Task Force: Gamma

ArjimCalodan · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:20 pm Post subject:

"Commander..those shrimp will bite back at you if you're not careful. I don't want to have to drag the both of you down to sickbay."
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

"Commander..those shrimp will bite back at you if you're not careful. I don't want to have to drag the both of you down to sickbay."

Qech paused for a second, almost as if she was wondering what he was talking about. When realization finally set on her face it carried with it a hint of shock and confusion. She snapped her hand back as if the shrimp actually had bitten her and stepped away from the table.

She walked back toward the group, her head slightly down-turned. "I'm not really hungry anymore. I'll take him back to his quarters. Come on Lieutenant, rise and shine." She took the half-cognizant Romulan by the arm, trusting him to support at least part of his own weight. With a quick word of thanks to their host and wishes of a good night to her friends, they headed towards the door, the Trill feeling quite ashamed of herself.

I can't believe I did it again...
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Aria · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:55 pm Post subject:

Our Tactical officer is going to be rather green when he wakes up in the morning."

Aria arched an eyebrow. "How could you tell the difference?"

Would you care to dance?"

"I'd love to." When a Man Loves a Woman started playing and she stepped effortlessly into the slower sway of the close dance. Although, she mused wryly, it's not as if that were difficult. As long as you moved in a circle and shuffled your feet you were pretty much golden with slow songs. It's not as if she were trying to Riverdance, after all.

All of a sudden Aria felt a burst of consternation, followed by shame. Surprised, she twisted her head around. It took her a moment to locate the source. Commander Qech was struggling to walk Uvek along, the Romulan so drunk he could barely stagger with her aid. The negative feelings were coming from the Trill.

"Um...will you excuse me?" Aria said to Croft, nodding in Qech's direction. "I think I should help the Commander. The Lieutenant looks pretty big." Without waiting for a response she hurried to the staggering pair and slipped Uvek's other arm over her own shoulder.

"Here, sir. I'll lend a hand."
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Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

Qech felt Uvek's druken weight lessen slightly on her shoulders as Lieutenant Lioy came into view on the other side of him.

"Here, sir. I'll lend a hand."

Davynn smiled, glad for the help, but she had been hoping to slip away without any awkward conversation. She was still kicking herself for losing control of her identity yet again and could feel the others watching her, especially the Captain and Calodan, who knew her best. Now she longed to simply be alone in her quarters. She knew the new Lieutenant meant well though.

"Thanks, Counselor. And as long as I'm off duty, you can call me Davynn. I don't mind."
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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:12 pm Post subject:

"I guess the party is over then. It was a good time Captain, but I think I am going to go and help Commander Qech and Lt. Lioy with Mr. Uvek." He finished his drink and set it on the table and then followed the ladies out of the holodeck.

"Let me lend a hand too Davynn. Im the cause for his current state and you're carrying 2 already." He stepped in and took her load. It definitely looked strange. The two female officers had changed back into their uniforms when they left the holodeck but he was still in his suit. "Great party by the way Lt. Lioy. It was definitely a fun time."
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Captain David Brennon · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:19 pm Post subject:

The Captain watched the festivities -- and the relaxed behavior of his crew -- from a safe distance. Brennon tried to maintain a professional distance between himself and the Crew, leaving the socializing to his rather friendly First Officer. He did help himself to a slice or three of cake, somehow succeeding in keeping his dress whites perfectly clean in spite of the Chocolate.

At the point where their Romulan tactical officer became a little... too friendly, the Captain couldn't help himself but remind the intoxicated Romulan, "Lieutenant, I'd slow down a little. You're on Alpha Shift tomorrow morning."

As the party began to break up and several officers aided Uvek in returning to his quarters, the Captain called out after them, mostly to Qech and Calodan, "You may want to stop by sickbay, see if Doctor Kiv can help de-tox him, I don't want him to be manning the phasers at the same time he's nursing a hangover."

Smiling as he left, he couldn't help but having noticed the very close call Qech had made. It was a concern to be sure, though he was also sure that Davynn would come to him if she needed help. What were friends for after all.
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uvek · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject:

(OOC: Thanks for the diversion! I think I'll let it lie here for Uvek...Soborol and T'Lau can deal with him in the morning! LOL...nice thread, thanks again)...
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Live a life of action...not reaction.

Davynn Qech · Graphics Chief Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 809

"Let me lend a hand too Davynn. Im the cause for his current state and you're carrying 2 already."

"That's right you are" she said, letting Calodan take the limp Romulan. "You know, you are a terrible influence." She shook her head in a faux-disapproving manner, and turned as she heard the Captain call after them.

