MSNPC Scientist Rurat'dari - Accountability
Renaie Shortrith
((Sickbay Complex, Deck 10 - USS Ronin))
tr'Kharis: Even confined here… free of the Lattice’s web… I already feel freer than I have in years. But what of the base personnel? How many made it out?
oO I feel free, but what will I do now? Oo
Aduko: ::A long sigh.:: More than I would have expected, thanks to this Ronin. We're still getting our bearings, but more than half of base personnel are accounted for. Many of the living are unharmed, but others... ::He gestured towards a nearby room, unsure how to explain just yet.:: ...are experiencing side-effects.
tr'Kharis: Unfortunate, but acceptable losses. That so many were rescued and relatively unharmed is more than I would have thought possible.
oO The people we knew… Oo
Aduko: Starfleet has my thanks...or, at least the crew of this ship. ::He raised an eyebrow.:: Have you spoken with many of them? I have been isolated here since I was transported aboard.
tr'Kharis: I have not yet spoken to the Captain, but the Human warrior, the one Senior Chief Solana reports to assured me that they will help our peoples medical needs.
As a wailing cry echoed through sickbay, Rurat'dari slowly, quietly, made her way into the room.
Rurat'dari: ::Quietly:: Hello.
Aduko: Rurat'dari. Good to see you. ::To tr'Kharis.:: As I was saying, a few of our staff...ah...experienced the negative effects of unstable time fields. Some were reduced to..infants.
tr'Kharis: …Infants? How many of them?
Rurat'dari: I don't know how many.
Aduko: Repair Team Nonagon was caught in a shear. There were twelve assigned to the work that day, though there were also newly-assigned Tholian guards.
'dari sighed, slightly turning towards the others.
Rurat'dari: I heard that they were our colleagues.
oO Wasn't it the chronitons? Oo
Aduko: I've seen at least one juvenile Tholian.
tr'Kharis: That…that wasn’t supposed to happen. ::glaring at the scientist in turn:: Was this a projected side effect?
She shook her head.
Rurat'dari: It was either chronitons or tachyons that did it. Maybe the radiation had other effects than what we supposed.
tr'Kharis: Well at least someone is getting a new lease on life. Good for them…I suppose. The Children of…what does Starfleet call it? Ross 580? ::Looking to Joakim:: Any idea how did this happened?
Aduko: Likely the way we were... ::He lowered his voice again.:: ...using the chronitons. To keep the, ah, gateway stable.
What would the trio do now? As far as she was concerned, all physical evidence for the research was no longer in existence. The Lid, no doubt, would have gotten too unstable for people to be there.
Rurat'dari: I didn't know that it had that effect. Our information would have inevitably been backdated and lost if the radiation got into it.
oO All knowledge of the other universe would be gone. Oo
Aduko: Possible, yes. But you know...before the reactor's anomalous behavior, I'd wanted to test something. ::A touch of pride came to his voice as he whispered.:: In the simulations, once the aligned star had given everything and extinguished...well, are you familiar with the ancient Earth myth of Sisyphus?
tr'Kharis: ::brow creasing:: Do I look like I know ancient Earth myths, Joakim?
Rurat'dari: Never heard of it.
Aduko: ::Suddenly feeling as if he'd said enough.:: It was just a story I learned from a visiting human contractor, one of our hired minds. Another time, perhaps...just know that the energy supply would be limitless, clean...none of the brutal instability that the Alliance forced on our work.
Rurat'dari was cautious, but she liked the concept.
tr'Kharis: It could have been an elegant solution…to the hardships of the Romulan Free State and others. ::Opening his eye to look assessingly at Rurat’dari:: What of you? Have they treated you for radiation damage?
Rurat'dari: Partially. I managed to slip into here when nobody was looking. I have no doubt they'll come looking for me when they return. ::She paused, watching the others.:: What do you think will happen to us?
Aduko: After this? :: He laughed, though the smile didn't quite make it his eyes.:: I expect to be questioned by the Federation for the rest of my peak working years. Perhaps I'll open up a sad little bar on one of the Rigel colonies in twenty years.
'dari let a small smirk cross her face.
tr'Kharis: ::dry:: You? Dispensing beverages… and sharing old Earth anecdotes… to transient clientele? I would visit, just to see this, my friend. But I suspect… your talents would be… repurposed… long before that outcome is realized. Same for you ‘dari. ::tone growing sharper:: Now listen. I am…was the Project Administrator. I was in charge of the base personnel. I will take any blame or fault for things the Federation wants to bring against us. If this is the last order I ever give you… you are to lay all responsibility on my shoulders. Is that understood?
Rurat'dari shook her head vehemently.
Rurat'dari: No. I'm as responsible as you are.
Aduko: Response
tr'Kharis: The Lattice is responsible for most of it. I will take responsibility for anything else. You two are to keep your names clear. ::A pause:: It is an order Joakim.
His gaze cut between them again, and 'dari wished she'd stayed silent.
Rurat'dari: Yes, Sir.
Aduko: Response
tr'Kharis: ::almost to himself:: We opened a door. They were in turmoil in that universe, an event of cataclysmic proportions rippling through their reality. Think of the resources we could mine from a universe that unstable. Access to that power alone could advance the Romulan Free State by centuries.
oO How will we not repeat the same mistakes that we made in the past? Oo
Rurat'dari: We'd be able to advance this universe.
Aduko: Response
Rurat'dari: We could change this universe drastically, especially if we're not constrained by any afilliation.
tr'Kharis/Aduko: Response
Rurat'dari: What do you mean?
'dari noticed her hair had landed over her shoulder once again, and she flicked it back in annoyance.
tr'Kharis/Aduko: Response
Rurat'dari: If we must, I understand. It would be incredibly risky for us all.
tr'Kharis/Aduko: Response
[Tags/TBC]Rurat'dari
Scientist, Formerly (She/Her)
The Lid, Formerly
As Simmed By
Lieutenant JG Renaie Shortrith, MD
Counsellor/Medical Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
They/Them (Player and character)
A240204RS3