An uneasy feeling

Posted on 07 Jan 2020 @ 3:18am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant Syvar MD

Mission: Mission 2 - The Agora crossroads
Location: Medusas head
Timeline: MD8 2000
1503 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Jon didn't often go to the ships lounge but tonight he just fancied a change. Eddie and Tru were at their games night and he didn't really fancy staring at his quarters 4 walls. So here he was, several crew shooting him looks uneasy that their CO was around.

He ordered some pasta and a beer and was happily just watching the stars wizz by when he sensed he was being approached.

Carrying a small bowl, Syvar cast the captain a somewhat apologetic look. "May I join you sir?" he asked uncertainly, not really wanting to disturb the man, if he wanted to be alone.

Jon could tell he was working up to needing to talk to him about something. He nodded, then sensed another presence. "Better leave room for someone else too." It seemed the Vulcan wasn't the only person needing to speak to him.

Nodding, the young Vulcan sat down, his face a mask of concern. He spotted the XO and cast her a somewhat suspicious look as he scooted over to make room. "It's important sir," he added slowly, casting Amelia another odd look. Obviously, she had something to do with his concern.

Amelia came up behind the Captain holding a cup of coffee. “Evening Skipper.” She said before casting a quick glance at Syvar and nodding professionally. “Doctor.” She added, rather formally.

"No," Jon said firmly. "We are not going with skipper. Thats not becoming a thing Fox. Sit down. What up with you two?" he asked.

Sitting down, she returned to addressing the Captain. “The good Doctor here pulled an implant put of Lieutenant Datari. It turns out it has something akin to my DNA on it.”

She let that statement hang for a moment.

"Not akin," Syvar corrected uncomfortably, "it is your DNA. it's an exact match to the code in your records. Exact match." Yet there was more but he wanted to see how they reacted to this first.

Jon could sense he was likely going to get a headache from this conversation and the emotions both of them were throwing out. Well okay the Vulcans were just simmering a little under the surface but anyway ……….

"Okay let me get this straight, we are saying somehow the XO touched that thing before it got put in Aidan?" he asked.

"Yes," Syvar said, certain of his case. "Lieutenant Fox, without doubt, must have somehow touched that device before it was put on Lieutenant Datari. It is her DNA, there is no question. I did find an odd secondary reading that I can't place, but yes I'm sure that somehow the lieutenant is responsible for this." He shoved his PADD forward, after setting his bowl down on the table, and retrieving the device. "I ran the tests several times, because I was afraid I might've done something wrong, but I cant change the outcome."

Amelia slammed her hands on the table and her chair was shoved back as she stood and glared daggers at a Syvar, while addressing the Captain. “With all due respect Sir, that is HORSE SHIT!. You better have some other evidence to back that up you green blooded son of a.....”

Her sudden outburst caused the room to go silent.

"FOX," Jon raised his voice. "Sit down. As your my XO I'll let that one slide … this time …. but I don't want to hear that type of language towards any officer again. And I expect you to apologise to the doctor."

Amelia was still giving Syvar a death stare. Through gritted teeth she answered Jon. “Yes Sir. I apologise for my language Doctor. Still staring at him, she slowly sat back down.

"Don't worry about it, language doesn't offend me," the Vulcan replied timidly.

"Ok I see what your saying doctor but it doesn't add up. When Fox returned and had lost Aidan she was mortified. So very worried about him and told me what happened and my empathic senses knew it was the truth. And I can tell now shes not lying. Agitated and being reckless yes … but not lying about that."

Jon let both of them process that for a moment before continuing. "So … there has to be another explanation. We just need to find it."

"I cannot explain this sir," Syvar answered desperately, "I ran every test possible. It keeps coming up as an exact match except for that shadow reading there... like a phase variance or something. I can't explain it, as I don't know what it is... I don't doubt the lieutenant's word, but my tests say she did it. DNA doesn't lie sir."

Amelia shifted uncomfortably in her seat before answering. “I have a possible explanation Captain.” She finally tore her eyes away from Syvar before continuing. “But for one, I don’t like the implications and two it’s a million to one shot... Sir.”

"Well I thought you were the sort of woman who doesn't worry about odds Fox. But come on lets hear it," Jon said. " Lay it on the table. I don't care how wild it is. Like I said. Theres an explanation somewhere. Lets figure this out."

"There must be," Syvar added anxiously, "I don't like this at all.... I don't like what this implies."

Amelia took a deep breath before answering. “The phase variance could be the result originating from the mirror universe, suggesting that this DNA came from my counterpart from the mirror universe... Meaning there are two Amelia Foxs’ walking around.”

"I swear to the goddesses Fox if thats the case and we get entangled up in a mirror universe, specifically the same one my twin brother and the Nogura just escaped from I'm not gonna be happy," Jon groused.

"But that does sound more believable than you planting a tracking bug on our science officer. I mean why would you need it? Bar our little "detour" to the agora crossroads you can locate Aidan via the ships computer at any point. Okay we have working theory. We are not sure why an alternative version of red would ………." he suddenly went quiet.

"Aidan didn't have his tracker when he came in," Syvar supplied, "it was removed."

Amelia frowned. "The device must have been implanted while he was at the Crossroads or when he was bought by The Don. I think that the device had started to cause discomfort was the only reason the Doctor picked it up."

"Remember on the bridge Fox. That chap Laemia was it? ...........

The one who wigged you out and well had me prickled too. He had an unhealthy interest in you didn't he? The don said she thought he was a puppet for someone else …." Jon mind was putting the pieces together.

"We have a connection. Or at least a starting point. We need to keep this on the QT. Only get Belikov and Aidan involved. Have Belikov start making some discreet enquiries to see if she fathom anything further or work with Iola/the Don or J'Tan to see what they know about this chap ...…. and very important, I don't want rumours of mirror universes flying around."

"We have no certainty anyone from the mirror universe is here, until we have visual confirmation," Syvar commented.

"I'll talk to J'Tan again, see what he can tell me about Laemia." Amelia said as she stood and drained her coffee cup. "I'm sure we can get to the bottom of this." She added and shot another look at the Doctor.

Syvar simply shrugged, he could only go on what he knew. "One more thing..." he said, holding up his hand. "...I think we should somehow make sure that we know you are you at all times... just in case."

Amelia humphed quietly and muttered to herself "Great" Just what I need... A short leash..." but she did not object.

"Not exactly," said Jon. "This can potentially aid us in fathoming stuff out. I want only the 5 of us in the know.

"Doctor I will get another meeting together and we will ensure that we know its her at all times. I'm guessing your thinking of an implant of our own?"

"Some way to keep track of her yes," Syvar agreed.

"Get that organised Doctor," Jon nodded.

"Yes sir," the young doctor answered, somewhat nervously.

In the meantime mention this to no one and seal up those files. I don't want anyone looking at them at this present time. Not to sound rude doctor but will you excuse us? I need a further word with my first officer. I will personally walk her back down to sickbay as soon as we are done,"

Nodding, Syvar stood and hurried out.

After the Vulcan had left Amelia sat back down. "So what's on your mind Captain?"

OFF:

●●● Commander Jonathan Reynolds
Captain
USS Andromeda


●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda


Ensign Syvar
Acting CMO
pnpc Aidan