Post by Commander Jeven Sula on Nov 8, 2016 7:13:17 GMT -8
Deep breaths, Jeven reminded himself. Deep breaths. The sensation will pass. It always does.
His predication proved right. The headache eased as the nausea subsided. But he still didn’t feel relief. Jeven had been fighting against his own body through most of the night. If it had been a lone night, he might not have feared nearly as much as did knowing his own history. This had not been the first time he’d experienced these symptoms. And this was exactly how it started the last time.
Could history be repeating itself?
No, Jeven stubbornly concluded. Not yet. It’s too early to worry. This could be a mere infection. I will not jump to conclusions until I have to.
His thoughts were interrupted by a digitized cue of the computer. “Commander Jeven Sula, you have a incoming transmission from Gamma Outpost 13.”
Jeven’s eyebrow shot upwards as he made his way behind his desk. “Gamma 13?” He spoke aloud. “Why are they contacting me?" He keyed in the necessary commands and opened a channel. The image of Trill woman nearly equal in age to Jeven brought a sudden and awkward grin to his face. “Azaeda.”
“Hello, Commander,” she replied, her voice as confident and warming as he remembered. The woman had an ethereal quality about her. The silky smooth appearance of her skin, the bright blue glimmer of her eyes, and the soft and mesmerizing sound of her voice was everything Jeven needed to fall back into the memory of many nights passed.
He also remembered why he had ultimately chosen to transfer off her starship so long ago. She was simply too intoxicating for him to handle.
“Jeven,” he corrected, hating the distant sound of his rank on her voice. “Please.”
“Jeven,” she echoed.
“It’s good to hear from you.” He continued, noting how long it had been since they last spoke. Too long. “I’m not sure if you received my message, but I just recently had shore leave on—“
“—Risa,” She finished. There was a hint of frustration that seeped through the pleasantness of her voice. Or was he imagining it? Maybe he was.
“I know. I got your message. I’m sorry, Jeven; I had so much work.”
“I understand.” He tried to sound understanding, but an equal degree of disappointment matched the unspoken conversation beneath their words. He need not ask the true reason she did not come: she did not want to come. The sting of her choice was as poignant today as it was that day so long ago.
Another civilian scientist crossed into view of the camera as he began work at a nearby console. Jeven glanced behind Azaeda, allowing him the opportunity to change the topic to something less personal...or painful.
“What can I do for you?”
Her usual warm smile dimmed by degrees. “I need your help, Jeven.” She glanced back at the nearby scientist, whom remained busy with his work. All the same, her voice lowered for privacy. “There’s been an incident.”
“An incident…?” Jeven repeated, expecting clarification to follow.
“Three days ago, we brought aboard the station an anomalous sample. It gives off readings unlike anything we’ve seen before. Our doctor and chief scientist were running an experiment, and something went wrong. Our scientist was killed instantly, and our doctor has fallen gravely ill. According to his nurse, his readings are bizarre.”
The woman sighed. “Frankly, she is overwhelmed. We need someone with more experience. Jeven, I don’t want to be—“
Jeven held up his hand to stop her before she finished her thought. “I’ll send over one of my best doctors right away.
Sincere relief came over her face. “Thank you, Jeven. You don’t—“ She stopped abruptly as the lights flickered and faded and then restored to normal illumination. Another sigh escaped her lips.
“Power fluctuations?” Jeven asked.
She nodded. “It’s been happening for two days now. We can’t seem to track down the source of the problem.”
“Looks like I ought to send along an engineer as well.”
Azaeda reluctantly nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt.” The image of her flickered and distorted. Jeven saw her working at her console below even as he face cut in and out. “Jeven, you’re…hard to…think it’s another mal…” He saw her yell back, and mostly failed to make out the ensuing conversation.
“Azaeda? Is everything alright?”
“Jeven!” Her voice was raised, apparently hoping to cut through the interference. “…not sure if…but I’m sending you…logs and reports. Maybe your people can…sending them now. Thank you for… Azaeda…”
The image flickered again and cut out, but before it did, Jeven received a degraded subspace package filled with logs from several staff members aboard Gamma Outpost 13. Wasting no time, he sent immediate messages to Sickbay, Engineering, and the Science Lab to recruiting members for the away mission; Fifteen minutes in Shuttlebay One. As much as preferred to give his people more notice, his gut was telling him time was of the essence.
