Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Admiral Jopek's office, Ensign Lono - 8:30) "Welcome aboard, Ensign - if you need anything at all, just let the First Officer, Commander Lee or myself know. dismissed." "Thank you Sir," Ensign Lono responded. Then she went out the door, into the corridor. ~Well, that seemed to go well enough. An important meeting, already!~ Stardate:2406.03.04 (Valhalla - Observation Lounge - ACMO Anderson - 0858) Rain nodded a hello to the CMO as she sat. "Good morning Assistant Chief...how are we today?" "Not too bad. The medical reviews we've been working on were wrapped up this morning and the results are as clear as mud! They do make interesting reading though." (Reply CMO if needed) The senior officers assembled around the table spoke softly as they waited for the meeting to start. Rain still knew very few of the officers around her. Her natural tendency to seek only her own company coupled with the massive demands placed on medical since the "incident" had given her no chances. She felt though that she was now armed with a few more social skills with the combined memories from this reality and she hoped to maybe venture to a recreational area one evening.... she might, she hadn't quite decided yet. Admiral Jopek entered and looked around the room. "Thank you all for coming - lets get started." He said and the room instantly quieted. "First order of business is to introduce you all to your new Second Officer, our Security Chief, Pierce Orde. Also, you know our Bartender, Rick Blaine, well, now it's Ensign Blaine, our new Assistant Chief Security Officer. I hope he continues to run the bar even though he's now working officially for Starfleet." Rain recalled Pierce Orde from where she had filed him in her memory as "nutcase with antique weapon". She reasoned he must be quite a good nutcase to have been promoted to second officer. Obviously the other man referred to she had never met as she'd never been to a bar in her life! "Rainbow Anderson (ACMO) is promoted to a full Ensign and our Second Officer is now promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade). Congratulations to your both, I hope to be awarding more promotions soon. However, each of your have earned a Captains Commendation Medal for your service to Starfleet and dedication for remaining in Starfleet, despite all that happens to you. You'll be received your award at the end of this meeting." Rain had cringed when she had heard her full name pronounced but then flowed into a state of shock at the rest of Jopek's sentence. ~I've been promoted??~ ~I got a medal!!~ Rain was blushing and she couldn't stop it. She tried to conjure a genuine smile, something that she didn't have much luck with. She hoped the applause would die down soon. "Settle down, please. I've received orders from our Squadron Commanding Officer, Admiral LoDona. We're now a part of Freedom Squadron. The USS Nimitz, the USS Cochrane and the controlling base is Starbase Geneva." Jopek proceeded to give out instructions and assignments. He also gave details about a new phenomenon called a subspace river that flowed close to their location. The river appeared stable and would mean that nowhere in the Alpha Quadrant was very far away anymore. Rain continued to listen waiting for the instructions for the medical department. "Medical, I've been in contact with Starbase Geneva, they've had a recent engagement with the Dominion and they were boarded. We know that the subspace river comes directly here from there, that's about all the mapping that has been done. You can expect wounded to arrive this afternoon from there, and eventually, from all over the Federation, given the Verano Medical Centre is the most advanced facility there is. We have 120 dead and 200 wounded, all arriving at 14.00 this afternoon. What took us three months takes two days by the river." ~Oh brother!~ Rain nodded and glanced sideways at the CMO. ~We might need a few more staff!~ That is all, any questions?" Jopek concluded. Rain listened to the various questions, as usual, baffled by the technological ones! (Reply any) (Posted by Wendy Keen) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla - Observation Lounge - Captain Jenna Rulestaad - 0905) "Captain Rulestaad, I want sensors and weapon arrays placed at our end of the river, I want to know if anyone is planning to pay us a visit, before they arrive." Jenna nodded at the Admiral, and acted like she was taking notes though she was doing nothing but looking important. She was still trying to figure out if she really belonged here, what with her 'husband' not longer her 'husband' and being stuck in a job that she knew she was qualified for, but which scared the living hell out of her. She passed most of the rest of the meeting in silence. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Vahalla: Observation Lounge - TAC/SC/2O Lt(jg) Pierce Orde - 0910) That is all, any questions?", said Jopek, sitting down once more. ~Time to use my new position for the better.~ Pierce turned to Admiral Jopek. "Sir, in my reading up on the tactical specs of the area, I noticed that there was a ship stationed here at Valhalla. USS Firestorm, NX-50318. Prototype ship currently equipped with a photon flux cannon." Pierce felt the eyes of several others on him. He stopped to survey the room, and saw a few looks of disbelief. "The photon flux cannon may help with the construction of the 'phase drive'. In any case, we should make sure the ship is spaceworthy. It only takes a crew of 25." ~A wonderful li'l surprise for invaders.~ (Reply Jopek, Tanya, Percival, any) (Posted by Lenox) Stardate:2406.03.04 Starbase Valhalla, Observation Lounge, WTO Tanya Leigh Dervin, 09.20) The bulk of the meeting had elapsed and now people were down to asking questions. The first question was from the TAC/SC/20 and it regarded the flux cannon on the prototype ship that was docked at the station. Tanya secretly loved prototype ships because there were limitless possibilities for them and in her mind that meant room for experimentation. The Admiral had instructed Tanya to liase with the Lieutenant pending the approval of the ship assignment as passed through the proper chain of command channels. Tanya nodded and mentally added it to her list. ~Boy it's going to be a busy day!~ She thought to herself as she again mentally reviewed the things that she was required to do. "Anyone else having anything?" Jopek asked. Tanya secretly hoped that there were no more questions, because the probability of there being more questions meant the likelihood of more work being distributed, and while she was a workaholic she loved to explore the possibilities of her mind and what all it could create. But, on the other hand... ~I'd never thought of it that way!~ Tanya realised, in thinking that every time she was commandeered from her projects to do something for the station, she had the possibility of learning something new, or a new way of doing something that could be incorporated into her way of experimentation. Tanya smiled, she could learn from this. She could learn to like this Starfleet stuff -- but she'd never admit it. (Reply any ) (Posted by Katherine Mazurok) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Valhalla - Observation Lounge - CMO Cambridge - 0930) "Medical, I've been in contact with Starbase Geneva, they've had a recent engagement with the Dominion and they were boarded. We know that the subspace river comes directly here from there, that's about all the mapping that has been done. You can expect wounded to arrive this afternoon from there, and eventually, from all over the Federation, given the Verano Medical Centre is the most advanced facility there is. We have 120 dead and 200 wounded, all arriving at 14.00 this afternoon. What took us three months takes two days by the river." Cambridge turned to Anderson and matched her look, only his included a raised eyebrow. The dead could be handled easily as the morgue was ready and catalogued. It was the alive bodies that concerend Maxwell. He didn't know his staff very well at all and several of them were just coming to know him. Things would begin to become quite interesting soon enough. Quickly, Maxwell did a run down in his head. There was no way they could run a double shift between the Verano center and the newly commisioned Otono. They would have to take everyone in one place at one time. And that invited chaos. But there was little choice in the matter. As soon as all questions had been dealt with, the Chief Medical Officer left the room in a hurry, Anderson at his heels. