[ussgeorgetown] Confrontations by 5 of 12, Aileas McKay, Nan Ecitsuj, Cns & Flt. Cpt. ch'Thane
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 20:37:46 EDT
Lish found the request from Chief Ecitsuj rather unusual for a few reasons.
He knew the chief had first spoken to Pas when he came aboard. Since neither of
them had voiced any serious personality clashes, it struck him as strange
that the chief specifically asked to speak to him. Then there was the
Ninitchik's
choice of words--a 'meeting' and not an appointment. Lastly, there was the
fact that he said "That's fine, Counselor, we'll be there at 1800 hours." Who
was he coming with?
At the sound of the door chime, Lish looked up and brushed a few of the
braids away from his face. "Come in," he said in his usual soft voice.
Aileas tried to stand a little behind Nan as they entered the room. She could
feel Five's annoyance at her fear for meeting new people, but she also
understood that Five was willing to concede control to her. The office's
inhabitant
was so striking that it made Aileas seriously doubt the wisdom of their
current mission, but she trusted Nan and knew she wanted to be there.
Nan understood that Andorians didn't make a habit of shaking hands and so
offered Lish a simple polite nod. "Counselor, we spoke before but this is
Aileas
McKay, the chief Science Officer."
"Welcome to you both," Lish said as he stepped from around the desk. "Please,
sit where you find it most comfortable."
Nodding once, Aileas took one of the seats near the door. She watched Nan
closely for her lead, still completely unsure where she was going to fit in.
Aileas was very much on guard. Lish could tell that much. He doubted it was
because of his species but whatever brought the duo there, it had her looking
toward the chief for help...safety...something. Taking the chair opposite, Nan,
he offered them both a nod of his head and antennae. "So, I admit to
curiosity. Maybe one of you can tell me what's going on?"
"That Aileas is a former Borg is not a question but your charan seemed to
know before I did that so am I," Nan said flatly.
His words made her flinch, the whole situation made her flinch. Slowly, 5 of
12 drifted up and began to strengthen Aileas' will. Control became ambiguous
as she sat straighter in her seat. Looking over at Nan, she remained silent,
allowing her friend to explain.
"I beg your pardon?" Lish asked carefully.
"This and this," Nan said as he held out first his left leg then his arm,
"are parts taken from a Borg. So is part of my jaw. Your charan was part of the
team who had these implanted and for the life of me, I can't help but believe
they were taken from a living being--a Vulcan named Sechen."
Nan was getting visibly upset, his face flushing with anger, and he forced
himself to stay calm.
Reaching over, she touched his arm and smiled. "The Borg that the Chief is
talking about was 2 of 12, he was a member of my unit and a friend both before
and after our assimilation. He disappeared after we returned to Earth, or we
lost contact. I was unable to track him at the time because I was undergoing
psychological and medical evaluation. I know that the implants in Nan's body
are
from 2 of 12. Now we need to know why."
Lish blew out a soft breath, making one of his braids flutter. He looked at
Aileas curiously. The chief had called her Aileas but she was speaking as if
she were two people, something Nan didn't seem at all uncomfortable with.
"And you believe that my charan knows this. What is it that you want of me? I
have no knowledge of his duties or assignments," Lish said simply.
"I know that, Counselor, but I do need to speak to him. I thought maybe you
could make arrangements," Nan said simply, calmed by Aileas' gentle touch.
"If he does not have intimate knowledge of these things then he will more
than likely know someone who does," she said. "We will work our way through the
leads until we can discover the truth. This is not something that can be swept
away and ignored or forgotten about. If 2 of 12 was alive when the procedure
to remove his implants began then it was murder. If he was dead then it is body
snatching. Either way, the truth must be known."
Lish's face barely moved but his antennae twitched. He couldn't find any
part of him that disagreed with the information they gave him. He blew out a
soft sigh. First this business with Revaed message from Charan and now this.
This, at least, isn't going to put Challornetha in danger. He stood up and
nodded toward the desk.
"Come, I don't know that he will have your answers but I will call him for
you know," Lish said simply.
