to my academy training, we are Starfleet, not the Klingon Empire. Communication should be attempted before engaging in open hostilities.

Foster: Lifts and transporters are still down – for now – as soon as they’re up Shayne needs help on the bridge.

Mika: I’m no medical officer, but I’ll stay if you need help, Doctor.

Waters: I am a helm officer, not a medic. My use within the confines of sickbay is minimal.

Charlie: ::to Mika:: So, what did these things look like?

Mika: Black and round; they’ll be the things floating about four feet off the ground. You’ll know them if you see them.

Waters: The drones will more than likely maintain a specific distance from you.

Charlie: Well that's something at least...

:: Vescori rejoined them. Hal looked at him expectantly. ::

Vescori: Alright, I am heading out to meet with Lieutenant Blackwell on Deck 4. With some luck we should be able to get basic transporter functions back. Counselor, Chief Pavlova is aware of the drone trapped in your office. A team is en route. In the meantime it could be helpful if you stay here in sickbay and get a good rapport started with our little stowaway, Charlie.

::The rest of the officers in the room were talking about who was going where, and what to do when they got there. Charlie knew if she didn't want to get dropped at the next starbase, her best bet was just to play ball. Don't get involved more than she had to, be polite, don't be a burden. Counselor Mika seemed a bit unsure about her, but that was nothing new to her. She was used to grown-ups not really knowing what to do with her. She was more capable than her years would suggest. The look he gave her now though wasn't suspicion though. It was more ... intrigue?::

Mika: A stowaway, eh?

:: Hal grinned at Charlie as he leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. ::

Charlie: Kinda, yeah. I guess that's what I am.

::Charlie sank a little inside. Did that mean she would be forever branded as a stow-away? A possible risk? Worse: untrustworthy? She didn't like the idea of starting her new life on that foot.::

Foster: response?

Any: Response.

:: Hal nodded and Charlie waved to Vescori as he headed out the door. As it swished shut behind him, the counselor turned to back Charlie. ::

Mika: So, what brings you to the Eagle, Charlie? Are you an explorer?

Charlie: It's kind of a long story, and you probably won't believe me if I tell you.

:: Hal stood up from the wall and uncrossed his arms. ::

Mika: I will believe you, Charlie; I’m the counselor; it’s my job.

::He had honest eyes. Mom had told her she would begin to sense people's emotions soon, but so far she hadn't felt anything. Still though ... intuition was always worth paying attention to. She decided she could trust Mr. Hal. Charlie let her chatterbox side show.::

Charlie: Ok then. ::she took a breath and let fly:: I grew up on a trading ship with just my Mom and Dad. We had a run-in with the Aggregate a couple months ago. The damage to our ship was pretty bad, but we didn't figure it was too serious. We docked at the Spike for replacement parts, but while I was out buying them, there was a fire. The way the Aggregate hit us ... it put the ship in lock-down and bypassed the fire suppression systems. I only survived because I wasn't on-board.

Mika: response

Charlie: Thanks, it's ok. I miss them, but you know ... ::looking at her feet, shuffling slightly:: that's life in the Wilds, right? So yeah, after that, I kind of just snuck around the Spike for a while until I'd managed to trade around enough for passage to SB281. I thought I'd been followed from the Spike by a couple security guys - I'd been stealing food so I could save money to get to a Federation base - so I tried to blend in with a group of school kids I saw. Turns out, the guys I saw weren't Spike security, but by the time I'd realized that, I was on this ship. I kinda freaked out, because I knew I wasn't supposed to be here without permission, but there was a nice kid in the group who gave me some food and clean clothes, then tried to help me sneak off the ship. That's the first time I got caught.

Mika: response

Charlie: Yeah, Mr. Blaidd gave me hot chocolate with marsh-mellows (at least I think that's what they're called), then packed me off to get swept into the child services system. I REALLY don't want to be shuffled around, Mister Hal. So ... I ditched the CS worker and got in touch with Kat- erm ... my friend on the Eagle. We managed to sneak me back in (and yeah, I know it was still wrong, but it was a risk I had to take. Getting punished for stowing away is still a better option to me than having people treating me like I'm broken. I'm strong. ::standing up tall:: I'm a proud Betazoid woman, and I grew up in space. I'm gonna make my parents proud.

::She suddenly realized she'd been way more open and honest with Hal than she'd been with Vescori. Still ... She was a little embarrassed by her last self-defense. Deflating slightly, she wrapped up her story.::

Charlie: I got busted by my friend's Mom. She found me hiding in a cupboard. Since then, Mr. Blaidd's been stuck watching me. Bet he's glad he got to go back to the bridge. I've been nothing but trouble since I got here.

::She flopped into the nearby chair and stared at her feet again. They said honesty was supposed to be freeing - confession was supposed to be "good for the soul" or something. Why'd she feel like crap then?::

Mika: response

Any: response?

TAG & TBC 

____________________

 ~ Charlie McQueen ~

(simmed by Kayla Drex)
USS Eagle, NCC-74659
Writer ID: E239510KD0