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, personal quarters, Kahila Lono - 10.10) Kahila Lono put away the last items of her personal things in the small chest of drawers, then sat on the bed and spent three minutes doing deep-breath exercises. Her mind was still whirling from what she'd learned - or not quite learned-- from the meeting. She wondered if she was really prepared for all these mysterious other-universe goings-on. She knew the universe, or multiverse it seemed now, must hold infinite mysteries. She just hadn't counted on so facing so many of them on her first mission. She knew she must go first to the counseling office of Eleni Rodos and report in. No time now for any of the martial arts or Hawaiian dancing that would truly make her feel energised and alert. She hurried out the door and in the direction of the counseling offices. (Starbase Valhalla, Counselor Rodos' office, Ensign Lono, 10:20) ~This is truly an important moment. Mustn't say or do anything stupid-- at least not terribly, unforgivably stupid. I'll be working with Counselor Rodos for a long time to come. ~ "Counselor Rodos, I'm Ensign Kahlia Lono, new Assistant Counselor, reporting for duty. I understand this is a very busy time at the Starbase." (Reply Rodos) (Posted by Josephine Goodman) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Valhalla - Verano Medical Centre - ACMO Anderson - 10.12) She had walked back to the main sickbay area with Lt Cambridge once the meeting had concluded. She'd felt quite proud pinning the new ensign pip to her uniform. She wished she could tell her parents, but they definitely wouldn't be proud of her. They wanted her home to flirt with customers. "Ok, we've got 200 wounded arriving soon. Where would you like me to start? I'm glad our morgue is large enough to take care of 150 bodies!" she asked of the CMO. (Reply Cambridge, any) (Posted by Wendy Keen) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Valhalla - Verano Medical Centre - CMO Cambridge - 10.15) They both entered Verano, the assembled medical staff turning in the midst of thier duties to spot the two medical officers, both still strangers to most of them. A few friendly glances were exchangedm, while others remained neutral. Everyone returned to thier focused duty at hand. Rain spoke first as Cambridge took a look around the sickbay. "I'm glad our morgue is large enough to take care of 150 bodies!" Cambridge grimaced. It was 150 bodies that would make thier way here and have to properly dealt with. He didn't even consider his younger staff for such a task. There was only Jonathon Stone, the other elder doctor, even colder than his other self from where they had come from. "I agree. It's one of the advantages to having arrived in a advanced time. They think ahead, slightly. We're the most advanced medical bay and I intend to keep it that way. That said, 200 injured will be stretching this place to it's limits. We can't move to Otono, it would take to long to transfer, verify and get the staff there ready." Cambridge nodded and motioned her towards his office. They entered and sat down. Maxwell waited a moment, looking out to space. "I don't know if you read through our medical crew, you've already probably seen what we gained and what we managed to lose. We still have Jonathon Stone, only a bit more colder. We still have Rhea, only she's a single mother..." Cambridge cringed. "I don't know the story of her Rain. I feel great love for the girl. She's been hurt deep, but she still shows up to Otono and Verano for her shifts. Girl's got heart and guts. I worry about her." Maxwell looked out into space for a moment. "We're going to need to get everyone from Otono Medical up here. I mean everyone. We're going to need all the equipment we can get our hands on and we're going to need it ready as soon as possible. I want to put Stone on Morgue duty and everyone else up here. We're going to busy and we're going to need the support. What I want you to do is to go about getting everyone down there up here, and you can get Rhea to help you. She needs something to take her mind off of life. I'll begin setting up the center up here and prepare the staff on this side. When the injured arrive, it's going to be you and me commanding and in charge. Hopefully we won't have to deal with losing any of the 200 officers we take in, but I need you to be prepared for it. I've hated death my entire life and it hurts to lose one on my watch. but we're going to need to be ready for it. I believe in you Ms. Anderson and will need you to be with me the whole time. Are there any questions or something to say?" The six foot seven medical chief stood as he said it and moved to the window, looking out into space. It still looked the same after all these years and after all the changes they had experienced. Now, they faced the future of that black expanse of stars. He turned to Rain and waited for any questions or comments she had. NRPG: I can play the NPC of Rhea, or if you prefer to write her on your own, tis cool with me as well. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Counsellor Rodos' office, Assistant Counselor Kahila Lono 10:21) "Counselor Rodos, I'm Ensign Kahila Lono, new Assistant Counselor, reporting for duty. I understand this is a very busy time at the Starbase." Eleni looked up from feeding her Siamese cat, Tao, and smiled at the young woman who'd just entered. "Welcome to Valhalla, Kahila. Won't you sit down? Oh, and please call me Eleni. I hope you don't mind cats," she added, glancing apprehensively at Tao who was ignoring the newcomer in favour of a dish of what Eleni privately considered evil-smelling mush, but which Tao seemed to regard as haut cuisine of the best order. "Oh, I think cats are wonderful creatures." Kahila stepped closer to Tao, and leaned over, looking at him, but didn't venture to interrupt his mealtime. "One of the hardest things for me to give up, when going into Starfleet Academy, was having pets. But my fascination with space, and its mysteries won out." Eleni grimaced. "You could say this is a very busy time. I don't know how much they briefed you on before you got here, but in a nutshell, we - that is, most of the personnel on this station - were brought here from a parallel timeline about six months ago. As I understand it, our own timeline sort of vanished. Or exploded. Or something along those lines at any rate. I don't really understand the ins and outs of it myself, but what I do understand is that a lot of our personnel here are still experiencing severe psychological difficulties in adapting to this new... uhmm... life. Some people have lost close family, some have gained it, but even those who have gained it have found that their families are not the same ones that were in the other timeline. One or two have even had to cope with finding that they have a double in this timeline. So as I'm sure you appreciate, 'very busy' is an understatement! Although," she added with a grin, "as I understand it, 'very busy' from Admiral Jopek can be regarded in the same light as the grossest exaggeration from anyone else!" "I'm still in the midst of culture shock. I keep feeling I'm in a holodeck program instead of the real world— or worlds. I can only imagine what it would be like to have to deal with such instant changes. I hope I can be of help," Kahila said. "As you can imagine, I am VERY glad that my requests for an assistant have FINALLY been answered! I'm sure we'll work well together. Now, have you had a chance to settle into your quarters yet?" "Yes, after having my belongings checked by Security. I'm pleased with the way personal quarters are arranged here." Eleni nodded. "Would you like to spend some time now going over some case histories? We have some interesting characters here, to say the least. Quite apart from the problems caused by the universe change," she added drolly. "Sure. I'd like to get started as soon as possible." Kahila watched as Eleni instructed her in the proper computer procedure and gave her a password to use in accessing files. Then she went into the smaller, adjoining office she'd been assigned. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Counsellor Rodos' office, COUNS Eleni Rodos, 10:21) "Counselor Rodos, I'm Ensign Kahlia Lono, new Assistant Counselor, reporting for duty. I understand this is a very busy time at the Starbase." Eleni looked up from feeding her Siamese cat, Tao, and smiled at the young woman who'd just entered. "Welcome to Valhalla, Kahlia. Won't you sit down? Oh, and please call me Eleni. I hope you don't mind cats," she added, glancing apprehensively at Tao who was ignoring the newcomer in favour of a dish of what Eleni privately considered evil-smelling mush, but which Tao seemed to regard as haut cuisine of the best order. (reply Kahlia) Eleni grimaced. "You could say this is a very busy time. I don't know how much they briefed you on before you got here, but in a nutshell, we - that is, most of the personnel on this station - were brought here from a parallel timeline about six months ago. As I understand it, our own timeline sort of vanished. Or exploded. Or something along those lines at any rate. I don't really understand the ins and outs of it myself, but what I do understand is that a lot of our personnel here are still experiencing severe psychological difficulties in adapting to this new... uhmm... life. Some people have lost close family, some have gained it, but even those who have gained it have found that their families are not the same ones that were in the other timeline. One or two have even had to cope with finding that they have a double in this timeline. So as I'm sure you appreciate, 'very busy' is an understatement! Although," she added with a grin, "as I understand it, 'very busy' from Admiral Jopek can be regarded in the same light as the grossest exaggeration from anyone else!" (reply Kahlia) "As you can imagine, I am VERY glad that my requests for an assistant have FINALLY been answered! I'm sure we'll work well together. Now, have you had a chance to settle into your quarters yet?" (reply Kahlia) Eleni nodded. "Would you like to spend some time now going over some case histories? We have some interesting characters here, to say the least. Quite apart from the problems caused by the universe change," she added drolly. (reply Kahlia) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Mars - Administrative District, Stratops Command - Rulestaad's Office - Captain Jenna Rulestaad - 1025) "Come" Jenna said, adopting a more authoritive tone after being half frightened to death by a knock on the door. An older man walked in, it took her a few moments but she recognized him as the Captain of the Lion, now recently removed. She had seen a report about the reassignment, it was something she hadn't been looking forward too. "Sit down, Admiral." she said with as much steel in her voice as she could muster as she looked back out the window on Main Stratops Command. She waited a few seconds in silence, putting her thoughts in order, then turned in the chair to face the Admiral again. "Do you have your orders with you?" (reply Kevel) (posted by Trout) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Mars - Administrative District, Stratops Command - Captain Jenna Rulestaad - 1030) Jenna tapped her fingers against the desk as she looked out over the personnel of Strategic Operations. She had stayed pretty tied up since they took over, keeping herself practically locked in this office and giving the occasional command here and there to show people she was still alive. She would have to bring her department to bare sooner then later, but for the time being she decided things were fine as they were, and leaned back in her chair once more. Things were not going well. (reply any, none) (posted by trout) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla: Security Office - TAC/SC/2O Pierce Orde - 1045) ~A bit more business to take care of.