The Origin of Melissa

Posted on Fri Mar 19th, 2010 @ 8:14pm by Lieutenant Commander Melissa Daniels M.D.

Mission: Commissioned
Location: Cardassia Prime
Timeline: Ten Years Ago

She walked forward amongst the ruins. She had decided on a name, but whatever she was had died in the burning building behind her. She had transported out just in time, but now she had no purpose. Still in her black camouflage, she then knelt down and started praying. She began to say the lord's prayer. Unaware that her voice was drawing someone near. "....Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins..."

The Betazoid doctor saw the woman go down to her knees and hurried over. The blaze had caught her attention -- not only was there usually fire where there was smoke but there were usually injured or dying people where there was fire. Her tricorder was immediately in her hand, directed at the woman. "Were you caught in the blaze?"

She responded, "No..."

Jaro eyed the woman. "Who are you?"

She looked up. "My name is Melissa."

"Doctor Jaro," she said by way of introduction. "Are you feeling alright?" She closed her tricorder, finding no physical problems.

"I am both alive and dead, Doctor. A part of myself has died, and another wishes to live. I am not who I am anymore, and I prefer it that way. I don't want to kill anymore." She noted. "I am leaving this planet, but I have nothing left... anywhere."

The doctor eyed the young woman. She had an unusual feel about her, both exhaustion, complete exhaustion and a sense of renewed purpose. Either this woman was suffering from serious shock or she had just gone through the sort of revelation people only read about. It was times like this that she wished she had more than a basic empathy. "I'm here with a mobile surgical hospital," she began, not entirely sure what she could offer this woman. "You don't seem to be injured but if you'd like somewhere to maybe . . . cool off a little. There are plenty of beds."

She spoke, "Perhaps some rest would do good. I am a volunteer, Fifth Volunteers." She used that unit for her own purpose. They got the worst casualties when they beamed down facing the stragglers planetside. That and the Volunteer Units were mostly colonials and mercs that were used to beef up support operations.

"You don't want to rejoin your people?"

She spoke, "Fighting this war is the greatest of sins." She stated, "I have too many ghosts haunting me, and I just want to leave and wander. Perhaps find another purpose."

The doctor nodded. Now that the war and hooplah about 'saving the Alpha quadrant', more and more infantry grunts were reacting this way. "Purpose is a hard thing to find." She stated baldly.

She spoke, "I'll find it." She said simply.

Sydney didn't respond, taking in the woman's confidence and wondering how she could be that way about something so abstract. She tapped her commbadge. "Jaro to Mickelson."

=/\=Mickelson here.=/\=

"I'm escorting someone back to camp, keep things organised here until I get back."

=/\=Acknowledged.=/\=

[OFF]

by

Lieutenant Sydney Jaro
Chief Medical Officer
USS Jackal

and

Lieutenant JG Melissa Daniels MD
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Jackal