Looking for Clues

Posted on Fri Jan 10th, 2020 @ 6:55am by Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn & Lieutenant Trei Jansum & Lieutenant JG Paris Deville & Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles

2,744 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: Research Facility

ON

By the time they got back to the research facility, Amber had changed her mind. She wanted to have another look at the logs, to see what she could learn about the cave dwellers.

"Quinn to Deville."

Paris raised a brow and tapped the console, turning off the music in the background, before answering. "This is Deville. I don't hear blood curdling screams and groans of agony. So... I take it all went well?"

"Well..." Amber hesitated. "We found a primitive culture living in the caves. The science officers have devolved and joined them. We're going to search the research station again and then do some aerial surveys. Do you want to join us or wait for us to join you?"

"Devolved?! As in... forehead and grunting? The whole nine yards?" Paris replied softly, looking away from the console with a curious look, before focusing back. "You don't see that everyday."

"Well, not the Neanderthal foreheads, but definitely the grunting." Amber said.

"I'm old, but I'm not, that old. Sorry I don't have any insight into that, but the devolving is curious. That's a very recognizable side effect." He tapped the console to mute it as he continued. "I know of a few people who would pay good money for something like that." He raised a brow and unmuted the call saying. "Did you all make the usual safety scans before proceeding?"

"We've been scanning as we go," Amber assured him. "We don't have anything that stands out, but we'll analyze the data back on the Aurora. I want another quick look at the computer here, then we'll scan the atmosphere and the planet."

"Got it. I'll meet you there soon. I want to run a quick check list on the shuttles systems so we can head back without trouble. Let me know if anything comes up or plans change. Deville Out." Paris replied, with a smirk, before leaning back in his chair. He didn't need to run a check on the systems, it was done already. What he was going to do was ensure he had something to gain from this venture.

Paris eased down to his boot, removing an isolinear chip he kept hidden there, and placed it into an optical chip reader on the console. He tapped a few codes in, unlocking the information and being sure to erase any trace of him doing this, before accessing a specific frequency. "Computer: Record this message onto the inserted chip. Gul Morain. This is the Devil. I have a coordinates to a planet which may prove useful. I'll send the location upon my exit. If you are interested, send the Devil his due. You will receive it during the usual time. Do with the site as you please. Give my regards to your Central Command." He tapped the console and repeated the last process of clearing his presence. "Save message. Use programmed encryption marked Dante and then access program Tabula Rasa."

"Accessing..." The computer replied, however the monitors and power dimmed slightly before sounding an error tone, which was natural. "Please repeat last request."

Paris removed the isolinear chip from the reader and smiled before saying. "Computer: Identify last user and what was done."

"The last user, of this console, was Lieutenant Junior Grade Paris Deville who access a communication from Commander Amber Quinn on the Coms." The computer replied.

"Thank you." Paris replied, slipping the chip in his boot, before standing up. "Lock down shuttles systems, authorization Lieutenant Deville. Code: Echo Six Alpha Three." He awaited the confirmation tone before heading toward the exit.

When the conversation was over, Amber headed for the research facility to look for more information on the cave dwellers.

Since she was specifically looking for information on the cave dwellers, it didn't take long. She copied every log that mentioned the cave dwellers and any information about the cave system. "Okay, everyone. Back to the shuttle."

Trei nodded, and took the "front" of the away team, just behind Amber, while Troilon took the rear. He switched off his wrist light as they went along, and they finally made it back to the shuttle. As they piled in, Trei made sure that Tessa was okay. She seemed a little...awkward...in the jungle. He was going to ask the others, too, but he started with her because he now considered her a friend.

"You're okay, Doc?"

"Right as reign." She said but the smile was only superficial as her mind was in thought. "What would make them want to join a primitive tribe and worst to me seems to be that they are 'Not' acting but living the experience." She shook her head a bit to clear the thoughts and be in the now. "Ah do suppose it will take some blood samples to really get a real-ly good read of what happened... Ah hope?"

Amber sat next to Paris. "I'd like to do a low-orbit pass around the planet to take some scans."

