Borg talk

Posted on Wed Jan 3rd, 2024 @ 4:26pm by Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Commodore Finchley Kerr

1,168 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: Current

Standing outside Finchley's ready room Isabelle wondered exactly what she was going to face after this discussion. It was one that she and Finchley needed to have, especially as Karadis had raised the issue. Pressing the chime she took a deep breath and waited.

Hearing the chime, Finchley was puzzled as to who could be wanting to see him at such a late hour.

“Come!” he called out.

Walking in Isabelle offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry to disturb you so late Sir, I need to talk to you.”

Surprised to see Isabelle, Finchley offered the seat opposite him, replying “No problem Counsellor, how can I help you?”

“Thank you” Isabelle took a seat giving Finchley a concerned look. “I’ve been talking with Karadis, she’s raised some very valid, and concerning points about the nanites in my system. They are presently inert albeit for a handful that are maintaining the internal implants I have left in my spine and brain stem. Karadis is concerned that if the Borg made a reappearance I’d be a liability.”

Finchley sat back in his seat, “It’s very much a concern Lieutenant. There are already…‘people’…onboard looking into the nanites situation, though from a different perspective from the one you’ve just described.”

He stood up and began to slowly pace up and down the room. “Tell me, the nanites, do they conform to your thoughts, by that, what I mean is, can you ‘tell them’ to do something, or are they self determining and act on their own?”

“Well...” Isabelle paused. “When they were first introduced to my system they had free will to follow their programming. Though in my case they didn’t create the problem we had with Dex. I didn’t dare try going against them. Since their shutdown I’ve now only got a few active, which seem to conform to the maintenance job they do, there’s no other way to maintain the internal implants I have. As far as I know there’s no way to remove the implants without risking neurological or spinal damage.”

“Perhaps contacting a neurosurgeon may be helpful” Finchley replied, “Starfleet Intelligence do have people who have worked with those recovered from Borg cubes, helping them with their recovery. Would you like me to look into it for you?”

Isabelle paused to give it some thought. “I guess that could be helpful” she nodded. “To be honest I was hoping it would prove useful in some way, but I don’t want to be seen as a security risk.”

“So far as I’m aware, there’s been no reports or sightings of Borg activity from any Federation sources, so for the time being, there’s probably no danger from that standpoint” Finchley said, “but that’s not to discount we may in the future, and that is concerning. I am hopeful that those who have come onboard can shed light on how these nanites work. There’s also the fact that it may not just be Borg technology that’s built in, they could have anything programmed in. So till we do know, we may have to bench you for current missions or encounters. I may also contact the Starfleet Intelligence Counselling service, because to be honest, I don’t know ’if’ or how this may affect your ability to carry out your duties pragmatically without thinking you’re compromised.”

Isabelle gave Finchley a horrified look. “Captain...I’m perfectly capable of carrying out my duties. I don’t want to be excluded from what I do. If it’s a matter of trust then bring in those scientists and whoever else, and get these nanites and implants out of me!” She sighed. “Otherwise I may as well just quit and have done with it.”

“The truth of the matter is Lieutenant, even if you quit, do you think Intelligence would just let you leave the service and go on your way, no, they wouldn’t” Finchley replied. He stopped pacing and looked at Isabelle, “The truth of the matter is, nobody knows if you’re perfectly capable of carrying out your duties. As a Counsellor, you of all people should see that what I said is, for the moment till we do know, the most logical course of action. However, I’ll strike a deal with you, and this is non negotiable, you take it or leave it. Till we get the answer about the nanites, Karadis shadows you in all onboard duties, NO exclusions. Is it a deal?”

Isabelle gave it some thought then nodded. “It’s a deal Captain, I take it I’m to be restricted to quarters from now on, when not on duty? Or will Karadis be keeping me company there too?” She smiled a wry smile.

Finchley thought for a moment “I don’t want to restrict you to your quarters, however, when you are there, yes, Karadis will be there with you. Think of her as a companion to you in your time of need, she’ll be there for you, in whatever it is you want from her.”

Isabelle nodded. “No offence Captain but there are times I just want to be alone, especially at the end of a long day. I wouldn’t want to end up offending Karadis in any way.”

“I wasn’t meaning twenty four hours of day” Finchley replied, “but between your official on duty hours. Of course she’ll give you your own time, that goes without saying.”

"Well I just wanted to be sure" Isabelle grinned playfully. "So how soon will these scientists and specialists want to see me? I can't say I'm looking forward to it."

“The forensic pathologist team are here just now, currently engaged in another examination, the specialist can be here within twelve hours” Finchley replied. “I can understand you not looking forward to being examined, but I do believe it’s for the best. Did you ever discuss the nanites and how they respectively changed you with Commander Dex?”

Isabelle shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I figured she’d been through enough without sitting and going over everything with me.” She paused. “Alright I’ll do whatever needs to be done to earn the trust needed to prove my loyalty, if that means being somehow stripped of the nanites and implants then I’ll do it.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you Counsellor, it’s the nanites I don’t trust, we don’t know much about them save they helped revive you and keep you alive” Finchley said, “plus, I want answers to who set them up to be used, and why?”

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention” he carried on, “I’ll inform you when the specialist wants to examine you, dismissed.”

“Aye Sir” Isabelle nodded then stood and headed on her way. It seemed she’d have Karadis’ company from now on.

 

RSS Feed