by TC Blane and Josiah Barlow
100929.1800
After The Same Mistake Again
-= Main Bridge , USS Serendipity=-
100929.1800
After The Same Mistake Again
-= Main Bridge , USS Serendipity=-
Paul Andrews’ eyebrow rose just slightly as if in surprise as he saw the Sera’s bridge on his screen, with TC Blane now seated in the command chair. However he was not a man to be easily fazed and he quickly recovered his usual sceptical expression.
[I’ve noticed your weapons have powered down,] Andrews reported, looking to a readout on his armrest. [So it was by the Temporal Investigations agents’ hands we were fired upon?]
“That’s right,” TC said with a nod, thinking it best not to mention Steele’s role in what happened. “But I have taken back control of the bridge.”
Andrews appeared to accept this and thankfully none of the TI agents on board had the nerve to correct him on it just now. They had to know that it was in the interest of the Sera for the TI ship to see them as an ally, and as long as they were on board that made it in their interest too.
[Good,] Andrews replied, seeing no need for more words than that. [We estimate it’ll be at least forty minutes before our ship regains any faster than light capability. What is the status of your warp drive?]
“You tell me,” TC answered.
[It appears to be fully functional,] Andrews replied, uncertain as to why TC wouldn’t know the answer himself but seeing little point in wasting the time questioning him on it.
With the exception of TC Blane, disbelief crossed over the faces of everyone on the Sera’s bridge.
“No, that’s impossible,” Peterson objected; still conscious in spite of his injuries though entirely unwilling to make any move against TC now. “We saw the warp core destroyed.”
Again Andrews’ face appeared almost ready to display surprise.
[Would you care to explain this, Commander?]
“I don’t have all the facts yet, but it’s my belief that several members of my crew simulated a loss of antimatter containment. For obvious reasons the warp core wasn’t actually ejected during the simulation. We did however see the simulated result on the main viewscreen.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Peterson said disbelievingly.
“I know this crew,” TC answered, looking to him out the corner of his eye, before turning back to Andrews. “Even with our warp dive though, I doubt we’ll be able to catch up to Brody.”
[Agreed,] Andrews admitted; even a ship as old as the Poseidon would be far out of the reach of conventional warp drive already. [However yours is the only Federation ship in the immediate area. Once our repairs are complete we will use our skimming technology to bring you along in our pursuit of the Poseidon. We will be a much stronger force if the Serendipity is operating at full capacity.]
“We’ll do all we can,” TC answered, as eager as anyone to get their crewmates back. “It’ll be a hell of a lot easier though if you can give us a hand getting the intruders out of our Engineering section.”
[Of course,] Andrews said, nodding to one of his men.
Pretty soon all over the ship the TI agents began being transported away; first those from Engineering, then those walking the Sera’s halls, until finally Peterson and his men disappeared and left the Serendipity crew alone on their bridge.
TC nodded to Andrews. “Thank you. We will begin to make as many repairs to our systems as possible. We will be ready to assist when you are.”
Andrews nodded slowly. [Very good. I’ll contact you in thirty minutes with a status update.] The screen went blank.
TC let out a long breath and leaned forward in the captain’s chair, resting his forehead in his right hand. The pain in his shoulder was excruciating and to top it off he could not shake the feeling that he was making a pact with the enemy. *The enemy of my enemy is my friend.* He thought to himself.
“Commander?” Steele’s voice broke the general silence of the bridge. TC Raised his head and turned his blue eyes towards her and slowly rose up from the chair.
“Get me a head count of who is on board. I need a damage assessment and find out who is the illusionist is in engineering that pulled this off.” He pulled down on the front of his duty jacket and slightly flinched as it pulled on his burned shoulder.
Landry was not sure how to react. She was sure that TC Blane would have shipped her off the Sera with the other TI agents. Perhaps he preferred to push her out of an airlock himself, not that she cared.
When Landry did not move TC approached the tactical station where she stood and lowered his voice so that only she could hear. “You looking for a special invitation Steele?”
