Star Trek: Starbase 777 - lt-cdr-hayes﹢lt-cdr-rakim

To: Lt.Cdr. Rakim From: Cdr. Sadhbh Ní Dhúill Re: Formal request for compassionate leave. Good morning, Following a review of your submitted paperwork I am authorizing your leave effective immediately. Should you need access to a shuttle please route the request to me. I wish you luck during this time and want to remind you that counseling is available should you need it upon your return. Safe Travels. - Cdr. Sadhbh Ní Dhúill - Deputy Commander Starbase 777.

Rakim marked the message as read and received before he then arranged himself transport off of the station via a old freighter contact of his. Once the arranging of this was finished, Rakim then indulged in a spot of cooking as he sought some way to calm himself down, cooking one of his more effective methods for doing so in the past. By the end of his time cooking, Rakim had firmly gone overboard having cooked a collection of apple pies and a tart. Something which then proceeded to lead to a conversation conducted on the chatroom. A conversation that, once it had ended, caused him to pack up two of the pies. These pies now destined for other quarters and the people there in who'd asked for them.

[PADD] To: Lieutenant Commander Rakim From: Lieutenant Vara'l Tr'Hara Subject: Re: Regarding the talk with Telim Thank you very much for your message, these books will be perfect for Telim. Its really appreciated and I'm sure he'll want to thank you too should we see you around! Thank you again. Vara'l Tr'Hara

[D] Cross-legged upon a matt in his quarters an El-Aurian can be found as one day closed upon it final hours. A lone silent statue picked out in the soft light of the items settled onto the old matt in front of him, carefully positioned upon woven El-Aurian script decorations that happened to poked out into view between the frame of his knees. All things that came together in a view concealed to the one who had so carefully set it up as kept his eyes firmly closed. Kept them closed as he mouthed words he'd refused to mouth for quite some time. As he prayed and in doing so, meditated. Meditated on recent events and upon the past, tried to touch upon what memories he felt comfortable enough to reach for of planets of places.. of people. Of her. Prayed for those he had lost, prayed the one he'd found. Meditated settled upon that mental 'bench' as he glimpsed those parts of the tapestry of his past not locked away behind doors forged of willpower. Prayed for a time before, as exhaustion placed its soft hand upon his shoulder, he blinked it all away and returned each item to its careful place. The matt concealed within a tight fit bag designed to look like it was made of leather that was itself quietly concealed.

[D] A good while into the following day after another bout of stress cooking which joined the serried ranks of incidents of the aforementioned phenomenon, scones of two types then proceeded to appear in the communal area of the quarters. Alongside the scones would be found a simple note should someone have decided to inspect said addition to the area.

To be eaten, free to take.

The reverse of said note something that contained a carefully noted down list of ingredients.

[D] It'd be a short time after the scones when Rakim proceeded to get on the chatroom again, a PADD settled on his lap with messages from his eldest called up on it as he used another PADD for the chatroom and rested on his bed.

[D] Rakim snapped awake as he heard a disturbance in his room and was presented to the audio aftermath of an event of the type described in #current-situation that'd just occurred nearby. Namely the disruption of some electronics as a ghost passed. A disruption that'd caused a pop that'd echoed loud enough to snap him into a wakeful state as his heartrate raced its way into a fight or flight response. One he channelled with effort into pushing away the elements of tiredness that still marred his mind even with the fight or fight response before he started to sweep his room with his gaze as he remained stock still. Remaining still until he was satisfied he happened to be alone in the room Satisfied he was alone, Rakim slipped off of his bad and started to throw on his uniform.

Once in his uniform, Rakim affixed his combadge in its proper place and proceeded to dash to the door to his quarters before he moved into the corridor and raced off to find his way to his duty post. Given the power surges, he clutched his tricorder as he ran, he fully intended to scan the turbolifts before he risked one. If he didn't like what he heard he'd already decided he'd try the jeffries tubes.

[D] Staring at a message that had arrived from his son, Rakim allowed himself to lean back a bit within his now quarters, newly re-organized following what had happened during the ghosts. The message on the screen, prominent as it glowed on the old PADD it had arrived on something that picked out his features within the dark room. Put them into a stark relief as his eyes shined a bit. Shined as he looked at the message from his son, the picture that had accompanied it and wondered just how he would respond to it. Respond to a message that happened in some ways seem to him like it in a way...looked for support regarding how they looked. Support his wife had happened to have been brilliant at where.. he wasn't. He didn't know how one happened to formulate messages that weren't spoken in a manner that happened to support someone who'd gone through utter hell and now happened to look at themselves and wonder what he wondered in his message.. Hell, he didn't know where to start.

To: Lieutenant Commander Rakim From: 7, your son. [IMAGE ATTACHED] It was good to talk with you again father and to recieve your most recent message. Hope this finds you in good health and i'm..happy to hear you too are making friends. While I know that mother was the one with the fashion sense in the past, that being in a chunk memory you'll be happy to hear has returned to me, I hoped you might give me your view on how I look in this. I'm conscious you rather outstrip me in years of experience, perhaps also when it comes to dates too so hoped you'd be willing to provide some input. Also. I'm thinking about taking a name. Perhaps my old one or a new one. Not sure 7 is enough of a name.

13:38

Rakim stared at the message for a bit longer before he started to look at the chatroom.

[D] Another shift completed and aware that a sleepover had been arranged, Rakim had headed to his room after he initially headed in the direction of the lounge and realized.. he'd been about to turn up in full uniform. Not something that exactly fitted with the whole 'sleepover' atmosphere that, unless for some strange reason that sleep over happened to be one that involved trying to sleep in uniform. He had yet to encounter any that happened to be like that. Least he'd not encountered any like that that he happened to still remember. Probably a good indication that if there had been any like that he'd attended, they'd been so boring he'd clean forgotten all about them. Not something he concerned himself about that much. Wasn't something he considered important in the fact of recent times spent during his free time alone or talking as he plumped the unpleasant past stored in his mind. That past that concealed so many good things too. A distinctly anti-social time, he had had recently when he happened to not be on shift. Par for the course when you happened to have a lot to work through. A century to work through. That and spending free time doing other things other than meditating as well, some time spent as he'd gone off and baked a bit and some more spent as he'd tried out something called Leg-go. Tried it out as he'd replicated a box of it and had tried to make a kit. Tried and mostly succeeded, if it wasn't for one missing brick which he happened to find with a bare foot as he slipped off his work boots and had stood up as he'd started to search for his casual boots. "Goddess's fury!" He gasped in surprise.

Never mind what had happened with the Kon-Tiki or the fact he'd happened to loose one or two rather old PADDs to that. This, this was what happened to darken his day a tad today. Darken it for the moment it took between his reaction to having stepped on what he'd stepped on and the moment when he then retrieved the brick. Retrieved it and delivered it to its propper place before he resumed getting changed. This process conducted in silence as he slipped out of the uniform and into pair of green pants and a cream long sleeved shirt with a pair of plain black travel boots. Casual clothes to what remained of his day in, a look in the mirror all that followed before he departed his quarters again, no destination presently held in mind as he walked out.

[D] Mid a conversation on the chatroom, Rakim heard the soft ping of a message recieved notification from his PADD. The pad then being idly checked by him as he attempted to split his attention between both the chatroom and the PADD message.

From: Your son. Subject: Hey look what I found. Human history is intriguing dad, take a look at this. [Attachment]

What followed his pressing the link was a moment spent staring as he beheld what looked to be a stick bug as it danced away merrily after a logo that had appeared before it.. disappeared to reveal it.

15:17

"...What" Was all he then managed before he proceeded to fire off a message in reply to his sons antics that amounted to a confused emoji followed by a laughing face.

[D] Rakims personal PADD chirped several times as he finished up another day of work once again settled into his quarters for a cup of human coffee and a cake. Interested, especially given the day it was, Christmas, Rakim picked up the PADD and called up his inbox. Once he'd called it up and spotted a unread message, Rakim opened the message with a simple tap and a soft hum as he sipped his coffee. Sipped it and read.