~ Pierce tapped his commbadge. "Pierce Orde to Cambridge and Anderson. I've assigned Crewman Maxwell, Ensign T'Pran, and Crewman Michaels to the infirmary for when the wounded arrive." He paused for a moment, then continued. "All three have had first aid, and are under orders to follow your directions. Please let me know if you would like any more personnel - I can spare a few more." ~Knowing Rain's attitude and opinion towards/of Security, it's good that I can extend the olive branch. Rainbow? I see why she shortens it. That brings up more questions than 'Orde' does. And with her personality...~ He supressed a chuckle at that thought. "Orde out." He returned his attention to the console before him, which displayed the current reports from his deputies. His eyes wandered over to his trick compact staff resting in its charger, then back to the screen. Hearing a beep at the door, he turned his head to face the newcomer. (Reply Rain,Cambridge, any) (Posted by Lenox) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Counsellor Rodos' office, COUNS Eleni Rodos, 1340) =/\= Dr. Dervin to Counselor Rodos, um, could you please come to the FO's office, we've got a small problem.=/\= Eleni shut her eyes briefly and wondered whether to take a painkiller now or afterwards. In her experience there was no such thing as a 'small' problem where Tanya was involved. She remembered the lemon meringue pie incident, amongst other things. "I'll be right there, Dr Dervin. Rodos out." Standing up, she headed for her assistant's office and popped her head around the door. "Kahlia, it looks like something interesting might have come up. I think it would be a good idea if you come along with me. Get a baptism of fire, so to speak." (reply Kahlia iyw) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Assistant Counsellor's office, Kahila Lono 1345) For a few moments she luxuriated in the simple fact of having an office all her own, then she began reading. ~Wow, Eleni wasn't exaggerating about interesting characters!~ In what seemed like only a few minutes later, she was surprised by Elini opening the door. "Kahila, it looks like something interesting might have come up. I think it would be a good idea if you come along with me. Get a baptism of fire, so to speak." "I wouldn't think of missing the opportunity," Kahila smiled. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Lee's office, ACOUNS Kahila Lono, 1350) Kahila stood with Eleni, as the counselor paused outside the office and wondered if she should sound thedoorchime. A moan from inside decided her and she opened the door immediately, not without a glance at Kahlia. "Here goes," she said to her assistant. "I think I can say without prejudice that whatever is going on in here, you will find this an interesting experience!" They walked into the office, to see Lee slumped over his desk with Dervin leaning over him. There was a strong smell of alchohol in the room and if that wasn't enough, not just one but two empty bottles lying on the desk. Kahila listened to Eleni's response to the situation. From what she'd already heard and read of Tanya and her brother, she was more than eager to hear their reply. ~Well, I can understand that with so much strangeness going on, having a few drinks might be more tempting than usual.~ (Reply from any) (Posted by Josephine Goodman, aka Acouns Kahila Lono) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla: Infirmary - Crewman Johnathan Maxwell - 1350) John Maxwell entered the infirmary, with T'Pran right behind him. He strode right up to the nearest person of authority in the infirmary. "Crewman Maxwell and company reporting, sir!" (Reply Cambridge, Anderson) (Starbase Valhalla: Infirmary - Ensign(jg) T'Pran - 1350) T'Pran strode purposefully behind Crewman Maxwell. ~I fail to see the logic of appointing Crewman Maxwell to lead this squad.~ she thought as she observed Maxwell walk right up to one of the medical officers. Crewman Micheals bumped into her, and muttered a "sorry." "No apologies necessary, Crewman. I stopped abruptly." (Starbase Valhalla: Infirmary - Crewman Harold Micheals - 1350) Harold Micheals walked briskly into the infirmary, follow close behind T'Pran. ~Why did Lt. Orde send us three to deal with the medical people? Only starfleet officers are coming in to be treated, so we don't need to be here. And that order about following the leading medical officer? What what that about?~ Harold was so wrapped up in his thoughts, that he didn't notice T'Pran pause. He bumped into her. "Sorry.." he muttered quietly. "No apologies necessary, Crewman. I stopped abruptly." T'Pran replied. ~The hell you did. I was preoccupied. Maybe Security wasn't the right department for me.~ (Reply Cambridge, Anderson, any) (Posted by Lenox) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Lee's office, COUNS Eleni Rodos, 1350) Eleni paused outside the office and wondered if she should sound the doorchime. A moan from inside decided her and she opened the door immediately, not without a glance at Kahlia. "Here goes," she said to her assistant. "I think I can say without prejudice that whatever is going on in here, you will find this an interesting experience!" They walked into the office, to see Lee slumped over his desk with Dervin leaning over him. There was a strong smell of alchohol in the room and if that wasn't enough, not just one but two empty bottles lying on the desk. ~uh-oh. Doesn't she realise that being drunk on duty is a serious offence? That by bringing me into it she makes it offcial? Yikes, I hope she didnt call security as well!~ Eleni sighed and eyed Tanya with resignation. "You called me up here because he's DRUNK?" she asked . (Reply by Kahlia, Tanya, Lee (if he's able to talk lol), Any) (Posted by Liz Geuken) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Lee's office, WTO Dr. Tanya Leigh Dervin, 13.55) Tanya was standing by Rich's side, trying to remember her first aid, so that he hopefully wouldn't die on her, not that he was in danger of dying but she really wasn't a medical doctor so, in short, she didn't have the foggiest idea. Tanya saw the two counsellor's walk in. Then Rodos started to speak, "You called me up here because he's DRUNK?" Tanya looked at her for a minute, totally confused at the question, because for certain, that isn't why she'd called her down here, ~oh, she must think that... oh... yikes....~ Tanya realised what it looked like. "It's not what it looks like." Tanya said quickly. "Well, in all honesty it is what it looks like, but it isn't, there's more to it. And no I didn't call you down here because he was drunk..." her voice trailed off. "Although now you can see that he's drunk and you are going to want to.. oh boy." Tanya realised exactly what happened. Then she stepped infront of Lee between the line of sight between Rodos, the other Counsellor and him. "Ok so pretend you can't see him... there's a real reason I called. And yes I keep talking about that reason, and I'll bet that you'd really just like it if I told you that reason." Tanya said, her speech starting to get faster and faster and she was starting to get more and more manic. "But, well, I am trying to tell you what it is but you know how when there's something that is just so like bit and yet so small but really not small and really just so incredibly big and really quite shocking that you can't deal with it. I mean, we're talking can't deal with it. Like that it makes your whole stomach turn inside out and you want to like I dunno like pass out or I dunno maybe have a drink or two hypothetically speaking of course, that's the kind of thing it is, except that it's bigger, it's so big that I would have never thought, or never have realised and really now that it's happened, I really don't know what to do!" (Reply Rodos, Lono) "Oh? What is it? I suppose it would help if I told you, wouldn't t it? Then you wouldn't think that I called you down here because he was drunk, which is not what I called you down for and he did take himself off duty you can even ask the computer he did. But then yes, see, there was this surprise, and it came and well the surprise came and it shocked him, and then he called me because the surprise had to do with me too and then it shocked me and then well he didn't know what to do and I didn't know what to do and it's just really shocking and I really have no clue how to deal with it." (Reply Rodos, Lono) "What is it? Um... well, I really can't say it, well I can but I can't, I