Star Trek: Starbase 777 - texas

Founded in 1840, Piñon Ranch is one of the largest cattle ranches in northwest Texas, the first thing that individuals would notice when first arriving is its grand entrance. A sturdy, wrought-iron gate adorned with intricate patterns and motifs opens up to a winding gravel road, leading you deeper into the heart of the property. Lush greenery lines the path, with vibrant wildflowers dancing in the gentle breeze. The ranch itself utilizes a classic Texas ranch-style architecture, characterized by a combination of stonework and rich wooden elements. The main house is a stately two-story structure with a spacious porch, providing the perfect vantage point to admire the panoramic vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. Large windows invite abundant natural light into the interior, highlighting the warm and inviting atmosphere that permeates every corner.

03:45

Sprawling across the grounds, is a myriad of outdoor spaces designed for relaxation and recreation. A meticulously manicured garden blooms with a riot of colors, showcasing a diverse array of native plants and fragrant blossoms. A tranquil pond glistens under the sun, its waters home to a variety of aquatic life. Numerous walking trails wind through the property, inviting visitors to explore the picturesque surroundings. One of the standout features of the Piñon Ranch is its expansive equestrian facilities. A state-of-the-art barn houses well-kept stalls, providing a comfortable and secure home for the horses and rorses that call this ranch their own. Adjacent to the barn, a riding arena awaits, offering the perfect space for training, show jumping, or simply enjoying a leisurely ride amidst the natural beauty of the ranch. An inviting swimming pool, provides a refreshing oasis to beat the heat. A charming patio area with comfortable seating with several barbeque grills and pits ringing the area, the wafting smells of centuries old food traditions in the warm, sweet air. As the sun sets, a cozy fire pit becomes the ideal spot to gather and share stories beneath the starlit sky.

And here was Lisa, come to visit the ranch and some of her coworkers. It was so much easier to interact with officers now that she wasn’t ACOS, even if she dearly missed the cozy office of days past. She didn’t carry much, just a duffel bag over her shoulder and a long and not very wide present wrapped in yellow wrapping paper. She wouldn’t go to stay at anyone’s house without bringing a gift, that was totally against the Sanders family values. She took a look at all the surrounding views, everything was so lovely and inviting. She could smell the barbecue already. She hadn’t been to Texas very much, now she realized she had been missing out. She walked up to the main house, and its porch, and politely knocked on the door.

[D] Having already taken a day to reacquaint himself to the family home, Randy had been lounging on the couch, taking some time to go back an reread a few of his favorite books he had left at home, having missed the smell of actual paper and the heft that only real books could replicate, when he heard the telltale knocking on the front door. Knowing if it was his brother or parents, they’d have simply just barged in, loudly talking on the comms, or to someone else, he could only assume one of the people he’d invited to the ranch had arrived! He practically leapt off of the couch and bolted to the door, realizing only once he had made it to the door itself that because it still was before noon, he was, regretfully, still in his pajamas. Hoping that whoever it was wouldn’t mind, he flung open the door, a wide, bright smile on his face. He quickly noted it was the former ACOS of Rapture, a welcome sight! “Well how do ma’am! It’s nice tuh’ see someun’ actually here early for once! Wah, I tell ya, I was half worried no’un’d show up and we got all em’ cabins made up for nuthin’!” He exclaimed happily, before gesturing for Lisa to come in. “Come on in! I can take those bags for ya if ya want! We got tha’ family’s ol’ transporter in tha’ mudroom, so I can send ur’ stuff over to ur’ cabin in a jiffy!”

Of course, Lisa didn’t mind that Randy was still in his pajamas. Had the roles been reversed, Lisa would most likely be wearing pajamas as well. So she couldn’t really talk. She wasn’t even wearing anything too fancy, just comfy jean shorts and a yellow t-shirt. It was Texas and it was hot, there was no fashion anymore. “Oh, no need for being formal. We’re far from on-duty right about now. Oh, and I brought a gift.” She gestured to the wrapped present she was carrying. If unwrapped, it would reveal a beautiful still-life oil painting on a medium sized canvas. The painting was of a crystal vase of flowers- chrysanthemums and goldenrods and asters. It was expertly done, Lisa had been painting since she was a young child after all. She had decades to practice. “Thank you, it’s much appreciated.” She handed him her duffel bag. It wasn’t too heavy, Lisa was known to be a very light packer for vacations.

