It lies Beneath

Posted on Fri 14th Sep, 2012 @ 5:59am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Fihnrilk'Hob"ledn-ardol (Fin) & Commander Jasmine Collins-Keller & Lieutenant Adam Keller

1,778 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: http://sb109.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/missions/id/2
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Down the Road

Fin entered sickbay looking for Nyx. The Chameloid had immediately interested her when she'd gone over the personnel files of the crew assigned to Protector. With her computer access, the infiltration specialist was able to dig up a little more information than most individuals had on the diminutive doctor.

She spotted her across the bay, noting the striking, purple eyes, and walked over to where Nyx was counting vials of drugs in a cabinet.

"Dr, I am SCPO Fihnrilk'Hob"ledn-ardol, one of the Intel crew here on the star base. I have an interesting proposition for you."

"Yes, FIn. I remember." Nyx smiled and put down the vials. Closing the cabinet, she turned her entire attention to the woman. "Proposition for me?" her head immediately inclined to one side as a curious look crossed her face. "I must say you have my attention."

"I think it would be best if we spoke in private?" Fin knew what it was like to be 'different'. She didn't want everyone to know all her personal information and she was sure Nyx didn't want that either.

"Your office, perhaps?"

Now more curious than ever, Nyx smiled. "Of course. This way." She waved her arm in the direction of the CMOs office and moved toward her desk. The two women walked into the office and Nyx closed the door behind them. "Computer, if medical is needed activated the EMH for the next fifteen minutes please." She gave the order.

"Sorry," She looked at Fin. "I don't have a very big staff as of yet so I depend on the holographic program."

"That's not a problem. I just didn't want anyone to walk in and overhear what I'd like to talk about." She motioned to a chair in front of the CMOs desk. "May I?"

Once seated, Fin crossed her legs. "I always delve in to the records of the people I work with. I need to know who I'm dealing with in my line of work and what problems may arise on an assignment. Your record was very interesting..."

"From what I read, you haven't had any training on how to control your..." She searched for the right word but discarded everything that came to mind. "...how to control your other self. I think I might be able to help you with that."

Nyx wasn't sure how to respond. She'd spent her whole adult life believing that she'd never learn to control the creature the lived within her. Yet she'd now met three people who thought they might be able to help her. As long as Tallus held her controller, she wouldn't be able to train and there'd be no way of knowing if she were being helped at all.

"I - I appreciate the offer Fin," She sighed. "And I'd like to accept the offer wholeheartedly. But right now, the Marine Commander is the only person authorized to release me from this appliance." She looked at Fin. "Unless you can convince him to allow you to assist..." She was hopeful. "But my fear is he's doing this for selfish reasons and plans on using the device to control a new weapon."

Fin sat quietly as she absorbed the information. She hadn't liked Tallus from their first meeting, but didn't know why. Her instincts had just told her that he needed a wide berth. Fin began to understand why now. (OOC: I thought Drake had the key to your collar, not Tallus?)
OOC: Drake gave it to Tallus because he's convinced Tallus can help train her. He helped create the design.)

"Perhaps there is something I can do to intervene on your behalf. I'll have to do some checking around first, though." She knew what it was like for people to be afraid of you simply because you were born of another species. She faced that all the time---people worried she was going to steal into their bodies without their permission and make them do her bidding. No one realized the danger it posed to her every time she did it, until she explained it to them. Or the fact that she'd much rather stay in her own body just because it was hers.

"Let me see what I can do. I didn't realize someone else held your control, so I can't promise anything, but I will try."

Fin thought it was curious that Nyx hadn't asked her HOW she could help.

"Do you plan on using telepathy to 'speak' to my other half?" Nyx asked. "Because my parents tried that and were nearly killed. Another tried to hypnotize me into my other persona so that I could speak to it.." She shook her head and smiled. "It sounds ridiculous I know. But I've been desperate to find a way all my life...I'll try just about anything."

Fin was about to test that belief. "I don't use telepathy. I have a much more direct route. I am Cam h'lan, a Skinwalker. I can direct my energy---my essence, and enter your body. It would leave my own body vulnerable, but there is a way to protect it. You understand that I would actually be INSIDE you? We could communicate simply by forming thoughts. That means I could be there when your other self emerges."

It was a lot to accept and an idea she doubted that Nyx had ever contemplated. The conversation should get very interesting now.

"y- you want to take over my body?" She looked a little confused. She'd understood how the process worked but she'd never even considered surrendering her body to someone who considered it only a shell...it was HER after all. "And where will my energy go?"

"Your essence will stay in your body too. We would both be present in your mind. Since it is very important to keep communication open, I would not try to subdue you at all. The whole point is to be able to communicate with your other self...your beast."

She gave Nyx a couple of minutes to roll that thought over in her mind. "From the reports I've read, you have no control over what happens once you change. Is that correct?"

"That's correct. It's almost as though Nyx doesn't exist anymore. This beast, its like it was bread for war and killing. Most children tame with their parent's help but my parents were killed when I was a toddler. My creature awakes hungry, angry, and ready to kill. Most Chameloids awaken their beast on their own and with a direct purpose, they can determine enemy and friend." She admitted almost ashamed of herself. "I woke and tried to kill my adopted parents. People who mean more to me than anything in this world and I tried to rip their heads off."

Fin could not help the Chameloid with her emotional guilt over that incident, so she moved on. "That is why I am uniquely qualified to help you with this. I would be present in your body, and when you change and are in the body of your beast, to help communicate what is expected on both parts. Depending on the strength of your beast's essence, I should be able to assert some control over its physical body also."

"That is the best case scenario."

"And if my 'beast' is too strong for you? What happens to you?" She was reserving her decision until she knew what all the risks were. It would be a moot point anyway if the Marine Major wouldn't allow it. But there was always that small ray of hope that he was sincerely interested in helping her learn control.

"Excellent question. If there isn't anything I can do to help you, then I return to my own body and you haven't lost anything." Fin stood and paced the room slowly. "Once I place my essence inside your body, you and I will be connected somehow. It varies with everyone. It could be very subtle, but there's a chance our connection could be quite strong."

"Also, we still haven't discussed how to keep my shell safe while I'm outside of it."

"yes, that would be a concern for me too. I would never put someone else in danger to help me with a problem that is controlled, no matter how much discomfort it is to be controlled that way." Nyx said. She'd have a lot to think about. She'd want to hear what Devyn had to say about it and she'd have to think long and hard.

"My essence...my 'soul' is already 203 years old with no end in sight. I could live to be much older than 1,000 if all goes well. But day to day life loses its excitement after so long. It is necessary to live more and more on the edge to enjoy it. If I were 100 years younger, I might not have approached you about this, but that isn't the case now. I am very willing to try and help you. The only thing I must have from you is the assurance that my body will be safe while I am with you."

"How would I insure that?" She asked. She wasn't considering anything at the moment. She'd need to think about this, talk it over with Devyn, and calculate the risk to everyone involved. Then she'd have to have permission from Tallus.

"Do you have someone you trust absolutely? Someone who would do anything you asked?"

"Devyn Kell." She didn't even have to think about it. She'd trust him with her life.

"If we get the key to your device, then this Devyn Kell will be needed when we meld. When I transfer my essence into you, my shell will be empty except for the barest minimum to keep it alive. That means it is open to being inhabited by another being with my abilities. Your Devyn Kell will be tasked with holding my shell very close so that his lifeforce will fool any passing essence. If he lets something happen to my body, I will be forced to stay in yours. That's why I asked if you trusted someone absolutely. You will be depending on them just as much as I will."

"Devyn hasn't failed me in seven years even though I have failed him on numerous occasions." She smiled.

ooc: Sounds good. Tallas has his own plans so we will have to work on things on the sly...we had this figured out but then everyone wanted to help. Trying to come up with a way where both you and Tallus help her gradually learn to control.


LT Nix
CMO - Star base Protector

SCPO Fin
Infiltration Specialist

 

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