A Game Being Played?

[Capt Ayers 0]

Location: S.H. Aegis

Time: Before the arrival of the El Aurian ship

 

Nick had spent a few hours considering what Images had told him about the body down in Sickbay. It had generated a wide range of emotions in him, from shock and suprise to anger and down-right hatred. Finally those emotions died away or at the least subsided enough for him to rationally consider the problem. It took him only a few minutes to hit upon an answer for the problem presented. Not wanting that answer said over the intercom, Nick, with his guard in tow, went down to Sickbay to find the good Doctor.

 

Nick enters Sickbay and looks around for Images. He spots Images and waits for the Doctor to finish what he was doing.

 

Victor catches a glimpse of the captain and quickly gets rid of his patient with a "Call on me if it bothers you again."

 

When the ensign leaves, there is an uneasy silence as the pair stare at one another. A silence which is broken by a suggestion by the Doctor.

 

"Come to the office, its more private there," he says in a serious and secretive tone of voice. 

 

He then proceeds to walk into the currently vacant office at the back of sickbay and takes the big chair behind the desk. 

 

Nick follows the Doctor into the office after asking the guard to remain at the door. When the door closes, he asks the Doctor "I gave what you said to me earlier a lot of thought doctor and I went through a whole host of emotions. From shock to surprise to hatred, anger, and loathing mixed with a trace of fear. A small bit of which was directed at you. If you're wondering why, it has to do with the old line about not shooting the messenger for the message. At any rate, the emotions are in the past. What I want you to do is tell me if I'm wrong with the following summary of the situation. This is what your analysis of the dead El Aurian says. That it's male, probably at least several hundred years old in age if you know enough about El Aurian physiology to be able to discern such a thing which you may or may not be able to do so. No offense is meant by that, after all, it's not like I and my fellow El Aurians have been real forthcoming on a whole lot of things and besides an El Aurian that is 500 years old looks much like a human in his or her 40's. At any rate, he's been dead at least 100 to 150 years. And that lastly the computer says it's me. Would that be an accurate summarization?"

 

"That would be quite an accurate, if not slightly rude summarization. Though we may not know much about El-Aurians there are basic traces in DNA similar to those used in carbon dating which we can use to approximate ages for various species. However you are correct in your statement that yes, we know the subjects age, sex, species, time of death cause of death and yes, that the computer, not I, may I state, believes it is you. I really am not a fan of temporal paradoxes and the like so as you asked I've run a few tests since my first findings and found different results but like you say, the files on record match yours."

 

Nick sighs inwardly as he says "My apologies, I didn't mean to be rude with what I said. I guess this situation I find myself in is making me a little edgy. Again, my apologies. At any rate, the computer is saying that it's me. The problem is that I'm half human. Now, that's not to say that I'm the only half human and half El Aurian in the galaxy. The thing is if that person died over a hundred years ago it makes it rather impossible for it to be a clone of me. I'm not even in my 40's yet and no El Aurian in his 40's would be on one of my people's Starships as a member of it's crew. Simply put, the person would be considered far too young. Secondly, my father isn't even out of his 60's yet. Meaning my father wasn't even born when that person you have in the morgue died. Rather makes it being a clone of me a...well I guess I shouldn't say an impossibility but certainly a very large improbability. As you yourself said, you noticed your own discrepancies as well. I think it's safe to say that either there is a glitch in the computer..." Nick frowns slightly as he considers what he's about to say "...or that a game is being played by someone as of yet unknown. Would you agree, Doctor?"

 

"You have a gift for precise description today Captain, I'd very strongly agree. Either there's a problem with the Starfleet Medical database or someone wants there to be a problem with the Starfleet Medical database. The only way I could safely disprove the former would be to take a trip to where our personnel records are updated from at Starbase 405 and to look at the files there. I'll do it sir, but it will take a couple of days."

 

Nick sighs tiredly before saying "I can't give you permission to make that trip as much as I'd like to. You'll have to take this up with the Admiral and gain permission from him. Which brings me to my second question. When you stopped by earlier at my quarters and told me what the Computer was saying about the dead El Aurian..why did you ask if I wanted you to tell the Admiral or not? That's a rather...well lets just say that would be walking out on a limb if you didn't."

 

"To be blunt sir, and dropping ranks for a second, Meve is a hothead. He's a damn good guy to have in command, you need someone who's able to be decisive and do the hard thing. But we both saw what happened the other day, he lost it. He beat up a table, banged up his hands pretty bad, fired you and screamed blue murder. If that was his reaction to finding out you belong the same species as the dead man, how do you think he'd react if he got word that you are that dead man? Not well I'd think, and certainly not something I'd like thrown at anyone in particular, not unless they'd want me to." Victor paused, pressing his hands together and leaning back in his chair "I still haven't told him yet and I don't think we should before we get this cleared up."

 

Nick smiles and chuckles as he shakes his head. "Yes, the Admiral is temperamental and yes he did rather act violently. However, he didn't act that way because of finding out that the dead body is of an El Aurian and that the ship is an El Aurian ship..he's mad because I withheld that information from him..or more specifically I withheld the fact that the distress signal was of El Aurian in origin and that I was able to understand it and that I did not divulge that. He's also mad that I don't agree with him on the idea of handing the ship and it's technology and secrets over to the Federation and that doing so would protect the Federation. At any rate, Doctor, I can't order you to tell him nor can I order you not to tell him. Like I said I can't authorize you heading to Starbase 405 to confirm the suspicions. I can make two suggestions, however. That since it's a possible breach of security, you should inform Co...Lieutenant Quark of it. My last suggestion would be to remember your duty."

 

Nick stands and steps towards the door as he says "I would say I would bring it up with the Admiral for you but if I do so he isn't likely to believe me. Good day..and thank you, Doctor."