Stardate: 70126:2200
Title: Checking in
Author: Executive Officer Abigail Winters
Time: During, and After "The Sins pt.2", "Déjà vu pt.2", "Seeking Answers"
Scene: USS Relentless


The hall lights flickered and the deep hum of life on the ship swirled around the XO. If time had permitted Abby would have liked to have stayed with Maxine and monitor Kal’s progress as he went deep into the Relentless’ complex systems to find out what was wrong. But with their arrival at Starbase 9 her presence was needed elsewhere; her combadge bleeped to life as if to prove the point.

[Commander Winters to Holodeck 1]

It didn’t take Abby long to realise why she had been called to the holodeck. A small crowd had gathered around the dead Captain Merdlock. Looking up from the body her eyes met with the Captain’s. As tragic as the death was they could spin it to their advantage and initiate a lockdown, giving them some much-needed breathing space from Starbase 9. She made her way to the Captain and discussed the way they were going to deal with this.

The doctor entered and took control of the scene, arranging for the transportation of the body to Medical. Maxine approached her and informed her that Kal had successfully made contact with Relly and was currently recovering in the Mess Hall.

~

Taking a seat opposite the CEO Abby pinched a chip off his plate; it was a guilty pleasure that she enjoyed probably too much for her own good. Kal raised an eyebrow but didn’t make a comment.

"So how is our girl?" Abby asked.

"Scared and hurt. It was a sophisticated assault that caused some damage, hence all the blowouts. Her security was definitely breached. I can help her with the physical problems, but the emotional consequences…" The XO nodded.

"So after you have given yourself sufficient time to recover what is your next step?"

"As I said, the assault was sophisticated and without blowing my own trumpet if I didn’t know better it looks like something with my signature. I want to investigate further."

"Do you think Relly will come to us now?"

"You can try."

~

Having stopped at Medical Abby was troubled by Dr Anderson’s diagnosis of death by anthrax poisoning and assured her that his result the were being verified by the science department. Perhaps naively the XO hoped this incident was the desperate act of one man and not the merciless act of another.

Taking her chair next to Alex’s on the bridge she leant over and murmured the latest update. They were interrupted by an annoyed Starbase 9 demand to know why Alex had halted the transfer of cargo. The Captain dealt with the communication stating that the cargo stayed where it was until the suspicious death had been fully investigated.

"What do you propose we do about Relly?" Abby always felt a certain anxiety when talking to the Captain about the sentient ship.

"The functionality of the ship is our top priority, I will leave it to your discretion to deal with…" He trailed off and Abby raised a questioning eyebrow.

"Dismissed Commander." With a smile Abby went to find the Ambassador. The XO was curious as to how Thess had known about Relly being hurt before everyone else.

~

Several seconds of silence followed Abby’s knock on Thessyr Tal’s door. The computer confirmed that the Ambassador was inside. Using a command override the XO entered the quarter’s to find the Ambassador cradling his head in his hands.

Abby seated herself opposite the man and waited for him to speak. As he told his story he explained how he had sensed the ship’s pain and how he had felt her fear.

"Do you sense anything now?" Abby asked as she looked around the room.

"I still feel her pain but it has lessened."

"Do you feel well enough to come to my office. I’m hoping we can coax Relly out and regain her trust."

The Ambassador nodded.

~

Abby motioned for the Ambassador to take a seat and called out to Relly. Nothing happened for a few minutes and then a battered and bruised child image appeared. Instinctively the XO reached out and held Relly. After several minutes the XO’s combadge bleeped with a priority call from the Captain. Leaving Relly with Thess the XO made her way to the Captain’s Ready Room.


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Commander Abigail Winters
Executive Officer
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
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