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

I don't know, but it was a cruel thing to do to you and the rest of the crew.

Cruel, but I suppose ultimately unsurprising. [She shakes her head.] At least you're all right and back now. You don't... feel any different, do you? Or notice anything different? [She wants to make sure Atroma didn't actually do anything to her, in so much as they can determine that anyway.]

Nothing than what's to be expected from living three more years... Though...

[She frowns.]

I don't know.

What is it?

Only something I noticed upon waking - it was impossibly cold, like when we first arrive on the Marsiva, but there was... Something else there, something right on the edge of my mind, like a song you just can't quite remember, only more sinister.

[The cold is strange, to be sure, but what causes the wide-eyed panic from Riona is the mention of a song.

Didn't the Wardens always say that when their time is near, they can hear a song? It's the music of the taint, twisted and corrupted. Her hold on Beverly tightens unintentionally.

But - no, she's fine. It can't be the taint or Blight. None of that exists here, outside of her and Anders. Still...]

Are you sure you feel well?

[It was only a metaphor and Beverly would be quick to tell her that, were she to ask. As it is, she just looks startled and confused at Riona's reaction.]

I promise, nothing's wrong with me.

I... sorry. Usually when people say they hear a song back home - something from within their minds - it's... not a good thing.

Oh no, no, I'm sorry, I didn't realize... I only meant that metaphorically speaking. I didn't actually hear anything, I just meant that there's something there that I can't remember anything about except that I know that I should be able to.

Oh, good. [Cue audible sigh of relief.] I mean, not that you can't remember. That's horribly frustrating.

Yes well... what else is new when it comes to Atroma?

Truer words have never been spoken. I know you must miss home terribly, but for what it's worth... I'm glad you're back and you're well.

Thank you. It means a lot to me to have you here.