To: Lieutenant Commander Rakim (No surname on file) From: Vechayev Colony, Vechayev Refugee database. Subject: Update notice. Dear Rakim, I hope you'll forgive our reaching out like this but following investigation into information on the database and the discovery of the fact you were in fact still alive we felt it proper to update you on a development regarding the information you provided us quite some time ago. Please find the update attached below formatted according to protocol. Information prior to update Mirkya Daughter of Josaar. Presumed dead (Fall of El-Aurian) Relations: Spouse: Rakim Son of Farren. Children: Ill'raya (Daughter) 7 of 1 (One Alias) Son)) Updated information: Missing, presumed assimilated. Evidence for change: [FILES ATTACHED] Should you have any questions about this information update or wish to dispute it, please reach out to this address. Best wishes and Merry Christmas, Alexandros Vessa, Refugee Database Administrator

Rakim stared at the PADD message for a moment before, with a smash as the coffee mug slipped from his hands and broke on the floor, he proceeded to break into a spate of swearing as he burned his leg. "Ah goddess, stupid " He surged upright then and turned his focus from that matter as he looked for a rag to dab at his trouser leg with.

[D] The advice of someone on the chatroom followed, Rakim looked for and then located the first aid kit in his quarters and after he retrieved a burn hypo, proceeded to treat his coffee burns. Once he'd treated it, Rakim cleared up the remains of the spill that hadn't ended up on his leg and then proceeded to place his PADD on a desk, the message still displayed on the screen.

[D] The announcer chimed after a while. "Lieutenant Commander Rakim, its Lieutenant Commander tr'Hara, mind if I pop my head in?" The voice queried as the Romulan waited outside of the room, the tone of his voice something he maintained at a level calm despite the concern he harboured for the strange El-Aurian he'd occasionally interacted with. "Just wanted to check in on you, make sure you're okay." He'd added after a moment as he waited for a response and shifted his weight from foot to foot.

After having spent some time in which he recovered himself in the face of the door chime and rapidly switched from his coffee stained trousers to something less stained, Rakim approached the door. The Romulans words listened to for a moment before he proceeded to say. "Come!" And tapped the door panel button that allowed access. As the door had then opened up, Rakim had proceeded to smile at the Romulan before he'd sheepishly proceeded to say. "Hello, I suppose you should come in, want a drink?"

[D] Vara'l entered the quarters and followed the El-Aurian to their private quarters area. Once there the two talked for a while and after some time, proceeded to get to the subject of a certain PADD message. The duo talked it through for a while as two off duty colleagues and eventually parted on good terms having resolved to meet again.

[D] The announcer on the door chimed once as someone proceeded to arrive outside of the door to Lieutenant Commander Lawson and Lieutenant Commander Rakim's quarters. After a moment passed, the door announcer chimed again.

Rakim, having slipped the PADD he used for chatroom conversations onto a desk in his room before he proceeded off toward the door. Once he reached it, the El-Aurian then pressed the button on the door control pad that opened the door. "Come." He said as he pressed it and idly wondered who it might have been that had happened to come to this door now. "Wonder who it i-" He'd then began before his voice was snatched away by the sight of the person on the other side of the door.

As the door opened to reveal his father, Seven of Ten allowed himself the small smile he happened to feel pull at him. "Hello Father, was passing through and...I hope you don't mind but I thought I might surprise you, even if I've arrived slightly too late for Christmas." He continued to smile then as he stepped closer and offered them a hug.

A hug that was accepted as Rakim embraced his son and guided him into the quarters. "I don't mind at all, this is brilliant, its good to see you!" The older El-Aurian declared with a warm grin as he broke from the embrace and proceeded over to the replicator. "How have you been, can I get you anything?" He asked as he gestured to the couch then as he moved and continued to smile. "Be it nutritional supplement, drink or cake?"

As he laughed a bit and was embraced by his father and allowed himself to be guided into his fathers quarters, the Liberated borg grinned. "It's very good to see you too, father!" He chuckled as he settled onto the couch , the warm smile firmly entrenched upon his features. "I've been doing better and better over time father and..I'd love some cake if you got any of that one you told me you'd been making" The El-Aurian chuckled then before he quickly amended his statement with a comment of. "Not too much of it though if thats alright, stomach's still working on...getting used to the richer foods." He sighed then as he relaxed into the couch. "Been working on it in between school and training."

Rakim grinned as he proceeded to, in the face of his sons comment, retrieve what happened to be left of the cake he'd made. That being a couple of slices, the cake having been slowly but surely demolished over time since its production as it accompanied cups of coffee and tea or was handed out slice by slice to others. "I've got a couple of slices left aye, i'll give you a smaller slice." He'd then proceeded to cut down one of the slices into something that might be easier tolerated. "..Training?" He then asked. "I heard that right...so" He paused. "Continuing with your medical training?" The El-Aurian smiled at that.

"Aye.. though I'm going a step further than previously, if the records of my intent from that period are anything to go on, I've decided to become a doctor." He informed his father as he smiled warmly. "I think I can do more good in that role than as a medic on one of the colonial freighters or Paramedic." Seven mused. "And..perhaps from there I might be able to get into Starfleet, if they'll accept recently updated qualifications that originated on a planet that's since fallen to the Borg.." He shrugged a bit then. "Still considering trying for it potentially, once I've completed my training with colonial medical." He'd then accepted the slice of cake when it was offered.

"I imagine they will accept it, especially with their having been updated and the like" He mused as they accepted the slice of cake, Rakim proceeded to get a slice of cake for himself before he placed that on the other side of the couch. Then, the El-Aurian retrieved two cups of tea and offered one to them to his son before he then said. "Following the colonial training and everything you'll certainly have modern practical experience to back it all up too.. and should you feel that Starfleet is the way for you I'm sure it'll work out...and should you need anything from me I'll be here."

[D] The two talked for quite some time about many things before nearing the end of the day, the two parted company with an agreement to meet again before Seven departed back to the colony.

Some time after his meeting with Seven, when the end of the work day arrived, Rakim headed back into his quarters and into his room before he got changed into something more casual. As he got changed, Rakim briefly paused as he spotted a old semi-packed away bundle of clothes. What he had managed to keep from an old blast damaged Starfleet uniform from a career he'd left behind. Something that caused him as he looked at the uniform, to frown as he mentally forced the brief whisper of traumatically remembered voices away. Tried to forget the screams. Tried to forget them as he started to consider again the prospect of disposing of all of what he'd held onto of that period, considered it as he tossed the uniform onto the desk. Decanted a PADD onto the bed after it too. The last message he'd opened something called up as the bounce jolted it. The words something that twisted his face in a grimace as he surged over to the bed and deactivated the PADD. The message on the PADD dying as the screen dimmed and then deactivated. The words still briefly glimpsed before they vanished.

Subject: Findings on the Tycon shuttle incident/Death of officer [CLEARED OF RESPONSIBILITY]

The PADD's screen cleared of any text now in its deactivated state, Rakim stared at it and the uniform for a moment before he cleared his throat and spoke. "Computer, pull all files except for A1-8 from PADD Rakim Theta One and add them to my personal database" He commenced, the next words 'delete A1-8' something that died on his tongue, replaced by something else as he instead requested. "Computer, call up the messages from my old colleagues from those new files from before the date of A1-8 and let me see them on my monitor." [D] The uniform eventually packed away again come the time when he finally decided if he'd dispose of it or not, Rakim proceeded to spend a bit of time infront of his monitor as he tried to remember the best parts of old times.

[PADD]

To: Lieutenant Commander Rakim From: Lieutenant Commander Vara'l tr'Hara. Subject: Meeting again. Following on from what we discussed about meeting again, I realized just now that I didn't actually send you times I'm free to meet for coffee and chat like I indicated I intended to. Firstly, I apologise for that profusely. Work has been busy as of late. Secondly, please find attached the relevant dates which I'm free, hopefully that'll aid in finding a time where our off duty periods intersect long enough for coffee. [One attachment] -Lieutenant Commander Vara'l tr'Hara.