Randy let out a deep belly laugh, happily obliging Lisa. “Yes ma—Lisa! Wha, if my Daddies woulda’ heard me callin’ a superior by their given name, I’d be in a messa’ trouble! They’re real strict like bout’ manners n’ stuff!” He said with a conspiratorial grin. He gracefully took the bag from Lisa, slinging it over his shoulder, curiously eyeing the gift. “Well, there’s still some warm biscuits n’ gravy and coffee over on tha’ table if you wanna have a bite while I get all this sent over to your cabin!” He said, gesturing over to the table where the aromas of lard-laden sausage gravy and strong cowboy coffee were lingering, before darting off to the transporter and sending everything off to the cabin.

“Oh, for me it’s the opposite. Rank doesn’t matter to me unless we’re in uniform and working. Everyone’s different though.” Still holding the gift, she moved to give it to Randy. After it all, it was for his family and his family’s house. Her preferred gifts to give to people were always paintings. They always came out nicely, plus, she loved making them. “This is for your family, I don’t come to stay at someone’s home without bringing a gift.” She noticed the table, smelling the gravy and coffee from her location. She began to walk over and take a plate with a biscuit and cup of coffee. “Thank you, it smells wonderful.”

Coming back to the table after double checking Lisa’s things made it to the cabin, Randy took the gift with a grin and a slight bow of his neck, showing his gratitude. “Well thank ya! I’m sure its somethin’ lovely!” He said, before grabbing his mug and refilling it with the piping hot brew. “A’ course! One of tha’ best things bout’ bein’ home is all the honest to goodness, real food! It’s nice ta’ cook again!”

“Definitely, I think the only downside to being in Starfleet is that there’s no ovens anywhere. I miss cooking. Plus, some recipes the replicators just don’t get right. You ever seen a replicator screw up a bowl of grapes? I have, they did not taste good.” Most people who knew how to cook in the slightest took some time to shit-talk replicators in favor of actually cooking. That was just how it was. She was glad Randy took the gift. Mostly gifts were her way of showing appreciation. She took a sip of coffee- it was strong, but that was how she liked it. “I have to say, this is a damn good cup of coffee.”

Randy let out a deep belly laugh at Lisa’s comment about grapes, slightly curious to have seen just how badly they were messed up. Though, he did remember the first time he asked for bbq brisket from the replicator at school when he was a child and he ended up with a puddle of it instead of the succulent slices he was expecting. “Wha, ur’ right on tha’ money there! At least tha’ ones on tha’ station are a bit better n’ tha’ ones in people’s homes, but shoot, gimme tha’ real stuff every time!” He gave Lisa a bright grin at her compliment of his coffee, something he was especially proud of. “Oh really? Thank ya! The coffee is actually a bit ofa’ neat story! My Poppa, for as long as I can remember always hated replicated coffee, so bout’ 10 or so years ago, he had a greenhouse specially’ built so he could grow his own right here on tha’ ranch! What ur’ drinkin’ is some genuine local west Texas coffee! Sure puts tha’ stuff we normally have ta’ drink ta’ shame, though, raktajino sure is somethin’ special!”

From out of nowhere, the reflective and swirling beams of the transporter materialized into view, casting a bright blast of light on the surroundings right between Lisa and Randy. As they disappeared, the stature of a moderately short Vulcan young woman appeared. Essen took a breath of the Earth air, as it was something she hadn't experienced in a while. Unlike her Starbase casual attire, she sported a t-shirt with the phrase "Bad Bitch"on it, jean shorts, and foam flip-flops. She was adorned with summer nail polish, with a multi-colored beach ball painted on both thumbs and each big toe. She finally was without her red headband -- but in place of a baby blue one. All of a sudden, unsurprising. Her deep scar shone almost sparklingly today, stretching from her forehead to her chin with almost a glimmer. " 'Sup dorks. The peaceful end of your shore leave has come to an end. It's Essen time."

