EXETERRPG: (2 - 1012) MS - SPCs Ensign Zot & Ensign Rylee Page

[Jaclyn Smith]

Mission: Murder on the Exeter Express

Day: 2

Stardate: 2445.12.02

(USS Exeter  - Auxiliary Computer Core- SPCs Ensign Zot & Ensign Rylee Page
- 1012)


Walking into the auxiliary computer core, Rylee looked around for a moment.
The place always fascinated her, the inner workings of the ship laid bare
almost. Taking a moment to look, she sighed almost a sigh of relief.

" Hello " Zot said to her as he climbed up a ladder from a lower level of
the core. Pulling him himself onto the main floor.

"Oh, hey there. Didn't realize you were in here."

" This is my regular duty time and posting where else would I be ? " He
asked.

"I spoke to Ensign Sleeford earlier."

Zot looked at her. " You seem calm. Would it be accurate to assume the
conversation went well?"

Smiling, she nodded, "I..  told him we were getting close and he wished us
the best. He basically said that we were both adults and he trusts us to
not let our private lives get in the way of duty."

" That is good news. I am pleased that at least someone has good news
today" He said.

"What's wrong?" Rylee asked with. Look of concern on her face.

" Most people are concerned with the possibility of there being a murderer
on board. But I believe we have a much more dreadful reality we are
facing." He warned.

"I heard about that. There are so many rumours flying around it's
ridiculous. I heard that some people think that the science chief and that
bar manager killed him."

" I do not know much about the investigation. I only know what I have been
tasked with. What I know is someone hacked the primary and secondary core
using synchronized breaches from multiple locations that have made tracking
the source nearly impossible. One person could not have performed the hack
by themselves." Zot said and stepped over to her.

Rylee looked at him, wrinkled her eyes a little, "if I didn't know better,
I would say you were worried. What is it Zot?"

He grabbed her and pulled her close to him and whispered. "Command
verification codes were used."

Rylee's eyes widened. "Oh… oh that's not good."

" No it's not." He said.

"Why are you telling me this? I don't have that kind of security level
clearance. I doubt I should even know that."

" My job grants me high security clearances, but this is too much for me to
handle. Helping Lieutenant Ravok with the investigation gives me joy and
purpose. My specialty is computer programming not computer forensics.
Murder is not something that doesnt happen among my people. We are a people
free of such things. Yet this seems to be a downfall in our understanding
of other races in the federation." Zot said with an undertone of fear in
his voice.

"Then you are lucky. Murder happens. It's destructive and terrifying."
Rylee said quietly, unaware that her hand had grasped his tightly.

" The entire concept eludes me. Even in a matter of self defense. How can
someone end another's existence? " Zot exclaimed.

"It's not something you can understand. People spend their entire lives
trying to understand the whys and hows of murder. What they fail to
understand is what devastation it leaves behind.

The act itself, in its most basic form is power. It's power over another."

Zot looked at her and blinked. " I have found there are other more
effective ways to have power over another."

"Oh?" Rylee replied raising an eyebrow.

" Friendship and Love. Although I understand that those things can lead one
to being hurt and also provide sufficient provocation to kill. I have also
read about looks that kill. I find that rather frightening. " He rambled.
He was definitely feeling on edge.

Smiling softly, she took his hand and said, "it's a metaphor. It doesn't
mean that a look can actually kill. It means…. Well, when someone gives you
a look that says you are in trouble."

" Well I certainly hope I get that look from anyone anytime soon." He said

"Zot, I have to ask.. you don't regret our… friendship and closeness do
you?"

He slowly pulled his hand away from hers and turned away slightly. He
closed his eyes. She asked him a question he wished he didn't have to
answer.

" I don't regret you. I will regret what continuing a relationship with me
will rob you of. "

Sensing something, Rylee stayed quiet. She could tell that this was
something that he had thought about but had not wanted to say.

