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Post by Kossuth on Apr 11, 2016 21:35:41 GMT -5
The rain drove hard outside of the Oversight Committee's headquarters. Civilians, officers, reporters, and people of all stripes shuffled to and fro, clad in raincoats and glowing umbrellas. One of them bumped into Elizabeth Razzor after she left the building after one of the many interrogation sessions by T'Grav.
"I'm sorry, ma'am!" He apologized and seemed appropriately regretful.
But he must have stuffed something into her palm, because she found a small piece of paper and a note written in old fashioned ink.
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 12, 2016 12:42:54 GMT -5
Liz nodded as she deflected the small unintended collision and offered back a warm smile despite the horrid weather.
"No worries hon..."
She and her escort continued on back towards the officer quarters where she had been politely 'housed' for the duration of the sub-committee's hearings. She went to raise up the collar of her issued raincoat when she felt something in the palm of her hand. She winced inwardly and thought. 'Really? Like Really?'
She kept walking as she allowed herself a quick glance to the note and then carefully secured it, easily concealing it from the pair of guards who followed who's eyes were more interested in the crowd and the miserable rain. She smiled some instantly recalling a distant encounter, and instantly knew who this was from. With an extra bounce to herself she slowly widened the distance between herself and her escort, using the crowded sidewalks to assist her. Using only her most rudimentary skills she soon lost them into the crowd and slipped away as she made her way to the address shown.
She approached the suite and entered as instructed.
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 13, 2016 7:46:42 GMT -5
The suite was a medium-sized apartment, and the door opened up to the living room. The room was lit with soft yellow indirect lighting, and all the furniture appeared to be wood. It was clearly designed to be a "homey" environment. There were two angled windows in the back -- polarized, so they were a dark gray -- but you could nevertheless see sheets of rain cascading down them. In a chair behind an old-style writing table, Admiral Arak sat. On his desk were several PADDS, several pieces of parchment, and a few books. One of them, "Learning the Tarot", was resting at the top of the stack. A smile crept across his face as he saw Razzor enter.
"Liz!" He said with encouragement. "I'm glad you could take time out of your... busy hearing schedule. Come have a seat. Want some coffee?" He motioned toward a futuristic coffee maker at the edge of the desk. It appeared as if he drank 3/4ths of a pot already. There is the ever-so-slight scent of a Bajoran cigar in the room.
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 13, 2016 9:46:31 GMT -5
Liz looked around the room, taking in each and every detail in an instant and smiled softly recognizing the design of the room and it's intent. Her eyes lit up with the gentle and expected recognition of seeing an old friend from long ago. She slipped off her slick issued rain coat and hung it up on the coatrack near the door, where one often found such a thing with this carefully selected décor.
Comfort and home, very nice Admiral she thought. Well, its working at least this encounter wont be as hostile as her most recent ones with others. Even the news that her husband and mate had been found alive and was returning to her was a mixed bag. She was elated at the news but knew she was in for an 'earful'.
She walked down to the desk at his beckoning and nodded politely. "Totes on the 'fee Admiral, especially on such a rainy gray day.."
She slipped into the chair across from his desk and in the blink of an eye gazed over the top of his desk as she had the room. She chuckled at his comment about the hearings.
"Oh I soooo bet they will miss me more than I do them...but yes this is a nice little pause for cause."
She reached over and picked up his book on Tarot Cards and smiled looking over her shoulder to him.
"Learning how to play a new game with the Prophets sir?" She smiled her usual warm smile to him as she inquired playfully.
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 14, 2016 10:27:30 GMT -5
Arak picked up an empty white mug bearing the 22nd Mobile Daedalus: Task Force Discovery logo and filled it up with coffee. He placed it in front of Liz, next to a small container of milk and a small container of sugar. He chuckled at her question.
"It's just a little mystery I'm hoping that the Pilgrim will solve." He sipped his own coffee. "They're pretty smart over there. They figured out the identity of two of my operatives on the ship."
Arak inhaled deeply and relaxed in his chair.
