Well This Got Complicated

Posted on Sat Feb 19th, 2022 @ 11:08pm by Commander Alexis Agrax (*) & Commodore Ledeya ‘Ed’ Ehestri (*) & Commander Christopher Mitchell & Commander Jherynn Lan Psy.D.

Mission: Cosmos
Location: USS Cosmos
Timeline: 2397
2397 words - 4.8 OF Standard Post Measure

Ledeya looked at the console where the letter from Lake was where he was explaining his reasons for going back to a base and that he was sorry for doing it to her. It hurt but Ledeya felt disassociated from it all thanks to her medication. It could not hurt properly when you were not experiencing emotions like everyone else.

Ledeya had decided to return to her previous dose due to the events recently with the Q bothering her making her miss enough that it left her liable to lose control. She did not want to lose control when she needed her wits around her more than ever. Her ship did not need a Captain who was liable to move stuff around on a whim. It was not appropriate at all. She looked up as the chime echoed through her quarters letting her know that someone was there. “Enter.” She called standing up to put on her uniform jacket.

Christopher strolled into the Commodore's quarters with his uniform a little unbuttoned at the collar, feeling a strange swagger about himself as he approached her desk.

"Good Morning, Commodore. Sorry to have kept you waiting, I was detained by the doctors and fussy officers. You'll be pleased to know I'm fighting fit and ready to get back to work," he grinned.

Ledeya looked up from swinging her jacket on too look at him and instantly saw the change in demeanor. It was easy to see on the man when he normally acted with restraint and control.

“I can see that you are. Have you actually been released so soon?” She mused stopping putting her jacket on to indicate the sofa. It was very unlike her medical team to have released someone instantly after they had been in a coma.

"Sure I have," he smiled. "Alexis tried her best to find an excuse for them to lock me down but even she caved in the end. Poor thing must have been up all night worrying about me." He flopped casually into the cushioned seat. "So, how are we doing with that pesky cube?"

Ledeya glanced at her PADD for a moment seeing the medical alert in sickbay but ignored it to focus on the man that was sitting on her couch. He was far too casual for her liking, she had known the man for over a year now and there was not one moment she had ever seen him act like... like... Alexis. "Yes, she was quite worried. Do I dare ask are you and her... in a relationship?" She questioned ignoring the cube question.

Christopher choked out a laugh. "Alexis Agrax? Are you kidding?" he let the laugh continue for several seconds. "What a thought. No, there's nothing there. I'm...not that way inclined," he admitted. "We're friends. I actually told her to go take a break."

Ledeya frowned a little. This was all very much out of character for the man and she really did not like the way that he said the woman's name or laughed. They had spoken about the security chief at much length and he had never once said anything in that tone. "I see." Ledeya slowly as she tried to think through her words and choices carefully. "You seem happier for some sleep?" She finally decided to sit across from him picking up her coffee cup so she had something in her hands.

"Credit to the medical team, I feel fantastic," he nodded with a grin. "Like a new man, so to speak. Full of life. Here's hoping they didn't just pump me full of caffeine and hoped for the best, right?" he tittered at his own joke. "You didn't tell me how the cube investigation was coming along. Are we learning anything new?"

Ledeya made a noise that was a cross between a hmm and no as she stared at the man. “We are learning nothing new but we have not been studying due to how it treated you and Dezom…. We…” Ledeya looked up as the door to her quarters opened and in walked Alexis with Lan in tow having used her security codes to get in to surprise them. “Agrax? Lan?”

“He… is not right.” Alexis said looking furious at the man who was meant to be her friend.

Jherynn followed behind Alexis, surveying the situation calmly with pitch-black eyes, indicative of heritage that Ledeya shared. His hands were folded in front of him and his gaze tracked, silently taking it all in before an opinion began to emerge from the depths of his mind that he felt qualified to offer. "Commodore," he spoke, his voice naturally sonorous and commanding.

The counselor was the kind of man who filled up a room even absent sound. "Commander Mitchell. Pleasure to officially meet you both. I'm here because I encountered Commander Agrax unconscious in the sickbay, in her undergarments. She's stated that she believes Commander Mitchell is responsible. Are you aware of these events?" his head tilted, his tone non-judgmental and lacking accusation.

"She was tired. I told her to take a nap." Christopher shrugged, nonplussed. He glanced between the trio. "As her senior officer I'm entitled to give an order, Doc. You should know that. I'm really not sure what the problem is."

“You forced me.” Alexis said in a low voice that made Ledeya move in front of the woman. She knew the tone and it would not be long under something physical happened. “You compelled me and changed my clothes.” Alexis explained trying to hold it al together as the Commodore put her hand on her shoulder to hold her there.

“Compelled? I do not understand Commander.” Ledeya wondered her gaze narrowing.

“He has some freaky Q abilities going on.” Alexis explained. “Why would I just be unconscious on the floor in a bikini.” Alexis said wanting someone to believe her.

"You are entitled to give orders, but go take a nap is a particularly frivolous command," Jherynn pointed out, curious. "I found Commander Agrax unconscious on the ground. She was not in a bed, nor was she napping. I must admit your lack of concern regarding this is peculiar, Commander."

"So you're telling me that Commander Agrax was asleep on the floor of sickbay in nothing but a bikini. And you're questioning my sanity?" Christopher chuckled with a shake of his head. He looked at the Commodore. "I'm starting to feel like there's some sort of conspiracy here."

"She maintains that you are responsible," Jherynn's eyebrows arch. "Commodore Ehestri," he addressed the vessel's commanding officer. Good thing this was literally the first time they had ever spoken. Jherynn could be a lot, but this situation was unfolding itself like a flower before him. "I'd like to consult the security department in this matter. I believe Commander Mitchell should be forensically interviewed. I am recommending that he be removed from duty. His comments are flippant and accusatory, borderline manipulative, and I do not feel comfortable clearing him for continued service aboard the Cosmos until a proper investigation of this incident has been conducted. This is a serious allegation and it deserves due attention."

