By: Mellice Cem, Dane Cristiane and Keiran O'Sullivan
100204.0133
Current
=/\=Aboard The USS Serendipity=/\=
100204.0133
Current
=/\=Aboard The USS Serendipity=/\=
Mellice stretched, popping the last bite of his breakfast into his mouth and washing it down with the final sip of Raktajino in his mug.
He took in the surroundings; this so called Afterthought Cafe aboard the Serendipity, appreciative of the small moment of calm he was experiencing.
He had been afforded a rare, solid night's sleep after finally seeing Jelca finally transferred from the Alchemy's brig. It was a matter of honor to him to see this through, and not leave his post until she was delivered into the hands of Starfleet Security officials who'd been awaiting their arrival.
He had remained aboard the ship last night in the comfort of a real bed with a working shower and replicator and it nearly felt like a vacation at a five star resort. He was staying as, he'd been told, personal guest of the Captain and right down to the fruit basket delivered by a curious man called Trick London just as he was about to turn out the lights, he'd been given the VIP treatment.
...and a personal Security shadow who didn't think he knew they were there.
While the fuss was something he was unaccustomed to- he had always been a simple, hardworking man and proud of the fact- Mellice had to admit even to himself if just for a moment that seeing his old friend pull out the stops to show her gratitude for the work he'd done on Sibalt and after departing was truly appreciated.
Zanh Liis, developing some sense of gratitude and even a hint of humility? Wonders really never did cease.
He hated thinking back over his time on Sibalt now. So many lives lost, and for no reason of value.
Everything that went on planet side in the games and then the attempted murder of all participants by Jelca and her cohorts was nothing more than a staged show- a method allowing her to seek revenge that was misplaced at best and and at its worst, purely evil. Even he knew judging by the look in her eyes as she was led away in irons that she knew it had not been worth it.
Before he turned his attention to the reports he to write up for Admiral Harris, he decided he'd take a moment to visit his old friend Lair Kellyn in the medical bay.
She looked like hell lying there on the biobed, but thankfully they said she was going to make it, as was Jamie Halliday.
Looking down at Kellyn while she slept, he thought back to the first time back at the Academy when they had met in the quad. She was all barbed stares and irate silences then; sullen, introverted, and suspicious of everyone she met.
He couldn't really blame her considering the conditions they had grown up in.
Still, back at the Academy life had been simpler; back when all they had to worry about was the next report due or the following exam to take for this instructor or that.
"Hang in there. You're still my favorite little brat," he whispered, as he placed a kiss to Kellyn's forehead in older-brotherly fashion. Immediately upon doing so, he frowned. He signaled the nearest nurse, who stepped closer. "She's burning up. How long has it been since someone took her temperature? I thought the biobeds did that automatically."
"They do, I don't understand why," the nurse began pushing buttons and frowning more deeply. "Something's not right with this one, wait. The...ugh." She groaned. "The night shift was supposed to reprogram the sensors; T'Dara always."
She stopped.
News about the Vulcan's sudden, untimely demise was utterly new and fresh to her colleagues in the Sera sickbay, and the woman brushed tears from her cheeks. "Commander Lair does have a fever," she observed with concern. "I'll let the doctor know, and I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave so we can examine her again."
Mellice nodded, moving slowly toward the door. "I'll look in you later, kid." he sighed, adding, "keep fighting, Kellyn."
Reluctantly he left Sickbay. He had things he had to do today, not the very least of which was figuring out what he was going to do with his career...
With the rest of his life.
He wandered down to the Security office to get his reports for Admiral Harris done and turned in.
He had a lot on his mind and yet as he considered them he found it curious that the most exciting thing he had on his horizon was the idea that among those things was that he was still looking forward to testing the new brig design back aboard the Revolution to see if it was really escape-proof.
That, he told himself, had to be a sign from the Prophets.
He only knew a small few on this ship and yet, as he walked the halls of Serendipity, he wished he could be a part of her crew.
