Ex-Commander Renée Yvonne Minkowski @commander-renee-minkowski - Tumblr Blog

#wolf359 roleplay blogs #dr. mercury

She closes her eyes a second after she opens them, the light searing into her retinas, making her headache worse. She noticed white walls in her brief glance of the room, and she stirs slightly, opening her eyes to a sliver and slowly turning her head to see the rest of the room, trying not to alert anyone to her being awake. She can't keep her breath slow though, as she starts to realize shes in a lab and her crew is nowhere in sight. She tries her hardest to think back to what she can last remember... The final stand, Eiffel-... and then heading home on the Urania, with mostly everyone intact. She remembers feeling a little faint, her stomach wound still throbbing, setting the flight controls towards home, and then.... nothing. Just blank. Where is everyone? Her breath hitches as her panic rises, and she stills, forcing it to slow once more. Panicking will do nothing. Assess and prioritize.

Hi Hera, how are you doing? I just wanted to check in. I know I promised I would.

- @commander-renee-minkowski

Oh good. You seem more like yourself now.

I’ve been managing, but being around Pryce, even though I know she doesn’t remember what she did, has been tough. Though her memories aren’t the same, her voice, her face, her eyes… it all just brings back so much I rather wouldn’t remember.

#wolf 359 roleplay blogs #hera

I understand at least a little bit how you feel. I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do for you, to make this any easier, you'll let me know?

Continued from here !

Eiffel just rolled his eyes, trying to move his head to make it obvious under the jacket.

"Been that long? Are you seriously trying to tell me you, finally, years later, just remembered 'Oh yeah! I should find Eiffel!"

He made a mouth with his hand like a sock puppet as he mocked her.

@commander-renee-minkowski

Minkowski remains silent for a few long moments.

"...Let me get this straight. You're claiming to be the same Doug Eiffel that made it to earth with us?" She chokes a laugh. "God I should have fucking known. I shouldn't have believed-" Eiffel hears a motion, that might have been Minkowski shaking her head, or something else. When she next speaks, her voice sounds drained of any energy she may have had while they were fleeing.

"No. No, you're lying. Once we get there we can figure out who you are."

Luckily, that wouldn't take much longer. Two minutes later the car pulls to a stop. "If you take off the jacket, you're screwed, okay? Just... behave for now. You can be a dick later."

"So mean," He pouted and rolled his head.

He was so bitter, so much anger clearly bottled up without a proper outlet for his mostly pacifist self. And that felt real.

"I don't really need to see to do things much anymore. Muscle memory is a hell of a thing right? Daredevil but a lot lamer"

He looked at her, and even through the jacket, it's almost like she could feel his eyes on her.

"Are you asking me to stay in the car or get out, Commander?"

She sighs. "I don't know what that means, but ok. I am asking you to get out of the car, and come with me. Don't remove the jacket, or attempt to look. I'll help you out."

She opens her door, and gets out, walking around to Eiffel's side and opens it for him. "Here, this is my arm." She gently bumps his hand with her arm, as if expecting for him to grab it and hoist himself out of the car.

He takes it easily, jumping out and then letting go to move a few steps in front of her.

"And I didn't know what you meant when you asked if I was Doug Eiffel."

He dragged his foot on the ground until he moved from pavement to dirt and began walking around the walkway he found.

Minkowski sighs and follows, gently touching his arm to guide him to the door. "Right. Of course not. I don't think now is really the time to give the whole... tragic spiel, but I'll make sure to once we're inside. Hera is going to be so excited to see you." Minkowski opens the door, calling out, while dragging Eiffel in and shutting the door behind him, finally grabbing her jacket from over Eiffel's head. "Isabel, we're back! Get down here!"

Doug looked around.

Not exactly hard to find out general location. Time in car plus architecture plus weather.

But, he didn't really see the point of running. This could even be useful for Intel. He could sell them out like they did him.

It's only fair.

He tilted his head as he listened to house, his eyes locking with a camera and letting out a little huff.

"Love what you've done with the place, really rolled out the red carpet for the hostage. Maybe you won't shoot this one."

Minkowski flinches minutely at that, and turns to Eiffel.

"Okay, what the *hell* is your problem? This isn't- You've... been through a lot since we last saw each other. I'm still- I can't believe-" She takes a second, and then there's a sudden dawn of realization on her face. Her good mood has completely vanished, and she looks just as hollow as she did when she first stumbled into that lab.

"Wait. What did Goddard tell you? Did they tell you we left you to *die*?"

Doug looked at her like she was the stupidest person to exist, maybe a look she's flung his way before.

"Left me to die, exchange for your own cushy little life, classic prisoners dilemma stuff , you know they didn't really give me details. Mostly just a plus b equals why the hell did they just leave you all be and I got to-"

He just barely caught himself.

Deep breath.

Then he locked up completely, looking away from her as he studied the house.

He won't see it, but he hears the small sound she makes as she practically deflates. There's a moment of tense silence before she speaks again, and when she does her voice is reed thin.

"I told Isabel we should have kept looking. I told her. But... when I saw your body myself, I- I- thought-" She takes a breath, and steadies her voice.

