Posted by Civilian Stellaris (Resident) in PRSIM- Echoes from the Stars

Posted by Captain Jonathan McBride (CO, USS Centurion) in PRSIM- Echoes from the Stars

Posted by Civilian Jewel Stone (Detective Chief Inspector MCD) in PRSIM- Echoes from the Stars
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip

He gave the doctor a nod as he looked around the room “I’m Detective Chief Inspector Pangolin” He introduced himself to Stellaris “I’m DCI Stone’s boss as well as the liason between the Oed Police and Starfleet” He dragged a stool closer to the bed and sat down, putting him at eye level, but still not too close, so as not to intrude on personal space. He spoke calmly and maintained eye contact “I’ll need to ask you some questions regarding the danger you are in. Right now there are four uniformed Police officers working with Hospital security to secure this hallway. Only staff, patients and registered family will be allowed, under the oversight of the Charge Nurse” He always put his officers under the Charge Nurses, it gave a clear chain of command that ended with hospital staff, and allowed for Doctors and Nurses to do their jobs properly, he also had a healthy amount of respect/fear for Charge Nurses. “The questions I need to ask may be hard to answer, but they are important. Do you feel up to it?” He asked

DCI Pangolin

OOC: Left some space for a conversation before Pangolin arrives - Hjortur

He was intimidating but straightforward. She could at least appreciate getting right down to business. Stellaris chuckled bitterly. “After everything I’ve been through, I think I can handle a few questions. Besides, your probably won’t be harder than the ones my brother will ask.” She shrugged. She was exhausted but the meal had helped a great deal to give her a bit more stamina.

~Stellaris

Pangolin nodded, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out an actual notebook and pen. Opening it about a third into the book and put pen to paper “Is there a specific danger you are in if you are ever located? Violence physical, mental, emotional? And do they have a presence on Oed that you are aware of?”

DCI Pangolin

“They aren’t here,” Stellaris said with some certainty. “They probably haven’t even heard of Oed Five before. The home base is a long ways from here. They have some ships but use them mostly to gather things they require. Artifacts and such. But it does mean they are mobile and there is a small chance I was followed. I tried to take as many precautions as I could, but”-she shook her head-“it’s impossible to be 100% certain, especially with them.”

His first question was not hard to answer, but it was an emotionally layered one. “I left. No one leaves The Great Echo. No one. Ever. Do you understand? By questioning and rejecting the doctrine, I am anathema. I am dangerous to them for the exact reason we’re experiencing right now: I can talk. And if I can talk to people, they can’t maintain their secrecy. And their secrecy is what has allowed them to go unchecked and commit all kinds of crimes. Like the theft of the artifact. I can guarantee that you all here know more about them than any of the best intelligence and security folks in the Federation. They are that good at hiding themselves.”

“They will want me dead one way or another, but they want my baby first. So that means either forcefully delivering the baby early and leaving me for dead and hoping she survives, or waiting till I give birth and then killing me.” Stellaris closed her eyes and rested her hands on her belly, close to crying again. When she opened her eyes, she leaned towards Pangolin slightly. “I don’t know all the details, but there is a prophecy they think my baby has something to do with and there is a ritual. I didn’t stick around long enough to learn the details, but even if this child were to survive it, she would be raised by them, and that cannot happen. I won’t let them do to her what they did to me. I won’t let them brainwash her into thinking everyone else that doesn’t believe is evil and should die. And that any interaction with outsiders taints you. I want her to grow up allowed to be curious about many things, and not just what they want you to learn. And if she asks questions they don’t approve of, they will punish her like they did me.” ‘Sarah’ looked down, avoiding their gazes. For a thirty-seven year old, there were small moment like this where she seemed no more than a frightened child. “It depended on what you did wrong, but pain was seen as humbling. Fasting was a way to make yourself worthy of enlightenment.” She half-laughed, half-sobbed for a moment. “I did a lot of questioning in this last year, and I was severely punished for it, sometimes by our leader himself. The last time was when I failed to help them at the Starfleet facility. I was locked in a room and allowed two sips of water a day, but no food. For a week. I stopped being able to feel the baby move and it scared me so much! That’s when I knew I had to leave.” She looked up, her eyes now fierce, angry. “Does that meet your criteria of being in danger?”

