Lieutenant JG Amelia Semara - In Every Way That Matters, Part 1

[Max]

(( Inside the Ouachita, Shuttlebay, Deck 2, USS Khitomer, En Route to Alpha Trionus II ))

However confusing and wandering Lera's line of questioning was to Amelia, it had provided a temporary relief from the yammering cluster of thoughts about her daughter from the future.  But only momentarily.  After all, how could she avoid the problem when she was sitting inside the ragged vehicle that brought Tori here from the future?

Semara: Now take Tori for example. She's smart enough to not lie to me, even if she didn't think that was wrong. Even if they didn't need us for their plan, I can't imagine they mean any harm. We're literally family, and they're tryin' to stop our deaths. But she was uncomfortable with us knowin' they needed a Hobart Hole to travel back in time, and that ain't a trifflin' matter. Why do you think she'd wanna keep that to herself?

With any luck, there was an answer in the logs or the shuttle's modifications.

Zerva: ::raising a brow:: If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that Hobart’s Hole is a two way street. It’s quite possible that it could in fact take us into the future. Perhaps there is more to this mystery as you pointed out.

Amelia turned to Ezra - now there was an interesting idea.  Somehow the singularity was binding all this together, allowing impossible things to happen... Trouble was, the "somehow" was doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Michaels: It is almost as though the "Hobart Hole"... you may have to explain the significance of that appellation... is an opening to a wormhole with a single starting location in time and space and a single destination. Perhaps that was the significance of Kael's response. If that is the case, then the runabout would not be so much travelling in time as it would be travelling through a wormhole. The appropriate engineering response would be design a craft to simply survive the journey. ::beat :: I am not finding anything to support the idea that this craft is capable of independent time travel. Other than temporary patches to keep the engines running there is nothing exceptional about the engines. The shields are more robust than is typical for this class of runabout but there is no safety margin in their power system

It was a good line of reasoning, one that deserved more investigation than a few button taps to dig into the runabout's controls.  But that was all Amelia had time for.

Semara: I think you might be right...  But look at this, there's some real fancy computer connections between sensors and flight controls.  I'd guess the trick is survivin' the journey, plus landin' in the right spot at the other side.  :: Beat :: And the right time.

Michaels: I take it from your earlier remarks, Amelia, that you believe that Tori has been telling us the truth ... at least as she understands it.

Back to this?  Amelia swallowed.  The right frame of mind for this kind of argument was a long way out of reach - hopefully it wouldn't become that.  She understood Lera's skepticism, and perhaps a more-settled Amelia might have even encouraged it, but that didn't mean it felt good.

Semara: She hasn't lied.

Michael's head shook.  Amelia's jaw tightened.

Michaels: The more I consider the matter, the more I am convinced that our guests are not from our future. ::beat :: I am in no position to judge what other individuals consider to be family. My "parents" and my "sister" are not even the same species as me. Yet they are more my family than my relatives on Vulcan. ::to Amelia:: If you consider Tori to be your daughter then, as far as I am concerned, she is your daughter. However, she may have been born in an alternate reality to an alternate Amelia Semara. And if you say she's not lying to uis, I'll accept that.

She took a long breath and forced her jaw to relax again.  She gave a simple nod.

Not necessarily a nod of agreement, just a nod of acknowledgement and appreciation that Lera was willing to consider the possibilities and to trust Amelia's judgement.

How could she tell the difference between a daughter she'd have in this timeline versus one she'd have in another?  The eyes, the hair, the genes, yes, but it went beyond the physical.  The familiarity of Tori, the way she carried a lifetime of memories of some version of who Amelia would become...  Could Amelia seriously deny a responsibility or affection to Tori simply because she was the child of a slightly different Amelia?

Whatever Lera's intention, the counterpoint made her wonder: did those details matter?

Ezra broke the quiet.

Zerva: I’ve been checking though the logs during our conversations. The number of logs here could take hours to shift through. I’ve typed in a few key phrases that should give us… ::bleep, bleep:: a result?

Michaels: I assume you have found something unexpected.

Amelia turned away from her console.  At this point, she was just pretending to push buttons if she was being honest with herself.  Ezra had something more interesting, anyway.

Zerva: Curious. It would appear some of the logs are incomplete. The computer seems to have found a number of sections that are missing. I wonder if the Sencha radiation or their travel through time or a combination of two might have something to do—

A strange computer voice interrupted Ezra, coming from the runabout.