“I’m with you on that, there’s nothing like a real home-cooked meal. Or, just real food in general. I don’t think anything can replicate the feeling of just wandering into the kitchen at 3 AM and making eggs and bacon on a whim.” Which was a real Lisa Experience that happened whenever she was around a real kitchen. She was a really light sleeper who could definitely be awakened by a late-night craving for bacon. “Now that’s dedication right there, props to your poppa for the effort of growing coffee from scratch. Definitely puts my normal coffee to shame. I do like a good raktajino once in a while, though.” Hearing the transporter switch on, she turned around to see Essen. She’d never seen her before. Definitely Essen didn’t dress like most Vulcans she had come to know. The ACOS in her was resurfacing again- what was this Ensign on about, calling her a dork. “It’s all of our time, actually. I like a fair bit of liveliness on my vacations, but maybe some peace would do us all some good.”

Randy was happily chatting away with Lisa, nodding along in agreement. “I’ll let him know! He’ll be tickled pink ta’ know ya’ like it! When ur’ ready ta’ head back to tha’ station I’ll give ya’ a couple kilos so ya’ can have tha’ real stuff!” He said with a grin, holding his mug up a in ‘cheers’ gesture. At the unexpected materialization, Randy jumped slightly, having never encountered anyone beaming directly into his home, not even family. He had barely taken a moment to see just who had entered in such a…flamboyant manner, when he was being insulted by a stranger in the middle of his own home. With a red-faced scowl, he turned to the intruder, absolutely shocked at the lack of decorum, knowing that if his parents had been at home, the stranger would have had quite a different welcoming. “Scuse’ me, but might a’ ask just who are ya’? And why do ya’ think you can just beam directly into my family’s home and go off insultin’ myself and ma’ friend?”

Essen let out a slight evil giggle. "Well, my name is Essen, but you might know me as your worst nightmare. And don't worry, I call almost everyone dorks or some variation of that. It's not personal." She adorned a smile that made it evident that she was being sarcastic, yet her tone of voice was different. Still, Essen loved to mess with everyone she could be around. "I'm the new Space Tactician," Essen continued. *Just started here. Thought I'd let off some steam. Besides, I don't often get to have authentically-made Earth food not made by replicators. And I like to cause chaos. If I had a last or middle name, chaos would be it." *It was a miracle Essen wasn't brought in for multiple emergency mental evaluations during her time as a Starfleet officer. Essen promptly found a chair to sit in next to Lisa and Randy, sat down and slipped off her flip flops before putting her hands behind her head. "Y'all are both a little feisty. I like you both already."

“Essen, you’re lucky we aren’t on duty. I like authentic food as much as the next person but barging in- that’s rude as all hell. The door is right there, you could’ve knocked like a normal person.” If there was anything Lisa wasn’t a fan of, it was people with bad manners. She took a bite of her biscuit and another sip of coffee, wondering how this would go. This certainly wouldn’t go very well, she thought.

While Essen certainly was ambivalent, she wasn't unreasonable. "My bad - I'll see if I can beam down outside from now on." And just as the other may have thought she had loosened up... "Besides, I'll have more opportunities to prank you from the outside." Yup... That didn't last long. "But hey, if I didn't do that to people that means I don't love 'em. You haven't seen my psycho side. But I'm far from it right now. Trust me, once you get to know me it gets fuuuuun."

He gave Lisa an appreciative smile, glad for her defense with someone as erratic as this. Randy was normally a very chill, measured person, but he happened to be quite protective of his home, especially since it had been him that had asked that his parents make their home available for guests under the assumption that since those invited had been Starfleet officers, would act with some measure of respect for a place so old, and so treasured. With a clenched jaw, Randy carefully lowered his bulk into one of the centuries-old chairs at the table, and took a long pull from his coffee, wishing in that moment that it had been filled with something a little stronger than the brew, before responding to the other officer, activating his UT subroutine to make sure his point came across correctly. “I ask that if you are serious about staying, you give this property some measure of respect, it has been my family’s ancestral home for almost six hundred years, not only are things delicate, but many things, like the table we are sitting at are also centuries old and imbued with important history to my family. You are here as a guest, and I do hope that you understand what that means in terms of respect not just to the property itself, but also to those who live there as well as any other guests that might be in attendance, such as my friend Lisa here.” He said, gesturing to the security officer next to him.

“Thanks, Randy. Plus, I may not act like it right now, Essen, but I am two ranks above you and I’m not afraid of reporting people for antagonizing and disrespecting their fellow officers. So unless you want to hear it from the higher-ups in Tactical, I suggest you calm down and chill out.” She smiled at Randy. She was hoping to have a good time being chill, maybe seeing some horses, and painting the landscape. Not having it all ruined by chaos. This was supposed to be a nice relaxing vacation. Lisa, for all her muscles and ugly, very visible slash-wound scars, just wanted some peace and quiet. She was considering finding out where her duffel bag went and getting out the bottle of Romulan ale she brought. She could use something strong right about now.

