The Gifted Ones
Posted on 14 Jan 2021 @ 4:05pm by Commander Calliope Zahn
Mission:
M1 - Emergence
Location: Docking Ring
Timeline: MD06 1630
1093 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure
The Fenris Rangers. Calliope had been otherwise occupied and had only just caught up on the report concerning their "guests".
During her service in the region, Calliope hadn't formed an official opinion about the Fenris Rangers. Over the years, she had had to deal with their members a few times and had various experiences ranging from stellar to distasteful. Unofficially she wasn't a whole hearted fan. Fenris Rangers often operated in such a way as to cause as many snarls as they solved, and then weren't responsible for anything they left in their wake. They didn't answer to anyone but themselves, and that was the trouble with vigilantism.
Calliope was still quite a distance from the airlock, walking the long curved hall of the outer docking ring when she sensed it: the whisper in her head.
~Finally. How long did you intend to keep us waiting?~
Calliope froze. The report had said quite a bit about Olivine Bowen, the Betazoid woman who lead this merry little...
~Merry little band of outlaws. Yes, yes. ~ came the impression of a playfully exasperated sing-song voice.
Was Olivine reading her thoughts?
~Only the judgemental ones, darling. Oh, don't worry your pretty little head. I'm quite used to being judged before people get to know me. We all have our image to contend with, now haven't we? Yes, I think you can understand that. ~
Calliope frowned, but began moving forward once more, cautiously, all the while feeling like the fly approaching the spider. Her ears wanted to tune into something that wasn't there at all. There was no actual sound besides that of her own feet on the decking while the voice in her head seemed disembodied without a source angle, as if the halls themselves were teasing her. She didn't like this, right down to the pit of her stomach. No one liked having their minds probed.
~Probing? Four Sisters, above!~ Olivine's voice chortled in Calliope's mind ~I don't have to crack your mind to uncover your thoughts. I can just skim the surface. You project so loudly. Highly emotive. No no, that's good. There's nothing wrong with that. I love sensing emotional people. You think to yourself and have a glowing inner life. Why do you recoil? Are you afraid of what I might discover?~
The suggestion was one designed to make Calliope cough up to the surface what she wished to hide. Calliope winced. Reflexively, she knew she had fallen for it like being told not to think of ballerina bears caused the very thing before the minds eye by the direction itself.
~Oh, love. There, there. You're ashamed. What is there to be ashamed of? Being attractive is hardly a crime. Someone with familial influence to flout, finances to bestow, and intellect to enlighten would be considered miserly for withholding from the wider society all he has to offer! Why should you be made to feel your natural charm is a burden while his gifts are extolled far and wide?~
Calliope almost tripped on her own feet. This ex-con harpy was talking about Lance! She felt her cheeks flush. Calliope wasn't jealous of Lance— she was proud of him!
~They're your own thoughts dear. Not mine. And maybe the word you're after is not harpy, but 'Siren'. Very misunderstood creatures we siren, you and I. Everyone is afraid of being manipulated and dragged to the depths. It's not an unfounded fear. But because of it they put wax in their ears... and we gag ourselves, or drug our gifts into obscurity. Some against our will. Others voluntarily.... Either way, everyone misses the opportunity to be inspired by the sirens."
The diminutive woman standing at the airlock came into view and Calliope lowered her chin and closed the distance, steadily as if she could somehow fortify herself with a determined posture.
~And if not a Siren, well, you could embrace the life of a muse— Like your namesake...~ The silver haired woman smiled devilishly as she greeted the Executive Officer, this time with vocalization. "Calliope."
"Ms. Bowen." Calliope returned the spare greeting.
Olivine was flanked by her crew. The mountainous, if young, Mr. Oberu, and the nervous looking underweight Orion man, who went by the name of Sparks. The two Orions, Calliope and Sparks, momentarily caught each other's eyes, and Calliope thought she saw spite or contempt there.
~He was abused by an Orion Mistress. Don't get heartbroken on his account. He mistreated his fair share of orion women in turn. It's a vicious cycle in many cells of the Syndicate. Come now, are you going to make us wait longer yet at the airlock?~
"Sign here, affirming your agreement for patrol and assistance." Calliope extended her the padd with the contract that had been drawn up between the Borderless and Obsidian Command's intelligence department. Liv took the stylus and made her mark.
Calliope entered the security code to release the impound on the Borderless
The airlock's series of doors parted into the ship. It wasn't terribly large. Calliope followed and observed the decking and the layout. They came to the bridge and Olivine dropped into her seat. Sparks went right for a control panel and started calling up sensor logs and computer manifests. "This is no good, see? I told you they was a buncha nosy bastards, Liv. Them Fleeters had their greasy fingers every place high and low! And our logs been pulled up."
Liv leaned forward, presently aware that the news was not a surprise to the young Grazerite. "Oberu, you knew this?"
The Grazerite scratched the back his broad neck self consciously. "The Security Chief, he said he was having a look for everyone's safety." Oberu admitted. He'd liked Winslow and he didn't see any harm in it.
Liv turned sharply on Calliope projecting intimidation to make up for her small stature. Calliope felt as if the room bent inward towards the angry center of Liv's eyes. "You've searched my ship? Accessed our computer? "
Calliope steeled herself. "It's not as if we tossed the place or cracked your computer core." She smirked. "We only skimmed the surface."
"Careful, child. I make a much better friend than an enemy."
"Then we have that in common, as well." Calliope tucked the padd under her arm. "You'll receive resupply tonight and debrief with intel tomorrow. Goodbye, Ms. Bowen."
~Farewell, for now, Calliope: repressed muse. ~
Calliope had the sense that no one could have the last word with Olivine Bowen. She left without giving her the satisfaction of trying.