~Stellaris

Jewel just listened and did not respond, he was lead now she would speak if she thought she had information he did not but for now he would ask for insight if he needed it, of that she was sure.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

Pangolin looked up from the notepad as Stellaris finished and nodded “It does.” He said simply then looked at Stone “I’m assigning RRU3 under your command for the protective detail” The Oed Rapid Response Teams although trained mostly for tactical situations were on occasion assigned as bodyguards. He turned back to Stellaris “Is it safe to assume that they know of your original name and identity? If there’s a risk of your name raising flags within the system that could lead to them discovering your location we need to know.” He’d have to make sure that the flagging in the system for her face would not leave the Oed system, which meant they’d need Starfleet here soon. This would also go to the Commissioner, he’d have to make sure it was mostly handled by them before the old man sent The Klingon after those people.

DCI Pangolin

“Understood Sir” she said smiling at Sharah softly. This was great news the best tactical team on Oed in her opinion would be protecting her.
“They know my birth name, yes. It’s why I’ve been using Stellaris, which I grant is hardly ideal. The alias they’ve given me here works fine enough. I also…” She sucked in a breath. “Even if a reunion with my brother is possible, I don’t want to put him at risk. The same with my parents. I didn’t go to Hanolan Colony for a reason, even if that’s all I’ve wanted for awhile now. But I have no home now. The Echo made sure of that.”

She could’t explain it precisely, but having said all that she had made her feel lighter. A burden set down perhaps? At least for this moment.

~Stellaris

Pangolin nodded “Your brother will find out once we bring Starfleet Security in, he’s the highest ranking Officer in Uniform and Second in Command of all Oed Starfleet forces.” He said simply. He was sure she was well aware of that “But he’s an Oedian, and you’re his family” he shrugged “Means this is home if you want it to be” he stood up and put hands in his trouser pockets “We’re taking this seriously ma’am, we’ll keep your name out of the air but if they come looking this is the second place they’d look. Which means you’ll need to work with us to put a stop to them.” He looked at her, head cocked “But whatever your decision is, this is a good place to start anew. In the meantime we’ll give you a protective detail.”

DCI Pangolin

Stone stood up as it appeared he was about to leave. She needed to ask him a few questions before he left,she waited quietly however to finish.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone
~Constable Blackwood

Put a stop to them. That presupposed she had such power, but Stellaris didn’t believe that. It was rather ridiculous. And yet… here she was, doing something she had never imagined. She had thought that if she could just hide away, she would be safe. That proved to not be the case and didn’t factor in her desperation to survive. Now, they had a great deal of information to work with, but Stellaris also knew so much about the group that it could possibly topple them. Couldn’t it?

She looked to the Klingon midwife who had been keeping a close eye on the proceedings. “Ok’jiv, how long do you think I need to stay in the hospital? Will I stay until I give birth?” At 28 weeks, she still had a ways to go, but it was anyone’s guess if she would deliver early or not.

~Sellaris

“I would.like to keep you here until you both have regained some weight and your vitamin difficiency and anemia have resolved. We will go one day at a time.” The older Klingon told her.

Pangolin nodded and stepped away, letting her speak with her doctor. He gave Stone a nod to the side, indicating he was to be followed.

Pangolin walked away from the room and crossed his arms “This is going to be a problem day, she’s a person of interest, she doesn’t go anywhere without Police Presence, ostensibly for her protection, but if she tries to refuse it remind her that she’s admitted to burglary and whatever other crimes.” He said to Stone

DCI Pangolin

Stone followed him and listened. “Understood sir, I think she will cooperate unless something spooks her, but I’ll add some reassure if she tries to leave.” she said.

Just about then Pangolin’s comm chirped. |DCI Pangolin. I have received a request about a young woman that is in need of the type of help we can provide. I am told she is pregnant and on the run. That the police are involved. Before I speak with her, I would like to confer with you. -Caitlyn Dillon| The House worked hard to work with the police. They could make the young woman disappear, but they would not impede an investigation. That could cost lives. That was why it was so important to work with them.

Dillon, Director, The House Sanctuary

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Pangolin half-smiled. The system worked as it should =^=Pangolin here, meet me at the Starfleet Complex in thirty minutes, and we can go over the details, schedule it as meeting with Starfleet Security about expansion. It’ll be best if the subject is approached by a Female or femme-presenting individual.=^= He closed his comms, protocol was no details discussed over unsecured comms “The House is a fairly new addition, you’ll be working closely with them on this case” He said to Stone “If you haven’t read the memo regarding the House Sanctuary, get familiar soon. You’ll remain in charge of this, and I’ll only work as a Liaison. She’s intimidated by me, and I suspect she might be intimidated by men in General. Uniformed PC’s are under your command, you can pull from any of the local stations, I’ll smooth things over with the local Superintendents.”