Having spotted that message from Vara'l when he arrived in his quarters after a day at work, Rakim first smiled slightly before he then called up his own calendar on another PADD of his. * *When he then spotted a period of off duty time that matched on both of their calendars, He proceeded to tap out a message as he responded to the Romulans message.

00:11

[PADD]

To: Lieutenant Commander Vara'l Tr'hara. From: Lieutenant Commander Rakim. Subject: RE: Meeting again. Found a period where our off duty periods intersect long enough. Hope that works. [One attachment] -Lieutenant Commander Rakim

(edited)

Vara'ls response arrived in a punctual manner. [PADD]

To: Lieutenant Commander Rakim From: Lieutenant Commander tr'Hara Subject: RE: RE: Meeting again. It works perfectly, see you then. -Lieutenant Commander Vara'l tr'Hara.

Having pulled out that old uniform again, the uniform laying smoothed out on his bed as he looked it over, Rakim battled with the decision he'd already said on a personal log that he'd made. Battled with it for a few moments more as he probed it to try and see if this was truly the decision he'd wanted and still wanted to make. Considered the prospect of getting it repaired or getting rid of it, tried to think what people from that time would have said to him. Considered it for a bit before, as he decided that within that tempest of emotion that effected him and had left its wide colourful mark on the tapestry of his memories throughout his time alive certainty about this glimmered, he retrieved a PADD. A series of taps on the PADD calling up the details of different clothing places he remembered as he started his search for someone who could repair the damage to his uniform. Careful with some to claim it was simply something he'd acquired and wanted to clean up to display even as he happened to be a tad more truthful with others, unwilling as he worked to suffer any possibility that someone might have happened to ask more questions than he'd have liked so far. It was during this lengthy back and forth conversation and PADD search that Rakim, as he was faced with more and more indication that the transit fees related with this happened to be a bit on the higher side. Something about the age of what he wanted repaired. Something that caused him to decide to open the Chatroom as he decided to pop in a message to query if anyone on the station happened to have the knowledge needed to repair it.

Rakim started and then continued a chain of back and forth PADD messages as he worked to secure the repair of the Uniform. As he worked on that he idly noted a 'Ping' from one of his other PADDs, one he ignored in favour of focus on what happened to be the more important thing for him so far.

NEW MESSAGE: Subject: Vechayev Refugee Database: Re: Update notice; request for contact regarding M Jossaar database entry.

The subject of the message as it flashed up on the other PADD in El-Aurian writing barely noticed as he tapped out messages about a uniform.

After he finished with his most recent message to Sakchai tr'Valdore, Rakim finally reached over and grabbed the PADD that had flashed the message. He'd then proceeded to skim read it. Then to read it properly as his hand started to shake slightly and he tried to keep his focus on what he saw as he read.

To: Lieutenant Commander Rakim, Starfleet: Command Track, Stationed on: Starbase 777. From: Vechayev Refugee Database: Request for contact. Request format: Contact. Entry: M Jossar REFID: FG_15525 Dear, Rakim [NO SURNAME ON FILE] Please find attached below a formal request for contact regarding the entry you worked on for one Mirkya, Daughter of Jossar. Following protocol/policy on the matter following its original filing this request has been filtered to confirm its legitimacy and has now been passed on to you. [FILE ATTACHED: Forml_reqstMJoss1]

Read and proceeded to open the attached request. Read it and breathed in in slight surprised as he was presented with a request to know what his relation was to this person. That and a request for the documents he happened to have that related to their activities during the fall. A request that was marked to be from 'Friend/relation' on the form. Something that utterly surprised him, especially when he considered how many of those he'd lost over the years. *With shaky hands, Rakim composed and proceeded to send a response that permitted a certain degree of access to the files they'd asked to see copies of. A message attached to it that queried who whoever was asking was. He'd then tossed the PADD off to one side, a reply not expected for a little while now, the delivery of the uniform something that assumed a higher priority in his mind as a result *

Having decided upon his priorities, Rakim proceeded to sweep up the uniform carefully before he departed the room. He intended to have the uniform delivered before the end of the day so reckoned now was the time to pop down and deliver it before he continued through the day. Was pretty much one of the more important of the things he happened to need to do today so best to get it out of the way he'd reckoned.

The time had finally arrived, his sons holiday ended today. Those were the first things he realized when he woke up on that day, even before he checked his PADD for messages and discovered one in which his son informed him they 'Wanted to inquire as to when you might be free to meet today. The El-Aurian slipping out of bed as he dressed and then fired off a short response, one in which he informed them that he'd secured a mostly free day and attached a list of times he'd be available to meet at. The El-Aurian fully dressed by the time the reply had pinged in.

To: Dad From: Seven Option four works brilliantly for me, see you for lunch Father. I'll bring some of those human things you like, Scones. Seven of Ten.

A message he'd chuckled at as he'd then proceeded to shoot back a reply of his own and had then started about the process of getting his quarters ready for the guest he now expected. An effort he happened to be mostly successful at by the time his son finally arrived at his door. His work PADDs all cleared away and his table ladened with a selection of snacks, a pair of drinks situated one next to each chair on that table as he waited for the announcers chime and considered the message he'd received previously from the refugee database. Considered how he might tell his son about this. If he had any right to inform them about this, as his son continued to struggle with individuality and all he remembered.. and the knowledge of what he'd lost, what had been stripped from him and forgotten. Did he have any right to hurt them like this again, bring remembered grief to the fore once more like this. Did he not? He struggled with this as he waited and stared at the message.

His struggles were interrupted as the announcer chimed softly and the clear familiar voice of his son sounded out calmly. "Its me father, w-I'm here to see you and I've brought those scones I promised I'd bring, they're a tad bit on the solid side for something that looks so cake like." Seven commented as he announced himself and waited for the door to open.

Rakim turned as he heard the chime of the announcer as it sounded out loud and clear amongst the room. Its sounding like a bow wave of happy emotion that rolled over and calmed however briefly the turbulent sea of emotion that wracked Rakim as he wrestled with what to do, if he should tell them or not. Their presence something that forced a decision to be come to through despite the battered distraction of emotions that roiled against the stone islands of his thoughts. "Come!" Rakim said as he moved and tapped the button on the door that permitted entrance. "I'm afraid thats just how scones are Seven, more solid than cake but also quite nice when paired with the right jams or other things." He said as he gestured to where he'd set out the cups and snacks. "Got some snacks ready as well, stuff that goes well before or after a scone and sorted the drinks, shall we sit and chat further?" He asked then as he moved further in to allow the other inside. "Its good to see you again." The El-Aurian added then.

As he stepped in and after he moved over and hugged his father once he'd finished speaking, Seven broke from the hug and smiled at them gently. Smiled before he then said. "I admit, what you've outlined there does rather make scones sound good, even though I suspect that these ones wont compare with yours, given your experience in the scone making arts." He chuckled then before he continued. "Sitting down sounds good, had a bit of a walk to get here...and its good to see you too father, how are you doing currently?" And headed to the seat indicated and settled down into it.

18:46

As he waited for their response, Seven of Ten proceeded to lay out the scones he'd brought with him on the table, the bag of scones carefully settled onto a plate he'd carried with him for just that purpuse.

"You are far too kind sometimes, when it comes to my baking" Rakim chuckled softly at that as he watched the other and then proceeded to add. "I've got jam and cream and the like of varying types depending on what takes your fancy regarding stuff to put on the scones." He added before he continued and addressed what they'd then said about how they happened to be at present. "I'm..mostly managing alright, though I've received an PADD message that you might find interesting or well at least should, I feel, also be aware of." Rakim commented as he proceeded to slide the PADD with the message from the Vechayev colonial database over to Seven before he added. "Its about Mirkya, your mother."

