Planning the Storm [Gavin/Zero]

[Zero's Quarters]

As ever, Zero's quarters were scrupulously clean, or as clean as she could get them given that she owned a dog who had a tendency to blow his coat all year long. Everything that suggested human occupancy was neatly tidied away. Even the signs of Jiseth's recent inhabitance had been put in their allocated places.

Now, the Augment paced. Jiseth had just left for a counselling session. She had been invited, but considered it prudent that the Romulan's first session back on board ship was kept between her and Counsellor Abols. Instead, Zero had sent a message to Gavin, asking him to meet her in her quarters and she awaited his arrival with great impatience.

Urgent, huh? Gavin thought, moving quickly through the corridors of the Phoenix. Actually, the message had simply commanded he come 'without delay', as if he would spend a lot of time hemming and hawing around when he got a message from his erstwhile cousin...

As he approached Zero's door, Gavin wondered if Jiseth was also in there. He'd just met the Romulan in passing, but she didn't seem to think much of him. At least, from what he could tell. A part of him hoped that the pilot was otherwise occupied...but the greater part of him just wondered what the hell this was all about. "One way to find out," he said to himself, chiming the door.

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Urgent, huh? Gavin thought, moving quickly through the corridors of the Phoenix.  Actually, the message had simply commanded he come 'without delay', as if he would spend a lot of time hemming and hawing around when he got a message from his erstwhile cousin...

As he approached Zero's door, Gavin wondered if Jiseth was also in there.  He'd just met the Romulan in passing, but she didn't seem to think much of him.  At least, from what he could tell.  A part of him hoped that the pilot was otherwise occupied...but the greater part of him just wondered what the hell this was all about.  "One way to find out," he said to himself, chiming the door.

Hearing the door chime, Zero finally stopped pacing a hole in the carpet, looking up from the PADD she had been reading at the same time. Ghost let out a low 'woof' from where he was lying in his basket. Calling for the computer to let her visitor in, she appeared to be faintly relieved to see Gavin step inside.

"Gavin. Your rapid arrival is appreciated. I require your assistance with one of my projects," she stated rather abruptly before pausing, a slight frown of confusion crossing her face as if she was trying to remember something that she had forgotten. "Oh. Would you like a beverage?"

Zero Alpha wrote:

Hearing the door chime, Zero finally stopped pacing a hole in the carpet, looking up from the PADD she had been reading at the same time.  Ghost let out a low 'woof' from where he was lying in his basket.  Calling for the computer to let her visitor in, she appeared to be faintly relieved to see Gavin step inside.

"Gavin.  Your rapid arrival is appreciated.  I require your assistance with one of my projects," she stated rather abruptly before pausing, a slight frown of confusion crossing her face as if she was trying to remember something that she had forgotten.  "Oh.  Would you like a beverage?"

Gavin glanced around as he entered the quarters, giving the dog a friendly scratch on the head. He wasn't overly crazy about dogs, but he didn't particularly mind them. "Um...a drink? No, that's fine," he said, looking a little confused. "You called, and I am compelled to answer," he grinned, wondering if he should give her a hug or something. Yeah...probably not. He was a little relieved to see that Jiseth wasn't here.

"A project, huh? If I'd have known that, I would have brought some stuff with me. Research texts and the like. Then again," he winked, "I was always pretty damn good at pop quizzes."

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Gavin glanced around as he entered the quarters, giving the dog a friendly scratch on the head.  He wasn't overly crazy about dogs, but he didn't particularly mind them.  "Um...a drink?  No, that's fine," he said, looking a little confused.  "You called, and I am compelled to answer," he grinned, wondering if he should give her a hug or something.  Yeah...probably not.  He was a little relieved to see that Jiseth wasn't here.

"A project, huh?  If I'd have known that, I would have brought some stuff with me.  Research texts and the like.  Then again," he winked, "I was always pretty damn good at pop quizzes."

"This project does not require the use of any form of higher intellect," Zero replied, finally settling on looking out of a viewport rather than continuing to pace. In any case, her heels were getting sore.

Looking at Gavin in the room's reflection against the black of space outside, she pondered for a moment on the best way to reveal exactly why she needed him there. Eventually, she decided on her usual route: bluntness.