She slowly raised her eyes to meet his. “Why didn’t you…”
“Because you are still a member of this crew, for now. You’re my responsibility, it’s my right, and the Captain’s when we get her back, to determine what happens to you.” He stared at her. “Rest assured there will be repercussions for your actions. But right now I need your help. You have to decide what you are and where you stand.” He thumbed towards the view screen. “Are you TI?” He then pointed towards the ceiling. “Are you part of Brody’s crew?” He then pointed to the deck. “Or are you part of Starfleet, part of the Sera’s crew? You’re gonna face judgment in any case.” He reached up with his good arm and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “It is time to choose who you are and who your heart tells you to stand with.”
Looking up into his eyes, if the expression on her face could have been given a name, it would have been tormented indecision. What her heart told her was obvious. Could she have left it just to her heart then the answer was forever Tucker Brody. For whatever he may have done and whoever else he may be, he was now and would always be the man she loved.
Her mind of course told quite a different story. She still knew exactly why things had ended; that he was gradually trying to take away all that she was. That hadn’t changed. However it was like a spoken debate against a beautiful song; the words of her mind were clear and logical but so much harder to want to believe in.
She took in a shallow breath. She was TI. She was part of the Sera’s crew. However if she’d belonged on Brody’s crew then she’d have been there already. Tucker was what she’d wanted, not power or a different place in time, and she knew she couldn’t have him without accepting things she couldn’t.
It didn’t matter though anyway. Even if she’d wanted to be a part of all that Tucker was doing, to say the words now would simply get her locked up and ultimately she’d get neither of her choices.
Truly she was so very numb and she knew she didn’t have a choice at all. Or perhaps she had the same choices she’d always had and that was exactly the problem. Whatever the particulars, as she opened her mouth no words came out and that pretty much told TC all he needed to know.
TC nodded to her and turned abruptly around. She would be dealt with later but for now there was no point in doing anything but giving her the time to think and to make up her mind.
“Excuse me, Commander,” Sue Tenney’s voice called out from behind him.
“Yes, Ensign,” TC replied, turning towards her seated at the science console Peterson had made him take.
“I’ve found a message here from sickbay, sir. It claims our hand phasers are working now.”
TC breathed in and out, that rare smile of his being allowed to show for just a moment.
“Good,” TC answered in a tone that to someone who really knew him made it clear just how much more comfortable he was in the knowledge that if this whole thing went pear shaped they’d have at least something modern to defend themselves with.
Though, as his shoulder reminded him this wasn’t exactly a good day, with their bridge back at least temporarily under their control and some decent weapons again, things were looking up. Taking the command chair again, he considered how it was rarely a good idea to trust good news to stay but it was even worse not to put it to use. Even if Andrews turned out in the end to be worse than Brody, for now TC had a chance to catch up on the state of the ship and to put some things in motion, so he was going to take it.
“Blane to Sickbay.”
[Sickbay here,] replied a very familiar voice.
TC wasn’t surprised in the least to discover Lair Kellyn had been involved in this, even if the last he’d heard she was unconscious and recovering from being submerged beneath the ice on Sibalt.
“I take it we have you to thank for that little display before?”
Before she could answer, a small voice could soon be heard in the background.
[So it worked?]
“It worked,” TC confirmed.
[It was definitely a group effort,] Kellyn added. [We couldn’t have done it without the people in engineering.]
TC made a note to find out precisely who did what so he could properly show his appreciation later. For now however every second counted.
“Understood,” he answered, before he closed the channel. “Blane to Security.”
[Yes, it’s security sir,] replied the nervous Ensign without thinking; evidently the most senior member of the staff to have made their way back to Main Security so far. He seemed almost afraid to ask the question that was so clearly on his mind. [Have they really gone, sir?]
“That’s what I want you to find out for me. I want a complete search of the ship. Even if they’re gone, we don’t know what they may have left on board.”
[Understood, sir.]
TC quickly closed the channel and opened another.
“Blane to Engineering.”
[Barlow here,] Josiah replied, the relief at having Engineering back to themselves still overpoweringly clear in his voice.
“I need you to begin repairs to the ship immediately. You have an hour. Focus on the shields. We may soon need this ship to fight.”
[We’ve already started, sir.] Barlow confirmed, now that they’d gotten their ship back intent on making it as hard as possible for anyone else to ever take it back over again.
“Good,” TC answered, thinking of how much he still didn’t trust Paul Andrews. “Also, if possible I want you to get long range communication back online.”
