Mischief and Traps

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 7:11pm by

1,532 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: What Stalks The Night
Location: Dreadnought
Timeline: Back post before the away team

After the Commander had left her office, BJ replicated a fresh PADD and put an image of bioneural gelpacks on it, then asked the computer where Commander Bawden could be located.

-= "Commander Ayla Bawden is in Science Labs. Commander Mark Bawden is on the Bridge manning Tactical" =- came the soft feminine vocals of the Computer responding to BJ.

"Thank you," BJ said even though she didn't have to thank the computer. She headed out of the office to the nearest turbolift, then requested the science labs. Once she arrived, she entered and looked for the mousy second officer.

Ayla stepping out from the airlock from one of the many bio-chambers, tossing her uniform jacked over a shoulder as she glanced around. Seeing the gold of yellow of Security and Tactical. She paused as she took a longer look at BJ.

She came to a stop, facing BJ. "Whot brings yooz here, Commander?" Ayla did a quick glance at the rank pips. Even though the visible rank was Lieutenant Commander, BJ was Chief Of Security, afford the courtesy of an equal. "Its rare that Security comes visiting."

"I'm afraid that it's not a social call, Commander," BJ said. "It's about your child and a friend of hers. Don't worry, they're fine, but I need to speak with her."

"Why yooz need to speak with Miracle?" Ayla looking a bit worried and curious at the same time. "Is she playing her music too loud and disturbing others on ourz level?" Getting ready to rush off, then after a pause. "Friend? Wez haven't had time to get her enrolled in the ship's onboard schooling yet."

BJ handed the woman the PADD. "See for yourself, Commander," she said. "The video footage is all there."

Ayla took the PADD and watched the video. Eyes narrowed as she watched. She let out a sigh. "Squeeee…" Unsure what to say as she gave thought. "Whots that she holding?" Seeing the other Gel Packs she was carrying.

Ayla returned the PADD back to BJ. "Computer? Wheres Miracle?"

-="Deck 15, Section B. In the quarters of Flight Tech Tommilin." =- Computer responded.

The Chief of Security took the PADD and glanced at the woman. "Shall we?" she asked.

"Squeaa," Ayla responded in agreement as she left the Science section in partial uniform, leaving her lab coat hanging off the nearest chair. She was curious about those gel paks that had brought BJ, the head of Security to her. "Iz suppose yooz can not tell me whot those are? And how I was kept out of the loop?"

"They're biomimetic gel packs," BJ told her. "Used in making bio weapons among other things. Which your daughter easily gained access do despite numerous protocols which had been set up prior them them arriving on the ship."

The trip was a quick one by turbolift and a quick jaunt down the corridor. "Good thing Miracle isn't an outsider." Ayla spoke softly with twinkle in her eyes and seriously at the same time. There was a slight bounce in her step. "Here wez are." Her tail darting out and hit the announcer button.

Within a few minutes the door open, reveling a woman in her mid twenties. Seeing Ayla and BJ, taking in the colors of their uniform. "You must be Miracle's Mother..."

"Iz Commander Ayla Bawden, and this Commander Reign of Security. Iz hope Miracle is still here?" Ayla spoke in a pleasant voice to the lady before her.

"Yes she is. Danny is quite happy that he's made a new friend." She stepped aside to let them into the quarters.

Miracle and Danny came rushing into view to see who was visiting. Miracle waved a paw hand at her mother. "Iz found a new friend, Momma! His name is Danny."

BJ was short, but she crouched down a little when the two young ones came running in. "Hello, Miracle. Hello, Danny. Do you know who I am?" she asked.

Miracle spoke up first as Danny paused to see visitors other than the usual grown ups that his parents brought over. "Squeeee.. Yooz Security!" Looking over BJ's uniform. "Just like my Daddy iz."

Danny nodded in agreement.

"I am," she said. "I'm Commander Reign, Chief of Security. Do you mind if I ask you two a couple quick questions so you can go play again?"

Miracle and Danny both nodded a bit wide eyed of youth. Miracle fidgeted a bit under the eyes of her mother, knowing she was in trouble for escaping her 'Ghost' Nanny. "Squee.." "Sure." Both spoke at the same time. Miracle with a bit more resignation than Danny who was enjoying the attention from all of the Adults to include Danny's Mom.