"I wish to retrieve my daughter from Starfleet Medical."

Zero Alpha wrote:

"This project does not require the use of any form of higher intellect," Zero replied, finally settling on looking out of a viewport rather than continuing to pace.  In any case, her heels were getting sore.  

Looking at Gavin in the room's reflection against the black of space outside, she pondered for a moment on the best way to reveal exactly why she needed him there.  Eventually, she decided on her usual route:  bluntness.

"I wish to retrieve my daughter from Starfleet Medical."

Gavin was just about to ask that, if the project didn't require any higher intellect, why didn't she just get some grunts from Ops or something to help her? Then, of course, the other shoe dropped. Steal the baby from Medical, hm?

"Bullshit," Gavin said, his face incredulous. When Zero's expression didn't change (not that it did that often, anyway), he shook his head, running his fingers through his mop of auburn hair. "Okay, maybe not bullshit, but...insane? Yeah. Insane. Zero...how in the world do you expect to retrieve your daughter? Do you even have a...you do, don't you?" He grinned an extremely boyish grin. "You have a plan for all this." It wasn't an interrogative.

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Gavin was just about to ask that, if the project didn't require any higher intellect, why didn't she just get some grunts from Ops or something to help her?  Then, of course, the other shoe dropped.  Steal the baby from Medical, hm?

"Bullshit," Gavin said, his face incredulous.  When Zero's expression didn't change (not that it did that often, anyway), he shook his head, running his fingers through his mop of auburn hair.  "Okay, maybe not bullshit, but...insane?  Yeah.  Insane.  Zero...how in the world do you expect to retrieve your daughter?  Do you even have a...you do, don't you?"  He grinned an extremely boyish grin.  "You have a plan for all this."  It wasn't an interrogative.

Zero simply blinked at Gavin's outburst. She was quite used to it, although admittedly not from people of his intellectual calibre. She folded her arms behind her back.

"I do not have a precise plan," she corrected. "I have the basis for one. It will require a reason for our return to Starfleet Medical, a large enough problem or one of such interest that will require the attention of the majority of the doctors under Admiral Corinth's direction. We will then require a manner in which to incapacitate them."

Zero Alpha wrote:

Zero simply blinked at Gavin's outburst.  She was quite used to it, although admittedly not from people of his intellectual calibre.  She folded her arms behind her back.

"I do not have a precise plan," she corrected.  "I have the basis for one.  It will require a reason for our return to Starfleet Medical, a large enough problem or one of such interest that will require the attention of the majority of the doctors under Admiral Corinth's direction.  We will then require a manner in which to incapacitate them."

"Sooo...let me get this straight," Gavin said, his face a mask of incredulity as he pulled up a chair at a small workstation, straddling it backward. "Your plan...no, your basis of a plan...only requires something to distract medical. Only requires that we slip in during that. And only requires a half-outlaw Augment and a science officer whose name is mud being able to even get to SFMHQ unnoticed." He shook his shaggy head. "Zero...you deserve to be with your little girl, no doubt. But this is...it's insanity."

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

"Sooo...let me get this straight," Gavin said, his face a mask of incredulity as he pulled up a chair at a small workstation, straddling it backward.  "Your plan...no, your basis of a plan...only requires something to distract medical.  Only requires that we slip in during that.  And only requires a half-outlaw Augment and a science officer whose name is mud being able to even get to SFMHQ unnoticed."  He shook his shaggy head.  "Zero...you deserve to be with your little girl, no doubt.  But this is...it's insanity."

"The thing that would distract medical would most likely be that I have contracted some disease or other that requires more specialist treatment, but in essence, you are correct," Zero pointed out. "Going unnoticed is not part of the plan."

She turned away from the window, raking a hand through her hair as she started to pace again in an effort to think. "Subterfuge is not a strong suite of mine! It was never required or encouraged!"

Zero Alpha wrote:

"The thing that would distract medical would most likely be that I have contracted some disease or other that requires more specialist treatment, but in essence, you are correct," Zero pointed out.  "Going unnoticed is not part of the plan."

She turned away from the window, raking a hand through her hair as she started to pace again in an effort to think.  "Subterfuge is not a strong suite of mine!  It was never required or encouraged!"

