Captain's Log, Stardate 43121.8
After much deliberation and intensive interrogation, we have decided to release the prisoner to her own recognizance. A risky move, perhaps, but there is no longer any legitimate reason to hold her. I suspect keeping her in captivity much longer would have caused a massive psychological implosion that would have taken most of the ship with it. She will be required to return to her prison for regular torture sessions, however.
Dr. Kincaide had made that very clear upon Vesta's departure: she would return for physical therapy. Calling them torture sessions hadn't really gone over very well, so she kept that to herself in her new imaginary log.
Vesta schlumped along the corridor toward her quarters, leaning on Commander Bohemir's arm. She didn't like having him assist her, but as he was the second in command, she kept this to herself as well. He had insisted on escorting her back to her quarters, she couldn't refuse.
"I imagine you'll be glad to get back to work, lieutenant. Personally," he looked over his shoulder and lowered his voice, "I don't know how you stood it. I hate sickbay."
Vesta half expected Dr. Kincaide's voice to ring out behind them, "I heard that!" She smiled. Her leg dragged slightly but there was at least some mobility now—and no metal braces. It was now thankfully free of any gadgets.
"I did a lot of visualization." No need to mention that a lot of it was about beaming various well-wishers into the reactor core.
"I'll bet." Bohemir slid her a sideways glance. In spite of herself, she laughed.
They reached her quarters and she punched in her security code. The door slid open…and her smile slid away.
Inside stood Japel, Jack, Marista Yale, and Taurik.
Marista noticed the change in Vesta's demeanor. "Oh, don't worry, we aren't staying. We just wanted to say hello…and goodbye. We know we've been insufferable with our visits, but you're a valuable member of the crew and we're all very happy that you're recovering so well." Ever the diplomatic envoy, Marista smiled serenely.
Japel's craggy grin was lopsided with amusement. "In other words, we'll leave you alone now."
Hooray! Vesta cheered internally as they exited her quarters.
"But call us if you want some company," Jack called over his shoulder as he went out the door.
"I do not imagine she will." Taurik told him as he left last, giving her one of those famous expressionless Vulcan nods. Vesta willed them all out the door, her antennae practically quivering with relief at being back in her own quarters.
Her celebration was cut short as Taurik paused at the door and turned back to her. "I need to speak with you before I go, lieutenant."
She didn't want to talk to him, especially not after she practically attacked him in sickbay, but she felt she owed Taurik one. He hadn't spread news of her outburst around the ship and she was grateful for that. Reluctantly, she nodded.
Taurik stepped back and stood just inside the doorframe, unwilling to invade her space any farther. "Lts. Anderson and Magis are…having difficulty with a project they are working on."
"So what's new?"
"Yes, I realize this is hardly surprising. They are unable to reach a consensus as to the design of the newly modified anthropology blinds. They have been arguing about it for more than three days now."
Vesta sat herself down on the couch and propped her foot up on a low table. Taurik made no move to join her. "So?" What was he getting at?
"Jack believes his design to be sound, Una is sure there are irreparable flaws in the security of the structure."
Now Vesta's antennae pricked up. "Security flaws? Like what?"
"I would like to send you the plans and get your opinion on that, if you are willing to look them over."
"Sure, I need something besides duty rosters and schedule rotations to keep me busy," Vesta told him, happy that someone was treating her like the Head of Security again.
Taurik nodded and left.
Package flown to port, he thought as he exited. Whatever that means.
Well, it looked like Una was right. Vesta sat back and rubbed her eyes. She had spent three hours examining the charts Taurik sent her, and another two cross-referencing previous designs for similar structures. Her antennae drooped from exhaustion, but it felt good to work again.
There was really only one way to be sure about it, though…she knew what she had to do. Hesitating only a fraction of a second, she activated her communicator.
"Vesta to Taurik."
"I still do not think this is a wise plan." Taurik shifted his weight and let the angry Andorian rest momentarily, hopping slightly on her good leg.
"Did I ask?" she shot at him. "Anyway, if you thought this was such a bad idea, why did you agree to it?" She wasn't wild about having Taurik help her, but she didn't want either Jack or Una to know she was butting into their work. Well, not until she had something to show for it, anyway. If Taurik didn't want her to help, he never should have asked her, she reasoned.
"I did not agree to it. If you recall, you informed me that you would be conducting this simulation with or without my help."
They reached to door to the field testing lab and shuffled their way through it. The lab consisted of an open area littered with testing equipment and parts replicators as well as a small holodeck for running limited simulations. At 0200 it was completely empty, just as Vesta had hoped.
Taurik helped her to one of the consoles and she pulled up and loaded the simulation program for the new blinds into the holodeck. As they moved toward the doors Taurik mentally ticked off all the exercises they had so far done from her roster. Not many, but the morning was young.
The holodeck doors parted, revealing a desert landscape. The anthropology blind was 1/3 of the way up a cliff disguising itself as a steep hill. It lay beyond what seemed to Vesta to be insurmountable boulders and crags. In reality it wasn't bad, but for her injured leg it would be a rough climb.
"That's the simulation?"
"The design fails in rough terrain, so yes, that is the simulation." He glanced sideways at her. "If you like we can reprogram it to be more gentle topography…"
Vesta stiffened visibly. "It's fine." She started forward. She said nothing more as she set to work climbing the side of the hill, grunting and sweating from exertion. A hand grasped her elbow and pulled her up to a relatively stable boulder. She jerked away from Taurik's assistance.
"Lieutenant," he said calmly, "the approach to the blind is one of the points being tested in this simulation. If you do not make it to the entryway—"
"I'll make it," she practically snarled.
"I have no doubt. My goal is simply to complete this test as thoroughly as possible." She calmed a bit so he continued to direct her up the slope. "Lt. Magis believes this approach decreases the effectiveness of the transporter as it might interfere with the holo-generators."
Vesta thought about this. "It might…" within minutes she was so absorbed in addressing possible problems with the blind that she seemed oblivious to the fact that Taurik helped her the rest of the way to the entrance and led her inside.
By 0600 they had not only discovered every fault and possible security breach in the simulated blind but Vesta had devised ways to correct most of them.
"The rest of them I leave to Jack," she told Taurik as the pair staggered toward the door. She was utterly exhausted but happier than she had been in weeks. She was using not only her mind but her body as well. Though it was worn and crying out from the exertion, it felt great. Taurik had not asked once if the strain was too much or how she was feeling. Strange how someone so unemotional seemed to know exactly how she was feeling and what she needed to invigorate her healing process.
Though Taurik gave no sign of fatigue he too was glad the night was over. Vesta had unknowingly completed nearly every portion of one of her physical therapy sessions and had plans to return to thesimulation that evening.
The Andorian yawned hugely as they entered the lab. Two ensigns on morning shift looked startled as they popped out of the holodeck, then exchanged wide-eyed glances. Someone was helping Lt. Vesta walk? And he was still alive? They backed away, just to be on the safe side.
"Tell Jack and Una that I'll come by the lab tonight to show them what I found. Then we can get to work on fixing it."
"I will inform them," Tauriktold her solemnly. "Thank you for your assistance, Lieutenant."
Vesta regardedhimjust as solemnly. "Thank youfor bringing this to my attention."
"It seemed the logical course of action."
