[sb118-khitomer] Lieutenant (JG) Ezra Zerva - Cradling A Faded Pink Pig
BC Cooper
((Deck 8, Security Suite, USS Khitomer))
Upon returning to the Khitomer; Ezra with PADD in hand, went directly to the security suite. He had taken the information that was collected by the away team thus far and sent to the PADD he now held in his hands. He was thankful to be off the prison planet. Equally thankful for the assist by the ships new tactical officer Commander Stros. If there was indeed a computer virus that had a Tholian signature upon, it would likely soon be gone once Stros had set the explosive devices to go off.
He also made a note of Ensign Matthews work on the computer information. His ability to account for a number of variables that even he didn’t think of was an incredibly invaluable resource. Richard had done a great job. One he made sure to take note upon in his security logs from the away mission.
His face had been buried into the PADD as he walked out of the turbolift onto deck 8. He was absorbed in the information. It was a lot to shift through, even though he didn’t have all of it yet. It wasn’t until he was almost to the doors of the security suite that he spotted two crewman who had walked past him. They appeared to be whispering to each other, one of them giggling as if they were back at the academy sharing a laugh over something they thought was funny.
Ezra didn’t know what they were on about at first. He was tempted to confront them, but as the doors to the suite opened one PO3 Thalev turned and gave a brief wrinkled nose as he caught a wiff of the stale air around Ezra’s body.
Quickly glancing down and giving himself his own sniff test, he made the same face.
oO Do I even have time for a quick shower and change of clothes? Oo
Given the nature of their away mission he had the unfortunate opportunity to crawl around in a waste disposal unit. Now he was covered in the smell and his normally bright yellow colors of his duty uniform were stained and faded. There was just one problem. The likelihood of encountering Lattice Alliance ships meant any opportunity away from his job, even a shower meant he would have to make it pretty quick. He could only imagine what the bridge crew would thick of Stros in his present condition. He had wondered what the Captain and the others might of thought when he and Commander Stros first arrived in Tram’s office. He was sure Mr. Tram wasn’t pleased to see, much less smell their presence in his office. Speaking of which, he knew that he had to see to their new guest.
Zerva: ::to the room:: Report.
PO3 Thalev and Corly stood at attention before Thalev spoke first.
Thalev: All shifts report no unusual activity. All armaments from the future have been properly stored.
Armaments from the future? He never thought he would hear those words before this mission.
Thalev: The shuttlebay is secured, and two of our guests from the future are in sickbay. The other is still in her guest quarters.
The one in the guest quarters was likely Admiral Lacy. But sickbay? He began to wonder what reason the other two would have to be there? Other than the CMO being the mother to Kael he couldn’t figure out what reason they’d have to warrant a visit there, unless there was a medical emergency.
Zerva: And their condition?
Thalev: Unknown. Doctor patient confidentiality and all that sir. From what I understand they’re alive and being cared for whatever it is that’s ailing them.
Vague, but accurate given the CMO’s discretion and Othin’s ability to scare anyone away who got too noisy. He hoped they were okay. Ezra made a note to check in, once he had things in hand here.
Zerva: ::beat:: And our recent guest?
Corly: He’s sitting silently cradling a faded pink, porcine pig. He hasn’t said a word to us sir. Petty Officer Maryu is with him now, monitoring from the brig station.
He raised a brow.
oO Faded pink, porcine pig? Oo
Stranger things have happened before. If that made Mr. Tram more comfortable so be it. Besides if Tram misbehaved, he could always threaten to take it away as leverage. He hoped it wouldn’t have to come to that.
Zerva: ::nodding:: Very good. ::picks up another PADD, this one from his desk:: I need not remind you all, that only senior officers are permitted to speak to the pris… er “guest”. Anyone else will require proper authorization from myself, the Captain, or XO first. This includes our other guest from the future. Understood?
Thalev: Yes sir.
Corly: Sir, Yes sir!
Zerva: I will speak with our guest, after I freshen up. oO After all Mr. Tram could stand to simmer for awhile longer. Oo ::exists the room:: Carry on.
((Brief Timeskip. Ezra’s Quarter’s, Room 141, Deck 14, USS Khitomer))
Despite Ezra’s lack of hygiene, Foxy Lady was excited to see him as he walked through the door. Taking a quick shower and change of clothes would be quicker than giving her some attention after she greeted him. She jumped up excitedly, wanting to give him all kinds of puppy kisses. He sat down briefly and gave her a couple minutes of attention, before letting her know he was thankful for her and that he missed and loved her too.