"How is your mother?"
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 14, 2016 19:21:38 GMT -5
Liz smirked at the mention of one of her old assignments. "Only two? So no way like that is all you have aboard that ship sir..." she canted her head at him though curiously. "Tarot, so has to be the Sea of Choral Storms then?"
Liz nodded softly, her eyes a little sad as she answered him.
"She is doing much better, there is a lot of damage to overcome after being inside that machine for so long. They expect she will recover...physically."
She shakes her head. "Mentally...emotionally...like only time will tell."
"Thank you for asking though, sir."
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 14, 2016 21:18:50 GMT -5
Liz smirked at the mention of one of her old assignments. "Only two? So no way like that is all you have aboard that ship sir..." she canted her head at him though curiously. "Tarot, so has to be the Sea of Choral Storms then?"
Arak chuckled. "You're right. Not two, three. Hah." He smiled at her. "It's the Sea of Choral Storms... again. I'd love to finally unravel this."
"I'd like to meet her at some point. Judging by my inferences, I don't think I ever knew the real Stephanie Rendino." He paused for a moment. "So what are your plans for after this Salvation mess blows over?"
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 14, 2016 23:30:20 GMT -5
Liz nodded and clicked her tongue.
"Well its no longer about if they are reaching out to us I would totes imagine, it's most likely now what are they trying to say..."
Liz inhaled slightly and lowered her gaze a moment, shifting a little uncomfortably.
"As near as I can recall Admiral, you only met her that one time, the first time you and so met,..." She shook her head. "That was right before it all began to change..."
She looked back up after considering his question.
"I've a promise to keep to someone who trusts me...one of the few left I would imagine now..." She set her jaw with determination. "I promised him I would see someone comes home...why?"
"What did you have in mind sir?"
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 16, 2016 18:11:27 GMT -5
Liz nodded and clicked her tongue.
"Well its no longer about if they are reaching out to us I would totes imagine, it's most likely now what are they trying to say..." "It's a tough situation." He sighed. "If those blue flashes were 'communication', well, they had the potential to be very destructive. What if one appeared inside a dilithium chamber while a ship was at warp? I'm not sure that we have a way to totally protect against them at this point. Hopefully the Pilgrim can figure out how to put an end to this once and for all."Arak nodded his head. "This was a horrible thing all around. For you... for your mother... for the victims of Project Guardian... for Starfleet... for the Director... for everyone. I think it underscores the importance of treating these dangerous things the way they should be treated. With discretion, good judgment, and caution. Otherwise, the cycle repeats over and over until, well, there's nobody left to repeat it." He took a sip of his coffee.
"You know, there's people out there who want you to be locked up. You were instrumental in bringing down the rogues once and for all, but your name is always mentioned in the same breath as Project Salvation and its horrors. Some see that as a good enough reason to put you behind a forcefield for the rest of your days. I disagree, for obvious reasons. I've been trying to pull as many strings as I've got, for your benefit. Although I'm known to keep my head down around T'Grav." He smiled. "Given that you were a Salvation operative and that, well, Salvation isn't really operating... I wanted to know if you would consider... other employment."
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 17, 2016 7:54:24 GMT -5
Liz nodded adding..."If any one can it will be the Pill that sorts it out sir...They are a good crew, they totes wont let ya down."
Liz nodded to that, "I could not agree more sir." she shifts some in her seat. "I think we both can see the direction Mr. 'Monday Morning Quarterback' and his 'Shepard led flock' of a subcommittee is def so intent on marching in."
Liz leaned back into the plush leather chair and considered this, for her long and lengthy but to the outside observer it was as if her response took little or no time at all. She crossed her legs slowly and then folded her hands in her lap. She canted her head a moment as she regarded him some...
She then smiled warmly and leaned forward...
"I so would indeed sir, like tell me...what do you need me to do?"
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 17, 2016 17:34:54 GMT -5
Liz leaned back into the plush leather chair and considered this, for her long and lengthy but to the outside observer it was as if her response took little or no time at all. She crossed her legs slowly and then folded her hands in her lap. She canted her head a moment as she regarded him some...
