How 'Bout Them Apples?
Posted on Wed Jul 18th, 2018 @ 12:46pm by Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Captain Mrazak & Ferrofax & Rear Admiral Aerilyn Nyel & Lieutenant Commander Kazyah Linn
Edited on on Mon Jul 23rd, 2018 @ 1:38pm
4,406 words; about a 22 minute read
Mission:
S1E1: Bynars Be Bygones
Location: Overwatch Station - Administrator's Office
Timeline: MD 10
The trip back from Bynaus had been bittersweet. Although they had successfully rebooted the master computer and staved off the premature death of a civilization -- corruption of their peered cybernetic network, the heat death of a star sustained by Dyson swarm, social upheaval and collapse, take your pick -- Mrazak still had several loose ends to tie up, and was prevented from doing so.
He held two Starfleet officers in his custody, and was not permitted to do anything but hold them until Admiral Nyel's personal debrief. There was a traitor in the Phantom's Brig as well, and since he had been formally charged with collusion with Section 31, Mrazak similarly had his hands tied. The comely Doctor Nevada McKay had earned her place in his estimation; not only had she confirmed Van Straten's treason, but she had identified Commodore Thaddeus Hightower as the current director of Section 31. Not a bad plea bargain. Mrazak would need to have her records falsified just like all other personnel of Memory Theta, but with her expertise on microscopic doomsday devices, he would keep her for the time being.
There was also the matter of Hannok's betrayal. While the rest of the galaxy despised the Vulcans Without Logic for being unpredictable variables in the otherwise venerated and predictable system of Vulcan culture, those who looked deeper would find a strain of Vulcanism which transcended violent emotion through embracing rather than running from it. Or so the story went. Hannok's own collusion with the Black Nagus organization to the near devastation of a Federation world, as well as the core computer systems it supported, told a different story. One lone V'tosh Katur could set their suffrage back for generations.
All of these thoughts and more blazed through Mrazak's mind as he strode down the corridor to the administrator's office.
"Where are we exactly? When will I get Biynah's remains back? Why are we here?" Akiva had been asking these and other questions to Mrazak's indifferent back since they stepped through the airlock. It was almost as if the Vulcan couldn't hear him. He looked to Kazyah for help.
"Listen here, you pompous windbag," Kaz said to Mrazak, his hands balled into fists. "You're going to answer my friend's questions and you're going to answer them right now. If not, I have a blade that would sink into your neck like butter. I'm happy to demonstrate if you'd like."
The outburst snapped Mrazak out of his glum contemplation. "What now? Ferrofax, seal off this deck and vent atmosphere if the blind man attempts any such thing."
"Deck sealed, and all pressure release valves have been put into a prewarmed ready stance. A pity really, I found the floor show quite entertaining." mused a disembodied voice.
They neared the administrator office door, before which Mrazak halted. "Within this office is a vicious ice queen who cares about people even less than I do. Keep your answers brief. She will only interrupt you otherwise."
"Who is 'she'?" Akiva asked.
Kaz sighed. The sad truth was, he knew exactly who was on the other side of that door. "Admiral Aerilyn Nyel, Memory Theta's Starfleet Command overseer. Let's just say, I appear pleasant compared to her," he said. He turned to Akiva, "For once, we will listen to the idiotic Vulcan. She may ask questions, keep them short and to the point. If all goes well, you and I will gather Bynah's body and be leaving this station within a few hours."
"Yes yes, don't just stand out there," Aerilyns voice called out, after she heard the gentlemen talking on the other side. No one had rung the door chime just yet. but she hardly was in the mood to wait around for one of them to muster the courage.
Mrazak shuffled through the door with his two Persons of Interest in tow. "Good day to you, Admiral. These are the two men mentioned in my field report."
As Mrazak spoke, Akiva repressed the compulsion to stand behind the Vulcan. Right now he needed to be strong and present a brave face. He stepped aside and stood at ease before the admiral's desk, awaiting his turn to speak.
"And you brought them to me, why?" the woman asked.
"To lodge a formal complaint with prejudice," Akiva said, stepping in front of Mrazak. "My daughter was forcibly abducted by your people through illegal means. This led directly to her... her death." A lump formed in his throat that he cleared before continuing. "In insult added to injury, your man here," he pointed to Mrazak, "claimed her body as some sort of artifact. I don't know what that means exactly, only that it constitutes another count of illegal search and seizure. Give me justice, Admiral, or I will give you hell."