He cleaned up her puppy pad and gave her a fresh bowl of water and some kibbled, which she quickly dove into as if she hadn’t eaten in a week.
Next he removed his entire uniform, tossing it into the replicator for disposal and then hopped into a shower. Ezra looked over the PADD he had taken from his desk while he showered. There were several messages directed to him, including a file on a new recently graduated security officer from the Academy.
Zevra: Ensign Talon Morda. Kerelian. Says here he served in the Orbital Security Fleet before joining Starfleet. Got two medals while in service. Not bad. A better resume than mine when I submitted my application to the academy. Sounds like he’s got the makings of a fine security officer.
His mind flashed back to almost two years ago. Had it been that long? He remembered knocking on the quarter’s door of the ships former chief of security, one Lieutenant Zenno.
A nervous look with shifting eyes and words that stated someone had been messing with his diet, was his first encounter of the former chief. Ezra was all too eager to help find this culprit; who as it turned out, was a female Vulcan friend of the chief’s. They served on another starship, but it was enough that the chief was a bit paranoid. Thankfully things had worked out with their diet and he became a good mentor for Ezra to shadow under.
Now it was his turn. The ensign that was all to eager to find that food culprit was now a junior Lieutenant and had taken over the duties of the chief after his leave of the ship. It would fall upon him to mentor a new officer, just as his mentor had done for him.
Stepping out, he quickly dried off and got dressed in a clean uniform.
Curious, he did quick check with the computer which indicated Ensign Morda was in a cargo bay with Lera. Likely working together on something important. Possibly related to beaming up the prisoners? He didn’t know for sure, but made a note to catch up with the ensign and Lera the first chance he could.
He grabbed a sweet cinnamon roll to fill his belly from the replicator on the way out the door. Until such time could get something more satisfying, it would have to do. He finished this with a glass of water to wash it down, said his goodbyes to Foxy and grabbed both PADDS and headed back to the security suite where he would have a talk with Mr. Tram.
((Brief Timeskip. Brig Containment cell ~ USS Khitomer))
PO3 Maryu greeted Ezra at attention as he entered the room. He strode over in the Petty Officer’s direction where they stood at the brig’s station.
Zevra: How is our new guest holding up?
Maryu: As far as I can tell, sir, he’s doing okay, but then again I can’t read minds. He’s just sitting there with that toy pig, possibly lost in his thoughts? I’m not really sure. He hasn’t asked for anything or said anything to me.
Zevra: ::nodding:: Very good Maryu. Can you give us the room?
Maryu: Yes sir. I’ll be right outside if you need me.
Ezra stepped toward the grey walls of the holding cell as the Petty Officer exited the room. A containment field stood between them. He moved to an at ease posture as Mr. Tram stood, laying his pig on the bench. They stood at attention, arms folded behind. Tram got as close to the containment field as they could.
Tram: ::Clinically:: I anticipated you would have more to discuss with me....
It wasn’t the first time he had gone to speak to a prisoner in the Khitomer’s brig. That first honor went to a Deltan by the name of Avedin, a former Helmsman of the USS Arrow who served under one Captain Carter. The Arrow was Ezra’s first ship he had been assigned to directly after graduating from the Academy. His right shoulder briefly flinched, thinking about the injury he sustain on the Arrow’s bridge after it had been stolen by its former crew.
Zerva: Indeed I do. ::eyeing the faded pig on the bench:: Questions that others might not want to ask.
Tram: Response
Ezra held up the PADD that had the available information thus far on Tram’s research.
Zerva: ::holding up the PADD:: I need to understand more of the reasons why you did what you did to those prisoners.
Tram: Response
Zerva: I see. While I agree with the majority of the crew that your methods were rather barbaric, I need more information than what I can get on a PADD.
Tram: Response
Zerva: I need this information because it might help us in combating the Lattice Alliance. It could give us more insight. I suspect you would agree? After all isn’t it your goal that your research will live on and become something of use to those of us on the frontlines in the Alpha Isles?
Tram/Any: Response
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Lieutenant (JG) Ezra Zerva
Security Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
A240101EZ2