Like Mother, Like daughter

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2024 @ 11:48 by Civilian Sansa Draxx-Jones & Civilian Jacob Carson & Lieutenant Commander Ras th'Zaanaq

Mission: Moopsy Mania
Location: The Library, USS Merlin
Timeline: MD 1 1900
1931 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Jacob was finishing restocking some of the shelves when he noticed Sansa walk in. "Ahh, good evening Miss Jones... Or should that be Doctor Jones? I saw they published your latest paper in the Starfleet scientific journal. Very impressive for someone so young. Now, what can I do for you?"

Sansa smiled at him warmly. "Good evening Mr Carson, more research as usual. Doctor Blessed is sending me the live data from the new colony and all of the female whales have successfully given birth and are adapting to life off Earth better than anyone could have anticipated. He's even talking of me going back to check in with him."

While she was speaking, Jacob had already retried the stack of books that he knew she would be needing "You must have read almost everything we have on Humpback Whales Miss Jones. Are you working on another paper already?"

"It's a possibility." She admitted as she sat down opening the first of the heavy tomes. "Not only have the whales have already established their own migratory patterns. What's more incredible is some of the scientists have reported interacting with the whales' consciousness in the Etheria. Now that is amazing. I've sent a message to Fay to tell her the news but I'm still waiting to hear from her.

"And how is Miss Fay?"

"She's back on Earth at the moment with... In Abigale again. She was in discussions to allow a trial of a small seal colony to join the humpbacks on Megapteria."

"Well, it sounds like another long night. Can I interest you in some tea and sandwiches?" he asked, teapot already in hand.

"You know very well I never refuse your tea and sandwiches," she replied before turning her attention back to the book.

"I know, just checking," Jacob said as he headed into the back room to prepare a spread.

Commander th'Zaanaq entered the unusual looking ship's library. He glanced around at the grand out-fashioned earth style Library in bewilderment. Although it was pleasing to the eye, searching for what he needed to find was going to be time consuming and cumbersome.

His back channel investigation on their current mission had led him to Merlin's library. Several contacts he had spoken to had mentioned a creature called 'moopsy'. He was unfamiliar with this creature so wanted to learn what a Moopsy was, but where did he start?

Jacob reentered carrying a silver tray piled with sandwiches and a tea set when he spotted the newcomer. "Ah! a new face." He set the tray down on the table near Sansa, then turned his attention back to Ras. He studies his uniform and the pips on his collar before continuing "You must be our new first officer. Welcome to the library. I'm Mr Carson, the librarian. Is there something I can help you with?"

During this Sansa had picked up the tea pot and filled a cup for herself and Jacob. She looked up at Ras "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr Carson." He replied offering his hand in the true tradition of human greetings. "Yes, I'm the Merlin's new first officer. I'm looking for some information on a creature called a Moopys?" He said before looking in the direction of the female voice. "A tea would be lovely, thank you."

As Sansa poured the tea, Carson had turned and picked up a book from a nearby desk "You know you're the second person to enquire about Moopsys. Quite a misunderstood creature. Research on them is limited due to their, shall we say voracious appetites. Don't let their appearance fool you. A handful of these creatures have been known to strip a planet of all animal life in a matter of days."

Carson turned to a picture and turned it for Ras and Sansa to see.

"Awww, they look adorable!" Sansa commented. "How could those cute creatures do that to a planet?"

Carson smiled. "Not all creatures are gentle giants." He turned to Ras to explain "Miss Jones, or should I Say Doctor Jones here is our resident Humpack whale expert."

Sansa blushed "I wouldn't say I was an expert..."

Carson chuckled. "Now, now Miss Jones such modesty. "After your experiences, I think you must know more about humpback whales than anyone alive, excluding Miss Fay and her people of course."

"Humpback whales?" The Andorian questioned, he remembered the name but couldn't picture what they were talking about.

Sansa perked up. "They're a species of large marine mammals from Earth. In the past, they were found in large numbers in all of the Earth's oceans but during the late 20th century and early 21st century, they were hunted and wiped out by... by... " her voice faltered as she recalled the past horrors.

She took a deep breath and continued.

"Wiped out by us... Humans. This led to a race of aliens called The Megapteraians sending a probe to determine why they had lost contact. This probe almost ended all life on Earth and we were only saved by the actions of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew. They travelled back in time and brought back two humpback whales who managed to communicate with the probe and save the Earth. The probe then left and the ship that was sent to follow it disappeared until recently when the Merlin picked up a weak signal from their homeworld. The Megapteraians are a race that lives deep at the bottom of an ocean world and, while they do have a physical form, communicate telepathically with the whales and each other in a different plane that they call the Etheria. An away team was sent to the planet and their consciousnesses were pulled into the Etheria. Relations were a bit rocky at first but eventually, Mum convinced them that we were peaceful.