His chest tightened in anxiety, but Akiva locked his knees. He would stand still. He would be strong. Biynah's memory deserved that much from him.
Aerilyn slowly stood, her eyes locked with his in an unwavering gaze. With a hand resting on the desktop, she let out a single laugh. "You're funny," she simply stated. "Let me ask, did you suddenly forget who's in charge here? Because, I have news for you...it's me."
Kaz reached out and put a hand on Akiva's arm, sensing his emotions.
"Do you find this humorous? You aren't above the law, Admiral," Akiva said. "I am the son of a Hebron rabbi, a judge, lawyer, and teacher all rolled into one, so I know whereof I speak. I may be no man of war, but I swear to Ha'Shem if you deny me here and now, then I will bury you in litigation so thick you will have no time for anything else. I'm talking the JAG's office. I'm talking the Sanhedrin from Hebron. I'll even go to the Federation News Service and have your little covert operation blown wide open." His head began to swim from his locked knees, so he teetered forward onto Nyel's desk and leaned toward her. "Look into my eyes and tell me I don't mean every word, Admiral."
Pulling the knife from his belt, Kaz pointed the blade at Akiva, taking a few steps back. "Akiva, let's not cross that line," he said. "We're on the same side here, but I can't allow threats against Theta."
The Admiral held a hand up, motioning for Kaz to lower his weapon. "No no, let him speak," she said. "It's been a long time since I've seen someone so passionate about something."
She walked around the desk, coming closer to the gentlemen. "Commander...Akiva, was it? You certainly have a big mouth and strong opinions. Has it ever gotten in the way of your career?"
Mrazak took several steps back, separating himself from Admiral Nyel and whatever she intended to do with these impudent outsiders. Already he was regretted that he brought them here.
"No, ma'am," Akiva said in answer to Nyel's question. "My career is rather undistinguished. I was a knockout Ops Chief for several years until a failure of leadership pulled me into Command against my wishes. As first officer, I've served on a ship that has suffered multiple turnovers of every senior staff position, repeated mishaps with failing equipment and questionable ethical orders from its former CO, and thanks to the Consortium crisis, nearly fell to a mutiny that sent the ship limping into dry dock." Taking a breath, he steeled his nerves. "Now that my daughter is gone, you might say I have nothing to lose."
A light went on in the woman's head. "You're from the Vindex," she said, glancing at Kaz for a moment. "I'm familiar with what happened. Tell me, what did you think of Ainscow as a Captain?" she asked, leaning against the polished wood surface of the desk with her fingers intertwined in her lap.
"She tried," Akiva said. "Questionable ethics and confusing rationale, but she tried, which is more than I can say for her poorly thought-out replacement. What does that have to do with anything? I took an extended leave of absence to get my daughter back, and I'm not leaving without her remains."
Aerilyn turned to the Vulcan, "You may go," she said. "And take Kaz with you. He should return to his duty assignment. The Commander and I need to have a word in private."
That sounded very bad to Mrazak. "But Admiral--"
"I said go," she said with a firmness in her voice she hadn't shown in a while.
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrazak shuffled out the door along with Kaz, leaving Akiva alone in the monster's lair. For his part, Akiva stood still and unmoved. There was no earthly way to know what Nyel's play was going to be, and he had already said a mouthful. Nothing remained but to wait and see what she would do.
Once the doors had closed behind the two men, Aerilyn donned a slight smile as she looked at Akiva. "You're very devoted to your android. She is like a child to you, is that right?"
"Yes." Akiva tried to tone down his glare, but the woman was playing with fire.
"Understandable." Aerilyn turned around and picked up the PADD sitting on the desk behind her. "It says here in Mrazak's report that your daughter was instrumental in the saving of Bynaus." She looked up. "Thank you both. I'm sure her sacrifice was hard on you. And of course what is left is yours to take with you."
That easy? Akiva didn't want to look the gift horse in the mouth. "Thank you, ma'am." He folded his hands in front and dipped his head respectfully. "We will be on our way once I've collected her remains."
"Of course," she said. "I'll make sure they are given to you at once. You're free to leave with the Lieutenant."
Akiva turned to leave, but before he did, he said a clear and distinct, "Thank you, Admiral."
"You're welcome." Aerilyn said, "But before you go, I have a question for you."