"I've brought some replicated jam and cream but not much else, so more options would be deeply interesting and well, I'm glad to hear you're managing alright." Seven, having settled into his chair, accepted the PADD he was offered and turned to reading it as he continued to listen. "Oh?" He then looked over the message the PADD was currently opened to before he glanced back to his father. "Oh." The El-Aurian hummed then. "It'd seem we've got more to talk about on that front..though It admittedly seems like cause for hope, this." [D] The two talked for a while longer, firstly about the message which they jointly decided on a reply for before conversation then turned to other matters like what Seven had done during their holiday and the like. The transition to what happened to more be father son talk and less fall of EL-Aurian related talk something they both appreciated, the conversation about it something that continued on for quite some time. Continued until the time came when Seven of Ten had to depart to catch his ship back to the colony. When that time arrived, the duo said their goodbyes and resolved to meet again next time one of them ended up near enough to make a trip to the other. Seven then departed to cath his ship.

A message ping sounded out a few days after had the final meeting of his sons holiday that declared the arrival of a message he'd not expected. A message that, when briefly checked, turned out to not even by an unexpected message from a member of Starfleet but turned out to be a message from somewhere else. From someone else, or at the least another group, one who's PADD ID he recognized even before he opened the message. Vechayev Colony. A message that surprised him as he opened it and a part..a voice within his mind that had remained silent for quite some time twitched awake and highlighted..noticeable patterns in it. A way of writing that he recognized. * [PADD]
To: Rakim From: Vechayev Colony Refugee database (On Behalf of 1220Sawbones) Subject: Inquiry message RE: Response. Greetings! Following on from your response about the entry you're responsible for, which we've (Liberated, please forgive the speech patterns!) since been made aware of, I wanted to reach out with some questions about Mirkya daughter of Jossar. Please find them below. 1. Do you have any images of them? 2. May I ask what information you have that led to you marking the status of Mirkya on the file as being 'deceased?' if its not too sensitive a matter? 3. Do you have any information on where the Individual Mirkya was before her assimilation, during the fall? Forgive our just coming out of the blue with this question, hope you have a brilliant day and thank you for your time! Twelve of Twenty.
*Rakim read over the question several times before he started to type out his response to the questions of the other and attached a series of files to the message as well marked as accompanying the answers to some of her questions. He then proceeded to, once he finished with the attachment of the messages and then finished up the message as a whole, sent the message.

A short time after that other message was fired off, a message arrived from the same sender. A message he immediately opened up and proceeded to read, profoundly curious about what had caused such a message to rock up in his PADD inbox. A curiosity that only blossomed further as he finished the first paragraph and moved directly onto the second as his hands unknowingly proceeded to bunch up the cloth cover of his bed. The action something that mirrored the roiling emotions within his heart. Emotions he'd honestly never expected to feel in this mix again. [PADD]

To: Rakim From: Vechayev Colony Refugee database (On behalf of 1220Sawbones) Thank you very much for your answers, we sense from their content that you're... at least somewhat familiar with pre-assimilation Mirkya. As such we wanted to provide you with a number of things further to your own store of information regarding her to help facilitate further updates to the database entry for her. We acquired these files following our liberation. [Attached File collection] Further more, we want to outline our interest further. We've been drawn to your database entry on Mirkya for a number of reasons. Firstly the assimilation record attached is my own. The image attached to it brought me to your database entry for Mirkya after I preformed a image search with the benefit of it. Second, While large portions of my memory have not returned or are perhaps permanently lost, enough of my pre-assimilation memory remains... that I honestly feel like it'd be quite the coincidence to discover this woman wasn't at least related to the person I was. Thirdly, if you'll not think it too forward, I've attached my PADD information to the end of this message along with the other attachments. Perhaps we can talk further over PADD or otherwise. Twelve of Twenty.

Rakim stared at the message and proceeded to walk off as he started to get baking supplies together. Once he started doing that, the El-Aurian proceeded to set about stress or well...dilemma baking as he attempted to work his way through what he just read as his jaw worked in thought. "Goddess guide me." He sighed.

After he agonized over the PADD message for a while, Rakim proceeded to fire off a message to Vara'l over the PADD. He waited for a bit after that for Vara'ls arrival.

Vara'l arrived shortly after the Chatroom message and proceeded to press the announcer for the door as he proceeded to then say. "I'm here Rakim." The Romulan informed them calmly after he pressed the door.

[D] The duo talked for a while once Vara'l entered, the message discussed extensively over many many pots of coffee. While the conversation initially suffered from a degree of incredulity from both parties about what happened to be presented to them by the PADD message, it ended up being highlight fruitful. After all, when two lieutenant commanders who'd either lived for ages or happened to be from a Romulan House put their heads together, stuff got done. Stuff like finding out when a message happened to not be a prank and happened to seem...legitimate.

18:59

Thanks were exchanged and further conversation had before the two eventually departed.

After rakim debated things a bit, Rakim proceeded to work up a message for the XO. Something he intended to use to inform them about what had happened and the fact he happened to be under increased stress due to the worries involved around all this. [PADD]

To: Cdr Sadhbh Ni Dhuill From: Lt. Cdr. Rakim In part according to protocols I feel it proper to inform you that I have received correspondence that is on the threshold of potentially meriting my requesting temporarily leave. I'm looking into it all further Ma'am and will inform you further should the matter merit the need for such. I've also put in a request for counselling. Lieutenant Commander Rakim.

Rakim, true to his word, placed a request for counselling with medical.

After he proceeded to send that, Rakim finally started on the response to the PADD message received from the strange messenger. A message carefully worked on and looked over before he eventually pressed send. [PADD]

To: 1220Sawbones From: Lt. Cdr Rakim Thank you very much for your message, please find attached further data regarding the matter from my side and information on my relation to Mirkya daughter of Jossar prior to her assimilation. Should you be interested in further discussion about it all, I'd be amenable to meet face to face if you're passing by Starbase 777. Lt. Cdr. Rakim

The response that arrived in the face of that happened to be simple in nature, Twelve of Twenty's response rapidly sent having.. had waited for the reply with deep interest. [PADD]

To: Lt. Cdr. Rakim From: 1220Sawbones. I am passing by 777 shortly, shall we meet you then? 1220

Rakim responded rapidly after that and indicated he was amenable to meeting. Once he'd proceeded to send that message he then started to panic quietly for a moment as he walked around in circles before he then charged off to another part of his quarters and then started on another baking project.

[D] The announcer chimed unexpectedly a while after that baking project was completed and the El-Aurian had finished that very brief spate of chatroom typing. Having not expected it and with a tone that happened to be slightly born of the messages he'd watched in the chatroom, Rakim turned to the door as he worked to place hot scones down in a stack on a plate and half snapped. "Who is it!" At the door and whoever happened to be on the other side of it.

Surprised initially by the tone of the semi-unfamiliar voice on the other side of the door, it took Twelve a second longer than they'd idly calculated before she alighted on a answer to that simplest of questions. The question of who happened to be on the other side of the door, who'd elected to visit like this without having dropped a further message about having arrived via PADD first. Who'd just pressed their announcer. A question they honestly reckoned they weren't..entirely sure about. Was she Twelve of Twenty, of a unimatrix she cared very little to remember, once a prisoner of one collective and now a member of another. Was she simply twelve, a Liberated Borg or was she a nameless person, stripped of their identity and looking here to stitch what remained into something like a replacement for that loss? She honestly reckoned that she wasn't sure, they weren't sure. Not that she'd have admitted that. "Twelve of Twenty, here to talk with you further about what we discussed over our PADD chain, apologies for just dropping in like this."

Rakim walked over to the door and pressed the button to open it as he proceeded to say. "Ah, hello, I've been expecting you, come" Before he then stepped back and away from the door as he waited for them to enter, waited to see who happened to be Sawbones 1220, someone who knew so much about the one person other than his kids he'd fostered and held such a deep love for. "Can I interest you in a tea or a coffee or some other form of beverage?" He asked as he turned as the door opened and moved to the replicator.