"Do you really think that? Doug. I know you're not stupid. Look me in the eyes and tell me you believe I would leave you to die. After practically forcing you home before we even had a chance to lose. Tell me to my face that you believe I would leave you to die for the promise of fucking "comfort."

#wolf359 roleplay blogs #isabel lovelace

(@captain-lovelace)

[Minkowski is down in the kitchen, absently doing the dishes at 6:30 am. It's almost automatic the way she moves. It's efficient at least, she finishes within ten minutes, and just... stares at the wall, nothing behind her eyes. Waiting for it to reach 6:45, so she can move on to the next household task. It's a cruel mimicry of her rotation aboard the Hephaestus, except, without any navigations to update or cracks to fix, she's just... doing the housework. Isabel walks downstairs as it hits 6:12, Minkowski is standing unnaturally still and seemingly just... staring at the wall. A content smile on her face.]

Continued from here !

Eiffel just rolled his eyes, trying to move his head to make it obvious under the jacket.

"Been that long? Are you seriously trying to tell me you, finally, years later, just remembered 'Oh yeah! I should find Eiffel!"

He made a mouth with his hand like a sock puppet as he mocked her.

@commander-renee-minkowski

Minkowski remains silent for a few long moments.

"...Let me get this straight. You're claiming to be the same Doug Eiffel that made it to earth with us?" She chokes a laugh. "God I should have fucking known. I shouldn't have believed-" Eiffel hears a motion, that might have been Minkowski shaking her head, or something else. When she next speaks, her voice sounds drained of any energy she may have had while they were fleeing.

"No. No, you're lying. Once we get there we can figure out who you are."

Luckily, that wouldn't take much longer. Two minutes later the car pulls to a stop. "If you take off the jacket, you're screwed, okay? Just... behave for now. You can be a dick later."

"So mean," He pouted and rolled his head.

He was so bitter, so much anger clearly bottled up without a proper outlet for his mostly pacifist self. And that felt real.

"I don't really need to see to do things much anymore. Muscle memory is a hell of a thing right? Daredevil but a lot lamer"

He looked at her, and even through the jacket, it's almost like she could feel his eyes on her.

"Are you asking me to stay in the car or get out, Commander?"

She sighs. "I don't know what that means, but ok. I am asking you to get out of the car, and come with me. Don't remove the jacket, or attempt to look. I'll help you out."

She opens her door, and gets out, walking around to Eiffel's side and opens it for him. "Here, this is my arm." She gently bumps his hand with her arm, as if expecting for him to grab it and hoist himself out of the car.

He takes it easily, jumping out and then letting go to move a few steps in front of her.

"And I didn't know what you meant when you asked if I was Doug Eiffel."

He dragged his foot on the ground until he moved from pavement to dirt and began walking around the walkway he found.

Minkowski sighs and follows, gently touching his arm to guide him to the door. "Right. Of course not. I don't think now is really the time to give the whole... tragic spiel, but I'll make sure to once we're inside. Hera is going to be so excited to see you." Minkowski opens the door, calling out, while dragging Eiffel in and shutting the door behind him, finally grabbing her jacket from over Eiffel's head. "Isabel, we're back! Get down here!"

Doug looked around.

Not exactly hard to find out general location. Time in car plus architecture plus weather.

But, he didn't really see the point of running. This could even be useful for Intel. He could sell them out like they did him.

It's only fair.

He tilted his head as he listened to house, his eyes locking with a camera and letting out a little huff.

"Love what you've done with the place, really rolled out the red carpet for the hostage. Maybe you won't shoot this one."

Minkowski flinches minutely at that, and turns to Eiffel.

"Okay, what the *hell* is your problem? This isn't- You've... been through a lot since we last saw each other. I'm still- I can't believe-" She takes a second, and then there's a sudden dawn of realization on her face. Her good mood has completely vanished, and she looks just as hollow as she did when she first stumbled into that lab.

"Wait. What did Goddard tell you? Did they tell you we left you to *die*?"

I heard from Miranda that you're somehow alive again, and having full conversations! Very believable and normal. Would love to know who's behind this nonsense. But with my luck you're very much not going to tell me, are you?

- @commander-renee-minkowski

A commander? Maybe this is who Miranda talks about sometimes...

Well, sir, I am Communications Officer Samuel Lambert, and I am there person "behind this", if by "this" you means my conversations with Miranda. I don't know what else you could want to know about me.

I am wondering who you are, though. Where are you stationed, if you don't mind my asking? And I would assume you are in 2016 as well, if you know Miranda?

I'm Commander Renée Minkowski of the U.S.S Hephaestus. Well.. Ex-Commander. And yes, I am from the same time as Miranda. If she mentions a Commander, that's me. Though I have been trying to get her to stop calling me that, considering it's no longer my title.

"Ex-Commander"?

Wait. You were on the Hephaestus too? Do you know @captain-lovelace? It's hard to believe that there are so many people who were on the same station after us...

Yes. Isabel and I know each other.

The only reason why I haven't blocked you on every device in the house is that you've managed to convince Lovelace you're the real Sam Lambert. So tread carefully.

