Sensory Matters [Backpost]

Posted on 17 Nov 2016 @ 4:38am by Lieutenant Jarith Roshe & Commodore Harvey Geisler

1,144 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Click Three Times
Location: Captain's Quarters
Timeline: MD 8 || 1530 hours

With his business with Warrant Officer Tanika concluded, Harvey tapped his badge as he walked back to his desk. "Geisler to Lieutenant Roshe. Please report to my quarters."

Jarith Roshe was glancing over some reports when the Captain contacted him. Tapping his Commbadge, he replied, "Acknowledged." Rising out of his seat, he crossed the small office that served as his own and hurried to Geisler's quarters.

When he arrived, he could sense a little trepidation on the Captain's part. He wasn't precisely sure why, but he did not concentrate on the matter. He pressed the door chime and waited.

"Come in," said the Captain. He was seated at his desk and faced the door. His trepidation merely came from the location of his desk being right next to the door itself. Oh, how much he missed his Ready Room.

The door slid open revealing the Captain seated behind a desk that did not seem to belong and an immaculate living space. Without further ado, Jarith seated himself in the chair in front of the Captain.

"Sir," said he, "it's good to meet you officially. I am, of course, Lieutenant Roshe." How could it not be obvious? He was Betazoid after all and the Captain was expecting a Betazoid Officer in a blue uniform. Sometimes....Jarith chided himself.

The Captain gestured for the man to have a seat before him. "Yes, I know we didn't get the chance to meet before departure," Harvey replied, foregoing the opportunity to introduce himself. "Our departure from Starbase Unity was done so in haste."

Jarith nodded. "We did leave in haste, Sir," he agreed. "I did meet a few members of the crew and made some friends along the way though." His mind immediately went to Jarveth Adan, but Jarith held back the tears as it would be inappropriate to cry in front of the Captain.

"My private life isn't the reason you called me to your quarters, however. How can I be of service to you, Captain Giesler?"

"You've probably heard that I'm assembling an away team to head for a space station called Razmena. It looks to be a dangerous place, but it could also be our only hope of figuring out this timeline and also how to rescue the Cochrane," the Captain explained. "I called you here to break the news to you that I won't be putting you on this team."

Jarith felt disappointed, but did not let it show. He inquired, "May I ask why, Sir?"

"Simple," Harvey replied, leaning forward in his chair. "The Black Hawk is being diverted to a nebula to undergo a computer wipe. She'll be defenseless for several hours. I'll need your Betazoid talents in Auxiliary Control with Lieutenant Di Pasquale. I'm counting on your Betazoid talents to detect danger before its too late."

Roshe offered the Captain a warm smile. "A prudent precaution," he said. "I can see where that would be advantageous. I shall keep the crew's needs uppermost in my mind."

Musing for a moment, Jarith inquired, "Do you think we'll ever make it back home? I mean, we might have to face the inevitable that we are trapped here and here is where we will have to stay. Preparing the crew for such an inevitability will be a daunting task."

"You can bet on it," Harvey told the man. Just as he had many times throughout the last couple of days, his resolve thickened, silently vowing to do whatever it took to get them all home.

Jarith could sense the Catain's resolve. "I believe, from what Adan told me, Janeway felt the same way and she did it. I am not a betting man, but I believe you will too and it won't take seven years to accomplish it. You need to know, Sir, that the crew has all the confidence in you as well."

"That's reassuring," Harvey replied to the counselor. "We've come too far in our plight with the Consortium to be derailed by some alternate universe."

Jarith nodded in the affirmative. Said he, "I agree with you, Sir. I feel that most of the crew do as well. Most of them believe by showing up here in this universe, we have skipped out on the fight with the Consortium."

"It's not like we had a choice in the matter," Harvey countered. "It's not every day you blow up a Romulan warbird and get sucked into a dimensonal rift. We'll get back soon enough. Until then, I'm needing you to keep an eye on the ship for me. She'll have no sensors soon, and your mind will work better than anything we'll have. Thankfully, it's just for a few hours. Can you handle that?"

Jarith nodded with confidence. "Of course, Sir," he acknowledged. "My telepathic abilities should keep us apprised of the advancement of the enemy and I might be able to warn the fighter pilots as well."

"One step at a time, Counselor," Harvey cautioned, unsure that a Betazoid's ability was that powerful. "As long as you keep an eye on the ship, that's what matters most."

"Of course, Sir," said Jarith, deciding to confide in his Captain. "I suppose I am trying to convince myself that I can ensure the safety of all concerned. That's really not possible. I'm the one who found Lieutenant Adan dying and I watched him die on a biobed. He was imzadi and I feel somewhat responsible. I have already sought counseling with Lieutenant Stewart."

Harvey examined the expression on Jarith's face. Though he now shared the cabin with Joey, he'd yet to remove one item from his desk. He leaned forward and turned the photo of Alison around so that the Betazoid could see it. "I blamed myself for a long time for my wife's death. What if I'd been with her? What if I'd done this or that? The fact of the matter is, it wouldn't have mattered, nor would it have been my fault. What has happened the last few days are not of our own fault. There are dangers every day when we choose to wear this uniform. Adan knew that."

"Yes, Sir," agreed Roshe, "he did. Still, it is Human nature, even Betazoid, to question the circumstances one finds oneself in. I think, if we make it through this mission, I will start the healing process. I have already found those who share my grief."

"Not if," reminded Harvey. "It's 'when', Lieutenant."

Jarith agreed with the Captain, "It is when, Sir. I want this nightmare over as much as anybody."

The Captain nodded. "I couldn't agree more. Unless you have something else, I think I should let you have the rest of your day."

"Thank you, Captain," said Jarith Roshe as he stood up. Without further ado, he left the man who was in charge. Today, he did not envy him.

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