Lisa (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
charmedsteps) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abstractborders2018-06-25 01:08 pm
charmedsteps) wrote in abstractborders2018-06-25 01:08 pm
Reboot
The energy spike had caught the SS Explorer's attention and Commander Hawkins had diverted Lisa's patrol to check. New to this section of the galaxy it seemed as if they'd stepped right into a faction war and the team of space explorers were scrambling for intel on the situation before a misstep on their part dragged them into something - or worse, cost them their lives.
"What happened here?" she breathed it but the microphone in her helmet still picked it up, a ghost whisper that seemed to suit the graveyard they found themselves in. And it was graveyard. While it was obvious it was the ruins of a facility of some sort, probably the remnants of what was left on one of the low orbiting moons of this planet, the twisted metal itself held far too many -
coffins. Lisa looked out across the devastation and there were so many coffins. Tubes of glass and steel, at first they'd thought they were energy tanks - until her team had gotten close enough to see there were bodies inside. Acres and acres of ruined metal - and glass tubes. And each tube held a body....
Careful she started to pick her way through, watching her footing, hand out for balance. Whatever this place had once been there was nothing left of it now and her fingertips lightly moved over each glass tube that she came near. You. And you. And you. So many in those tubes that no one would bury or mourn and it seemed wrong that she was the only one that would remember them. Had it been a cryo-facility? Storage? Some of the faces were ruined, the impact of the fall from the moon to the planet's surface brutal but some of them were still recognizable and so she picked up - slowly - on the fact they were all the same person. Cloning? Was that possible? An entire facility of the exact same clone? Why? Why just one man over and over and over again and why had it all be destroyed. Why had they all been killed?
"Lisa?" Krik's voice over the helmet's intercom and she hummed before remembering.
"It's all right. I've got this. Its just - its not what we thought it was. I think it was a cloning facility. I'm sending the readings from my HUD. It's - bad. It's really bad, Krik."
The Alliance of planets that Lisa's squad belonged to were no where near the level of technology to be creating human clones and yet - you. And you. And you. Her hand brushed each cylinder she passed as she worked her way deeper into the tragedy. Someone had made them - and then they'd been killed before they'd even woken and she wasn't sure if that made them alive or not - except her chest ached like a hole and she thought that was her answer. You. And you. And you, she silently promised with each glide of gloved fingertips over glass. I will remember you if no one else will. Some of the pods were open and those were the worst. Because the bodies were spilled out and broken and it made her wonder, horribly, if some of them had been alive for the fall. If they'd known. The ache in her chest deepened and she rubbed absently at it, moon dust across her uniform. The displays across her helmet's screen, linked to her ship, ran through their scans and cycles as she moved.
"Picking up an energy source. Looks like its pretty centrally located. Its not much but its all that we've got. I'm going to check it out. Maybe there's a terminal that survived or something we can download information about the facility from."
"Roger that" Jeff's voice now, even if it was tinny with distance. "Be careful, Leese."
Another hum before she remember and affirmed it but - she couldn't imagine anything being left alive in this mess. And she almost hoped she was right. Nothing would have survived that fall and if it did - chances were good there were no doctors in the fleet or elsewhere that could fix what it would have cost.
You. And you. And you.
The power source was what looked like what was left of a power box, the pillar it had been built into enough to save it during the crash and Lisa carefully opened it. Galra tech. The Explorer was new to the system - but they'd already encountered Galra.
"Hooking in. I don't know if we'll get anything, its pretty rough but - " she slipped the clip into place on the port she could find, having to wiggle it a little due to the damage but the light finally went green and she left it to download what it could. There was no telling how much a power cell would store about the facility but it was all they had at this point. Turning to look around as it ticked through its job, she noticed another mass of cylinders and made her way over. It hurt but - someone should witness it. Someone should acknowledge that they had existed. Her fingers slipped over cracked glass. You. And you. And -
he moved.
Alone by herself on a dead alien world in a ruined graveyard of clones, Lisa did the sensible thing and jerked back with a high pitched hiccup caught in her throat, hands snatched back, barely catching herself from tripping.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," was the automatic answer to the sudden worried voices filtered through her helmet and, careful, she edged her way back. There was something illogically frightening about finding a living body when you thought everyone was dead. Closer inspection showed how the tube had gotten caught in cables on the way down, how the metal stacking structure had taken the majority of the impact. Half afraid that there was nothing inside, a body with no mind, she tapped the glass.
