Lt. Nestira Aristren - Peace of Mind
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Arys Trovek
May 29, 2023, 4:47:18 PM5/29/23
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((Conference Suite, Saucer Section, USS Narendra))
They were on their way back to One-Eighteen. Nestira had claimed the Conference Suite in lieu of personal quarters, and opted to work through preliminary reports rather than for getting rest, despite feeling almost as exhausted as she had after her escape from Miranda VII.
But the Rodulan knew that rest wouldn't come before she found answers, and so she skimmed the reports for any hint on the whereabouts of the people she felt a connection to. The information provided by the Koh'la'Shamuu identified the two surviving teens as Lauri Heikkinen and Kayla Doyle, but there were no details on whether or not there had been more passengers in the shuttle.
The early report of a particularly diligent Brikarian Ensign explained that a young human male had been assisting him and one of the Engineers sent to disable the stations self-destruct mechanisms, and Nestira had no doubt that it was Sam, who had eventually evacuated together with the infiltration teams.
But there were not yet any news on Liz, and Nestira realized that she would eventually have to check the list of fatalities caused by crazed GenMods, the toxic compound that had been pumped through the ventilation system and caused several violent outbursts, or by Terra Prime members tying up loose ends.
She sighed and reclined in her chair, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. Headaches still came and went, and disregarding them had probably not been a healthy approach. Part of her longed for the peace and quiet of a dreamless sleep, but most of her mind was far too occupied with best- and worst-case scenarios.
Nestira reached for the PADD containing the list of evacuees, then the one containing the names of those who had surrendered. Again. But Yavir wasn't to be found on any of them. Either he had given a false name, or he had been on the vessel that had fled into the Jenatris Cloud - or he had been on one of the fighters that had been destroyed.
She didn't have any right to worry about him, she knew that, and yet she did. She hadn't loved him and had felt no romantic interest in the ageing human, but she had cared for Yavir. And she was incredibly sorry for what had happened to Katalina.
Inhaling deeply, Nestira forced her thoughts into a more productive direction, and allowed herself some respite from the tight control she kept on her telepathy. After all, she was alone here. The relief of lowering her barriers ever so slightly was instant, but turned her thoughts towards someone else she worried about.
Alasafor. The Rodulan she had met twice on Miranda, and who she knew so preciously little about. Nestira didn't know if he had once more returned to the station after they had left Aenella IV, and if he had been able to leave safely. Or if they had unmasked him, killed him, and let his mangled body rot next to that of Richard Barlowe.
Once more recognizing the tenor of her thoughts, Nestira shook her head. Her mind did not usually go to such morbid places, but it was barely a week ago that she had learned of the circumstances of Sa'sara's death. Hopefully that excused her tendency towards macabre.
Perhaps she was simply exhausted. She felt exhausted - but as she paused to hone in on those feelings, she recognized that they didn't come from her alone. Nestira tilted her head and got up, leaving the PADDs strewn across the conference table as she left the room and stepped out into the corridor.
Aristren: Sal.
She knew it was him before he rounded the corner, then remembered how strange and unpleasant her telepathy must feel to him, and quickly withdrew her presence and rebuilt her mental shields.
Taybrim: response
Aristren: I did not expect you here.
She left it open whether she meant 'here in this corridor' or in this section of the Narendra. Perhaps he had come here to inspect the damage they had sustained. Perhaps he had simply wanted to reclaim his bridge.
Taybrim: response
Aristren: No, I was.... ::she paused, then shook her head with a tired smile:: trying to get some peace of mind.
Taybrim: response
She gave a nod, allowing a careful smile to spread on her lips, and her tone carried an undercurrent of teasing as she replied.
Aristren: I suppose it is a valid route to take on your way to your quarters for some rest.
He had returned from his surgery not long ago, and she could still feel how exhausted he was. And while he might hold the rank of Commodore, Nestira had no inclination to not treat him like a person. A tired, and very exhausted person.
Taybrim: response
TAG/TBC
Lt. Nestira Aristren
Strategic Operations Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
J239809TA4
“I'm a cage, in search of a bird.”
