Cmdr. Alora DeVeau - "Going To Meet More"
Amanda Nordstrom
((USS Magni, Selene, Solace System))
Selene was a magical place, but there was far more to it than met the eye. Secrets lurked beneath the surface,and the more Alora learned, the more she thought those secrets weren’t positive ones. Raeyen wasn’t 30,though she talked about how people had arrived on the moon thirty years prior. Instead, analysis gave her age as 5 years, which conflicted with the woman herself. She was a full adult, someone who had lived and experienced. At her youngest, Alora thought she might be in her twenties, but five? No. As for the moon itself, the strange fauna coupled with flora that thrived together when it shouldn’t was possibly explained by genetic manipulation. What she didn’t understand were the severe changes to the animals. Raeyen indicated they were sent there to find answers on how to prevent their livestock from succumbing to viruses, but they’d found some different modifications - cats that had wings which allowed them to glide, and fish with legs.
That still didn’t make sense to Alora. The amount of experimentation done on the flora went way beyond trying to improve survival rates. Cats of any kind were not usually used for food, and why in the world would they want to have walking fish? Although there were plenty of questions Alora wanted to ask, she remained focused on the biggest question of all.
DeVeau: Did they ever do any experiments on…humans?
Tam: It wouldn't be the first time.
Nera: Tell me about it ::mumbling::
No, it wouldn’t be, and even though Raeyen’s ancestors had come there almost four hundred years prior, that was after the eugenics-wars, so genetic manipulation to enhance the human population wasn’t unheard of, even to those who had come before.
The answer wasn’t immediate. As Raeyen let the silence fall, Alora didn’t break it. The question was heavy, and if they were doing such experiments, anyone who answered was right to do so carefully. Finally, after some consideration, she finally responded.
Raeyen IV: Yes…
Alora had already suspected it, but the answers still hit hard. Tam’s response was far more jovial than she herself would have been able to produce.
Tam: Oh, what type of experiments? Antivenom development or Viperax experiments?
Alora knew the answer wasn’t either of those. The need for creating animals resistant to the virus wouldn’t require such complex manipulation, but she appreciated the woman’s ability to keep things light.
Nera: I think if venom resistance had been the aim, then that bite wouldn’t have been so nasty ::looking at Raeyan:: You mentioned viruses on Nova Terra, where the experiments related to that? To build a resistance to it?
Remaining silent, Alora initiated a couple more analyses of Raeyen’s data, particularly her blood sample. Even if she was the result of genetic experiments, she wanted to know more. Why was she only five? By that point, she suspected clones, but how long did they live? Normally, thirty years wasn’t very long - did clones live much shorter lives? Then again, perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps Raeyen wasn’t a clone, but they had somehow changed the genetics to show a younger biological age. DNA methylation patterns could be adjusted to give an age different from reality. Less likely, but obviously possible considering her own situation, other things could have affected her biological age. However, she suspected the first option was the accurate one.
Raeyen IV: One of the viruses evolved and spread to the crew, it killed our lead scientist and infected half of the population. ::She explained:: That’s when Dr. Ahreka Chalet took over and the studies on people began.
Tam: That sounds like a difficult time.
Nera: That’s awful, I’m so sorry
Alora didn’t apologise. Although Raeyen was telling her story, they didn’t really know all of the details surrounding the choice to experiment on humans. Some experiments could be for good purposes - such as finding cures for diseases, as long as they were done under informed consent. Alora would make no judgments until she had further information.
However, as she studied Raeyen, she couldn’t help but see the tightness in her shoulders and body, the way her face pinched. Was it because of knowledge that troubled her, or out of fear of what they might say or do in response to her admissions?
DeVeau: Can you give more details?
Raeyen IV: …I don’t remember much else of the time, I’d been infected... ::taking a moment:: ...and one of the first casualties.
That comment caught Alora’s attention and she lifted her chin slightly as it was spoken. Casualties did not always mean death - they meant anyone affected by a negative event, such as illness, or an act of nature, or of battle. However, something about the way the woman said the word gave Alora pause.
Tam: I'm happy they were able to save you and that we were able to meet.
Nera: Thank you for sharing that. I can’t have been easy to talk about.
Alora nodded and smiled gently at Raeyen. Two had already affirmed her choice to speak, and the woman didn’t need so many voices rapidly coming one after the other. It was likely overwhelming enough as it was, speaking to people who were little more than strangers. Tam continued the questions, and rightly so. Raeyen had already divulged much, but would she admit to more?
Raeyen IV: Response
Tam: Are the experiments ongoing?
Nera: With most of the scientists and doctors taken away by the military team? It’d be difficult.