What? Why would you–

I am Communications Officer Samuel Lambert, and I would appreciate it if you would address me as such.

And who are you to address Captain Lovelace with such familiarity? You must be someone she knows and trusts, so why don't you afford her the same courtesy? If she believes me, why don't you? And what do I need to do to prove myself to you? Is my word as a communications officer not enough?

I believe she thinks you're real. And I believe she's been through enough shit that if this IS Goddard messing with her, they'll regret it.

But fine. I do trust her judgment. Plus, It's more likely that you're somehow a revived Samuel Lambert, back to haunt us all with his great sense of humor, because frankly it seems that's the kind of crazy shit we have to deal with these days. If you ARE Goddard though, you won't be anything at all soon enough.

Everyone seem to be really upset with Goddard, but no one will tell me why. And I keep getting warned against Selberg, but then there's no reasoning for why it's a good idea.

Do you know?

...Yes. I know. Did Lovelace not tell you? If she chose not to, I'm not entirely sure it's my place.

But if you're desperate to know, use your brain. Why would Lovelace and I be so surprised to hear from you? In what circumstance would you not be in communication with Lovelace? I think from there you can deduce how Goddard is involved. As for Selberg? I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole. Just don't mention anything to him at all, or you're screwed.

Captain Lovelace told me a little, but I am not sure how to interpret it.

And you're saying that I can figure this out on my own? Well, the only reason I would ever have a lack of communication with the Captain is if someone cut off our means of contact; either one of us or an outside party. If she's surprised, then it wouldn't have been her, and it sounds like it probably wasn't me either, which means that there's another person or persons involved...

You died, Officer Lambert. You died and so did everyone else on her crew. So please forgive me for being… overprotective. I still don’t know what’s going on here, but I am trying to be nice.

Oh.

Oh no. When she said that things ended "badly" on our mission, I never imagined that... The entire crew... Oh dear...

...

What about Rhea? Surely she had to survive, seeing as she's a vital part of the station?

Right?

...I'm sorry you had to hear it from me. And.. well. I don't think she made it. But I don't... really know. Sorry.

...

Oh.

That's– That's fine, I guess. My whole crew doesn't make it, even our AI who never did anything wrong, and we all just die in space.

Okay.

Yeah. As Isabel would say... it uh. It sucks.

She does make it home though. I tried to make sure of that the best I could.

I–

*Sigh*

Thank you. I really do appreciate it, I just can't quite understand what we did wrong.

Command sent us up here full of hope and promises, and yeah, maybe some of them were too good to be true, but– I still thought–

Oh, I don't even know anymore....

I truly am sorry. Listen, I don't know what Lovelace has or hasn't told you, or what she'd actually be okay with me telling you. But I went into this as blind as you were, and frankly I'm sick of holding my tongue and just letting things happen. She can yell at me for this later if she needs to.

It was Goddard the whole time. They sent you up there to die, and then they did the same exact thing with me and my crew.

What? No, no. That can't be. There's no way–

I... I don't understand. Why send us up here at all, if we're only supposed to die? Why give us a mission, a medical officer, a way to contact Command?

What was our purpose?

Well. About that.

Do you really want to know? Are you absolutely sure?

As– As sure as I can be?

I mean, yes. I'm sure. Maybe if I learn from you I'll be able to keep my crew safe.

I'll... I'll try to get Isabel to tell you. I really don't know what the move is here, and you're part of her crew, not mine. If she doesn't tell soon, or give me a good reason not to, I'll do it. But just... be careful, ok? Don't go making noise or things will end a lot earlier than they need to.

I'll do my best.

It's not like any one listens to me about anything anyways.

And– Thank you, Commander. I appreciate it.

#wolf359 roleplay blogs #communicationsofficerslambert

Of course. All of this nonsense aside, it was a pleasure to meet you Officer Lambert. I've heard so many good things, and you have done a damn good job serving your crew.

Continued from here !

Eiffel just rolled his eyes, trying to move his head to make it obvious under the jacket.

"Been that long? Are you seriously trying to tell me you, finally, years later, just remembered 'Oh yeah! I should find Eiffel!"

He made a mouth with his hand like a sock puppet as he mocked her.

@commander-renee-minkowski

Minkowski remains silent for a few long moments.

"...Let me get this straight. You're claiming to be the same Doug Eiffel that made it to earth with us?" She chokes a laugh. "God I should have fucking known. I shouldn't have believed-" Eiffel hears a motion, that might have been Minkowski shaking her head, or something else. When she next speaks, her voice sounds drained of any energy she may have had while they were fleeing.

"No. No, you're lying. Once we get there we can figure out who you are."

Luckily, that wouldn't take much longer. Two minutes later the car pulls to a stop. "If you take off the jacket, you're screwed, okay? Just... behave for now. You can be a dick later."

"So mean," He pouted and rolled his head.

He was so bitter, so much anger clearly bottled up without a proper outlet for his mostly pacifist self. And that felt real.

"I don't really need to see to do things much anymore. Muscle memory is a hell of a thing right? Daredevil but a lot lamer"

He looked at her, and even through the jacket, it's almost like she could feel his eyes on her.

"Are you asking me to stay in the car or get out, Commander?"

She sighs. "I don't know what that means, but ok. I am asking you to get out of the car, and come with me. Don't remove the jacket, or attempt to look. I'll help you out."

She opens her door, and gets out, walking around to Eiffel's side and opens it for him. "Here, this is my arm." She gently bumps his hand with her arm, as if expecting for him to grab it and hoist himself out of the car.

He takes it easily, jumping out and then letting go to move a few steps in front of her.

"And I didn't know what you meant when you asked if I was Doug Eiffel."

He dragged his foot on the ground until he moved from pavement to dirt and began walking around the walkway he found.

Minkowski sighs and follows, gently touching his arm to guide him to the door. "Right. Of course not. I don't think now is really the time to give the whole... tragic spiel, but I'll make sure to once we're inside. Hera is going to be so excited to see you." Minkowski opens the door, calling out, while dragging Eiffel in and shutting the door behind him, finally grabbing her jacket from over Eiffel's head. "Isabel, we're back! Get down here!"

Continued from here !

Eiffel just rolled his eyes, trying to move his head to make it obvious under the jacket.

"Been that long? Are you seriously trying to tell me you, finally, years later, just remembered 'Oh yeah! I should find Eiffel!"

He made a mouth with his hand like a sock puppet as he mocked her.

@commander-renee-minkowski

Minkowski remains silent for a few long moments.

"...Let me get this straight. You're claiming to be the same Doug Eiffel that made it to earth with us?" She chokes a laugh. "God I should have fucking known. I shouldn't have believed-" Eiffel hears a motion, that might have been Minkowski shaking her head, or something else. When she next speaks, her voice sounds drained of any energy she may have had while they were fleeing.

"No. No, you're lying. Once we get there we can figure out who you are."

Luckily, that wouldn't take much longer. Two minutes later the car pulls to a stop. "If you take off the jacket, you're screwed, okay? Just... behave for now. You can be a dick later."

"So mean," He pouted and rolled his head.

He was so bitter, so much anger clearly bottled up without a proper outlet for his mostly pacifist self. And that felt real.

"I don't really need to see to do things much anymore. Muscle memory is a hell of a thing right? Daredevil but a lot lamer"

He looked at her, and even through the jacket, it's almost like she could feel his eyes on her.

"Are you asking me to stay in the car or get out, Commander?"

She sighs. "I don't know what that means, but ok. I am asking you to get out of the car, and come with me. Don't remove the jacket, or attempt to look. I'll help you out."

She opens her door, and gets out, walking around to Eiffel's side and opens it for him. "Here, this is my arm." She gently bumps his hand with her arm, as if expecting for him to grab it and hoist himself out of the car.

Continued from here !

Eiffel just rolled his eyes, trying to move his head to make it obvious under the jacket.

"Been that long? Are you seriously trying to tell me you, finally, years later, just remembered 'Oh yeah! I should find Eiffel!"

He made a mouth with his hand like a sock puppet as he mocked her.

@commander-renee-minkowski

Minkowski remains silent for a few long moments.

"...Let me get this straight. You're claiming to be the same Doug Eiffel that made it to earth with us?" She chokes a laugh. "God I should have fucking known. I shouldn't have believed-" Eiffel hears a motion, that might have been Minkowski shaking her head, or something else. When she next speaks, her voice sounds drained of any energy she may have had while they were fleeing.

"No. No, you're lying. Once we get there we can figure out who you are."

Luckily, that wouldn't take much longer. Two minutes later the car pulls to a stop. "If you take off the jacket, you're screwed, okay? Just... behave for now. You can be a dick later."

Minkowski ran, her boots pounded against the tile of the hallway off-beat, an echo of her uneven gait. She'd abandoned all semblance of the stealth mission this was initially supposed to be, not even apologizing to Isabel under her breath like she normally would. This wasn't part of the plan, couldn't conceivably even be doctored in, she was being stupid and reckless but she had to see. Had to make sure.

Her surroundings grew more sterile as she ran, the hallway becoming dotted with doors to Goddard's pristine laboratories, numbers pasted on the door. She jolted to a dead stop as she reached near the end of the hallway, in front of the door with the number she'd seared into her retinas in the past five minutes.

"Alright. Okay. Fuck it."

She took out a small explosive, curtesy of Jacobi, and placed it on the lock. She held her breath as it detonated, knowing that she'd have to be quick now that she's made enough noise to alert the entire facility. She didn't take the time to test that the lock has given, she just lifted her leg and kicked in the door with as much strength as she could muster. And stumbling into the room, hope burning vile in her stomach she looked at whatever, or whoever, occupied it.

@leaning-tower-of-eiffel

The whatever, whoever knew she was coming.

It wasn't like she was being quiet.

The alarm in his section were muted, and his eyes watched the woman on the cameras.

Then, the door opened, and he turned around to look at her.

"You know, the door wasn't locked." Doug Eiffel huffed a laugh from his nose.

He looked as different as he looked similar. His hair was tied into a tight bun, wearing a lab coat, slacks and a button-up.

His eyes looked the most different.

He walked forward a few steps.