DCI Pangolin
“Sir I have not read the memo but i’ll take a look next opportunity. Thank you Sir, I suspect you are correct, I’ll make sure she stays safe. And thank you for keeping me on the case” she noted as she looked to see who was here from the detail. “What about her brother?” she asked.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone
~Constable Blackwood

OOC: We’re going to move things along. A thread will be started at the Starfleet Complex. Stone will go see McBride, and Hjortur, you can have Pangolin join her at any point. We’ll make everything work. :)
IC:

Inside the room, Stellaris relaxed after the Inspector left and for the first time since she arrived on Oed she felt like she could take a deep breath. She could feel something tight in her chest, but she told herself that now was not the time. Later, maybe.

With her belly full, her story now out (come what may), and the hope that maybe, just maybe her brother might want to see her, thirty-seven year old Stellaris (formerly Stellara, and another name she tried very hard to forget) allowed herself to be fully taken care of and trusted them to keep her safe. Thus, in this state, she drifted off to sleep.

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

About an hour or so later, Captain McBride followed Stone through the hospital, keeping his anxiety at bay by focusing on how Evelyn had been. seeking him out and how she wanted to see him now. Regardless of whatever trouble she was in, that’s all he needed.

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

Stone guided him up to the maternity ward and stopped at the nurses station. “DCI Stone and Captain McBride, her to see Shara” she noted flashing her badge. she had forgotten to mention alias to him before they left.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

Elaine was paged. “DCI Stone, Cpt. McBride. Sarah is asleep right now. Let me see if I can wake her and if she is up for visitors.”

Elaine moved down the hall and into Sarah’s room. She moved over to the bed. “Sarah?” She said clearly but gently.

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

The weight was oppressive, holding her down, but she had no choice but to breathe deeply. She knew it was coming and the anticipation was like a knife slicing through her just like the pain that would soon come.

Stellaris awoke from the dream with a start, and a gasp escaped before she focused her gaze and saw it was Elaine- the kind and lovely nurse. “Elaine?” she said, frowning. “Is something wrong?” Her baby, her daughter moved within her, and though it was still hard to feel, there was something more decisive about the motion than she had felt before.

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

“Everything is fine, Sarah. You have visitors. DCI Stone and Cpt. McBride. Are you feeling up for a visit?”

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Sarah pushed herself upright, or rather she rolled onto her side and pushed herself upright. Jon was here. He was here! Did that mean… No. She didn’t let herself complete the thought knowing that she had no say in how any of it went and she would find out soon enough. Still, she allowed herself to be hopeful.

She nodded to Elaine and her expression softened. “Yeah, I can handle a visit.”

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

“Would you like myself or Ok’jiv to stay with you? You can always push the button to page us if you want privacy. We’ll come running. And that old Klingon will do it yelling battle cries,” Elaine grinned showing it was said with care for the older woman, but was also true.

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

Another of the rare but bright smiles slipped onto her face. “Maybe I’ll page her just to see that,” she said with a chuckle. “But no, it’s okay, I can see Jon alone. It’s probably better that way. But thank you.” Eyes fixed on Elaine, she struggled to find the right words to express how grateful she was. It was more than just her not expecting such kindness and care, but not feeling alone in what had been an absolutely terrifying time of her life.

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

Elaine set a hand gently on her arm. “Alright, but if you need us, just press the button. And if I see your heart rate spiking I’ll be in her in a flash.” Elaine left and returned to the nurses desk. “She’s awake and feeling up for a visitor,” she told them.

Dr. Fayth, DoMSS

“Thank you” stone said and led the Captain down the hall to the door of the room. Stone stepped through first, she would step out again once she was sure things were going in the right direction, assuming that’s what she wanted.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone
~Constable Blackwood
~Tamsen Stone, Terraforming Environmental Scientist

He hesitated briefly before he stepped into the hospital room. His eyes landed on the woman in the bed. She was sitting up and the blanket draped over her showed the swell of her body. The hair was different and she was obviously a lot older, but he knew in an instant that it was her, it was Evelyn.

His vision blurred and he had to take a moment to gather himself. Swallowing, there was so much he wanted to say, so many questions he wanted to ask.

As she gazed at him, Jon stepped closer and there was such a look of hopefulness that he swore it was his Evelyn, his sister, not the brainwashed girl he had last seen so many years ago.

“Ev…” he said, forcing it to be more than a whisper, hoping it said so much more. “It’s really you.”

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

She took him in, watching every little muscle twitch. Tears flooded her eyes at those simple yet heartfelt words. “Jon,” she said, little more than a breath.

Rolling her lower lip inward and pressing her lips together, she fought the urge to burst into tears. She nodded. “It’s me, such as I am,” she said, the air laced with sorrow. “I know… I mean, I was…” Stellaris trailed off, her words lost. Or rather Evelyn McBride had lost her words.

