Something Fishy this Way Comes...

Posted on Sat Aug 4th, 2018 @ 6:42pm by Lieutenant Galatea Polaris & Lieutenant Commander Radak

2,589 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Negotiations and Apothecaries
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: MD 13 Afternoon

ON:

Radak sat behind his desk with several PADDs spread over its surface. He was working on crew reviews. He had at least a few from each department that he had already started to compile into a larger report for the captain and Starfleet. Currently, he was pouring over attendance records. Even though they were on a starship, it was still very important that crew show up for their shifts and showed up on time. They could still call out sick, as with any job, and he was currently looking for patterns of behavior. Sometimes you could get on top of a potential problem crewmate by tracking their attendance records.

His office was still pretty empty. He hadn't had a chance to add any of his artwork or decorations. The room was good old Starfleet sterile, but at least it did have two chairs and a desk so he couldn't really complain.

Elijah had finished writing reports for his new boss. When he'd heard they had a new Chief of Security he jumped for joy, literally. He hated paperwork. He did aspire to move up in rank, but the paperwork was making him waffle on that decision now. He would happily hand over all to her.

Leaving the security office he headed towards the XO's office. He had to give him a final report, a copy of what he'd given his boss when she came on and there was something he'd wanted to discuss. It didn't take long for him to reach the office. He stood outside a moment straightening his uniform and then he rang the chime.

"Enter!" Radak called out from his desk. He rose from his chair for whoever was on the other side of the door. He didn't have any appointments scheduled with anyone, but he was sort of glad for company anyway to distract him from the huge pile of paperwork he had left to do.

Elijah straightened his uniform and entered. "Commander. Welcome aboard and apologies for disturbing your work. Assistant Chief Security and Tactical Elijah Alexander," he said by way of introduction.

Radak bowed politely and sat back down in his seat. "It is a pleasure to meet you Assistant Chief. Please have a seat. What can I help you with?" He tipped his head to the side curiously. "Are you relieved to have a Chief aboard now?" He wasn't sure why he wanted to make conversation, but it seemed to put a lot of people at ease when he did so.

Elijah smiled, "I'm a security bug. I love all things tactical, but not the paperwork. I am indeed happy to be handing over the reigns to the new chief." He pulled a PaDD out of his belt and handed it to the XO. "This is my final report, one is on the new Chief's desk, one for you. And there is... something of concern on it."

"Something of concern?" Radak looked at Elijah curiously, his eyebrows raised. He took the PaDD that was offered to him and looked at it. "Thank you for the report."

"There have been... a number of thefts on the ship. Sickbay was hit a day ago. It appears that the thief is stealing... things that are... well, for lack of better wording, things that are shiny."

Radak's eyebrows raised slowly. "Shiny? I am not certain that I understand. What was taken from Sickbay?" He was concerned that someone would steal from Sickbay at all. He looked down at the PaDD again and then back up at Elijah.

"Forceps, metal drop trays, an ocular mirror, a head lamp with reflector. Mostly objects that... require a reflection." He sighed, clearly frustrated. "I'd say that our thief was a Raven if I didn't know better. Oh! Also the doctor said her medical bag was stolen, the one she uses when she visits patients in their quarters. She has extras and this one was empty. It's still... troubling."

"It is indeed troubling. Did the thief leave any clues? Have we tried looking for fingerprints? I know the idea is rather old fashioned, but sometimes the older ways are better. Do you suspect a crew member?"

"Yes to the clues," he said rubbing his hands together. "No prints, yes, I think it's a crew member. I have been toying with an idea of setting a trap of sorts... but I'd have to get approval from the Chief and yourself," Elijah said.

"Tell me about your trap," Radak requested with a little bit of interest in his tone, his gaze on Elijah. "I believe that will be the only way we can catch the thief, unless we can somehow determine their next target. We might also wish to examine where we..." He paused as if trying to think of the correct words. "... keep the shiny things."

"We have an exhibit of shiny things. Open during the day, closed at night in one of the empty storage areas. He might not be able to resist it. Maybe medals from the crew. It might entice him. We hide and wait at night and then catch out raven." Elijah smiled, it was a simple plan but this thief might not be able to resist it.