His fingers twitched.
"I think I found someone," it came out shaky, not sure if she should be relieved or heart-broken. It took some work but the broken latch finally jiggled loose under her persistence and she got the lid of the thing off. Just like a glass coffin.... His chest was rising and falling. Breathing. Nothing looked horrifyingly broken. Careful she reached out, touched his cheek with her glove, helmet registering the temperature of him at least.
"Wake up." It came out filtered through the helmet and she remembered it belatedly. Reached up to pull it off her head, breaking the neck seal, hair coming loose. Hoping for an answer, scared of what it might be. Defense training went out the window as she leaned over and rested her hands on his shoulders, pressing slightly. "Wake up now. Please. You need to wake up."
"What happened here?" she breathed it but the microphone in her helmet still picked it up, a ghost whisper that seemed to suit the graveyard they found themselves in. And it was graveyard. While it was obvious it was the ruins of a facility of some sort, probably the remnants of what was left on one of the low orbiting moons of this planet, the twisted metal itself held far too many -
coffins. Lisa looked out across the devastation and there were so many coffins. Tubes of glass and steel, at first they'd thought they were energy tanks - until her team had gotten close enough to see there were bodies inside. Acres and acres of ruined metal - and glass tubes. And each tube held a body....
Careful she started to pick her way through, watching her footing, hand out for balance. Whatever this place had once been there was nothing left of it now and her fingertips lightly moved over each glass tube that she came near. You. And you. And you. So many in those tubes that no one would bury or mourn and it seemed wrong that she was the only one that would remember them. Had it been a cryo-facility? Storage? Some of the faces were ruined, the impact of the fall from the moon to the planet's surface brutal but some of them were still recognizable and so she picked up - slowly - on the fact they were all the same person. Cloning? Was that possible? An entire facility of the exact same clone? Why? Why just one man over and over and over again and why had it all be destroyed. Why had they all been killed?
"Lisa?" Krik's voice over the helmet's intercom and she hummed before remembering.
"It's all right. I've got this. Its just - its not what we thought it was. I think it was a cloning facility. I'm sending the readings from my HUD. It's - bad. It's really bad, Krik."
The Alliance of planets that Lisa's squad belonged to were no where near the level of technology to be creating human clones and yet - you. And you. And you. Her hand brushed each cylinder she passed as she worked her way deeper into the tragedy. Someone had made them - and then they'd been killed before they'd even woken and she wasn't sure if that made them alive or not - except her chest ached like a hole and she thought that was her answer. You. And you. And you, she silently promised with each glide of gloved fingertips over glass. I will remember you if no one else will. Some of the pods were open and those were the worst. Because the bodies were spilled out and broken and it made her wonder, horribly, if some of them had been alive for the fall. If they'd known. The ache in her chest deepened and she rubbed absently at it, moon dust across her uniform. The displays across her helmet's screen, linked to her ship, ran through their scans and cycles as she moved.
"Picking up an energy source. Looks like its pretty centrally located. Its not much but its all that we've got. I'm going to check it out. Maybe there's a terminal that survived or something we can download information about the facility from."
"Roger that" Jeff's voice now, even if it was tinny with distance. "Be careful, Leese."
Another hum before she remember and affirmed it but - she couldn't imagine anything being left alive in this mess. And she almost hoped she was right. Nothing would have survived that fall and if it did - chances were good there were no doctors in the fleet or elsewhere that could fix what it would have cost.
You. And you. And you.
The power source was what looked like what was left of a power box, the pillar it had been built into enough to save it during the crash and Lisa carefully opened it. Galra tech. The Explorer was new to the system - but they'd already encountered Galra.
"Hooking in. I don't know if we'll get anything, its pretty rough but - " she slipped the clip into place on the port she could find, having to wiggle it a little due to the damage but the light finally went green and she left it to download what it could. There was no telling how much a power cell would store about the facility but it was all they had at this point. Turning to look around as it ticked through its job, she noticed another mass of cylinders and made her way over. It hurt but - someone should witness it. Someone should acknowledge that they had existed. Her fingers slipped over cracked glass. You. And you. And -
he moved.
Alone by herself on a dead alien world in a ruined graveyard of clones, Lisa did the sensible thing and jerked back with a high pitched hiccup caught in her throat, hands snatched back, barely catching herself from tripping.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," was the automatic answer to the sudden worried voices filtered through her helmet and, careful, she edged her way back. There was something illogically frightening about finding a living body when you thought everyone was dead. Closer inspection showed how the tube had gotten caught in cables on the way down, how the metal stacking structure had taken the majority of the impact. Half afraid that there was nothing inside, a body with no mind, she tapped the glass.
His fingers twitched.
"I think I found someone," it came out shaky, not sure if she should be relieved or heart-broken. It took some work but the broken latch finally jiggled loose under her persistence and she got the lid of the thing off. Just like a glass coffin.... His chest was rising and falling. Breathing. Nothing looked horrifyingly broken. Careful she reached out, touched his cheek with her glove, helmet registering the temperature of him at least.
"Wake up." It came out filtered through the helmet and she remembered it belatedly. Reached up to pull it off her head, breaking the neck seal, hair coming loose. Hoping for an answer, scared of what it might be. Defense training went out the window as she leaned over and rested her hands on his shoulders, pressing slightly. "Wake up now. Please. You need to wake up."
no subject
Unfamiliar place. Unfamiliar face. Memorize the layout. Figure out the exits--
He stops just out of the doorway of the ship and closes his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to take a deep breath and anchor himself. Lisa was right in front of him; she was there. He could trust her. It was okay. Some of the tension is still visible in his stance as he opens his eyes again, just as Lisa steps to the side and Jeff speaks for the first time but Kuron does his best to relax and make it clear he's not about to do anything.
He's just...it's all new.
"Likewise," Kuron said with a hesitant smile as he took Jeff's hand, returning the tight grip with a firm one of his own. "Hopefully I can fill in whatever gaps there are in what she told you guys."
An olive branch of sorts? Maybe.
Releasing Jeff's hand Kuron can't help but take a slight step to the side, putting himself closer to Lisa as he tucks his arms behind his back, standing at attention though a rather lax version of it.
"I owe all of you a lot, letting me come aboard like this."
no subject
"I'm sure you'll fit in just fine," he added the encouragement all the same. There were plenty of other positions that needed filling and plenty of other people the new arrival could attach to once he was established. No sense making a big deal about anything now when he'd just showed up.
Though - Jeff didn't miss the military stance either, for all it was a relaxed version of it.
"Come on. The Commander sent me to lead you in," and make sure Lisa didn't need back up. "He said to let you know he'll be along shortly."
"Has a room been assigned yet?" Lisa wanted to ask as Jeff started moving and she fell into step, not next to him, but keeping even with the stranger.
"Should be by the time everything's done in med bay. "You know how it is. Everything's a puzzle piece right now." Too many people, not enough bunks. Jeff hoped the new arrival didn't mind sharing his space. Lisa just hummed next to him and didn't comment. Which was usually a bad sign. She'd better not commandeer a broom closest and refit it. Her hand slipped out, found Kuron's as they walked, wrapped briefly and then gave a squeeze before retreating again.
"Place is huge," Jeff was commenting. "But all the passages are marked by color strip and number," he pointed. "Once they get you settled in, you'll pick up the color code for where your set of dorms are. Follow any of the same color stripe long enough and you'll end up at a common room. Yellow's mess hall and supplies. Stick with your color and yellow and you'll pick up the layout in no time. This ones medical." A gesture at the grey stripe on the hall they'd just moved into. "Can't get too lost if you stick with a single color code."
There were numbers at each intersection as well and Lisa tapped the 07 absently with the backs of her fingernails as they went past it. Didn't say anything.
"And here we are," Jeff pulled to a brief stop in front of a double set of doors. "It says quarantine but we had to repurpose. Come on, I'll introduce you to the doc before I go."
"There's a computer terminal in the room," Lisa's low voice cut in. Gentle. And the hard look was back in her eyes. "I'll stick around with Kuron and file my report from there."
"Leese," Jeff said it from the corner of his mouth even though it was obvious he knew the new arrival would still overhear it. "The Commander isn't going to eat him."