“I haven’t been Evelyn for so long now that I don’t know how, or if I can. And I know I’ve hurt all of you so much. I probably can’t even fully comprehend how much, but… I’ve missed you Jon. So much!” she said as tears carved a lazy track over her cheeks.

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

He scooted a bit closer to her without even thinking it over and just drew her into his arms, holding her tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” he said, her voice catching again. He didn’t even have to hear her sobs, he could feel her body start to shake. His own vision blurred and Jonathan closed his eyes and just held her, willing this moment not to be a dream or some sort of illusion.

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

“You say that,” she said through her sobs. “But I don’t know that that is true!” Stellaris/Evelyn puled back, tears running down her face. “I’m pregnant, and…” She glanced at Stone and then back at her brother. “I ran away so they wouldn’t find me. But they will, I know they will. They’ll take my baby Jon.”

He gazed at her deeply, trying to remember her as she had once been. But was that fair? No, this was his sister in the here and now and he needed to see her if there was any hope of helping her. Yes, he had a lot of other feelings, but right now he was just happy to be in her presence again. “Who? Those people you had been with before you… disappeared?” he said quietly.

Stellaris nodded. “You were right about them! And I…” She shook her head, sobbing some more bending forward over her too small belly.

He pulled her in again and looked over at Stone. “If she’s in danger, what’s being done to protect her?”

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul and Capt. McBride

Stone watched as they talked taking notes, this poor girl had been through a lot and she was by no means safe or out of it yet. Stone was sure that it would be a slow go. “Well Sir,” she said. “We have a full detail on the room day and night. Everyone must have credentials, any names that come through that door have been verified. ” she noted. “Any Changes have to go through me or my team to get approval. ” She moved over to the bed side, set an hand on her arm. “We have a place you can go people that can make you disappear fora wile but none of that can happen till the baby comes, till then we will do everything we can to keep you safe. “Jewel handed her a small anklet, “It’s easy to hide and easily traceable if you know what to look for” she said not giving away further details. “wear it for now ok?”

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

Stellaris lifted her head, reached out, and took the delicate ankle that was quite simple in design. She gazed at it in the palm of her hand and felt skeptical. Then again, anything at this point that might tip the odds in her favour had to be worth it, if not for herself, then for her unborn child. She gave a nod to Stone. “Thank you,” she said softly.

She leaned her head on Jon’s shoulder. “I know you’re angry,” she said to her brother. “And you have every right to be. I wish there was an explanation that made sense or would make everyone feel better, but I don’t think it will.”

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

He breathed deeply, filling his lungs full and held it for a moment before letting the air out slowly. “Not gonna lie, Ev, I’ve been angry off and on over the years. But mostly I just worried about you. Wondered where you were, what happened to you. There’s a lot of questions that need answering, and I think you owe me at least some answers. I get you’re in danger and that means that at least right now Mom and Dad can’t know, but if I’m ever angry about all of this, it’s because your disappearance has been devastating for all of us. And Inspector Stone can correct me if I’m wrong, but the more you can tell us about everything, the more we can take action to keep you and the baby safe.” He cast a small glance with a quirked brow over Evelyn’s head at Stone, to see if there was anything she wanted to ask.

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

Stone face as a blank read, she was good at keeping her thoughts hidden. “Stellaris, when you are ready we can start interviewing you about what you have been through. If you would like a counselor. ” she paused. “If you would like an attorney, which I recommend, you may secure one, or we can get one for you.”

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

Stellaris wrapped her arms around herself and tried to take a deep breath, but it felt suddenly difficult. But she pushed through, even as her heart rate increased. Drawing in a shaky breath, tears filled her eyes. “I told you a bunch of it, but I guess there is more.” She shifted her attention to her brother. “I’m just so overwhelmed. I don’t know what to do, other than try to protect my baby.”

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

He reached out and held her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Breathe, Ev. Just breathe. I promise you’re not in this alone anymore, okay?”

“You’re in legal trouble, but you’re cooperating and helping them. That’s good, but yes, you should have a lawyer to advocate for you. Whether it’s a civilian or Starfleet, I don’t know. It depends on what exactly how the authorities want to handle this, given a Starfleet facility was involved. But more than that, I really think you should have the support of a therapist. You’ve been through so much and I know so little of it. I want to help, but this isn’t my area of expertise. You being the best you can be once this is all over is the most important thing, beyond your safety.”

He looked at Stone. “Is Oed going to press charges for the theft?” he asked. He didn’t know that his sister’s fines had been paid off and that the original reason for her arrest was immaterial compared to the larger issues of whatever she had participated in with the cult.

