Star Trek: Starbase 777

The ring was, well, a ring, in the middle of the stands, where all of the circus performances would take place. It was covered in sand, and on the far end, a man in a hook-nosed mask was sat, looking at the investigators with a cocked head, gaze unflinching by virtue of the mask being unable to blink.

"Excuse me!" Kirio stepped over and into the ring. "Are you Lord Janus? Or do you know where we might find them?"

The figure readjusted their position on the edge of the ring, chuckling at the question. "No, me? No, I'm afraid you've got the wrong person," they said, laughing. "Lord Janus should be around here somewhere, I think he's talking to Dala right now. You can ask me questions, though! Ask me a question?"

"Oh, okay then!" Kirio moved in and sat a little bit away from the contortionist, their PADD in both hands. "Kirio Mizax, Starfleet Security. We're here investigating a missing person's case. Said missing person was found with you all. Can I ask your name and how long you've been with the circus?"

"Oh, welcome! Starfleet Security, that's an important job! Very important indeed," the contortionist said, nodding emphatically. "They call me The Spider. Not just Spider, mind you, I'm The Spider. I've been with the circus for... I want to say two years, now? Coming up on my second anniversary, I think."

He stood off to the side and watched with interest. This contortionist seemed nice!

"The Spider, got it.." Kirio nodded, hoping for an actual name instead of a stage name, but these performer types were obviously very secretive. If it wasn't clear by their masks. There was at least one person on the station who checked both boxes, after all. "How did you stumble on the circus?"

"Oh, I don't remember," The Spider relayed cheerfully. "I must have seen it where I was living before, and asked to join. That's usually how these things go." They didn't seem all that bothered by it.

"You... don't remember. Do you remember where you were living before, at least? Or, ah, a legal name, maybe?" Kirio pressed further, brows knitting together in quiet concern. (edited)

"Oh, nothing of the sort. I'm not missing much, if I'm honest. The circus is my solace!" They cackled at their own joke. "Oh, I'm sorry. No, I don't remember. I'm... human, for the most part. So I'm most likely from within the Federation. I can't help you much more than that, though."

3

Four looked over to the Contortionist. They tilted their head. Their intrigue piqued. They bowed to the Contortionist. Their golden eyes focused on them with interest as the borg implants began to blink and light up. "We may be able to identify you if you could show us your face. We can take some scans and interface with a terminal in order to search for the specifics of your species if you so desire. However, without a legal name nor personal identity this may be a difficult process. We hope this is amenable with you. If not, we will continue our investigation with your stage name given as a reference." Four said with a monotone and consistent cadence. They weren't exactly trusting of most people unless they were able to modify their functions. Their time spent outside of the Borg Collective informed their perception of other sentient beings. It wasn't ever typically positive.

What! "You don't have to do that if you don't want to," Kirio hastily emphasized. Just to be safe.

"Oh, that's a tad... presumptuous, I'm afraid. I will not be taking off the mask! Thank you for the offer, but I am quite happy being The Spider." The Spider didn't seem mad at the offer, simply declining it politely.

"Do you know if you have a history of bad memory, or.." Kirio paused, then shook their head. "Sorry. You don't have to answer that. I just — am trying to wrap my head around everything, that's all."

Four nodded. "Your response is logged and acknowledged." Four then looked around the circus ring and seemed a tad confused. They hadn't been in such an area like this. It was all rather...colorful. Four took a mental picture of the Contortionists face and began to take notes. "Hm..." Four wasn't all too insightful but they were trained in tactics. They lolee to the Contortionist. "Do you by chance have a map of this tent? We would assume you do not due to your entire present memory being associated with it, but we believe it best to ask rather than assume, or, if you could tell us where to get one, we would go and do so. We would also be amenable to a verbal map. If you are open to such an exchange, and we do not mind a trade if it is necessary."

Well, not the contortionist's face, really... The mask obscured everything but the eyes, which were brown. "Well, I've not forgotten anything- no, wait, that's a lie, I take- well, no matter. I have not forgotten anything major since joining the circus." Then The Spider turned to Four. "A map, what do you need the map for? It's a circular space, we're in the ring right now. Around us are the stands, where the audience sits. Above us are the rafters, which are not in use right this moment due to Mathra's accident, and behind us," they pointed to the side, where curtains obscured where normally the performers would enter the ring from, "is prop storage and the way to the performer's rooms."

Fighting the urge to facepalm, Kirio sighed. "A map won't be necessary, thank you, I'm sorry."