"I know." She turned her head and looked at Kuron, trying to judge from his face whether she was being intrusive - or welcome. "But its medical tests even if they're not invasive or going to hurt, by strangers. Having a friendly face nearby might make it a bit easier to get through quickly."
no subject
"I hope so," he said sincerely, an thankful note to his voice as Jeff gave him that encouragement. The man didn't have to do it but he did. It meant a lot given the strange circumstances of all this.
Kuron let his stance relax, arms falling to his sides now as he followed after Jeff. He kept his silence and just let them talk, a little worried about the puzzle piece comment and what would come of it since he had a feeling that meant he'd be sharing quarters with someone. It wouldn't be a problem, at least he hoped it wouldn't. Then again, he hadn't thought coming on board this ship would be either yet here he was as nervous and on edge as he had been when he'd woken up in a completely different body with Lisa hovering over him. The tension was starting to seep back into him but yet again Lisa was there to save him from it. He startled as he felt her hand in his and glanced over at her as she squeezed his. A grateful look seeped into his expression and he returned the gesture before she pulled her hand away.
He was really glad it was Lisa that had found him.
"Seems easy enough, assuming there aren't too many colors," Kuron murmured with a small smile, glancing at the stripes on the wall only for his gaze to flick to Lisa as she tapped 07 on the wall. He didn't say anything, didn't nod, but the message was received as his gaze lingered for a moment longer than necessary before it was on Jeff again. "Will the commander be the one to assign me quarters or is that something that will be done before I meet with him?" Just so he can start process all the information and mapping things out as he moves about the ship.
His steps halt as they reach the med bay and he starts to say something only to stop himself, gaze flicking between Jeff and Lisa as they go back and forth. He can see both sides of it and he doesn't want to seem too reliant on Lisa and make things more awkward that necessary--he'd seen the way Jeff had looked at them when Lisa had rested her shoulder against his side--but...
"If..it's alright, I would appreciate having her stay. This probably should be easy enough to manage on my own but--" Kuron stopped, frowning slightly as he glanced towards the doorway of the medbay. "...I'm still getting my bearings and Lisa saw everything back there. I'd like to have her with me when I speak to the Commander."
no subject
"Well, you asked for it, Buddy," it was more wry humor than threatening though. Then he stepped forward and the doors slid open. "And it depends on how fast Supply can verify bunks and which ones are empty. If the Commander doesn't know by the time he gets here, I'm sure he will by the time he leaves. Hey, Doc!"
An older balding man at a computer terminal turned around, somewhere between annoyed and polite and Jeff headed over to make sure everything was clear as Lisa stepped closer to Kuron, fingertips lightly on his arm for a moment.
"Don't worry too much about it. Just take whatever bunk they assign and I'll take care of the rest. I promised a hot meal and a warm bed, remember?"
And then Jeff was back with the older man.
"Kuron, this is the Doc. Just - call 'em Doc. This is Jun his assistant. Jun's the nice one, Doc's got no sense of humor." Which earned an affronted look but no protest from the doctor. Jeff grinned. Offered his hand again. "I know I'll see you around again. You need anything, just ask me. I'll do what I can to help."
no subject
"Alright," he mused, glancing at Lisa and giving her a smile before he stepped inside and immediately found himself being introduced to some new individuals. The hesitation that he couldn't shake crept back in but he was polite as ever as he nodded to them, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he looked from one to the other.
"It's nice to meet you both." Sense of humor or not, it was always good to have the medical staff on your good side. Jeff.
The offered hand helped Kuron relax and he took it, giving it a firm shake.
"Thank you, Jeff. I really appreciate everything you've done already, even if it doesn't seem like much," Kuron said sincerely. Given the circumstances Jeff could have acted completely different but he'd been welcoming and informative and that was more than enough for Kuron. He released the other's hand with a lingering smile before his attention went back to Doc and Jun. "So I guess this means I'm all yours now?"
such a cute face!
She let herself fade into the background as the doctors took over with Kuron, setting up next to an out of the way computer terminal and slotting the chip she'd filled to download what it had managed to gather, one handed typing her report with the other hand with occasional glances at the scrolling intel. There were also occasional glances up at Kuron as well, without lifting her chin, watching him closely when she did, trying to take what she'd learned already to measure the set of his shoulders, how far apart he'd planted his feet at any given time and the low tone of his voice. She was protective of almost everyone but - he was her special find, as silly and childish as that sounded, and he had looked to her for stability and - the way that made her feel felt good. And just upped her level of determination to make sure things were as smooth for him as they could be. The tests at least didn't need to be too invasive since the ship's diagnostic could pick up almost everything by scan. She still snuck glances from the corners of her eyes when they had to touch him. And she was just stepping away from her terminal when the door slid open and Commander Hawkins walked in.