"How did you get into the cargo bay, Miracle?" BJ asked softly as she asked the little girl.

"Anz accezz vent from onez of the maintenance hallways that runz throughout the ship." Miracle muttered softly. She fidgeted, feeling her mom's eyes narrow at her.

Danny stood looking at Miracle in awe at her adventures. He definitely wanted be friends with this Mousian girl.

"Okay, so when you went through the vent, how did you get to the gel?" BJ asked, still keeping her voice gentle.

"Iz knocked over a pile of crates when Iz climbed up on them. One busted open." Miracle spoke softly. "I saw the filled balloons that scattered on the floor. Theyz were like beanbags. So Iz took a few. And then meet Danny."

While keeping a stern expression, her eyes glittered with a bit of pride, Ayla kneeled next to her daughter, Miracle. "Whatz so important about those Gel Packs?" Her curiosity had risen.

"Busted open?" BJ asked with a frown. They had all been intact when they were placed in the cargo bay and the force fields should have prevented access to them in any event. Things weren't making sense. "It's just that they were for someone else, Miracle. Did you break any of them?"

"The crates? Theyz fell over and busted open. The Balloons? Noz, theyz tough. I couldn't puncture them with mez claws." Miracle nodded. "And they didn't break when hitting the walls either."

Danny nodded in confirmation to the Balloons not breaking when they impacted. "They didn't break, Ma'am." He spoke up in defense of Miracle, his newest friend.

BJ wanted to sign but didn't. Dealing with children wasn't her cup of coffee, but she had to try. "Did you see or smell or hear anything weird when you were there? Something not usual?"

Miracle looked thoughtful as her eyes narrowed in concentration to remember. "Squeee… Stinky drink that Daddy likes to drink..."

"Coffee." Ayla interjected softly for the benefit of BJ.

"... squeee… oz-on... " Miracle continued doing her best to remember, "Garlic!" She smiled. "It woz near the broken vent covering and stinky sweat." She wiggled her muzzle a bit and whiskers. She leaned towards BJ and took a sniff. "Not female smell."

Miracle eyes widen a bit, remembering. "There was a sound in the Jeff tube next to the Balloon cargo bay as I knocked the vent covering loose." Looking up at BJ with a smile. "Doez that help any?"

"Do you know the difference in smells between the different species?" BJ asked and return the smile.

"Iz know whot Daddy smells like. Mom says he's Human. But has Mom's smell on him too." Miracle squeaked giggled at hearing her mother give a soft gasp like squeak, drawing attention to Ayla, ears wilting and eyes lowering in the classic body language of embarrassment.

"Miracle! That is not who..." Ayla started to reprimand Miracle a bit sternly to hide the fact of her embarrassment.

"Itz true! Mom! Iz can hear yooz and Daddy wrestle in bed! Then the kissing an petting stoof while yooz and dad set up breakfast!" Miracle shot back at her mom, interrupting. "Besides Iz, Rat MacSqua… Iz mean mez is being interrogated."

Danny gave a small laugh watching the interplay between Mother and Daughter. "Yeah. I'm Rat MacSqueak's Sidekick!" Not wanting to be left out of the conversation. He stepped closer to Miracle, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I joined her during the Balloon fight."

Miracle nodded as she placed her hand his shoulder. "Squeeee!"

"Children, please," BJ said softly to them, when she wanted to yell. "Can you tell me what smells you smelled and maybe put a species to them?" She knew it was a longshot with how many people had been in and out of the cargo bay prior to it being locked down, but she hoped the freshest scents would be the first the mousean noticed.

Miracle looked thoughtful, eyes closing a bit as she reflected back to raid to the cargo bay. "Squeeeee…. Klingon .... mezzelf…human males and females... yooz scent was there, but faintly." Tilting her head to the side as she looked up at BJ.

"Thank you, Miracle. That helps a lot," BJ said before she looked back up at her mother. "I think that'll be all, but please make sure to keep them out of the Jeffries Tubes from now on. I'm going to be sealing them off to everyone but Security, Operations and Engineering."

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