Home Sweet Home

Posted on 16 Mar 2021 @ 1:48am by Lieutenant Madalene Sabine & Lieutenant Callisi Veera & Ensign Kat Walker

1,480 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Home
Location: Flight Deck

Madalene was exhausted but oddly glad to be back and yet missing the other place or what they were seeing there. As a scientist that was the goal, to see new things and experience them as well which was exactly what happened to them.

And for her, the biggest experience was meeting Kat as well as the new chief operations officer. Both from completely different universes and yet they all had the same goal of fitting in. Hitting her badge Madalene stood and walked out of her office, "lieutenant Veera, I know it is late but if you could please meet me on the flight deck," Madalene said simply as she made her way there.

Callisi had just finished checking on her eye. It was something she was used to at this point, but she never got used to it. Every time she did it, it reminded her of the events that lead up to it, and clouded her mind with doubt as to any of the opportunities it denied her. As her comm badge chirped, she gave it a tap in reply. "This is Veera. I'll be there in a moment," she responded, finishing up her inspection before returning her eyepatch to its proper place. Now she was broken AND hiding it, but hiding it made her feel better about being broken, so it all averaged out. She put her uniform back on, before making her way towards the flight deck. Whatever was there that would require her presence?

[Flight Deck]

Making it to the flight deck Madalene looked at the many fighters having no idea which one was Kat, "ensign Walker?" Madalene called out.

The familiar form of a four-winged, iridescent black-feathered paravian dinosaur came into view, emitting a caw as a greeting, soaring over Madalene's head and pulling into a steep bank, diving towards the floor and shifting into the familiar humanoid avatar before landing, with a smile. "Hello Madalene, it's good to see you back and healthy."

The doors to the Flight Deck slowly opened, revealing the form of Callisi, the resident rabbitess. She took a few steps in, "You wanted to see me here, Lieut..." and then something in the room just changed her demeanor. Just a shift to the left. "...enant?" a pause, "And Ensign Walker." a nod to the hologram avatar.

Madalene had to chuckle always enjoying her flying in, "I like that entrance much better than you just appearing," she said as she continued to chuckle, "and lieutenant Veera thank you for coming, there's a couple of reasons why I called you both," Madalene said giving them both a smile.

"I just realized that you two are now in a strange universe, and well this might be your second strange universe," Madalene said directing that comment to Veera," so I just wanted to check-in and see how you two are handling it?"

"Hello Lieutenant Veera, it is good to see you back and healthy as well, truly," Kat spoke with sincerity before turning her attention back to Madalene to answer the question. "I am not sure yet, Madalene. It is - a lot to parse. Gone is the chance - slim though it was - to find another of my kind, to learn more about my heritage. I guess that now I truly am - ... alone."

"Of course." Callisi said first to Madalene, before turning her attention back to the avatar, "I appreciate your concern." Ts'uusgi protocol reared its head. Callisi HAD to say something complimentary. She HAD to respond.

"Hearing that you potentially won't find any of your kind is disheartening." she paused, "I see that you're also in a new shell. I'll have to trust in the wisdom that put you there." and thus, the protocol was appeased. Hearing how alone Kat was was both refreshing and mournful. On one hand, it meant the likelihood of more of these constructs was very slim. On the other hand, the rabbitess knew well what distance from home could do to the heart.

Supposing it had a heart. "Distance is the pain of all explorers. Knowing where your home is is of little consequence when you're far, far away from it... and having a home you cannot return to is possibly worse than not knowing."

"I hope that you know you are not alone, that I am and others are here to help you feel connected, welcome, and not lost," Madalene said knowing that they knew that, but like with every one of the Odin crew that got sent to the new universe felt.

Kat remained silent for a moment, parsing the different statements made by Callisi and Madalene, considering their words. A soft, nearly inaudible hum from the fighter that was her new shell as her AI core approached 100% usage, the cooling system spooling up to maintain a healthy working temperature.

"The future is unknown, Lieutenant Veera, and we do not know where the path we follow leads us. All we can do is do our best in choosing a path. I am sworn to the Odin, her crew, and the Federation's ideals. That is my path," she offered with a nod. "Friends are - appreciated," a nod in Madalene's direction "But the presence of friends is no substitute for the presence of kin. I am alone in what I am."

"Yes that is true, and I am sorry for that," Madalene said looking between the two of them, "and now for the other reason, I have brought us here," Madalene paused slightly before continuing, "I would like to enlist lieutenant Veera to come and help monitor your integration with your new shell, the fighter and now your new surroundings," she added, "...but I also know some of Veera's history with well," she paused and looked at Veera.

Callisi was silent for a long time. Almost uncomfortably long.

"You want me... to help monitor its integration... into an armed fighter platform?" Callisi asked, as though to verify intent. Though before Madalene could really respond, Callisi gave a nod, "Agreed, if only to tell you when you should have stopped."

Kat watched Callisi think, her brows slightly furrowed. At the Ts'susugi's answer, she looked back to Madalene, maintaining her skeptical expression. "Might I ask, Madalene, why did you ask Lieutenant Veera of all people? The lieutenant is uncomfortable with my existence and nature, and I understand her reasoning. I do not wish to cause further discomfort by involving her in my development. Though - " she trailed off a moment before continuing " - if you are both sure, then I do not have any other objections," she glanced over at Callisi with a nod.

Madalene looked between the two of them, "I understand her fears, apologies I actually do not as I have never gone through anything like that," she said looking at Veera, "but as chief operations officer, she is gonna be monitoring your connection to the ship as a whole and I'll be needing her support along with her department to help me help you, does that make sense?"

"It does." Callisi offered. "Anyone who isn't suspicious, anyone who wasn't affected by intelligence constructs as my people were... Anyone who wouldn't be on the lookout for something to be wary of would welcome expansion, welcome connections, and potentially doom us all." Callisi offered. Her tone wasn't malicious, though her words were a breath away from barbs. To her, this was a statement of fact. "Any project of this nature needs suspicion. So despite my discomfort, I will do this task. It's my duty as an Operations Officer, and as a Daughter of Ts'usu."

"Though." she paused, collecting herself, before turning to fully face Madalene. "I also realize that it is unfair of me to clip its wings before it had a chance to fly. I'm allowing the damage, destruction, and disrespect of one construct to make me prejudice, as you'd say. Or cautious, as I would say." she turned to face Kat's avatar. "You're right. I'm very uncomfortable with the notion of you in an armed, mobile, warp-capable platform. That's why I'm willing to accept this duty, and I'll be keeping both eyes on you."

Kat nodded. "Of course, Lieutenant Veera. That sounds entirely reasonable, given the circumstances. And, thank you, for giving me the chance to fly, so to say," she smiled. "Now that that's settled, there are some small modifications I had in mind to my cooling systems, fan curves, power delivery, phase changes, things like that~"

"If it is okay with Veera I would also like to help," Madalene said glad that this idea was working out.

"Of course." Callisi gave a nod, "I'd welcome living company." she paused, "Will there be anything else?"

Lieutenant Madaline Sabine
Chief Science Officer
USS Odin

Lieutenant Callisi Veera
Chief Operations Officer
USS Odin

Ensign Kat Walker
Fighter Pilot
USS Odin

 

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