"You may want to stop by sickbay, see if Doctor Kiv can help de-tox him, I don't want him to be manning the phasers at the same time he's nursing a hangover."

Qech pointed toward sickbay. "Left turn then. And thank you for the party, Lieutenant. I had a lot of fun as well."

Until I almost killed myself with a bottom feeder.
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Aria · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Counselor. And as long as I'm off duty, you can call me Davynn. I don't mind."

"All right, Davynn. And when we're off duty, feel free to call me Aria."

It wasn't long until Lieutenant Calodan hurried forward and took Qech's place in supporting Uvek. Aria cursed to herself. She'd been hoping to talk to the first officer, but with a third party present it would be awkward, probably impossible. Besides, by the way Qech quickly disentangled herself and stepped back, it seemed pretty clear that she didn't want to talk. Aria reminded herself that she was new. There wasn't any particular reason the other woman shoud want to talk to her. Yet. It pained her to know that she couldn't really do her job as counselor until people grew to trust her.

Still, it wouldn't do to try and force things. That would do much more harm than good.

Great party by the way Lt. Lioy. It was definitely a fun time."

"You're welcome," she said to Calodan. "And as I was saying to Commander Q...ah...Davynn here, feel free to call me Aria."

Left turn then. And thank you for the party, Lieutenant. I had a lot of fun as well."

"Great. I'm glad to know it went off so well." She glanced in the direction the other woman gestured. "Good to know. I've only been here a day or two. I might've accidentally brought him to the Team Room. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled goodbye to Qech.

She and Calodan led Uvek in silence for a few paces before she spoke again. "Excuse me if it seems I'm prying, but was something wrong? I was getting...a strange vibe."
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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:03 am Post subject:

"You're welcome," she said to Calodan. "And as I was saying to Commander Q...ah...Davynn here, feel free to call me Aria." "Great. I'm glad to know it went off so well." She glanced in the direction the other woman gestured. "Good to know. I've only been here a day or two. I might've accidentally brought him to ten-forward. I guess I'll see you tomorrow." "Excuse me if it seems I'm prying, but was something wrong? I was getting...a strange vibe."

Calodan shouldered a bit more of the weight of the quite drunk Romulan. He decided to remember that Rye whiskey had a very exaggerated effect on his species. "Well..Aria...when we're off duty its Jim. No one gets Arjim right so I just shortened it. As for Commander Qech...she's had a bit of a rough time. I won't get too far into specifics as that's her business..but she's experienced a lot of loss lately. We were both joined under emergency situations, it makes it hard to integrate. I have it easy..the Calodan symbiont is pretty accepting of new folks. I think that the Qech's are a fiestier bunch. She's been having trouble keeping track of herself lately." They arrived at sickbay and walked through the doors.

"Dr. Kiv, Mr. Uvek over indulged a little. Apparently Rye Whiskey and Romulan physiology react poorly together."
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Aria · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:32 am Post subject:

We were both joined under emergency situations, it makes it hard to integrate.

"I'm not sure I understand," Aria said with a frown. "I guess I don't know enough about the Trill. What do you mean by 'hard to integrate'? Is she having some sort of problem with her symbiant, like the body rejecting a kidney? That would be a problem indeed, on top of a pregnancy."
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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:06 am Post subject:

After handing Mr. Uvek off to a very upset looking Dr. Kiv, Calodan opened the door for Lt. Lioy and followed her out of sickbay.

"It's not quite like the rejection of an organ. I can't really tell you much about Commander Qech's situation, but I can give you a bit of background on the Trill and myself and maybe that will help."

As they walked down the corridors, this deck was relatively quiet. The changeover to Gamma shift had already happened so most of the Beta shift staff were on a dinner break or in their quarters. Alpha shift was still in their beds.

"Aria, as a Betazoid you can hear other's thoughts, correct? Having a symbiont is a bit like that...but...well..no its nothing like that. I was joined to the Calodan symbiont as an emergency. I'm half human and a VERY unlikely candidate. Unfortunately..and fortunately for me...we were too far away from Trill or any other likely host when Elzira was killed. Thankfully my biology leans more towards my father's side then my mother's...he's an unjoined Trill. When we were first joined...it was like murmurs in my head. Other people talking to me. Elzira first..then the others. Imagine 5 people trying to get to know you in the most intimate ways possible...all at once. It is very confusing. Thankfully, all the past incarnations of Calodan were very friendly. It made it easier to integrate them into me."

