#24 Round and round...

Posted on Thu Mar 24th, 2022 @ 6:11pm by Captain Rogue Green {Meji}

Mission: Weapon Investigating
Location: various
Timeline: current/somewhere in between

OOC: Yes, I am going to have Green on adventures for a Q, which will not affect her life here--more or less, lol. Just something to keep my imagination in posting mode.

ON:

One thing about Glintok that held true above all else was that when it rained it RAINED. The rain storms could last as long as ten minutes and some going on for as long as half an hour. Torrential downpours that drenched everything beneath it and caused spillways and waterways to swell and flow with force. Rogue Green stood atop a tall building looking down into the slave market and courtyard it was within. Four 20 storyapartment buildings built with a central park/courtyard. The Orion males Randash and his brother Rendal had seen to having makeshift walls and barricades erected to enclose the market and keep it secure. Thugs stood at all entrances, ready to club anyone who tried to get in without permission from the slave cartel. Right now the courtyard was being doused in rainfall with all the residents under tents and awnings, or inside the apartment buildings. Except, of course, the slaves themselves. They were left to get soaked in the warm rain, a form of bathing by the handlers. It beat the fire hose and ice cold water and each slave was handed a body towel to dry off and swipe away any grime. When finished the towel was handed back or the slave got an intense jolt from the shock collar they wore. If left on the collar could kill a person and Ro had watched a few slavers turn on a collar and walk away, the being wearing it locked in the rigidity of intense electrical shock until their heart gave out. Reaching up behind herself, to her lumbar region, Green made sure her saber was there and ready for use. It was.

Green's hand dropped back to her side as she continued to stand there with feet shoulder width apart, her stance that of someone ready to take action. The rain continued to come down, her hair in braided cornrows along her scalp, the rain water sending rivulets down her face to drip from her chin and nose, her body fully drenched in her all leatheris black catsuit. This catsuit was sleeveless, making her look like she was wearing a vest, her muscular arms on display. After a final glance all around the courtyard below, to know where everything was, it was time.

Spinning around to leave the edge of the rooftop, Green almost jumped back and off the ledge when she was confronted by a woman. A very familiar woman. Qeritas, the Q who had given her so much and showed her even more. "Greetings, my Champion."

Green gave her a shitty look. "I am not in the mood, Qeritas. My time to end this shithole is limited so I don't have time for your games." She walked passed her goddess, her mind running through various options for assaulting the slave market.

Qeritas listened, even allowing the insolence since she knew how volatile her Champion could be. But, that never detered her own smarmy cynicism and sarcasm. "This is not a game, Rogue. I am teaching you things that will allow your precious Federation, and all the other governments in this galaxy, to remain intact."

That caught Green's attention so she spun around to face the Q. Curiously the rain was not falling on them. Qeritas was creating a space where no rain fell, and Green was now perfectly dry. "What do you mean? Is there some threat to our existance out this way?"

Giving a slow nod Qeritas went on. "All that the Federation is, surrounded by all the other governments, and you lot only encompass about a third of this galaxy, if that. If you only knew the threats out there, on the other side of your very own galaxy. You all fight petty wars, claiming it as good against evil. This galaxy isn't the only galaxy with humans in it, and other humanoid beings you can only dream of."

"Doesn't mean I can't stop the atrocities down there." Green chinned toward the ledge and the market below. "You chose me for whatever reason, gave me a weapon no one else has, and yet you are now trying to stop me from doing what you have asked of me."

"Atrocities," said Q, in a somewhat distant voice as her eyes refocused and came back to Rogue. "Atrocities!? Really! Let me show you an atrocity." She stepped in in the blink of an eye and placed her right palm on Ro's forehead forcing images, sights, sounds and emotions into Green's mind. For several seconds she let it roll into Rogue's mind before pulling her hand back.

As soon as Qeritas removed her hand from Ro's head the woman collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily and tears welled up and rolled from her eyes at the amount of intense feelings she had just felt. She had watched in her mind as a space station the size of a moon fired a laser and obliterated a planet. At the moment of impact Rogue had felt all the terror from the beings down below on the planet. Millions of lives suddenly snuffed out and she had felt that loss intensely. "Why..." She sucked in breaths and got her want to sob under control. "Why would you show me that?"

"You needed to see true evil. On a scale never before seen in this galaxy." Qeritas reached a hand down and helped Ro to her feet. "That is a fight that constantly rages in another galaxy, where they can travel at light speed from one end of their galaxy to another in a matter of hours. But, what you saw was something that had happened long before Earth was even habitable. However, A lesson is to be taught here. You must learn to unlearn."

Green got herself back under control, feeling better. "So, what now?"

Qeritas gave a knowing smile. "Well, I am going to split you in half. One of you there, one of you here. There is a philosophy I wish you to learn and being who you are, with your control of what you call The Core, you should attract attention to yourself rather quickly. And, no, you won't overlap. But, you will remember all from both places and...this." Again the hand went to Rogue's head, filling her mind with knowledge and making it stick. It gave Green a migraine, but when Q removed her hand Ro didn't really feel any different.

