(snip)

“That’s sort of where we’re leaning with this. I could sense something in the vicinity, but who knows where exactly,” Mel remarked.

Anisha had been strangely quite, now she spoke up. “You don’t need to report this to the Captain anymore. My brother has already done it.” she said in a somewhat distant tone of voice.
“We both agree we haven’t felt this presence on the ship before. That makes it an alien intruder, so he had to report it.” she added, blushing slightly as she looked to the floor. It was not the first time she had to be the voice of Arun in Starfleet matters… but she was no Starfleet officer and while she knew more about Starfleet than any other civilian, thanks to their constant mind-link, she still felt slightly uncomfortable saying words with an authority that was not hers.

• Anisha Onuru

“I’m sure we’ll get to the bottom of this,” Mariah assured Mel. Looking to Anisha, Grayson offered, “Please forgive me for failing to say hello earlier. I’m Mariah Grayson. I got to visit with Mel and her adorable little ones earlier.”

~Dr. Mariah Grayson, Family Medicine Physician

Shortly after, the red alert came on and signalled an intruder alert.

~Mischief Maker

“Well, I guess that is that,” Mel said, moving over to get the twins from their buggies, knowing the alert would stress them. She lifted Julia who was awake and wide eyed at the moment. Her brother had fallen asleep and didn’t seem fussed by the sudden commotion.

~Melaia Reez

Mariah was politely going to take her leave having decided it would be best to arrange a private meeting with Mel later, when the intruder alert sounded. Any other alert would see her returning to sickbay to tend to the potential wounded, but an intruder alert suggested there was a safety concern and that perhaps it was better to shelter in place. It would’ve been no big deal if she happened to be alone in her own quarters, but as it was she was standing outside someone else’s. She looked at Mel. “Mind if I stay here with you for now? Security probably doesn’t want anyone wandering around.” She was feeling a bit embarrassed to be sure. Here she had wanted to offer her assistance and all she seemed to have done was intrude.

~Dr. Mariah Grayson, Family Medicine Physician

Mel glanced at Mariah and Anisha and grinned slightly. “You’re both welcome to stay here. Not like I get a lot of company, and if Sabin wakes up, I’ll have my hands full, quite literally.”

She bounced Julia in her arms and glanced at her husband. “I’m good here,” she said with a wink. I’ve got backup it seems, she said with some amusement.

~Melaia Reez

“You guys have this covered, I am heading the bridge.” he said as he kissed the kids foreheads and left. He needed to check in as fast as he could.

Reez, CoP

Love you, Imzadi, Mel told Jon fondly, glad to have seen him even for a short time and even though it was something of a mild crisis on the ship.

“See you soon,” Mariah offered to the psychiatrist. Some part of her felt guilty for not going to her own office, but she truly believed it was best to shelter in place given the alert raised since security would no doubt be looking for the intruder and they would not likely want the crew milling about while they tried to distinguish friend from foe. There was also another method to her madness, however. Now they were both a captive audience as it were, she could speak to Mel about her concerns from this morning. Of course, she would have to keep the conversation light and general with Anisha around out of respect for Mel’s privacy, but it was an opportunity to get to know both of them. As she watched Mel bounce her daughter in her arms, Mariah smiled. “i can’t help but wonder what’s harder, being a captain or being a mother to twins?”

~Dr. Mariah Grayson, Family Medicine Physician

“Easy answer. Parent,” Mel said, grinning slightly at both Mariah and Anisha. “Life and death decision? No problem? Imminent destruction? Roll your shoulders back and tackle your crew’s escape with impeccable poise. But trying to figure out what new cry your child has developed at oh’three hundred when you’ve not slept more then 20 minutes at any given point that day.... all week? Might as be facing a firing squad for all the preparedness you have.” She was blunt, but her tone was rather amused.

~Melaia Reez

“That must be terrifying,” Mariah replied, taking note of her tone, but also the words. She didn’t expect Mel to see her behavior the way Mariah did, but she did hope that by talking to her, she could create some level of comfort. “It sounds like a lot of pressure,” she added, “I can’t help but wonder if you ever think less of yourself for not having all the answers?”

~Dr. Mariah Grayson, Family Medicine Physician

Anisha just stood silently nearby watching them, while her eyes were distant at the same time. “They figured out that the creature that they found is a parent too and her eggs are on the ship. It’s also telepathic. They found out what it eats and are trying to feed it now and stabilise it so that my brother can make first contact with it. It must be its mates that we are receiving so strongly here. I will try and find out more, do you want to ‘go’ with me?” she asked Mel and added in thought * telepathically *
She had used words because she didn’t want to exclude Dr. Grayson.

• Anisha Onuru