For the first time in what seemed to be ages, Essen finally let her natural tendencies be shielded by decorum. For having been in so much pain in the past, the last thing she wanted to do was to carry it onto someone else. At that very moment, Essen's demeanor changed from snotty to ashamed -- flashbacks from the accident that gave her the scar on her face resurfaced, and she realized she was capable of bringing even the slightest comparison of that pain to Lisa and Randy. She wouldn't. She just couldn't. Despite her normal behaviors, this was one time where she did not want to risk a bad relationship with any officer, be it ranking above or below her. And she did respect Lisa and Randy, even after just meeting them. A tear escaped Essen's eye. "My deepest apologies, lieutenant and cadet. I'm out of line and as such I assume full responsibility for disrupting the peace here and disrespecting you both, as it was clearly both unwarranted and unwelcome. I can assure you I won't disturb or disrespect either of you again, be it here or on the Starbase or anywhere else. I will submit a report to Tactical myself concerning my actions and I will endure any consequences necessary for me to take accountability now and moving forward. I am so, very sorry... I need a minute to compose myself, is there a restroom nearby that I could please use?"

To put it mildly, he was shocked by Essen’s reaction and the swift change in her demeanor and how his and Lisa’s stern words seemed to be affecting her. Perhaps, if the way she was acting when she first arrived was her version of normal, the proverbial bucket of cold water might actually do some good. Upon seeing her start to cry, Randy internally winced, having not meant to elicit a reaction as strong as that, simply telling the Ensign of how to act when a guest in someone’s home. He gripped the side of his mug as he took in what she was saying, his face placidly neutral, not typically one to advertise any negative emotions he happened to be feeling. “Ensign, I assure you that there doesn’t need to be any report, I was simply just asking you to follow guest customs, it was not an inditement on you personally. There is a restroom down the hall, second door to the right.” He said carefully, not wanting to upset her further.

Potential TW, gore, CW, discussion of injury Essen's mind swirled, the flashbacks getting even worse by the second. She nodded towards Randy. "Thank you, Cadet. Lieutenant. Please excuse me." Without hesitation, Essen quickly made her way down the hall, stepping briskly to the second door on the right. She knocked as to ensure the restroom was vacant, before opening the door and stepping inside. Essen ran the sink and did exactly what Randy was thinking, despite not actually having heard it from him. She splashed the cold water on her face, trying to wash away both the smeared eyeliner down her face and the emotional response she wasn't expecting nor welcoming to let loose. Tears now began pouring out of her eyes, accompanied by the flow of rushing water being splashed on her face. This is something neither Randy nor Lisa most likely would ever understand, at least how Essen had lived through it. The searing pain of the machinery slicing into her face, barely grazing her brain... the humiliation of being barely able to defend herself, and losing a part of her life due to the part of her brain being sliced into, nearly killing her. Through the opaque glaze of green blood shielding her eye on one side as she rolled out of the machinery, Essen knew her life would never be the same. This is the last thing Essen wanted to have happen. She herself also wanted a chance to relax and let off steam. Yet, her own impudence would prevent her from catching a break.

After Essen had left, Randy turned toward Lisa with wide-eyed confusion. “Of all the responses she could have given, that was probably the one that I expected the least…” He said, trailing off, before standing and making his way to a nearby side table, grabbing a decanter full of amber liquid and pouring a healthy amount into his coffee mug. With a ‘cheers’ gesture, he held up the mug and downed the contents of it all in one long pull.

“Agreed. Not an unwelcome response though. That she’ll respect you and your home, and our peaceful time here before going back into the circus that is 777. I mean, if you’re going to prank someone at least get to know them first, that’s just common courtesy.” 777 was chaotic after all. Plenty of people coming in and out, crowds everywhere, and lots to do for a Security gal like herself. “What’ve you got in that decanter? And more importantly, mind if I take a little for my coffee?”