" A more fulfilling life with children of your own. A continuation of your
family line. With me you will not have any of that. I won't grow old with
you. You will see me age much more rapidly than you in the years to come. I
am already halfway through my life cycle. " He looked back at her.

" You deserve more than what I can offer you." He said sadly.

Putting a hand gently on his face, she looked into his eyes with a warmth
that only comes from a place of love and spoke,

"Zot, most people go their whole lives without ever knowing anything like
the friendship, respect and care that I feel for you.

You supported me when I was at one of my lowest points. You never left my
side and you showed me what a true man is. If that means I only get a short
time with you then so be it.

I am not going anywhere. I have made my choice." She leant up and gently
kissed his cheek.

"I made my choice. Have you made yours?"

He grabbed by her shoulders and pulled her in and kissed her. No words he
had to say would be able to convey what he felt. To him she was beautiful,
flawless and unique. Every part of her brought him joy. More than he had
ever experienced in his life. He stopped kissing her and looked in her eyes
" I choose us "

Rylee smiled softly, put a hand on his face and said, "I choose us too.
Although I also choose not to get into trouble so maybe I should leave you
to your work."

" That is probably for the best. " He smiled.

Rylee smiled, "To be truthful, I had … thoughts that we were too different,
that I was too different for you. Then I realized that I didn't care. The
man I see before me is the man I have grown to care for.

No-one else would have helped me through physio or actually helped me put
my socks on when I struggled. I don't see the outside. What I see is you."

" Please exercise caution. Don't wander around. I wouldn't know what I'd do
if something happened to you. " Zot said to her fearfully. With a killer on
the loose he didn't want anyone else getting harmed , especially her.

"I can take care of myself but I will be careful."

" Unless you are on duty. I order you to report to your quarters. " He said
to her.

Looking at him, Rylee smiled, "preferential treatment? Sleeford would not
be impressed. "

He tilted his head. " Actually no that isn't preferential treatment. I told
Ensigns Slyom and Fromm and petty officer Kervik the same thing. " He
remarked.

Smiling widely, Rylee kissed his cheek again, softly. "I'll be careful. I
promise to stay at home unless it's my duty shift.

So long as you do the same, or at least, come and visit me."

" I will come visit you when my duties permit me. As I don't sleep I am
biologically the best option to actively monitor the data streams of the
core."  He responded.

"I should go. You be careful and promise me one thing."

" If it is within my power, I promise." He replied. He found it odd that a
vow of a promise was often required before knowledge of the task. This was
a new concept for him.

"Don't do anything stupid. Don't play the hero . Stay safe."

He tilted his head. " I am unfamiliar with that game. Is it a holodeck
program you've found unsatisfactory?" He asked.

Rylee laughed a little. "I'm going to head to my duty station. Remind me
later to give you a crash course in colloquialisms. "

" Crash course…" He thought for a second. He clapped his hands together
with excitement then pointed at her.

 " I know that one. It means an extremely expedited lesson or instruction."
He exclaimed with childlike optimism.

"You're right." She responded, an expression of somewhere between amusement
and joy on her face.

"Never worry about me or my feelings. I made my choice and I chose this…
us. So put that out of your mind and focus on the job in hand. That and do
some research on the correct bottle of wine to bring to a date night." She
winked as she turned to leave.

" Juilea amber wine from the Hastia Vinyards in Gatlin Valley on your
homeworld. Will that be sufficient?" Zot asked. He had spotted a few
bottles on the starlight lounge. Pure and authentic.

"Perfect. See you later then?" Rylee turned, headed to the door and then
stopped, looked back over her shoulder, smiled softly and left.

He watched her leave. He couldn't believe he was so lucky to have a genuine
person in his life who didn't see him as some oddity or some strange
creature from a far off world. He was currently one of seven Eunepians in
starfleet. Which meant he was also one of seven Eunepians who were away
from their homeworld.

(Reply none)

(Posted by Rob & Jackie)
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