suppose I could " Tanya shut her mouth and handed over the PADD that contained Mark's Service record. "One Mark Dervin came to visit. And you would think if I had a brother that would be neat or something like that, maybe I could meet him or something. But, well no... not really.. in fact, really not really, he looks like Lee and his parents, well at least what it says his parents are, or ... well, I dunno it's not really us, but it says it's us it's the us that we aren't anymore because of the universe shift. I mean well, do you know what I mean?" Tanya asked as she was now getting rather frantic. (Reply Rodos, Lono) (Reply Rodos, Lono, Lee if he's conscious?) (Posted by Katherine Mazurok) Stardate:2406.03.04 Starbase Valhalla, Temporary Personal Quarters, SPC Mark Dervin, 1400) Mark sat down on the bed and sighed. The situation was rather less than he'd hoped for. It seemed that neither Tanya Dervin Sr or Richard Lee in this universe remembered them or had the faintest recollection of them, or their lives. Or well, the Tanya Sr that was now in this universe seemed to maybe possess the recollection of them, but, then again, perhaps not. It was hard to tell, but one thing was clear, they didn't really remember them, and they, well, as much as they were their parents, they weren't either. Mark sighed again, as he stretched out on his bed. At some point or later, he was going to have to contact Tanya. Tanya junior, his sister. He rolled over on his bed, and then over again, letting his hand hit the pillow. It just wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all. His parents, his loving parents, the ones that had seen him through thick and thin and had encouraged him in whatever direction he'd wanted, even when things weren't so clear. His parents were, well, absent. It wasn't as if they were lost in some tragic accident or even if they had died in the line of duty, or his mother, in one of her hair brained experiments, but it wasn't like that at all. Instead they had been snatched from him, snatched from them, in some colossally unfair accident. Having been smushed with the remainder of several other dimensional personalities, the two beings that now inhabited the bodies of his parents were, well not even in the same bodies of his parents, they were younger, and they weren't his parents at all. They obviously didn't really like each other either. The behaviour that he'd just witnessed was something that he had seen only a handful of times in the past, when his parents had fought during his presence. Surely his father would get annoyed sometimes at his mother's lack of... well, ability or well, willingness to recognize the little things like rank or protocol and procedure. Mark smiled, he suspected that in some way, on some level that his mother had always known, and never chose to let on. Somewhere in that deep recess of her brain, Mark always knew that she possessed the information. Sometimes when his father would get in an argument with his mother, they'd argue about the protocol or whatever for a long time, and then, in order to prove the point or whatnot that Tanya was trying to prove, she'd fish some number out of her head and some paragraph and subsection (that Mark later learned was usually very correct, or extremely close to correct) and completely blew everyone else out of the water. Mark always inwardly loved it when his mother did that. It was like for a moment that she choose to enter the normality of the world and universe and it was just one of his favourite memories. She always seemed so in control in those moments, brining out the final blow of the argument, and it silenced his father and then soon enough everything was back to normal. They never stayed mad at each other for long. But, Mark shook his head, that was them. These two... he wasn't quite sure. There seemed to be something between them, but loving and caring wasn't the word for it. He very much doubted that he would actually get to see both of them to sit together and be civil. This wasn't what he was hoping for at all. It would have been easier, he reasoned if they'd been dead. He hated himself for thinking that but it was true, then they could mourn their parent's lives and move on. But in this case, the people existed, the personalities were there, but it was like they'd been stolen from them. Mark shook his head. He knew the risks, he'd always known, and yet, he had never thought that anything would happen to him. That whole 'not in my backyard mentality'. He knew that his father, and the man called Lee would both have understood and it was duty, it was always duty, and in the line of duty. Mark knew that that meant. "But that doesn't make it any easier." He said aloud. "Computer, establish communications to Starbase Geneva, Route to Dr. Tanya Leigh Dervin Junior." <> The computer chirped back. Several moment's later, his sister's face appeared on the screen, and it looked something like the face of his mother that he'd seen moments earlier. "Hi." Mark said. "Hi Mark." Tanya replied. "How are you doing? How's the experiment coming?" Mark asked. "Hmm, alright I think... we're just getting the prelims set up..." Tanya answered. "That's good." Mark answered, "Hey Tanya, I wish you the best of luck with it ok?" Tanya looked at Mark seriously, "They don't remember us do they?" She asked. Mark shook his head, "I don't think so. I don't think so." Tanya looked down, "Did you see them, both of them?" Mark nodded. "Yes, they know each other. They really do. But, they're not.. involved." "Involved?" Tanya asked in confusion. "You know, involved?" Mark asked, Tanya was being trying, he could tell. "No I don't know..." Tanya said as innocently as was possible for she had no clue what her brother was talking about. "They're not together, you know? Not dating, not married, not having had kids, not even have thought of having kids..." Mark spelt it out for her. "Oh." Tanya answered and then thought a moment. "So they're not our parents?" "Well not really but they're like our parents though." Mark answered. "What does that mean?" Tanya asked. "Look I'm not sure ok? I'm supposed to meet them for dinner tonight." Mark answered back. "Alright, well let me know ok Mark?" Mark nodded. "Will do." "Take care of yourself Mark, I can be there, hopefully in a week. How long are you there?" Tanya enquired. "I'm here until.. I don't know....how long... " Mark finished, "They've given me quarters and so I'm staying aboard for a bit." Tanya nodded. "Ok, well talk to you soon?" Mark nodded, "Soon." "Take care." She added. "I will." He answered. "Don't worry Mark something'll happen, we'll figure something out. It'll be ok." Tanya said, trying to reassure her brother, although she fully realised that she had no better a grasp on the situation than he, in fact, he had a better grasp than she. Mark nodded. "I hope so." Tanya tried to smile. "It will." She tried to reassure him. Mark nodded again. "Talk to you soon." "Bye," "Bye." The comm channel shut, Mark was alone in his quarters alone. He went to the replicator and replicated himself some club soda. He needed something to calm his stomach. He sat down on the sofa and stared blankly into the darkness of space, this was nothing like discovering a new world or new life, this was discovery on the home front. And it was more frightening. (Reply any) (Posted by Katherine Mazurok) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla: Corridor outside Temporary Personal Quarters of Mark Dervin - TAC/SC/2O Pierce Orde - 1405) Pierce pressed the door enunciator and stood for a few moments. ~This *is* Morag's quarters, right?~ The door swooshed open to reveal someone who looked awfully like Commander Lee. Falling back on instinct, Lt. Orde saluted. "Sorry, Commander Lee..." Training dropped for a moment as he studied the person more. "Wait, you're not Commander Lee." Pierce inwardly sighed with relief. ~He still outranks me, so I'd better keep my officer face on.~ (Reply Mark Dervin) (Posted by Lenox) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Temporary Personal Quarters, SPC Mark Dervin, 14.50) Mark had just finished stretching out on the Bed following his discussion with Tanya via subspace when he decided that maybe he'd feel better with a shower. He checked the settings on the shower in his quarters, and by some blessed reason he'd been assigned to quarters that had an actual hydro shower. He smiled, that was his favourite thing, sonic showers were good, and while he occasionally enjoyed the feeling of sonic waves pounding at his back, in his mind nothing could beat the feeling of hot water dripping down his back. He'd just stepped into the shower and had closed his eyes as the steam was billowing about him and the actual feeling of the hot water starting to ease the highly carried tension. He pounded his head lightly against the wall as the heat permeated his body. The doorchime rang. Mark sighed as he grabbed an iridescent blue towel and wrapped it around his waist as he moved through his quarters, now dressed in a shiny blue towel and sopping wet leaving water footprints on the carpet as he went. He pressed a button and the door swished open. Standing on the other side of the door was a man that he didn't recognize at all, Mark was all of a sudden wondering if he'd gotten the wrong quarters. Perhaps he'd read the quarters assignment wrong on the PADD, he'd had times where he was absolutely convinced that he was dyslexic, perhaps that had been one of those instances. "Sorry Commander Lee." The person on the other side of the threshold porting a golden uniform said. Mark opened his mouth to say that he wasn't Lee. But really how was he going to