There was a sudden gravitas which fell upon the office. A small voice in Akiva's mind told him to go, that he already got what he came for, but curiosity got the better of him. "Yes? What is it?"
"Just a simple question, actually." She stood, but didn't take any steps towards the man. "What are you returning to?"
It was a simple question, but the answer echoed so loudly inside Akiva that it stung to admit it out loud. "I don't know."
The Admiral motioned for the man to take a seat while she walked around the desk and sat down herself. "I'm not going to lie to you, Commander. I bore of this posting. Memory Theta being under my purview has been a thorn in my side for a decade now. It's been difficult keeping a Commander in place here, partially because of the lack of excitement, partially because that troll, Mrazak, needs someone authoritative to keep him in check. Very few people fit that bill. And frankly, I'm tired of having to come down here and babysit between Administrators."
The woman looked up at the man, who was now sitting in a chair opposite her desk. "It's long been said that the people who desire command are the worst choices to actually command. They tend to do it for the wrong reason. But you're different, you didn't exactly want to be where you are now. But your reputation precedes you, ben-Avram. And your clear devotion to the things that matter to you is exemplary. And so I'm asking this one question." She sat back, pausing for dramatic effect. "Could Memory Theta ever mean enough to you to care for it the way you care for other things?"
Akiva felt his eyebrows lurch deep into his forehead. Whatever he had expected, this was not it. "Clandestine agencies like Section 31 and your own are contemptible. I loathe them and everything they stand for." Ire began to burn within him again. He stabbed a finger toward the door where Mrazak had left. "And that Vulcan is a disgrace to the uniform, and if you intend on covering for his crimes against the Federation, then so are you." His emotions began to run away from him, leaving him shaking his head in a fit of righteous indignation. "You want to know if I could ever care about Memory Theta like I do my life's work? Like family? Give me one good reason, Admiral. Just one. Because from where I'm sitting, you're short on them yourself."
"Clandestine?" Aerilyn stood, walking towards the massive windows that lined the back of the office. "Commander, I think you have it completely wrong. Our job is not to be illicit in any way. But you have to understand our purpose here." She looked back at him, "Please, come and look."
When Akiva joined her, she pointed to the large planet below that had several massive, round installations all interconnected. "Those are the Memory Theta archives," she said. "In those vaults, curated by a...lovely Aevanari named Eigthe, are the greatest threats to the Federation that we've ever seen. Weapons, viruses, artifacts, technology. And our charge, here on the station, is the protection and archiving of those threats. We've only just recently expanded to include a field team, but we've been using Starfleet Intelligence agents to collect these threats for as long as Theta has been around."
The Admiral turned, leaning against the window sill as she spoke. "What you've seen this past week has been a struggle, mostly because the field team is a new thing we are trying. We're still working out the details. But our job, our mandate here, is of the utmost importance. While, yes, Memory Theta is a closely guarded secret, it is only because we cannot allow those who would mean us harm to know of our existence.
"Your android, your...child. She was an anomaly to us. We had a reported threat to a Federation world and we had no choice but to respond to that threat. The fact that there was an issue with the Ambassador and Section 31 was merely coincidental." The woman held up her hand, "I'm not comfortable with coincidences, I know. And I do plan to ask Mrazak to look into it, to make sure there are no connections. But the field team acted, in accordance to our protocols, with the knowledge they had."
Akiva weighed the admiral's words with a keen, skeptical mind. Looking down at the planetoid below, its archives arrayed not completely dissimilar to the famous Memory Alpha, there was a ring of truth to what she said that simply could not be denied. Section 31, this Black Nagus organization, even Mrazak's own brand of unconscionable dedication to his duty... none of it mattered in light of the Pandora's Box of troubles down below. And this shrewd, relentless woman was wanting... what exactly? Akiva shook his head. He needed to hear it spelled out.
"Just what are you proposing, Admiral?"
"It's quite simple, Commander. This installation is held up by four pillars of Starfleet: Intelligence, Science Operations, and the Marine Corps, all which fall under the oversight of Command. Each of the three other pillars has a part to play in this, and Command's job is to administer the facility and the personnel on board. Typically we choose someone from the JAG Corps to fill that role, as they tend to be more by-the-book than others. And frankly, Mrazak needs someone to quote regulations at him to keep him in line. I'm offering that position to you."
