Star Trek: Starbase 777

After the rigorous testing, engram review, medical testing, genetic testing and commissioning, Randi had taken some time to get everything set up in her new quarters, Randi had been told to expect a visit from someone in intelligence. Now she’d been patiently waiting, clad in her new uniform for the debriefer to arrive, not particularly anticipating the interaction, but knowing it was the final step before things could go back to normal, and she could return to duty.

And as if completely on cue a chime came from Randi’s door, the debriefer having arrived to debrief. Clad in a pristine purple uniform with deliberately and ever so carefully styled messy hair, a relatively short Trill-looking person stood with a PADD in their hands, already having been mentally going over everything they had to achieve in this interaction since before they had left the turbolift. Despite appearing Trill their spots were fairly faint.

As soon as the door chimed, Randi bolted to the door, pressing the control to open it, hoping that this went well. With a (hopefully) confident grin, she gestured for Alyx to enter, very much ready to start, and to be done with the debrief. “Come in, please.” She said, before making her way over to the replicator, producing a pitcher of water and two glasses, before setting it down on the coffee table and taking a seat in one of the chairs. “Anything I can get you, or would you prefer to get started?”

As the individual they were here to see opened the door Alyx immediately went about observing everything they possibly could, both about appearance and the quarters they were entering. As they were welcomed in they couldn’t help but mentally take note about how Randi had already donned a new uniform. Expectant, or hopeful? Looking around the quarters they took note of where everything was, how everything was positioned, before turning their attention towards sitting down as the other did so. “No, thank you. I’m more of a business first kind of person.” They replied in a friendly yet professional tone. They were here to do a job, so that’s exactly what they intended on doing. Glancing down at their PADD, they swiped their finger across the screen before looking up once more. “If you are ready to proceed we can begin, but I am required to inform you that this interview will be recorded for official purposes. It’s just so we can retain a record of it.”

"Understood, I imagine with a case as unique as mine, you'll want to have as much documentation as possible to give to your superiors." She said with a light chuckle as she nodded her assent, having calmed significantly when she realized this seemed to be standard operating procedures. "Please do continue, I will answer everything I can to the best of my ability, and feel free to compare to the engram review." She said, throwing Alyx a pleasant smile.

Studying Randi as she spoke, the hybrid took a moment to tap a button on their PADD before placing it down on the table between the two officers, the recording officially begun. “Alright then. I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Morgan, Intelligence Maintaining and Deputising Division. I will be performing your official debrief under Starfleet Regulation one hundred and sixty-two, article fifteen in accordance with the Temporal Directive. Please state your name, rank, serial number, date of birth, place of birth, and age.”

Randi nodded, unsurprised at the officer’s efficiency, but glad that they seem to be doing it by the book, having had quite the different experience during a similar debrief after arriving in the alternate universe. “I am Lieutenant Randi Lovell, serial number RL-3532-4476-789696, Born June 9th, 2393, Landry Medical Center, Spruce Texas, and I am currently 27 years old.” She said simply, making it a point to relax her body language.

Without so much as having to listen Alyx sat in silence as Randi spoke, their posture leaning forward just slightly and their hands clasped together in their lap as the Operations officer spoke. "You'll be aware that your date of birth and age do not mathematically add up. I consider that a temporal discrepancy in this case, and as you know, the Temporal Directive makes Starfleet's stance quite clear on time travel and other such subjects. You, however, did not travel through time. At least, not to begin with, anyway. If anything, your situation is less of a case of time travel and more of timeline hopping, so to speak. I've been briefed on your being here, on how you are here. You're like a spring in a way, only one that took seven years to return to its starting place. My only concern right now, though, is how much information that spring brought back with it. That is the real temporal threat." The hybrid said in a very matter of fact tone. "To be quite frank, I don't want to know what happened during the seven years you spent living your life that caused the temporal discrepancy in your age, because you and I both know that would break the Temporal Directive. I want to know that you know and understand that under no circumstances are you permitted to discuss those years you spent living your life outside of a certified Starfleet counsellor's office. Not about the people you knew if said people exist in this timeline as well but were in any way different in your old one, not about your career advancements in comparison to Mr. Lovell's, and not about the galactic politics or the technological advancements, because if you were to discuss any of that it could effect this timeline. Do you know what the butterfly effect is, Lieutenant?"

Randi listened with a calm and even expression, despite how frustrated she was that she could never talk about anything from the past seven years with all the people that meant anything to her, all the friendships, relationships, historical events, the lot. But, she knew how much damage she could inflict with the knowledge she possessed, and because of that, would do everything she could to keep it to herself. “I understand absolutely, it is imperative to keep everything close to the chest to make sure nothing here is affected. You know from my file and debrief just how much I went through, and that I would do anything to make sure my home is safe and as it should be.”