explain that. He didn't know if Tanya and or Commander Lee wanted his exact reason for being onboard to circulating around like gossip. But then again, perhaps talking to someone else for him might help the situation? He really wasn't sure what was occurring, he wasn't sure what to do or how to handle it. Mark thought he'd just figured out how to broach the subject of his not being Lee when all of a sudden, the man spoke again. "Wait, you're not Commander Lee." Mark nodded. "That is correct, I am not." He then remembered that he'd left the shower running. "My apologies for my attire, um, here, come in for a second, I think I left the shower running." (Reply Orde) With that Mark dashed off towards the bathroom and turned the shower off. He then returned to where the Lieutenant was standing. "So... um... Lieutenant, what can I do for you?" He asked as he looked at the man before him. Then before the man could answer he interjected, "Sorry, my manners, Mark Dervin, Lieutenant." He said. "Now what can I do for you Lieutenant..... " He fished for both something he could do and a name. (Reply Orde) (Reply Orde, any) (Posted by Katherine Mazurok) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla: Corridor outside Temporary Personal Quarters of Mark Dervin - TAC/SC/2O Pierce Orde - 1505) Pierce watched the man nod. "That is correct, I am not. My apologies for my attire, um, here, come in for a second, I think I left the shower running." "Not a problem." Pierce said after the man as he dashed off. Moments later, the person returned. "So... um... Lieutenant, what can I do for you?" Pierce opened his mouth to speak, but was interuppted by the man. "Sorry, my manners, Mark Dervin, Lieutenant. Now what can I do for you Lieutenant..... " ~Dervin?~ Pierce heard the implied fishing in Mark's tone. "Lieutenant Pierce Horatio Orde, Security Chief and Second Officer.. But you can just call me Pierce." he supplied. "Well, I thought this was Morag MacRath's quarters, but I guess I was wrong. I haven't seen you on-station before, Mr. Dervin. Incidentally, are you related to Ms. Dervin, the WTO? ~I haven't seen a lot of people, but still...~ (Reply Mark) (Posted by Lenox) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Temporary Personal Quarters, SPC Mark Dervin, 15.10) "Lieutenant Pierce Horatio Orde, Security Chief and Second Officer.. But you can just call me Pierce. Well, I thought this was Morag MacRath's quarters, but I guess I was wrong. I haven't seen you on-station before, Mr. Dervin. Incidentally, are you related to Ms. Dervin, the WTO?" Mark considered the man that was standing across from him. He felt quite at the disadvantage of the situation, while they were essentially on his private turf (being his temporary quarters) he was still clad in nothing except the iridescent towel that he'd grabbed as he'd been called out of the shower. "Yes, I'm just visiting." Mark replied, "Today was my first day aboard. I must say that you have a very impressive establishment." He added. "Ms. Dervin, yes, I've met her, um, related... well, I'm not entirely sure if I'm related to this Ms. Dervin, but I was related to another Ms. Dervin once..." Mark let his voice trail off as visions of his mother danced in front of his eyes. (Reply Orde) "Yes, the Ms. Dervin in this universe before your universe and several others collided to form the personalities that exist here in this universe now." Mark shook his head. "I'm not exactly a student of temporal theory so it's taken a while for me to get precisely what has been occurring." (Reply Orde) "So.." Mark said stalling for conversation, "Are you enjoying this universe?" He asked finally. ~Talk about STUPID questions~ (Reply Orde) (Reply Orde, any) (Posted by Katherine Mazurok) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla, Mark Dervin's temporary Personal Quarters, SPC Mark Dervin, 15.15) "It's different." Orde responded about the universe that they both now occupied. "A bit shocking, to tell the truth. I know what it feels like to lose one's parents, and most that is dear in my life." Mark nodded his head. "I think there are a lot of people learning how to cope. What I'm really worried about is my sister, she's a little... um... well scatterbrained. I mean she can't even get two socks out of the drawer that are the same colour on her feet at the same time. I'm not quite sure she realises exactly what happened, and she was really close with mum and dad. I don't know if she'll be able to deal with them in this context." (Reply Orde) "It's a different world. And I guess the thing that makes it so different for us is well, you guys all had this spectacular bang thing happen, or whatnot becuase you were the ones that crossed the universe. But for us, all the people that didn't have a spectacular event it was like we went to bed one day with the universe being all normal and then woke up another and our whole realities were altered. There was no big bang, there were no bells and whistles, it was just like the same way that I'd gone to bed a million other times, and then when I woke up, it was all different. I think that's the most difficult thing for all of us who've had our worlds altered as a result of this incident to cope wtih." (Reply Orde) (Reply Orde, any) (Posted by Katherine Mazurok) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla - Outside Dervin's Quarters - Lee/Dervin - 1830) Rich rubbed his head, that headache he had certainly wasn't getting better, and he didn't foresee that it was going to before this night was over, not when he was going to pick up.. He broke off on that line of thinking and sighed. The door loomed before him, and he had simply been looking at it for the last few minutes. For a man that had stood his ground at his station while ships fell apart around him during wars and terrible battles, the prospect of facing this one woman was terrifying. He closed his eyes, then reached out slowly and pushed the enunciator. Tanya, this time was dressed in a simple skirt and blouse. She was ready for this. They could do this, they could find some middle ground, she was sure of it. They could. She hoped, what happened if things degenerated again? Rich and she had gone out without fighting much a couple of times, and they'd rather enjoyed themselves. Perhaps it was just the issue of their working together? Who knew. Tanya took a deep breath as she tried for the fourteenth time to read the PADD before her. The enunciator sounded. "Come in." She called softly. Rich walked in, and let his eyes wander a moment before laying them on Tanya. He took a breath, and let it out slowly. "You look lovely." he said in a quiet voice. He offered her the small bouquet of flowers he had brought, simple daisies fresh picked form the hydroponics garden. Tanya took the bouquet from them smelt them. "Thank you," She said quietly, "They're lovely." She paused as she replicated a vase and set them in it on the table. "You know, you don't have to do this if you... if you don't want to. If you don't want to be seen with me, I understand, we could have dinner with Mark separately if you wanted or...." She spoke quietly. Rich folded his hands together behind him, "It was never a matter of not wanting to see you, or be with you, or be seen *with* you." he responded. "If you can forgive me for being an idiot, then I have no problems with tonight." Tanya went over to Lee and laced her arm through his. "Alright then, to dinner?" She asked. Then added as an afterthought, "what are we going to say?" Rich marveled at the feel of her close to him, then shook his head. "I have no answers, no clue. I don't know if we should feel responsible for them, we are not their parents, even if we displaced them." He sighed as they walked through the door, "but we can see, who knows what will happen." Tanya looked up at Rich. Then down again at the floor. "I feel responsible." She said quietly. "How could we be?" he asked, "We didn't try to get into this universe, and we certainly didn't ask to misplace others." He took a breath, and paused to think as they continued walking arm in arm. "I feel for him, but at this juncture I don't see what we can do but get to know them, we can never replace the memory of those they knew." Tanya nodded. "No I realize that. I never meant that we... " She stopped. "I don't know what I mean." He paused, and looked over and down at her. "What is it you want out of this meeting?" Tanya shook her head. "If I knew that, there would be a lot more I would know." She finished. He nodded, as started back down the corridor again for the temporary quarters Mark had been given. "It should prove to be an interesting night anyway," he said dryly. "Kids." Tanya sighed. "Kids." They were standing outside of Marks' quarters. Tanya looked at Rich and again at the enunciator, then back at Rich. Lee chuckled quietly, she reminded him of.. him, not to long ago. He gave her hand a pat, then reached out and hit the enunciator. Tanya took a deep breath as they heard a voice emanate from within. "Come in." It called. She looked at Lee briefly and then entered. "Hello Mark." She said. "Oh hi Mo- I mean Tanya.." He nodded his head. "Sir." Rich nodded, "Ready?" Mark nodded. "Yes Sir." He answered. Tanya gestured over for Mark to join her and Lee. She looped her other arm around his and the three of them walked out of the doorway. "So where are we going? " Tanya asked her two gentleman escorts. "There is a place I found on the civilian quarter that is usually pretty quiet, unless anyone else had another idea ?" Tanya shook her head. Mark looked at his father- or, Commander Lee, yes, Commander Lee. "No, sir. Your idea sounds good." He finished. Mark looked at Tanya and then up again at Lee. Then he shook his head and exhaled a deep breath. ~This isn't going to be easy.