He sprung onto his feet, ignored the constant ache in his temples, and made for the Shuttlebay with haste.
End Jeven
His predication proved right. The headache eased as the nausea subsided. But he still didn’t feel relief. Jeven had been fighting against his own body through most of the night. If it had been a lone night, he might not have feared nearly as much as did knowing his own history. This had not been the first time he’d experienced these symptoms. And this was exactly how it started the last time.
Could history be repeating itself?
No, Jeven stubbornly concluded. Not yet. It’s too early to worry. This could be a mere infection. I will not jump to conclusions until I have to.
His thoughts were interrupted by a digitized cue of the computer. “Commander Jeven Sula, you have a incoming transmission from Gamma Outpost 13.”
Jeven’s eyebrow shot upwards as he made his way behind his desk. “Gamma 13?” He spoke aloud. “Why are they contacting me?" He keyed in the necessary commands and opened a channel. The image of Trill woman nearly equal in age to Jeven brought a sudden and awkward grin to his face. “Azaeda.”
“Hello, Commander,” she replied, her voice as confident and warming as he remembered. The woman had an ethereal quality about her. The silky smooth appearance of her skin, the bright blue glimmer of her eyes, and the soft and mesmerizing sound of her voice was everything Jeven needed to fall back into the memory of many nights passed.
He also remembered why he had ultimately chosen to transfer off her starship so long ago. She was simply too intoxicating for him to handle.
“Jeven,” he corrected, hating the distant sound of his rank on her voice. “Please.”
“Jeven,” she echoed.
“It’s good to hear from you.” He continued, noting how long it had been since they last spoke. Too long. “I’m not sure if you received my message, but I just recently had shore leave on—“
“—Risa,” She finished. There was a hint of frustration that seeped through the pleasantness of her voice. Or was he imagining it? Maybe he was.
“I know. I got your message. I’m sorry, Jeven; I had so much work.”
“I understand.” He tried to sound understanding, but an equal degree of disappointment matched the unspoken conversation beneath their words. He need not ask the true reason she did not come: she did not want to come. The sting of her choice was as poignant today as it was that day so long ago.
Another civilian scientist crossed into view of the camera as he began work at a nearby console. Jeven glanced behind Azaeda, allowing him the opportunity to change the topic to something less personal...or painful.
“What can I do for you?”
Her usual warm smile dimmed by degrees. “I need your help, Jeven.” She glanced back at the nearby scientist, whom remained busy with his work. All the same, her voice lowered for privacy. “There’s been an incident.”
“An incident…?” Jeven repeated, expecting clarification to follow.
“Three days ago, we brought aboard the station an anomalous sample. It gives off readings unlike anything we’ve seen before. Our doctor and chief scientist were running an experiment, and something went wrong. Our scientist was killed instantly, and our doctor has fallen gravely ill. According to his nurse, his readings are bizarre.”
The woman sighed. “Frankly, she is overwhelmed. We need someone with more experience. Jeven, I don’t want to be—“
Jeven held up his hand to stop her before she finished her thought. “I’ll send over one of my best doctors right away.
Sincere relief came over her face. “Thank you, Jeven. You don’t—“ She stopped abruptly as the lights flickered and faded and then restored to normal illumination. Another sigh escaped her lips.
“Power fluctuations?” Jeven asked.
She nodded. “It’s been happening for two days now. We can’t seem to track down the source of the problem.”
“Looks like I ought to send along an engineer as well.”
Azaeda reluctantly nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt.” The image of her flickered and distorted. Jeven saw her working at her console below even as he face cut in and out. “Jeven, you’re…hard to…think it’s another mal…” He saw her yell back, and mostly failed to make out the ensuing conversation.
“Azaeda? Is everything alright?”
“Jeven!” Her voice was raised, apparently hoping to cut through the interference. “…not sure if…but I’m sending you…logs and reports. Maybe your people can…sending them now. Thank you for… Azaeda…”
The image flickered again and cut out, but before it did, Jeven received a degraded subspace package filled with logs from several staff members aboard Gamma Outpost 13. Wasting no time, he sent immediate messages to Sickbay, Engineering, and the Science Lab to recruiting members for the away mission; Fifteen minutes in Shuttlebay One. As much as preferred to give his people more notice, his gut was telling him time was of the essence.
He sprung onto his feet, ignored the constant ache in his temples, and made for the Shuttlebay with haste.
End Jeven