Posted by Lieutenant Commander Arun Onuru (Chief of Staff/2O) in Deck 3 - Reez Quarters, Main Sim

(snip)

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

Anisha’s report distracted Mel from Mariah’s question. “Oh, uh, yes, keep me in the loop.” She paused and her face scrunched slightly. “A mother huh? Poor thing. Must be so stressful to be just whisked away from your home and forced to try to survive with your young.” She couldn’t help the flurry of emotion inside, nor could she hide it from her face. Mel looked at the girl in her arms and then over at her sleeping son. If there was anything true about parenthood it was that it was a constant flip flop of thoughts and feelings, even in her situation. If it had been her and he twins, what would she have done? Even then, she knew that she’d sacrifice herself for them, just like she would have done for any of her crews.

~Melaia Reez