Radak nodded. "I agree, Lieutenant. I approve your plan and wish for you to set it in motion as soon as possible. We cannot lose any more supplies to this... Raven, as you call them. I believe though, that the shiny exhibit should contain instrumentation as well as medals. They have stolen instrumentation already. Perhaps it is what they are ultimately after," he suggested.

"I'll ask various departments to put together a spread of tools in evolution." He smiled, then chuckled, and then full on laughed. "I... I can't believe this is happening on a starship," he said wiping his eyes.

Radak tipped his head to one side, his slender, angular brows furrowing with his confusion. "I do not understand what is so amusing, Lieutenant..." He wondered briefly if he was witnessing what humans referred to as "losing one's shit".

"I mean look at the year. We're looking for a thief that takes shiny things and we're calling him a raven. I feel like we're living in an old earth Sherlock Holmes book." Elijah wiped the tears from his eyes. "It's the absurdity of it."

Radak still didn't understand. "I am not familiar with Sherlock Holmes. I admit that my education of Human culture is lacking, but I honestly do not see how this situation is absurd? People do steal. Although... I admit as well that I do not really understand the motivations of this particular thief."

"That's what is absurd about it and the fact that he, or she, only targets shiny things." Elijah sighed. "Commander... may I ask you something, not related to this, I mean."

"Of course, Lieutenant. I am always willing to talk about anything with the crew. I hope that the crew will come to feel the same way about me. That I am someone that can be trusted." He was still looking at Elijah intently. "Speak freely."

As Elijah was about to say something his com chirped.

=/\=Doctor Polaris to Lieutenant Alexander.=/\=

Elijah sighed. "Go ahead."

=/\=You better come down here. I think your thief struck again but this time someone was hurt. =/\=

"On my way." Elijah looked over at Radak. "Care to join me sir?"

Radak nodded and rose from behind his desk. "I think I should join you. Perhaps we can get some sort of identification from the injured party." He stepped around the edge of the desk and waited for Elijah to move toward the door.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the sickbay. Elijah was tense. He hated the thought of anyone getting hurt while he was on duty. When they arrived Galatea was there to greet them. "She's going to be okay. She has a concussion and a nasty head bruise. Come to my office I will fill you in."

"Who was injured, Doctor?" Radak asked as they followed her to the office.

"Ilana Jareth, she's a civilian writer on the ship. She's awake now, but there was a complication."

Elijah stepped in. "What complication?"

"She can't remember anything. She can't remember who she is or anything. I think that it's temporary, but I can't be sure. We'll have to see in the next few days," Galatea said.

"Ilana?" Radak questioned with concern. "I know Ilana. We spent some times together aboard the station before the ship arrived. Is there anything I can do to help, Doctor?"

Galatea shrugged. "I don't know. I guess it might help to have a friendly face. She doesn't remember her name at all or anything. I do have some words of caution. We can't force memories on her. I could do more damage than good. At least for a few days." She looked at Radak. "Would you like to see her?"

Radak nodded. "I would. I will be careful." He bowed slightly to the doctor as a sign of appreciation.

==Meanwhile in the main sickbay===

Ilana sighed. Her head was pounding and she just wanted to sleep but the doctor wanted her awake. Feeling a bit edgy as well, she reached for the bag they told her was hers. She pulled out the first item. She hoped it was a clue to her identity. She looked over the notebook and smiled. She was a planner. She leafed through it seeing some blocks for writing and interviews and then a standing appointment with a mysterious figure she wrote as ‘My Romulan.’

She had just been about to put the notebook away when some loose pages slipped out. Picking them up she opened them. Not realizing that it was a part of the book she was working on she read the pages.

Who would have thought that I would one day find someone like my Romulan. He’s tall, handsome, kind, and the perfect gentleman. When we married it was the happiest day of my life.