He paused to make sure she was understanding him. Trill psychology was not something easy to follow. "Anyways, when you join..things change for you. It's part of why we change our names. I was Arjim Retlan...now I'm Arjim Calodan. I'm still who I was..but Im also someone else. Things have changed. I used to be tone deaf..but Elzira was a musician and now I love the piano. I understand what it is like to be a parent...from both sides of the equation. I even understand what it was like to live before the Trills were widely understood."

"Sometimes, a symbiont and a host don't..mesh well. It is rare, but can be aggravated by trauma or stress. Things start to come a little..unglued. When I was first joined, I would forget things about myself. I tried to sit in the Captain's chair on the bridge one time...that was a bad mistake. If you have other dominant personalities in you...they can start to take hold. I believe one of Commander Qech's past host's loved seafood..shellfish in particular. The Commander is very allergic. I've noticed other things too..flickers of other people tugging at her. There are ceremonies on Trill that can help..but we're so far away. The most notable is called a zhian'tara..where with the help of a Trill mystic our past selves leave us and are inhabited for a short time in the bodies of our closest friends. It is...freeing and often illuminating."

They arrived at the door to his quarters. "Well, this is me. I'm sorry I talked your ear off Lieutenant. Half of what I've told you is just based on stories I heard as a kid and stuff I learned while on a sabbatical on Trill. There is plenty in the medical database on Trill psychology I'm sure." He keyed the door open and smiled at Aria. "Thank you for a great party."
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Aria · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:31 am Post subject:

"It must be very hard," Aria mused. "Even under the best of circumstances, to become a joined Trill. It remakes you as a person. That's got to be jolting. Confusing. It must have been very hard for you."

She listened to his description of the problems that could arise, then thought on his words. "I feel for Commander Qech," she said at last. "It sounds as if she's going through something very difficult...and all the duties of a Star Fleet officer on top of it. I want to do what I can to help. But she strikes me as the sort of person who would be reluctant to open up." She thought for a moment more.

"What about this ritual?" she asked as Calodan began to enter his room. "I know we're far from Trill, but maybe we could cobble a substitute together? We could use the holodeck to create the environment, and I'm sure she has friends enough. Would that be possible? Even if it doesn't work in the traditional way, going through the motions might relax her subconscious. After all, I'm sure the symbiont has gone through this zhian'tara before."

She trailed off, and ducked her head, suddenly self-conscious. "Of course, I don't know the Commander very well, and I wouldn't want to spring something like that on her if it would make her uncomfortable. Perhaps it's a bad idea."
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ArjimCalodan · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:44 am Post subject:

"A joining is hard under the best of circumstances. There are always one or two emergency joinings a year...more as Trill's venture further from home. Davynn and I are two of those 'emergencies'. The symbiont is the most important thing to a joined Trill. Even if I die, as long as Calodan lives on I'll live on with him. That means in an emergency..I have to be prepared to sacrifice myself for him. This means we have a lot of responsibilities weighing on us at all times...and Commander Qech being pregnant and responsible for a child and her symbiont and then the crew...it has to be draining."

"I mentioned a zhian'tara to her. She didn't seem all that enthusiastic..but maybe is a counselor suggested it she might be. As for getting her to open up...we've been serving together for over 6 months and she and I are friends..but I don't think she's opened up to me. I know some of what she went through..she lost someone very close to her in the riots on Trill and I know some of her past..mainly because of my own snooping. If you could get her to talk..it might help her...or at least get her to blow off some steam. She and the Captain both seem very bottled up."

He paused and was clearly uncomfortable. He chewed on the inside of his cheek before continuing. "There is some history between those two. Something that as the ship's counselor, morale officer, and diplomatic officer you should possibly look into." He realized how that sounded and held up his hands "Not that I'm telling you how to do your job! You seem to be doing a great job of it already. You've got the Second Officer spilling his guts...not that that is hard to do with me." He yawned and covered his mouth. "I hate to dump all this on you and then run, but I have Alpha shift in the morning and then Im in command of Gamma tomorrow night. I need to get some rest or the Captain will have two officers not working to their best tomorrow. Goodnight Aria."
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Aria · Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:11 am Post subject:

She smiled at him. "Goodnight, Jim. Don't feel awkward about opening up. I'm glad we got this chance. If you ever need to talk about your own life, feel free to come knocking. My door's always open."

She stepped back. "Well, I won't keep you then. Pleasant dreams."

She walked away, thinking about all he'd told her. She wondered just how she'd deal with the problems he'd presented her with. A yawn of her own cut her off mid-thought.

Well, perhaps she'd get some sleep and worry about it in the morning. It wasn't her job to fix everything in one night, after all. And tomorrow they'd be bracing the Friekien problem...
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