010 - Christmas is for the Young

[not_annika]

[Have a little five year old peering out at you, Barge.] ...Hi? Um, I know I'm not s'posed to use the comm, but, where is Mommy or Papa, or Auntie Ireny? This is her house.

Comments

[truth_is_cold]

[Someone just managed to find the flexi. A well dressed boy of about twelve, looking more than a little offended. He's already found a knife in this nice room he's in, so he feels safer!] I've been unable to locate my mother.

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry! [Clearly, the fact that he seems insulted means that she did it. Or something.]

[truth_is_cold]

Don't apologize. I doubt you were the one who brought us here. My mother will have a word or two to say when she discovers I'm missing.

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika ponders.] Maybe we should call Starfleet to rescue us?

[truth_is_cold]

Starfleet? What planet are they with? [Surely they're someone's Home Guard. They must be.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

Um... all of them? [No, that's not right...] Lots! [Definitely lots.]

[truth_is_cold]

[She must mean the High Guard. That's okay, he guesses.] Alright. We'll try to call for help. Where are you?

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[She shrugs.] Auntie Irene's room. [But given that's not Earth outside, she wonders.]

[truth_is_cold]

That's strange. I'm in a strange man's room. [There are pictures of a Nietzschean man in a High Guard uniform with a man that he looks extremely happy with. Big fellow, so he assumes another Nietzschean even if he can't see any boneblades. He wonders if they share a family unit with some females.]

If you look on the door to your room, I could come find you and make sure you're safe. Maybe we can contact the fleet. [Or my father.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[That strikes Annika as something dangerous to do, if she requires safety.] But what if someone else comes? [After a moment's deep thought she goes out of picture and brings back a dolly dressed as a ballerina.] I will put this outside and you can knock like this: [She knocks out a pattern on a table.] and I will answer the door. [She smiles, a little proud of herself for thinking of it.]

[truth_is_cold]

[He's actually more scared than he will ever ever admit, but acting like a tough Nietzschean helps make him be brave.] Like this? [He repeats the pattern.]

Alright. I'll come find it. [And he's off! Skulking down hallways and up the stairwell until he finds a floor with the ballerina styled doll outside the door. When he gets there, he knocks in that same pattern, cautiously watching either way up and down the corridor.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[When he arrives and she hears the knock, she reaches up to work the door panel and opens the door.] Hello.

[truth_is_cold]

Hello. [He steps inside, and tucks his hands behind his back.] My name is Gaheris Rhade. I don't know where you're from, but I'm from Enkidu Colony. If we can't reach the fleet, we can should at least try to get in contact with my people. They wouldn't let anyone hurt children.

[He is extremely proud of his people, and has a lot of faith in them. Slightly misguided faith, but for all his cynism he's idealistic towards them.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

I'm Annika. Hansen. I'm from Earth. [She nods at his suggestion.]

[truth_is_cold]

Do you have any communications beyond the flexis we got? [He shows his journal, which is a strange bendable computer. Like a PADD, but much thinner and capable of being rolled up.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[She points to a vaguely laptop-shaped device.] But I can't get it working.

[truth_is_cold]

I'm still in my first year classes of mechanical engineering. But I'll see what I can do.

[He sits down at the desk and looks at the screen and... pauses. And then the text on the box itself. And puts his fingers to his lips.]

These are English letters.

[Not Vedran.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika nods.] Federation Standard. Do you want me to put on another language?

[truth_is_cold]

[Federation? Things are really not adding up here, and beyond the point of possibly confused younger child.]

Do you have Vedran? I can read this but... I'm a little surprised because Vedran is the standard that I know.

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

Maybe. [She reaches up and presses on the translation menu.] Can you see it? [Her vantage point makes it difficult.]

[truth_is_cold]

[He picks her up to hold her so she can see the screen better, being careful not to catch his boneblades on her clothes. His father was right. Wearing sleeves made him learn to be careful.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika huffs slightly when she's picked up.] Thank you. How do you spell 'Vedran'?

[truth_is_cold]

V-E-D-R-A-N. [That's how it's spelled in English anyway.] It should look like this... [He takes out his flexi, which is covered in strange symbols.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika types that in.] Um… [She looks at the flexi and back. None of them are quite right.]

[truth_is_cold]

[This looks like slightly old technology too. He's starting to get an uneasy feeling, and he puts her back down.]

I'll do my very best.

[The truth is he's unnerved. Incredibly so, but he realizes that she needs someone too, and he has to at least try. Though he has a nasty feeling they're both very far from home.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

Ok. [Annika is quiet and subdued as if she knows something's off.]

[truth_is_cold]

[He fusses over the buttons. He knows English, but it's strange to be seeing it. He bites his lower lip up between his teeth as he concentrates as hard as he can.]

Did you say this is your Aunt's room? What's your Aunt like?

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika nods.] She's very nice. Makes me strawberries tarts. [Mostly because Annika won't eat anything else, but...]

[truth_is_cold]

[Oh yes. Food.] Is there any food in here or should I go get some?

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

There's nothing here.

[truth_is_cold]

[He nods.] Then I'll go looking for something if you get hungry. [It already makes him feel a little more settled, putting tasks ahead of himself.]

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika is not altogether thrilled with being left alone, but that's what happens when Necessary Work is to be done, so she nods.]

[changemydear]

Oh no.

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry! [Annika doesn't like to see people unhappy and 'I'm sorry' solves everything!]

[changemydear]

Annika, my dear, don't be sorry. This isn't your fault. Now, how much do you remember?

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

Ok. Um… I was in my room. Mama and Papa were talking and I was wondering and then I was here.

[changemydear]

I see. Well, stay where you are, I'll fetch you shortly.

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

Ok. [Annika looks fidgety and worried but no one's trying to hurt her, so she's mostly ok.]

spam?

[changemydear]

And stay put!

spam

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika nods sadly and waits for him.]

Re: spam

[changemydear]

[The Doctor raps loudly on Annika's door, frown on his face. He hated children.]

Re: spam

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[There is a pause as Annika quietly panics at the loudness of the knock. Is someone angry at her? Eventually, she presses the open key, keeping out the way, peering out of the corner of the door.]

Re: spam

[changemydear]

Annika, it's me. The Doctor, we've talked over these devices. [He frowned slightly, looking down at the girl.] Well, come out!

Re: spam

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika follows instructions.] Are you mad at me?

Re: spam

[changemydear]

Of course not. I just don't like you.

Re: spam

[not-annika.livejournal.com]

[Annika gives this consideration. Then comes to the most logical and simple conclusion.] Then… go away. [She's quite serious.]

Re: spam

[changemydear]

Of course not. I know you in the future, I'm not going to let you in the past do anything ridiculous.