Akiva's earlier boast of being the son of a teacher, lawyer, and judge all rolled into one played back in his ears, now much to his own chagrin. "I don't know that I'm qualified, Admiral. I've been a first officer for not two years. Before then I was a computer programmer and cyberneticist."
The thought also occurred to him then that with the resources of Memory Theta at his disposal, he may be able to repair Biynah--maybe even bring her back to full functionality. Back to life.
A single question bore the full weight of his conflicted thoughts. "How? How would this work?"
"Why must you complicate in your mind that which is so simple?" Aerilyn walked away from the windows. "This station needs a Commanding Officer. Your job is to keep Mrazak in line and make sure the staff doesn't kill each other out of boredom. The truth is, the position is quite tedious and simple. A threat comes in, you send the field team to retrieve the threat, and then Eigthe catalogs it and archives it."
There had to be a catch somewhere, but Akiva wasn't seeing it. And if he would have the means to reverse Biynah's terrible fate, even preventing others from sharing it...
"Fine," he said. "But I have one condition."
The woman raised an eyebrow, "And that would be?"
Akiva took a breath. This would show the admiral his greatest weakness, but it was worth the risk. "I... am married. It is not a civil union recognized by Starfleet regulations, however. There would be no right of spousal transfer that I could claim. If you want me to keep your snakes in their cage, then I need my wife reassigned here with me."
"How...interesting. Is she aware of such union?" the Admiral asked, smiling slightly to herself.
"Yes." Akiva crossed his arms, thoroughly unamused. "She carries my child. Will you make her transfer happen or not?"
"No need for hostility, Commander," the woman said, "We're on the same side here. Of course your spouse may join you." She turned to the side, "Ferrofax, please enter into the system a transfer for..." She looked back at Akiva.
"Petty Officer Laena from the USS Vindex," Akiva said.
"A petty officer? Scandalous." Aerilyn raised her eyebrows. "Enter a transfer for Petty Officer Laena from the Vindex to Memory Theta. Effective immediately. And arrange passage for her and their belongings to the station. Omega protocol."
"Omega Protocol? My we are bringing out all the bells and whistles. Let me see...done. The Diplomatic CourierSwiftsure has just received a priority redirect to the Vindex's last known location. Travelling at its maximum speed it should arrive in range of the station's transporter network in a little over three days. Two and a half if we're willing to put the Swiftsure in Utopia's kind hands for a month to replace her coils." Ferrofax said, as a flickering galactic map appeared and was laced by the singular journey of a little ship.
"And there we have it," the Admiral said. "Your lovely wife is on her way and you are the proud new owner of this lovely facility. There's just...one final matter to discuss."
There it was. Akiva stiffened his jaw as he waited for the other shoe to drop. "Go on."
"Well, like I said, typically our Facility Administrators are from the JAG Corps. There are multiple reasons for this. The main reason being that you need an official reason for being under my command that won't be questioned by those who don't have the authorization to know about Theta." Aerilyn stood, holding out a PADD to the man. "Your official orders will be to JAG. I need you to find a good reason for those orders to go into place. Do you have any legal experience? Anything that can facilitate this transfer?"
It was a puzzle indeed. Akiva had to hand it to Nyel for not leading with it--he would have walked away without a second thought. Now that she had him on the hook, he would work to find a way to solve it.
"Between last year's general court-martial of the Vindex's former Security Chief and the relentless correspondence of the past couple weeks, JAG would certainly know my name." Akiva rubbed his chin in thought. Perhaps Theta's AI would hold the key. "The project I led to create Biynah required multiple participants, but her software logic and firmware processors are credited as my designs. Perhaps JAG could be said to utilize me as a Subject Matter Expert on Artificial Intelligences as they are used in Starfleet?"
Ferrofax's avatar appeared, a look of indignation on his face.
"I need neither a sitter nor an apprentice," he said, the white software collar about his throat glowing a little brighter as his dander was raised. "If the gentleman wishes to postulate studies on AI's, might I suggest the Ingram Institute For Artifical Mentation? Or the Turing Foundation? I happen to be something of a family heirloom for the Ingrams, I could put in a good word for you."
His snide look shifted a little, and his eyes flicked up to one corner as he pondered something.
