Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Skeletons in the Family Closet (Tag Juliet)

Posted by Ensign Juliet Anders (Security Officer /RTF) in Skeletons in the Family Closet (Tag Juliet)

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Skeletons in the Family Closet (Tag Juliet)
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
A few days later, Casela received the encrypted response. Once she had a free moment, office locked up tight again, she accepted the message, entered the encryption key and began to read.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

The file was a cobbled together mess of notes that seemed to be taken from several places. Public records, adoption files, Fleet reports and even personal logs.

From the Fleet records of the initial response to Betazed during the Dominion war… “Several evacuees taken to Earth about the transports.” The next was an excerpt from the USS Comfort. “Betazed female, approximately eleven years old. Black eyes despite being half human according to chromosomal testing. Family bloodline not in records.”

The Chief Medical Officer’s personal voice log. “Her name is Juliet. It’s all we can get from her right now. She was standing over her dead parents when Marines found her. She apparently was stunned after shooting at them. Crack shot, I hear.” A small trickle of laughter is heard. “She had to be stunned. One of Marines was killed. We haven’t told her. Both the Counselor and I think it best for her recovery. She’s withdrawn and not even the Camilla, the counselor and a Betazed herself, can reach the girl. She thinks something more than shock is keeping her from Juliet’s mind. She did it feels like the young child is screaming for someone or something. It’s blocking anything and everyone trying to get into her mind. She’s sleeping and staying in medical right now. Seems she refuses to leave and the hysterics when we remove her are violent enough to let her remain. Perhaps I’ll see if she likes medicine.” The voice recording cuts off.

Two more written entries speak of her eventually calming down enough to reside with the Counselor till they reach Earth. But Camilla never manages to reach her telepathically during the trip. There are a couple more entries of nightmares plaguing Juliet. Camilla writes that it’s probably from no one answering her mental cries.

A note is attached to the file that more will come. By short bursts every 6 hours is safer than a large file all at once. “Never know what words or phrases will tip them off.”

END OF TRANSMISSION

Casela read the report, she didn’t need to read it a second or a third time. She knew T’Jal would send her more when the timing was right. Casela sat back in her chair and closed her eyes.

She’d been traveling all night, just behind the Jem’hadar patrol, staying out of sight and down wind. She couldn’t get around them, she had no choice but to wait the patrol out. It was dark, the temp dropping to the coldest it would go in the night, the darkest hours just before dawn, when the previous day’s heat from the sun was leeched from the planet surface. LALA! The cry had torn at her. She knew her Uncle and Aunt were moving them. She picked that much up from the desperate cry for help for comfort. And then silence as her aunt and uncle quieted her cousin and sheilded her thoughts and their own. Casela had almost been caught then. She wasn’t the icy agent back then that she was now. Juliet needed her and she’d moved, ready to run blindly towards her cousin’s home, and at the last minute had dropped to the ground before the sentry from the patrol spotted her.

She had made it to her Uncle’s home the next day, but there was no evidence of where they had gone. Only Jem’hadar and Betazoid tracks in the dirt. Casela wasn’t the tracker her father was, not yet, and she couldn’t tell which tracks belonged to who and where they went. She only knew that the patrol had split up. She followed both for a little ways, one disappeared, probably a transporter. The other kept going. She would have followed it to her detriment if her father had not arrived and taken her back.

The news came of the plans to over throw the Dominion. Casela had remained awake when others had slipped into unconsciousness. Her mother had been in a coma for several weeks, but her father had woken the same day they heard it. The desperate terrified cry of Juliet. The anguish and despair, the grief and inability to accept what had happened. She tried, her mother tried, her father tried, to reach her. But they were unable to make her hear them, the chaos had consumed her. Her father had sent out telepathic pleas for anyone to find her, but by the time the news had come, Juliet was gone, and no one was sure where to, and there was the funeral for her Uncle and Aunt.

Casela opened her eyes and stared at nothing in front of her. She blinked several times, tears would not help Juliet now or then, and they certainly would not bring Aunt Olivia and Uncle Jo’nar back. ‘I am so sorry, Sorellina,’ she thought. She hadn’t been strong enough, skilled enough, fast enough to save her, to find her and bring her home. And then intervening years, she hadn’t managed it either.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

She’d had enough. The woman was Cas, she figured that. But was she the Cas that Juliet had known. So many things were easy to fake. From looks, to memories. Even the nickname Lala could have easily been coerced or found out. Surely as a child, even Juliet herself had cried out the nickname on more than occasion when roused from a nightmare. “Who’s Lala?” someone surely asked. In terror wills she have so easily explained? Trying in vain to get someone to understand who to find for her?

Juliet was staring at the console terminal in her quarters. She was clad in comforting loose fitting pajamas pants and a thin strapped tank top, her fresh from the shower wet hair wrapped in a towel. Pulling her right leg up, she set her heel on the edge of the seat. She took one more sip of her tea,set the mug down and started tapping. “Let’s see who you really are…” she murmured and inquired to Fleet records for anything concerning Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er.

Juliet
(Family member or target?)

A basic search of Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er would show not much. The rank of Lieutenant was not associated with anyone by that name. =^= No one by that name and rank can be found in Federation Archives. Closest possible match is an Ensign Casela Synthi-er. Do you wish those records?=^= With an affirmative answer the computer would display the following:

Public record search
Name: Casela Synthi-er
Mother: Kalanya Synthi-er
Father: Ian (Arur) Synthi-er
Born 2362
Birth place: Betazed
Died: 2384

Accessing the Star Fleet service record archives would provide the following information:

Alpha Clearance-Basic Level allowed to all Star Fleet Personnel
Name: Casela Synthi-er
Mother: Kalanya Synthi-er
Father: Ian (Arur) Synthi-er
Born 2362
Birth place: Betazed
Fought in resistance against Dominion Occupation on Betazed.
Attended Star Fleet Academy School of Medicine
Majored in Counseling and Diplomacy
Graduated 2383
Rank: Ensign
Died: 2384
Cause of Death: Due to pilot error, the shuttle crashed and exploded. All passengers died on impact.

With Juliet’s background in spec ops and clearance levels associated with that she would be able to access the following information if she so choose: (This information is only available to those with high security clearance for special task forces or command officers):

Beta Clearance
Name: Casela Synthi-er
Mother: Kalanya Synthi-er
Father: Ian (Arur) Synthi-er
Born 2362
Birth place: Betazed
Attended Star Fleet Academy School of Medicine
Majored in Counseling, Diplomacy, interrogation techniques, and combat psychology
Graduated 2383 one year early

RedactedDied: 2384
Cause of Death: Due to pilot error, the shuttle crashed and exploded. All passengers died on impact.End Redaction

2383-2384 specialized training
2385-2392 Unspecified postings
2392-2396 USS Triton
2396-Present USS Leviathan
Lt Synthi-er, CNS

Juliet growled. “I knew it! Cas is dead.” The words fell from her lips with enough acid in the bite she would have dissolved her own tongue heads she been a viper. “Now we see why you’re here and why you’re impersonating a dead woman!” Her heel slid to the floor and the chair scooted closer to the console. For thre next several hours she chased link at link, story after story, file after file. When she hit a dead end moving forward, she decided to move backwards. She started with Cas on the Leviathan and looked backwards to see where this woman had been prior to this stationing. It took a few hours, but soon she had hacked into a file she probably shouldn’t have, and was looking for where this woman had come from and how she got Lieutenant when Ensign was highest on record.

Juliet
(Stubborn)

Delta Clearance

Name: Casela Synthi-er
Mother: Kalanya Synthi-er
Father: Ian (Arur) Synthi-er
Additional information on her extended family was included at this level. Juliet, her mother and father would all be listed.
Born 2362
Birth place: Betazed
Fought in resistance against Dominion Occupation on Betazed.
Attended Star Fleet Academy School of Medicine
Majored in Counseling, Diplomacy, interrogation techniques, and combat psychology
Graduated 2383 one year early
2383-2384 specialized training

Redacted Died: 2384
Cause of Death: Due to pilot error, the shuttle crashed and exploded. All passengers died on impact. Parents were not informed of error in order to protect them and Synthi-er from consequences due to compromised identity. End Redaction
2384-2385 No listings
2385-2392 Unspecified postings for Star Fleet Intelligence
2392-2396 USS Triton
2396-Present USS Leviathan

The file that Juliet found and hacked would appear, but would set off silent digital alarms. Decks away Casela’s terminal would beep once. As she turned to look at it one brow would raise, giving her a very Vulcanish look. “Well well well, you don’t trust me either, Juliet. Apparently we are still very much alike.” Casela waited for the next report to come in and then she would go confront Juliet.
Lt Synthi-er, CNS (Do I have to kill my Sorellina?)

Less than six hours later the chime on Cas’ console chimed that a new file had arrived.

This time it was school records and adoption records that came thru. Juliet had been a troubled child. Often in trouble in school, her grades suffered and she was held back her final year of middle school before heading to higher learning. A note from the orphanage psychiatrist was included.

“Juliet’s adoption didn’t go thru again, today. Her dark eyes and cold temper once more set the couple’s teeth on edge. That’s seven couples in four years. It’s almost like the child doesn’t want* to be adopted. At 15 it’s my guess she’ll remain here till she’s 18. The Head Master and I agree that she will no longer be up for adoption. We’ll start moving her around various jobs in the orphanage to see where her skills lead us.

On a personal note, I fear for Juliet. If she can’t find her feet, I fear she’ll be lost in the dark forever.”

The were also notes telling of her interest in the Fleet officers who visited the upper school. Juliet expressed interest in security. Would also show her acceptance into the academy with higher scores than she’d shown aptitude for in school.

But once in the academy, the stress of security training left her in trouble enough times to initiate academic probation. She changed to science and graduated. Her top spot taken from her for disciplinary reasons.

It goes on to say she filled in for security enough on her first ship that she was being reconsidered for the duties. Psych files showed PTSD signs that the Counselor at both the Academy and her first so thought she was learning to hide. Only the cameras in the cadets’ rooms and classrooms showed the telltale signs with chronic nightmares, manic study shifts, and short temper outbursts. All of which she managed to suppress and hide when it came to evaluations. Constant recommended counseling sessions were intended to try and catch it officially so she could be officially diagnosed and treated.

“There’s one more file. But I warn you, she’s been in trouble as well as dragged thru hell. Brace yourself. I’ll send it in the morning.” The final message voiced with warning and regret at the fact Cas would have to endure it.

END OF TRANSMISSION

Casela’s heart ached as she read, but what was done was done and she couldn’t do anything about it. Juliet had done well for herself, she’d found a place it seemed on her first posting. But how had the orphanage missed their requests for information. They, her parents and herself, had reached out to every orphanage they could find looking for her. How had they not gotten the information and brought her home? She put that out of her mind and decided it was time to confront Juliet. Settle this before it damaged the ship and crew. She erased the records of the files and shut down her console and then un-securing her office she left and headed up to Juliet’s quarters and stood outside the door for several long minutes.

In her own quarters, Juliet paced. Her battle knife, oddly an ever present companion, spun between her fingers and danced from one hand to the other as she paced the confines of her room. “She’s dead, then she not dead. Then she’s not dead but time is missing. Why did they bring you back? Who were you to go after? Me? Wa this all a set up to find me?” She threw the knife at the wall target where it stuck in just millimeters from the center. Stalking over to yank it out, she tossed the towel at the couch letting her damp tresses tumble around her shoulders. She shivered at the cold wetness on her skin as she resumed her pacing, the knife once more twining in her fingers.

“No, that makes no sense. I wasn’t on the radar then. Was still a science misfit. Still a trouble maker. So why?” Who would the old Casela have head access to that was needed so desperately they’d create someone to look and act like her? Her mind danced furiously around this and that. Even releasing their get together just a couple nights ago.

Tears had been shed. Long lost friendships renewed. Family once more found again. “And it was all a lie.” Once more the acid dripping words fell from her lips like venom as she silently vowed to get to the bottom of it.

Juliet
(Now more untrusting than before)

Ah the rage and distrust, she could cut it with her knife, that was always at her side, to Ryder’s chagrin. She sighed, waiting outside the door wasn’t going to make this go away. Casela needed to know if she was after her or someone else on the ship. That was all there was to it. She hated what Juliet went through, if that was all true. There was no way Juliet didn’t know she was there and so she rang the chime and when the door opened. “I think it’s time we cleared the air.”
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS (Wondering how far Juliet’s deception will hold)

Juliet was so caught up in her head, and pacing, that she hadn’t heard or felt Cas’ arrival. When the chime rang and snapped her back to herself, she growled. “Enter!” Thre word coming out a bit more of a snap than she meant it to. She moved to the desk and set the knife down, aware that it probably wasn’t a good thing to have in her hand.

She stood there, about ten feet from her supposed cousin, wearing loose fitted blue plaid pajamas bottoms, cinched at the waist, and a black tank top. She was barefoot and jet hair unruly from being tousled out of the towel. “I think it is, too. Who are you and why are you here? In one record you’re dead, in the next you’re fine but there’s missing time.”

She hadn’t even bothered to wait for Cas to step into the room so the door would close before firing off her questions. She was braced for a fight. But if Cas scanned her surface thoughts, they warred with themselves. Caught between a scared child wanting it all to be a lie, and an adult enraged at having been deceived.

Juliet
(Lost)