Arma Artis

Posted on Thu Dec 27, 2018 @ 8:56pm by Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD & Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Summers

1,628 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Armoury

Camille poked her head into the open door of the armoury. She was nervous. She hadn’t visited the armoury in her last posting except when absolutely necessary. She knew she shouldn’t be nervous though. She was fully trained and certified, but she lacked confidence and wanted to do better. This was a combat ship, after all, and one day her crewmates’ lives could depend on her abilities.

“Allo?” she said, looking for anyone present. “Is anyone here?”

A disembodied voice spoke out. " Welcome, come on in and get comfortable...be right with you." A moment later SCPO Summers walked out from behind a wall of weapons. Clad in an off duty jump suit one size to small for her 6'7" frame, Summers felt a bit constrained. She walked over to the Lieutenant, and extended her hand. " Hope I didn't scare you, most newbies eyes sort of ' bug out ' when they first get a look at me."

When Summers said this last bit, Camille realized she’d been staring at the tall and beautiful woman in the too-small jumpsuit. She shook her head to regain concentration and shook Summers’ hand. “Pardon,” she said. “I’m Camille Lévesque, the ship’s new science officer. I was hoping to get a few moments of your time.”

'Summers' nodded her head as she shook Camille's hand. " Right now, I am Senior Chief Petty Officer Summers. I'll be glad to share it with you, 'time' that is. What can I help you with?"

“Well, Chef,” Camille explained, “I’m fully certified with hand phasers, doing passably well in the firing range. But I’m not too confident in my abilities. I thought maybe some more training, particularly with Type 2s and maybe even rifles, might help make me more confident if I ever need to defend myself or my crewmates while on away missions.” She realized that the Chief had referred to herself as Summers ‘right now.’ Curious.

Summers looked at Camille and then looked away for a bit. " I'll be glad to help, but this might be better done in the holo deck, where we can construct a firing range." Summers fiddled with her hand phaser before continuing. " Just curious, but have you been briefed on my 'problems?' "

“Non,” Camille replied. “Is it something to do with you saying you’re Chief Summers ‘right now’?”

Summers looked at the ceiling before answering. " My real name is Karee. I am an Romulan with the Tal Shire. I was placed on this ship to perform a mission. I do not know what it was, as my 'Summers' personna and Karee literally had a 'fight' in my mind. I have been ' Samantha Summers' since 'I ' graduated from Star Fleet Academy. The *real* Samantha Summers..I do not know what became of her. But, my mission here failed when Karee came 'forth' and 'fought' with Samantha. I am Summers. And I am Karee. But, my loyalty is with Star Fleet."

Camille studied the Chief for a moment. Conflicting thoughts ran through her head. Could she trust this woman? Especially to handle weapons safety and effectively? But other thoughts won out.

“That’s so cool!” she finally said. “C’t’au boutte là! You must have had some major physiological and genetic changes to pass for human so well. Please let me run some tests!”

She realized that what she was saying was a tad inappropriate. Camille took a deep breath and tried again. “Pardon. I get excited. I’m sure Dr. Anderson has put you through plenty of tests. But if you’d consent to let me take a blood sample later, I would appreciate it.”

Summers' eyes regarded her closely, and she felt her anger rise a bit. Taking a few deep breaths, she calmed down. " A blood sample? I don't know what you might find in it or of it, but I'd suppose it would be ok."

“Thank you,” replied Camille. “Swing by the main bio lab on Deck 5 tomorrow morning, say, 0900 hours?”

Samantha nodded her head in affirmative. " I can do that. "

“Now, you mentioned training in the holodeck?” asked Camille.

Summers nodded her head in affirmative. " Since you've done little training in a few phaser types, it might be best to use the holodeck and a range. Afterwards, we can relax in my cabin. Oh by the way, you may call me Samantha..when we are alone.."

“I’d like that. Thank you...Samantha!” said Camille, after exaggeratedly looking around the room to see if anyone else was there, knowing there wasn’t. She smiled. “I’m not sure where the holodeck is yet. Lead the way?”

