out on the line

27||Field Geologist||Scientist

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Was it a dosage adjustment, or did she change your medication altogether? I haven’t had a chance to get to the backlog of reports she’s forwarding me. No one outside of medical has to know that we’re meeting. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Bryan, but if you would feel more comfortable with keeping it quiet, I can guarantee discretion.

Send us back? This is the first I’m hearing of that decision. Dr. Richardson had mentioned something about returning to orbit, but I didn’t realize that there had been dialogue beyond that.

[bryan-cabrera]

Um, it's a different one. I asked her to after I told her my, um, mouth was dry. And I wasn't eating. Yeah. But no. I mean, yeah. I don't want everybody else to know.I guess. I don't know. All I heard is we were supposed to pack up and, um...they were ready to leave the others behind. Elsa and everyone. They wouldn't really do that, would they?

[nihilxdolere]

I can’t feel it. It can vait. ….Vat? Did I just hear zat right?

[bryan-cabrera]

Sorry, I mean orbit! Shit. I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore. Sorry. He told everyone to pack and get ready to leave.They were getting ready to leave you guys...

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Everything that we discuss is confidential. The only people who have access to your files are medical personnel. I’m not licensed to prescribe medications, but they are, so they need to be in the loop with things so that they can make adjustments if need be.

I think spending time in the gym would be an excellent use of your free time. And as for the memorial, yes ― it would be a memorial for Drs. Sloan and Clarke, to be attended by anyone who wishes to be there. I think the entire crew would benefit from it. Not everyone worked with Abigail and Samyaza, but the doctors were a part of this mission. They were a part of this family. It would be a chance for everyone to grieve, to remember, and to refocus our energies on achieving our purpose here.

[bryan-cabrera]

While you were under, Dr. Bennet, um, she helped me with a small adjustment. Yeah. Okay. I'm fine with her. Just not with the crew. They already think I'm dumb, I don't want them to think I'm crazy either.Wait, refocus. So does that you mean you don't agree with the Director's decision to send us back?

[nihilxdolere]

Albrecht here

[talon-v-blog]

I feared we might have gotten to that point. I am thankful we narrowly made it back within our window.

[bryan-cabrera]

I am too. We don't need anymore names for our casualty list.

[nihilxdolere]

Nein, I can find one but I'm goink to make sure Jax has gotten his sorry ass back in bed first. Anysing else I need to be brought up to date on?

[bryan-cabrera]

Shouldn't you look into your thing first?...The Director says he's bringing us home.

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

To a point, yes. Should I deem it necessary, I can order session, as I mentioned before. I don’t want to have to do that, but if I feel that it would be to your benefit, or that you are a threat to yourself or your shipmates, then I can, and I will. Ideally, I would like to work withyou. Not against you.

There won’t be nap time on this schedule. Balance keeps us steady and moving forward, which is what we must do. I understand that this is a trying time, Bryan, but we cannot allow this loss to keep us from what we are here to do. Dr. Sloan’s death should not be in vain ― neither should Dr. Clarke’s. 

…What do you think about a memorial service? I can arrange something. It would be a chance for the crew to gather, to share thoughts and anecdotes, and to remember. 

[bryan-cabrera]

Well...fine, I'd rather not have you order anything either. I already feel too much like a damn kid sometimes. Whatever. I'll go along. Just as long as you promise...you promise not to say anything to the others. About this.Yeah, yeah, balance sure. Whatever. If it means putting in some extra time at the gym, I can deal. It's not like I have an overabundance of lab work to do anyway, I suppose.

Um...a memorial? Like, for us? The crew? I mean...do you think everyone else would want to do it?

[nihilxdolere]

Albrecht here

[nihilxdolere]

My suit has changed color und I vas informed earlier zat zere vas damage to my back. Now zat ze adrenaline is verink off I am beginnink to feel a sort of stiffness from ze latter.

He’s vat? Zat stupid son of a bitch. Has anyone found him yet or am I goink to have to hunt ze asshole down myself?

[bryan-cabrera]

Do you want me to go find a doctor? I'm sure one's around here somewhere.I dunno - the cyborg guy - Hargrave, I think he was looking after him? But he's just been walking around, kinda.

[nihilxdolere]

Albrecht here

[talon-v-blog]

Everything is fine, and we arrived just in time, yes.

[bryan-cabrera]

Good. Any longer and, well...

[nihilxdolere]

Albrecht here

[talon-v-blog]

She left with me to get Rosa, Apollo, and the Black Box.

[bryan-cabrera]

Are you all okay?

[nihilxdolere]

Albrecht here

[nihilxdolere]

I had to fetch ze verdammt black box, along vith Apollo und Martell vith a silicone storm comink straight at us. I need a drink und a doctor. In zat order.