It felt good to get out and do what came naturally to him. Out in the vastness of space, he knew the unknown could be dangerous and yet, he still ventured out into it- knowing it very well that any day be his last day in this plane of existence if he was called upon to sacrifice himself for his duty. It was something he'd never had a problem doing for any crew he'd served on; it was just with this one, with familiar faces of trusted old friends and new ones he was certain could achieve similar status, it was not going to be so easy, this time, to say goodbye.
He sighed as he arrived at main Security. Standing amidst the sea of fresh faced, eager young Ensigns was one that, while not quite as fresh-faced as his peers, was someone that Mellice had definitely noticed on the planet even though they had yet to be officially introduced. He was also the 'shadow' that Mellice had been tailed by since setting foot on the ship- apparently the boy had managed to get here ahead of him so as not to look suspicious. *Nice trick...* Mellice thought.
Then, his 'shadow' spoke.
"Lieutenant Mellice, Sir, welcome aboard the USS Serendipity," the young man said, offering his hand. "Ensign Dane Cristiane. It's my pleasure today to do anything I can to assist you while you're still aboard."
Mellice's lip curled. "A security escort aboard a Starfleet vessel?" This amused him highly and he enjoyed watching Cristiane squirm a little. "Captain Zanh doesn't trust me after all these years?" He shook Dane's hand and then released it.
"It's not that, Sir, I can assure you." Dane knew he couldn't tell Mellice that the reason that he had to be escorted was because of the Sera's sensitive equipment and research, not meant to be seen let alone known of by those who did not actively serve as part of her crew. "If Captain didn't trust you, you'd have been sleeping in a storage locker last night. Or perhaps even a slightly chiller location directly adjacent to Airlock Three."
Mellice laughed. "So I would. It's nice to meet you, Dane. You can call me Cem."
"Thank you, sir." Dane replied. If O'Sullivan, or worse, Blane, caught him calling a higher ranking officer by their first name while on duty, they'd have his hide. "But-" a sound emanated from the nearest panel and Dane looked it over. "You have an incoming message, Sir. Priority one, rerouted from the bridge. It's Admiral Harris."
"Can I take it someplace quiet?" Mellice asked.
"I don't think Chief Blakeslee would mind. I'd be happy to help." Dane moved toward Blakeslee's office and unlocked the terminal for incoming messages only. "Here you are. If you need anything I'll be right outside."
Again, Mellice had to chuckle. "Don't have an apoplectic fit, ensign, I won't steal his family photos from the desk."
Dane nodded and then waited just outside the door; peering in through the small window.
After giving the proper code to authenticate his identity, Mellice heard the terminal beep and the Admiral's face appeared on the screen after Starfleet's logo disappeared.
"Admiral, it's good to hear from you sir."
[Lieutenant, I hear you've been a busy man of late.]
"Yes, sadly things on Sibalt did not go according to plan. I will submit my full incident report soon but the suspect has been remanded to custody and I stand relieved." Mellice inhaled and held his breath. The Admiral would not be contacting him unless he had something important to say...
[I have some news pertaining to your supposed, outstanding arrest warrants. Good news, actually.] Harris now smiled. [You're now clear of all charges related to your alleged kidnapping of my daughter. However we did get a nasty, formal complaint from the Romulan Government regarding and insisting on restitution for damage caused by you to one of their Warbirds. Care to elaborate on that, Mr. Mellice?]
Cem had known this was coming, and he was going to face it head on and alone, with no excuses made for his actions. If it got him drummed out of Starfleet? Well, at least still had a position waiting for him back home on Bajor in the Bajoran Militia with a holding rank of Major Colonel if he wanted it. He finally exhaled.
"Admiral, the damage suffered to the Warbird in question was necessary. If they had discovered that my traveling companion "Sally" was actually your daughter, they'd have killed me without thinking twice and used her against the Federation as a bargaining chip to get information on some of the 'fleet's best kept secrets. I couldn't allow that to happen sir. Your daughter's safety at the time was my only priority."
The Admiral nodded his head, indicating that he accepted what Mellice was saying as fact.
