Reflection

[Annabelle O'Halloran 0]

Deck 22 hadn't withstood the punishment Reaent had endured any better than any of the other decks. Anna had looked in on the botanical garden a week ago and had only stayed for a few minutes. Ship's systems hadn't been able to afford the luxury of keeping the garden viable and most of the plants had died as a result. The Biological Sciences lab hadn't faired too well either and many of the specimens had perished.

 

Today, she was sitting in Sci Lab 4 and the damaged equipment surrounding her wasn't nearly as depressing as the Garden or Bio lab. Besides, she was intent on the computer's analysis of the attack, which had happened three days ago and wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. Based on the material from Excalibur, it definitely appeared to have been the Boganary.

 

Shamor entered the lab holding a PADD. "I hope you don't mind but I could use a second set of eyes for my report." He offered the PADD to Anna so she could look at it.

 

Slightly startled, not having expected anyone, Anna looked around as the doors opened and watched Jon wheel himself towards her, extending a PADD as he drew close enough for her to reach it. "Sure..." she answered with a wry smile, adding, "...and hello to you, too." Activating the PADD, she began to read.

 

"The 'skirmish' with the Boganary had me wondering; how many hurdles do you think we have to jump in order to get to Camelot?" The look on his face showed quite a bit of concern.

 

Looking up from his report, which was dovetailing nicely with the computer analysis she'd just been going through, Anna looked at him thoughtfully, and idly tapped the PADD against her knee. "Well, according to the Excal data, these pirates we just brushed up against only travel a small part of the territory we are going to pass through--and we are now away from that area, although," she added with a resigned smile, "I wouldn't count on them staying put."

 

Turning to the console screen at her back, she brought up the Excal data and tapped her screen. "Did you read up on the Cult of Iyves, yet?" She glanced over her shoulder and now her expression echoed the same concern she'd seen written on his face. "They have some kind of transporter technology that allows them to tear a victim off another ship right through active shields. Makes the Boganary seem like a day at the beach." She continued, her voice falling almost to a whisper. "They drain the blood—maybe as some sort of sacrifice..."

 

He nodded, "I've read up on the cult as well as the Satarami that appear to control them. They seem nastier from the last time. Although I think the Boganary was just a tip of the iceberg." Turning to Anna, "What do you personally think of the situation, off the record of course?"

 

Anna smiled a little, and turned back towards him, leaving the ugly, albeit brief material on the Cult of Iyves glowing on the screen behind her. "Off the record, eh?" She shrugged, saying, "Ok, Jon, but my opinion's not worth a heck of a lot since this is my first trip to the Gamma Quadrant." She spoke slowly, trying to pin down her impressions for him. "We're strangers here and meeting up with the Boganary right off the bat sets a certain tone. Even though Excalibur seems to have a certain relationship with some of the species of this part of space, I don't think we can count on that to open too many doors for us. In fact, for whatever reasons, we may already have a target on us because of Excalibur and her past dealings with them." Anna looked seriously into Jon's eyes, quietly adding, "I think Camelot is a long way away and we're in no real shape if anyone picks a quarrel with us. I don't feel good about our chances."

 

Nodding slowly in acknowledgment to Anna's comments, "I know it seems bad and to be honest it might get worse. No matter what happens, I will do everything in my power to protect this ship and its crew. We will make it; we can't let setbacks keep us from losing faith in reaching our goal."

 

"I know you will, Jon," she began quietly, reaching out and briefly touching his wrist where it rested on the arm of his wheelchair. It was possible that Reaent had already cost him more than anybody should be expected to give. "I hope you don't think that my saying the odds are stacked against us means I've given up?" She pulled her hand away and leaned forward. "It's exactly the opposite--this is my first mission! I didn't do everything I've had to do-to even get to and through the Academy to let it mean nothing by not making it out of this backwater place. This ship's already lost too many crew." Wondering if anything she'd just said had even made any sense, she sat back and looked at him. "I just don't know how much more the ship can take before she reaches Camelot. I never doubt the crew for a second."

 

Laughing a little to try and ease the tension, "If you thought this was crazy, try having your first assignment during the Dominion war. Now that was chaos in its purest form. Besides nothing makes sense right away, plus I am sure we'll make it to Camelot in one piece."

 

His laughter brought a grin to her face and it was with relief that she felt the feeling of foreboding slip away. "That's right, you fought in the Dominion War." She gave him an appraising look, taking in the imposing physique and the deep green skin that did not betray the ravages of time. She knew he was 2,219 years old but he just didn't look it. If asked, she would have said he looked mid-30's-tops. Too young to have fought in that old campaign. "So, why is it you are such an optimist, Mr. Shamor?" she asked with a teasing smile. "A man who's lived as long as you have must have some insight. Clue me in."

 

Shrugging, "it's just an ideal that stuck with me, that and it's also past experience that reinforces it. Granted, the situation gets bad but it will always get better later on. If you focus on the negative you lose sight of the positive."

 

"And the positive in this case?" She agreed with him but was wondering what about their current situation still had him seeing the glass as half-full.

 

"The positive is that we are alive and the ship is mostly in one piece. Granted I'd prefer to either be at either Camelot or Risa but that's just my opinion."