Ledeya pinched h the bridge of her nose as she looked between her Executive Officer and Chief of security. “I agree Commander. I am sorry Christopher. I do not know what has happened between the pair of you but until it is straightened out I need both of you relieved of duty and confined to quarters.” She wanted them separated and secured. Alexis opened and closed her mouth before nodded.

“Yes sir.” She knew she was compromised and accepted that she would need to be investigated.

"Relieved? Oh come on, I'm fine. The medical team found nothing wrong with me the first time, now suddenly there's some sort of need for 'forensic interview'?" Christopher rose from the couch. "Honestly, you doctors just like treating people like babies..." His purple-hued eyes shone briefly as he spoke the last word. In an instant, the Chief Counselor's uniform vanished into purple mist, replaced with nothing but an adult-sized diaper. "Maybe you're the one that should be treated like one instead."

There was not much in the way of a dignified response to suddenly standing before your commanding officers in diapers. If he were someone who didn't have a traumatic brain injury, it might have been easier to control the seething rage that spilled down from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. But let's be honest, even if he didn't contend with a frontal lobe deficit, reacting calmly would be hard-won. Sparks set off inside his chest. He resolutely refused to lose his composure in front of them.

It was a burning humiliation, reminiscent of oil fields on fire and marched, terrified lines and orders unable to be refused. Domination, control, fear. In the position of quite rapidly no longer rendering assessment but now, at the mercy of this shadow's whims himself. Drawn-in. He made himself close his eyes and essentially just didn't respond to him, completely ignoring Mitchell's statements. When they opened again, it was with a gesture of hands, directed to Ehestri.

"I believe-" his voice shook with the effort to maintain decorum and he cleared his throat. This time it came out measured, for which he took no small amount of pride. It was a precarious situation. He had been in worse. This was not the beginning and it would not be the end. His chin lifted, teeth pressed to the back of his jaw to tic at his cheek for one moment before speaking. "This illustrates my recommendation very well."

Ledeya let out a small squeak of sound at the change of appearance and the fact the recommendation was needed very well. She looked at Christopher and frowned shaking her head at the complication. It was going to be a long day. She glanced around and saw something folded in the top of a box she held out a male robe to the counsellor. Alexis knew who it belonged to and it hurt her to know that the Commodore was having to deal with a breakdown of a relationship and having his stuff still around her quarters. “Far too well. Christopher do you understand what you just did?” She said in a low non threatening voice.

Christopher smirked at his apparent handiwork. "Come on, don't you find it the least bit funny?" he chuckled. "No? You're no fun." He rose from the seat with a little sigh. "Maybe we should play a game. Did you ever hear that one 'Simon Says'?" He snapped his fingers, the purple mist swirling around his fingertips rapidly. "Simon Says...laugh out loud!" The mist turned into tiny wisps that danced around the trio, who found themselves suddenly overcome with the need to laugh and giggle out loud.

The two Betazoid women suddenly found themselves suddenly finding everything funny. From the lighting, to how the purple mist surrounded them. And they could not stop despite wanting to. It was exhausting.

It was a testament to Mitchell's abilities that he was able to draw laughter from Jherynn in any manner, let alone the forced sounds that came out of his mouth which were less amused and more clenched and grimacing.

Unsatisfied, Christopher mused for a moment. "Hmm. Simon Says...catch me if you can!" He snapped his fingers again, this time enveloped by the mist for a second before it disappeared into nothingness, taking his body with it; apparently vanishing into thin air.

Ledeya gasped as the laughter finally left her body and looked around. “Computer location of Commander Christopher Mitchell?” She demanded.

“Commander Mitchell is not onboard.”

“So where is he and how do we deal with this?” Alexis wondered feeling sick as she sat on the nearest chair.

Drawing the robe closed, Jherynn folded his arms across his chest, gazing out of the window. "Having never encountered him prior, I can't determine with any accuracy how much his behavior has been influenced by this anomaly. Evidently, his abilities encompass a wide range of molecular manipulation. It may not be possible for us to forcibly stop him. That leaves diplomacy, which may not be effective, if he does not retain an empathetic awareness of his prior relationships."

Alexis leaned over a chair and just shook her head. Christopher was not the man she knew at all at the moment. He was not the person she was in love with despite never acting on it due to appreciating his friendship too much and that hurt that he had hurt her emotionally even if he was under the influence. "We do not have anything I can shoot him with that would work." Alexis said almost sadly betraying how she was feeling right then and there.

All three of them were Betazoid, drawn together by common bond, but the mood in the room didn't require psionics to be easily discerned. Nevertheless, Jherynn did what he could to bolster the both of them, a firmness in bearing. "Whatever happens, what will be most important is for us to stand together, and do our best to reach him. This is an entity that's taken him over, and that means he is a victim, too. We cannot forget that fact. Why don't I replicate us something to eat, get dressed in something-presentable," the counselor huffed a little, "and we can have a more in-depth discussion on the commander from there."

Ledeya nodded as Alexis shrugged moving to the window to just stare out of the window to process the last few hours. "Do it, Commander. I could do with some mint tea." She said in a loud voice before glancing at Alexis then back. "Give her a few moments but feel free to use the guest bedroom to sort yourself out, you can replicate the robe it is not needed by its owner anymore," Ledeya said with a sad smile.

"That is much appreciated, Commodore," Jherynn gave her a small smile, genuine as he glided toward the offered room and made the appropriate changes in clothes. He took the opportunity to sprinkle his face with a little water and when he emerged it was far more upright than he had previously.