[Thank you for confirming my daughter's story. The Romulans were insisting that we turn you over to them to stand trial. However, it is our belief that this incident fell into the category of desperate measures, and so you will not be held accountable rather there will be a commendation placed by me into your permanent record.]
Mellice blinked in surprise. "Thank you sir. Does that mean..."
[It means that you are hearby free to choose whatever posting you desire.] Harris grinned now. [Had any good offers lately, Mellice?]
"Sir?"
[Just keep your eyes forward, and I think you'll see you have options you haven't even imagined yet. I wish you the best of luck Lieutenant. Godspeed and good luck. Harris out.]
The moment the screen winked out, Mellice heard the door slide open. The nervous ensign addressed him again. "Sir, Security Liaison O'Sullivan wishes to speak to you immediately. I'd be happy to escort you to his office."
Mellice laughed again. "Lead the way, Ensign," he thought again about Harris' last, enigmatic remark. "By all means, lead the way."
Moments later, Mellice found himself standing face to face once again with the towering Irishman that he couldn't help, at least as little as he knew him yet, to think of in any other way besides his being 'Mister Zanh Liis...'
"Mellice, 's good of ya to come. Please, sit down. Dane, step out." O'Sullivan directed the lad with fatherly sternness, and Mellice couldn't help but be amused and wonder at the history these two must share, seeing just how fast and how silently Dane did move out the door at O'Sullivan's behest.
"I'd rather stand, Commander. Or is it Captain O'Sullivan?"
Keiran's eyebrow elevated slightly. "Been doin' some readin', have ya now?"
"Trying to." Mellice admitted with a shrug. "You're a difficult man to research. In fact, this whole ship, this whole...all of it." Mellice gestured to the air around him. "And I'm not even allowed to walk up the block alone aboard an old friend's own ship? I knew that you had poor unfortunate Cristiane tailing me all over the ship last night without telling me. So can I ask now, just what is going on here? And by here I mean in this room and aboard this ship?"
He leaned closer to Keiran and lowered his voice. "I was pretty isolated on the Alchemy, watching Jelca brood in the brig. But even I know how long it takes to get from Sibalt to Earth and we made the trip in no time flat."
Keiran picked up a PADD and handed it to Mellice. "Do you know how highly recommended you come, Lieutenant?"
Again, Cem shrugged.
"This is no time for modesty, man! You do come highly recommended and you also..." he paused, a slight grin turning up his lips. "You have made quite a long standin' impression upon our Captain."
"And she on me. I still have some of the scars to prove it too."
Keiran would've laughed, but today he was far too distracted. He needed to get this over with and move on. "I'm sorry if I don't seem to be payin' attention, Lieutenant. My concentration is divided today and I fear I have ta cut our chat short."
He picked up a PADD and handed it to Cem. "A little not so light readin' for ya. You can read it in here if y'like, as I have an appointment to keep. If you're interested, we'd be happy ta have ya. I should mention that the Captain regrets that she couldn't make the offer to you personally but she's been unavoidably detained."
Mellice scanned the PADD, eyes widening. "You're...offering me a post? Here? Aboard the Serendipity?"
"Read the whole PADD, Mellice. This..." Keiran offered his hand, which Mellice shook and then the giant Irishman moved toward the door. "This is no ordinary crew, because The Alchemy Project is no ordinary assignment. Think on it before you decide." The door wooshed open and Dane nearly fell in, revealing that he had apparently been unable to resist trying to listen in.
"Think carefully." Keiran stressed, glaring at Dane in a way that gave his words a much deeper additional meaning before he strode off along on his way.
----------------------------------------------------
Lt. (jg) Mellice Cem
Assistant Tactical/Security Chief
USS Revolution-NCC-71605-A
and
Ensign Dane Cristiane
Temporal Investigations Intern
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=- Keiran O'Sullivan
Security Liaison
The Alchemy Project
Lt. (jg) Mellice Cem
Assistant Tactical/Security Chief
USS Revolution-NCC-71605-A
and
Ensign Dane Cristiane
Temporal Investigations Intern
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=- Keiran O'Sullivan
Security Liaison
The Alchemy Project