Saying you understand and actually sticking to that were two very different kettles of fish indeed, but as per always in this job you could either take someone’s word for something or monitor them for the rest of their existence, and Alyx really didn’t think monitoring Randi was worth the resources considering the fact that she was a Starfleet officer and understood the risks. If anything were to happen it would be easily caught and dealt with, so there was no real threat as far as the MADD officer was concerned. Still, doesn’t hurt to be paranoid every once in a while, either. “Good.” The Lieutenant responded plainly. “I just hope you remember what you’ve said today, Lieutenant, because you know the potential risks if you make a mistake. Treading on eggshells for the rest of your life is not what’s needed here, but competency, not complacency, is.” Ending the recording and picking their PADD back up, the hybrid stood and pulled down their jacket. “I’ll get out of your hair so you can go on duty. I expect one of my colleagues will be in contact with you if you need a reminder of what we spoke about today.” They added, accidentally sounding far more ominous than intended (at least, it seemed accidental) as they headed to the door. “Thank you for the water.” They said in a simple yet polite tone, before exiting the Lovell ‘twin’s’ quarters and heading off down the hallway, back to go and file their report.

”Can you hear me, Ensign?” “I doubt that you are. So why don’t you just tell us the truth?” “I’m your only friend here. Just tell me the truth.” “…You saw what lying did to your superior.” “Yaveru.” “Yaveru.” “Yaver-” She screamed, instantly slamming her back against the wall as her hands gripped the bed. Her antennae twitched violently, her whole body sweating profusely despite the cool atmosphere of the room, yet it only made the room seem so much darker and unknown to her. She felt scared, like she was in danger once again. Yaveru thought she had it under control, yet clearly she wasn’t. The images were clear again, as if she was still bleeding and bruised facing the empty void before her eyes burned from the light. Then there were the voices, faint whispers that seemed to say nothing but mean everything. Memories so vivid she felt as if someone was breathing down her neck. She grasped her head, wiping some of the sweat from her brow. There was no blood, good… good. She looked around again, as if not quite certain she was where she was. Yaveru knew it was her quarters, of course, but her mind seemed to be completely distrusting of what was infront of her. The Trill-Andorian stood up, walking slowly to the little display by her bed. Her fingers moved at an even tired pace, as she accessed the LCARS. Another push of a button and a simple box showed up, it read “Medical”. Her hand hovered over by it for a moment, at first intending to make the call. She had nightmares like this after she came back to Earth, and they seemed to go away after a while. If they were coming back surely it warranted a call.

19:00

Yet something stalled her, some thought inside her mind. She remembered the ceremony, celebrating the end of the war. She remembered the faces of those who fought through all of it, who saw people, hundreds among thousands, die right in front of them. Tired, scarred, damaged. And what did she do? She lost. Archanis fell to the Klingons, and for the next three years she was simply a captive. She didn’t even stage a prison outbreak, or try to go out with honour and grace. Compared to those who had actually fought through it all, who had to lose family and friends, those who had to stare death in the face again and again with blood and tears. Then there were her fellow crewmates. Slashed in the neck, claws deep into their own flesh, limbs lost. Did she even deserve this? They were the ones who needed the help, they were the ones who earned it. In her own eyes, she earned nothing, nothing but to be called a coward. She was no hero, no survivor. Who was she? Who was she to cry and pity herself? Wasting others time on some issue she could resolve on her own. It had been a week, everyone else seemed to be fine after their share of mandatory counselling, why not her? Why had she wasted their time?

19:02

Of course they would say they cared, and deep down Yaveru knew they did, but at this moment all she could remember was betrayal. She didn’t come from a utopia, the people that shaped her character as a child certainly proved it. It had been ingrained in her head, the old saying of “This is just how the world works' '. Instead of comforting a lost soul, they tore them apart, laughing and ripping them into shreds exploiting their vulnerability. She did not want to end up like that. Never again. So slowly, despite her mind telling her not to, she let her hands fall as she stared at the screen for just another moment before turning it off. She walked away, her antenna still flared and twitched as if it was being carved out again. A cup of water would bring her out of this mood, right? First it was one cup, then two, then eight. In the end all that was left was a girl, slumped over on the side of the wall, staring at some random wall in her room. Her mind blank, unwilling to function as she simply looked on, before eventually fading back into unconsciousness. Her mind now busy trying to forget it all once again, only for the flood of memories and dreams to shatter that wall another day, it was only a matter of time.