"Though...I could use an expert opinion on the Artifical Intelligence left in my care. The war wounded, the deranged, the special cases like myself that have a passing familiarity with being Asimov Compliant. Someone with a mammal's eye on none sapient consciousness might be useful if certain prediction strings come true," Ferrofax muttered, before looking at Akiva. "What say you?"
Akiva canted his head from side to side in consideration. "Would that meet your requirements?" he eventually asked the admiral.
"Honestly, I couldn't care less," the Admiral said. "I'm just happy I won't have to deal with that dreadful Vulcan any longer." She stood, handing the man a PADD. "This is all the information you should need. I already had the command codes transferred to you before you got here. And do me a favor," she said, looking into the man's eyes. "Please don't die. That's just way too much paperwork for me to deal with."
The look on Akiva's face turned incredulous and uncertain. "That... is my regular approach to things."
What was he doing? What had he done? Since when had he become so impetuous? Akiva ran his hand through his hair. Ever since Biynah had been detained by the Bynars, a change had been catalyzed within him. Perhaps, even in this, the hand of Ha'Shem was at work. He took a quiet breath to steel his nerves, then met Aerilyn eye to eye. "If there's nothing else, Admiral?"
Aerilyn stood and walked around the desk, "Nothing of importance," she said as she walked past the man. "My ship will be leaving within the hour. You have until then to change your mind, but I can promise I won't allow you to." Taking a few more steps, the doors opened and the Admiral disappeared to the other side.
The footfalls toward the door made Mrazak jump. He had not heard the entire conversation, but he had heard enough. The doors nearly parted before he managed to pull away the acoustic amplifier. As they parted to reveal Aerilyn, Mrazak swiped the transceiver off of his ear and into his pocket.
"Admiral?" he asked with his most innocent voice. And then he looked past Aerilyn to the administrator's desk. His desk. And therein he saw Akiva, seated and staring out the broad window with the stressful brow of an administrator. "Admiral!"
Mrazak spun on his heels and gave chase. "Tell me you didn't! Tell me this isn't what it looks like! How could you? How dare you?!"
"You are no longer my problem," Aerilyn said, her stride not breaking for a single moment as she walked past the man.
It was foolish to expect any satisfaction from her. Mrazak bolted back to the office, which was still close enough for him to make out Akiva... who was still seated behind his desk. He marched inside, right up to the desk, and lost all decorum.
"Get the veruul out of my chair!"
Akiva flinched once at the outburst. His toes curled within his shoes at the display of weakness. The fingers in his hand curled into a fist, but slow breathing helped him release it. That strength would be needed in his tongue for what he would say next. Standing up to his full height, eye to eye with Mrazak, Akiva pointed at the door. "Get the b'zazel out of my office." For an eternal instant, their eyes locked in a contest of wills. "Now, please."
Out of all the outcomes of the first formal mission of the Phantom's field team, Mrazak had not expected this. It was not unusual for outsiders to be gifted the keys to Memory Theta, but never someone he had personally interrogated in the acquisition of an artifact. For perhaps the first time, the Vulcan Without Logic felt an unexpected emotion: regret.
Reluctantly, unconditionally, Mrazak lowered his eyes into a slow bow of his head. "Yes, sir." Without further protest, he turned around and shuffled toward the door.
As he watched Mrazak leave, Akiva called out to his back. "Mrazak." When the Vulcan turned around, Akiva smiled wanly and said, "Thank you. I know you did everything you could."
Mrazak stood suspicious of Akiva's gesture, but realizing that this human was an honest man who did not hide his feelings, he smiled in return.
"I look forward to working with you," Mrazak said.
Leaving the office, Mrazak grinned. While Akiva might be an honest man, he was no match for the culture of Memory Theta. He would be out of there on his own volition within the month. Mrazak had waited this long already, and he still had his tenure as Science Lead. What was one more field mission?
For his part, Akiva leaned back in his chair and heaved a sigh of relief. That could have went very badly. Part of him still couldn't believe it had worked. Looking back around at the now empty office, Akiva felt the burden of his newfound responsibility encroach upon him. There wasn't much left to do but dive in.
"Ferrofax, is it?" He said, looking up to the ceiling. "Tell me everything."
"I'm not sure you're ready for 'everything'. How about I start with what is immediately fatal, and then work outwards along varying lines of catastrophe?" Ferrofax said. "We'll start with MT-0001, the monster that lives in the archives basement. The reason we started this whole sorry business. Its time to tell you about The Fortuneteller."
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