"Brilliant, thank you." Swift strides conveyed the El-Aurian into the quarters of the answer to their..her questions. Calm eyes surveying her surroundings as he entered and attempted to gauge somewhat the nature of the person she'd talked with over PADD message even before.. and as he spoke to her further. The others words something that stoked the embers of feelings in her heart barely remembered thanks to the Borg, feelings that whispered that she knew this person. That.. there was joy there in that moment for her, seeing that the one who'd inputted that report into the database was this man. Her mind working to try and remember why even as it warred with the Borg in her that cried out that this data was Irrelevant and that she'd be best served by forgetting it.. by focusing on the information that happened to be efficient, happened to be of use. "Hello and a cup of tea sounds perfect, thank you very much." She'd responded after a moment once she'd walked fully in and the door had closed behind her and on her entertaining of the two sides that warred within her for some..reason. "I hope I've not caused you any inconvenience with the time I've popped in, I am conscious I'm slightly early."

When she first came through the door, Rakim watched her stunned, then as he rapidly recovered, moved to the replicator as he smiled at her. At the woman who had once been his wife, his best friend, who looked now like she'd been through a hell in the collective he'd never truly be able to understand. "Two cups of tea, blend Rakim Alpha 6 please." The El-Aurian requested simply as his voice wobbled a bit with the suppressed emotion of many many years of grief for someone he'd know, someone he'd happened to have been close to for over one hundred years as this sight both freed him of some of it and left him with a warring array of other feelings. Left him with them as his mind called to his attention the signs that the other happened to have..lost memories Caused him to ponder if the other remained who he remembered, to wonder who he happened to be about to talk with. How he should inform her about everything he reckoned she happened to want to know. How would she even take the information he happened to have, happened to be able to tell her. His mind roiled with emotions and with worries as his mind worked through thoughts, turned them over and over as it considered the dilemma's he'd been presented with. "I hope you'll forgive my being presumption when it comes to the blend chosen but I've been told this blend is quite pleasant to have during a chat and the like." He commented softly before he then added. "And well, you've caused me no convenience at all though I'm afraid the scones I was working on aren't quite ready yet, they've still got a few minutes to go so I apologise about that." He then paused. "I do have other snacks though." And as he realized he happened to have not introduced himself yet said. "I'm Rakim by the way." As the decision was finally reached by him as to what he should say. "I believe we knew each other before your assimilation, given what I've been told about such things though." He trailed off.

15:55

"...I believe it'd still be right for me to apologise for not introducing myself earlier and to say, it is very good to meet you, Twelve of Twenty."

As she walked in further and heard the words that followed her acceptance of the cup of tea, Twelve couldn't help it as she turned and stared carefully at the man before her. Stared for a moment before she decided that the blend choice was a coincidence. Probably more than a few people who happened to be called Rakim who made tea with someone else, not that she'd ever located the blend with the flavour that one of her scraps of memory portrayed so clearly yet. * "A good blend? " *The Liberated Borg inquired simply as she worked to hide her emotion.. and covered the fact she'd noticed a slight wobble from him. Something part of her mind commented on as she internally mused '..He knew me.' and revised her estimate of the mans age upward. As the other then asked for forgiveness for being presumptuous about the blend chosen, Twelve..smiled. More and more reminded as they talked about one of the people remembered from her past. Not that her mind exactly obliged in dredging up the name of the person from her memory as she searched for for it. A side effect of such a long time in the collective. Something the Cooperative had started to help her recover from, though it..had been a process and continued to be quite the lengthy one. * "No need to apologise about that, a good chatting blend seems like quite the apt choice to us, considering what you've outlined about it." *She chuckled then. "..And hot scones are well worth the wait.." Came the addition as she smiled a bit in appreciation for their assurance he caused them no inconvenience. "Its very good to meet you too, Rakim." She responded before she then proceeded to say. "And well...I suspect that we've alot to talk about."

[D] Rakim and Twelve talked for over two hours about Mirkya and about other things related to that and the fall of El-Aurian. While both knew there was..more to talk about considering what they went over, they avoided going into depth about it for now with some care. Neither happened to be ready to talk about that too much yet, not this early. Though by the end of the conversation..the two had touched on the fact that both were known to each other. Or well, that prior to assimilation, the two had known each other. Rakim reckoned he'd no right to hide it from her.. and Twelve happened to remember..too much for the question to have not been prompted once similarities between a..remembered figure and Rakim started to mount. Once they finished conversing for the day, the two parted to kind words and smiles, resolved to meet again to talk further.

When the time for the coffee morning finally arrived, Rakim had settled into a seat within his own quarters away from the Common room. It'd been a day or two since he'd discovered Lieutenant Commander Lawsons quarters had been cleared out and someone else had been assigned to them. In that time he'd cleared up what he'd left in the common room as well and moved it all carefully into his own quarters as he waited for the time when the other occupant of the quarters arrived. The common area left deprived of decoration until he discovered what the other Lieutenant Commander who'd transferred to the quarters preferred when it came to things in the common area. The table next to the chair in which he currently resided bare of decoration as a result. Something he dwelled on for a time before the chime of the doors announcer proceeded to chime as it declared the arrival of ACTO tr'Hara. Something that caused him to smile for a moment as he looked up and called. "Come!" As he had then turned and proceeded to request. "Two Cups of Coffee, blends from file Coffee morning Hara, hot." Before he'd glanced back to the door and waited for it to open.

Having arrived and having just pressed the button, Vara'l was briefly surprised when he heard the called 'Come' from Rakim. His words pre-empted, how these things initially started changed slightly by the El-Aurian. Something that proceeded to cause him to open and close his mouth like a fish as he'd worked through the initial shock before he'd then recovered and proceeded to say. "Hello Rakim." As he'd then stepped through the doorway and briefly paused upon seeing.. how empty everything had looked. "..Someone new being assigned to these quarters with you?" He'd then asked as he'd walked in and gently proceeded to place a covered selection of scones onto the table that Rakim happened to be sat next to. "I brought the scones this time" The Romulan had commented as he entered, as he tried to put on a good face despite all he happened to have felt recently, how he happened to still feel when he walked through the door. All the emotion he had pushed down and suppressed along with the guilt.

Emotional suppression that the El-Aurian noticed almost instantly as the other walked in. A suppressed storm cloud something that still could be noticed as it softly, very softly rumbled. Something he picked up on, especially with how the Romulan had been more recently, something had really started to add to the weight the other harboured. A weight he partially recognized, after all he bore a weight of his own. "Hello Vara'l, scones sound brilliant." He then smiled as he watched them enter and gestured to the seat on the other side of the table from where he currently was seated before he then started up and headed over to the replicator. The two coffees retrieved before he'd then headed back toward the table. "How are you holding up, I heard of the chop shop and some of what happened there, seems like its been..a very eventful time."

Vara'l had smiled when the other indicated the scones sounded brilliant, before he then unwrapped them all. He'd continued to smile until the other had asked how he was holding up. Their question as they'd asked it one that had caused his face to darken for the moments before he rapidly recovered his composure. Recovered it as he proceeded to say. "I'm functional.. though its been an eventful time.. I'm...functional."

[D] *Rakim's face coloured with a certain concern when he noticed that brief drop in the others composure.. and he briefly glimpsed their pained true expression. Glimpsed it for the few moments before the other recovered their mask of compsure. Needless to say the conversation that followed, about the chop shop and about other matters happened to be longer than expected. Longer and in parts painful, though by the time it ended and they headed their separate ways, the two reckoned they felt a mite better for having chatted. *

Cross legged in his quarters resided a El-Aurian with two uniforms. One he wore, one he clasped carefully by its framed prison to his chest. Eyes closed and hair let down, books of old writing and PADDs placed about him in piles forgotten about. Forgotten about as he grappled with a question. As he stared at the uniformed..then looked to the models. Looked to them where those he'd constructed sided now, on their shelf. Then stared at the uniform once more. As he'd taken in the thing he'd once worn. The thing he'd given up, then returned too after so much time. Looked at it and considered. Considered the unform of his previous service, perfect bar where it wasn't. Where it was still marred by the blast that he'd survived. Considered where to put it, if it was to stay in a box.. or if it deserved to be placed on a wall. He'd always wanted to run away from that time. Wanted to flee the pain it'd caused. Had denied all the joy he'd experienced in the uniform too. Confined it to draws and boxes, out of the way, concealed. Denied that...denied it. Rakim stared for a moment longer, then rose to his feet case clasped in his hands, decision arrived at. Maybe it'd look nice on the wall.

