Unsavory Characters

Tabatha pocketed a medical padd and regarded Nina's, in her fingers.  "Miss Black," she started, then, "Nina... This situation could be delicate – or dangerous.  This really isn't my area.  It's best to contact the law enforcement authorities on Earth.  Or..."  She paused, as a thought came to her.  "It sounds like you need a detective.  I think I know someone who might help."  Nina seemed to trust her.  Tab hoped she'd trust Tab's next decision.  "Computer, location of Vor'ana Rampart."

Tabatha was puzzled.  "That's this section."  She said, "Vor'ana, this is Tabatha Brisk.  Can you come to my office, please?"

The voice of Jordan Rampart's wife responded: "Is something amiss, Doctor?"

"Possibly.  Nina Black is here.  But I think we should discuss it privately."

"How can the captain's wife help?" Nina asked.  She had lunched with Vor'ana, but still knew very little about her.

"She... Well, I think it should be up to her to explain, if she chooses.  Let's just say she's... uniquely qualified."

Vor'ana walked through the door, not two seconds later.  Tabatha's mouth fell open, taken aback.  The Romulan woman normally appeared cool, composed.  Vor'ana Rampart had it together.  Today she appeared ill – unease visibly manifested on her face.  Tab returned Nina's padd and produced her medical tricorder.  "Vor'ana... what's wrong?"

"I don't know.  I'm not feeling well."

Tabatha started scanning, and gestured to a biobed.  "Have a seat."  To Nina she said, "Nina, go wait in my office please.  I'll be in shortly."

A holographic form appeared before Nina.

"Child, beautiful child."

"Reverend Joseph?"  Nina jumped out of her seat.

"Yes child.  You've been poking your nose into things you should not be.  That isn't good.  You need to stop."

"How did you..."

The image blinked out.

Nina emerged from Dr. Brisk's office.  "Dr. Brisk, I think you had an unauthorized hack into your office communications."

Vor'ana sat perched on the edge of the biobed.  The mask of pain had left.  She seemed better – taken by a different expression... not quite as calm as the last time Nina had seen her before sickbay, but settled.  Her hands traveled over her midsection, pressed against her stomach, gaze momentarily unfocused... staring into some private place, far away.  Tabatha stood before her, concerned.  At Nina's announcement both women turned, then traded looks.  Vor'ana slid off the bed.

"I thank you, Doctor."  Tabatha nodded and headed towards her office.  Vor'ana took a breath and regarded Nina.  "Doctor Brisk has explained the situation, with which I'm familiar after our lunch together.  Nina, come with me."  She led her past the row of biobeds, out the door into the privacy of the corridor.  As they left, they passed another woman, a reddish-blond caucasian sporting junior lieutenant's pips.  In the corridor, Vor'ana continued, "I don't share with everyone what I am about to tell you.  It would be best if you keep it to yourself.  I was once an agent of the Tal Shiar."  Knowing how isolated Nina's upbringing had been, she asked, "Do you know of us?"

"No I don't.  But from what Dr. Brisk told me, you're a match for these people.  I understand what it means to have to have done things that were unsavory in the past," Nina said softly.  "They do away with those who stand in their way.  They suspect me of trying to interfere, and already, a reverend has made contact, attempting to shut me up in Dr. Brisk's office.  I don't know if it's recorded.  There's stories about the replicators that may or may not be true back home.  People avoid eating out of them when certain people go on, um, sabbaticals."

Vor'ana nodded patiently.  "Go on."

"Well, today being what it is, it sounds unbelievable, a replicator being used that way.  Lots of things that go on seem unbelievable.  I don't know what's true any more.  That's why I'm here.  To find out truth.  And not to disappear doing it."

Vor'ana tilted her head, regarding Nina, black eyes pensive.  She turned her head and lifted an arm.  "Computer, I need an armpadd."  An armpadd materialized out of thin air, around her right forearm.  "Nothing is unbelievable," she told Nina.  She tucked black hair behind one ear, revealing its pointed shape, and activated the instrument.  The fingers on her left hand danced nimbly on the interface.  "Is this the man?" she said.  A holo-image of the reverend appeared, miniaturized.  He moved, speaking without sound, just as he had in Brisk's office.

Off of Nina's expression, she knew the answer, and deactivated the projection.  "Fortunately, Starfleet logs every use of its instrumentation.  It will be a simple matter to track down this message's origin point... as well as this rather obnoxious group.  Information is power, Nina.  These people obviously prefer to keep others in the dark."  She indicated the padd in Nina's grip.  "Record everything that you know about them... whom you know to be members or associates of their organization, sites of operation, dates if possible – any detail, no matter how trivial it may seem.  Be honest, no matter how unpleasant any of it may be.  Include what you've learned about your sister.  Transmit the report to me when it is finished."