 

"We are alive," and the way she said it made it an affirmation, but then she smiled, adding, "I think to say that the ship is mostly in one piece is rather overstating it." Glancing down, she realized she was still holding his PADD. She looked once again at the material on it, absently finishing a thought out loud. "Risa is where I came on board. That's where everything that is Reaent to me begins." Looking up, she smiled and offered him back his PADD. "I think you captured the details of the skirmish perfectly. They never meant to truly damage the ship and they utilized at least two different types of weapon's systems. The Boganary are a treacherous adversary. We'd be smart to stay out of their territory until we're at full strength."

 

"Hopefully, we passed their territory and never have to worry about them. As long as we don't cross paths with the Satarami we should be just fine. They can be downright nasty, especially in face to face situations."

 

He was talking like he knew which meant he'd met up with them before, she thought. "They're telepathic according to the material we have." She'd been raised to be wary of telepaths. The Clan preferred not to deal with them directly for obvious reasons but her time at the Academy had done much to overcome that learned prejudice. It hadn't overcome it completely, however, and she felt uneasiness when Jon said their name out loud. "What have you experienced from them?"

 

"Their telepathic powers shouldn't be underestimated at all. Very ruthless due to their xenophobic nature. If you feel like something is poking your mind, quickly think of something unorthodox. I played poker in my mind which kept them from trying to figure out classified secrets among other things, but that of course was about 30 years ago so I'm betting a lot has changed since then."

 

She felt a distinct chill at his words and unconsciously rubbing her arms, met his gaze with a bleak expression of her own, asking, "Why should anything have changed? Excal doesn't mention that they are overly friendly."

 

"In any case I think we should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Pretty much all crewmembers are required to carry a phaser at all times. I'm sorry if I happened to have unnerved you earlier but I don't want you caught off guard."

 

"No, that's ok. I suppose I seem naive to you--heck, I seem naive to me. I'd rather always know the truth and I appreciate your frankness." She looked a little nonplussed. "We're all supposed to be wearing a sidearm?" This was news to her and the only thing she had in the lab with her that could constitute a weapon were the pieces of a broken stool thrown into the corner awaiting their trip to the recycler.

 

Shaking his head, "You don't seem naïve; I've known Humans to have an excessive amount of curiosity. Normally, only security officers carry a sidearm. When the situation changes, however, everyone must have one unless informed otherwise. It's a way of keeping everyone safe. Which reminds me, have you been trained in proper phaser use?"

 

Anna looked at him a little doubtfully. "I was certified to use a Type II in the Academy but I'll be honest--I haven't practiced at all since then." She didn't think it was germane to the conversation to mention that she was much more experienced and comfortable with a throwing knife. It wasn't easy to explain that sort of thing and she wondered if she should start wearing one in a concealed sheath. Frankly, she didn't know how well a concealed knife was going to protect her in the event she came up against a powerful telepath who would sense her thoughts before she could pull her weapon. Still, might come in handy against the creepy Iyves Cultists. She decided to think about that later and gave Jon a winning smile. "I think I'm going to need a refresher on phaser usage," she said and added hopefully, "I don't suppose you think I should also know how to handle a compression rifle, too?"

 

"I'm afraid you'll need certification to use the rifles, but as long as your accuracy is decent you might get a chance to use one. If we get some more free time I can take you to the shooting range to see where you stand."

 

"That's very nice of you, Jon, I appreciate that. I'll feel more comfortable wearing a phaser once I've re-familiarized myself with it, and so far it looks like free time isn't going to be too much of a problem, now that we've left the wormhole and the Romulans behind." She leaned back in her seat and changed the subject, asking him quietly, "I've been wondering, and please feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but what have you found out about your legs?"

 

Frowning after thinking about it, "I'm just not sure, I guess I wasn't at 100%. There are times where I feel great and others where I can't even do my usual training regimen. I have a good idea on what caused it but I'm not sure how to fix it."

 

"What does Dr. Matthews say?" she prodded gently. She'd had three days of emergency medical training in Sickbay so far but had never brought the subject up to Debbie. The CMO knew her question would stem from genuine concern but Anna didn't feel it was appropriate to ask behind Jon's back.

 

"She believes it was caused by something I did when I was 'away', and I know for a fact that she's right. The method for correcting the problem however is elusive." Rubbing his legs out of reflex "if worse comes to worst I'd rather wear exo-skeletal leg braces than be stuck in this chair for life."

 

Frowning, Anna looked at his legs and then met his glance with puzzled eyes. "I thought you were injured when you were thrown so violently when we caught the shockwave after that sixth Warbird exploded." She didn't see the need to tell him that his lying at her feet in agony had inspired her to ask Debbie for training. "What do you mean it was something that happened when you were away? Were you on leave?"

 

"I believe that's a story for another time. Perhaps we can discuss this later?"

 

Anna blinked and nodded her head slowly. "Of course, we can." She remembered that he'd only come into the lab for her to take a look at his tactical report and probably had other things to do. "Thank you for letting me see the report, Jon. It ties in nicely with what I'm putting together for Commander Smith." She smiled a little shyly, adding, "If you find you do have some time, I would appreciate a refresher on phaser use."

 

"Come find me in a few hours, then we can see how good you are with a phaser."

 

"I'll do that." She hadn't been too bad as she recalled, but again, it wasn't her weapon of choice.

Edited March 8, 2009 by Annabelle O'Halloran