Rakim entered his part of the quarters as he smoothly moved through the common area and straight into his private quarters. Once in there he waited for the door as it closed and, when it closed, then proceeded to say. "Computer, lock door." As the door then locked, Rakim moved and proceeded to lay down on his bed. He remained there for a while.

[D] Twelve briefly visited some time later. The two then talked for a time before Twelve then departed having pressed Rakim until he arranged a counselling appointment for himself.

Just another night of drawing. Rakim wasn't home, so it was rather lonely, but at the very least it was quiet. Alyssa had her pencils and paper out, and she was drawing whatever came to her mind. She was finishing a flower, a tulip, it looked like, and it was actually pretty good quality too, if one was standing father away from the picture it would have looked surprisingly real. Alyssa was really getting the hang of this too, she prided herself on-- Dingdong. The sudden shock nearly made Alyssa's hands jolt, almost causing the pencil to drag across the paper and ruin the drawing. Thank goodness for erasers and replicators... anyway, Alyssa didn't get up, all she did was remain seated. "Come on in." She was just drawing, nothing that necessarily needed to be kept private. It's not like she was trying to become the next biggest artist, which, she wasn't. But she could use some company.

And as the door opened, Melody walked in. She was dressed in rather casual clothing for her standards, just a pink t-shirt, jean shorts and flip flops - absolutely no trace of the overall-clad 1980's style sitcom daughter, no trace of the baker's uniform - it really seemed like Melody was just down to her core now. And alongside her very frugal and informal appearance, her face looked downtrodden and forlorn. It was as if the galaxy had turned upside down - Melody looking low, her energy at an all time low, and her mood not the best at all. She could barely even look at Alyssa, but when she did, her eyes looked up to her like the eyes of both a frightened child and the eyes of a woman who had seen everything. She said nothing, and simply held out her hands for a hug from Alyssa.

Alyssa was making a few more pencil lines when -- wait a second... Melody?! Actually quiet for once, and low energy? Something that was, dare she say, actually manageable?! This was not normal for Melody AT ALL. And Alyssa was immediately taken off guard by this, her eyes widened as her body practically froze for a second, and her jaw dropped. Then Alyssa got out of her chair and stood across from Melody for a moment. "Melody..." Alyssa said, before taking Melody into her arms. "What's wrong, crazy?" Alyssa asked. "You're never like this. You're always peppy and fun, lively. What's got you down?"

As opposed to her quick pace and energetic response, Melody now responded in a slow hug to Alyssa, taking Alyssa into her arms as she laid her head on Alyssa's shoulder. Well, that helped her feel just a little better -- or a little worse. She didn't know. Alyssa did nothing wrong though. Melody's eyes shut as tears escaped the sides of them. Melody could barely speak, but from what she could say, there was little that she could do to make it sound any better. "Something...'s..." Melody started, before pulling Alyssa in tighter. "Something's... wrong with me... I just know it..."

Alyssa nearly crumbled hearing the tears coming from the singing baker. Oh, how she wept - and how disarming it was! Alyssa felt herself apt to pulling in Melody slightly tighter as well. Melody also never spoke like this... her voice sounded... different? Disillusioned? But certainly, it sounded... older. Like it was being shown a horrible truth. "What? No, no nonononononono," Alyssa said, letting go of Melody but right away putting her arms on Melody's shoulders. "Melody, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you! What are you saying? Why are you saying that about yourself? Who put that thought into your head?"

Melody looked into Alyssa's eyes, not even sure where this reaction came from or why, but it certainly didn't feel good. Alyssa's hands on her shoulders felt comforting, she supposed, but they weren't enough. "No one said something's wrong with me. They didn't have to. I just know it." Melody pulled away from Alyssa before going over to the closest chair she could, before sitting down and beginning to weep. Oh, the poor thing. CW: mental health, negative thoughts "Something's always been wrong with me... I've always been messed up in the head, apparently. Why do people always look at me funny when I just try and live life to the fullest, huh? Why?! Because I'm the problem! Apparently I'm always the problem!"

Alyssa was surprised when Melody pushed her away, Melody NEVER did that to anyone! She'd always stay in the middle of a hug, she'd always be present and she'd always be latching on. Never did she reject it after only a few seconds. Now she knew something was up. Alyssa quickly scurried over to Melody before sitting down in front of her on the floor. "Oh, Melody," Alyssa said. "Listen, sweetie. You know people don't necessarily have the same energy and outlook on life as you do. You've told me this yourself. But that doesn't mean something's wrong with you. You just need to learn how to manage your emotions properly. Turn down the dial on things, you know? I've used the energy level at an 11 down to a 4 before for Maggie, remember that?"

Melody's tears kept on flowing before, it seemed, she finally started to crack. Her eyes looked up in desperation as she stared Alyssa dead in the eyes and roared back. "OF COURSE I REMEMBER IT! YOU THINK I FORGOT?! I WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE MYSELF THAT DAY! I HAD TO TONE IT DOWN BECAUSE APPARENTLY I'M STILL TOO MUCH FOR ANYONE TO SEE! WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO CHANGE HOW I LIVE MY LIFE WHEN IT'S MY LIFE TO LIVE?!" She lashed out towards Alyssa. This was getting bad. Melody wasn't ever one to yell or even raise her voice unless it was for a performance or for singing. Melody's anguish was certainly present in her voice as she screamed at Alyssa in a fit of rage. It was neither necessary nor warranted - but that didn't mean Melody didn't feel any less emotion because of it.

Not expecting what she expected to be a low energy conversation turned into a full-on yell, Alyssa reacted quickly. "Computer, turn on the noise dampener, one hundred percent," Alyssa hollered as she hoped the screaming didn't spill out into Rakim's side of the room, even though she knew he wasn't here. She didn't want anyone else to have to hear this. "Melody, lower your voice, right now." Alyssa said, her commanding presence back. "I put that in place because Maggie was going through a tough time, and most likely was stressed due to the fact that they just put an entire show together by themselves. If you were too much in front of them, they could have gotten overwhelmed. I couldn't let that happen, not on my watch."

CW: beginning of an argument Melody immediately took offense to that. "Oh, so just because we were at an event, I can't be myself? Is that how it is? Automatically, if someone's going through a bad day, I have to be the one to change WHO I AM?! Now you're starting to sound like you think something is wrong with me!" Melody then realized. "And what about you? You're so hung up on Maggie, Maggie, Maggie! You aren't even their biggest fan! Guess what, Alyssa?! I'm not the one who planned to have a phaser pointed at their head! YOU abandoned your crew because YOU couldn't handle not being the center of the entire mission! You probably just asked me to make that cake for them to kiss up to them, didn't you?! Look who's the pathetic one now?! You need to CHILL OUT!"

Alyssa certainly didn't plan that entire nice gesture for Maggie just to kiss up to them. It was a genuine gesture. A gesture which came from the bottom of her heart. One that she spent so much time thinking about. One which came from genuine gratitude, in showing her a path forward she never saw. But Melody didn't see that - and for that Alyssa got genuinely angry. "Don't you DARE bring that mission up in front of me again! News flash, not everything was or is about Maggie. And not everything is about me either! Do you know how much fucking COURAGE it took me to get my eye surgically replaced?! Do you KNOW how hard it was for me to be able to move on from TEN YEARS of living like a warrior?!" Alyssa clapped back at Melody. "And you? You're real mature for bringing up the fact that you're someone's biggest fan. What does that say about you, huh?! That you're making this a competition when it doesn't need to be! You need to GROW the FUCK up!"