She then smiled warmly and leaned forward...
"I so would indeed sir, like tell me...what do you need me to do?"
Arak leaned back in his chair and produced a small bag from his pocket. He emptied the bag out onto the desk -- there were two silver pins, one displaying a Moon and one displaying a Sword. "I want you to be a full-time operative of Project Avalon, Liz. Research division or security division... it's your choice. We need people like you, who will stand up for what's right. As we've both seen... every institution, every project can be corrupted, even the ones with the best intentions. Unless they're filled with the right people, who would rather tear it all down than let that happen."
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 18, 2016 13:38:03 GMT -5
Liz looked down at the desktop to the pair of pins, and furled her brow in thought. She nodded to his comment which mirrored her own deeply held beliefs and convictions. She looked up to find his eyes and hold his gaze with a fixed one of her own.
"I am yours Admiral, I accept the position of Operative." She said with a professional edge to her tone. "Before I choose which pin...I need to know just one thing..."
"Like which one of those pins of yours so puts me back out into the field with the resources and leverage I need to keep my promise regarding 'The Chorus'..."
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 18, 2016 13:50:39 GMT -5
Liz looked down at the desktop to the pair of pins, and furled her brow in thought. She nodded to his comment which mirrored her own deeply held beliefs and convictions. She looked up to find his eyes and hold his gaze with a fixed one of her own.
"I am yours Admiral, I accept the position of Operative." She said with a professional edge to her tone. "Before I choose which pin...I need to know just one thing..."
"Like which one of those pins of yours so puts me back out into the field with the resources and leverage I need to keep my promise regarding 'The Chorus'..."
Arak slid the moon pin forward while sliding the other pin back.
"Nyx Division, our field operatives. Their job is to secure, contain, and protect anomalous or dangerous phenomenon. This is what you want. In fact, your first assignment, well... will be the Chorus."
He looked at her and took a deep breath.
"As you know, we've never had the same level of resources as the Director or the Administrator. And we've been circling the wagons now that an inquest is underway. Without the Director in play, there's nothing to hold Section 31 back, and we think they may try to make some kind of move soon."
"Nevertheless, we do have resources we can commit. In fact, there's one that you might be... particularly interested in. You see, some years back we recovered a piece of non-sentient brain matter that has the ability to... provide answers to questions. Answers that it couldn't possibly know. We don't know how it works, but it works. The only catch is that the answer can be somewhat vague or hard to determine. One or two words at most, usually metaphorical or requiring interpretation. We call it "Second Sight." Maybe you'd like to ask it a question."
"And by all means... until your assignment is complete, you can keep the Queen of Pentacles."
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Post by Captain Elizabeth Razzor on Apr 18, 2016 14:16:46 GMT -5
Liz accepted the pin and picked it up and nodded at her first order.
"Yes sir."
Liz nodded once again adding. "Yes sir, I so expected as much."
"Over the last few months leading up to the Project's fall, those buggers were totes biting at the bit so to speak. Somehow they began to put it together they were in a cage...they are so off the leash now." She sighed too. "Some of those fanatics make the M5 seem like a hair stylist when it comes to their insane dedication to the Federation."
Liz sat back some at that.
"I remember the briefing on this recovery ... some colonists inadvertently discovered it did they not? Are we sure there are no residual side effects? If I remember the colonists took a trip to candyland when they used it..."
She quirked a brow. "Queen of Pentacles? My role in this new chapter?" She smiled some. "Or my new name in lieu of Aquarius?"
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Post by Rear Admiral Arak Verdaan on Apr 18, 2016 21:40:00 GMT -5
Arak chuckled at the mention of candy land. "You might be thinking of the Memory Eater. Second Sight is perfectly safe... Although it's a little cryptic and sometimes not much help."
"Ahh, in all the excitement you must have forgotten. The necklace. As far as your code name is concerned... It could be Aquarius. Or whatever you want... I think you've earned some discretion."
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