Computer: Warning. Those logs are encrypted. They require a level 7 Free Isle Fleet access. Any further attempts could result in computer failure.

Michaels: I was able, I believe, to make a full copy of the logs onto an isolatable device. You should check the integrity of my copy. Perhaps it would be wise to do your work on a copy of the files on a fully independent computer system.

Amelia's eyes bounced from one Lieutenant to the other.

Zerva: ::surprised look:: It would seem as though, the computer has a fail safe shutdown protocol.

Michaels: Why would they encrypt their files if it is just the three of them?

Amelia shook her head.

Semara: Free Isle Fleet.  Prolly other folks had access to the shuttle at one point.  :: Beat :: Zerva, think you can get 'em open?

Zerva: ::cracking his knuckles:: I didn’t take a full course at the academy on computer hacking for nothing. It’s going to take a little time to get through, without triggering any fail safe security alarms. I suspect our Admiral Lacy has the codes. I am doubtful she’ll give them up willingly. In the meantime, there are a number of other non encrypted logs to search through, if anyone would like to lend a hand?

Michaels: Wait. :: grabbing Ezra's arm. The alarm in her voice was obvious.:: There may be a physical danger here. Before you crack their security systems on those files, let us consider what the presence of encryption tells us. You encrypt files to prevent the wrong individuals from accessing them. I see two general candidates for who they do not want seeing those files; the Lattice Alliance should this Ouachita be captured and us. What would it tell us if our visitors are worried about us reading those files? Hiding something from us? Certainly they would know that we would examine them. If it is the Lattice Alliance then the security system may do more than erase the data and destroy the computer. It may also be rigged to destroy the Ouachita. Possibly with the UPSD torpedoes.

The urge to squeeze the bridge of her nose was strong, but instead Amelia leaned back into her chair.  The nice thing about this dilemma was the lack of a ticking clock - they could afford to consider this carefully.

Semara: Okay... The ability to time-travel makes this shuttle a strategic weapon in some minds, so extreme measures to protect it seem likely 'nough.  :: Beat :: Zerva, thoughts?

Zerva: ::nodding:: Both good points. Either one is likely. In regard to your earlier suggestion. I recommend caution before putting an unknown amount of logs that you copied into our database without first ensuring there were no security risks. We wouldn’t want the Khitomer to end up with a computer virus. Either way, anything we do from here could put us all at risk.

Another nod.  Certainly a good time and place to be cautious.

If only Amelia could explain the nagging feeling at the periphery of her awareness that seemed to be pulling her away from the conversation...

Michaels: I do not think they would worry about Tholians. Tholians need an ambient temperature of about 200 degrees. Their mere presence would tend to destroy Ouachita. And their bodies can not operate systems designed for humanoid appendages. They are incapable of issuing voice commands to the computer. :: pause :: The Sheliak are another story. We all know one humanoid individual who has successfully survived a Sheliak friendly environment and flown a shuttle designed for the Sheliak body.

The thread of whatever it was yanked at her attention uncomfortably, like stitches woven through her skin being pulled on, dragging her away from the conversation.  It took considerable focus and a long breath to mute the feeling.

Zerva: ::raising a brow:: Studying up on the two species of the Alliance? Good assessments of both. Perhaps later, I could be permitted to pick your mind in regard to our security and tactical simulations. I’m curious your thoughts on the matter. ::looking up at Lera at the last part:: And whom is this humanoid you speak about?

Perhaps with less distraction, she could have figured the answer, but right now that was Amelia's question, too.

Michaels: Lt Ayemet Dewitt. They experimented and put metal plates in her head. Ayemet has more experience with the Sheliak than the rest of the crew put together. Perhaps we should consult with her.

Ayemet!  How had no one thought to talk to Ayemet about all of this?  She had a more intimate (albeit very painful) experience with the Sheliak than all of them.  Though how that helped with encrypted, possibly trapped, logs on a non-Sheliak runabout escaped Amelia for as long as her mind was getting telepathically tugged in another direction.

Zerva: That line of questioning could lead to more problems. She’s already dealing with a lot. Learning her husband had a child with her best friend. I’m not sure if that’s wise right now? ::to Semara:: Unless you think that could help us? Would you be willing to talk to her?

