<div dir="auto"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mission: Murder on the Exeter Express</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Day: 2</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stardate: 2445.12.02</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(USS Exeter - Day 2 – Personal quarters  - CSO Lt Jg Erin Cortez - 1403)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Walking into her quarters, Erin took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The past few hours had been difficult to say the least. Finding out about Nix, being told that because of their night together there was a possibility that either she was a target or a suspect had hit her.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Knowing that she now had to go and speak to a counselor, Erin had decided to take an hour before doing so and try to calm her mind. Doing so was something she had become accustomed to. Sitting by her table with her back against the couch, she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">~Freya, if there was ever a time I needed your counsel, it is now~ she thought to herself as she began to allow her mind to bridge the gap between what was now and the place in her soul that Freya occupied. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NRPG: This next part is Erin's vision.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">RPG:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Opening her eyes, the green grass of the landscape made her soul soar. The smell of the forest around her made her happy as she stood from her seated position, she did not need to look to know her ever present companion was by her side.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The warmth of the fur by her legs calmed her as they walked a ways into the forest.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.:what troubles you?:.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Erin, as always in deference to Freya, did not turn and look at her, simply gently touched the fur in her back,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"So much has happened. " </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.: I know. The weight of the passing of the man weighs on you. You know that, if it was his time… :.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"But to go like that,  it's not right."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.: The night, that night he gave you more than you realize. He helped you on your path and now, there is another. Another that will keep you grounded and keep you steady. :.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I know, I feel like I owe him. I owe him more than I thought I did. When he came aboard, he asked again and I said no."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.: Because you feel for the other? :. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I do. It would not have been right."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.: Then his job, his purpose to you was done. He gave you that strength, that purpose and the ability to understand that you are worth what the other gives you. :.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Still, the question remains. How do I move forward from this? How do I stay in my path?"</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.: The same way you have always done. You are strong in and of yourself. You do not need to measure your worth by how much any one person makes you feel. You decide what you want and you alone can walk your path. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If it is to be that the other walks the path with you, all the better. Your path is in front of you. The question is now, are you strong enough to walk it. :.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NRPG: End of vision</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">RPG:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Opening her eyes, Erin sighed contentedly. She knew that Freya had been right, as she always was. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Standing, she walked towards her door, feeling calm and settled again. No fears just calm.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Reply none)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";color:rgb(29,34,40);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Posted by Jackie)</span></p></div>