~ He reasoned. Rich licked his lips, this was going to be far more complicated and awkward then he had previously given credit for. It wasn't hard for him to imagine Mark as someone other then his son, no matter how much they looked alike. But Mark had grown up with someone that looked just like him, and called him father. "To Dirk's, then." he said more lightly then he felt. ~I could certainly use a drink about now.~ Stardate:2406.03.04 (Valhalla - Civ Section, Dirks - Lee/Dervin/Dervin - 1850) Lee spoke quietly to the maitre'dee, then nodded a couple times. The waiter disappeared for a few seconds, then came back around with his hands folded in front of him. "If you will follow me, please." he said. Lee offered his hand to Tanya, as his other gestured in the direction. "One quiet table in the corner has our name on it." he said. Mark smiled, the first time he'd managed all night. "Excellent." he said. Tanya took Rich's hand and allowed herself to be lead to the table in the corner. "It's lovely here. How did you know about this place?" Tanya asked Rich. Rich licked his lips as they came to the table, "It has a complete bar," he finally said. "And a quiet atmosphere." Tanya shot him a glance. "One that you won't be making use of." She said as he sat her. "You asked," he said as he sat himself. He folded his hands together on the table, "I'm afraid I don't know much about the cuisine, so we will just have to be adventurous." Mark looked from one par- person to the other. "Is everything ok? Are you two alright?" He asked. Rich chuckled at that, as a waiter brought them each glasses of water. "It's been an interesting day, to say the least." he replied. Tanya reached for her glass of water and gingerly took a sip. ~Interesting isn't the word for it.~ She reasoned. "I guess my coming to visit came as quite a shock?" He asked Lee. "It has been a day for surprises," he said as he gave a weighted glance to Tanya, I received a couple rather largish ones in the course of twenty minutes." he said back. Tanya took a sip of her water again, and used her fork to play with the Lemon in the glass, as she floated it amidst the ice cubes. She did not make eye contact with either of the two men sitting at the table. "It was a surprise yes. I can't say that I had really thought too much about the Tanya Dervin that was in this universe," She lowered her eye level "I can't really say that I understood the entire set of repercussions." Mark nodded. "It was entirely a surprise to Tanya and me.. I." He corrected himself. Tanya nodded her head. "And your sister, what does she do?" Tanya asked. "Well," Mark began, "She studies propulsion and has a doctorate in Warp Theory. She always was enamored with what you... or I mean.. our mother did. She's currently testing a series of Transwarp conduit and reality shaping measures of using Transwarp conduits. I don't really understand what it is.... maybe if you're interested we can dig up some files of her research. She's done some really interesting things..." Mark's voice trailed off. "But, she's had a couple disasters, I don't know she sometimes just forgets about protocol and stuff. She can never remember rank. The last assignment she was at, they sent her home after 'retraining' because she kept calling people by the wrong rank and it was a very militaristic crew." Tanya couldn't help but smile a little. "She sounds charming." "She sounds just like someone else I know." Rich said, as his eyebrow raised again. "I don't know, something about wild pie's and Commanders that get broke to Ensign, then elevated to Admiral.. all in the course of five minutes." He looked at Tanya, and couldn't keep a small grin from his face, "Figures the Dervin sense of memory would be passed down." he said as he raised his glass in a salute. Mark looked at Tanya then to the Commander. "An exploded pie? And he broke you to Ensign and then Admiral?" Then he understood, at least the rank part. "I get the rank bit, Tanya, my sister Tanya seems to think I'm a Petty Officer. Even though you kept trying to teach her, she just never seemed to learn. I mean, our dad.. but... " he paused. "About the pie?" Rich chuckled as he recalled the fact he had *been* a petty officer before joining the Academy to become an officer. "Petty Officer Lee, such an accomplishment. Your sister also seems to have inherited a very unlucky streak when it comes to experiments." He looked deadpan at Tanya, "At least, she did if your mother was anything like our current warp genius. That pie caused the station to go to Red Alert, for a time. I don't think its in Ms Dervin's blood to do things small." Tanya opened her mouth to protest. "IT wasn't..." then she stopped, really there was no use. "Ok so maybe it was my fault, but ..." she paused. "Hey he doesn't do things small either!" She said as she pointed across the table at Lee. Mark just chuckled. Lee leaned his elbow against the table and rested his chin on his hand. "Oh really? And I so thought I managed to keep a low profile too." His lips curled into a small smile, "the only time I need to create a production, it seems, is when I'm dealing with you, crewman." he said with a glint of amusement in his eyes. Tanya looked around. "I don't see a crewman at this table, just a Lieutenant and two ensigns." She said as she winked at the Lee and Mark. Mark shook his head and looked at Lee. "So I guess we're on even footing, ensign?" He said. "And to what do we owe this honor Lieutenant?" He said, finally starting to loosen up. Rich snorted, "Ensign, those were the days." He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together. "I had more fun as a raw recruit going into crewman's school." He picked up his water and swirled it, "On the other hand, it got me to where I am now." he paused as he considered how the conversation was going, "...still an ensign having dinner with a look-alike and an environmental systems lieutenant. Who could ask for more?" He chuckled and drank the rest of his water as the waiter dropped off the menu's. He picked up the menu, and closed one eye as he flipped the menu upside down, "Alright then, who can read.. uh, whatever this language is. It isn't English, Vulcan, Klingon or French... so I cant make heads or tails of it." Tanya looked at the Menu, "Well I can't read it. So I don't think it's in French or anything else.. that I can read which really isn't that much. Mark?" She asked. Mark shook his head. "What kind of a place is this Dad? Um.. er... Commander.. Sorry, I really am trying." He said as if admitting a giant failure. Rich considered that for a moment, then shrugged. "We all have to get used to it." he said. He ran his hand over the menu, then noticed a small button at the bottom. He pushed it, and the softscreen display switched into a standard English format. "Ah Hah!" he said as he turned the menu over and offered it to Tanya, "The inquisitive mind always wins out." Tanya laughed as she accepted the menu from Rich. "Ok, ok ,ok, so the Commander has proven himself to be the brilliant one for the evening." She then grinned at Mark and whispered over in his direction. "Think we should crown him?" She asked. Mark wasn't sure what was going on, really or what Tanya had in mind. But he just smiled. "Sure why not." He whispered back. Within two nanoseconds, Tanya had made her napkin into a circle and placed it on Rich's head. "I crown you." She said aloud. "I hereby make thee a scullery maid for such presumption." he said automatically. He turned his eyeballs up to look at the crown, then back down again. "What, no jewels ? No proskynesis... what kind of kingdom am I running here?" He chuckled as he reached up and pulled the napkin down. He looked at it for a moment, then handed it back, "For your supper," he said with another chuckle. All three people seated at the table were laughing. That made Tanya smile. "Good, that's that." Tanya said with a smile. "So what shall we have for dinner?" She asked. "I was thinking along the lines of the penne parmesan" Mark smiled. "How did you know? That's what I was thinking as well." Rich raised an eyebrow, "Anything that doesn't try to eat me first, is game." The waiter arrived again. Mark looked at him. "3 Penne Parmagane's please." The waiter nodded. "And some wine?" Tanya shook her head. "Not for me or he." She said as she gestured to Lee. "Mark?" She asked. Mark shook his head, if both his parents were refraining, then he would too as well. Rich fought a frown, he could have used some right about now. This was her night however, he would have to play by the rules he figured. "Something with berries in it," he said instead, "Something other then water, but non alcoholic." The waiter gave him a bit of a look, Rich had seen him in her before, the waiter obviously knew his tastes. He did frown at that, slightly. "I'll be fine with water thanks." Tanya said. Mark ordered a drink of some sort as well. The waiter made his way off to get their orders. Mark turned to Commander Lee. "So, FO of Utopia Planitia, what a job." He said trying to make conversation. "More then I would like," he said back as he played with the empty water glass. "There is something about being in second in command of a 3 million person instillation that keeps me up nights." he said. It was true enough, it *had* kept him up before the whole incident on Earth with Tanya's training. Recently, it had been her image in his mind that had kept him up, until he passed out early in the morning from the booze. "And you, what is your engineering specialty.. or do you have one." Mark lowered