"Low-orbit pass... got it." Paris replied as he settled into the pilot's seat and tapped on the console to begin the pre launch sequence. "Not that I am complaining or anything, but... wouldn't scanning from the Aurora be much more beneficial?"

"We did, but we didn't find anything unusual," she said. "That's why I want to try a low-orbit pass, to see if there's anything in the atmosphere that we didn't notice from the ship."

"Scans... scans... and more scans." Paris replied softly as the shuttle began to lift off from its position. "You figured, with the amount of times the Federation scans things, we would be called Scan-fleet." He smirked slightly as he began to move the shuttle into a low orbit and proceed on a straight path. "Low-orbit achieve." He turned to Amber and smiled before adding. "Scan away."

"Thank you," she said, not commenting on her desire for more data.

They made three orbits around the planet, each each at a different altitude, before Amber was satisfied. "Okay. We can go back to the ship now." She smiled at Paris. "I'll analyze the data there."

"Are you sure you don't want just one more scan?" He asked, holding up his index finger, before looking to her. "You know... for good luck?"

"Well, if you insist..." She grinned. "Or we can just go back to the ship. Your call."

Paris looked back to the console and smirked. Tapping it quickly as he spoke. "It would appear, Commander, you out rank me. So, the decision, is actually yours. They don't let bad men like me make decisions. Trust issues and all." He looked back to her and smiled before turning to the main view port. "So I’m guessing, cracking a smile, is now illegal? Well... they can add one more offense to my list. I can see the news stream now. Paris Deville. Wanted: for smiling." He looked back and winked.

Amber tried not to laugh, but she did smile. "We can head back to the ship. I won't even write you up for smiling."

"I'm sure you wouldn't..." Paris replied, gesturing to her, as he smirked. "Because then you would have to write one up for yourself. You can't fool me, Commander. I saw what I saw." He gave her another wink before whispering softly. "There may be hope of your yet. Maybe even enough hope for the both of us." He turned back to the console, faced the forward view port, and adding. "Course set for the Aurora, Commander. Will there be anything else?"

She smiled again. "Nothing else." For now.

"Nothing Else." Paris repeated, smirking slightly, before tapping on the console the begin their flight back to the Aurora. "It's a good thing, above all the other talents and skills I have, flying is what I am the most skill at."

"I hope not," Amber said, barely loud enough for Paris to hear.

Paris smiled slightly. "Did you say something?" He asked, although he didn't have to. He heard her well enough. His attention was fully on her, and given their proximity to each other, it was hard not to pick up the slightest whisper from her. His eyes may have been locked on the main view port, and his hands dancing around the helm controls, but his focus was on her. Everything else seemed to fade away. His hands were working on autopilot, while his attention was exactly where he felt it was the most important. His smile faded into a slightly serious look, to hide his amusement, before turning to face her and ask. "I didn't catch that."

"You heard me," she whispered, glancing at him before looking back to the front. "This is not the place for a private discussion." She carefully kept her thoughts shielded so no one could pick up on them. "Perhaps we can discuss it later?" She sounded calm and professional, but there was a definite smile in her eyes.

"I wasn't aware we were having a private discussion?" Paris replied softly as he leaned back in the chair and smirked. "I must have missed it in between all the playful banter. My mistake." He turned to her and smile as he raised his hand with a playful salute. "Seems, in this mission, I am 0 for 100 as far as usefulness."

"That's not at all what I said, or intimated," Amber replied. Had she totally misread him? It would seem so. "You have given valuable insight on this mission, as you well know."

"True. There is no question. My insight is very valuable." Paris chuckled slightly before looking away, shaking his head slightly. "We butted heads too much in this mission. I'm still not used to having a chain of command again. I've been a solo act for a long time and I'm used to reading things in my own way at my own speed." He looked over to her a smiled. "I wasn't trying to challenge your every move, far from it, it's just you seemed super tense and laser focused. Stuck in your own direction. Sometimes, when that happens, you tend to miss whats around you and I didn't want you to make any mistakes or miss something important."