Samantha led Camille down the corridors of the ship till they were outside the holo deck. Summers clicked a button. " This is SCPO Summers...load program 2A. " A moment passed and a computer voice spoke: " Program is up and running, you may enter when ready. " Summers turned back to Camille. " Let's go. " The two of them entered the holo deck and found themselves on what appeared to be a firing range, with various weapons on the wall. Summers pointed to one. " 'That' is an phaser rifle. Pick it up and look it over, but don't point it at anything( or anyone, with a wink ) before we talk about it."

Camille picked up one of the rifles, pointed its business end down and toward the range, away from Summers. She closely examined it, finding the trigger, the sights, and various other buttons. She wasn’t certain what they all did yet. But she’d learn. “Slightly more complicated than a Type-1 or Type-2, with their basic power settings and trigger.”

Summers smiled. " Good, now point it at that target down there ( Summers pointed towards a target attached to a wall on their opposite side, ) power it on, look down the sights, and *squeeze* its trigger.."

Camille straightened her glasses, aimed the rifle down range, and powered the rifle on. She looked down the sights to aim as close to the target as possible, making a face as she focused hard. She gently squeezed the trigger.

Phaser rifles don’t have much recoil, but it was enough to push the weapon into her shoulder and startle her. Camille let out an undignified yelp. Her shot was off target.

Samantha stifled a laugh, and tried to look dignified. " Good shot, you just 'killed' part of a wall. Let's try it again, you will get the hang of it, I am sure. " Samantha smiled at her, then coughed and said " Let's continue.."

Camille tried again, this time better prepared. She put the butt of the rifle against herself and held the weapon more firmly. She aimed carefully and squeezed again. This time, it hit the target, near the edge. She took three more shots in fairly rapid succession, two of which hit the target while a third went a bit wide.

Samantha nodded her head again. " Good shooting. Computer, initiate program home and forest.." Samantha turned to Camille. " This is where I come to relax.." A rustic cabin near a flowing creek appeared, and Samantha went over to the front door. " I guess I should get a lock for it, but somehow, it doesn't seem right..come on in..." Samantha opened the door and gestured Camille to follow her inside.

Camille followed Samantha into the cabin, and took a look inside. “Wow!” she said, impressed with the layout.

Inside the cabin, a fire was roaring in the fireplace. Samantha gestured to a chair by the fire place. " Park yourself down there, we can take a breather. Samantha walked towards the kitchen, but suddenly paused as she looked at a mirror. Blinking, she got closer and looked carefully. Her eyes went wide and she turned to Camille. "My...eyes....they're *black,* they should be blue! What..." She then noticed her eyebrows, which looked like they were pointing upwards. " What's...happening?!?!? She cried.

“Samantha,” Camille began, “are you ok?” She hadn’t had a chance to sit down yet. She went to the tall chief and took one of her hands. “Has this happened before? Do you need me to call someone?”

Samantha looked at Camille. " Call the Doctor..please!!! She told me to 'embrace' my true identity, but it seems 'she' is trying to break out faster then I intended...."

“Bien sur,” said Camille. She tapped her combadge. “Lévesque to Dr. Anderson. Medical emergency in Main Holodeck. Something is happening to Chief Summers.”

Samantha pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Camille. " Read this..it came to me a few hours ago, and I have been trying to get it out of my mind.." Samantha began to cry. The note was from sub space radio...

“Of course,” replied Camille. She took the note and guided Samantha down to the floor, to sit, and she wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “It’s going to be ok Samantha.” She unwrapped the note. “ ' Sam...it's been years but we're doing our best to get to see you again soon! Love, Mom & Dad..' “ She read it a second time, hoping for a positive reaction, or the arrival of the medical team.

Samantha jumped up and grabbed Camille by the shoulders.." You *don't* understand..human! They would be coming to see a daughter that *died* years ago!!!! Samantha collapsed back on the floor.

Camille laid Samantha’s head in her lap and brushed her hair, whispering soft reassurances, waiting for medical to arrive.

Summers shook her head. " She wants me to be someone I don't want to be..." And nodded off.

“C’est correct,” Camille continued to whisper.

TBC

Senior Chief Petty Officer Samantha Summers

Lieutenant (jg) Camille Lévesque

 

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