"You got probably 10 minutes max before they come in here and drag ya to the basement so, I'd stop the looking at me like that thing and move on to whatever you're here for." He put his hands in the pockets of his lab coat and tilted his head.

Minkowski narrows her eyes at him for a second, then barks a laugh.

"Alright."

She strides towards him, grabbing him in an iron clad grip.

"Then let's get out of here."

She starts to drag him to the door, and is perfectly content dragging him all the way through her escape route (which may or may not involve the vents) if he decides to put up a fight about it.

Hm.

Funny time for her to start caring.

He could imagine what the actual reasons were. He was making good progress towards the Bigger Picture before this.

That's all this was.

And he could kill her, easily. He could knock her out and use her for something. Maybe even some petty attempt at revenge. But the more he thought about it, the more he came to the conclusion of being the poison the ant takes to it's hive.

He didn't put up much of a fight, other than shouting "Over here!" to a pair of guards at the end of a hall they turned into.

"Oh for the love of-" Minkowski shoves a piece of fabric into his mouth, and throws her jacket over his head. "Do you want to get caught?" She whispers, as she quickly ducks back into the hallway they were just in, pivoting to the adjacent one as quickly as she can manage. It's clear that she has memorized some sort of route well enough that she can change plans last minute and still be relatively prepared. She drags Doug as fast she can, focusing on speed trying to aim for a shortcut out of the facility.

He wasn't really fighting. But the cloth in his mouth was an annoying texture.

He was guided down what he could remember as the maintenance tunnels. Smart. Hera. She would be the only one who could have gotten access to that.

So the gang stayed together without him, how sweet.

Doug soon heard the shift from tile to asphalt under his feet as they reached the ground floor

Just a few more steps, and...

"We're out Hera. Yeah. Thanks." Minkowski speaks quietly into her comms, as she ushers Eiffel along. They reach a vehicle and he's firmly but gently manhandled inside, Minkowski following after, sitting in the seat next to him. The silence in the car is deafening in contrast to the screech of the tires as it peels off and hurtles down the road. Minkowski is sitting close enough to Doug, that he can probably tell she's sitting ramrod straight, tense and very clearly desperate to start talking but unwilling to do so while they're still on the move.

Doug was already finding himself bored.

The need for activity of Doug Eiffel combined with that of the original host really did numbers on his ability to sit still.

He made it maybe a mile before he pulled the jacket off and spat the gag out.

He saw the sun for the first time in a long time without the barrier of glass.

"You are famously bad at taking hostages but this is really rough. Who's plans was It to go in bull in a china shop style? Seems very Lovelace if she's still around-not like she'd stay dead for long anyways."

No hello, no good to see you, not even a where the hell have you been. Just low shots and rambling.

Now they were close and not running, Minkowski could see a few new things on this "Doug".

Mainly a rather large scar behind his ear, and one of his fingers was paler than the rest of his body.

“Eiffel-“

Now that things are less intense, he might be noticing things about Minkowski as well. She’s a lot thinner than she was when they were up in space, and she’s been subtly favoring her left side this entire time. Her eyes look more tired and despondent than he’s probably ever seen her, and her laugh lines are fully gone. She just looks like shit, but only a bit.

She untenses and grab the jacket again, throwing it over him.

“You have to keep it on, just for now. We’re almost out of the woods. But you’re right, I’m being paranoid, you can at least talk now.”

She’s noticing all the differences in Doug, and tucking them away for later. Then, she makes that face that Eiffel has seen her make whenever she knows she’s going to put her foot in her mouth but can’t help herself from doing so anyway. She cringes as she says it.

“I just- What are you?”

He huffed when the jacket was put back over his head.

Great. This will definitely help with the boredom.

"You know how much I love talking"

A dry laugh pittered out of his throat.

"I don't really know? I've done a lot of tests. The alien stuff makes it hard since humans don't really have the tech for it and I'm not as good as she was. You can kinda think of me as those weird human xenomorph guys from the last few Alien movies?"

Clearly, he interpreted the question differently.

She makes a confused noise, he can't see her but can probably tell she's making a face.

"Wait, she? I never saw the last few Alien movies Eiffel, I have no idea what you're talking about." Her tone is one as familiar as the taste of seaweed coffee, begging him to 'speak normally Eiffel, I don't have time to decode your references.' She shifts next to him, not touching but closer than before. It's hard to tell if it's intentional. "So, you are an alien? or a clone? I don't remember if the Dear Listeners ever... clarified that part."

She sighs.

Now it was time for Eiffel to make a face.

Though his was more disgust.

"No? I mean, kinda, as alien as I was when you all left me. What makes you think Goddard knows how to make Listeners? How would they know how to do that? Especially with The Director currently out of commission. They weren't that high tech to begin with and now they're working with two shot off legs and me trying to be the prosthetic."

The jacket shifted to tell his head tilted.

"Why did you exactly kidnap me if you don't even know that?"

There’s a sharp breath, and Minkowski’s voice is audibly unsteady.

“What do you mean when we left you?”

(Continued from here)

Miranda didn't understand what was going on. One moment, the Commander had been just fine, and the next-

"You shouldn't have done that."