He threw Lisa a cheeky grin at her question and gestured for her to hand him her mug, deactivating his UT program before speaking. “It’s some good ol’ Texas whiskey from tha’ distillery ma’ family has co-owned for a couple hundred years! This though…” He gestured to the decanter. “Is somethin’ a lil’ special, a 30-year Texas bourbon, justa’ bout’ tha’ best stuff ya’ can get! Just a warnin’ though, its got a bit of a kick!” He said with a chuckle, before filling her mug to the brim with the aromatic drink, doing the same to his. “A little day drinkin’ is needed after all that I say!” He exclaimed with a deep belly laugh.

“Your family sure has a lot of history! Mine really doesn’t. There’s a tailor shop my family owns that goes back 300 years, but that’s about it. My oldest cousin runs it with her partner.” Only one family business sure was a relatively small problem, but compared to the massive history of the Lovells, well, damn. Distillery, coffee, a ranch. That was a lot to run. She gratefully accepted the bourbon, taking a sip. She nodded- it really did have a kick. But this was the woman who drank Romulan ale semi-frequently, so could she really talk? “It does have a kick! It smells quite nice though. Mostly I’m a wine or romulan ale type of woman though, but this bourbon might make me change my mind!”

“Three centuries ain’t no slouch! History is history, it dudn’t matter if it was planetside or on one of them colonies!” He said with a firm nod and a disarming smile. He let out a deep chuckle at Lisa’s ringing endorsement of the whiskey, proud that it was something others have loved in the past and the present. “Glad ta’ hear that! I’ll send over a couple bottles to your cabin, just in case you want tuh’ have some folks over, or get lit, I don’t judge!” He said with another grin, before downing another sip of his own.

For what felt like it lasted an eternity, but in reality was only a few minutes, Essen didn't know what to do or say. Inside the restroom she was pretty much frozen, she couldn't move or speak. She didn't even find the energy to be able to even move her eyes around as she just stared forwards. This certainly wasn't a worst-case scenario, but it wasn't being friendly to her in the least. She had no beef with Lisa or Randy, she in fact already admired them for their authority and position, she only had herself to blame. A perfect shore leave for her, one that she thought would be spotless, turned to ruin within literal minutes. Essen sat inside the restroom, curled up into a ball, bracing herself with her arms. She knew she had to do something about herself, and quick. But she had to do something about this situation with Lisa and Randy, quicker.

“You’re right, it’s certainly no easy feat to keep a business open so long. All my nice dresses are from that shop, I’ve got a family discount.” After all, she did help out in the shop when she could. She loved helping out and spending time with her cousin and big family. She loved everyone in her family. “Thanks! Also should we check on Essen? Or just leave her alone.”

At the mention of Essen, the geneial smile that had been plastered on the Cadet’s face practically melted away, a grimace taking its place. In truth, he really had no idea what to do in this situation, having planned for a simple, easy, relaxing shore leave at home with family and friends, not the…situation this was turning out to be. “I…ain’t sure what tuh’ do, never been in a situation like this afore’. Folks I’m usually round’ are a bit more mellow than tha’ her. Whadya’ think?”

“I’ll go check on her. Maybe she’ll have calmed down and can enjoy herself like a normal person instead of having everything devolve into chaos. I defuse situations all the time, it’s a big part of being Security.” After all, you couldn’t break out the phaser every single time a problem arose. That was bad, and downright dangerous depending on the situation. She had good conflict resolution skills. So, she walked over to the bathroom Essen was hidden in, and knocked. “Hey, are you okay?” She asked softly.

Essen had to muster enough strength for her to even stand up. She took a moment to examine her appearance if anything had gotten disheveled before she finally used the side of the wall as a brace to push herself upwards into a fully standing position. Essen took a moment to breathe, deeply and slowly, restraining herself back to her root Vulcan emotional suppression, something she hadn't done in years, and something that seemed unnatural. It took an immense amount of energy to compose herself as the memories had been rushing back into her mind unrestrained. It actually took several moments before Essen could even open her eyes again, and she finally felt like she could have a sliver of peace. Slightly fixing her hair in the mirror, she straightened herself up before opening the door and seeing Lisa standing before her. She greeted Lisa with as much of a smile as she could muster. "Yes, Lieutenant," Essen replied carefully. "Thank you for checking on me. I did not mean to concern you with my outburst. I will see to it that I conduct myself in respectful accordance with your and the Cadet's expectations from this moment forward. May I join you for a drink?"