"A disease? Maybe..." Gavin said, rubbing his temples. He stood, moving over close to Zero, stopping short of putting a hand on her shoulder. Or...touching her, in general. He remembered that she pretty much hated that. There was no need to start planning an impossible task with a broken nose. "But subterfuge is going to be called for, one way or another."

Gavin moved to the replicator, making himself a cup of warm tea. Nursing it, he returned to Zero's side. "If we're going to pretend like you're sick...we're going to have to let the captain in on this, too. It's not like we can just...show up at Medical, out of the blue."

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

"A disease?  Maybe..." Gavin said, rubbing his temples.  He stood, moving over close to Zero, stopping short of putting a hand on her shoulder.  Or...touching her, in general.  He remembered that she pretty much hated that.  There was no need to start planning an impossible task with a broken nose.  "But subterfuge is going to be called for, one way or another."  

Gavin moved to the replicator, making himself a cup of warm tea.  Nursing it, he returned to Zero's side.  "If we're going to pretend like you're sick...we're going to have to let the captain in on this, too.  It's not like we can just...show up at Medical, out of the blue."

"It had occurred to me that I will require the assistance of the captain," Zero replied, trying not to snap at Gavin. She knew that, technically, he hadn't done anything wrong. He just wasn't reacting in the way she had anticipated. Which was pretty typical of her calculations where human behaviour was the main variable. "My inexperience with subterfuge is one reason that I also require your assistance on this project. It is my understanding that normal humans undergo a period during which they are particularly ignorant of rules and even possibly go out of their way to break them. It usually occurs between the ages of 13 and 20 and is an important step in learning how to lie, acquire knowledge of how to remain undetected and ingest copious amounts of narcotics and alcohol. While I do not believe that I have experienced, or have yet to experience, this, I require your knowledge to fill in that which I do not know."

Zero Alpha wrote:

"It had occurred to me that I will require the assistance of the captain," Zero replied, trying not to snap at Gavin.  She knew that, technically, he hadn't done anything wrong.  He just wasn't reacting in the way she had anticipated.  Which was pretty typical of her calculations where human behaviour was the main variable.  "My inexperience with subterfuge is one reason that I also require your assistance on this project.  It is my understanding that normal humans undergo a period during which they are particularly ignorant of rules and even possibly go out of their way to break them.  It usually occurs between the ages of 13 and 20 and is an important step in learning how to lie, acquire knowledge of how to remain undetected and ingest copious amounts of narcotics and alcohol.  While I do not believe that I have experienced, or have yet to experience, this, I require your knowledge to fill in that which I do not know."

Gavin took a long sip of his tea, giving Zero a level glance over the rim of the cup. "You know," he said, setting it down, "you'll find that you get further in your insane search-and-rescue plots if you don't spend your time yelling at your co-conspirators." He did have to smile at her logic, though. "Humanity isn't much for narcotics, anymore...but, yes - you have a point." He wondered, though, at the line about not having ingested much alcohol. Gavin had seen her drink, and if those weren't copious amounts, then he had no clue what was.

"So. Assuming that Captain T'Koris agrees with all this...and assuming that we can transport you back to Medical with me in tow...I dunno, Zero. This is still insane." Of course it was, but he kept right on talking, anyway. "I know those corridors well, and I can acquire a schematic layout of the building. Do you know where they're...keeping her?"

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Gavin took a long sip of his tea, giving Zero a level glance over the rim of the cup.  "You know," he said, setting it down, "you'll find that you get further in your insane search-and-rescue plots if you don't spend your time yelling at your co-conspirators."  He did have to smile at her logic, though.  "Humanity isn't much for narcotics, anymore...but, yes - you have a point."  He wondered, though, at the line about not having ingested much alcohol.  Gavin had seen her drink, and if those weren't   copious amounts, then he had no clue what was.

"So.  Assuming that Captain T'Koris agrees with all this...and assuming that we can transport you back to Medical with me in tow...I dunno, Zero.  This is still insane."  Of course it was, but he kept right on talking, anyway.  "I know those corridors well, and I can acquire a schematic layout of the building.  Do you know where they're...keeping her?"

