Attack of the Temporal Agents

[Cmdr JFarrington 0]

Attack of the Temporal Agents

a Joint Log by Cmdrs Precip and Farrington

 

Cmdr Jami Farrington had finally torn herself away from a barrage of paperwork. Well, PADDwork, really, but they called it paperwork. It was a hangover from earlier times when actual paper piled on desktops, in drawers, and often strewed across the floor when mishandled, all evil, all meant to aggravate the handler. These days everything was electronic, but somehow PADDwork didn’t have the same ring, so the term paperwork had survived. But electronic or not, it still aggravated the handler.

 

The extent of damage to Manticore from their quantum slipstream trip between universes demanded documentation, recommendations, and requisitions that had taken one full duty cycle to complete, after which she had dragged her worn, bedraggled body to Maturin Station’s best attribute - the only franchise of Five Male Humanoids this side of Risa. It wasn’t hard to find. Just follow your nose.

 

And she wasn’t disappointed.

 

Her non-replicated bacon cheeseburger dripped just enough juice through the condiments and over the lettuce and tomato to tease the most ardent gourmet. A basket of cajun fries sat beside it, each fresh, crisp, crunchy piece begging to be the first devoured. The Coke, served in glass on the station, clinked with pure, clear ice cubes, a definite upgrade from ship-side replicated drinks that came pre-chilled to an exact temperature in insulated cups.

 

Jami had just balanced the burger enough to take her first bite when she noticed two hopelessly bureaucratic humans walk past the greeter and make a beeline to her table. A tall man paired with a shorter woman who carried a small briefcase. Both dressed in business attire, but wore Federation comm badges - authoritative, yet standing out oddly amongst the others in the restaurant.

 

Trying to ignore them, Jami took a large bite and closed her eyes in ecstasy, hoping they were a bad dream, or at least that they would move on.

 

“Excuse us... Commander? We are from FDTIAUC, Federation Department of Temporal Investigations and Alternate Universe Contacts.” The male human was speaking. “I am agent Dulmer..this is Agent Lucsly.”

 

Talk about ruining a good burger. Dabbing at the mustard that had begun to run down the corners of her mouth, Jami gave each a polite nod and continued to chew, hoping they would disappear. But they stayed. Flashed their badges, too.

 

“May we join you?” said Lucsly.

 

Jami struggled to finish her bite and spit out an emphatic no, but they were so good they made a temporal jump look bad. In half a second they were seated on the other side of the table, pulling various paraphernalia from the briefcase.

 

Jami’s smile was genial but noncommittal. It could have been a what the heck, go for it smile, but it was really a we’ll see about that smile.

 

Lucsly was slim, prim, and very proper. Every silky brunette strand of hair obeyed her command. Her collar, her skirt, her perfectly manicured nails screamed official. In contrast, Dulmer was a bit more relaxed, though just as proper. He seemed to be just doing his job, as opposed to Lucsly, who seemed to be totally absorbed in it.

 

Lucsly opened her case to reveal a rather sophisticated PADD, a model Jami hadn’t seen before, but there was a lot she’d not seen on Maturin. She picked up a fry and munched it from stem to stern to help her relax - and look relaxed. And maybe let them know she was trying to have a relaxing dinner....

 

“We are here on behalf of the Consul General's office,” Dulmer began.

 

Jami nodded politely. Explains the suits.

 

“Consul General Yendis was extremely wise to station an office of the FDTIAUC onboard Maturin Station, given the nature of the operations conducted by the vessels that are stationed here,” said Lucsly.

 

“Your recent...mission has proven our new Consul General has excellent foresight.”

 

“We have recently reviewed the report to the Consul General, who alerted us immediately when she noted that an Alternate... Universe... Contact occurred.” Lucsly drew out Alternate Universe Contact and let it hang, as though it were a dirty word, giving Jami a flash-back to the Principal’s office in elementary school. Then Lucsly stopped, as though waiting for Jami’s response.

 

“Really,” said Jami. Not a question. Not an admission of anything. A mere comment as she reached for another fry, trying to appear nonchalant to those at nearby tables. “Somehow I don’t believe this is the time or the place for this discussion,” she said quietly, her eyes taking in the crowd around them, an estimated composite of three different starships presently docked at Maturin. Special Operations aside, not every person on the station had the clearance needed for such things. If anyone knew this, surely Dulmer and Lucsly did.

 

Seeming to ignore Jami’s comments, Lucsly immediately turned her attention to her case and activated some sort of device.

 

“Of course we would be amiss to express our sincere regrets over the personnel losses you suffered,” added Dulmer, just enough sympathy to his voice to make his regret believable.

 

Jami stopped chewing and swallowed hard. Sincere regrets? They had no idea. Her eyes narrowed as she pushed her burger basket away in disgust and tossed her napkin on the table. “This... conversation... is over,” she said quietly, standing slowly, trying not to draw the attention of those close by. “If you have any questions, we may meet in my office. At the moment... I am off duty. I suggest you honor that and make an appointment.”

 

As she made her exit, she missed the looks Lucsly and Dulmer gave each other as Lucsly firmly closed and locked her case. To them, the conversation was not over, and the appointment would not be made with her, but with the Consul General.