Lisa smiled warmly, happy to know Essen was at least slightly okay. Lisa didn’t mean to hurt anyone, she was a kind soul who wouldn’t hurt a fly. Unless she had no other choice she preferred diplomacy. Lisa wasn’t very likely to choose violence, ever. She did like to spar though, but that was consensual and nobody was hurting anybody. “Glad to hear you’re okay. No harm, no foul, and you’re welcome to hang out. From what I’ve seen, this ranch is really beautiful. So come and join us, Randy’s got some excellent bourbon and some damn good coffee.”

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Essen replied, stepping back out into the hallway with Lisa before heading back to where Randy was. Crisis averted. Although Essen was denied of having her version of "fun," as her traditional Vulcan mindset kicked in she realized maybe it actually was best for her to take things a bit slower. The ranch outside was quite beautiful, and Essen never really stopped to take it all in because she was so focused on mischief when she arrived. Now? She could actually see what was happening around her, she could take it all in, she could absorb it. Essen approached Randy once more. "Please excuse my unfiltered display of juvenility, Cadet. It took the chance away for us to formally acquaint each other upon my arrival. It is truly a privilege to meet you. Both of you." Essen stuck her hand out for both Randy and Lisa to shake. Although in the back of her mind, she had a panging sensation, as if something were trapped there, wanting to get out... It was shielded behind her now calm and composed mannerisms, yet something felt captured in there, like it was crying for help, desperate to escape and survive...

While Randy never made any pretenses about being a socially minded person, he did like to think he had some ability to read people, and when Essen came back, he could tell that there had been a big change in not only her demeanor, but in the way she was presenting herself. While he never meant to make the Ensign feel bad, especially one who was a superior officer, he was glad that he stood up for himself, his family and his home. He carefully shook the proffered hand, surprised that a Vulcanoid would willingly accept the touch (shaking hands no less) of others outside of their family, and threw the officer a soft, gentle smile, making sure his UT program was once again working before speaking. “Likewise Sir! I apologize for my…hard words, but as you can surmise I am quite protective of my family, friends and home, I surely meant nothing harsh by it and hope that you can in turn excuse my brusqueness.”

Lisa shook Essen’s hand, also now realizing that Essen was acting wildly different. But she wasn’t sure whether that was a good thing or not. Lisa hoped it was just that Essen realized that chaos and pranks weren’t what this place was for and so she had toned herself down a little. Lisa couldn’t read minds and she couldn’t exactly pull up Essen’s file for some context. Still, little weird that a Vulcanoid was shaking hands but Lisa wasn’t going to say anything about it. “Nice to meet you too Essen. I’m Lisa, I was ACOS back on Rapture before we all got moved here. Now I’m back to Patrol Officer. I’ll tell both of you, it’s a weight off my shoulders even though it’s got its drawbacks.” She took another sip of coffee.

Essen was almost robotic in a way now. Not just Vulcan, but a bit more robotic than usual. Her mind wasn't used to this kind of behavior, and it was immediately sending itself into an odd pattern of thinking and operating. It was now somewhat evident through her voice as well, in a sort of Vulcan-android hybrid-like voice. "The honor is mine, Lieutenant and Cadet. I can assure you, my associate--sorry, my former behavior was a mere fluke." Essen took an available glass and poured some of Randy's coffee into it before taking a sip. "Fascinating... A curious blend of flavors. Overall resulting in a pleasing aroma and rich flavor. Compliments to your brewing talents, Cadet. I am eager to continue the consumption of your coffee." Another sip. And then a larger sip. At this point, the Essen that arrived was not the Essen that was present. Normally, Essen would be OBSESSED over coffee, having a latte or macchiato... ...she had never once drank a full cup of black coffee. And now, she was downing it rather quickly.

At the compliment, Randy couldn’t help but beam, glad to see that there were actually people outside of his family that enjoyed his notoriously strong brew. Feeling comfortable enough to deactivate his UT program now. “Why thank ya’! I reckon’ I’m a bit surprised ta’ see any’un outside of ma’ family enjoyin’ in! I’ve been known tuh’ make it bout’ as strong and dark as tar!” He said with a chuckle, and taking a sip out of his mug, having forgotten it was still chugging full of whiskey.

