Star Trek: Eventide 777

[D] A letter came through from Starfleet Command to @Lieutenant Lilian So.

To: Lieutenant Lilian So From: JAG Corps Subject: Court Martial Dear Lieutenant So, This is a formal notice that you are hereby called as a witness for the events that took place between stardates 88886.95 and 88886.26 aboard the USS Eventide (NCC-93717) at the court martialling of Captain Mona Caddel and Commander Floyd Styre. The court martial will happen on stardate 88913.35. -- JAG Corps

Great, she thought, now on top of all these condolence letters she had that to think about. She signed and put the computer to sleep. Perhaps she should walk for a bit, she thought, could do her some good.

PADD MESSAGE

To: @Lieutenant Lilian So From: Lt. JG. Ava Lopez Regarding: Authorization for a visitor in the lab [one attachment] Lieutenant So, Lt. Georgia Hill’s daughter, Jasmine, is currently staying aboard the starbase for a visit. She’s requested to be shown the labs and I’ve agreed to do so. She is an extremely intelligent girl, with a high curiosity and work ethic. She also has experience in scientific fields such as cybernetic science. (You will find a confirmation of this in the attachment.) I’ve found that it would be a great opportunity for her if she could assist me in my research. She would never be alone in the labs, everything she does would be supervised by me. She would help me greatly and I am therefore asking you to authorize her to stay in the lab with me and assist me. Lt. JG. Ava Lopez Science officer

PADD MESSAGE

To: @Lt. JG. Ava Lopez From: Lieutenant Lilian So Regarding: RE: Authorization for a visitor in the lab [one attachment] Lt. JG. Ava Lopez Returning the form filled out, hope you two have a good tour! Lieutenant Lilian So CSO, USS Eventide

(edited)

PADD MESSAGE

To: @Lt. JG. Adill Rik'Mut From: Lieutenant Lilian So Regarding: RE: Authorization for a visitor in the lab Lt. JG. Ava Lopez Would you like it if I swung by to meet her? Lieutenant Lilian So CSO, USS Eventide

PADD MESSAGE

To: @Lieutenant Lilian So Regarding: RE: RE: Authorization for a visitor in the lab Lieutenant, if you’re free to do so, I’m sure she’d like to meet you. Lt. JG. Ava Lopez Science Officer

PADD MESSAGE

To: @Lieutenant Lilian So From: Lieutenant JG. Melaara Zeatraan Regarding: Neurological Study of Neural Manipulation After the events that took place during the rescue mission of the captured officers and civilians from the pirates, I've been tasked with trying to figure out how the Reman was able to do what he did. After looking through the facts, I need a test subject to test my theory so that we can develop a counter to prevent any more officers from being under his control and those like him. - Ensign Zeatraan

PADD MESSAGE

To: Lieutenant JG. Melaara Zeatraan From: Lieutenant Lilian So Regarding: RE: Neurological Study of Neural Manipulation Lieutenant JG. Melaara Zeatraan What exactly do you need from me in regards to that? I can send authorization if that's what you need. Lieutenant Lilian So CSO, USS Eventide

PADD MESSAGE

To: Lieutenant Lilian So From: Junior Lieutenant Melaara Zeatraan RE: Neurological Study of Neural Manipulation I apologize for being unclear. I need permission to go through with the experiment as told by Lt. Cmdr. Dagis. - Junior Lieutenant Melaara Zeatraan Starbase 777, Neurologist

[D] A courier left a Secret Santa gift outside of Lilian’s quarters. Upon being opened it would reveal a simple yeasted oval shaped cake made with rich eggs and butter, with chopped dried fruits both inside of the cake and topping it. The toppings of it vary wildly from golden sultanas, to raisins, to halved fresh figs, quinces and cherries all atop a bed of soft whipped cream. A simple but elegant Christmas desert relating to ancient Spanish traditions, certain to please the palate of most.

Lilian gasped seeing the cake. It look excellent, and she couldn't wait to dig in. However, she wasn't very hungry right now and had other things to tend to. Making a note to send a thank you if she found out who sent it, she carefully set it in her small personal fridge.

