DE-173 (Challenger): Difference between revisions

Corridor, USS Challenger))

::Walking around inside the Challenger for the first time in months did not seem normal to Levin. It wasn’t the disoriented, homeless feeling from the first time he’d stepped aboard, but something more akin to feeling like he was revisiting a part of himself. Things looked the same, but felt different – and that bothered Levin.::

::That morning, O’Grady had brought him up to the Starbase to discuss the reappearance of Tribuzio, and they had both agreed that it should be Levin who went to see him first. He now had a rough outline of what had taken place, based on what Tribuzio had told Anderson (and what Anderson had decided to let Levin know – the thought that something was being left out was constantly in his mind, but more because he was dealing with SFI than because of the particular situation), but he needed to talk to Tribuzio anyway, to gather more information. And to be a friend – he apparently hadn’t seemed that well, which was understandable.::

::At around the same time that new tests had detected particles that implied the Challenger crew had been shipped through time, Tribuzio had come back and seemingly confirmed the story, so for the moment Levin assumed it was accurate. But that still didn’t tell him who Jovan was, or why he’d gone after the crew of the Challenger. As he stepped up to the door of Tribuzio’s quarters, Levin was thinking on these things.::

::He chimed at the door, and it opened a few moments later. It was the first time they’d seen each other in months, and Levin’s departure had been abrupt, so this should have been a moment when they smiled at each other, but Levin was struck by how tired Chris looked. And saddened, too.  Things were dimmed because of it.::

Levin: Chris – it’s good to see you again. And good to know you’re back alright.

Tribuzio: Thanks, James. Good to see you too.

Levin: Do you mind if I come in so we can talk some?

Tribuzio: er...It's a mess in here, but yeah, come in and take a load off.

::Levin came inside, and they sat down together.::

Levin: I wish I could say I was just here personally, but I’m also here on business. Apparently, they think I should be running around playing Sherlock Holmes. ::Levin sighed.:: So how are you holding up?

Tribuzio: ::slight smile:: I'm okay. :: getting up, opening the wet bar.:: Join me in a drink?

Levin: Why not?

::Levin gets up and follows him to the bar.  He pours half a glass, then heads back to the chair he had been sitting in.::

Tribuzio: So Sherlock, what do you want to know?

Levin: Let’s start with Jovan.  What do you remember about him?

Tribuzio: Jovan... ::throws his glass, shattering it against the wall. His face full of anger, his fists clenched:: If I had my hands around his neck, I'd choke the life out of him.

::Levin watched Tribuzio without saying anything.  He was quiet for a moment, then spoke very calmly, doing his best to balance friendly concern and professional questions.::

Levin: Chris.  ::He made eye contact with Tribuzio.::  I need to know everything that I can, so we can bring everyone else home and find Jovan. What happened?

Tribuzio: ::sits down again, resting his face in his hands:: All I know, James, is that we were invited to a celebration in our honor. The Captain seemed unsure about it, because she had us to send security guards ahead of us, and tole us to be on our guard. She said that the only known information about about Jovan and his “Alliance” is that his name appears in an  

ancient Alpha Centauri text circa their 2nd century.

Tribuzio: :: getting up, looking out the view port:: When we beamed to Philidelphia it was a typical autumn afternoon. Jovan's people were in white robes with a deep crimson and gold braid sleeked down their right shoulders, dangling at the ends front and back, a distinct wisp of green smoke puffed out from the tips of the braid.

::He turns around to look at Levin::

Tribuzio: I remember smelling Incence, and their eyes were. . . red and yellow. ::glances up at the ceiling, then back to Levin:: Their faces were tinted... azure I think was the color, and they were bald, even the women.

Levin: And Jovan?

Tribuzio: Jovan was short and heavy, and his walk was more a waddle. ::sitting down again:: He knew us all, James. All about us, even the Betazoid, Elbrun. He introduced us to his people.

Levin: ::not entirely certain who Elbrun is, then placing the name to someone new since he’d left:: Did he say how he knew?

Tribuzio: We were sitting pretty far away from the him, but I vaguely remember hearing him say something about following the activities of the Challenger since Hell's Gate.

Levin: Hell’s Gate.  ::Levin shook his head.  It didn’t sound familiar, like it was simply colorful language or something from before his time aboard the Challenger.  Still, he rolled it around in his mind some more.::  What happened at the end of the banquet, when you were sent back in time?

Tribuzio: The ground started moving, like a small earthquake. The mist was thick, and choking. When it cleared we were in 1943.

Levin: That mist – was it the same as what was coming out of the braids?

Tribuzio: ::closes his eyes to gain a mental picture.:: Yes, only not quite as thick. The contrast would be clear day clouds to weather fronts. Does that make sense?

Levin: ::pausing to think about it for a moment:: Yeah . . . yeah.

::Levin sat, holding his drink in his hand and staring at a point on the floor between them while considering the scene at the Naval Yards.::

Tribuzio: ::asking a question he feared would have no answer, but still had hope:: Do you think you can find Jovan and bring them home?

::Levin could hear the fear in Tribuzio’s voice, and knew that it would be there for anyone, really.  He wanted to be able to tell him that everyone would be home alright, and that they’d have Jovan, and that it wouldn’t take any time at all. No matter how much he wanted it to happen, Levin knew that he couldn’t say it would.  He was torn between wanted to reassure  

Tribuzio and the obligation to be honest with his friend and colleague.::

Levin: ::speaking somewhat hesitantly:: I hope so.  But I don’t know so.

Tribuzio: ::thinking of Ashlyn:: We can't lose them, James. ::his voice breaks:: Ashlyn is... carrying my child, and she is sick too. If she doesn't have treatment in our timeline, both of them may die. ::stand up, going back to the view port, apologizing:: I'm sorry, James. I was being selfish. I want them all brought home.

::So that explained his outburst earlier at the mention of Jovan – he was putting Ashlyn in danger, and not only Ashlyn, but their child.  (Their child?  he thought.  Apparently not everything was quite the same still.)::

Levin: It’s not selfish to care about her, Chris.  ::He moves closer, and puts a hand on Tribuzio’s shoulder::  We’ll get them back.  Starfleet’s putting more resources than me into this – and they know how to play detective a hell of a lot better than I do.  We’ll get them back.

::Now, all of the sudden, Levin was going back on his decision to be honest and make no promises.  He saw the look on Tribuzio’s face of someone with a family and ones he loved – and who was afraid of losing them.  He recognized the look and feeling and, to an extent, knew what it was like.::