"I'm not tense, but I am focused. I get that way when it involves science," she said. "But I don't appreciate having my every move questioned. No, you weren't that bad, and it wasn't just you, but it does not make for a cohesive team."

"You're right... it doesn't, but when you are hyper focused about science and other people aren't the team begins to drift." Paris replied softly. "As a leader, not only do you have to stay on task, but you have to keep your team's attention. These people haven't worked together long, and some may not be as savvy with science as you are, but they are here because you saw a skill that would be useful. If you're doing everything it tends to pull away from their usefulness." He paused slightly. "I'm not saying you were wrong to push us forward, but when they are mainly following you while you use every science skill you have to figure things out their focus fades." He looked over to her, taking his hands off the console for a moment. "When I asked every to look around at the facility, I wasn't trying to undermine you, but I was trying to give them a... a team building exercise. Get everyone focused on a task while also still using their natural and taught gifts to their advantage. Someone may have seen something the others did because their eyes aren't training to see those types of things before. Then I wanted them to gather around, in one place, and reveal what they found and everyone can brainstorm. Yes, going to the logs and stripping it is the far easier method, but you wouldn't have brought a team if you just needed one person who could do that the whole time. These people are going to be working together a lot and have to get used to how each other think and to trust each others observations and judgments. It's bad enough, for them, one of their team members is a criminal and has no reason to be trusted, but if I spot a danger that I recognize then you damn sure I am gonna say something. However, should they not trust me and continue, it could end up with someone injured or worse and I don't want that."

He paused for a moment, secretly placing his hand on hers, as he whispered softly. "You are in the position you are in because you are the most trusted for the job, but no every is gonna move and think the way you do. They have their own speed and own cautions to work through, and if you lead them the whole way like a horse on a rope, then their instinct is going to be to constantly fall back and leave every decision to you. I may not be a great scientist, but I am an amazing judge of character, and by the looks of this group I can point out some heavy issues they need to work through. Some of which are in a position that people will come to trust and rely on." He eased his hand away and placed it back on the console. "I'm just the pilot, so what do I know." Paris gave her a quick smirk before looking away again.

"You know, for someone who says he's not trying to tell me what to do, you're sure making a point of letting me know how I'm messing up and what I should have done," she countered. "Not only did I appreciate your suggestion about using other senses, I encouraged it. However, if I stand back and let them stumble around, when they aren't scientists and don't know what they're doing, I would be negligent in my duties. My responsibility is not just to let them figure things out for themselves. Each member of this team has a job to do, and I expect them to bring their expertise. At the same time, I have to bring mine as well. You are encouraged to make suggestions, as is every other member of this team, but sometimes, I have to do what I know is best, and sometimes, I have to be the one to do it." She hesitated. "Yes, there are some issues here, but that does not mean I stop being the leader. They are Starfleet. My job is to lead them, to bring all our expertise together to find solutions, not teach them how to be scientists. That may not be what you meant to say, but that's how it came across." She still kept her voice low, but he had to realize that the way he was trying to help was counter-productive on this specific assignment. "Now, if you want to sit down somewhere when we get back to the ship and can discuss this, we can, but right now, right here, is not the place."

"Like I said... what do I know? I'm just the pilot." Paris replied with a slight sigh. There was no way to say what he wanted to say without it coming off the way she took it, which was understandable. Maybe he should have worded it better. Maybe he should have left this conversation private, as he was told, but he couldn't help but push. "Just because I am older, doesn't mean wisdom comes with it." He shrugged and tapped the console as he stated. "Coming up on the Aurora, Now."

"We'll talk about it later," she promised. They needed to get on the same page about this if they were going to move forward, and she definitely wanted them to move forward. "Okay?"

"Careful." Paris replied, with a slight chuckle, before looking over to her and adding. "That's my line."

She flashed him a grin just before the shuttle entered the bay. "Just let me know when...and where."

____
OFF

Lieutenant Commander Amber Quinn
Executive Officer
USS Aurora

Lieutenant Trei Jansum
Chief Security Officer

Lieutenant Paris Deville
Chief Flight Control Officer

Lieutenant JG Tessa Nicoles

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