She read on a bit fascinated by the words on the page. It was a diary of sorts. What she didn’t realize was that it was the story that she was working on and not her life, but in her confused state she saw it as a diary. The first person words of a woman who loved her husband and was recalling their life together. Then it hit her. She was married to this… my Romulan person! She couldn’t even remember his name but the words on the page showed that she loved him.

Radak entered the room, his hands behind his back. It was hard for him to hide his concern for Ilana. She had been his first friend among these people. "Hello there. I am glad you are awake. How are you feeling?" he asked, moving closer to the biobed. "I was worried when they told me that you had been injured."

Ilana had just put away the book in her bag and was looking over a comb when Radak had walked in. She took him in, the ears, the rank..."Are... are you my Romulan?" she asked.

Radak blinked slowly. For a moment he wasn't sure how to respond at all. He did remember her referring to him as one of her Romulan characters in a novel she had been working on and the doctor had said that they shouldn't force her memories. He waffled, feeling uncomfortable. He shifted back and forth on his feet for a brief moment and then he nodded.

Ilana's eyes filled with tears. She stood up gingerly and approached him wrapping her arms around him.

Galatea walked in taking in the scene with a quizzical look at Radak.

Ilana turned. "Thank you doctor. Thank you for calling my husband."

Radak could only stand there, looking rather like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle.

"Your husband?" Galatea asked.

"Yes. I looked through my things. I don't remember much but." She walked over and pulled out the papers. "It's all here."

Galatea quickly read over it. She'd seen this before. It was part of Ilana's book. Because the prose was in first person she must have assumed... "Why don't you lay back. I need to speak to your husband." She settled Ilana and took Radak aside.

Radak followed the doctor. "Do something..." he said softly under his breath. "She can't believe this..."

Galatea held the papers. "I've read this before. It's from her book. She's writing it in first person from Eldora, the character in the book. There are no names and she refers to you as her Romulan as does the Eldora character for the Solmek character. We can't risk telling her."

Just before Radak could respond Ilana had come into the room dressed. "I want to go home. I want to go home with my husband."

Galatea looked at Radak. "Ilana you should stay here for the night. Your... uh... husband will be back in the morning."

"No! I want to go home with my husband. He can take care of me. I know he wants me home with him. Tell her."

Radak was so out of his element he didn't know how to respond again. "Maybe the doctor is correct. I am not a doctor. What if something happens to you at home?" he suggested.

She looked disappointed. "Please. I need to be home." The plea in her voice was clear.

Galatea placed a hand on Ilana. "Why don't you stay here tonight and your Commander Radak will be here tomorrow to see you."

Galatea had Hunter lead her to the bio bed. Now that she was alone with Radak she looked at him. "I can't keep her here indefinitely. Her memory could take days or weeks. We can't risk telling her the truth, at least not yet. May I make a suggestion?"

Radak took a deep breath. "Of course you may make a suggestion, Doctor. Please, make a suggestion. I have a lot of work to do and we still must catch this thief." He sounded just a tiny bit desperate.

"I can only hold her until tomorrow at most. I think it's best for her to be resting in an environment that doesn't cause her stress." She grinned. "You might have a wife for a few days... planning is in order, especially if you want to avoid some of your... husbandly duties." She laughed a bit. "Who knows this might just get you out of your shell."

"My shell?" Radak glowered for a moment. "I am the Executive Officer on this ship. I have work to do. I cannot watch over her and take care of my duties. I have only been in my own quarters twice since I arrived. How am I to look after a sick girl? What if something happens? I will not be there to even help her. She is also going to wonder why her things and my things are not in the same location. What do we tell her then, Doctor?"

"Commander Radak I have every confidence that you will figure all this out." She gave him a pat on his shoulder.

Radak sighed softly. "I am glad at least someone is amused," he said flatly.

:OFF

Lieutenant Commander Radak
Executive Officer

&

Lieutenant Galatea Polaris
Chief Medical Officer and Counseling Officer

&

Lt. JG Elijah Alexander
Assistant Chief Security and Tactical Officer
{PNPC Polaris}

&

Ilana Jareth
Civilian
{PNPC Polaris}

 

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