his eyes. "I'm a Warp Specialist. But for some odd reason I found myself assigned to an isolation scientist project on the south pole. Apparently it was my background in dealing with civilian scientists.. or that's what I was told. Me, twelve scientist civ's, south pole, isolation for six months... it was.. rather.. interesting." Rich wondered for a few moments what he would do in such isolation, then wondered if Mark was anything like him. He took in just how he had described it, then snorted. "It was a living hell of cursing and dreamy civilians who were entirely too self important and whom thought each should win for themselves a saruak award for the Obviously Overwhelmingly Important work they were performing." He chuckled, "Oh, no doubt you loved it." Mark laughed, "That's pretty close." He said, "Add to that my orders were to, " he put on his official voice. "Build or fix anything requested or required and make formal reports to Starfleet during the times when the blackout was not in effect.'" The official voice ended. "Oh what a jolly good time." Rich's eyes looked at the glass that was placed before him by the waiter, and he picked it up in a toast, "To being a janitor." he said with an amused tone. "Heaven knows it can be a pain to watch over hordes of civilians, I do it every day." His eyes turned to Tanya with an amused glint as he took a sip of the... juice. "Hey, what's wrong with civilians? I'm a civilian!!" Tanya protested. Rich licked his lips, "I didn't say there was anything wrong with them, I suggested that they were high maintenance." he said with a chuckle. "Hard on equipment and pies." Tanya looked at him. "If I were a fleet scientist it would have been the same!" She protested. "I could have made it in Starfleet if I had *wanted* to." At this Mark's face broke into a giant grin. This had often been a discussion over dinner during his childhood. And sometimes his sister even tried to pull a 'Tanya' although somehow, no one did it as well as his mother. Rich chuckled, "Well, that depends. The first time you had called a Captain of a Starship an ensign, I think you would have been packing your bags for the gulag on Retarrin V, or somewhere equally distasteful." "I could have figured it out." Tanya said, her hands gesturing to the table before her. "I mean I know how to integrate a warp system, I think if it were vitally important to my daily life I could figure out a useless ranking system. They gave me a rank didn't they?" She said. "You know, I have asked that very same question of you ?" He leaned forward, "You can name for me the transitional states of warp plasma with temperature variations right off the top of my head, it shouldn't be hard to do a few simple pip to rank memory tricks." He raised an eyebrow, "Of course, I could be wrong, Lance corporal." he said with a chuckle. Tanya looked to Mark. "He just likes to tease me because sometimes I'm forgetful." She explained. Rich bit his tongue from laughing out loud, "Actually, I think you are hard headed." he said with a grin as he picked up his juice. "I've heard you quote me regulations, and you do get my rank right upon occasion." He looked over, "I think she likes watching me hit my head against something hard out of frustration." Tanya shook her head. "Not true. Simply Not true." She said. At this Mark was laughing so hard at the display before him that his eyes were misting, he wiped them with his fingers and then looked from one parent to the other. "I know you probably don't want to hear this.... " Mark began, "But this is exactly what dinnertime was like as Tanya and I grew up." Rich leaned back in his chair again, "You mean we didn't murder each other before your fifth birthdays ?" He looked at Tanya with a raised eyebrow, "Impressive, maybe it was the cooking and bad jokes that kept us coming back for more?" He chuckled as he took another sip of his juice. Mark looked carefully at Tanya. "I don't know about you.. but my mother... um... dad? you know what you said about the flaming pie? Well.... " He smiled at Tanya. "That happened more than once. I knew the emergency key sequence for fire suppression practically before I could walk." He couldn't help it this time, he burst out with a laugh before he could bite his tongue. "Oooh, Dr Tanya Dervin, Bane of Fruit Pies and the Pirate of Pastries... I can see the little bronze plate on your office door now!" Tanya stuck her tongue out at Lee. "Fine then." Then she turned to Mark, "I can cook, honest! I even can replicate things! I swear, I'll -" Mark interrupted, "Prove it to me?" Tanya looked at him. "Did I used to say that?" He nodded. "Well, you but not you, but well, really you, but not you. But... you know what I mean?" Tanya nodded her head. "Actually I do." She said with remarkable clarity. Rich folded his hands together as he watched the exchange. "Fine, lets see the proof then.. one berry pie of any assortment, preferably not flambé " he said with a chuckle. "I refuse to dignify that with a response." Tanya said as she turned to Mark and smiled. "But you just gave me one," he pointed out. Tanya rolled her eyes. At that very moment the waiter chose to bring the food and set it gently on the table. "Wow this looks lovely." Tanya commented as a plate was set before her. "...saved by the noodles." he said, as he looked at the plate of pasta. Tanya looked over her plate at Lee, she was going to glare at him, but instead, she simply smiled. Rich grinned back on impulse, Tanya was extraordinarily beautiful, especially when she smiled.. which was what he had missed so much, that smile. He looked over at Mark as he picked up a fork, "Any other family traditions we should know about, food fights or praying to the gods of silverware of something? I think we have already heard about the Dance of the Flaming Pastries..." Mark laughed. "Well, there was the Dervin Deadly Trivial Pursuit of Science and Mathematics games. Those... boy, I remember one time the neighbors packed up and went on vacation while we had a game. They generally involved everyone you could find and talk to and were... highly dangerous." Rich sucked some air into his lips and nodded his head, "For some reason, I can believe it." he said as he pushed a few of the noodles over, then forked a couple. "Oh but what fun...." Mark said with remembrance. "Hey... wait...or.. well maybe not. Never mind." Tanya looked from Mark to Lee. Rich raised an eyebrow as Tanya looked at him, then turned his eyes to gaze at Mark, "If you are going to suggest playing a game now, I think Ill resign now, Id get my butt beat. Its been far to long since my last engineering courses and Tanya has be heads down in pure scientific knowledge." He chuckled, "If you feel like playing 'name that tactical system', however..." Mark laughed, "No I don't really think I have the aptitude for a game and besides we couldn't play one without Tanya, she'd kill us all! No I was just thinking if you wanted to watch our last game, I recorded it and it's still in my logs.. but, I can completely understand if you wouldn't." Rich inclined his head to the scientist, "Up to her in the end." he said just before he took a bite. He mulled over the thought for a moment, the idea of watching an alter self he had replaced on a screen. "Why's it up to me?" Tanya asked Lee. Rich raised an eyebrow, "Because I make decisions every day, and this time I passed the buck." he said with a wink. "Well what do you think about it?" Tanya asked. This issue was something that she wanted to be careful about. "It's ok, forget I mentioned it." Mark said. "No, just wait, I don't have a problem with it, in fact I'm sort of curious about this game that you describe as so hazardous, that makes the neighbors pack up and leave. I just want to know what he's thinking before I say anything." She stated, "which I guess I kinda didn't just not do." Rich folded his hands together, as he considered every option he could think of. He didn't want to give Mark the impressing that he was trying to live up to his father, he wasn't and never would be. On the other hand, it might be interesting to watch. He took a breath, "I don't care," he said after a time, "Might be interesting to see us in a few years." Mark said, "Well there's no rush I'm on the station, we can do it later, give us all some time." Tanya nodded "Sounds good." She said. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla: Couselor's Office - TAC/SC/2O Lt(jg) Pierce Orde - 1900) Pierce stood outside the counselor's office, wishing that he had had the foresight to make a damned appointment. He couldn't wait to tell Eleni about his good news... as well as some of the bad. ~Let's see here, what should I tell her first? That my persona in this universe died three months before we showed up, or that my parents are alive? I really need to ask her advice in contacting them.~ He pressed the door enunciator and waited. (Reply COUNS Eleni) (Posted by Lenox) Stardate:2406.03.04 (Starbase Valhalla: Adm. Jopek's Office - TAC/SC/2O Lt.(jg) Pierce Horatio Orde - 1950) Pierce tapped the enunciator to Jopek's office door. =/\=Come.=/\= Pierce strode in and nodded his head in deference. "Sir, I'd like to bring a small engineering team over to Firestorm, to bring her operational so that Ms. Dervin's team can put their full attention to examining the unique weapons system. A team of ten or fifteen would suffice." (Reply Jopek) Stardate:2406.03.04 (USS Firestorm: Bridge - TAC/SC/2O Lt.(jg) Pierce Horatio Orde - 2020) Pierce stood on the bridge of Firestorm and feelings of wonder flowed over him. ~It's just like being home again. I *have* commanded this ship before.