Of Two Minds

Posted on 23 Oct 2013 @ 7:42pm by Lieutenant JG Tykhin Vess & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Nesh Saalm & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm

1,157 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 04 - 1150 hrs

[ON]

The doors to Sickbay swished open and Tykhin walked in. He glanced around and noticed the doctors were busy with patients. Walking further in, he saw what he came for. He had checked to see if Captain Saalm was awake a number of times in the last 24 hours. She was the first of the crew to have her assimilation reversed and he had some questions. He also saw that she had some guests.

Tykhin straightened his uniform jacket approached to a respectful distance and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, ma'am?" he said quietly.

Laying on the biobed in sickbay, Lirha had been dozing in and out of consciousness the past hour or so ever since Siren and Nesh had showed up to keep her company. She had resigned herself to a few more hours in the medical bay before she could be released, and now her eyes slowly opened when she heard an unfamiliar voice nearby. Her eyes darted around and set sight on a dark haired gray-collared man with whom she was unfamiliar. "Hello, lieutenant." she quietly replied after identifying the pips on his collar.

"Tykhin Vess, off the Venture, ma'am. Forgive me for bothering you," he said gently with an apologetic smile that took in Nesh and Siren, as if to forestall objections and concern. Tykhin came to stand near the edge of the biobed where Lirha could see him easily. "I won't ask how you're doing... And I'm so sorry for what happened to you. I'm sure Lt. Markov will debrief you later, but do you think you could handle a couple of questions right now? It could give us an edge with the enemy."

"...Questions?" she repeated, somewhat surprised at the inquiring nature of the junior officer. She was not exactly in the best state to be answering any inquiries, and she still felt terribly tired. "Regarding what, exactly?" she quietly asked.

"Regarding what you experienced. There are others who are still affected," Tykhin nodded slightly in the direction of the surgical suites. "I need to know if they are aware at any level, and if they can... hear or understand the enemy," he explained.

Siren stood up, placing herself distinctly between him and the Captain, blocking the view. She folded her arms and lifted her chin, her dark red hair falling forward down over her shoulders with the motion. "Questions can wait," she said firmly, holding his eyes. "There's several first hand accounts." The tone was clear; back off and leave Lirha alone.

Tykhin made his face and tone soften, though he felt irritated. He was too tired for this. "I understand you want to protect your Captain, I really do, crewman. But we're still in danger," he said as gently as he could. "I'm a telepath," Tykhin said and gestured towards the other crew waiting to be treated. "If they can understand the Borg right now, then they could be the bridge that gives us vital information. "But only Captain Saalm knows if it's possible."

"No, you leave her alone, now!" Nesh said, frowning as she looked at the man. She pushed herself up, moving to stand beside Siren, her jaw set tightly with her anger. She was tired. She had seen hell and more and almost lost her sister. She was not in the mood. "Ask Commander Blake, or go and see the spooks. She's got nothing to say to you. Review the computer logs."

Tykhin took a breath. "I am the spooks," Tykhin said apologetically, patiently. "And I'm really trying to help. The Captain got us this far... Now let's get her out of this safely. Can we do that together?" he asked the two women with the slightest of affirmative nods.

"No," Nesh said, shaking her head. "No. And I don't know you and I don't trust you as a result. Siren can ask questions without distressing my sister. We don't need you to come and poke in..." she frowned and folded her arms across her chest, but given her age and posture, her frown looked almost like a sulk.

"I think that is a very wise idea," Tykhin said, trying to be reassuring. "Crewman? No details, nothing like that. Just ask if she was aware and could understand them."

Lirha listened to the verbal exchange as long as she could but her fatigue eventually washed over her and her eyes began to flutter closed. She sleepily reached out with her pale green hand and gently squeezed her sister's fingertips in reassurance, then touched the back of Siren's leg to reassure her. Her mind was having trouble processing all of the commotion.

"Later," Siren said softly to him, reaching to stroke Lirha's hair back gently. "As you can see, the Captain isn't well enough yet. I'm Intelligence too, Lieutenant, you can rest assured I want to get to the bottom of this too, but the Captain would have told us anything we should know. And the rest will have to wait until she's well enough."

Tykhin smiled and nodded. "Crewman, can I speak with you for a moment?" The inflection made it a question, but when Siren looked, something in his expression made it clear it wasn't. Tykhin led her toward a collapsed bulkhead, away from Lirha and Nesh. He put his back to the room so only Siren could see his expression.

Tykhin's face darkened and the smile disappeared. His patience was at an end. "I don't know what is wrong with you, Crewman, but you will pull it together right now. This is Starfleet, damn it" he whispered harshly. "You are letting your personal feelings interfere with your duties and it is putting this crew at unnecessary risk. I'm not asking you interrogate the Captain, but I am ordering you to find out from her whether she could hear or understand Borg communications, right now. and message your report to my PADD immediately afterward."

The lieutenant's expression suddenly transformed into one of polite concern. He turned his back on Siren and walked out of Sickbay at a quick pace.

"Five hells," he cursed under his breath in the hallway.

"I know where I am, thank you!" Siren called after him, giving a casual salute from her temple. She watched as the door closed, folding her arms and arching an eyebrow. Officers. She rolled her eyes with irritation as she moved back to the others. If and when she submitted a report, it would be to her Chief. And when and if she was ready. She stroked down Lirha's cheek before looking to Nesh. "No worries," she said with a light voice before watching Lirha's closed eyes with a slight frown.

[OFF]

--

CAPT Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

Nesh Saalm
Captain's sister
USS Galileo

CN Siren Hex
Intelligence
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Scarlet Blake]

LTJG Tykhin Vess
Intelligence
USS Venture

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