Standing up at that, Melody approached Alyssa like a provoked animal. "Tell me to grow up ONE MORE TIME and see what happens. You are in NO WAY qualified to tell ME to grow up! When you can't even handle listening to the memory of that mission where you acted like a child!" Melody was full-on yelling now, at all times. " 'Oh, I'm so tough because I get to do all these kicks and flips but I have no actual use in a battle!' YEAH! TRUTH HURTS, DOESN'T IT?! Moves don't make a warrior, Alyssa! And you certainly are no warrior." Melody stared down Alyssa like she was going to full-on spar. Deep in the back of her mind, she cared about Alyssa. That's why she was so passionate about this. She had all this pent-up emotion that she needed to let out. "You can't even bear to listen to your own mistakes because you can't bother to let go. Heh. And I thought something was wrong with me."

Alyssa gritted her teeth, her animalistic instincts were kicking in as she seethed with anger against the singing baker. "You're on thin ice, Marshall. You're one to talk saying something is wrong with me. Have you LOOKED at your own behavior? Do you understand how much you sound and act like nails on a 20th-century chalkboard?! Do you UNDERSTAND how absolutely fucking OLD it's gotten to see just this bouncing, singing, broken record player around the starbase?! APPARENTLY NOT! BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST THAT!" Alyssa got right up in Melody's face now. "When are you ever going to get it through your thick fucking skull that you need to stop sucking on your pacifier and be a real woman?! Because let me tell you, the more you do it, the more you continue to annoy not only me but COUNTLESS others on the starbase! OH, and in case you didn't get it already, GROW THE FUCK UP!!!!!"

Melody's rage was nearly uncontrollable at this point. She'd never fought with anyone before, not even her own family. She moved right back into Alyssa's face and pushed her way forwards. "Why, yes! Yes I have! And now that I've had MULTIPLE people talk to me about this, apparently I'm the only one who has a problem around here! I should tell YOU to look in a mirror and see what YOU'VE done!" Melody's hands clenched into fists. "I've had enough of trying to pretend like I'm your guardian angel for whenever you mess something up. YOU made mistakes and YOU need to clean up your messes! I am embarrassed FOR you! You think you're even capable of holding yourself accountable?! Go ahead! Give me your best shot!"

"Why, you fucking--" At the same time, both Alyssa and Melody had their fists clenched, and advanced towards each other, ready to swing, before... a stalemate. Pure silence. It was as if time slowed to a stop. Alyssa looked into Melody's eyes and all of a sudden had an introspective moment. 'If I hit her... if I go through with it... then I'm not fulfilling what I need to do to be better. I do need to take a chill pill. I need to... let go.' And in her almost frozen state, staring deep into Melody's eyes, Alyssa immediately knew where she went wrong about Melody, and that Melody was speaking volumes about who she needed to be and why.

At the same time that Alyssa was going in for a swing, Melody charged in too, before she too stopped. Life stopped. Time stopped. Everything stopped. She stared into the eyes of her rival -- no. Alyssa wasn't...? No. She wasn't a rival. Why would Alyssa be so caring and passionate about this? Why did she let her even stay inside the room? 'Wow... I've missed so much about growing up... I've always lived life blindly. Maybe staying too young hasn't been the best thing for me. If I hit her... I'll have shown I'm just like a kid. Not able to handle myself. Maybe it is time for me to learn how to grow up.' (edited)

And before Alyssa knew what she was doing, all of a sudden, she forgot why she was even mad at Melody. She was... she was wrong. And she knew it. Alyssa knew she was wrong about Melody. There was nothing wrong with her after all. Nothing at all. There were, in fact, so many reasons to love Melody. And with that thought in mind, Alyssa did as Melody had dared her, and gave her her best shot... by pulling in Melody for a kiss... from how Melody reacted, she didn't seem to resist it either... it seemed Melody was also wrong about Alyssa...

Melody too was also completely devoid of any anger for Alyssa. None whatsoever. She was wrong, and she was wrong in the worst of ways. She saw so much potential in Alyssa. So much room for change, and so much room for becoming the best self she could be. And when Alyssa pulled Melody in for a kiss, Melody joined in, subconsciously receiving the message, and reciprocating the kiss back to Alyssa... they continued for a moment, before pulling away. "Maybe I... do need to grow up..." Melody said weakly.

Alyssa pulled away from the kiss as well, staring back at Melody, who seemed to have enjoyed the kiss, but was also emotionally lost. Just like she was. She also had the same weak tone of voice when she replied back to Melody... "Maybe I do need to take a chill pill." Alyssa gently guided Melody back into the chair before pulling up another one for herself to sit next to Melody. "I'm... sorry for everything I said to you. It wasn't nice or warranted. You really are amazing in the best of ways. I just... care too much. It's... my problem."

As Melody sat down, Alyssa's presence no longer made her angry or upset. She felt soothed. Calmed. Relieved. And a bit liberated too. Alyssa recognized that Melody needed to grow up. But Melody was the one who would ultimately have to follow through. "It's alright. I forgive you," Melody said. "I'm not innocent either. I'm sorry for yelling at you and saying those things to you. I was so distracted by anger. But... you're right. I do need to grow up. I care about you so much too. I just got so carried away. And... you're the first person who has been so vocal about wanting me to grow up. Will you... help me?"

Alyssa leaned forward to look at Melody. "It's alright, I forgive you too," Alyssa said. "I'm proud of you -- of both of us for being able to solve this so quickly, or at least, come up with a way forward. And I'll absolutely help you forward in your journey for growing up. But there is someone else who needs to help you too." Alyssa brought out her PADD, showing the messaging, and pulling up the counselling offices' message address. "I know you've never had therapy before. But I just had a few sessions and I'm already starting to feel like a new person. I want you to try it out too. Okay? Don't do it for me. Do it for yourself." And then Alyssa gently poked Melody's shoulder. "But the other person that needs to help you grow up is you. This girl right here, you. You're ultimately the one to make that choice in accepting how to be more mature. Okay? I'll help guide you. But you have to walk through the door."

Melody's eyes gazed upon Alyssa more, as her body loosened further, and her smile returned. Finally... she had another path forward! Finally, she could feel like something wasn't wrong with her. Like she could be able to fix herself. "Thank you, Alyssa. Truly, thank you..." Without hesitation, Melody sent a message to the counselling services, practically snatching Alyssa's PADD and sending a message before handing it back. "No more waiting. I need to see how I can get help. It will be better for everyone in the long run." Melody looked at Alyssa once more before smiling. "I know. I'll be there to support you in your journey too. You and I should spend some time in nature -- together."

Alyssa's smile was a little on the dopey side as she embraced Melody from the side. "Of course, Melody. Anything for you." Alyssa chuckled a bit when Melody took the PADD and typed a message to counselling, and when she took it back and saw the message, Alyssa smiled. "Hey, good job! You did it!" Alyssa ran her fingers through Melody's hair before smiling at her again. Wow, what a difference a simple understanding of the other person can make. "Yeah. I'll need to find ways to take a chill pill in addition to therapy. But with you... yeah, nature, I'd... I'd like that. Together."

Melody was happy once more. Not over-enthusiastic or over-the-top, but just happy. Reinvigorated, certainly, and in a way, saved. She had Alyssa to thank for that. "Alyssa?" Melody looked up slightly at the taller curly-haired redhead embracing her. "Kiss again?"

Alyssa also felt liberated by this newfound realization. She wouldn't be alone in her journey. But she'd need to ensure she put in just as much work for this as Melody did, and hold each other accountable. "Hmm?" Alyssa smiled when Melody asked. "I won't say no." Before she wrapped her arms around Melody in another kiss... and they'd kiss, and kiss... and spend the rest of the night talking, cuddling, and embracing. A new path forward. For not just both of them... but for everyone.