Zero clenched her teeth, putting a lid on the emotions that were running high in her mind.  It was difficult, but she managed it.  She took a deep breath, moving to sit on the couch.  Ghost immediately jumped up next to her, curling up with his head on her lap.  She stroked his ears.

"I apologise for being short with you," she said quietly.  He was one of the few people in existence she would apologise to, one of the few she actually cared about.  When she spoke again, it was in a softer tone of voice than the one that she had taken with him before. "There is a room in the research department, in the same section as I usually stay, that contains stasis pods.  She is being held in one of them."

Zero Alpha wrote:

Zero clenched her teeth, putting a lid on the emotions that were running high in her mind.  It was difficult, but she managed it.  She took a deep breath, moving to sit on the couch.  Ghost immediately jumped up next to her, curling up with his head on her lap.  She stroked his ears.

"I apologise for being short with you," she said quietly.  He was one of the few people in existence she would apologise to, one of the few she actually cared about.  When she spoke again, it was in a softer tone of voice than the one that she had taken with him before.  "There is a room in the research department, in the same section as I usually stay, that contains stasis pods.  She is being held in one of them."

"Look, it's okay," Gavin said, holding his hand out in a placating gesture. "I know this isn't the easiest of times for you, Zero. Hurting my feelings is the least of your worries." He took another drink of tea, considering what she said about the stasis pods. "They'll likely be watched, but I think if I can get a good schematic, we can figure something out."

He set the cup back down, looking off to the side, staring at nothing in particular. "All this...whoever else you want to include or think would be helpful..." Gavin looked back at Zero, his sea-green eyes making direct contact with her greyish ones. "Keep Thelos out of it. I don't want him knowing anything." What they were doing was basically going to be the end of their careers, and he would never forgive himself if that fell on the Andorian, too. Thelos had already been through too much, sacrificed so much, to be where he was.

Zero nodded once to acknowledge his wishes about not including Thelos in their little bit of illegal activity. She hadn’t been planning to include the Andorian. In fact, she would rather keep the fact that he didn’t know about her true nature the way it was.

She ran her hands through her white hair, sighing and settling back against the couch cushions. She was aware that Jiseth would be back soon from her counselling session, and she wasn’t all that sure how the Romulan would respond to Gavin. Then again, Jiseth was likely to want part of their conspiracy to save their daughter from Starfleet Medical. It would be a good idea to determine if they could work together, or at least tolerate each other’s presence.

“I will be able to provide you with an accurate schematic of the research division, but not the internal schematics for the stasis room.”

Zero Alpha wrote:

Zero nodded once to acknowledge his wishes about not including Thelos in their little bit of illegal activity.  She hadn’t been planning to include the Andorian.  In fact, she would rather keep the fact that he didn’t know about her true nature the way it was.

She ran her hands through her white hair, sighing and settling back against the couch cushions.  She was aware that Jiseth would be back soon from her counselling session, and she wasn’t all that sure how the Romulan would respond to Gavin.  Then again, Jiseth was likely to want part of their conspiracy to save their daughter from Starfleet Medical.  It would be a good idea to determine if they could work together, or at least tolerate each other’s presence.

“I will be able to provide you with an accurate schematic of the research division, but not the internal schematics for the stasis room.”

"That'll have to be enough, then," Gavin said, resting his forehead in the palm of his hand. This was the most insane, half-baked idea he'd ever heard of. Not a lot to balance your entire career on, he thought. They would likely face some time in one of the Federation's penal rehabilitation colonies, too. Maybe they could all join the Maquis. No...I think they're all dead.

He tossed his cup in the matter reclamation unit, moving to flop down on the couch beside Zero. "You know," he grinned, "I think there's a Klingon that works in Sciences on the starbase. Maybe we could hire him to kill everyone."

Zero watched Gavin's gestures, trying to translate them into information about the goings on inside his head. So far, the only thing she had come up with was that he wasn't happy about something. Probably the fact that their plan was not cast iron in nature.

A vague thought crossed her mind as she looked at her cousin, though, and she was surprised at herself for not having considered it before.

"Gavin... What about your father? If he knew about... If he knew about what Corinth was doing, would he be in a position to do anything?"

Zero Alpha wrote:

Zero watched Gavin's gestures, trying to translate them into information about the goings on inside his head.  So far, the only thing she had come up with was that he wasn't happy about something.  Probably the fact that their plan was not cast iron in nature.

