Seeking Answers

Posted on 14 Jul 2021 @ 9:56pm by Lieutenant Commander Joey Geisler & Conrad Hawkingsson

2,895 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Extinction
Location: Medical
Timeline: Mission Day 19 at 1400

Joey made her way into sickbay and took a quick look around before approaching someone regarding the whereabouts of Mister Hawkingsson. It didn't take long before she was given his location and was making her way to his room. She wasn't sure how this impromptu meeting was going to go, but hoped it would go smoothly.

The man's condition was unknown to her, and a part of her felt bad for having to do this, but it was necessary. She raised an arm to tap the chime that would let the man on the other side know he had a visitor, then stepped forward to activate the sensor that opened the door. Once it parted, Joey made her way inside. "Mister Hawingsson?"

Conrad was sitting up in the bed, bored out of his skull. So he did the only thing he could do, he detached his right arm, it was still connected to Conrad through a cord that slightly thinner than the bone of the arm, this was so that he could remove it and still operate it as normal, working alone on the arm with one hand was a pain, but this way he could still use the detached arm in a limited fashion. He had a small set of tools that were tucked close to the bone medium that he pulled out from the top of the arm now that it was detached. He opened a tiny hatch at the base of his wrist to expose the unlock mechanism for the entire inner lower arm section. Carefully he inserted the special tool and with a gentle click, he was able to remove the entire inner lower arm section, exposing nanotube muscle fibers, small delicate tubes snaked through the arm like blood vessels that were used to regulate temperature and lubricate the mechanical parts. Conrad wiggled his fingers and saw the piston-like bones move smoothly, he noticed that his index finger was a little shaky when it moved, so he started to check the dedicated parts.

He only half-heard someone call to him, he was very much starting to enjoy himself and the quiet. "Yes..." he waved his left hand in a general greeting.

"I'm Lieutenant Commander Joelle Geisler," she stated as she moved farther into the room so the door would close behind her. Her eyes went to his arm, but she didn't stare. Injuries happened, and she'd definitely had more than her fair share of those during her career. "I was hoping you had a little time to talk to me."

"So talk." Conrad said, still working on his arm.

Joey tried to keep in mind that Conrad was injured, and that likely played a role in his being rude. That being said, she would only tolerate so much of it before finally addressing the situation. "I'm the Black Hawk's Chief of Intelligence," she began, pausing only briefly. "I was approached by our Chief of Security involving something that seems to belong to you. A personal pocket computer. It was removed from your shuttle. What can you tell me about it?"

He stopped what he was doing and looked at the woman. "Only that it's my private property and I want it back intact. If I learn you have damaged it in any way..."

She had to remind herself he was a civilian, but the threat that was implied didn't go unnoticed. "I assure you it is undamaged," she stated. Becoming a mother had done wonders for her tolerance, but the injured man was pushing it. "I have shown you nothing but respect since I stepped through that door, Mister Hawkingsson, and I would appreciate the same courtesy from you. However, if you wish to continue down your current path, I'll meet you halfway and do the same. I can assure you I'm much better at it." Joey clasped her hands behind her back. "Now... shall we start over?"

"Naturally, but I have my rights. You asking me about my property indicates that you are messing with it. Otherwise you would have it here. So tell me what exactly you want to know and I hope you haven't messed with my data."

That was the last straw. "You are making assumptions, Mister Hawkingsson," Joey said, feeling her resolve start to slip. "Your property, privacy and data are safe. No one has invaded any of that short of asking it if any known medical conditions might have contributed to how you were found." The arrogance the injured man was giving off... "I'm here because the ship and crew's safety are top priority, and an unknown artificial intelligence has been brought aboard. You are being given the opportunity to explain things yourself so more invasive means don't need to be used. If you continue down your current path, I won't have a choice but to take your hostility as a refusal to meet me halfway and carry out another course of action."

"Artifisial Intelligence?" He was well aware of T.A.M.I.'s lockdown procedure and what they would have access to was her Virtual Intelligence self, "What AI are you speaking about? And I am sure you have access to the medical data, that much should be accessible." this was going nowhere and he knew that clamping down completely might have worked in normal circumstances. But they had something truly precious to him and what information she was telling him told him that they had tried to crack Tami or were trying to. Of course, all living creatures were different and he could simply be painting his own Bias opinions on them. "That device you found is my personal computer, stores notes and schematics of my work. Highly sensitive stuff..."

Joey was getting nowhere fast, but there was a lot to unpack. "Artificial intelligence... the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages," she said, hoping the breakdown would help. As a civilian, he wasn't privy to certain information regarding past occurrences unless someone else filled him in. She, however, was not going to inform him of HASA.

"Your medical records were inaccessible at the time, and your personal computer complied to the request easily enough," she told him. "That being said, it's the highly sensitive material that has cause for concern. How does anyone on this ship know that what's on it is safe, and won't put the hundreds of lives living aboard this ship in jeopardy? You haven't given me any reason to trust you and take you at your word."

"Yes indeed. But trust goes both ways. I will ask you this." he closed the arm and put the tools back before resetting it at his shoulder. "What would you do if someone tried to kill you, stole your work, then erased all the work from your computer that you have worked with for years? Would you be willing to let anyone see your work again?"

"Someone did kill me, Mister Hawkingsson. Someone who wore the same uniform I did. Someone who served the same as me, but was brainwashed and made to believe me and countless others were working on the wrong side of the Federation," she replied. "It was the quick thinking of my team, and amazing know how of the medical staff that I'm able to stand here today. If you want to talk about betrayal, me and most of the Black Hawk crew know about it first hand."

Conrad, took a long moment looking her over properly, she wasn't that bad looking, not that he was looking for anyone. But he could appreciate the beauty of a woman, he refused to stare or look at her as an object like many men did in his experience. He wondered how she was so collected if they had experienced betrail, hell she even died. She must have had excellent support, compared to him. He had his parents, but after the incident, he moved away. Mostly because he didn't want to involve them. "If you know first hand, then you must also understand the concept of 'dangerous information in dangerous or wrong hands'." he held up his left hand, to stop any interruptions. "Meaning that my research can be manipulated to kill one or more people. You say one of you where brainwashed, what is stoping others to be the same? Use the data to make something truly horrific? But I can assure you, I have no wish to harm anyone." he turned to look at nothing. "I want to make lives better." Conrad smiled gently at his dream.

Joey listened as he spoke without interruption. She tried really hard to block out and not think about the happenings of the past, but in situations such as this, when she was trying to relate to someone it was impossible. "I definitely understand the concept, Mister Hawkingsson," she said. "I also understand the need for safety. If you want me to take you at your word that you have no wish to harm anyone, then you have to take me at mine that I have no desire to steal your research or use it in any manner." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm a mother to two small children, Mister Hawkingsson. Twins... a little boy and a little girl that isn't even a year old yet. They mean the world to me, and I need to see to it that they're safe as well."

He looked down at his palms, a gentle smile came to his lips. In his mind, a pregnant woman was truly beautiful. The miracle of life, the endless possibilities for the life growing inside the woman. his eyes softened at his desire that one day, become a parent. A desire that he had not felt in a long long time. But his eyes changed again to immense sadness, the memory of how the woman who he had wanted to form a family was the main suspect of what had happened to him. Officially she had been killed in the explosion, but he didn't believe that. There had been too many signs that told him she was the one who set it off, or at least where part of it. "Indeed. I can't give you access to the data, but I can give you partial access. I suppose if you want to listen to my day-to-day workings, that would be ok. Does that work for you?"

Joey nodded her head. "And maybe, once you're feeling better and out of here, you can personally show me the rest? That way you can see for yourself that I'm not out to steal your data, but can also make certain that the ship, and everyone in it, are safe."

"I can't show you everything, but maybe, just maybe you will get to experience the fruits of my labor." he was sure she didn't want to hear that, but that is what he felt and he didn't feel like lying.

"I just need to see enough to know everyone is safe," she stated, but now he had her a little curious. "But, what do you mean by experience the fruits of your labor?"

"Nice try. You will know soon enough. But as I said, you will get to access to my general notes. Nothing deeper. Does that work?"

It wasn't everything she wanted, but it did show a level of trust. "Will it give me insight into what I need to know?" Joey asked in return. That being if they were all safe.

