Lt. Alora DeVeau - "Get Out"
Amanda Nordstrom
((USS Rahuba, Science Lab 4))
Upon their initial arrival through the anomaly, scans showed that the anomaly was no longer present. At first, Alora thought that meant it had disappeared. Or closed. Or something. Something that indicated it was gone. That was true - partially. Further investigation had been interrupted by a call from a strange ship, where she and Tito had met their new friend, Se’vayan. Well, her new friend. For Tito, that label might be a bit premature for him to refer to the squirrel guy as such.
They’d taken some time to look into a strange illness that was plaguing him and his people. Samples had been gathered, blood, fur, saliva, everything they could think of, and she’d even convinced Se’vayan to return with them to the Rahuba, mainly because Alora knew they’d get results a lot faster if they could work in their own language.
Those samples were undergoing a vast amount of scrutiny on the part of the computer. Alora had thrown everything she could think of at them, which meant it would take some time. The computer wasn’t set to alert them until everything was completely finished, which gave them the opportunity to return to their previous problem - where was the anomaly? Tito’s insight had helped provide the answer - the anomaly wasn’t there, yet. Nor would it be where they expected it, because it moved, supposedly around some gravitational centre. That, too, was an interesting discovery. After passing the information on to Velix, she turned her attention back to the men, and it was then that Se’vayan spoke what was on his mind - and reminded them of their promise to assist. Alora was more than willing to fulfil it.
DeVeau: Once the Si’laan is repaired, we can give you coordinates to a safe place. A base where you can find more of our kind, people who can help you longer term
Se’vayan: Coordinates? You expect to leave us here? We will not survive another attack, what good is your help if you leave us stranded when we can come with you?
Stranded? That wasn’t what Alora said. Frowning a little she shook her head, bu when she glanced up, anything she might have said was cut off by the startling look on Tito’s face.
Tito: The hipotesis of coming along isn't out of the picture. But your people belong here.
The Commander’s brow furrowed as she looked at Se’vayan, then Tito, and back again. Tito’s eyeroll was obvious and sudden irritation rose up, though Alora managed to keep it from manifesting itself visibly - unlike her fellow officer.
DeVeau: What do you mean?
Se’vayan: You *are* our only hope.
Alora could understand that feeling. They were their only hope - at least, that’s what it felt like. And she was not reneging on the promise she had made - but he was indicating something she had not promised, though for some strange reason, Tito had planted it as a possibility. Was it? Alora didn’t think so. She knew very well they had to be careful with time.
Se’vayan: We will come with you. To the place you go.
DeVeau: I’m not sure we can do that.
Se’vayan: Mister Toti said he would help us.
Tito had. They both had. And Alora knew they were going to, but Se’vayan seemed to think that helping them meant taking them through time. That wsan’t what she meant and wished Tito had never indicated that’s what they would do.
Tito: I did. We can take your people with us and strand your ship. Or repair your ship and bring you along. But that is a decision to be weighted on before we choose what to do.
Alora took another deep breath. There it was again. He was indicating an action that had not been discussed, giving a specific outcome that wasn’t necessarily possible.
DeVeau: I promise you, we *are* going to help. But Tito should not have indicated that we would take you across time.
She cast a sharp glance at the man. That time, there was no mistaking her displeasure.
Se’vayan: response
He shrugged, a rather dismissive gesture considering the context, then leaned forward quite close to the Risuan.
Tito: Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once. Our mission is to seek out new life and new civilization. And render aid if needed. We came and will leave in peace.
DeVeau: Lieutenant! Move away from him!
Alora rose quickly to her feet, anger tightening her features. Glaring sharply at him, the man’s response was simply to lean back, though his own gaze was as cold as Alora’s.
Se’vayan: response
Tito: And one last thing, my name is Tito. Not Toti.
DeVeau: That’s enough! Lieutenant, you’re dismissed.
Alora stepped forward, inserting herself protectively between Tito and the Healer. Her hands gripped into fists and inwardly she tried to stem the rising tide of anger. She was only partially successful. The cutting tone of her voice made it quite clear her feelings about him.
Se’vayan/Tito: Response
DeVeau: You will report immediately to Sickbay and make yourself useful and you will answer directly to Doctor Trovek.
Se’vayan/Tito: Response
Alora’s eyes followed every step of the Intelligence officer until the doors parted, then closed, hiding the man from view. Alora sighed, then reached up to rub her forehead. What had started out well had certainly slid downhill real fast. Turning back to the Risuan, Alora lowered herself back into her chair and then leaned forward, elbows resting upon her knees as she regarded the old squirrel man.
DeVeau: I’m sorry about that . I’m not sure what’s gotten into him.
She pressed her hands together, then pointed them toward the Healer. Before she could say more, however, the computer beeped at them. Distracted, she turned and tapped at the console, perusing the readout.
Se’vayan: Response
DeVeau: It’s the results from all the tests. I’ve thrown everything I’ve got at it. But, from what I can tell…nothing is off. I mean…there are some interesting readings here, but according to your own database, they’re normal for your people.
Se’vayan: Response The anomaly was forgotten. They had an answer for that. They still needed an answer for his people. There was only one thing they hadn’t done - check the physical scans of the Risuans from the ship. Switching over to that database, she pulled up everything they’d taken on the ship, all the scans of the Risuans who had been in the area. She had scanned several who were suffering, including the Healer, and it was those scans she brought up.
DeVeau: But we haven’t looked at one aspect of it all.
Another image came up on the screen, that time of a brain - specifically, a Risuan brain.
DeVeau: I have to admit, your people have a very interesting and complex neural highway…very similar to what I’ve seen in telepathic species…not quite the same, but similar.
Se’vayan: Response
-- Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau First Officer Starbase 118 Ops al...@blar.net M239008AD0