A vague thought crossed her mind as she looked at her cousin, though, and she was surprised at herself for not having considered it before.

"Gavin... What about your father?  If he knew about... If he knew about what Corinth was doing, would he be in a position to do anything?"

Ah, yes. What about his father. The truth of the matter was that Gavin had been avoiding bringing Dr. Van Gelder up, or even thinking about him. He wasn't sure how much good the man could do them, or if he would even be willing to. But there was also another thought, one that he wanted to avoid at all costs, yet it still crept into his mind.

What if he already knows.

Worse, still - what if he was involved? It wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. No, he thought, curling up on the couch and holding his head, refusing to entertain the idea. Gavin and his father did not see eye-to-eye, but ultimately, he believed that Marius Van Gelder was a good man, even if he was a total hardass. To have a member of his own family involved in such an open and blatant violation of a sentient being's civil rights...

"I don't know," he said, holding his temples, his voice sounding strained. "Dad's high up, but he can't go pulling rank on admirals. I think we'd need more firepower than that."

Well, that idea went down like a lead balloon, or would have if Zero had been able to get her head around that particular expression. It was very illogical to her. Gavin appeared to be particularly distressed by the line of conversation, but she wasn't prepared to abandon the idea just yet.

"Although he may not be able to take care of the situation for us, would he be willing to assist in some capacity?"

Zero Alpha wrote:

Well, that idea went down like a lead balloon, or would have if Zero had been able to get her head around that particular expression.  It was very illogical to her.  Gavin appeared to be particularly distressed by the line of conversation, but she wasn't prepared to abandon the idea just yet.

"Although he may not be able to take care of the situation for us, would he be willing to assist in some capacity?"

"Yeah. I guess," Gavin shrugged, sounding quite non-committal. He wasn't that sure that his father would be receptive to anything Gavin asked of him, let alone anything that required circumventing decisions that Zero's project managers had made. He supposed it was worth a shot, though. Could he trust his father not to alert everyone to what they were planning? Gavin didn't know the answer to that question, and that hurt like hell. "I...I haven't talked to him in a long while. I really don't know if the help he could give us would be worth the risk of bringing him in on it."

Like many things, the nuances of familial relationships were presently beyond Zero's comprehension. She wasn't sure that she understood just why Gavin was so reluctant to contact his father, but she also knew that politeness dictated that she shouldn't press him.

"I...understand," she said, even though she knew that it was a lie. It was a curious thing, that some humanoids lied to each other to spare each other's feelings. She sat quietly on the couch, trying to think of any kind of better plan to rescue her baby from Medical.

Jiseth entered Zero's quarters with her flight helmet in one hand and a PADD from which she read in the other. So focused on that, she only made a side note in her mind that the guest present was Gavin as she made her way to their bedroom. It clicked though as the doors opened and she froze still, both helmet and PADD dropping to the floor. Slowly her head turned to look over her shoulder, hoping it had just been her imagination.

It was not.

"...Hello, Ensign."

Jiseth wrote:

Jiseth entered Zero's quarters with her flight helmet in one hand and a PADD from which she read in the other. So focused on that, she only made a side note in her mind that the guest present was Gavin as she made her way to their bedroom. It clicked though as the doors opened and she froze still, both helmet and PADD dropping to the floor. Slowly her head turned to look over her shoulder, hoping it had just been her imagination.

It was not.

"...Hello, Ensign."

Well, things seemed to be at an impasse. Gavin had no clue if his father was going to be any help at all, or if he was going to be, at best, an inert impediment. Or...no. Gavin refused to even think that way.

He and Zero settled into an uncomfortable silence...one that was broken by the sudden intrusion of an unhappy-looking Romulan. Well, Gavin assumed he shouldn't use the term intrusion, seeing as how she lived here. Or, she had. Perhaps she still did.

"Um. Yeah...if you're expecting me to snap to attention," Gavin said, standing up off the sofa, "I'm afraid you're going to have to wait a long time. I've buried my own career so far that I'm sure disrespecting the Flight Department isn't going to toss more dirt on it." He held out his hand, unsure if she was going to break it or bite it or shake it. "Gavin Van Gelder."

