Time To Think

Posted on Sun Jan 15th, 2023 @ 1:32pm by Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Lieutenant K’lar

2,466 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 114 - A Time and Place for Everything
Location: Level 315 - Observation Lounge E-2
Timeline: MD 1 - 1600

OOC: This is from mission day 1.

{ON}

K'lar stepped out of the turbolift onto Level 315. The corridor snaked around Section D1 providing several large observation rooms along the outer wall. Wanting a little space to himself, K'lar skipped past the first two doors. These rooms would surely be more crowded.

He needed a moment to compose his thoughts. Not long ago he'd met with Lt. Cmdr. Coleman and Lt. JG Vashir. K'lar passed information garnered there to specialists within the Life Sciences team who were concocting an anti-chroniton burst.

While stepping through the large open doors, K'lar raised a PADD and studied a displayed bio readout. The device listed live reports from a test currently proceeding down on Level 1652. Unfortunately there was no room for the bulky Klingon in the restricted workspace.

His long fingers slid along the touch screen to read about the testing. Orjheza's grandmother had been placed within a 25 kilodyne bitfield and was being treated with 5 MeB to 20 MeB pulses.

Roentgen levels had already showed signs of stabilization as seen in cases the science officers recently debated. It would just be a matter of producing a serum from the test's analysis. Such a serum could be replicated by each temporally displaced starship and used to treat their crew.

K'lar's PADD also switched to analysis of tests a team run by Lt. JG Vashir were working on. They were looking at ways to repolarize deflector output to form anti-chroniton bursts.

He walked closer towards one of the high-ceilinged room's massive windows with his head buried down in his notes. Other officers, enlisted crewmen and civilians crowded around the viewports to gaze at the temporally lost ships.

K'lar set his PADD down on a table alongside the large window. The room was full of tables and booths of various sizes. He slid along the cushioned pads to lean and stare at the ships crowding outside. Others were meeting for business and pleasure. Murmurs of a dozen conversations formed a warm background noise to the science officer's Klingon auditory canals.

Arriving in the lounge Ariana could see just how busy it was, getting herself a drink she looked around for somewhere to sit offering a polite smile as she approached the officer at the table. “Excuse me Lieutenant, would you mind if I joined you?”

K'lar looked up and recognized the woman's rank. "Please join me, sir", he said while standing. As she sat he joined her. "My name is Lieutenant K'lar... A science officer here. And who might you be?" He hadn't reviewed the entire crew roster yet and didn't recognize the Lt. Cmdr..

Ariana smiled warmly. “Thank you. I’m Ariana Monroe, Chief Counsellor and please feel free to call me Ariana, or ma’am if you prefer.” She looked at the view outside the station. “It’s certainly an odd situation out there, there’s a lot of mixed emotions about it.”

"Yes ma'am", he began only to pause. "Ariana.. Please forgive my formalities." He took a deep breath, letting go of all of the day's tension. "It has been quite a day." He appeared visibly stressed but seemed calmer around Lt. Cmdr. Monroe. "Have many people come to you with concerns? Surely you have heard details of this situation by now." Being confronted so suddenly with people from the past or future could be stressful, even to Klingons.

“You could say it’s been a busy day for the Counselling team.” Ariana offered a smile. “To be honest I haven’t dared look to see if there’s another version of me out there somewhere, if there was she’d probably be thinking the same thing. I don’t want to know what the future has in store for me, I’d rather live my life as it comes.” She paused giving K’lar a curious look. “Have you met anyone from your past or future?”

K'lar felt himself relax as he listened to the counselor. He could relate to not wanting to find out about his own future. "Oddly enough I did happen upon a ship from my past. I talked them into boarding the station and having tests run." He looked down for a moment before gathering his thoughts. "But I avoided meeting them at the last moment."

"I will never forget what it was like", K'lar started. "Seeing that ship.. It was then that I knew nothing about this anomaly was a coincidence. I suspect that if given enough time you too would be forced to confront a displaced person you know." He hoped he wouldn't be forced to meet any other relatives.

