Through the Looking Glass

Posted on 09 May 2019 @ 8:05pm by Lieutenant Colonel Anton Markov & Major Patrick Smith 'Nine' & Ensign Temperance Zachary

Mission: From the Darkness
Location: Quarters

Temperance walked out of the bedroom, pausing to cast a glance over her own reflection in the mirror.

"You don't look like Starfleet."

The words Lieutenant Colonel Markov had spoken were still clear in her mind.

Well, she definitely didn't look like a starfleet officer right now, and even though she wasn't entirely sure if she looked 'smugglery', she definitely didn't look like herself. Her makeup was darker than anything she had ever worn in her life. The black top was definitely tighter than she was accustomed and lower cut, tucked into black pants that hugged her hips in a way she wasn't entirely used to. The wide metal studded belt slung low on her hips felt heavy and awkward, but she would just have to get used to it, and the boots, while not as comfortable as her standard federation issued boots, had higher heels and definitely looked much less 'standard' than anything else she would normally wear. Thankfully at least they were still easy enough to move in. The entire outfit provided surprising mobility, it just wasn't 'her'.

Even her hair, instead of cascading loosely down her back in its usual gentle waves, was pulled back in a somewhat messy braid. Finally, reaching up she fastened a fine gold chain around her neck, the one item that seemed 'at odds' with the rest of her outfit. She let it fall and touched the charm momentarily before she turned away and headed back into the small living space of her quarters.

"Pack light."

Well, there was no issue with that. There was very little she needed. Everything was packed into a backpack with room to spare. Finally, the last things she added to the bag were a medical kit, a tricorder, an old hardcover book and a block of chocolate.

Picking up a long black jacket, she shrugged into it before she picked up the backpack. Slinging it over her shoulder, she cast a quick glance at a small stuffed teddy bear that was sitting on the couch and smiled. "Well, wish me luck," she said quietly before heading out into the corridor.

Almost the entire walk to the shuttlebay Temperance was acutely aware of the heads turning her way, eyes on her as she moved. She could feel the colour in her cheeks and tried furiously to will it away.

Finally, stepping into the shuttle bay, she cast a quick glance around, noticing the Lieutenant Colonel talking to someone else, someone she assumed to be the individual she was supposed to be working with.

Holding her head high, she drew a deep breath and straightened her back, closing the space between them. "Ensign Temperance Zachary reporting as ordered, Sir," she said calmly.

Nine had been quickly briefing Anton on his latest trip. Given the nature of their mission, he had refused to use comms and had handed an encrypted data file to the Colonel when he came on board. Dressed in dark navy jeans, a blue t-shirt and a black leather jacket all beaten with age. The accompanying black sunglasses he would have been a little too cliche back in the early 2000's. Now however it was a far cry from what most of the crew usually saw.

As she approached the two men they both finished their conversation in time for her to close the distance. "Ensign," the Colonel began. "This is Nine. You all ready to go?"

He barely got to finish before the second man held out his hand and spoke, his Irish accent still present despite years away from home. "Good to meet you. Well you look the part Ensign. So that's half the battle. You could spend a Ferangi's fortune and this guy still wouldn't blend in anywhere," he added hand grasping Antons shoulder, who looked less than thrilled. "Alright Colonel. You got everything you need from me?"

Anton grunted. "Sure. Try not to lose my Doctor. If things keep blowing up around here we might need her again," he stated face still frowning at Nine. "Good luck Ensign. Die in fire Nine," he said to them both before leaving.

Nine laughed and smirked waiting until the Colonel had gotten a bit away before speaking. "Love-hate relationship this one. You ready for this then?"

Temperance drew in a deep breath, the exchange between the two of them doing absolutely nothing to settle her nerves. "No?" She replied with a nervous laugh. "But I'm here, and I said I'd do it, so..." she drew in a deep breath and forced a smile on her face. "So where are we going? I know absolutely nothing except I was told to show up, pack light and dress like I was going to sell my Grandmother."

"Being nervous is good," he said smiling warmly. "I'd be worried if you weren't. Let's get you settled and then I'll fill you in on the details. This by the by is the Blackbird," he added indicating to the Peregrine craft behind him.

"Blackbird, interesting choice in name," Temperance said with a smile. At least he seemed friendly enough for the moment. Resettling her backpack on her shoulder as they walked toward the craft. "So it's gonna be a cozy trip then?" she said lightly.

"Eh she might not be the biggest but I've stripped some of the useless stuff out and remodelled a bit. Plus with a few smaller more efficient parts means you get your own little bunk and everything," he said with way too much enthusiasm but a definite note of sarcasm slipping in. "The name," he began to explain as he led the way to the ship, "Was kind of a joke for her origion. She was wrecked and Starfleet were scrapping her off so I pulled a few favours and made a bet that if I could get her flying she was mine. The engineer remarked 'That bird is as black and charred as they come,' and thus the name, Blackbird," he proudly said getting to the ramp in.

She followed him in silence, listening as he spoke. "I guess the name is fitting then," Temperance said with a smile. "The blackbird is also symbolic of intelligence and quest for knowledge." She shrugged slightly as she moved into the small craft, glancing around quickly. It was surprisingly bigger on the inside than one would have expected by looking at the outside, but still, there were still close quarters. Still... she wasn't here for luxury. "Right, where do I put my stuff? Then we can get underway. I see no reason to delay anything, the sooner we get out of here, the sooner we can get back and you'll be rid of my annoying chatter," she said with a quick smile.

Nine scratched his stubble for a moment before heading to a wall and pulling off a panel revealing a compartment behind it, containing a set of Major pips, a starfleet commbadge and a small dampening device. "First. Anything with a fleet ID goes in here. your comm badge included."

"I didn't pack a uniform, I assumed it wouldn't be needed," Temperance said as she set down the duffle she had been carrying, opening it and pulling out her medical kit and tricorder, setting them in the compartment before pulling her commbadge off her shirt and setting it on top of her other items. "That's all I have, other than my clothes and a book," she said before turning to face him. "So, what's next?"

"Good assumption," he said as he reattached the panel. "There's medical supplies in the locker there and weapons in the locker there. There's a few different hand to hand goodies if you're so inclined," he added pointing to two more storage bins. He lent against the wall and watched for a moment. "Since your at a disadvantage on the who's who department. Major Patrick Smith. Starfleet Intelligence."

"So not Nine after all?" Temperance asked with an uncertain smile. "Starfleet Intelligence? Well, I guess that makes a little more sense now. I'm *slightly* less concerned about being sold to the first Ferengi freighter you come across." She turned her gaze to where he had pointed out the medical supplies and the weapons locker. "Are they locked?" she asked, wanting to make sure she knew what to expect in case either was required.

"I'm more in the rescuing damsels from freighters business than the selling," he half joked, thinking back to a past mission. "Not locked no. Feel free to poke around and see if there's anything you need. I pick all this stuff up on my travels," he offered by way of explanation. "You can make yourself at home in the cabin. I'll probably sleep up front as always."

Temperance shrugged slightly. "Having you back here I can assure you won't bother me in the slightest," she said quietly. "Don't feel like you need to stay out of my way. So are we settled enough that you can fill me in now? Or do we need to be clear from the ship first?"

Pat shrugged, "Why not do both. Let's head up front and get this show on the road. Oh almost forgot," he said as he stopped, "Snack box is on the right behind the co pilot seat."

"Now that's something I understand," Temp replied with an easy grin as she followed him. "Snacks is a universal language."


=/\=

Ensign Temperance Zachary
Chief Medical Officer
USS Powell

Major Patrick Smith
'Nine'
Starfleet Intelligence