After a little bit of following, Jenaha found herself on the ring of the circus herself! "G'day." The Betazoid greeted as she approached the group. "Jenaha Sul. Station Chief of Security. I'm here with them. I heard most of the convo on the way here." Jena said warmly as she stood next to Kirio, empathically understanding the facepalming urge in general before she turned to The Spider. * "It's very nice to meet The Spider himself." *the COS said warmly. "If it's okay to ask. Do you remember how Mathra's accident happened?"

"Also, are Security officers allowed to go up the rafters later, to check them?" he piped up after Jenaha. "You know, to see if they're fine and dandy and aren't mysteriously messed with or-- something!"

Ooh, yeah, good shout. They hadn't thought of that. Kirio nodded to them both, grateful at least someone was trying to help.

Jena simply gave Kirio a thumbs up.

1

Syrax just kept vibing, unaware that he did something.

1

"Oh, feel free to go up there, but be aware we don't have a safety net right now. I'm pretty sure one of the springs failed or something, and Mathra just fell right through. I think they're trying to fix it now," The Spider said, pointing once more to the curtain that led to prop storage. "I don't think it'd been messed with at all, because contrary to what you might believe, we do enjoy our circus having trained and professional performers who are able to put on regular shows. Nobody in their right mind would sabotage that." What The Spider said lined up with everything else about the circus, right down to the doctors they said they employed to deal with accidents and injuries. This circus didn't want anyone meddling with their business, and that seemed to be a universal sentiment.

"Hey, I didn't say you guys did anything," he stretched his lips in a wide, dimpled smile in response, playing along. "If anything, foul play in your case would be very out of norm and scary, no? Better get that checked as soon as possible, and our Security personnel will make sure of that!"

"Alright. We could tell them to stop and take a break for now so we can investigate if the safety net and the rafters just to be sure. Couldn't hurt to check regardless." Jena said as she looked up at the rafters and the area leading to the prop storage.

"Yeah, we will! One second though." Kirio scooched off to the side, waving Jena over so they could have little chat really quick.

Four looked to the Spider and nodded. "We thank you for the general layout of the tent. We are a Tactical officer and trained in Small Unit Tactics among other things. It is best for us to know the layout of the tent for the better facilitation of our function." Four then stood and began to look to the other sections of the tent. They hoped they would be ordered to do something. They weren't exactly good at things on their own of their own volition. They weren't too used too thinking.

Jena nodded and walked over to Kirio. "Need anything, Lieutenant?"

"They don't remember anything before they came to the circus, and they haven't had any memory issues since, from what they told me," Kirio whispered, showing Jena their notes from the questionings. "No name, no birthplace, nothing. Isn't that— I don't know, weird..?"

The Spider held up their hands in mock surrender. "Hey, you guys have fun with that! I'm just saying, I don't think you'll find anything. The ankylosaurus over there keeps people out very effectively," they said, pointing to the stands, where the Oni had been before but couldn't be seen now. "Ankylosaurus" likely wasn't their actual stage name, but instead a nickname The Spider had given them.

3

"I don't sense any controlling presence on him, and his answers, from what I've heard so far, seem to be genuine." Jena answered Kirio as she looked down at their notes. "I may not be a psychologist, but there are cases where people do genuinely forget those details from a neurological disorder... have you asked him if he has taken any medications since joining the circus?"

"Well, no, because it's not really my business to ask something like that. I don't think The Spider is up to something, I just..." Kirio frowned. "I don't know. I can't help but think we should talk to more people and look into it maybe." A pause, then hastily added "Sir."

"That's probably for the best. The Spider's already given us what he could remember from recent memory, that's what matters. You're doing a good job." Jena said as she gave them a comforting pat on the shoulder. "It's a good idea to look at different perspectives to get closer to the truth.. Speaking of, wait here." Jena said calmly as she walked back over to The Spider. "Just curious, was there anyone else assigned to be up in the rafters with Mathra? Or was she on her own? We think they at least should have a closer view on what might have happened during her accident."

!!! Approval!!!! Holy shit!!!! "Thank you sir," they said quietly. Detective things were proving helpful after all?

The Spider shrugged. "I mean, the acrobats were practicing, so they would have all been closer to it than most of us. You don't tend to look around you much when you're hanging from a trapeze though, let me tell you. You look at where your hands are, and when you let go, you look at where you want to go. I don't think any of them will have any more insight than what I've given you."

Four looked to the other officers and they seemed to have it handled. So, as they typically did they waited for any orders to be given. They stopped thinking and just stood. "Engage survey protocol." Four then stood on a swivel and kept their focus around themselves. Just to make sure that there weren't any threats or to potentially see something that could be of use to the investigation.