The door to Alyssa's quarters opened, but Alyssa wasn't alone, for of course Melody was right with Alyssa, together, walking into the small quarters as a couple. But this time, Melody's hands were covering Alyssa's eyes, as she slowly guided Alyssa through the door and into the quarters. Melody wasn't one to make or give surprises, but this certainly would be a surprise Alyssa wouldn't expect. With Melody having as much musical prowess, she knew Alyssa was certainly not a musician - or at least, she wasn't, yet.* *In the middle of the room, however, was something that would give Alyssa the chance to become a musician. It was a beautiful, intricately designed and shiny double-bass drum set (see https://discord.com/channels/904790578041081927/904790578938654731/1234642744383901871), complete with a hi-hat, crash cymbals, China cymbals, ride cymbals, swish cymbals and splash cymbals. The designs on the drums themselves were a sort of gothic-austere yet contemporary-inspired tapestry set, showcasing medieval swoops in conjunction with kaleidoscope spirals and swoops. It truly was a beautiful drum set, but the icing on the proverbial Marshall's Munchies cake? On the front of the left bass drum was Alyssa's head and the top of her bust, and on the right bass drum were the words 'Needle In A Hayes Stack' - her chatroom name, and a fun stage name in the making. The drum set practically shone in the light of the quarters. "Not yet... nooootttt yet..." Melody said, guiding Alyssa a little more into the room before... "Aaaaand open!" ...she took her hands away from Alyssa's eyes, revealing the drum set. "Surprise, my love! Your very own drum set!"

Alyssa had a good sense of balance and coordination, and an even better sense of spatial awareness, but Melody's hands on her eyes certainly made things difficult. If she wanted to she could game the system and use her new cybernetic eye to look right through Melody's hand with x-rays -- well hold on, she didn't know if that was possible. So, she just decided to play along and not game the system. She'd have to use her eye for work purposes only when absolutely necessary. So, she kept going along with Melody and used her own traction against the floor to keep herself up in addition to Melody guiding her. "I'm not looking," Alyssa said. "I'm not--- ugh, I'm not looking!" Alyssa laughed aloud, her smile stretching off her face. She just knew this was going to be good, it was Melody for goodness' sake. But in the back of her mind, she had a feeling this was going to be an important surprise. She didn't know why. But somehow, she just... did. When Melody finally took her hands off of Alyssa's eyes, Alyssa opened her eyes... and her gaze went right to the drum set in the middle of the room. After a slight bit of confusion, Alyssa put the pieces together in her mind. Melody was a musician, yes, and even though Alyssa wasn't a musician yet, Melody wouldn't have gotten this for her just for no reason. There was a purpose behind this. A motivation behind this. She turned to Melody with a smile. "It's... it's beautiful. Thank you so much, baby girl..." Before Alyssa first pulled Melody in for a tight hug, a hug that made her feel like a new era of her life was going to begin, before pulling away from the hug and transitioning into a kiss. And after a moment, she pulled away from the kiss to look back at the drumset before she wandered to the back of the drumset, sitting on the stool. "I'm not... a musician. But I've kind of wanted to try it. Music, in general. This might be how I do it."

Melody's smile stretched off her face when Alyssa gave her a hug, and she kept Alyssa close to her, especially heart to heart, physically, as they embraced. "You're welcome," Melody said. "It's useful being a descendant of a guitar amplifier company, I get certain benefits." Before Alyssa pulled Melody out of the hug and into a kiss, Melody didn't mind at all as she pushed right back in towards Alyssa, kissing her briefly before they pulled away. Melody's gaze followed Alyssa as she wandered to the back of the drumset and sat down. "I know," Melody said. "I was doing some thinking. You've told me a lot about you, and a lot about what you're trying to do with yourself, your life, the way you interact with others. So, I thought, maybe I can help you de-stress after a long day, and find a new passion! I went back and forth. Guitar, no -- bass, no -- piano, no -- drums... that was it. You have experience with weapons and are super coordinated, so I predicted that drums were the best fit for you," she explained. "So I hope I made the right call." Melody walked over to the drums, pointing to each of the respective drums in turn. "So these drums, the ones with 'Needle In A Hayes Stack' and your face on them, those are the bass drums," she said. "This one right here close to your left is the snare drum. Aaaand these are the high toms, these are the low toms." Before she scooted to the back of the drumset next to Alyssa. "This here is a hi-hat," Melody explained. "It's for keeping rhythm. These are the crash cymbals, ride cymbals, this one is called a China cymbal. We have a few splash and swish cymbals. It's okay if you don't remember all these immediately. Maybe try it out?"

Alyssa beamed as her girlfriend explained her benefits in getting a drum set of this quality and finish. Yeah, it helped being the descendant of a guitar amplifier company, Alyssa had to admit, so she let out a chuckle at that. "Well aren't you so fancy?" Alyssa poked fun, smiling as she took the conveniently placed pair of drumsticks off the snare drum and feeling them in her hands. They were made of a sort of hard plastic, it seemed, but they weren't easily breakable. These sticks were tough, and Alyssa figured they had to be, given how much she'd be destined to do epic drum solos on these bad boys. Then Melody went into detail on why she chose the drums, and how they could be therapeutic for Alyssa. "I think you chose right," Alyssa admitted. "Honestly, thank you. This is all too sweet of you. You put a lot of thought into this, I can tell! And truly, I think you're onto something. I think this drum set is absolutely going to help me out. But remember, therapy is still super important for me and this drum set doesn't replace therapy, okay? I can do both. But I can't rely on this drum set alone. Just want to make sure you understand that. Still. I'm so excited to try this out." Alyssa nodded along as Melody pointed out each of the drums and cymbals. "Bass. Bass. Snare. High tom. Low tom. Hi-hat. Crash. Ride. China. Splash. Swish. Okay! I'll memorize them in due time," Alyssa said, getting the gist of it. She hit the snare with a drumstick just to see how it felt. The resulting inharmonic note was quite loud, causing Alyssa to retreat quickly. "Computer, shut the door, noise dampener at 100 percent," Alyssa said, causing the door to close and the noise dampener to activate at full strength. Taking a whack at the drums again, Alyssa began to play what gradually turned into a steady beat using the bass, snare and hi-hat. She finished it off with a crash cymbal hit. "Huh! Not bad for just starting out."

Melody flipped her hair around when Alyssa joked around saying she was fancy. "Of course I am," Melody said confidently. "I'm Melody Marshall, I'm always fancy." Yes, it was a bit on the cocky side. But Melody had NEVER been cocky or even overconfident. This was necessary for her to be able to learn overall confidence in a healthy amount. Sure, she couldn't be pompous, and she wouldn't. Still, Melody's growth was evident in that regard. Melody smiled and couldn't contain her excitement when Alyssa thanked her for the drum set. "You're welcome, lovely," Melody said. "Only the best for you." Then Alyssa explained that this drum set and therapy were not mutually exclusive. "Oh yeah! I know," Melody said. "It's not supposed to replace therapy. It has its own purpose outside of therapy. I'm just hoping it performs that purpose well for you!" Melody was such a good sport, it was such a vast improvement! Melody quickly pulled out her PADD and aimed it at Alyssa and the drum set, before pressing record. "Alright, I'm recording, go ahead," Melody said, and she took a video of Alyssa's first ever drum solo. For her first ever drum solo, Alyssa actually did really damn good! Like, it was impressive. Melody stopped recording and sent the video to the #chatroom. "That was INCREDIBLE! Everyone's gotta see this - I sent it to the chatroom. I know how much you like shitposting in there, heh!"

Alyssa smiled giddily as she lightly flirted with Melody and Melody lightly flirted with her back. It was incredible, such a light feeling - she felt weightless in a way. Her love for Melody was so real and it was here. And now, the two of them could share music together. Alyssa smiled when she finished her first ever drum solo and chuckled when Melody said she sent it to the chatroom. "Just make sure you sent it with the volume a little lower, heh," Alyssa said, not minding that Melody recorded the moment. "I mean, it's not anything to write home about but. I hope everyone gets excited." And with that, Alyssa brought Melody in for one more kiss before a side hug, and continued jamming on her new drum set, adding in more of the drums and cymbals as she went, and Melody joining in, singing at points to accompany her girlfriend! The night ended off with even more embracing, cuddling and laughing!