Michaels: Response

Finally, the sensation subsided, and Amelia sucked in a full lungful of air.

Semara: Okay.  Lieutenant Dewitt might have an interestin' perspective, but this demands an engineerin' and computer security touch, and I think Zerva's prolly right she's got her head full right now.  I think we oughta -

Kelana: =/\= Kelana to Lieutenant Zerva. =/\= 

Huh.  So that's what that felt like.  The voice was urgent.  Amelia nodded to indicate she was fine with the interruption.

Zerva: =/\= Go ahead Kelana. =/\=

Kelana: =/\= Sir we just had an emergency medical beam out. It was one of our new guest. =/\= 

Amelia's heart sank, already a step ahead.  It had to be Tori.  That was the only way to explain the strange tug at her empathic senses.  Her daughter had been trying to get her attention - maybe unintentionally - but the acquaintance was still too fresh for Amelia to understand the significance.

Zerva: =/\= Can you be more specific? =/\= 

Kelana: =/\= It was Tori sir. She collapsed. We’re not entirely sure what’s wrong. Per the Admirals suggestion, we sent her and a security officer in escort to the life sciences lab. =/\=

Collapsed!  Goddesses!  What was so wrong with her that she collapsed?  Amelia sat upright in her seat, ready to act, but the answer to "act how?" eluded her, keeping her frozen in place.

Zerva: =/\= The science labs? =/\=

Kelana: =/\= That’s where Doctor Ohnari was located when we beamed her over. =/\= 

Okay - it's okay...  Talia was taking care of Tori, everything was okay...  Slow breaths...  Talia would call Amelia if it weren't okay, so it had to be okay...  Right?  Of course Tori was okay...  She'd walked out of the conference room with nothing wrong not that long ago, so it had to be okay...

Zerva: =/\= And our other guests?  =/\=

Kelana: =/\= Their with us sir. As per orders from Doctor Ohnari, we’re reporting to sickbay. =/\=

Zerva: =/\= Understood. Please keep me posted of any further updates. Zerva out. =/\= 

Amelia stood.  The console was meaningless gibberish at this point anyway.

It was okay, it would all be okay, she just had to find some way to keep it together.  Lieutenant and Lady...  She just had to keep them all focused - a tall order when she was a thousand lightyears away.

Only she wasn't.  Her head and her heart was only a few decks down and a couple compartments over...

Okay, okay... Lieutenant and Lady...  Especially here and now.

Michaels: Response

Zerva: ::worried look:: I’m so sorry Semara. If you need to go—

Go?  There was no denying she wanted to, but why?  To do what?  Lera, ultimately, was right.  Tori should be practically a stranger.  Maybe if Amelia had been born a Vulcan, she could compartmentalize the problem away.  But she couldn't just dismiss the vision she'd had, or the way she felt Tori like her own flesh and blood...

The jagged-toothed, gruff voice of nurse Othin startled Amelia from behind.  No easy feat normally, but Amelia was distracted.

Othin: ::to Semara:: I need a bone marrow sample.

Then it was bad, and Tori needed her mother.  Maybe Amelia was only Tori's mother in some estranged alternate timeline, but here and now, Amelia was Tori's mother in every way that mattered.

She straightened as the clarity of it hit her, nodding to the Klingon.  For a brief moment, having something she could do - anything she could do - to help Tori made it better.  Better enough to leave instructions.

Semara: Okay.  Make a plan to decrypt the logs.  Scan 'em, disarm the torpedoes, get an isolated computer setup, whatever you need to make it safe.  Make a replica of the shuttle in the holodeck, if you need it - those systems are easier to isolate.  I want medical data added to the list a' priority information 'long with scientific data on the shuttle and any tactical data on the Alliance they got in their databases.  :: A beat :: I'll be back to help, but we gotta get this movin'.

Amelia hoped the serious note of urgency in her voice would keep the two working on the problem of the encrypted logs rather than the problem of how to play a game of tonsil hockey while she was away.  Hopefully, it wouldn't also betray her anxiety.

Michaels / Zerva: Response

And with that, Amelia stepped out of the shuttle.

(( OOC: I'll let you decide if you want to make some tags between the two of you or time-skip to the tags I'm leaving for you at the end of part 2. ))

Tag / TBC...

---------- ○● ----------

Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Magnolia Semara

Science Officer - Special Projects

USS Khitomer - NCC-62400

A239710MA0