Vat’s ze status on ze injured?

[bryan-cabrera]

Oh my god. Um, well, I can grab a drink? What, are you hurt?Um, Jax is up and about against doc's orders, Blondie just woke up, and I haven't heard much about Robin.

[kalani-ambrose]

Nothing but a tennis ball

[kalani-ambrose]

[Kalani snorted at the statement, peering over at Cabrera. He was probably one of the few people that put up with her…unusual charm wrapped in sarcasm.] Rocks? Rue the day I ever see anymore rocks. To think I used collect them as a child. Then my mother took me on one of her digs. I never found anything except bits of metal but I did find a lot of rocks. I stopped collecting them after that.

[bryan-cabrera]

Too bad you're stuck with a geologist, then. [Bryan returns the grin, after a moment pausing to reach in his pocket and withdraw a rock, examining it for a moment before he holds it up for Kalani to see.] Sedimentary sample. Dense. Hundreds of years old. Fascinating.[He drops his arm but remains holding the rock, tilting his head as he speaks again.] So what, you don't got cool samples or anything to work on?

[nihilxdolere]

Albrecht here

Let’s get zose hangar doors open people. Ve’re comink in.

[bryan-cabrera]

Just one m - got it!Elsa? Where did you go? Why'd you leave again?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

I’m not interested in making you do anything that you don’t want to. There are circumstances in which I can order sessions, but I don’t want to have to do that. Not with you, or anyone else on this ship.

It’s an option. Whether or not you decide to go that route it is entirely up to you. I’m not going to advocate it to your superiors if you don’t feel you need it at this point, just as I’m not going to mandate writing therapy. Monitoring will not be necessary, either. What I was thinking was creating a daily schedule for you. Restoration of balance is imperative, especially at a time like this. We can designate a specific day and time to talk about whatever you wish to speak about. I’d also like to see you log some time in the VEC and the gym. It would do you well to keep up with your cycling.

[bryan-cabrera]

So...it's really up to me? Like if I didn't want to talk, I wouldn't have to, and you wouldn't push it?A daily schedule? What am I? In kindergarten all over again? But, um, I guess I could get into the gym more. I mean, it's not like anyone's using it. What's this junk about balance, though? How is anyone supposed to be balanced now that Ab - she's gone?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Bryan… I recognize that our last conversation was not a pleasant one, and for that, I apologize. I would like to make amends and start anew on this expedition. My job here is different from that of my job back on Earth. For the duration of our time on this ship, I am here to aid you in any way that I can, and to provide you with support and structure. I would very much like to help you, but I cannot do so unless you allow me to.

If you require personal time, in the wake of recent events, I can speak to Dr. Swanepoel and Director Marlow about modifying your current workload. Alternatively, I can collaborate with you. We can work on resolving any challenges you are facing in the labs, develop a schedule to keep your days balanced… What do you say?

[bryan-cabrera]

It's easy to say that when we're all good as stuck with each other for months, if not years. Who knows at this point. And what? You can't just procure another direct order from the Weyland geeks and make us talk or something?I...I don't need personal time. The labs are understaffed enough as it is. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one putting in any hours at all in the Secondary labs. I just...ugh, fine. What are you thinking about? If it's like some weird monitoring shit or something, I'm out. And I refuse to write about my feelings.

[kalani-ambrose]

Nothing but a tennis ball

[Kathunk. Kathunk. The tennis ball bounces off the wall of Kalani’s room. The door is open and the woman is clearly bored, her time on the Vespasian not living up to her expectations.] “Christ all this waiting is driving me crazy. I haven’t been awake a month and I already feel like I’m losing it. Get on the Vespasian, they said. It’s a rare opportunity, they said."

[bryan-cabrera]

[Bryan, walking by, hears something odd and stops. Peering in the open door, he sees the familiar figure of Miss Ambrose, and he manages to catcht he last bit of her talking to herself. Grinning, he knocks lightly to let her know of his presence and steps in.] I got some extra rocks if you want some. [Despite the fact they seemingly disagree on some issues, he really doesn't mind her.]

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Here’s to hoping. Scientific discoveries have been made with less to draw from. 

[bryan-cabrera]

This isn't exactly the most conducive place for experiments, though. Not even the best labs in the world can work when the people working them are dropping like flies.

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

Hello?

[lornamaxwell-deactivated2014012]

I’m sure I won’t have any difficulty finding purpose now. Speaking of purpose, how is your work going? Have you made any notable findings?

[bryan-cabrera]

What? Me? No.All I got was a backpack of half assed samples. I doubt I'll find anything substantial.