Ensign Vesela Pace - Distant Stars Calling
C Souers
((Ship’s Library, Deck 4, USS Gorkon))
As the red alert lights flooded the library, another knife slid itself between her ribs as she thought about color theory. Her mother is – was – no, is – an artist. Red and green are opposites. How true that felt right now.
Pace: Would it be alright if I studied the situation from here, sir? I’m… really not sure how to help, yet.
Tahna: Yes, that would be fine. You’ll be able to collect local sensor sweeps from here.
Vesela shuddered a sigh of quasi-relief. These Borg could be just like the ones she learned about at the Academy, or they could be altogether entirely different. These Borg had time on their side. As well as potentially a Starfleet Commodore, which made her shudder again. If he had caused this, what had he given the Borg, either willingly or unwillingly? There were so many unknowns!
In an attempt to gather some preliminary data, Vesela tried to visually gauge New Cyndriel’s Borg situation. As the Gorkon began to move away, all she could see were her younger siblings riddled with implants and speaking as one. Resistance is futile. Before she could stop herself, tears tracked down her cheeks.
Pace: Sorry, sir. I’m – sorry, sir.
Tahna: It’s alright. ::She frowned.:: I mean, it’s clearly not alright. None of this is. But you have nothing to apologize for.
Vesela sniffled and took a few deep breaths before pulling herself back to some semblance of togetherness and nodded her thanks towards Lieutenant Commander Tahna.
The chirp of a shipwide comms channel opening made her breath hitch in her throat. This meant answers. Even if there weren’t many, there would still be fewer unknowns than before.
Reynolds: =/\= This is Admiral Reynolds to all crew. As many of you may have already guessed, Commodore Johnson has succeeded in using a temporal device to change our timeline. We don’t know what changes he made, only that the result is our home is in the hands of the Borg. ::She paused.:: I know many of you are overwhelmed, hurting, and afraid. I’m not going to tell you to stop feeling that way. =/\=
The Admiral’s voice was steady and calm, though Vesela knew that even the Admiral must be feeling just as crushed as the rest of the crew.
Reynolds: =/\= But I am going to tell you that you’re not alone. We’re a crew, and we’re a crew who can, and have, achieved the impossible. We will find a way to undo the damage Johnson has done, and we will get home to our families and friends. That’s a promise we make right now, to ourselves, to everyone on this ship, and all those absent who we hold in our hearts. =/\=
Vesela took a shaky breath. This was a promise to a lot of people then. A promise to a whole reality, really. Their reality.
Reynolds: =/\= For now, we’re on course for somewhere safe, where we can take stock and plan our next move. When we have more information, we’ll share it with you. Until then, attend to your duty stations, and take care of each other. Trust each other. Believe in each other. Do that, and we’ll see it through. Reynolds out. =/\=
And before she knew it, the chirp indicated that the message truly was over. She felt a bit better, but now it was really real that they had been plopped in a new timeline that seemed to be run by Borg. And they had to fix it.
And fix it they would. Vesela didn’t think she could survive in this universe without her family, her friends, her entire world, Starfleet… Between death, assimilation, and fixing this, Vesela would definitely choose fixing this.
Tahna: Bajor is a gorgeous planet, but my favorite sight is the stars from Kendra province. What’s your favorite spot on Elaysia?
Elaysia… She had to start remembering it as it was – is – really is.
Pace: There’s a solas not too far from where I grew up. A solas is a place where sola – Elaysian crystals and gems – grow in great quantities. At dawn, dusk, and during eclipses, they become bioluminescent. It looks and feels like you’re walking among the stars.
Vesela couldn’t help but smile despite the hole thinking about the solas left. Borg technology certainly wouldn’t have left them alone, but at least she had her memories.
Lieutenant Commander Tahna offered a small smile back, and Vesela wished she had something inspiring to say to her. Bajor and Elaysia still existed in this reality – most likely – but that didn’t feel very hopeful or inspiring.
Tahna: We will go home again. But right now, we have to make that happen. You’re a biologist and astronomer, right?
She was right. It was time to get to work. Vesela stood a bit straighter.
Pace: Aye, sir, that's right. Ready to make it happen, sir.
New Cyndriel was almost entirely out of their view now.
Pace: Where would be the best place to gather information, sir? I know I asked to stay here… but I was afraid to leave the library then. I still am afraid to tell you the truth, sir. But I’m a Starfleet Officer. I can’t let my fear paralyze me, that would mean letting my crew down. Sorry, I’m just rambling now, what I mean is… Ready for orders, sir!
Vesela snapped to attention as best she could with her crutches.
Tahna: Response
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Ensign Vesela Pace
Science Officer
USS Gorkon (NCC-82293)
G240106VP4