That wasn't Miranda's voice. Well, it was, but-

She spun around. There was someone else in the room. Not one of her housemates, but, rather, the woman from the mirror.

White hair. Lab coat. Disgruntled expression.

"Don't you know what's going to happen, now? They're going to lock you up. Padded cell, throw away the key."

"They wouldn't do that."

"You don't know them like I do."

@commander-renee-minkowski @captain-lovelace

Minkowski stills only for a moment, then pushes past Lovelace, grabbing her hand to drag her with her, trying to get them both further way from Miranda.

"We just have to- to go" She's not calming as quickly as she normally does, and she knows that this is the worst time for this but she can't help but remember the feeling of contentment that plagued her, the desire to please, the desire to serve that she felt while that chip was active. She can't lose control like that again. She can't be the idiot so desperate to prove herself she doesn't question why Goddard would actually send someone like her to space again.

Lovelace lets her pull her away, still trying to reason with her.

"Minkowski, look at me. Look at me." Seeing as that isn't helping, she softens slightly. "Renée. You're home. You're safe. I promise. I won't let-" She swallows hard.

"No one else is going to hurt you. I won't let them, I swear."

Minkowski turns to snap at Lovelace, to start a yelling match the likes they haven't had since Lovelace first arrived on the Hephaestus (for the second time). But she stops when she sees her eyes. When Lovelace says the word home.

"I... Lovelace? Sitrep. What you observe, not what you think is happening." They've done this only a few times before. Lovelace or Minkowski would have a flasback, or a nightmare, and they would give, or ask the other to give a report. It was a grounding exercise, one that helped both of them usually. Rarely did Minkowski ask for one, she usually gave it. Perhaps she isn't quite sure where she is, or when she is.

"February 2019. Isabel Lovelace speaking. We're at your house. You were having a discussion with Miranda, and something upset you. Miranda is behind you."

Lovelace looks at her, unsure what else to say. Truth be told, she isn't entirely sure of what's happening either.

Minkowski closes her eyes and nods, trying to calm her breathing.

"Right. Right. Something... 'upset' me. It was-" She shudders and shakes her head, trying to not think too hard about it, as she takes Lovelace's hand in hers. Gently she raises it to the back of her head, until Lovelace can feel just what set Minkowski off.

"I forgot. I forgot it was still there-"

There's a shock of cold metal on her hand, and the second she registers what it is, she pulls back.

"Oh," she breathes. "Yeah, that makes sense."

Lovelace just stares at her for a moment, eyes wide. She remembers it. She remembers it too well, the way her stomach dropped when she saw her and Eiffel like that, how blank her eyes were, how she smiled-

She breaks eye contact, swallowing bile.

“I don’t- Isabel what are we supposed to do? How do we-“

She takes a deep breath, trying not to work herself up again.

“We’ll find a way to remove it. Check Doug as well.” Minkowski shudders, and pivots to look at Miranda. She takes in a breath, steeling herself.

“What else do you remember? No hiding it.”

She says it perhaps more hostile than she meant to, but controlling her tone is not at the top of her list of priorities at the moment.

The Commander hadn't addressed her like that in some time. Miranda stiffened.

"I- I don't even know where to start."

"Idiot."

"Shut up!" Miranda spun around, seemingly addressing no one. "Be quiet, please!"

"Miranda?" Lovelace tries to sound calm, placating, even. She fails.

"Are you talking to someone?"

“Shut up? That better not have been addressed to me. We’re trying to talk to you about this!”

Minkowski steps in front of Lovelace, subtly trying to get her behind her.

“What do you remember? Who are you talking to? We’ll understand but we can’t try to if you hide it from us!”

"No, no, not-

It's her. The woman from the mirror. She's here and she won't leave me alone."

Her voice cracked as she spoke, a sob tearing itself from her throat.

"Make her leave me alone!"

"Make her leave me alone." Pryce mocked.

Lovelace nods, a bit too fast. She looks from Minkowski to Miranda, then keeps her gaze focused on the latter.

"Okay. We're gonna try, okay? But you need to tell us what's going on. We're just trying to understand."

Her and Lambert used to do this. Yell at each other while everything fell apart. Nothing's changed. Everything's changed.

Minkowski still looks unsteady, but she takes a breath. Miranda actually crying shocked her out of it, reminding her where she and who Miranda is. They’ve been living together for two years now. Minkowski knows Miranda, and she knows that she can do better than this. She may have pushed down a ton of shit, but that isn’t Miranda’s fault, and the worst thing she could do would be to take it out on her. She sighs.

“Miranda, we aren’t going to hurt you. No matter how frightened we may be, we will never hurt you. Can you tell us who you see?”

Their living situation was anything but normal, but even so, there were good times. They'd play board games— though never chess, as it got boring when Miranda won every single time. They'd watch shows, all curled up on the couch with popcorn and junk food. When it was nice out, they'd walk the nearby trails, Minkowski and Lovelace leading the way while the amnesiacs lagged behind, marvelling at every little thing.

Recently, Miranda had even started to learn more about cooking. She helped with the very basics: Mixing and pouring and measuring. She was still scared of the oven, but she was getting there.