Experience had taught TC that when it came to dealing with secretive organisations like TI it was often a very good idea to make sure someone else knew what was going on.
[Aye, sir.]
Blane turned back toward the communications station. “As soon as we can talk to the outside universe get me Starfleet command.” He sat back down into the captain’s chair. “And find out where the Alchemy is at.”
-= A short time later =-
Ensign Landers and Parrish slowly made their way through the long deserted halls of the Serendipity. Both held tricorders in their hand that they swung slowly back and forth looking for anything out of the ordinary. So far they had found nothing unexpected.
“How much more do we have to search?” Landers asked.
Parrish shrugged. “I think we will be done once we finish the officers quarters. Which is this corridor.” Suddenly his tricorder beeped. “Hold up a second.”
He turned towards a door to his left. “I’m getting lifeform readings. Three of them.”
Landers confirmed the finding with his tricorder. “Humanoid.” He looked at the door. “This is Commander Blakeslee’s quarters. He is not onboard.”
Parrish put his tricorder back onto his belt and pulled out his phaser. “It is probably his wife and kids. But we should be sure.” He rang the door chime.
A moment later the door swung open and tall woman wearing a Starfleet uniform stood in the doorway. No rank or other distinguishing markings were on the uniform. Long brown hair hung down around her shoulders and green eyes looked over the two security officers. Upon noticing the drawn phaser in Ensign Parrish’s hand she folded her arms across her chest and a look of distain crossed her face.
“I must insist that you put the phaser away. There are kids in here.” She scolded firmly.
Parrish and Landers exchanged glances before Parrish slowly holstered the weapon. “Sorry.”
The woman nodded her satisfaction and then smiled warmly. “Much better, thank you.” Her stance relaxed. “Now, how can I help you gentleman?”
“Um, we are conducting a search of the ship to be sure that all of the crew is alright after the invaders left.” Parrish looked past the woman into the Blakeslee’s quarters. “Is everyone alright in there?”
The woman smiled broadly. “Oh yes. The family is perfectly fine. No one was injured but there was concern for a while because of elevated heart rates and the production of adrenalin. But those symptoms are common in stressful situations.”
Landers’ eyebrow raised in confusion. “Pardon?”
The woman opened her mouth to repeat her last statement but her reply was cut off by the sound of another woman’s voice. “Computer, discontinue the DHA program.”
The brown haired woman smiled warmly. “Goodbye.” Was all she said before she faded away.
Standing at the entrance to what would be one of the bedrooms was a Deltan female wearing a Starfleet uniform with the pips of a lieutenant. She gracefully strode over to the doorway. “I thank you for notifying us that the danger has past. Internal communications are still not working and I could not leave my quarters with the children here.”
Parrish had served on the Sera for over a year and had met Lt. Samthia Blakeslee before. “I am glad to see that everyone here is safe.” He smiled. “DHA?” He asked.
“Domestic Holographic Assistant.” Samthia explained. “It was a gift from my husband. He wanted to try and make my life a little bit easier. I swore I would never use it but in this case it was quite helpful. I did not know if you where friend or foe.”
“Understandable.” Parrish looked at Landers who was staring at the Lieutenant. Lander had just come aboard when the Sera had been docked at earth and apparently this was his first encounter with a Deltan. Parrish elbowed his fellow ensign in the ribs and snapped him out of his trance. “Commander Blane has retaken control of the bridge and the ship.”
“Tell the Commander that I am at his disposal.” Samthia smiled as she stepped away from the door. “If there is nothing else I will finish putting the kids to bed.” Seeing no reply coming she closed the door.
Parrish punched Landers in the shoulder. “What is wrong with you? That’s Commander Blakeslee’s wife, not to mention a superior officer.”
Both men started to make there way down the corridor to the turbolift. The doors opened and both men stepped in. As they turned to face the now closing doors Landers exclaimed. “I got to get one of those DHA’s”
Lieutenant (SG) Josiah Barlow
Engineering Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Commander TC Blane
Acting Captain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
NRPG: Ah, I have missed this. Brilliant work, both of you. -=/\=-ZL
Engineering Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Commander TC Blane
Acting Captain
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
NRPG: Ah, I have missed this. Brilliant work, both of you. -=/\=-ZL