Ariana nodded. “To be honest I’ve avoided asking any questions, but I guess I would like to know more about what’s happening and why. This is almost like it’s been planned in some way to make us confront our past or future selves.”

"It very much seems that way", K'lar said, relieved to related to Lt. Cmdr. Monroe. "This situation is by intelligent design. The Life Sciences team is preparing a serum to inoculate the displaced people with. It should counteract their chroniton levels and send them back to their proper timeline." Other scientists were working on other solutions in the hopes that the cumulative effect would lead to mutual success.

“So everyone has to be inoculated?” Ariana looked surprised. “Is there no way to send them back in bulk so-to-speak? Inoculating people will take a long time won’t it?”

"Yes, but each ship will be able to treat their own crew", he replied while turning to watch an Excelsior ship speed by not far from the massive windows. "Lieutenant Vashir, the Assistant Chief Science Officer, is working with engineering. Their work tries to use deflector dish polarization to give off a similar anti-chroniton reaction."

K'lar turned his attention back to Ariana. "Are things always so hectic here? I only just arrived", he said with a restrained chuckle.

Ariana grinned. “Starbase 400 certainly has it’s moments, but it’s become home since I arrived here. I met my fiancé here, I’ve had my fair share of moments here too, but all in all I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!”

K'lar gave his closest offering to a warm expression in response. His eyes still bulged happily, wide smile revealing jagged teeth. "I appreciate the dynamic nature of the place. Great people. There is so much I plan to research in the coming months." Working with Starfleet presented a great chance for advanced studies. "Surely you must have worked with Science on a few occasions here. Yes?"

“Not that often to be honest” Ariana smiled. “I’m normally either off station aboard Admiral Bremer’s ship or I’m helping out wherever I’m needed. I’m also in-charge of Gamma shift some nights as well.”

"I see", K’lar said. "It must be exciting working on the Admiral's ship. I plan to make the most of my time on the station... All to prepare for the day when I finally run a ship's Science Department." He felt there was still much for him to learn. "Say ma'am... If you ever need a science officer for a... challenging... mission. Please reach out to me."

Lt. JG K'lar also wanted more experience in the field. He'd quickly re-qualified with his phaser and prepared a science shuttle to ensure he was marked 'mission ready'. The bright, hearty Klingon presented several positive attributes to any potential away team.

Ariana nodded. “I’ll remember that K’lar, if you ever need a Counsellor’s input on anything interesting just give me a shout and I’ll be there.”

"You know", the Klingon replied with a slight hint of red tinting his cheek. "I may need the input of a counselor. The interest is personal." His deep voice shook a little as he spoke. "It has not always been so easy working as a science officer. I am often conflicted."

He let his thought fill the air, letting silence follow. "There are times when I feel my pursuits here are... Frivolous. My duty should be with the Empire. Sometimes it feels like my studies are but a hobby. Am I wrong to work with Starfleet? To enjoy my work?"

Ariana gave a considered look taking a few moments to think over her answer. “Just because you are Klingon it doesn’t mean that you have to follow what every other Klingon does. You are making your own path, one that is filled with just as much honour as that of a Klingon in battle. You may not be going to war, fighting with glory against enemies of the Empire, but you are doing something equally as worthy of praise. If it’s battle you need, that’ll come one day, but right now you are doing what you enjoy doing. There’s nothing Frivolous about it!”

K’lar turned to watch the ships as he spoke. “People underestimate Klingons. Honor is not about enjoyment over the idea of battle. Glory is not about fighting, violence or defense. The way of a warrior is a lifestyle”, K’lar’s tone was calm. “It involves constant preparation. Every task is meant to prepare the soul for such a moment when sacrifices are made.”

He could look towards Klingon space from this vantage point. “Other Klingons are making that sacrifice, while I tinker deep within a lab.” Turning back towards her with warmth returned in his eyes, he said, “I understand my work has importance. But the Empire and my Faith are more so.”

