FIVE: video

[puppydogeyes]

[The jumps have been making Taylor incredibly ill for several months, but she's been doing better the past couple, and this one she seems much more lucid – pale, but not looking like she'll collapse or throw up at the slightest movement. She's frowning, though, and her shoulders are hunched inwards slightly, tense. She's quiet for a moment before she finally speaks.]

Anyone that knew him, Dean Winchester's gone.

[Quiet for another moment, looking like she's going to say something else, but then she just reaches over to filter the rest of the message.]

[FILTERED TO SECURITY + KIRK | ENCRYPTED 95%]

We need full reports on what happened down on that outpost. I know a load of you went. If you're not used to doing reports then it's time to get used to it. We've only got ourselves for information here.

[Her voice gets steadier and harder as she goes, trying to settle into a position of giving out these kind of instructions.]

We just had a new wave of people come in, so ask around, see how many you can get on security. Check them for training and experience. If they don't have any and still want on, send them my way. And trust your gut about it. We don't need any psychos here with access to Gunnery, we've got enough shit to deal with already.

[FILTERED TO KIRK | ENCRYPTED 95%]

We're gonna need to talk. Can't let things slip, right?

Comments

voice;

[romanticism]

[ There's a slightly soft quality to Oxford's surprise; it's almost a little sad. He and Dean might not have gotten along very well, but the man had saved his life, and they'd developed some very private, unspoken sort of respect for each in the process. For the little ways in which Oxford was getting used to the ship, the knowledge that Dean was gone was strangely uncomfortable. ]

You're absolutely certain?

video;

[puppydogeyes]

[She frowns sharply for a moment, but there's something too tired in her voice for it to come out as angrily as it might normally.]

No, just felt like telling everyone for shits and giggles.

video;

[romanticism]

[ He arches his brows a little, though that is his only immediate response to the way she answers him. His voice otherwise remains fairly level. ]

It's a big ship, Tyke. I just wanted to be sure.

video;

[puppydogeyes]

[She's quiet for a while, just staring at the screen, before she finally explains,]

His scent's old.

( V I D E O | P R I V A T E | NO ENCRYPTION )

[addictive]

[ Mouse knew Dean, and knows that Tayor knew Dean. ("Knew" being a euphamism here for, I'll put a sock on the door or whatever, Mouse; when you see it, don't knock.) He'd been an alright guy, and he made Taylor feel okay, and so Mouse can always guess (they never really talk) as to how she feels about the whole thing.

He doesn't bother with text, just flips over to video and stares into the camera for a long moment, looking almost chastised by her announcement. AT-AT shuffles over and tries to steal the limelight for a moment, but Mouse nudges him back down with elbow and a soft quit it. Mouse lifts his hand; wiggles his fingers. ]

Hey.

( V I D E O | P R I V A T E | NO ENCRYPTION )

[puppydogeyes]

[It's weird to have Mouse going for video immediately, but she smiles slightly (brief, it doesn't last long on her features at all) at AT-AT's antics before she lets that concern her.]

Hey. You doing okay?

( V I D E O | P R I V A T E | NO ENCRYPTION )

[addictive]

[ He half considers letting the dog steal the show, letting AT-AT just commandeer the feed in order to keep Taylor smiling and distracted. Mouse isn't good with cheering people up beyond letting the big kids in the Calling toss him around for shits and the occasional giggle. But Mouse gets that isn't going to work on Taylor.

(It's okay. He gets it. Still wishes he could do something.)

Awkwardly, he nods. ]

Enough boy scouts, [ Mouse says with his eyebrows lifted. (Boy scouts, that's what he called helping other people like in medbay or during the jumps.) A crumpling noise as he goes to pull the note still pinned from the hem of his jacket, showing it to Taylor even though she's already seen it (he'd been proud of it when he'd thought it up in the room during the hours leading up to the jump). ] Uh. Totally worked.

[ He abandons the note with another paper rustle. ] You cool?

voice | encrypts 85%

[constructum]

[ Ariadne may not have known Dean like Tyke did, but she had grown oddly fond of his annoyances while he was here, and she can't help but be saddened by the news. ]

I'm sorry. [ it's quiet and perhaps tired sounding on her part, but it's still filled with a sadness. as she knew (or more assumed) tyke and dean were friends, which could only have her wondering how tyke was taking the news.

a beat, asking with concern: ]

Do you know what happened?

video | encrypts 85%

[puppydogeyes]

[Taylor frowns, not looking directly at the camera. This would all be easier by text, but somehow that hadn't felt right - despite how uncomfortable she feels now. She doesn't know what to do with I'm sorry, just shrugs.]

He's gone home. Same as everyone else that disappears.

video | encrypts 85%

[constructum]

[ Her brow just furrows slightly at that, letting out a low sigh in thought. She knows what it's like to lose someone close to you, she can only assume, Tyke has to be feeling somewhat bothered by it. And she isn't exactly going to debate on just where they go when they leave now, because she still herself hasn't really fully accepted (or figured out) what happens with that.

so...]

