driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Beverly Crusher and you
Broadcast: Network - Video
Action: Blue Fish
When: September 1

[There's a strangely familiar cold that has settled in her bones, a dreadful chill that disorients her in the first few moments that she's awake. Her first thought is that something went wrong - very wrong - as they passed through the temporal distortion, but then... as she sits up and takes in her surroundings, the memories all come back in a flood. Atroma has brought Beverly back, a little older, a little blonder, and with a new Starfleet uniform.

Or maybe I never left, she thinks. This is not the Marsiva, these are her quarters aboard the Blue Fish, and none of her things look as if they've been moved. Though admittedly, her memories of Drift Fleet seem distant. By her reckoning, it's been three years since she's seen this room.

Not that "time" really means much, considering what's happened in the past few days.

The communicator rests where she left it on the bedside table. When she picks it up, she finds it's full of unread messages, crewmates and friends wondering where she is, each message sounding more alarmed than the last. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she checks today's date: September first.]

Damn!

[Immediately, she sends a message to the network, via video:]

This is Dr. Crusher of the... SS Blue Fish. It seems our gracious captors sent me home for a while. I'm back now, and I'm safe, and I'm sorry to everyone who was trying to contact me this month. I'll be on the Blue Fish if you need me.

[There's a pause, as if she's about to say something else, but then she simply gives them a small smile, one that doesn't quite reach her eyes.]

Thank you.

[The feed cuts off and after a moment, she decides to head for the kitchen. Not that she's particularly hungry but - there's a good chance that's where she'll find at least a few of her crewmates.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In this moment he sounds so young, so vulnerable, it makes her heart ache. He's already lost too many people and seeing him now... for the first time she thinks, if Atroma gave her the choice, it might not be so easy to say she'd go home, not if he couldn't too. She makes no effort to move or break away from him - he can hold on however long he needs to.

Beverly takes Sokka's face in her hands.]

I'm fine, I'm safe. Atroma sent me home.

[Small frown.]

At least, that's what it feels like.

[He relaxes a little, but not by much. His eyebrows knit together. ]

I figured that much but-

But where were you? Every other time that's happened the person's stayed behind on their ship.

[She shakes her head.]

That I don't know. I woke up in my quarters, where I had fallen asleep a month ago.

But... it felt like when I first woke up on the Marsiva. Cold. And it was like...something else had happened, something I can't remember.

I remember the cold thing, that happened to me, too, but I never left.

[It scares him, that she doesn't remember. That means they won't find any real answers to what happened to her. To whatever twisted game Atroma are playing now. ]

Are you okay, though? I mean...no injuries or extra Augments or anything?

I'm... a little overwhelmed right now. These past few days have been difficult and draining, but no, I'm not hurt or glitching.

I can get it. It's really disorientating, coming back after being home.

[He smiles and finally lets go of her, stepping back a little. ]

So long as you're okay. That's what matters.

[She nods. If anyone understands, it's Sokka.]

I'm okay, I promise. Three years is just... a long time to be away. [Then more softly:] A long time of forgetting.

Tell me about it. Everything is super fuzzy for a while, while your memories of here and your memories of home try to fit into the right place.

It sucks. But it feels less disorientating after a while.

That's good to know. In some ways this is worse than the first arrival. So much more to sort through - and this time I was taken from a more hectic situation.

Sounds about right. But if you need anything to help you reacclimatise, just let me know, okay?

I will. I know I can always count on you.

Of course. I'd never let you down.

[That gets him another hug, though this one does not last as long.]

I'm so, so lucky to have you in my life.

[He'll return it without protest. He's missed her. ]

Right back at you.

[She pulls out of the hug, but still her hands rest on his shoulders.]

Listen, if this should happen again, if I leave, there are letters for you and for the others in my office. I've told Allen and Jennifer as well - I don't want to make the same mistake again.

[Well, THAT sounds depressing. His brows furrow, almost ready to protest her going at all. But no, that would be unfair. Most of them WANTED to go back. Needed to. It was smart she'd prepared for that.]

...Okay. I'll remember that.

[But she sees the look on his face and she can guess at why it's there.]

Sokka, I don't want to leave you and I promise, if I have any say in the matter, I won't, unless you can go home too. I love you, so don't forget that either.

I know. I love you, too.

[He offers her a small smile.]

All I want is for you guys to get homes safe. Or if home doesn't work, somewhere safe for them to live.

We'll find a way, I still believe that.

Me too. There's got to be a way, it's just a case of figuring out a way to break through everything Atroma have us trapped with.

[And if they can't... well, she's going to stay with him.]

If anyone can do it, it's you.

[She nods towards the fridge.]

Come on, why don't we have a bite to eat and you catch me up on what I've missed.

[She's far too good to him. ]

Well, you know me. I'll never say no to food. Where do you want to eat? What're you hankering for?

Not protein cubes, that's for sure.

If you did, I'd be really worried about you.

I think they do food in the Space Bar? Allen says the other place sucks because it doesn't have plates or something.

They don't have... plates?

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