Explanations

Posted on Thursday 4 May 2017 @ 23:31 by Lieutenant Commander David Tan & Captain Melody Jones

Mission: The Perez Nebula
Location: Davis Tan's quarters
Timeline: TBD
1586 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

* Note - Due to a transporter malfunction Commander Jones and Lieutenant Tillatix have swapped bodies. See Test Flight.

Melody had come to the Tan's quarters to explain why she had to cancel Mackenzie's lesson this week and she didn't know how this was going to be taken. She was still getting use to Save'ena's body at this point.

At least the had managed to get the tail under control. She pressed the door chime and waited.

David had been playing, or more precisely 'loosing' at monopoly against his two Daughters, who he suspected were passing money back and forth without his knowledge when the door chime sounded. He got up off the floor, warning the girls not to cheat, both assumed Angelic poses as if it was furthest from their minds ... The door opened at his approach and he was surprised to see the Air Group Commander:

She smiled at him "Hello David, we need to talk, may I come in ?"

"Of course." he said stepping back to allow her to enter, "Girl's, can you give the Lieutenant and I a moment please." he said, pondering their sudden familiarity.

Melody walked though the door and turned as it closed "David, I know this may seem hard to believe but a transporter accident seemed to have caused my consciousness to swap with that of Lieutenant Tillatix's. I'm Commander Jones. It's me, Melody ......"

He stood there for a second trying to figure out if this was some sort of joke, or test, but he could see immediately by her expression that she was telling the truth. He asked if she wanted to sit down, hoping she would elaborate on what had happened. He couldn't help glance at the bedroom door, thankful in a way that Mackenzie hadn't heard the revelation, but Lana had ... She came from the kitchen area and sat beside the woman immediately asking the next question on his mind for him.

"Is it going to be reversible, you're not swapped for good are you ?" she said, shocked, then looked at David, "We'll need to tell Kenzi, sooner than later I think, given she's expecting 'Melody' to give her her second flight lesson later today. That's right isn't it ?" she said, turning back to the Mephetian.

Melody perched on the edge of the seat, still not use to sitting down with her new tail. "Caroline...... I mean Doctor Miller is investigating as we speak. I certainly hope the process is reversible. I do like the fur but the tail seems to have a mind of its own." She chuckled then continued, "Save'ena and I took the new fighter out for a test flight. We ran into some kind of subspace anomaly and lost all power. When we were beamed back to the Merlin, this happened.." She gestured down at herself. Even The Captain and Doctor Miller were sceptical at first."

David said he wanted to speak to Doctor Miller for a moment. He wasn't dismissing her sincerity, nor disbelieving her situation, but surely he couldn't just take it on face value without confirmation, he was trusting his eldest Daughter to the woman after all. Lana had got up and walked to the girls' bedroom door, she asked them to come into the living room area:

"We have something to tell you girls ..." she began, David returned from their bedroom and both he and 'Melody' nodded for her to continue, she told Mackenzie and Mia exactly what they had been told.

"WOW !" both girls said in unison.

"It's hardly a 'wow' kind of situation girls." Lana admonished, though everyone seemed somewhat relieved they had taken it as they had, more fascinated curiosity rather than horror, "We need you both to understand that, Melody, Save' ....."

"Save'ena." Melody confirmed.

"..... Save'ena are having to work out how to reverse their erm, predicament."

"What's a, predicterment Mummy ?" Mia asked.

"They need to work out how to make things like they were sweetheart." David explained, then seeing his youngest still frowning he simplified it as best he could, "They need to get back in their own bodies."

"Ahhhh." Mia said, eyes watching the gently undulating tail, "Does it hurt ... Sitting on it I mean ?" she asked, getting up and tentatively approaching the woman.

Melody shook her head "Not so much hurt Sweetheart. When your father and me went on that shuttle mission and I got shocked by the EPS system, that hurt. This is just taking a while to get use to. Save'ena has helped me by giving me some exercises to do, but sometime it seems to have a mind of it's own."

She turned to Mackenzie "I know you were looking forward to your next lesson Mackenzie, but I'm afraid we're going to have to put it on hold for now. You see, Doctor Miller has taken both Save'ena and me off active duty until we can get back in our own bodies. You are really getting the hang of things, did you tell your parent how well you did with all the take offs and landings last time?

"That's OK Melody." Kenzie replied, placing a hand on her shoulder almost maternally, "I'm sure we'll get back to my lessons once you are erm, you ... Yes, I did tell Mummy and Daddy about the last lesson and how excited I was about them. Mia was too, wasn't you ?"

"Yes, she told me about it and going up in the dark, she was very excited about that wasn't she Mummy ?"

"She was." Lana said, turning her attention back to Melody, "Is there anything we can do to help ?" she asked, knowing there was absolutely nothing other than to offer support.

"Do you have to brush it, like my hair ?" Mia said, now only millimeters from the object of her fascination, Melody's new tail ...

The question threw Melody somewhat. She blinked for a moment before replying "You know Sweetheart, I've not really thought about it to be honest." She turned her head and regarded her tail with curiosity "I do believe I better brush it. Save'ena wouldn't appreciate me not looking after her body now." Turning to Lana, "That's really kind, thank you. It's good knowing have good friends around for support."

"Can I do that, please, I have a brush ..." Mackenzie said, running from the room before anyone could stop here. She returned seconds later brush in hand.

Melody nodded somewhat cautiously "Ok, but be careful ok ?"

"Wow, it's so soft." Kenzie said as she tentatively took hold of the tail inches from the tip, she began brushing slowly so as not to hurt Melody if she encountered any small tangles like she get's in her own hair at times. Mia came over and touched the fur, allowing it to flow between her small fingers almost fluidically, Kenzi told her to be careful but Mia was doing so already. David and Lana sat quietly, almost self-consciously watching proceedings as it it were something very personal.

Melody let out an involuntary Churr as Mia brushed her tail. She blushed a deep red colour "I'm sorry. I'm still getting use to everything. Thank you Sweetheart, I think that enough for now." She looked up at David "I thought I better come and tell you in person rather than you hear about it third hand. I'm hoping to resume Mackenzie's lessons as soon as I'm back on active duty."

"We appreciate that Commander." David said, still not too sure about protocol, given he was speaking the the Executive Officer he wasn't sure 'first name terms' was appropriate unless she initiated it.

Kenzi put the brush aside and Mia picked it up instantly taking several blue and blue silver long hairs and studying them silently.

"It's OK Melody, I understand, besides I wouldn't be able to concentrate if that tail was swishing around the pilots seats." everyone laughed at her comment as Kenzie sat beside her and placed an arm around her shoulder, Mia immediately did likewise on her other side, "It's going to be OK you know, you will get back in your own body soon I'm sure." Kenzie whispered.

Melody smiled as a tear ran down her cheek, She placed a hand on Mackenzie's arm."Thank you Sweetheart." She wiped her face as she stood "Thank you David, Lana. This is going to take some getting use to but hopefully Caroline will figure out how to get us both back to where we belong." She bent over and, in turn gave Mia and Mackenzie a hug.

"I'll keep you all informed when things are back to normal. I hope it won't be too long. I'll see you later." And with a nod to each of them, Melody headed for the door.

"I want to be a cat person." Mia exclaimed the second Melody had left.

"That's silly Mia. How can you be a cat, and I'm not sure Melody is a cat so there." Kenzi said, "I'll be in our room, homework." she said with an exaggerated fatalistic look.

"Sooo, swapping bodies ..." Lana said as Mia climbed onto her knee, "Let's hope you don't turn up looking like someone else anytime soon." David got up grinning then leaned in close to Mia's ear.

"Meowwww." he whispered, Mia and Lana laughed.

"Little quiet out there, some of us have work to do." Kenzi said from the bedroom ........


OFF:

Lieutenant Commander Melody Jones
Executive Officer
USS Merlin

Lieutenant David Tan
Chief Operations Officer
USS Merlin

Lana Tan
School Superintendent
USS Merlin

Mackenzie Tan
Mia Tan