Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Side Sim - You Can’t Pick Your Parents… Or Grandparents (Tag Gadi)

Posted by Civilian Elias Balthazar (Misunderstood Sociopath) in Side Sim - You Can’t Pick Your Parents… Or Grandparents (Tag Gadi)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Side Sim - You Can’t Pick Your Parents… Or Grandparents (Tag Gadi)
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The newly upgraded USS Asimov sat docked at Starbase Eleven awaiting the final arrival of the crew. It had been an emotionally draining few weeks since their return and subsequent reintegration into ‘proper’ Star Fleet standings; but after much debriefing and investigation, the crew was back to their original identities and lives.

In the interim, the ship had had only the barest skeleton crew while it had been refitted and the Computer Core reconnected to the Federation and Star Fleet databases. In fact, at the moment, the most senior officer on the ship was the Security Chief. So it was to her office that communication was forwarded. It was marked Confidential and Classified by Star Fleet Intelligence, and was heavily encrypted.

Strangers Calling

Bethany looked at the screen, well here it came. She was expecting a call. She had no anticipation of the outcome, but she had plans of her own brewing. She had promises to keep first though. “Computer Authorization Gadi Alpha Oh Nine Five Zeta Kulesk Nytha.” She set her hand to the bioscanner and then leaned forward for the retinal scanner. The system approved her code and she waited for the connection.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

It took only a fraction of a second to make the connection… odd, to say the least. And it was then a face appeared…

Elias Balthazar.

He smiled broadly at Gadi and said “Well hello! So happy to see you, Bethany. And I’m glad everyone got their lives back. Seriously. You all did an amazing job, and I would have been quite… irritated… if Fleet Intelligence and FedSec didn’t uphold their promises. How are Agent Blue and Agent Piklesimer, by the way? Do tell them I said ‘Hello’, won’t you?”

Balthazar

Elias. The hair on the back of her neck raised and everything seemed more intense as adrenaline surged. “You can tell them yourself when I bring you in.” Bethany didn’t even bother to try and trace the comm signal. It would be pointless, she knew from experience. “Calling to taunt me again for slipping through my fingers? Encourage me to give up on a pointless endeavor?”

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Balthazar’s face changed into something Gadi had never seen in it before… not in person, not in vid records… never. It was concern. Genuine concern.

The look was creepy, it made Elias look human. Bethany could not fall in to that trap.

“No, not at all. I really did want to see you and make sure you were alright. And to make sure you recovered. I was really worried about you, Bethany. Truly.” His voice rang true and there was no indication of any kind of deception. The look on his face was almost… paternal.

Balthazar

That was even more creepy. The sincerity in his voice and expression. Her training, her instincts, her gut told her he wasn’t playing at half truths. “Oh I’m sure. I quite well remember you telling me I can’t die until we are done with our game. I certainly wouldn’t be so selfish as to give up, die, and allow you a reason to kill my crew.” It was frightening how easily she slipped in to a place of familiarity and comfort talking to him. It was a process they repeated over and over. “What is our game this time, Elias?” She was sure he was worried, but not because he cared for her. She was his most favorite toy, or pet, at best. One that would turn on him the first chance she got.

Lt. Cmdr. Gadi, COS

Elias shook his head. “No games, Bethany. I give you my word.” he said. He stared her for a long yime and then said something that seemed to resonate with affection and truth.

“You know you have your grandmother’s eyes. Her smile, too.”

Elias