PNPC Lieutenant JG Jaelon Tiazol: Marionette Part I

[Michael Meir-Wright]

OOC: Apologies for taking an age to get round to this. I've pieced together almost half a dozen sims so let me know if I have missed anything.

“Marionette Part I”

(( Science Lab 1, Deck 10, U.S.S Octavia E. Butler ))

As it went, guarding a cache of games was not such a bad first assignment for Jaelon Tiazol. What could possibly go wrong? Obviously, he had heard the stories about the Enterprise being taken over by mind-controlled officers after somebody brought a VR game back from Rise, but that sounded ridiculous. As if somebody could do that onboard the actual flagship of the Federation! Then there was the story of the Wadi… now they did have games that transported players to- well, somewhere. But that was a one off.

Tiazol: oO Right? Oo

His thoughts were promptly derailed by the arrival of an unfamiliar officer cloaked in the red of command. Spotting the sold silver pips on the man’s black collar, he immediately snapped to attention.

Martinson: At ease ::beat:: please. Lieutenant?

Still staring straight ahead, Jaelon relaxed only a fraction.

Tiazol: Lieutenant Grade Tiazol. :: he replied, professionally :: I’m here on Lieutenant Sherlock’s orders. Just in case.

The officer mumbled that Jaelon didn’t quite catch, but then he spoke louder.

Martinson: Lieutenant Martinson, but please, call me Mel. Do we really need Security here?

Eyeing the collection of trinkets on the table, the Trill was half tempted to reply in the negative. Remembering the report Sherlock had handed to him, however, gave him pause for thought.

Tiazol: Apparently there is a chance these… games could be dangerous. :: he frowned, letting his curiosity get the better of him :: Can a board game be dangerous? It seems a bit weird to me.

Martinson: Well there's been a couple ::beat:: incidents ::beat:: in the past. Actually dangerous? Not likely from what we've seen from the Gamma Quadrant. Now addictive? Possibly. But then there was that incident with the D. We almost lost the flagship of the fleet with that one.

Eyeing the collection of games one more time, Tiazol’s eyes went wide.

Tiazol: You’re kidding, right? :: he blinked. ::

Martinson: ::giving the Lieutenant a firm pat on the arm:: I'm sure it'll be fine. Besides, we're limiting access from the crew. And if it does get bad, you can always just shoot us.

The young security officer regarded Lieutenant Martinson with a frown. He wasn’t being serious….. was he?

Tiazol: Are you being serious, sir?

Martinson: Not really, but also, yes. With stun, preferably.

Jaelon gulped. Sure, it might make an interesting story to tell the grandkids one day- shooting a superior officer on the first day on the job- but he was really hoping that it would not come to that.

Martinson: I'm just here to assess the viability of distribution, the others will tell us if they're actually safe.

The security officer was about to reply when another crew member appeared in the doorway.

Qualunque: Hi, sorry to interrupt you two, I'm Petty Off. 1st Una Qualunque. I'm from the engineering department. I'm here to deliver some spare parts for the lab equipment.  :: she said, holding up the crate ::

Tiazol: Lieutenant Tiazol, Security. :: he replied with a curt nod. :: oO Qualun- Qualunqkey… - Qua… Una! I’m calling her Una. Oo

Martinson: Lieutenant Martinson, but call me Mel.

Jaelon wondered if he was this informal with everyone. Calling a superior by their given name seemed… icky. That wasn’t what he had been taught at the Academy and Lieutenant Krillik on the Vanguard had run a very tight and very professional department. If Jaelon called them by their first name- he’d have been shot out of a torpedo tube.

Martinson crossed the room and, drawn by his own curiosity,  Jaelon followed. As they did so, Una sounded somewhat cautious.

Qualunque:  :: she raised an eyebrow :: Are these things dangerous?

Martinson: So far, no. From what we know, they're just games.

For effect, Martinson held up a small game piece that appeared to be made of stone. It looked perfectly normal and distinctly non-malevolent.

Qualunque: Games? :: she looked at the objects more closely :: They look like games, alright. But I wouldn't touch them if I were you. You never know what they might do.

Martinson: I'm sure they're fine. It's not like it's going to blow up the warp core.

Qualunque: Maybe. :: she said, feeling a bit more hopeful :: Do you think you could help me with that?

Jaelon nodded eagerly and moved round the central console to assist the enlisted engineer with a box of spare parts.

Martinson: I don’t see why not. Come on, let’s play.

Qualunque: Really? :: she said, feeling a spark of excitement about the games on the table:: That would be great. Thank you.

Jaelon froze in place for a second and watched Martinson assembling the board as if he knew how to play. He straightened his posture, his brows knitting into a scowl. He was tempted to reach for his phaser, finding himself a little jumpy after discovering the tale about the Enterprise-D had been true.

Tiazol: Sir, what are you doing? :: he said cautiously. ::

The doors to the lab opened and Jaelon turned to see a Ferengi woman wearing a medical uniform looking at the three of them expectantly.

Miash: Excuse me Lieutenant, you requested a medical officer?

Martinson didn’t reply to the question. Instead he simply handed the Ferengi a playing piece.

Martinson: Ok, here’s your pieces. And, well, I’m not sure.

Lieutenant Sherlock’s instructions had been clear: guard the contents of the science lab. She didn’t forbid from interacting with them, but she had also not given him permission to do so. Their brief meeting had left Jaelon with the distinct impression that she was very specific with her orders, and that getting on her bad side was not somewhere he ever wanted to be.

Tiazol: I don’t think… :: he quickly trailed into a whisper- and then silence- as it was clear that Martinson and Una were not going to pay his caution much heed. :: that’s a… a good idea… okay.

Qualunque: Well, how about we start with these games? :: she said, pointing to the artifacts :: Maybe we can figure out how they work. And how to make them safe.

Miash: I do believe safety would be prudent dear.

Quick as a flash, Jaelon nodded his head enthusiastically in agreement.

Tiazol: I’m with her!

Martinson: That’s what I’m not sure about. It didn’t come with instructions.

Jaelon reached for a piece hesitantly. As soon his fingers brushed against it, he felt compelled to play. Hopefully Lieutenant Sherlock would understand.

Qualunque: Don't worry, I'll be careful. :: she said, confidently :: What could possibly go wrong?

Tiazol: Can I quote you on that?

As the trio moved their pieces towards the board, they were wrenched from their grasp by some sort of unknown force. Alarm bells began ringing in Jaelon’s head and not for the first time he wondered whether all this was such a good idea. His other hand reached for the hilt of his phaser, although he did not draw it.

Martinson: Well that’s interesting.

Qualunque: Wow, this object appears somewhat magical.

Tiazol: Is that what you’re calling it? :: he said, unable to disguise the uncertainty he was feeling. :: I have a bad feeling about this.

Martinson: Something about this feel familiar.

Once Martinson said it, Jaelon knew that he was somehow right. A strange feeling of deja vu swept over him, as though he had done it before. He felt a tingle of anxiety ripple through his empty symbiont pouch and into his stomach. It felt instinctual, as if he knew how to play, yet he was adamant he had never seen a set up like it before.

--

Lieutenant (JG) Jaelon Tiazol

Security Officer

USS Octavia E Butler

As simmed by

Commander Etan Iljor

Executive Officer

USS Octavia E. Butler

C239203TW0