Scientists, and their Baggage (Part 3 of 4)

Posted on 19 Jun 2012 @ 1:51pm by Lieutenant JG Kestra Orexil & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D. & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Anthony Hardaway Ph.D. & Justice Abernathy Ph.D. (MIA) & Emma Kennedy (MIA)
Edited on on 19 Jun 2012 @ 2:55pm

2,852 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: Starbase 152 - Decks 122-124, Crew Quarters
Timeline: MD 07 - 1520 hrs

Previously...

Hardaway stood up straight and walked quickly around his desk, the ends of his lab coat flaring out as he moved. He stopped a short distance from the Galileo team, looking at Kestra. "Very well," he conceded, "do as you will." A slight gesture of his hand for them to follow and he headed out of his office, speaking without looking back to see if they followed. "Is there anything else you require to make this run smoothly?"

"If Miss Kennedy has the information required for the transfer, team member names, quarters assignments, and personal effects requests, I believe we can coordinate the matter from here. Thank you very much for you cooperation, doctor," Kestra folded her arms behind her back. "We'll be seeing you in a short while."

Hardaway stopped at a door long enough to look over his shoulder and nod to the young woman on his team. "Miss Kennedy, you're with the lieutenant." As soon as he had spoken he stepped through the doors and disappeared into one of the labs, leaving the Galileo team to their own devices.

Kestra looked to Emma Kennedy with a short nod. "If we could get that list of the team for the purposes of cross-checking, and access to their quarters, and what personal effects they'd like brought with them," she reminded the young woman. "We have limited space, but we'll do our best to accommodate their needs."

Absent-mindedly, Emma was reading through a PADD in her hand, frowning slightly as she searched through a list of names, "I actually think that there might be a scientist who can help us out here."

=^=Miss. Kennedy to Justice Abernathy; could you report to Doctor Hardaway's office please?=^=

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Reading over the last of the information on the PADD, Emma turned it upside down and handed it to Kestra with a smile, "This is a complete list of all 25 of our scientists, excluding both Hardaways. This also contains a list of personal effects they will be bringing with them. We have restricted them to one standard issue Starfleet container each which will also allow you to easily predict how much space those will take up."

Standing in the background, Pola left the details to Kestra. It seemed that this was what the woman seemed to be good at and there was no point in disrupting a system which seemed to work.

Kestra accepted the PADD. "Excellent," she murmured, reviewing the list and handing it off to Pola, so that she, too, could verify the list. "That will speed the process substantially. Have those containers been packed already or do we need to rotate them out to pack?"

Picking up a second PADD, Emma brought up a copy of the progress on the crew packing, "Understandably we are not yet completely finished. We only became aware of the transfer when your first shuttle arrived so it has been a very rushed job to try to get everything prepared. On last update they were about half way there. Is this enough for you to work on?"

It would have to be, Kestra thought. Half-way packed away in the short time since the first shuttle was a good sign, though. That meant the rest of it shouldn't take too much longer.

Justice Abernathy had been having a truly miserable year, but things had finally been looking up. There was a light at the end of the long, dark tunnel and he was pleased - though not surprised - that he'd been the one to find it. And then this had happened. These idiots from Starfleet with their orders, interrupting his hard work. The moment he'd been notified of their impending departure, he'd begun working on means to keep his work from being all for naught. Secondary and tertiary plans had to be set into motion. And he had to be very, very careful. But then again, that had always been the case. When Emma's voice came over his combadge, he'd frowned - a look that was not altogether dissimilar from his usual expression - not because he didn't enjoy Emma's company. He did. But the fact that she was trapped working for a hack like Hardaway was just another reminder of how terrible things had gotten around here. Striding purposefully down the corridor, he burst into Hardaway's office, ready to take whatever foolish drivel the idiot planned on spoon-feeding him today, but what he found instead were three women with Emma. A Betazoid, a human, and a... something ridged. He met Emma's eyes - pretty, tired, and worried eyes - and tried to smile (a look which also appeared to be a slightly less pronounced frown). "You called?"

Looking at Justice in relief, Emma gave her first genuine smile in a number of days. Finally someone she knew and got along with, she wasn't surrounded by strangers or an angry boss, "Justice. These people are from the USS Galileo the ship onto which you are being transferred. We have Lieutenant JG Kestra Orexil, Lieutenant JG Pola Ni Dhuinn and Cadet Im'er Mor'an." Emma indicated each woman as she called their name, stumbling over Pola's surname and the pronunciation of the Cadet's name. "They have been tasked with the transfer of the scientists, including yourself, and the personal belongings. I figured you might be able to give us a hand?"