There were good times, in the house. Even amongst the fear, the trauma, the undeniable untreated mental illness, there were good times.

They just had to get through this, and they could go back to those good times.

"I- I think-" She gulped. She felt like she was about to say a bad word. "I think it's Doctor Pryce."

Despite trying to prepare herself, Lovelace freezes. She remembers a voice from inside an airlock, Pryce's exact intonation coming from Minkowski. Cutter saying something about Pryce wanting to cut her into pieces, how indestructible is indestructible- but that's done. It is. It's in the past.

And right now, Miranda is scared. Lovelace understands it. She doesn't know how to deal with her world shifting so suddenly, with learning that she wasn't the person she thought she was. It would be... wrong of her to hold that against her.

Treating her like a monster won't get them anywhere. Treating her like a monster will only make it for likely for everything to shatter.

So she nods. She listens.

"Do you want to sit down and talk about this? If you want to. You don't have to, but it might.... help?"

#wolf359 roleplay blogs #miranda pryce #isabel lovelace

Minkowski nods, trying to back Lovelace up and hide her own dread at things spiraling out of control again.

“It’s better than keeping it all in. You’re only going to hurt yourself doing that.”

She stretches a little, an intentionally casual move that she’d seen Lovelace execute many times, although with Minkowski it falls a little flat.

“I don’t know about you, but I’d like to sit and talk. I’ve missed all three of us spending time together, and I want to hear from Isabel too. It doesn’t have to be solely focused on you Miranda, if you don’t want it to be.”

She attempts a reassuring smile.

I heard from Miranda that you're somehow alive again, and having full conversations! Very believable and normal. Would love to know who's behind this nonsense. But with my luck you're very much not going to tell me, are you?

- @commander-renee-minkowski

A commander? Maybe this is who Miranda talks about sometimes...

Well, sir, I am Communications Officer Samuel Lambert, and I am there person "behind this", if by "this" you means my conversations with Miranda. I don't know what else you could want to know about me.

I am wondering who you are, though. Where are you stationed, if you don't mind my asking? And I would assume you are in 2016 as well, if you know Miranda?

I'm Commander Renée Minkowski of the U.S.S Hephaestus. Well.. Ex-Commander. And yes, I am from the same time as Miranda. If she mentions a Commander, that's me. Though I have been trying to get her to stop calling me that, considering it's no longer my title.

"Ex-Commander"?

Wait. You were on the Hephaestus too? Do you know @captain-lovelace? It's hard to believe that there are so many people who were on the same station after us...

Yes. Isabel and I know each other.

The only reason why I haven't blocked you on every device in the house is that you've managed to convince Lovelace you're the real Sam Lambert. So tread carefully.

What? Why would you–

I am Communications Officer Samuel Lambert, and I would appreciate it if you would address me as such.

And who are you to address Captain Lovelace with such familiarity? You must be someone she knows and trusts, so why don't you afford her the same courtesy? If she believes me, why don't you? And what do I need to do to prove myself to you? Is my word as a communications officer not enough?

I believe she thinks you're real. And I believe she's been through enough shit that if this IS Goddard messing with her, they'll regret it.

But fine. I do trust her judgment. Plus, It's more likely that you're somehow a revived Samuel Lambert, back to haunt us all with his great sense of humor, because frankly it seems that's the kind of crazy shit we have to deal with these days. If you ARE Goddard though, you won't be anything at all soon enough.

Everyone seem to be really upset with Goddard, but no one will tell me why. And I keep getting warned against Selberg, but then there's no reasoning for why it's a good idea.

Do you know?

...Yes. I know. Did Lovelace not tell you? If she chose not to, I'm not entirely sure it's my place.

But if you're desperate to know, use your brain. Why would Lovelace and I be so surprised to hear from you? In what circumstance would you not be in communication with Lovelace? I think from there you can deduce how Goddard is involved. As for Selberg? I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole. Just don't mention anything to him at all, or you're screwed.

Captain Lovelace told me a little, but I am not sure how to interpret it.

And you're saying that I can figure this out on my own? Well, the only reason I would ever have a lack of communication with the Captain is if someone cut off our means of contact; either one of us or an outside party. If she's surprised, then it wouldn't have been her, and it sounds like it probably wasn't me either, which means that there's another person or persons involved...

You died, Officer Lambert. You died and so did everyone else on her crew. So please forgive me for being… overprotective. I still don’t know what’s going on here, but I am trying to be nice.

Oh.

Oh no. When she said that things ended "badly" on our mission, I never imagined that... The entire crew... Oh dear...

...

What about Rhea? Surely she had to survive, seeing as she's a vital part of the station?

Right?

...I'm sorry you had to hear it from me. And.. well. I don't think she made it. But I don't... really know. Sorry.

...

Oh.

That's– That's fine, I guess. My whole crew doesn't make it, even our AI who never did anything wrong, and we all just die in space.

Okay.

Yeah. As Isabel would say... it uh. It sucks.

She does make it home though. I tried to make sure of that the best I could.

I–

*Sigh*

Thank you. I really do appreciate it, I just can't quite understand what we did wrong.