How are you taking it?

video, security filter;

[chromosomes]

[ One of these days, Reaper will stop talking to people on the network while cleaning his assault rifle. Apparently that day isn't today. ]

You want written or verbal reports?

video, security filter;

[puppydogeyes]

[Taylor seems entirely unfazed by that - though really, it says something for his skills.]

Unless it's something you can't trust the network with, it doesn't matter. It'll be recorded either way.

video, security filter;

[chromosomes]

[ He hasn't hid the fact that he's military at all and won't, just as he hasn't and won't hide the fact that he's armed. What he has hidden is what else he is, and he'd like to keep it that way.

Reaper probably won't be able to, but still... he can hope. ] You want the report now, then?

text [SECURITY ENCRYPTION]

[goldshirt]

We arrived at Strela at approximately 02:00 hours on the twenty-fifth calendar day of the previous month. Ward and Resnik proceeded to negotiate for supplies while anyone who had attended the flight down was free to explore the premises.

The natives met on the station were all silent and communicated solely through body language. Twenty four hours later some of us became aware that the station's inhabitants operated by telepathy and were synchronized in nearly all movements. The term "hive-mind" was used, and behaviour outside the 'norm' for these people began drawing attention. Visitors were encouraged to keep a low profile until negotiations were finished.

On the twenty-eighth visitors from the Tranquility began to go missing. We discovered that anyone acting out of line was being taken to isolated chambers to undergo an assimilation process. Some of our number taken were Charles Xavier, Hikaru Sulu, Niccolo (001 099), Miles Edgeworth, Wichita, Tate Langdon (full list to be forwarded.) Myself and active members of the Enterprise, along with anyone still operating under their own accord (full list to be forwarded) returned to the bowels of the station to spring those who had been captured.

In our search we discovered that the unknown entity previously on the Tranquility had followed us aboard. The message YOU'RE WELCOME was painted on the outer wall of the isolation chambers, the door unlocked to the assimilation room, and all guards slaughtered (images attached.)

In some instances we did not arrive in time and a number of our people were fully assimilated. They were returned to the Tranquility and whatever effects they have been under seem to have worn off. They are still under medical supervision.

For a more detailed report, contact Commander Spock.

abductedlist.txt
rescuelist.txt
yourewelcome.jpg


[then, a pause, and the encryption changes to include ONLY TYKE AND KIRK]

This is a lot of responsibility you're taking on.

text [PRIVATE | ENCRYPTED 95%]

[puppydogeyes]

Not got anything better to do with my time.

Red smile's been feeling helpful again.
Never sure if that's a good thing.

text [PRIVATE | ENCRYPTED 95%]

[goldshirt]

[he considers his next comment for a long moment. Tyke, after all, has never been in most of these discussions before. but without Dean heading security, what else can he do? someone needs to be appraised of the situations.]

I doubt it wants us being taken out in anything other than it's own terms.

[security filter, voice]

[jurisimpudent]

I'm willing to collect, catalog, and file all reports.

[security filter, video]

[puppydogeyes]

[She recognises this number, frowns slightly.]

You're on security?

[It's curious more than disbelieving, at least.]

[security filter, video]

[jurisimpudent]

[Edgeworth scowls, immediately defensive.]

I am. Is there something wrong with that?

voice | locked

[unparental]

[ jenna will just be staring at her screen for a little bit. ]

Oh. [ which is stupid, but it's what she has in the moment. ]

video | locked

[puppydogeyes]

[Jenna knew Dean. Taylor knows that, but she doesn't really know the details - only talked to Jenna about him once. It's weird that Jenna's the one without words, but that really says enough all on its own.]

Yeah. [Other people might say sorry. Taylor hardly ever uses that word, and it definitely doesn't feel right right now. She scrubs a hand back through her hair.] Least he's home now, right?

video | locked

[unparental]

Right.

[ but jenna's... dimly aware of what home is like, for dean, and beyond the selfish she can't help but wish he stayed in space, where if something happens at least she'll be there.

unlike home, where elena is a vampire and klaus is apparently roaming free and despite the lack of shared-- the lack of asked for, because some things even jenna knows she doesn't want to know, not anymore-- information, 'everything goes fucking awful' is not a bad assumption for how her life is doing without her there.

jenna is falling apart, news at eleven. ]

My niece, too.

[grndnpnd]

[ He considers asking if she's okay, but it's not his style to just come out and say it. Isn't hers, either, so he's not sure he'd get a straight, honest answer even if did. There's time for it later. ]

Can send the rookies my way to knock into shape. Got enough practice with that.

[puppydogeyes]

[Taylor had seen Tommy in the locker room, but that had been before she knew Dean was gone, and there's some small relief in seeing him again.]

Thanks. [She nods.] Spent more time getting trained than doing training.

[Way more time taking orders than giving them, and she feels like saying something like that, but stops herself with just an uncertain look at the camera.]

[grndnpnd]

[ Taylor's always said that she's a soldier just like him (give or take): more used to receiving orders than giving them. But Tommy gets that it's not like any of them get to just sit back and do what they're comfortable with here. Someone had to step up. ]

Yeah, well. You're gonna have enough to deal with without worrying about that anyway.