5 of 12 followed the two men to the desk, keeping back so she wouldn't be in
the picture. She didn't know what effect her presence would have on the
Captain.
The corners of Lish's eyes crinkled upon seeing his charan's face on the
screen as did Captain ch'Thane's. The older Andorian nodded at his chei.
"Elishvrachen, is everything well? Challornetha and Seren?"
"Both fine, sir. I am placing this call on behalf of someone else, though.
I believe you know Chief Ecitsuj."
Captain ch'Thane nodded at Nan as Lish widened the viewer. The young man
looked rather disgruntled and he found that to be unusual, considering the
Ninitchik's mood over the two years that he knew him. "Nan, you look well," he
began.
"Please, sir, I hardly look happy and you know it. You people lied to me and
I want to know why," Nan said flatly.
She placed a hand on Nan's shoulder and squeezed. "Be calm. Just breathe
easy and let the truth come."
ch'Thane's eyes narrowed slightly. He saw the woman standing behind Nan. He
looked from his chei to 5 of 12 then back to Nan. "It is unlike you to
dissemble, Nan. I prefer the truth outright."
"Then tell me why you and the other on the team--Pulaski, Tyelis, and
Ciara--why not one of you told me where my prostheses came from? Why did it
take
Five here to tell me because she recognized they came from her friend...a
former
Starfleet officer?"
ch'Thane looked stricken. He blinked several times then looked at 5 of 12.
"Who are you?"
"My designation is 5 of 12, my Starfleet rank is Lieutenant. I am Chief of
Science on the Georgetown. The Chief is my friend. What other information do
you require?"
ch'Thane looked over at Lish, who tilted his head and antennae a fraction.
It was the truth. "I see. Lieutenant, what is it that makes you so sure that
Nan's implants come from another officer?"
"Every Borg implant is unique to the drone it is a part of." 5 of 12
explained her intimate knowledge of Sechen's implants. She told them all that
there
was no way that she could be mistaken and she knew that Sechen was dead.
Nan hoped like hell that he really wasn't going to get sick and reached to
touch Five's hand. The touch calmed him slightly. "How could you, Captain?
How could you people even contemplate such a thing? And not even tell me?!"
ch'Thane could see the young man's obvious distress and even the woman's,
part Borg though she might be. "I did not know, Nan..."
"How could you not?" She glanced over at the image on the screen.
ch'Thane's antennae twitched toward each other, a shrug. "Perhaps if Chief
Ecitsuj calms down, he will explain to you that I am merely the coordinator of
the project. I am not a scientist."
"But, sir--how could you not know?" Nan asked. "What about that man's
family? Hell, what about me? It's repulsive to think you people cannibalized
a
living being."
"Please be calm, Nan. Let the man speak, let him tell us who would know if
he does not." 5 of 12 took his hand in her own and interlaced their fingers.
"She's right, Nan--calm down," Lish added softly even as he turned his gaze
back to his charan. He wanted to know too.
"Nan...Lieutenant..I swear to you that I have no technical knowledge of the
project but..." ch'Thane interlaced his fingers, thinking. "I would tell you
to ask Captain Tyelis. He was the head scientist of the project."
"Then we will do that. Do you know his current whereabouts?" she asked
"The last I heard, he was headed for DS6, looking into further projects,"
ch'Thane said with a hiss, realizing just what those projects might be.
"Thank you, Captain." Five looked up at Nan. "Is there anything else that
we need?"
Nan shook his head slowly. "Captain, my apologies if I was out of line. If
you truly had no idea then I'm sorry."
"You need not apologize, Nan. Another man wouldn't have been so polite about
it and the matters pains me as well. I want you to keep me updated--both of
you. You may have my chei call at any time."
"Again, thank you, Captain." Increasing her pressure on Nan's shoulder, she
started to back away. "And thank you, counselor, for taking the time to see
us."
Nan nodded to the captain. "Good night, sir," was all he could say without
shaking in anger. He allowed 5 of 12 to steer him toward the door.
Other related posts:
- » [ussgeorgetown] Confrontations by 5 of 12, Aileas McKay, Nan Ecitsuj, Cns & Flt. Cpt. ch'Thane