Lisa automatically relaxed and yet straightened to attention at the same time, murmuring her 'sir' and getting a smile for her efforts.
"I hear you had quite an adventure out there, Lisa. Krik and Jeff filled me in. It sounds like a tragedy, I'm sorry. I'm glad you brought back someone new to us though. Any information we can get about what's going on out there is useful and its always good to have a new face onboard. Why don't you introduce me?"
Which meant the doctors were done whether they were or not and Lisa hit the enter key on her report and slipped the chip loose before handing it to the Commander and heading over to Kuron. Again, the urge to touch him, just a brush to reassure was there and again, she held it back, not wanting to come across as either needy or smothering. But she did give him a smile and settle next to him as she stood.
"Kuron, this is Commander Hawkins. He's the CO for the fleet. Commander, this is Kuron."
"Pleased to meet you, Kuron," the commander offered his hand and a smile. "I bet you've got quite a story to tell. How about something hot to drink back in my office and you can take your time telling it."
some of his faces are just adorable I can't deal with him
When the commander entered Kuron instinctively straightened to attention out of habit and because he caught the way Lisa did and followed suit, not turning away from the doctors just yet of course.
But maybe this meant--
yes. They were done.
He gave them both a parting nod of thanks for their time before turning his attention to Lisa and Hawkins, thankful for the familiar presence at his side as he was introduced to the commanding officer.
"Likewise, sir," Kuron replied as he took the other man's hand and shook it. "That sounds great, actually." It's hard to shake the constant feeling of cold especially when you're still dissociating from your body. It was as he released the commander's hand that he looked at Lisa, a momentary, fleeting look of hesitation in his gaze before he was once more looking at the commander. "I know I have no place to be asking for things just yet but would it be alright for Lisa to stay with us?" To continue to stay with him, just for now.
way too adoreable, its dangerous (ps feel free to bring the commander whenever)
"If you're comfortable with it, I don't see why not. All right. Three warm drinks then. Follow me."
Again, Lisa fell into step next to Kuron instead of her commander and once they reached the hallway, her hand shifted to touch his again, offered him a smile without turning her head. Her hand was back at her own side though when they stepped briefly onto the bridge, several of the heads turning to look before going back to their stations. The commander stepped into his office then though and the doors shut out the low noise and bustle of the bridge.
"Please. Have a seat." The commander gestured to the couch in the corner and then went out again. Lisa settled on the couch. Held out her hand.
"Last hard thing today. Then its a hot shower and bed. How're you holding up?"
o7!!!
he glanced at her as their hands touched again and a gentle smile appeared.
She was the only constant he had right now.
Once they were on the bridge he was back to his more neutral expression, nodding just slightly to some of the officers about as he followed the commander into his office. He didn't make a move to sit until Hawkins was gone again and Lisa had taken a seat first, his shoulders sagging almost unnoticeable as he made his way over to sit beside her and rest his hand in hers.
"I'm alright. It's more overwhelming than I'd like to admit." Probably because he's still not settled. Still not comfortable. He'd get use to it. His fingers tightened around hers some, his eyes staying on her as he smiled that same gentle smile from before. "Thank you for staying with me."
no subject
"Of course I'd stay. There's no reason for you to face all of this alone." Her fingers twined with his. Smiled back. "And you're welcome. You're doing wonderfully. Once this part is over, you'll be all done for the day. I've already got the nicest room on the ship picked out for you."
The door slid open and for a second her hand twitched, an instinctive move to withdraw. Except.... she paused and then her fingers curled with his again, looser so he could have his hand back when he wanted but there for as long as he wanted to hold on to her. Commander Hawkins' eyes noted it but he didn't comment, simply set the tray with its cups down on a nearby table and pulled over a chair so he was facing them both. Then he handed out the mugs, the smell of chocolate drifting up from the dark liquid in them.
"Thought we could all use something relaxing," his voice was easy but it thrummed with quiet authority. "All right, Kuron. I've read Lisa's reports. I'd like to hear your side of things now as you're comfortable."