652: Uncertain

by Commander Adams
81108.16
Following Mission of Mercy

-=USS Alchemy=-

Commander Adams stood in the middle of the bridge, still in awe and quite unsure as to exactly how she'd come to be there.

Her memories were still hazy when it came to her previous assignment, though in the few days since her last resequencing she had remembered several people from it, and the name of the ship she had last served upon as well.

She remembered that the vessel itself had been lost, that they'd been involved in some sort of a paradox situation. She was grateful though, for however long it lasted, that she could not remember exactly what had taken place inside that paradox.

Her strongest memories were of three others from the crew of the lost prototype ship Perseids; a young pilot named Gira Lassiter, the ship's Executive Officer Lt. Commander Ashton Ledbetter, and of course her captain, Keiran O'Sullivan.
She heard the echo of O'Sullivan's lilting brogue in her head, but couldn't recall when or where they'd had the conversation in question.



-=Flashback=-

K.O. you look fine this evening in that suit." A far cry from the man she had ever only seen wear two things; his uniform, or a pair of faded jeans and a button down shirt.

"Thanks 'Zalea. So do you. Wearin' red at that..."

"Closest I'll ever get to Command colors, I figure."

Keiran laughed heartily. "Don't bet on that, no? Somehow I believe that you can have absolutely an'a'thing you put that mind to."



-=End Flashback=-


As she considered how quickly she had ended up taking a command position, even only temporarily, she hoped that his faith in her was justified.

"What the hell is this thing!"

She heard an astonished male voice over her shoulder and turned to see Commander Lance Hartcort of the USS Revolution standing just behind her. "It's...it's...

"It's a prototype with transwarp capabilities." Azalea informed him.

"You're joking." He scanned the faces of the rest of the bridge crew, including Dane Cristiane and Micah Samson. All indicated by their expressions that Adams was completely serious.

"I am not. This is why we are taking the Alchemy. You see, it seems that Captain Zanh Liis was raised at the orphanage in question, and so was the Serendipity's chaplain, Jariel Camen.

The same Jariel Camen who almost became Kai a decade ago and used to be the Federation's ambassador to Bajor. He still has powerful friends in the government. Taking into account that the people who run the place are very much their family, Commander Salvek did not hesitate to give us the very best technology available to reach the province as quickly as possible."

"Just how quick is 'quickly'?"

"Four days."

Lance whistled. This was a third of the time it would take any standard starship in the fleet at best possible Warp.

"What you see, and experience aboard this ship is to be considered highly classified," Adams added. "The Alchemy's true nature and capabilities are one of the best kept secrets in Starfleet today. We have been entrusted with that secret, so that we can use it to the full to save lives." Adams looked into Hartcort's eyes and believed she saw a man she could trust there. "Do I have you word?"

"Of course." Lance agreed. "What are your immediate orders for me, Commander?"

"Please take stock of Sickbay for me. I know that it's very small, but in case we have any need of it I would like you to be familiar with everything it has to offer us. Also, if you could double check the supplies we've brought and see if there is anything that you think I've overlooked, I would be most grateful."

"Right away." Lance took to the turbolift and Adams regarded the command chair again.

"We're ready to depart, Commander, by your leave." Dane announced, having received final clearance from the Sera's bridge. "They wish us Godspeed."

"We'll need it." Adams said, as she gracefully lowered herself into the center chair. "Take us out, Ensign Holt," she addressed the man at the helm.

Moments later the Alchemy was free in space and traveling at increasing speed, ready for the first transwarp jump of her journey.

"Should I...brace for this or something?" Azalea asked Dane softly.

He smiled at her. "No need."

"All hands, prepare for transwarp jump." Azalea decided to give the rest ample warning, just in case. But just as Cristiane had promised, moments later the jump was complete, and they were moving at high standard Warp toward Bajor.

"Wow." She shook her head.

"Yes, Sir. Wow." Dane echoed. "Would you like me to let the Sera know that we're safely on our way?"

"Please do."

Azalea listened to his panel beep as he input the appropriate commands, and her mind drifted back to the wedding that she had attended just the day before; that of her former Captain, and the Serendipity's.



-=Flashback=-


"I wanted to give you this gift myself," Ashton Ledbetter said, as he and Azalea greeted the groom after the ceremony.

The bride had been pulled away for a moment, and so only Azalea, Ash and Keiran were walking together toward the large, elegantly decorated tent that would house the reception.

Ledbetter held an isolinear chip out toward O'Sullivan, who regarded it with trepidation.

"Ash..." Keiran had an idea what it might contain, but sincerely hoped he was wrong.

"This holds the name of a good therapist, a marriage counselor, and the divorce attorney that is the only reason that Mother and I got to keep the large apartment in Seattle when Maris went for the jugular."

"Ashton!" Azalea exclaimed in horror, covering her eyes.

"You don't know the lovely bride as I do." Ashton insisted, holding up a hand in his own defense. "I just want him to have options in place should the worst ever happen." Though, in fact, in his eyes it already had. Ashton could think of no 'worst' that was worse than marrying Zanh Liis to begin with.

"Thanks for caring." Keiran said flatly, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, you're quite welcome. Now, I am rather thirsty. I think I will go and do something about that." Ledbetter took off ahead to seek out a drink, and Azalea shook her head.

"I can't believe he did that. He just doesn't like her much does he?"

"'Tis all right." Keiran smiled, giving her a wink. "I like her enough for the both of us." He held out the chip toward her. "Do us a favor, dear? Get rid of this thing for me. I don't want Liis to find out about it, or she may end up getting arrested for assault and battery at her own wedding."

"Will do." Azalea tucked the chip into her handbag, vowing to herself to dispose of it the first chance she got.



-=End Flashback=-

Adams wished now that she knew more about this Zanh Liis, and the people at the facility where she had grown up.

She had a feeling that she had once known a great deal about her. That O'Sullivan had taught her chapter and verse about the woman's life when they served together those two years. But the resequencing left those memories inaccessible, at least for the time being and so there was little she could do but wonder.

She swiveled the chair slowly from side to side as she began to review the latest reports from Bajor about the situation at hand.

Something caught her eye, and she realized that she had to speak with Hartcort about this new information immediately.

"Lt. Samson, you have the bridge. I'll be in Sickbay."

After she'd gone, Dane shot Micah a glance as he rose from the science station to take the center seat.

"Do you think we'll see Vedek Jariel on the planet?"

"Don't know, been wondering that myself." Micah replied, shifting uncomfortably. "I know one thing for sure, though."

"What's that?"

"If we do, I don't plan on being the one to tell him that Zanh Liis just got married."

Dane sighed. "Neither do I."



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Commander Azalea Adams
Currently Commanding the
USS Alchemy NX-53099
en route to Bajor