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

Stone looked at them, “The District will have to determine that, it’s not for me to apply, I will be recommending that so long as you continue to cooperate that your fine has been paid in full that the charges be dropped owing to the circumstances you are in” he smiled.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

Jonathan sucked in a breath and nodded before looking back at his sister. He was honestly not sure what to say now. He had so many questions, but he was well area that his sister had been through something rather traumatic and she seemed so frail just now. He didn’t want to cause her harm. “Hypothetical question… if you weren’t worried for your safety and the legal situation was sorted out, what would you want to do next? What do you want for yourself, Ev?”

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

She sucked in a breath and stared at her brother, her brows furrowed. He asked questions she had thought over many, many times, but only in a sort of fantastical way, not as something that could actually happen. “If it was safe, I’d be raising this baby with the father and we could build a life together. But that’s not possible, Jon, it’s really not. I do want this baby, but honestly? I’m not sure I’m a good choice to be her mother,” she said, forcing herself to hold her head high as her vision blurred. “I’m so torn,” she whispered.

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

Her masked face revealed very little, but it was clear she disagreed, at least for a moment. Then she was a mirror of her last name.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

Jon reached out and took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “Ev, listen to me,” he said, his gaze locked on hers. “You are more than whatever has happened before. Yes, you will need time and help to figure everything out, and there might be some difficult moments to come. But you came here to see me for a reason, because you thought I could help you. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. What we all are going to do. If you want to be a mother to this baby, then we will help you do that, okay?”

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

Tearing flooded her eyes yet again and Stellaris burst into tears, bending over and all but hugging her belly. She nodded, still holding Jonathan’s hand. How could she explain how scared she was? How overwhelmed she was feeling now that she wasn’t still running and hiding? The thing was that she believed Jon, and though it was hard to trust the others (especially Stone), Stellaris had found herself wanting to more than anything. Could it all be a trick? At first she had thought it might be, just so she would tell them things, but now she was starting to believe that they wanted what was best for her as much as Jon did.

Stellaris lifted her head and shifted her gaze to Stone, tears still running down her face. “I told the detective and you some of it, but I’m not sure where to start with the rest. I don’t know how to get a lawyer, either.”

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

“We can find a lawyer for you if that is want you want,” he said then knowing it could get her in trouble, “Not sure if you want my opinion, but bringing her here, doing what your doing to set things right, connecting with your brother, tells me you’ll be a great mother” she said, she did not remember her birth parents her memory of her child hood lost to her from injury, but her adoptive family has been great. “Once the lawyer is secure, we will need to go all the way back to the begining before you left home. We’ll need to go through every detail you can think of, its” she paused. “Going to be hard on you”

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

She drew in a shaky breath. “I don’t want a lawyer. If you truly think Starfleet will understand and give me leniency for cooperation, that would be good enough for me. But if you both think I should, then I guess I will. I just don’t know,” she said, fighting back the urge to burst into sobs again. “I just don’t want them to find me or my baby.”

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

Stone looked at Jon . “Sir can you find her a lawyer discretely ? or I can have my staff find you one” she noted. “The lawyer will make sure anything that could land you in jail will be covered in the pardon. You are going to be admitting to at the very least, complacent in some very serious crimes.” and she would, Jewel wanted the young girl protected safe for her pour decisions as best as she could.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone

“I can look into it,” Jon said with a nod. “Let me see what I can do.” There were definitely options on Oed. He looked over his sister and the fatigue was deeply etched into her face. “Why don’t I go see about that now and let you get some rest? You look like you could use it.”

Captain McBride, Starfleet CO

She nodded. “I feel like I could sleep for months,” Stellaris said. She leaned back onto the pillows and pulled the cover up. Gazing up at Jewel, she took in the Inspector and despite all her reservations and worries, she found herself trusting the woman. At least more than she had expected to. “Is there anything you need to know right now?” She knew she’d have to give a very detailed account of her time with The Echo. Just saying what she had to Pangolin had been hard, but her whole life had been a whirl of secrets. She was tired of them.

~Stellaris, Wayward Soul

Jewel placed a hand on her shoulder, it was soft and empathetic. Jewel knew suffering far more than this woman would ever know or understand. Jewel felt connected to her in some way that made her want things to turn out for her. Already she had reunited with McBride, so that was a positive. Having support was key to getting through. “No, not this minute,” she bent down a little. “We are going to put an end to them” she said, her voice full of resolve. “Get some rest” she said more loudly and left the room.

Detective Chief Inspector MCD, Jewel Stone