“Then answer this ... Are you happy here? Or do you want to leave Starfleet and follow the way of the Empire? If not you can still follow the ways of your heritage here, the rituals and ways of preparation can still be followed here.”

"Here is where I must be", he said sullenly. "I just feel conflicted about... enjoying my work." One could see K'lar trying to hold back a smile in thought. "The people here are so... Nice. I appreciate your concerns. I feel it was only fair to share my perspective with the Chief Counselor." His restraint disappeared and the Klingon's relaxed mannerisms returned.

“I’m pleased you saw fit to share with me” Ariana smiled warmly. “We can continue to talk when you feel the need. For what it’s worth I understand how hard it must be to feel torn between two worlds, two destiny’s, it’s not easy.”

His eyes looked deeper into hers as she spoke. Her talk of knowing what it was like to be from two worlds made him curious about something. "I notice your name is human, but there is a Betazoid sense about you. Was your past conflicted as well ma'am?"

“You are correct in that I’m half Betazoid, I’m also half Human.” Ariana smiled warmly. “I can’t say my past was conflicted, difficult would be more like it. I was born with my abilities, something Betazoid don’t normally develop until they reach puberty. My parents were, and are, Starfleet Officers so I followed in their footsteps.”

"That must have been difficult to deal with so early", K'lar replied with concern. "There were House members who pushed me to the sciences. But even they were surprised when my transfer assignment became a permanent exchange."

Curious if she had followed in her family's footsteps, K'lar asked, "What fields did your parents work in Starfleet?"

“Well my mother is a Psychologist, and my biological father is a Marine General. Long story! I didn’t know about him until recently. My Stepfather is a retired Admiral. I followed their footsteps in joining Starfleet, my brother’s too.”

"Surely you will do them proud", said K'lar. "Generations ago, my family was at war with Starfleet. Now we are in different times. All we can do is keep stepping forward. Legacies. Pressure. They mean little compared to the journey."

Ariana nodded. “That’s very true, it’s best to keep moving along rather than stop and stagnate. We’ve all come a long way over the years.”

"True", K'lar said as he turned to once again look at the many ships. The swirling mass of the anomaly also spun outside far into space. "You know? I am curious on your thoughts about this anomaly. Why would such an event seem to force our past upon us? It feels like a very reflective experience."

Ariana turned to look at the ships as well. “To be honest I’m not 100% sure it’s almost as though something, or someone, wants us to relive that moment of our lives. For those who’ve lost someone aboard one of those ships it’s a chance to see them one last time, almost a chance to change history if we wanted to, it’s almost as though it’s a gigantic test to see what we’d do.”

"Very interesting perspective", he said as a Miranda class starship cruised by. The top of its saucer was facing the window, giving the pair an extremely clear view of the antique ship. "In that case I fear that all of our science cannot prevent whoever sent them, from sending them right back."

K'lar turned back to Ariana as he said. "If there is such a force, perhaps negotiating with it is in order. I imagine you have handled intense negotiations during your time here... A challenging task."

“Indeed” Ariana nodded. “It would definitely be challenging. Is there any sign of there being anything out of the ordinary out there? Besides the ships of course.”

"Not that I noticed.. Then again, I have not sat in on the highest level meetings." A toothy Klingon grin returned as K'lar once again turned towards the Chief Counselor. "My work provides me the freedom to conduct many studies. I believe I may be forgotten amongst the many decks of Science officers", he lamented in jest.

“Well I have no clue either, maybe we could check together? Either that or do some of our own research.” Ariana smiled.

"From what was told to me, there was no such presence", he said. "I was briefed by the Chief Science Officer. it would have come up. But there might be things high ranking officers know that we don't."

“I think we’d know that by now” Ariana smiled. “I guess we wait and see what happens next. Unless you’ve any other ideas?”

"Perhaps you would like to witness the inoculations in progress. There are several test candidates still up for the process. Shall we proceed deep into the Science decks?" K'lar looked excited as he asked.

Ariana nodded. “I’d like that thank you. Let’s go.”

{OFF}

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