Before long, Essen had downed the entire cup of coffee in front of her. It would have been an apocalyptic event for her unhinged self, but her Vulcan mode saw it as a mere act of overdue respect. "You are welcome, Cadet. A well-polished and satisfactory beverage, indeed. Its strength is arguably its most appealing characteristic to my taste receptors. If I may, bearing in mind the brands and diverse selections of caffeinated beverages for our consumption, the odds of you introducing this coffee to the crew of Starbase 777 and it having an overwhelming success among the ranks is precisely 342097.8 to 1." Normally Essen wouldn't have the motivation to make those really complex calculations in her head. She was notorious for saying she was 'too lazy' to do so, and she would leave the hard work to the others who specialized in those departments. And in that moment, Essen felt an unusual and uncomfortable pain in the back of her head. As if something were literally trying to break its way out. In that moment, Essen's eyes blinked rapidly, only once, but noticeably.

“Whaa! Really? Shoot, ain’t that somethin’!” He exclaimed happily, but as he was about to respond further, he heard the telltale chirping of his personal commlink. Figuring it might be either his parents or his brother, he quickly downed the reminder of his mug, setting it down and waved slightly. “Oh you’ll hafta’ scuse’ me! I was waitin’ for a call from ma’ family! Tha’ coordinates for both of y’all’s cabins are programmed into the transporter, so feel free to head on out there whenever ya’ feel like it! If ya’ need anything jus’ let me know, I’ll be round’ here, or might head up ta’ New Berlin tuh’ meet with some friends later, either way, I’ll be close! See y’all, have fun!” He said with a grin, before bolting up the long staircase to his room.

Lisa noticed the rapid blinking from Essen, but she wasn’t sure if that was normal or not. She finished her coffee, certain the bourbon in there would be hitting her later like a truck. But that was a future Lisa problem. For now she was just chilling. “See you later, Randy.” She waved to him as he left. “You doin’ alright Essen?”

"Until now, Cadet," Essen said as she bid Randy farewell for now. She turned to Lisa. "Affirmative, Lieutenant. I am merely adjusting to the setting of this rather beautiful ranch. It is not something that my associate--sorry, that I have been exposed to in depth. Ranches are truly spectacular in their own unique fashion. I classify this one as what humans may call 'picturesque,' reminiscent of the lush foliage colors of the gardens in Starfleet Academy's San Francisco campus. I also am curious of the human recreational activity of horseback riding - may I inquire as to what the experience is like?" Associate? Essen's associate...? Now something was up. Now there was certainly a partition in Essen's mind - the Vulcan mode of her was aware that her unhinged personality existed, and must have remained dormant until an emergency arose... she didn't quite know what the deal was. Still, her Vulcan mode was now in complete control, unless her normal self could break free... That was it. That was her "associate." Her Vulcan personality had blocked away her normal self, labelling the normal self as her "associate." (edited)

“It is pretty here, I’m hoping to paint a lot while I’m here. I’ve been painting for a long time, but I’ve never been to Texas. And there’s definitely nice views to work off of, here.” Now Lisa was a little weirded out. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with Essen. In her point of view, the Ensign had just been told off, to Lisa, what happened wasn’t a big deal. But it must’ve been big to Essen. What was going on? “Essen, I don’t think you’re all good. Your whole personality just did a full 180, what happened? And who’s your associate?”

Essen's head twitched rather suddenly. It was as if she was a robot that had just been shocked by electricity. She had to take a moment to regain her composure before she felt that pain rising up back inside her head once more. "I--" Essen began, but she was cut off again. "I--am not....well...." Essen's unhinged normal personality was fighting for control - her intuitive fighter self had found a way to infiltrate the Vulcan side of her and push through. Instead of being trapped in her own mind, Essen found a way out. Essen's eyes jolted from rolling back into her head to normal, repeatedly. "Per--missssssion to report to... siccccck bay?"

“Essen, get in the transporter, I’ll get you back to 777. They can take care of you there, just call for emergency transport when you arrive.” Lisa acted fast, sort of pushing Essen over to the transporter and stationing herself at the controls. When Essen was stood where she had to stand, Lisa activated the transporter, which would send Essen back to 777 where she could receive medical attention. Lisa was no medic, she didn’t know how to deal with Essen.

"Thank you, Lieutenant, sssssorry about all this..." Essen replied, her eyes practically opening and closing shut now at an alarming rate. As the swirling beams of energy surrounded her, Essen found herself being transported to #transporter-room