JP: Doctor Brenna Taybrim & Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau: Confirmations Part 2

[Amanda Nordstrom]

OOC: Backsim to before the last mission, takes place during that shore leave.

((Lumie Family Home - Betazoid))

DeVeau: In digging for the truth, no depth is too deep. 

Brenna: Just know that the more you dig, the more you are bound to this course.

The comment made Alora pause.  The course.  She already knew the path she was taking. She’d talked to Ryzek that very morning.  A plan had been formed.

DeVeau: I’m already on the path. There’s no turning back now.

Brenna: Then you have set your course.  Time to find a beginning.

So where to start?  The first place to look would be immediately around.  Who had come and gone from the estate in the days before Enazada’s death?  Although not gifted with Betazoid skills, Alora knew neither Ryzek nor Jwasha would have anything to do with it.  They had both been far too dedicated to their former mistress. 

DeVeau: I’ll sit down with Ryzek, get an idea of traffic coming and going from here. 

She inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. They were playing detective, and the person they sought was capable of murder. That was no small thing.

DeVeau: Might I ask for your assistance?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Brenna had offered it, but now Alora was officially requesting it. 

The Betazoid matriarch turned towards Alora and gave a gentle nod.

Brenna: I value the truth.  I will assist.

Landin: ~Mother… if this is dangerous~ ::He protested lightly.::

She fixed him with a motherly huff

Brenna: ~Landin, I believe I am old enough to take care of myself.~  ::She paused and smiled at Alora.  The conversation was not shielded, merely telepathic for it was their preferred method of communication.:: So, tell me, where are you starting from Alora?

It was then that Alora realised she’d had the entire conversation with the spoken word.  For a Betazoid, that wasn’t usually done on their home planet.  Brenna had been adjusting for her sake. 

DeVeau: ~We can speak like this.  I don’t mind it.~

In fact, she *liked* it.  It was nice to have someone in her head. She missed having a welcome presence there.

Landin: ~If you have a list of names, father has access to the transportation records as part of his job.~

Landin immediately adjusted, disliking verbal speech as much as he loved introverted reading sessions.  He honestly didn’t comprehend how Sal survived on that base full of noisy aliens.

DeVeau: ~I don’t have a list of names, but I will have Ryvek get you those who have been here over the course of the last six months. ~

Maybe that was too far in the past, but Alora didn’t want to make changes.  Besides, if there was a pattern, having that much information would definitely be useful.

DeVeau: ~Is there any chance you could access communications information?  Who called, when, from where?~

Brenna shook her head.

Brenna: ~Intelligence like that is far beyond our scope.  For that you’d be better off asking your StarBase for assistance.  We’re more on the ground here, in the thick of things.~

Right.  That made sense - obviously Alora was too used to having that much information at her fingertips.

DeVeau: ~I’ll be returning to Ops soon.  Ryvek will remain as Steward.  I’ll let him know to give you full access to anything you need, and when I look into things at Ops, I’ll share all the information I find.~

That was, unless it was classified, but Alora couldn’t imagine that she’d find anything of that nature.  No, this felt more personal.  Leaning back, the young woman sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

DeVeau: ~For now, I guess that’s all we can do.~

She turned her gaze to Landin, then Brenna, the smile that appeared small, but warm.  Sal had a wonderful family.  A handsome, kind father, a beautiful, capable mother.  Alora had come to like them immediately, and how could she not?  Though part of the same flesh and blood, they were all unique, and all endearing in their own ways.  Although she hadn’t had the chance to spend much time with Loros, she hoped she would have the opportunity to sit down and get to know him better at some point.  Brennas willingness to help her, despite having only just met her, told Alora a lot about the type of person that the woman was. 

Brenna: ~I’ll be careful.  This isn’t my first time looking into things that someone else wanted hidden.~

Landin glanced at his mother indicating that this was news to him.  She gave him a beatific smile.

Landin: ~How long will you stay here?~

DeVeau: ~I’m here for a few more days.  If you would like to remain here, I would be glad for the company.  If not, I certainly understand.  I’m sure it’s hard to pull away from your routine.~

They had their own lives to live, their own families to tend to. Even though Alora wanted to spend more time with them, she couldn’t force them, or even hold an expectation that they would do so.  Despite that, the invitation was readily, happily given.

Lanidn’s eyes darted furtively around and Brenna smiled.

Brenna: ~I’m sure my son would love to go back home.  But I would love to stay a while.  I admit I am a … would you say it ‘sucker?’ for the historical manors of the High Houses.

She would bask in this understated luxury as long as she was allowed.  And in return she would go good, careful, subtle work to track down the truth.

DeVeau: ~I’m grateful to both of you.  I hope someday I can do something for you in return.~

Landin: ~I don’t mind looking through medical data.  It’s relaxing.~  ::he stumbled a bit:: ~Not the cause behind it, I meant the research process itself is relaxing.~

And that was why he hated speech.  He tripped over his own thoughts enough that having to put them into words was truly frustrating. Yes, Alora’s thoughts reached out to him as best she could given her limitations, but the link, at least, allowed for it.  Through it, she passed along a sense of understanding, but also of that appreciation she held for his willingness to assist.

Brenna: ~I know we will help one another moving forward.~

DeVeau: ~I would like that very much.~

Brenna lay a hand on Landin’s shoulder as a fond note before Landin took his leave from the two.  He promised to let Ryvek know they were ready for breakfast.  He also promised to kick Kirin and Sal out of bed.

Brenna turned towards Alora.

Brenna: ~How do I reach you?~

DeVeau: ~You can always call Ops.  I’m first officer…~

But she knew that, the reminder was unnecessary.  Yet, it would make it easy to reach her, and Alora would look forward to that call on a couple of different levels.  First, because she wanted to get down to the bottom of the mystery that had been lain at their feet.  Second, because she found that she liked Brenna quite a bit. 

Brenna: ~I think communications can be intercepted, so I intend to be careful.~

DeVeau: ~Indeed.  Use a secure line.~

Was it warranted?  Alora didn’t know.  How deep did this go?  Another Betazoid?  Another noble?  Another house?  She hoped not quite that far, but who else would have a reason to kill Enzada? 

And now, was she a target?  Well, she wouldn’t be on Betazoid, so that would, at least, reduce their chances - but she also wasn’t exactly difficult to find.  No, she couldn’t worry about that.  They would have to move forward, and Alora would simply be cautious.  Besides, she would be safer on Ops. 

DeVeau: ~Now...how about breakfast?~

Brenna: ~Breakfast sounds… well, not delightful considering the circumstances.  But well earned.~

Brenna offered Alora an arm to lean on as they moved and the promise of warm tea and a comforting presence as they moved forward through unknown waters.

~*~
~fin, for now~
~*~

A JP By:

Dr. Brenna Taybrim
Simmed by: Commodore Sal Taybrim
Commanding Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
E239010ST0

~and~

Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau
First Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
al...@blar.net
M239008AD0