"Well, I could tell you yes. But then you would have to take my word for it, so I would have to say, go through it and judge for yourself." Conrad picked up the PADD he had been given. "Could you get me my notebook? Your security chief kind of said no, but I am bored here."

"Did she say why?" She asked with an arch of her brow. Why wouldn't Camila return his notebook to him? He was injured and stuck in sickbay for the time being. Joey mentally shook her head. The Security Chief was less.trusting than she was. "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, would you settle for a PADD with some games and other forms of entertainment on it?"

"No, this one is fine. I can do mathematical theories in code on it while I wait for my notebook to return. It's kind of relaxing, but a PADD isn't exactly secure storage."

"I'll speak to Commander di Pasquale once I leave here and see if I can't get your notebook back for you," she said. "I can't make any promises, though. She is extremely strong willed. If I'm able to get it, would you be okay with me sending someone to bring it to you, or would you prefer I bring it personally?" They weren't exactly completely trusting of one another, but they were making some headway.

"You can bring it if you want, I highly doubt you can crack the code anyway. Besides, there isn't something major in it, just scribbles of thoughts and ideas." he shrugged and started to type on the PADD with lightning speed, in the past he had used a PADD for note taking and it was more or less muscle memory now. "You be safe. Thank you for trying."

"You're welcome," she said with a warm smile. "What do I need to access your notes?"

"Me doing it. It will know if it's not me."

"When will you be released? Has the doctor given you any timeline?" Joey asked.

"Nope, soon I hope. It's rather boring here and I would love to return to my research."

She could understand that. "I've spent more than my fair share in here. Thankfully, the last time was almost a year ago when I was having my children," she told him. "Since we're unsure when you're going to be released, we'll hold off on the notes for the time being. With your cooperation, you have my word that no one will touch your personal computer, and it will remain in my possession."

Conrad stopped typing on the PADD and looked at her again, he couldn't see any signs of lies. "Sounds fair, you should go and give your kids a kiss or two... Talking about dark memories should have affected you, it would me. An hour or two longer here won't matter to me."

"I'll be doing that soon enough," Joey assured him. The truth was... her shift wasn't over, and it seemed to be growing longer as the seconds ticked by. Still, it was what she'd signed up for when she joined the Academy. "As for the memories, I cope with them the best way I can. Mostly by blocking them out, but there are times when that's not possible. I'm sorry your past was a rough one, Mister Hawkingsson, and I hope that one day you'll be able to find a way to be at peace."

He nodded, her words held wisdom. "May I give a friendly advice?"

Maybe curiosity was getting the better of her, but she found herself wanting to know what his advice was. "Go ahead."

He turned his attention back to the PADD and started to work on it again. "I advice you speak to someone about the memories, bottling them up is like forcing the lid on a pan with water to stay on when there is a fire under the pot. It may seam fine at first, but sooner or later, something will give and that could cause quite a bit of destruction. I know from experience."

"I've spoken a bit about it with my counselor, but that doesn't make it go away, just a little easier to cope. If I feel things are getting too bad, I'll either speak to her or my husband," Joey said in an attempt to assure him. She was okay, however, there were others that weren't so lucky. "I think that perhaps you should do the same. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Thank you, but I got past it years ago. My pot exploded and it was... Not very pleasant." he sighed, it had been a hard few months after, even going so far as nearly killing himself in his depression.

Joey nodded her head. He seemed like he could be a little self-destructive. Perhaps, she'd check in on him regularly to make sure there wouldn't be any kind of downward spirals. Did she believe him when he said he'd gotten past it? No. Did she think he needed to speak to someone? Yes. "All I can do is take your word for that, but I still think you should. Though, we all have our ways of coping with things."

"Indeed, thank you for coming by Commander." Conrad said and focused fully on the PADD, muttering lightly as he did some general calculations.

"Hopefully, you'll have your notebook soon. It was a pleasure, Mister Hawkingsson. Make sure you rest and follow your Doctor's orders. It will get you out of here sooner," she said, offering him another smile. With that, Joey big him goodbye and made herself out of his room. It was time to talk to Camila again.

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