OOC: The following takes place when Orvos stepped into the weather control center on Risa while the others waited outside for him to finish repairs. Ian, I might be taking some liberties, so if it’s not quite what you thought, I’m open to changes. ;)

IC: Orvos carefully stepped in to Risa’s weather control center. The place was unmanned and on the fritz. He carried his engineer’s kit to a nearby console, hoping to find a report on what was happening.

Orvos found it to be quite odd as he read the update in a language few would know. The ancient language of the El Aurians was displayed on the small viewer. He was able to quickly find the fix and determine what had gone wrong. As he then moved to another console to work on the issue, some realizations hit him all at once. The language was El Aurian. He had also, in fact, determined that someone had been using a similar device that he wore on his wrists on the planet. And finally, he had somehow missed the presence in the room that his empathic abilities were detecting.

The Athena’s chief engineer whirled around to the source of the disturbance, hand near his wrist for safety.

“It’s about bloody time you showed up,” said his mirror self.

Orvos was cautious as he slowly approached the man. “You were expecting me?”

“Yes, however much sooner than this. Time is essential.”

He allowed his hands to relax as he took a personal annoyance by the man. “Much sooner? Are you kidding me? Transporters were offline, and we needed to get down here by shuttle!”

“And I assume you were piloting, hm?” Orvos asked rhetorically.

“Pfft, yeah while you sat down here letting this planet fall into chaos waiting for who? Oh, that’s right, me! Couldn’t do something yourself, eh?”

“Don’t get cocky with me.”

“Don’t mock my timing. I arrive exactly when I mean to.”

Orvos sighed. “I know. Look, there’s some important business here on Risa that I’m primarily concerned about. The catch is, I’ve been tailing two assassins and just learned of their plans as well. Given that even I technically can’t physically be in two places at once, I thought we might combine ourselves to a similar cause? I have to stay here. But, I have the location and codes to a ship that ought to be heading to your vessel. The assassins are likely already aboard your ship, so you just need to tail them and ‘pounce’ when the time is right.”

Orvos was too stunned to speak. Clearly more was going on then he was aware of, and the weather was the least of his worries. Mirror agents already on the Athena? This was bad. Did his mirror self know that he would feel bound to comply? So many questions, so little time.

“Fine, give me the data,” he replied.

“Not so fast,” said Orvos holding the data back for a moment. “I’m going to need your clothes.”

A dumbfounded look spread across Orvos’s features. “You’ve got to be kidding me. ‘Oh, yeah, here’s the way to save your people, but I won’t let you do it unless your naked’?!”

Orvos pointed to a room within the control center with a twinge of annoyance about him. “I have a change of clothes for you in there. So no, you won’t be naked. But I will need to pretend to be you for awhile, so your compatriots don’t get any ideas.”

This caused Orvos to pause for a brief moment before replying. “And I should trust you with their lives?” he asked.

“Nothing I can do to convince you to do that. But, as the old saying goes…The needs of the many…”

“Outweigh the needs of the few…” Orvos finished.

With that, he strode resolute in his decision, as much as it pained him. But the crew of the Athena was likely in trouble. This was a means to help. Besides, Janna was still aboard the ship. Was she worth the cost? Would Stark, Julien, and Konral ever forgive him? Only time would tell, and Orvos seemed to somehow have plenty of it.

-Lt. Orvos Legen, CE