Justice focused on her smile and the way that made him feel, forcing all other thoughts and feelings behind a dark curtain in his mind to keep them private from the prying mind of the Betazoid in the room. "I'm... happy to help you," he told her. That, at least, was true. He turned to the others and tried another smile - a flickering of his frown. "Ladies," he greeted them formally. It was a pity, what they were here to do, but it wasn't their faults. Not theirs specifically. They were following orders. Like everyone else. All fools. "Are we to begin the transfer so quickly? I'd thought there was more time. There are still final tests being run," he added, looking to Emma. Eyes, hair, nose, lips - he focused on each in turn, silently adoring.

Kestra was nearly bowled over by the wave of enmity accompanying the scientist as he swept into the office, then blinked as that derision turned to a bewildering puppy love as Abernathy caught sight of Miss Kennedy. There was another feel to him, something regretful and private, but it was nearly imperceptible behind the waves of adoration. There was also an old world courtliness to him that reminded her of socialites on Betazed. 'Ladies'? she wondered. "At Dr. Hardaway's suggestion, we'll begin with personal effects and projects, then bring the team over on another shuttle. Could either of you tell us who has yet to stow their belongings? We could begin a personnel rotation to get that portion of the process finished."

Flustered at Justice scrutiny, Emma subconsciously started to play with a piece of her hair, "Um...personal effects...eh...um..."

Leaning a shoulder against a wall, Pola had to resist the urge to laugh. This was going to be interesting by the way things were turning out. A love sick scientist who seemed to draw the attention of the one helpful person they had met so far. "Miss. Kennedy...the people who have yet to store their belongings?"

Turning bright red, Emma looked back down at the PADD in her hand, "Um....s...s...sorry...um....." Trying to shake her head, Emma tried to divert her attention back to the matter at hand. "We have both Hardaways and about 11 other scientists who have still to complete their packing. The Hardaways are trying to complete the tests on the manifolds right now so are definitely unavailable."

The Hardaways are always unavailable, Justice thought derisively, the thought sneaking in to the litany of things he loved about Emma Kennedy. His focus was making her uncomfortable, he could see that much, so he dragged his gaze away from her, continuing the list from memory. Her smile, her patience, the little lilt in her voice... Now was a good time as any. He could get things underway, maybe find a way to keep things as planned. He could work with this. Emma had given him an almost perfect solution. He cleared his throat, "I could take you around. Help you convince those who need to pack up to do so; some of us can be rather ornery where our projects are concerned. It's no problem." He met Emma's eyes again, wistfully, "Would that qualify as the sort of 'hand' you required?"

Watching closely, Pola felt like she'd been floored. Looking across at Kestra and Mor'an as she tried to figure out what was happening here. She was starting to feel like she was in the middle of a love story, the way Justice was acting. Moving a hand across her hair, she looked between the pair, "Ok. Justice how about you show us around? I'm sure Emma has other work which needs to be done."

"Just give us a moment, please." Justice barely glanced the other woman's way, leading Emma just outside the office. "You're tired," he said quietly. "He's in another temper, isn't he? It's ridiculous - the way he treats you." He brushed his fingers over her cheek lightly, just beneath her eye. "He shouldn't be taking this out on you."

Feeling her face flush bigger red, Emma squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears. All she could manage was a small nod of her head. Uncertain, she moved her hand up to cover Justice's, taking just a moment or two, "I'll be fine. You know what he's like."

"I know," he said, frustrated. Hardaway was a right bastard and he would get what was coming to him soon enough. "Listen. It won't be much longer now." He checked around them to make sure no one could see, then kissed her forehead gently. "Don't cry, love; it breaks my heart."

Swaying into the kiss, Emma paused a moment before opening her eyes to look up at Justice. She'd admired him from afar for so long but thought he'd never noticed her as anything more than the boss' secretary. This was like a dream, "I'm sorry."

"Don't-" he whispered. "Don't be." He turned his hand to clasp hers and sighed. "Ah, Emma. I never thought- I never dreamed you might- but I just couldn't stand it any longer-" He rested his forehead against hers. "Have you any idea how much I love you?"

Feeling tears threatening once again, Emma moved her hand to cup her palm against Justice's cheek, "But if he finds out...He'll force us apart. I don't even think I'm on the list for the transfer. We may never see each other again..You're returning to Earth."

"You're not," he whispered, though he didn't sound distraught over that. "You're not on the transfer. It's better this way; I can't explain. Not yet." He looked in her eyes, "Will you trust me, Emma?"

Finding herself lost in his eyes, Emma slowly nodded her head wanting to trust Justice with all of her heart, "I trust you Justice...I've loved you for so long that who I am is yours. I can't help but trust you with all of my heart."