~ His eyes fell upon the empty captain's chair. Placed in almost the direct center of the ship - as well as the bridge - that chair signified the capability of the man sitting in it. Pierce stepped over and sat in it, taking comfort in the responsibility it represented. He caught himself grinning foolishly. ~Good thing nobody is up here to see that. I'd never hear the end of it.~ He sat for a few seconds more, then moved to the OPS station, looking over the great speed in which the team had brought the ship operational. ~She's a good ship.~ Memories of commanding her floated back, unbidden. ~Maybe I should talk to a counselor about this..~ He scuttled back to work. Stardate:2406.03.04 (Valhalla - Outside Dervin's Quarters - Lee/Dervin - 2105) After a very leisurely stroll through the station, they had finally ended up back at Tanya's quarters. He looked at the door, then down at Tanya "Well, we arrived in one piece anyway." "Yes, I know, walking with a Commander in Starfleet has to be the single most dangerous thing to try. I keep getting told that." She said as she keyed in a code for the doors to open. "Come in, have a seat." She said as she went over to the replicator. "What do you like in your coffee?" She asked. "Preferably caffeine." he said, "Anything else is of no real consequence to me. As long as it doesn't stick to the spoon so I can eat it like a pop sickle, its all good." he said as he took a seat. "So, you're saying that you like wombat juice in your coffee? Wow, I've heard it's really gross, but.. then again to each their...." rich raised an eyebrow, "Of course, we could always simply follow the usual recipe and expected ingredients that are usually found in coffee..." "But you said anything!" Tanya said as she brought a concoction to Rich and passed it to him with a smile on her face. (It really was just coffee with a little sugar but she wondered how worried she'd gotten him.) Lee looked down, and stirred the drink for a moment. "Well, I've been told I have courage anyway..." he took a sip of it, then raised an eyebrow. "Sugar, such an estoic substance, I never thought it would go well with coffee.. but .. but. Migod, you have revolutionized the way coffee will be drank for all time, excellent!" He wiggled his eyebrows as he looked at her, Tanya laughed as he mocked her. She took a sip of her own coffee and sat down right next to Lee on the sofa. "Not only warp theory scientist, but also.. a chef extraordinaire!" "Is there no end to your talents and skills?" he joked, before he took another sip. Tanya laughed, "Oh there's an end alright, that's about it." She stated. Rich shook his head, "I doubt it," he said back. "There has always been far more to you then meets the eye." Tanya curled her legs up on the sofa and cupped her mug with her two hands as she laid her head on Lee's shoulder. "You really think so?" She asked. "I know so," he said quietly as he looked down at the mug, and swirled the contents aimlessly. "Or I wouldn't have ended up in such a state, simply thinking I had hurt you." He licked his lips, then shook his head. "Not that I mean to lie that at your feet." Tanya sighed. "You should have talked to me. I should have talked to you. We should have communicated......" her voice trailed off. "So, where do we stand now?" He pulled his arm from his lap, and put it behind Tanya's head delicately, without bouncing her around to much since she had been leaning on that shoulder. "On a couch, drinking coffee. Anything more, I have no clue.." He pulled his other hand over and covered one of hers. "I'm not sure if I deserve any kind of chance, but I would give my right leg to make you happy." Tanya closed her eyes and took a sip of the coffee before her. Then she sighed. "I enjoyed dinner." She volunteered. "It was interesting, that's for sure." Rich said. He had no idea what he was going to do with Mark for a week, he didn't know how he was going to get to know the man without giving Mark the impression that he wanted to be a father. Mark wasn't his son, even if it could be genetically tested and they would both pass for family. "I don't want to let Mark down, but I'm afraid its going to happen rather harshly," Tanya thought a moment. "He seems like a smart man. I think on some level he realizes that we aren't his parents. But then again, if you were in his situation and your parents weren't there, but there were people that were like your parents and had elements of your parents within them, if you had a relatively good relationship with your parents in the first place, then would you not want to retain contact with them, like even if it was just to be on a friendship basis?" "I think he is still looking for his parents. The look on his face was crushing, when he thought we hated each other..." ~Hell, the thought is crushing to me, I can only assume what a child would think, even if that child is grown up and not my own.~ "...I think it will take time, but I don't think he has quite put it together that though We are Rich and Tanya, we are not the two he knows and loves." Tanya nodded. "Well it must be difficult, it's sort of like losing one's parents in a tragic accident, there was no warning, and in this case, there was no aftermath, there is no real closure, and here we are, we aren't not his parents but we aren't his parents either." She paused. "I guess it's a good thing that they are older and self-sufficient, what would have happened if they were toddlers or younger?" "I don't really want to imagine." he said, "I think it would be worse now though, a child can learn to live without, they grew up with 'us', and they are past the age we could have had good and deep conversations, that would be one thing I would miss if I were to loose a parent at an older age." Tanya nodded. Then she looked at Rich again, this time a little more seriously. "Do you think that we're... " She couldn't finish. "What ?" he said, "Bound together in this universe because our temporal selves here were married?" He shrugged, "I doubt it, free will and all." He hesitantly brought up a hand, and paused just before her face, then swallowed and lightly placed his fingers on her cheek. "On the other hand, anything is possible. I went through hell, Vie had my own penthouse in it for the last couple months, I already know I don't want to loose you." Tanya looked up into his eyes, and smiled lightly as she placed a light kiss on his lips, then snuggled into his arms, laying her head on his chest. "I suppose we'll have to see." She said finally. "I have nothing but time." he said as he wrapped an arm around her and leaned his head back. He shuddered a moment later, "And I have to go through counseling sessions, no doubt, assuming I don't get broke to ensign for drinking on duty." He sighed and smiled with some mirth, "Would you consider it beneath you to date a waste recycling systems manager?" "Beneath me? Since when does rank matter?" Tanya asked as she relaxed into Lee. "Oh dear, this is true.. by the time I'm broke to petty chief you will finally start calling me a Commander." He chuckled as he raised his eyebrow, "Excellent." Tanya looked up at Lee. "And your point is?" "The Irony of it all." he said with a grin. Tanya lightly put her hand against his face, "I'm sure." She replied coyly Rich turned his head ever so slightly to kiss the underside of her wrist while keeping his eyes on her face. He cocked his head slightly sideways as he studied her face, and found himself smiling a bit. "Have I ever told you, Doctor Tanya Dervin, that you are a particularly beautiful individual?" Tanya looked up at him. "I'm not sure... I don't think I can remember, what with this scattered brain of mine..." She said with a smile. He reached out, and put a hand on her face. "Well then, that's a situation I shall have to remedy. You are a very beautiful woman, Tanya Dervin. Maddening, occasionally annoying, but highly intelligent and beautiful and..." He paused, not sure if he should go on. "...and I love you." Tanya looked up at Rich with shock. "It's been a long day, you've been drinking too much, Rich, it's been stressful for both of us, I don't know that you're able to make that sort of a decision... and maybe we're just transferring feelings from Mark to each other, and.. " there were a million explanations. "Why do you think I was drinking so much?" he asked quietly, "When I thought I had completely scared you away? The decision had already been made, I was living with it about the best way I could think of at the time. After that, it just took hold..." He raised an eyebrow, "Besides, I don't have any alcohol in my system right now, the doctor took care of that well enough." He sighed, "But I will not mention it again, if you so desire." Tanya looked up at him. "I think we just need time." She reiterated. "We just need some time to sort all this out, this mess with Mark, you, me.. this universe... everything." He nodded, "I have nothing but time." (reply any, none) (posted by Katherine Mazurok and Trout) Stardate:2406.03.04 (USS Firestorm: Engineering - TAC/SC/2O Pierce Orde - 2249) "Sir, sensors are back on-line." a crewman announced. "Finally. I thought those things would never behave properly." ~Like someone waking up from a long nap.~ Pierce looked over the display. "Pierce to Flight Control. Why is that freighter flying full... Ship decloaking!" He opened another channel to Admiral Jopek. "Admiral, this is Lieutenant Orde. A freighter is flying full-bore at Valhalla." ~Just in case you didn't know already.~ "Request permission to intercept." NRPG: Seems the best use of our time is to send two ships out: one to take care of the freighter, the other to catch the criminals. RPG: (Reply Admiral Jopek) (Posted by Lenox)