Jena, being a betazoid, could sense Kirio's joy from the approval, it was nice they got the little confidence boost. "Well it's a good start anyway. They would be looking around while waiting for their cue to go off though, Thank you for your help."* Jena said to The Spider with a warm smile before she walked back to the others.* "Right. I think we'll cover more ground here if we split up a little bit." The COS suggested with a shrug as she looked around the tent before turning over to see where Four was.. "Since we both have cybernetic implants, Me and Four can check the rafters to investigate for signs of damage or foul play up there. Probably for the best that less people go up there for now anyway." Jena stated as she turned to look at the others. "The rest of you can check out the props storage to checkout the safety net if it's there. Also try asking the other performers if you can if they have noticed anything strange going on, or if they were able to see how the accident happened exactly." Jena added, pointing over to the props room. Splitting the party usually works in good favor.. "That's essentially the plan for now. Any questions or other suggestions?" (edited)

Four shook their head. They bowed to Jenhana before they walked along side her. "No suggestions or questions, Lieutenant Commander. We are at your service." They said before they stood at attention and waited for Jenaha to move towards the rafters. Keeping their survey protocol ongoing due to their given orders.

"Yessir, but I really don't — hm." A pause. "I don't think this accident was foul play at all. I think this missing person's case should be our priority right now. It is what we were called for..." (edited)

Rozamal hummed with a nod. “I am more than fine to investigate the props area.”

"Right. Sorry got a bit carried away there." Jena nodded to Kirio with a chuckle. "Back on focus. Lord Janus might either be in the prop storage or the rooms where the other performers are if he's not here. Their performers only place, I guess. most likely the latter though. So we could start there." (edited)

Erra, having followed the group wherever she was needed the whole time, of course, simply documented the findings on her PADD per protocol to provide in a security report once the whole thing had settled down. Other than that, she was quiet, and awaited orders. Jeez... this circus was sus... circ-sus... she didn't know. She looked to Jena for direction on where to head.

2

Essen was also there for the ride! But she stayed quiet too. Better to have a clear-minded little shit than an angsty one. Oh well. Unlike her mother, Essen wasn't writing any of this down, rather observing silently. Until now, of course. "Mind if I tag along with my mother and the rest of you, sir?" Essen asked Jena politely.

"Hm? Sure! No worries mate. I didn't notice you both were related." Jena's eye twitched a bit upon telepathically sensing the 'circ-sus' pun, but she looked at the both of them with a warm smile either way.

1

Finally Erra spoke up, with Essen having done so first. Well, the resemblance wasn't the most obvious unless you put Essen and Erra's faces side by side, so she didn't blame Jena. "Essen and I can take the prop storage and report back what we find, sir. And anyone else who wants to join us in that area, of course!'

He nodded to the Lieutenant Commander's words: "Go there, ask what they might know about the missing person and the Janus guy, and also see if said guy is in there. Look at the net as a side-quest. Aight, I think I got it!" He looked at the newcomers curiously. Jenaha did just tell all of them to go there-- well. Maybe they missed that part, or something. He also had a nagging feeling he knew these two from somewhere. " I think we're good to go, then?"

The Spider, meanwhile, had taken the time to leave, tumbling gracelessly over the wall around the ring and whistling all the way into the stands, where they disappeared into the darkness.

Essen nodded in Syrax's direction -- before she looked at the guy and paused. "You're the... the guy from the silly parasite! I knew I had seen you somewhere! Ah well. It's good to see you again!" Before she looked to Jena. "Alright. Mom and I will keep in touch, sir!" It was rather awkward saying 'Mom' when talking about her mother in front of senior officers, but---wait. where did the Spider go? She looked around, having noticed the Spider was gone.

"Looks like our friend took their leave," Erra said, also noticing the Spider was gone. "We'll keep an eye out for any other friends too, sir."

"Essentially yeah." Jena answered Syrax. Wow there are a lot more people here than she expected. "Right! time to get a move on, crew!" and with that, Jena led the way to the props room cos that probably leads to the performers rooms. Damn The Spider's exit was cool. (edited)

"Aye, sir!" Erra replied. "Come on, Essen," Erra said to Essen, before she followed Jena!

Essen nodded and followed Erra and Jena! To the prop room! (edited)

Four followed behind the Lieutenant Commander due to the next order given. "On your six, Lieutenant Commander." Four said before they continued their survey of their surroundings as they walked.

1

Deciding against commenting, he followed the crew to the storage.