"Did it work," asked Green. "I'm not feeling anything except a headache."

"It will take some time to soak in," explained Qeritas. "Don't fret. You now know thousands of new languages and locations in a far off galaxy. Cool, huh?"

"If you say so." Green walked over and looked down into the courtyard. "What about this place? Just let them continue?"

"For now, yes." Qeritas stepped in next to her Champion, who was also becoming a friend. "Once you learn what you need to then you can return here with the right frame of mind and end this unfortunate place."

Green looked over. "You could end it right now with a snap of your fingers."

"Yep, I could." Qeritas walked away from the ledge, acknowledging that she COULD do something about it, but was choosing not to. "What would you learn if I did everything for you?"

Cosmo, Green's little hand crafted droid, rolled from the stairwell and onto the roof, his droidspeak of hoots, whistles and beeps coming out as he rolled up to Green and looked up at her. "Thanks for setting it up, Cosmo, but we won't be taking them down today." The droid spoke back to her, and the tone was askance. "No, we have other concerns right now. The bad people will have to wait." That's when it dawned on Green. "I want Cosmo with me in this transition thing you have going on. Both worlds. Deal?"

Qeritas shrugged. "Deal. In the other galaxy he is known as a BB unit. He'll fit right in." Q squatted and laid a hand on Cosmo's round little body, inputting information to the droid the way she had with Green. She stood up. "There, he now knows what you know about the other place. He can blend in with you, easily."

"I'll say thank you even though I have no clue if all this is even real."

"Trust your feelings, Champion. All will become clear in time. This galaxy will need protectors for future generations, when the Federation and the rest have passed into the mists of time. You are the spark that will ignite that flame." Having said her piece on that front Qeritas changed topics. "Now, to get you and your things to your ship."

Instantly they were standing in quarters aboard Amandora. By the looks of this chamber it was the quarters for a department head, or a VIP suite. "Thanks for the lift," tossed out Green, grinning.

"Don't mention it," responded Qeritas. "These are your quarters. Commander Kahn has seen to your placement and your quarters, even though you haven't officially reported in yet." Cosmo rolled around from room to room, burbling happily as he explored. "Yes, Cosmo," giggled Green. "I like our home too."

"I'll leave you to it." Qeritas vanished.

The door to her quarters opened up and in walked two men in gold, carrying phasers set to stun. "Hold it right there, Miss. Your arrival aboard was not announced and we must detain you until we get clarifica..."

"Ease up, boys," came Liza's voice from the corridor as she slid between the two men and came into Ro's quarters. "She's a Starfleet officer, fellas. I'll take care of it. Return to your patrol, please." The men acknowledged the Acting Captain and departed. As soon as the door closed Liza came in fast and wrapped Green in a warm, friendly hug.

Green returned the hug with just as much warmth. They parted enough to face each other. "So good to be around you again, Kahn. And, who is the new host?"

"Kelliza," answered Kahn/Kelliza. "I go by Liza. What the hell happened to you? You were serving under Cyndi one day, then the next you up and disappeared. After a few years I gave you up for dead."

"Wish I could discuss it, Liza. But, I can't. There is a shake-up going on out there that could tip the balance of power." Not wanting to keep that line of inquiry going Green had a question of her own? "So, where am I being assigned...Sir?" She gave a grin.

Liza smiled back. "You are the new Strat Ops chief. And, I added you into the engineering manifest for when we may need more hands. But, your first duty is to Strat Ops." She pulled her palm PADD out and tapped away for about a minute. Kahn tucked it away. "There, you are currently listed as on board and active, lieutenant commander, with all rights and privileges thereof."

"Thanks, Liza." Ro gave her another hug. "I'll see you later. I need to shower and change and then walk the ship." A thought came to mind. "Is Nira part of the crew?"

"She is."

"Can I have her assigned to Strat Ops?"

"Sure, she can handle both, I think." Again, the PADD came out and tapping was done.

"Handle both," asked Ro.

"She's the criminal investigator for Security. My doing. She wanted to fit in, she's a warrior, so it made sense." Kahn gave her a wink and a smile. "Plus, she will relish being around you again. Her weirdo magick shit makes people uncomfortable, so she remains alone and aloof most days."

Green chuckled. "We can't be having that now. A bored Puazi is a Puazi destined for trouble. And, she excels at that when her curiosity is piqued."

Liza laughed in response. "True. But, with a bit of responsibility she tends to think things through before acting. Anyway, I have more reports to make so I will see you later. Dinner?"

"Count me in," replied Green. "I'll call you when dinner is upon us."

Liza gave Ro another hug, squeezing both her upper arms with joy, then spun and walked out.

Rogue watched her go, happy to finally be around a 'family' again. Nothing more to be done for it Green headed for her bathroom, shedding her clothing as she went.

OFF: