#20 Ripples

Posted on Thu Feb 16th, 2023 @ 10:54am by Major Jackson "JJ" Barnes {Meji} & Lieutenant JG Ainkara "Kara" {Meji}

Mission: Vanished
Location: starbase
Timeline: current

ON:

Ainkara, along with Jacobs and the other two marines, made it to engineering. As with OPS, the entire station was quiet, eerily so. Panels and stations were active but on standby as they passed, no one there to keep them active as they went into wait mode.

"This is just creepy," Said Lance Corporal Jacobs.

Ainkara, adjusting her equipment belt, glanced over. "If you mean it causes anxiety to be so quiet, I agree." As Master Ro had been teaching her for the past few weeks on patrol, Ainkara reached into herself and accessed the Force, using it as a personal sensing mode. Her own species granted telekinesis had told Master Ro that she could possibly manipulate the Force, and as they had discovered, she could. "All is fine," stated Ainkara, feeling nothing as they entered the main engineering command area.

"I'll access the main computer, the rest of you watch my back. I need to focus." Jacobs said this as he removed his backpack and began to rummage within it, bringing out his equipment.

Ainkara walked further into engineering, towards the warp core that provided the power for this massive city in space. It was functioning normally, still providing power. But, as Jacobs had said, it was disconcerting to be within a department that should have, at minimum, 12 people on shift right now. The warp core thrummed as it should with each pulse of power it sent out. Absentmindedly Ainkara ran the fingers of her left hand along the length of the lightsaber hilt Green had given her. According to Master Ro the saber had once been slotted for Kirk, but with the recent events about Mirror interference, Ro had decided to gift the weapon to Ainkara. It was odd to feel it there, on her hip, but she was adjusting to its presence.

"What is that?" Asked one of the privates standing at the engineering entryway. When Ainkara looked her way she chinned at the saber, her eyes darting to it to show what she was talking about.

"A lightsaber," answered Ainkara, deadpan. "The weapon of a Meji."

"Meji?"

The other marine, another female Human, looked at her sister in arms. "Meji. Ya know, Commander Green's Meji Order? You don't read much, do you? It's all in the library files."

"Private Scabbia is correct," replied Ainkara. "I am a Starfleet cadet, but I am also a Meji Acolyte." Private Teresa Scabbia gave her a nod and grin.

"Guess I need to catch up on my reading," said the other marine.

Then, out of nowhere, the Force felt a ripple. But, before Ainkara could focus on it it was gone. She half turned from the two marines as she reached out with Sense, trying to locate where the twinge had come from as she closed her eyes and searched with her feelings.

Scabbia noted the change in stance, approaching the Voran. "You okay, Ainkara?"

Ainkara raised a hand up politely to quiet the woman, her Sense still searching. She caught another soft ripple, then it dissipated. Her eyes opened and her stance went back to normal. However, when she spoke her tone seemed far away. "Watch after Jacobs I need to check something."

Scabbia began to protest. "Cadet, I can't let you just go al..."

"That's an order!" Said Ainkara, stopping momentarily to look the Private in the eye, her tone low but firm. "Keep Jacobs safe, gather the intel. I sense something I need to see to. Report to Barnes at regular intervals should I not return soon." Once that was said she turned away from the marines and went off across engineering, to exit the chamber via another doorway.

"Great. Just great," said Scabbia. She immediately contacted Barnes, touching her earpiece comm. "Chief, Private Scabbia here. Jacobs is accessing the core as we speak, but Cadet Ainkara is...sensing something, and has ordered us to stay with Jacobs as she went off on her own. Orders?"

Barnes was a bit surprised by the news, but he had also seen Green and Ainkara spending a lot of time together over the past few weeks of boring patrol duty. As was his way he had read everything he could about the Meji and what they were supposed to stand for. "I don't like it, Private, but it's a Meji thing, I'm sure. Let it go and keep Jacobs secure." His after-action report would note the walk-off, so he would leave it to the 'toppers' to deal with. "Anything unusual, other than Ainkara being weird?"

"No, Chief." Answered Scabbia. "Quiet as a church loft."

"Good. With all these unknowns we don't need more bullshit. Regular check-ins, Scabby. Barnes, Out."

Teresa Scabbia quirked an eyebrow at the newest of nicknames she had acquired. Scabby? Turning to her fellow feMarine she gave a shrug and continued to watch over engineering on the base.

OFF: