<USS Avalon> Approaching Truth

"Are you always this straightforward with your troops, Major Phillips?" T’Leara 
asked seriously as they stepped into the clearing to join him.
 

"I’d kinda like to know the answer to that one myself," Chapman growled, his 
eyes filled with worry. "Cause that sure don't fit with what we just saw at 
all."
 

T'Leara quirked a brow, "Perhaps it is a 'matter of interpretation'?" she 
inquired incredulously.
 
Their voices seemed to be a short bit of relief to Adrian as they entered the 
clearing and he smiled to himself before turning to them. "Well, it's one way 
of explaining what happened." He said as he did his best to keep his injured 
arm from them. "Either way though, those two idiots got themselves killed, and 
I've got the 'weapons' to thank for my life." 
 
T'Leara nodded slightly, as if the news came as no surprise. Chapman, however, 
seemed less accepting. "That or they ran out of juice before hitting you." he 
muttered, turning his attention to the shuttle. "Maybe I should go in first." 
 
"Negative Chapman." Adrian said simply, looking over at him. "The voices in our 
heads are them. Needless to say, and this is gonna sound pretty weird, they had 
a little chat with me while I was trying to keep dumb and dumber over there 
from getting all of us killed. They knew exactly what those two were up to, but 
it took some convincing of my part for them to believe that I'm not just here 
to kill them." He looked over at T'Leara, hoping she could lend a bit of a 
hand. 
 
Pointing to the outer hull plating, T'Leara waved them both toward her. While 
some of the damage seemed recent, most was obviously very old. "What do you 
observe," She asked Chapman, hoping he'd see what she did.
 
"How the hell did they fly this here?" he asked looking at the damage closely. 
"This bird isn't flightworthy. No way to power her up with damage like this." 
He looked at T'Leara, clearly confused.
 
"Would it not make more sense, then, to assume that they did not, as you 
proposed, run out of juice. If they have enough power to pilot an unpowered 
shuttle from Vega Prime to our current location, it is unlikely that their 
decision not to kill Major Jackson was anything other than a conscious one." 
She concluded. 
 
Turning to the Major she confessed, "I can make no statements regarding the 
voices in your head, as I do not hear them. However, if they've deigned 
communicate with you, it might be prudent to respond positively."
 
Adrian looked at her, quite confused. "And how exactly would I do that?" 
 
"As they have deigned to protect you and keep you alive thus far," T'Leara 
answered, eyes glinting with amusement despite her serious expression, "it 
would seem that the manner you have employed thus far has been successful. I 
recommend that you continue as you have thus far." 
 
"Following them blindly," Chapman growled. "Not my preferred course of action 
for him or me."
 
"Effective, nonetheless," she replied calmly. 
 
The short silence that followed was evident of Adrian's thinking on the 
subject, though also in honesty he was trying to keep the pain of his injury 
under control. "Well, lets just see what happens. I'll head in there and you 
two keep watch to make sure that either these imaginary thieves don't come 
back, or any of Taggert's extras show up unannounced." He spoke at last, taking 
a deep breath as he did. "I don't like it Chapman, but I think it'll have to do 
for now." 
 
"Whoa, wait," Chapman protested. " You did not just say you thought you were 
going in there by yourself." 
 
"Actually," T'Leara corrected. " I believe he did." Quietly, she added. "Be 
certain to show Dra'El your arm once inside, Major." 
 
"Hmm.... what about my arm now?" Adrian replied with a grin. "I don't see 
anything wrong with it." 
 
"Nor will anyone else once he's seen to it," She replied.
 
A sigh and a chuckle escaped Adrian as he turned back to the shuttle once more. 
"Alright then, I will see you in a few minutes hopefully." He said with a nod 
to both of them and started to head up towards the back access ramp. 
 
The ramp lowered slowly. "Please leave your weapon outside the shuttle, Major," 
A young man's voice sounded in his head.
 
I'm afraid I won't be able to do that. It's hard enough to have your XO let you 
walk in unsupported. It's impossible to do it unarmed. Don't worry, I'm not 
here to harm you and from what I've seen, one injured man with a weapon won't 
be hard to stop for you guys if I were to ever go back on my word, which I 
don't. He said back into his mind, continuing to move forward.

Other related posts: