Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Riley’s Quarters

Posted by Lieutenant David Michaels (CSO) in Riley’s Quarters

Posted by Lieutenant Riley Dekker (CNS & 2O) in Riley’s Quarters
<snip>

David took one of Riley’s hands into his own and gave it a squeeze. “I know you’re here with me and that’s all I need.” He sighed. “I wasn’t even sure what to say to Julien when he told me he was leaving. I just kind of hugged him and we stood there for a minute. It was…” he paused. “Kind of sweet. Which reminds me.” He got up out of the bed and grabbed his small work case which he had left on the floor.

Riley didn’t move, but his eyes lazily followed David, curious what the scientist was after.

Returning to the bed, David opened the case, producing the small box that Jackson had left for him on Risa, as well as a strange futuristic looking device that Riley had never seen before. It was shaped in a half circle with a display screen about the size of a hand.

Riley set his drink aside and pushed himself into a fully upright, seated position. “What is it?”

He handed the box out towards Riley. “I had taken this to Julien so he could open it with me, and for that I apologize. I just don’t like knowing that Jackson has you as a target now in his plotting and scheming. But with Julien leaving us… well I can’t do this alone Riley. Whatever demons from my past and the future are coming I want us to face them together.”

-David Michaels, CSO

Riley understood why David would have taken this to Julien first and took no offense, “You know I’m here for you David. And I know you can’t tell me everything, but I need to know you will allow me to help.”

Dekker, CNS

David nodded. He held up the futuristic device. “This is my tricorder from my days at DTI.” He held the device out to Riley. “Its been coded to my DNA so that only I can activate it. With it I will be able to open the box and see what Jackson has left for me.” He looked slightly worried, which was echoed in his emotions. He let out a loud sigh/grunt kind of noise, plopping himself down on the bed next to Riley. “Does this mean that with Julien leaving I need to tell Marius what’s been going on with this whole Jackson thing?” He was definitely annoyed about that prospect.

-David Michaels, CSO

Riley’s eyes were still on the tricorder. He’d surmised it was from the future, but he was able to see it, and it’s development from their time, more clearly knowing its function. It was fascinating. He had little doubt Marishka would love to get her hands on it, if only for an hour.

Riley turned to David, “Honestly? Yes. To an extent. Jackson poses a very possible threat to the Genesis. We don’t know what he’s planning to do. Marius can’t be caught unaware. That’s what he needs to know, nothing more. You have to be honest, though, about where you draw the line between what he needs to know and what you will share.”

Dekker, CNS

David scowled. “Okay. I’ll tell him.” His eyes shifted back to the box from Jackson.

“Well, should we open it and see what’s inside?” David asked, looking back into Riley’s dark eyes. “I’ve already ran it through every kind of scan imaginable. There’s no hidden bombs or poisonous gas or anything inside.” His lips curled up into a slight grin.

-David Michaels, CSO

“I’ll have to trust you on that Mr. Scientist,” Riley joked warily. “Still, let me put on pants just in case we need to make a quick exit.”

Riley pulled a pair of loose sweats and a t-shirt on and came back to the bed, sitting cross-legged.

“Alright, ready”

Dekker, CNS

David let out a sigh and then set the box on the bed in between them. Picking up the futuristic tricorder, he tapped on the screen and suddenly the top of the box shimmered away as it if had never been there. Inside were a few items - a holographic recording device much like the last one Jackson had left for David, a holodeck storage chip and a ring.

It was the latter that David reached for, slowly. His emotions were all over the place, but Riley would be hit with an intense wave of sadness.

As David picked up the ring, tears began streaming down his face. He held the ring in between two fingers, turning it over.

“This… this is… my… my… mother’s,” David said, breaking down into sobs.

-David Michaels, CSO

Riley had already begun moving to David’s side, a hand on each shoulder, hugging him from the side. The man’s emotions had drawn him over, his words took longer to process. Only as he held the crying man did he start to understand the possible implication of the ring.

“You don’t think she’s in danger?”

Dekker, CNS

It was more a sense of confusion coming from David than worry. The man slowly calmed his sobs, taking slow and deep breaths.

“I don’t know what to think,” David said. “The last time I knew of Jackson and my mother being in the same place was the night I left home to pursue him back in time.” He wiped at his eyes. “I don’t think he had interacted with her then…” His voice trailed off, as he stared at the ring, still in his hand, held between thumb and index finger.

-David Michaels, CSO

Riley wasn’t sure how to respond. Professionally, he knew it was impossible to offer answers to patients in the midst of grief or loss, but this wasn’t a patient. This was David, and they had no surety of loss, just the implied threat the object represented.

“You know Jackson. What would he mean with this?”

Dekker, CNS

David shook his head. “It’s a message. That he knows where she is. Or that he’s been in contact with her. Which would mean he has time travel capability. Or it could mean nothing at all.” David’s eyes looked over at the recording device and data chip in the box. “No doubt those are more of his messages and mind games.”

Something in Riley doubted there was no message in the ring. Jackson obviously enjoyed having an effect on David, but he wouldn’t be so pointed with nothing to back it up. The counselor said nothing, but he was becoming more convinced that Jackson wanted David to believe he had found a way to travel through time, to return them to their home. It was the one thing Jackson could offer that could even begin to make up for the past.

For once the confident man was now full of questions. Where he normally would have his own ideas of how to proceed now he had doubts.

“Tell me there’s a good ending to all of this Riley,” David said, seeking affirmation and reassurance from the only person who could give him any solace. “Tell me it’s going to be okay.”

-David Michaels

Riley couldn’t promise an ending not yet writ, but he knew that doing nothing would accomplish nothing, so he pulled David in tight and swore, “This will all turn out. We’ll get through this and be stronger on the other side of it.”

Dekker, CNS

David modded, allowing himself to be lost in Riley’s embrace. There were two other items in the box that Jackson had left but right now David just wanted to forget and exist in the moment.

However there was also the curious side of him and the lack of control in the situation when he didn’t know all the facts. His hand reached over and took the holodeck chip. It was clearly Federation technology so that meant that Jackson had access to that somehow. He could only wonder what piece of the puzzle was stored on the device.

-David Michaels