The Borg woman was given a lot to think about with the resulting conversation inside the bar. That being said, she wasn't entirely swayed in any way. To that end, she'd already dulled herself back into the mindless routine she had going. It was efficient, automated... it didn't need so much thought. Still, she found herself marching (somewhat) Towards the CSO's office. She needed to know what her assignments were- of course it was the holidays and there wasn't much to... well- do, as far as that went, but she cared not. She needed something to do. Purpose, designation- the closest thing she could get to the collective inside her head. Maybe then she'd be able to think about this. Or try to. Thinking about anything was... different. She actually had opinions on things, but they all aligned entirely with the borg ideology. That was to be expected, of course, given she'd been there for twenty years or so. She was wiped clean. She trailed a hand across her shaven head- noting the small fuzz coming back... the texture made her wince and grimace as the door opened and she rather rudely stepped inside and stood at attention. Her honeycombed borg eye seemed to glare a beam at the other end of the wall as her pale skin reflected the luminescence of the room. Her mouth did not move but her metal throat spoke for her- the voicebox working fine, but giving her a digital tone. "I await my assignment." "please."

"Oh hello, I'm not sure there's much to be done right now. What is your name and specialty may I ask?" She smiled warmly at this new, clearly junior, officer.

The freshly Liberated Borg raised one eyebrow in confusion, but it slowly lowered. This was... the head? Really? She seemed so... unfocused. Inefficient. She was still gagging from saying 'I' and simply refrained from answering the question for some time, allowing two minutes of silence to pass before she finally spoke. "Designation: Xenon. Translation. Linguistics. Encryption through vocal passcodes. Research." She stated the last part in a dry, almost insulting manner- as if insinuating that the officer was unaware of the meaning.* "Please."

Lilian quickly flipped to the officers file. "Ah, liberated fairly recently I see. Well, we did pick up some kind unknown transmission fairly recently. We initially assumed it was stellar in but no one has figure out where. Do you want to take a look at it, see if it was maybe from a primitive civilization?"

"Primitive... Define." She stepped closer- one hand raising up across her shaved head again, shuddering once before lowering her hand... it was becoming a bad habit. Was it something she used to do? When she worked on the station before..? "Primitive can mean... multiple things. This could be said... to be primitive. The station. the ship. Primitive... Send it, deciphering will get to work immediately. Updates each hour...yes, hourly."

"Oh you really don't need to do it that often if you don't want." Lilian sent the file over. "I would expect it to be some industrial, early space age people if it is a civilization. Let me know if I can help you with adjusting in any way." She had to stifle a yawn as she rubbed her eyes. The length of the day was catching up with her.

Again, her eyes narrowed. Not in any offense, rather... it was just her working through how to translate her emotions to her face. or to translate ANYTHING to her face. Despite her not usually moving her lips, they pursed more than usual. "Adjusting to the... file. No." She didn't understand the type of adjustment she meant, and simply stood in the office like a decoration- decrypting and trying to format it until answered.

Lilian chuckled softly. "No dear, I meant adjusting to life here."

"Dear...?" her head tilted for a moment, confusion boiled across her face as she tried to rack her brain for a suitable circumstance for that word to be used. In face, she ignored the rest of the sentence trying to figure it out- even falling silent, and scratching her head once more.

"Oh that's just like... a term used to refer to a person? I'm sorry, I'm not the most familiar with what the term means exactly."

"Dear- the logical term- is affection. Kind affection. Specifically reserved in certain scenarios regarding mating between sentient beings in a common language. This is why the context is... lacking. You were ignorant to the nature- therefore... No elaboration is required." She seemed pleased with herself, at least enough to revert to her current task.

Lilian shrugged. “Sounds right to me. Kinda just a more general term in some areas I guess.”

"No." Her head shook quickly, but mechanically. "The understanding is from the consciousness of the borg. the collective... before disconnection. They were never wrong. I was never wrong. I am not wrong." She seemed a little perturbed by the self insinuation that she would be wrong about something.

“What I was getting it is that in certain areas it’s less reserved for partners, and more for anyone you’d feel some affection for.”

"Why would you feel affection for this unit- this... person." She gestured to herself to try and facilitate that she was talking about herself again. even if it was obvious. Her human eye seemed to flit to the left in nervous anxiousness... Affection? Of any kind? Unknown. Not good.

“You’re one of my officers, I have a duty of respect to you. It’s my job to take care of you.”

Quickly, her head shook- it seemed a lot more reflexive and human than her normal movements. "Not needed. Capable of handling things." And like that- she spun on her feet and put her hands behind her back before resuming her robotic gait and walking right out the door.

Lilian left the room and made her way to the turbolifts.

Lilian was writing her latest report on a Stone Age civilization. (edited)

Lilian looked up as the alarm started. “I’d better go see what that’s about.”