"I know this is all very confusing for you so I will attempt to explain," Commander Riker began once he entered the guest room the visitors had been given. Data and Dr. Crusher stood by, watching in case of emergency. Albeit silently, Data also could not elude the idea that these people were his responsibility since it was he who had brought them on board to be thawed.
Sitting in the low comfortable chairs, they looked anything but easy or reassured by the commander's tone. Now dressed in plain blue suits and cleaned, the four of them could have passed for citizens of the 24th century minus the bewildered expressions.
"You are aboard the USS Enterprise," Riker continued only to be interrupted.
"American?" Mr. Oppenhouse cut in, leaning forward. Riker shook his head and opened his mouth to respond before being interrupted once again.
"It sounds Naval but there were no ships named like that. Well, except in boot camp but that was a compartment really," Eeva muttered to herself, her eyes still a little lost in her mind. Again, the first officer shook his head and explained briefly the Confederation of Planets.
"Uh, what year is this?" Oppenhouse asked warily.
"By your calendar, it is 2364," Data automatically replied, having to curb the impulse to include day and month in the answer. It was considered annoying by his fellow officers to have all the unnecessary information added and he was trying to remedy the annoyance.
An aggrieved and startled physical reaction stole over three of them. Sonny did not seem in the least bit concerned at the fact he had been sleeping for well over 400 years. Perhaps the captain's assessment in the idea that he had been eager to die before was correct, Data mused.
"My heart…is it-" Oppenhouse began, placing his hand over said organ. He seemed afraid to ask the question. Beverly held up her hand from where she stood, a calming look on her face.
"It is fine. In fact all of you are now healthy and well."
"I made it."
Despite the relief on his face, both the women looked more upset and befuddled. Claire had a hand to her brow, shielding her gaze as she looked to the ground, awash with whatever pain she suffered. Eeva sat with her back straight, hands clasped in her lap. Now that she was awake, the military training seemed to have taken over again. The dark hair, now strictly brushed, had been pulled back into a braided bun and a severe set took over her young face and lips. Behind the mask, Data could see a brewing desperation and a personality as of yet not shown.
"I have a question, Doctor. How am I even alive? How am I even here? The last thing I remember was being on duty and an explosion," she asked flatly, as if afraid to let her smothered emotions take any control of her voice. Beverly blinked at her dead panned tone before folding her arms over her chest.
"It appears that an old weapon called 'shrapnel' had entered your body in several places, puncturing internal organs. It wasn't present when we brought you in so I am assuming it was removed."
"By who? How did I end up in a cryonic tank?"
Data moved forward at that.
"We had hoped you would have an idea. All records indicate that you perished in 2014 on the USS Gaston in the Iraq raid," he advised. She stiffened at that and looked over the commander sharply before turning to Riker, as if looking for a lie. After he nodded his assent, Eeva stood slowly.
"Commanders, may I be excused for the time being?" she requested in a tight way, her lips barely moving. Beverly and Data shared a confidential look; despite her surface coolness and discipline, the poor woman was about to fall apart. Riker gave her a curt smile and indicated an adjourning entrance.
"Not at all, Ms. Tompkins. Take your time."
"Please, Commander, call me Chief."
The other three visitors looked on in surprise and amusement as she snapped a smart salute before marching out. Once the door slid closed after her, several screaming words floated back to them, muffled only a little by the insulating walls.
"Goddamn! Fuck! Bitch! Fuck! Fuck! Bastard son of a lizard whore! Fu-uu-uuck!"
The first officer gave the doctor and Data a small smirk as the last word faded away.
"What was that?"
Beverly gave a small, half-hidden smile.
"I believe that was obscene language, commander. Surely, you have heard of it."
Riker gave her an annoyed if not endearing look.
"I meant the other things."
"The name 'Chief' indicates a naval station, such as our Chief Engineer. It must have been her title in her career. And I believe that was a military motion called a salute. In 2049, the United States Military dropped the usage as a waste of time," Data supplied, intrigued at the variety of profanity. Sonny gave a low snicker at that.
"Boy, the whole operation was a waste of time," the man laughed, apparently enjoying himself. Oppenhouse smirked his agreement.
"Now I know where the term 'swear like a sailor' comes from," Claire added icily, apparently not pleased with the Chief's language.
Over the next few minutes, Riker provided them with the base information they needed along with Dr. Crusher's points. Data found himself distracted and intrigued however at their missing guest. Despite his lack of knowledge in human emotions, he could see a secondary personality under the military mask and it was puzzling to him. Perhaps it was a requirement in her time to become so blank and anonymous. Meeting personnel from another time and seeing their actions interested him greatly, considering how they differed from their own customs. It would be educational to converse with her more.