Gavin Van Gelder wrote:

Well, things seemed to be at an impasse.  Gavin had no clue if his father was going to be any help at all, or if he was going to be, at best, an inert impediment.  Or...no.  Gavin refused to even think that way.

He and Zero settled into an uncomfortable silence...one that was broken by the sudden intrusion of an unhappy-looking Romulan.  Well, Gavin assumed he shouldn't use the term intrusion, seeing as how she lived here.  Or, she had.  Perhaps she still did.

"Um.  Yeah...if you're expecting me to snap to attention," Gavin said, standing up off the sofa, "I'm afraid you're going to have to wait a long time.  I've buried my own career so far that I'm sure disrespecting the Flight Department isn't going to toss more dirt on it."  He held out his hand, unsure if she was going to break it or bite it or shake it.  "Gavin Van Gelder."

A less than amused expression took hold along with the slight raising of her eyebrows. Her handshake was a bit on the firm side to match. Apathy was what she felt for him at the moment and his career. What was such a thing compared to a life, no, two lives that hung in the balance. However, she knew he reported to Corinth and that alone set her contempt aloft.

"A most strenuous burden placed on shoulders, is it not? An angel appears an offers you a change of life, do you think of the good Admiral as such? I certainly hope not. One might think you were the errand boy of the devil, or worse... In the service of government. Tell me, what do you put in those reports anyway, Mr. Van Gelder?"

Jiseth wrote:

A less than amused expression took hold along with the slight raising of her eyebrows. Her handshake was a bit on the firm side to match. Apathy was what she felt for him at the moment and his career. What was such a thing compared to a life, no, two lives that hung in the balance. However, she knew he reported to Corinth and that alone set her contempt aloft.

"A most strenuous burden placed on shoulders, is it not? An angel appears an offers you a change of life, do you think of the good Admiral as such? I certainly hope not. One might think you were the errand boy of the devil, or worse... In the service of government. Tell me, what do you put in those reports anyway, Mr. Van Gelder?"

He wasn't sure, but Gavin thought that maybe he felt a bone threaten to crack under the pressure of Jiseth's handshake. That was to be expected, however. Territorial. Not unlike a Klingon, less so, but no less passionate, as a rule, he thought, his mind analyzing the Romulan in front of him in the seconds that it took him to realize that she wasn't going to drop the issue of his reporting to Corinth. In fact, she was going to make it even more of an issue.

Usually, Gavin was so good-natured that he let things like that slide off his back. Usually. There was a dark side to his genius, though...one that he worked so hard to cover up with all the exuberance and eccentricities. However, the stress of planning the obvious career suicide that they were getting ready to undertake, combined with...well, everything else...

"You're right," he said, taking a step back and cocking his head, looking at Jiseth as if she were a particularly interesting bit of offal on his shoe. "You want to talk about devils? How about 'the one you know'. It's a Terran expression. Since you're apparently not in the 'connecting-the-dots' mood today, allow me. One," he said, jabbing a finger in the air, "we have one Zero Alpha, property of Starfleet Medical. Two, we have that self-same Medical, who sends an eager young ensign in to report on Alpha. Three, that ensign's conscience won't allow him to double-cross Alpha, and so he blows the assignment. Are you with me, so far?"

Gavin slapped his fist into the palm of his hand. "Now, imagine this Alpha left alone, and then recalled to Medical. They say she's unfit. Unstable. Can't cope. Why? Maybe because she went and created a child. Why'd she do that? Maybe to keep you around, because she literally has no concept of relationships and how they work. But that doesn't do it, does it? You still disappear. Oh, don't stop me now, Lieutenant, it gets better!"

By now, Gavin's cheeks were flush with anger, his 'fight or flight' instincts surprisingly choosing 'fight'. "While we're in Imagination Land, imagine Zero kept in a goddamned closet at Starfleet Medical. Now, you tell me...if you had the opportunity to get her out of there, wouldn't you tell Corinth and whoever-the-hell-else just exactly what they wanted to hear? Maybe it wasn't the best idea, but I didn't hear you offering any up. Oh, wait, that's right, YOU," he said, jabbing a finger to emphasize each word, "WEREN'T. THERE! So why don't you pull a cloaking device out of your ass and disappear."