He nearly laughed with joy, but he couldn't bear to make too much noise, to draw more attention to them, to end the moment. He kissed her cheeks, her palm, her forehead, and finally her lips - all fleeting touches of lips to skin. He glanced towards the open door and met her eyes again. "And who I am is yours. Soon, love. Very soon, everything will be as it should be," he whispered against her lips. "Keep an eye on your PADD. I'll explain as much as I can."

Nodding her head, Emma was unable to resist tilting her lips forward to kiss Justice once more before reluctantly stepping back, "Ok...um...I guess you need to head back in to the officers? I'll go see if I can place pressure on Hardaways to free up more scientists so as the packing and transport can proceed faster." Reluctantly, she dropped Justice's hand, taking small steps back, not willing to break their eye contacts. "Please be careful my love."

He almost stopped her, but she'd spoken loud enough for the officers inside to hear. He couldn't go and undermine the opportunity she'd provided him with. "And you, my love," he told her as backed towards the office door. "And you."

Meanwhile, in Hardaway's Office...

Turning, Pola looked between Mor'an and Kestra in disbelief, "Um...did we take a wrong turn in the shuttle and end up in the twilight zone? I have no idea what is going on here. Um, either of you have any idea?"

Twilight zone? Kestra wondered. "He's quite enamoured. And appears thoroughly disenchanted with Doctor Hardaway, apparently over the way he treats Miss Kennedy." She rubbed her head, "It's hard to see much beyond that. His mind is a twitterpated mess."

Mor'an grinned at Kestra. "We hardly needed a Betazoid's abilities to prove that," she said, speaking for the first time, "His body language alone shouted volumes."

Justice opened the office door and nodded to them. "Miss Kennedy has gone to see about hurrying the packing rotation," he said quietly. "I can take you to crew quarters and begin loading personnel crates for you. Yes?"

Kestra eyed him. His mind was still hard to read, veiled and slick with new love, but despite the momentary disruption they appeared to be back on track. "Yes. Thank you." She glanced at Pola and Im'er, seeking their thoughts on the matter.

Locking eyes with Kestra, Mor'an inclined her head, a gesture that meant Lead and I will follow.

Missing the interaction between Mor'an and Kestra, Pola turned to follow after Justice. Smiling as she followed the scientist she wondered what it would be like to have a person so devote to you as he was to Emma it seemed. It was a sickly sweet romance to outsiders but she was sure it meant everything to the couple. Being a Doctor, Pola focused her attention on Justice as he was, not seeing any dangers or anything wrong. Her only concern was the holdup on completing the transfer of personal and their property.

Justice bowed his head and held the door open for them to pass through, then led the way down the hall, swiping his palm over a bioscanner to open a door that led out of the labs and into the regular corridors.

He led them down a turbo lift and along another corridor until they reached a lane of doors noted as crew quarters. "Ah," he shook his head, sounding dismayed, still extolling Emma's innumerable virtues in his mind like a mantra. "I forgot the anti-grav lift. And the access keys." He spread his hands apologetically, "Forgive me. I won't be a moment. Just... would you wait here?"

Kestra looked at the man. She didn't want to be insensitive to his new love, a feeling that was quite strong and nearly overpowering. She knew the influence such strong emotions could exert. But, at the same time, they had a job to do and he was complicating it by focusing so much on Miss Kennedy. "Perhaps we could come with you," she offered, hoping to avoid a situation where he went off in search of Miss Kennedy instead of an anti-grav lift.

Justice shook his head, holding up a hand, "It will be faster if I just go myself. I will go as quickly as possible. My apologies," he added, bowing his head, and backed away from them down the corridor before turning to hurry to the lift.

Kestra watched him hurry off and looked to Mor'an, lifting her brows, and signaling her to follow him. She touched her eye and then her wrist, silently telling her to keep an eye on the scientist and keep him on task.

Mor'an nodded once and casually followed the young man as he scurried along. She simply could not believe he was allowing himself to be impeded by another being in such a way. Love was all well and good, but, in the Tarkannan wary of thinking, if anything got in the way of your duty, it was best left alone.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

LTJG Kestra Orexil
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

LTJG Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

LCDR Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

CDT(SR) Im'er Mor'an
Red Squad Cadet
USS Galileo

Anthony Hardaway Ph.D.
Project Sienna
NPC'd by Chauncey "Will" Remington III

Justice Abernathy Ph.D.
Project Sienna
NPC'd by Lilou Peers

Emma Kennedy
Project Sienna (Secretary)
NPC'd by Pola Ni Dhuinn

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