-- Franz Kafka
They were on their way back to One-Eighteen. Nestira had claimed the Conference Suite in lieu of personal quarters, and opted to work through preliminary reports rather than for getting rest, despite feeling almost as exhausted as she had after her escape from Miranda VII.
But the Rodulan knew that rest wouldn't come before she found answers, and so she skimmed the reports for any hint on the whereabouts of the people she felt a connection to. The information provided by the Koh'la'Shamuu identified the two surviving teens as Lauri Heikkinen and Kayla Doyle, but there were no details on whether or not there had been more passengers in the shuttle.
The early report of a particularly diligent Brikarian Ensign explained that a young human male had been assisting him and one of the Engineers sent to disable the stations self-destruct mechanisms, and Nestira had no doubt that it was Sam, who had eventually evacuated together with the infiltration teams.
But there were not yet any news on Liz, and Nestira realized that she would eventually have to check the list of fatalities caused by crazed GenMods, the toxic compound that had been pumped through the ventilation system and caused several violent outbursts, or by Terra Prime members tying up loose ends.
She sighed and reclined in her chair, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples. Headaches still came and went, and disregarding them had probably not been a healthy approach. Part of her longed for the peace and quiet of a dreamless sleep, but most of her mind was far too occupied with best- and worst-case scenarios.
Nestira reached for the PADD containing the list of evacuees, then the one containing the names of those who had surrendered. Again. But Yavir wasn't to be found on any of them. Either he had given a false name, or he had been on the vessel that had fled into the Jenatris Cloud - or he had been on one of the fighters that had been destroyed.
She didn't have any right to worry about him, she knew that, and yet she did. She hadn't loved him and had felt no romantic interest in the ageing human, but she had cared for Yavir. And she was incredibly sorry for what had happened to Katalina.
Inhaling deeply, Nestira forced her thoughts into a more productive direction, and allowed herself some respite from the tight control she kept on her telepathy. After all, she was alone here. The relief of lowering her barriers ever so slightly was instant, but turned her thoughts towards someone else she worried about.
Alasafor. The Rodulan she had met twice on Miranda, and who she knew so preciously little about. Nestira didn't know if he had once more returned to the station after they had left Aenella IV, and if he had been able to leave safely. Or if they had unmasked him, killed him, and let his mangled body rot next to that of Richard Barlowe.
Once more recognizing the tenor of her thoughts, Nestira shook her head. Her mind did not usually go to such morbid places, but it was barely a week ago that she had learned of the circumstances of Sa'sara's death. Hopefully that excused her tendency towards macabre.
Perhaps she was simply exhausted. She felt exhausted - but as she paused to hone in on those feelings, she recognized that they didn't come from her alone. Nestira tilted her head and got up, leaving the PADDs strewn across the conference table as she left the room and stepped out into the corridor.
Aristren: Sal.
She knew it was him before he rounded the corner, then remembered how strange and unpleasant her telepathy must feel to him, and quickly withdrew her presence and rebuilt her mental shields.
Taybrim: response
Aristren: I did not expect you here.
She left it open whether she meant 'here in this corridor' or in this section of the Narendra. Perhaps he had come here to inspect the damage they had sustained. Perhaps he had simply wanted to reclaim his bridge.
Taybrim: response
Aristren: No, I was.... ::she paused, then shook her head with a tired smile:: trying to get some peace of mind.
Taybrim: response
She gave a nod, allowing a careful smile to spread on her lips, and her tone carried an undercurrent of teasing as she replied.
Aristren: I suppose it is a valid route to take on your way to your quarters for some rest.
He had returned from his surgery not long ago, and she could still feel how exhausted he was. And while he might hold the rank of Commodore, Nestira had no inclination to not treat him like a person. A tired, and very exhausted person.
Taybrim: response
TAG/TBC
Lt. Nestira Aristren
Strategic Operations Officer
Starbase 118 Ops
J239809TA4
“I'm a cage, in search of a bird.”
-- Franz Kafka
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