Carson now picked up the story as he poured another cup of tea. "Miss Jones here selflessly allowed one of their Ambassadors, Miss Fay, to inhabit her body so she could experience our reality and get to know present-day humans. from whom she learned a great deal about both the whales and the Megapteraians. They were instrumental in setting up the first off-world colony of Humpback whales with the Megapteraians which is thriving."

Sansa blushed as Jacob spoke about her with pride. She decided not to bring up the Esme incident.

"Ah, yes. I seem to remember hearing about that during my academy days. Sounds like Miss Jones is an excellent ambassador herself." The Andorian smiled. "I'm sure you've proved your worthfulness to the ship and crew 10 times over."

"That's very kind. Thank you." Sansa replied as she took a sip of her tea.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you interested in the Moopsys?"

Just then the doors opened, and another Sansa walked in carrying a PADD. "Good evening Mr Carson. I just received the latest update from Doctor Blessed regarding the Humpack community on...." She looked up and froze. The other Sansa looked up from the table and also froze. Then both in unison. "What?"

Jacob looked back and forth between the two for a moment. "I've got to cut back on the tea. Commander, Are you also seeing double?

Ras blinked several times but still saw double. He nodded slowly, "I'm guessing two Miss Jones on board isn't a usual occurrence." He said his eyes darting to and fro the Sansa he'd just met and the one that had just entered.

Jacob nodded. "Indeed, Err which of you is the real Miss Jones?"

Both Sansa's turned and replied in unison "I am!"

The Sansa who had been sat now rose slowly and walked over to her double.

As if sensing danger, Mr Carson was trying to place himself between them "I do not believe this to be wise. Commander..." He looked over to Ras "Do you think it would be wise to alert security? Clearly, we have someone who does not belong here."

The two young women had continued to get closer to each other which Jacob was speaking. One of them seemed remarkably calm. "It's ok, we won't hurt you. I must say you really did a good job copying me, I'm flattered."

The other Sansa adopted a similar cool attitude "I don't know what you're talking about, I'm me but you are correct, you do look rather good. An excellent specimen if I do say so myself.

Jacob shook his head. "Dear gods, they're actually flirting with each other."

Ras' eyes kept moving between each of them as if trying to catch one out by doing something that was uncharacteristic but that was futile as he'd only just met one of them. He slowly raised his hand towards his communicator.

The eyes of Sansa who had just entered narrowed slightly and with inhuman speed grabbed the other Sansa by the throat and spun her around, hiding behind her like a human shield. "Touch that communicator and I'll snap her neck, I swear."

The other Sansa, still keeping remarkably cool asked. "What do you want?"

"I know you've found a way to detect us. I need some insurance."

Ras slowly lowered his hand from his communicator. He assumed one of them was a changeling and wondered if they would make their move if he went to call for backup.

"Alright, let's stay calm." He said, his voice even and composed. "Nobody needs to get hurt. Why are you here and what do you want?"

The changeling Sansa's eyes were still darting around the room, eventually, she focused back on Ras. "I am alone. I have been expelled from the Great Link. I cannot return there, I need.... protection."

"Protection from whom?" Sansa asked quietly.

"I know things, things that can help you." The changeling replied.

Sansa placed her hand on the changeling arm. "Look you don't have to do this. Let me call my Mom, She'll be able to help you and I give you my word, no one will hurt you. Ok?"


The changeling Sansa still looked around, nervous. "You... you're like me, aren't you? You're different from the others. What about them?" she motioned to Carson and Ras.

Sansa looked at Ras "I think we should get my Mom down here. I gave my word that no one would hurt her, let me call my Mom and we can end this."

Ras nodded slowly, "I agree. Will you allow me to call our Captain? She will have the authority to listen to your request and take appropriate action. May I?" He asked pointing to his commbadge.

"Do you trust him?" The changing asked Sansa.

Sansa locked eyes with Ras for an instant before replying "Yes, I trust him."

Carson interjected at this point. "Maybe as a show of your trust, you could perhaps release Miss Jones?" He pulled out two chairs next to each other at the table.

The changeling thought for a moment then motioned for Sansa to sit down, then sat in the chair next to her. She looked at Ras. "You may call your Captain."

'How does she trust me? We've only just met.' Thought the Commander as he moved his hand slowly towards his communicator and pressed it gently. "Ras to Captain Jones, there's a situation in the ship's Library that requires your immediate attention."

"I'm on my way!" Came the response.


To be continued in Part 2


OFF:

Sansa Draxx-Jones (Dr)
Marine biologist
NPC Jones

Jacob Carson
Libriarian
NPC Jones

Lieutenant Commander Ras th'Zaanaq
Executive Officer