Raeyen IV: Response
Like Ay, Alora had continued to work on the analysis, looking for more than what was initially discovered. Specifically, Alora had the computer dive through Raeyen’s DNA. Clones often had markers, though not always. It all depended on how good they were, and how deeply one looked. Most scans wouldn’t find them, or doctors searched for more common things such as breaks, illnesses, and other wounds that weren’t always visible. In order to find out more and to dive through the complexities of the body, whether they be human or otherwise, one had to shift the parameters of the search and force the computer to seek more thoroughly. Thus far, she hadn’t found anything, but it was early yet.
After typing in some more commands, Alora let the computer run through and turned back to the woman. Was she afraid? Or something else? She still held a lot of tension in her body, and the scientist offered another smile.
DeVeau: You’re safe here, Raeyen.
Even if Raeyen hadn’t exactly come out and admitted to fear or concern, Alora hoped to ease anything that might niggle in the back of Raeyen’s mind. Meanwhile, Divya continued her investigation. The console chirped,and both Alora and Ay turned their attention to Divya.
Tam: Do you have other villages? This one doesn't seem to be running at full capacity.
Nera: Not even half capacity. Excursions in the local area maybe?
Leaning forward to get a better look, Alora soon turned her attention to Raeyen. The woman had asked for permission to approach, but that was the first time they had any idea how large of a group really lived there.
DeVeau: I suppose with a disease like the one you mentioned, it can take a long time for a population to recover.
Unless the population didn’t procreate in the usual fashion.
Raeyen IV: Response
Manipulating the controls, Divya continued to work the shuttle and machinery to do her bidding. Before their eyes, more shapes appeared, hits flashing over the screen. Even as that occurred, Divya asked another question.
Tam: I had been worried about how you would react to encountering a group with a variety of species. People from insulated populations can find Starfleet's diversity jarring at first.
Considering the warning of possible xenophobia, Alora found it not only a fair question, but a smart one. Thus far, Raeyen had come around and recognised that they weren’t a threat. Both Divya and Ay were obviously not human, but they had helped her, which perhaps helped warm her up to them. But how would others react?
DeVeau: Though we do like to make contact with those we’ve never met before.
Nera: So am I. Meeting new people and experiencing the culture is, as you might have guessed, a bit of a hallmark of us Starfleet types.
Raeyen IV: Response
Nera: Have you had the chance to meet many other races before?
Alora suspected the answer was ‘no’. From the way Raeyen responded to their arrival, plus the history of how she and the others had arrived there, and why they remained there, she suspected they really didn’t see much in the way of people in general - even those from the planet.
DeVeau: Although we’re explorers, this region is new to us. So any peoples in this area of space would be new to us.
Raeyen IV / Tam: Response
Nera: Well, hopefully they’re every bit as friendly and welcoming as you’ve been ::smirking::
Alora watched Raeyen carefully. Although she had a sense of humour, she had a feeling that the woman was not necessarily inclined toward it. Then again, she hardly knew Raeyen, and her initial take on her could be completely wrong. She just didn’t want Raeyen to think they were resentful of what had occurred.
Raeyen IV / Tam: Response
Glancing at the shuttle's readout, they’d soon arrive at the settlement and be able to touchdown and meet the Selenians fully. He still couldn't entirely decide if he should be excited or nervous.
Nera: Anything more we should know before we land? ::pausing:: Oh, does the settlement have a name?
DeVeau: Before we land, we need to get off the ground first.
They’d been so intent on finding answers and finding places, they hadn’t actually made attempts to go anywhere.
DeVeau: But let’s take care of that now. Raeyen, if this is your settlement, we’ll head over there and land close, but not too close.
She glanced over at Tam and nodded in a silent indication she should go ahead and head over.
Ay/Raeyen IV/Tam: Response
Alora made a point to head further back once Divya got everything started. She didn’t need to watch them rise and descend - she was perfectly fine not seeing anything, thank you very much. She didn’t forget about Raeyen, however.
DeVeau: Like Ay asked, if there are specific customs we need to be aware of, that would be good to know.
Ay/Raeyen IV/Tam: Response
Smiling, Alora motioned to the window where she pointedly did not long. She preferred her feet on the ground or in space. Seeing solid ground rise up before just wasn’t something she enjoyed.
DeVeau: We’re close, so only a minute or two. These things go fast.
Even in the atmosphere, they moved quickly, and sure enough, but a couple of minutes later, the shuttle went down instead of up, landing in a clear area well away from the settlement.
Ay/Raeyen IV/Tam: Response
-- Commander Alora DeVeau Chief Science Officer USS Thor & Matriarch of the 15th House Betazed M239008AD0