Command sent us up here full of hope and promises, and yeah, maybe some of them were too good to be true, but– I still thought–

Oh, I don't even know anymore....

I truly am sorry. Listen, I don't know what Lovelace has or hasn't told you, or what she'd actually be okay with me telling you. But I went into this as blind as you were, and frankly I'm sick of holding my tongue and just letting things happen. She can yell at me for this later if she needs to.

It was Goddard the whole time. They sent you up there to die, and then they did the same exact thing with me and my crew.

What? No, no. That can't be. There's no way–

I... I don't understand. Why send us up here at all, if we're only supposed to die? Why give us a mission, a medical officer, a way to contact Command?

What was our purpose?

Well. About that.

Do you really want to know? Are you absolutely sure?

As– As sure as I can be?

I mean, yes. I'm sure. Maybe if I learn from you I'll be able to keep my crew safe.

#wolf359 roleplay blogs #communicationsofficerslambert

I'll... I'll try to get Isabel to tell you. I really don't know what the move is here, and you're part of her crew, not mine. If she doesn't tell soon, or give me a good reason not to, I'll do it. But just... be careful, ok? Don't go making noise or things will end a lot earlier than they need to.

Minkowski ran, her boots pounded against the tile of the hallway off-beat, an echo of her uneven gait. She'd abandoned all semblance of the stealth mission this was initially supposed to be, not even apologizing to Isabel under her breath like she normally would. This wasn't part of the plan, couldn't conceivably even be doctored in, she was being stupid and reckless but she had to see. Had to make sure.

Her surroundings grew more sterile as she ran, the hallway becoming dotted with doors to Goddard's pristine laboratories, numbers pasted on the door. She jolted to a dead stop as she reached near the end of the hallway, in front of the door with the number she'd seared into her retinas in the past five minutes.

"Alright. Okay. Fuck it."

She took out a small explosive, curtesy of Jacobi, and placed it on the lock. She held her breath as it detonated, knowing that she'd have to be quick now that she's made enough noise to alert the entire facility. She didn't take the time to test that the lock has given, she just lifted her leg and kicked in the door with as much strength as she could muster. And stumbling into the room, hope burning vile in her stomach she looked at whatever, or whoever, occupied it.

@leaning-tower-of-eiffel

The whatever, whoever knew she was coming.

It wasn't like she was being quiet.

The alarm in his section were muted, and his eyes watched the woman on the cameras.

Then, the door opened, and he turned around to look at her.

"You know, the door wasn't locked." Doug Eiffel huffed a laugh from his nose.

He looked as different as he looked similar. His hair was tied into a tight bun, wearing a lab coat, slacks and a button-up.

His eyes looked the most different.

He walked forward a few steps.

"You got probably 10 minutes max before they come in here and drag ya to the basement so, I'd stop the looking at me like that thing and move on to whatever you're here for." He put his hands in the pockets of his lab coat and tilted his head.

Minkowski narrows her eyes at him for a second, then barks a laugh.

"Alright."

She strides towards him, grabbing him in an iron clad grip.

"Then let's get out of here."

She starts to drag him to the door, and is perfectly content dragging him all the way through her escape route (which may or may not involve the vents) if he decides to put up a fight about it.

Hm.

Funny time for her to start caring.

He could imagine what the actual reasons were. He was making good progress towards the Bigger Picture before this.

That's all this was.

And he could kill her, easily. He could knock her out and use her for something. Maybe even some petty attempt at revenge. But the more he thought about it, the more he came to the conclusion of being the poison the ant takes to it's hive.

He didn't put up much of a fight, other than shouting "Over here!" to a pair of guards at the end of a hall they turned into.

"Oh for the love of-" Minkowski shoves a piece of fabric into his mouth, and throws her jacket over his head. "Do you want to get caught?" She whispers, as she quickly ducks back into the hallway they were just in, pivoting to the adjacent one as quickly as she can manage. It's clear that she has memorized some sort of route well enough that she can change plans last minute and still be relatively prepared. She drags Doug as fast she can, focusing on speed trying to aim for a shortcut out of the facility.

He wasn't really fighting. But the cloth in his mouth was an annoying texture.

He was guided down what he could remember as the maintenance tunnels. Smart. Hera. She would be the only one who could have gotten access to that.

So the gang stayed together without him, how sweet.

Doug soon heard the shift from tile to asphalt under his feet as they reached the ground floor

Just a few more steps, and...

"We're out Hera. Yeah. Thanks." Minkowski speaks quietly into her comms, as she ushers Eiffel along. They reach a vehicle and he's firmly but gently manhandled inside, Minkowski following after, sitting in the seat next to him. The silence in the car is deafening in contrast to the screech of the tires as it peels off and hurtles down the road. Minkowski is sitting close enough to Doug, that he can probably tell she's sitting ramrod straight, tense and very clearly desperate to start talking but unwilling to do so while they're still on the move.

Doug was already finding himself bored.

The need for activity of Doug Eiffel combined with that of the original host really did numbers on his ability to sit still.

He made it maybe a mile before he pulled the jacket off and spat the gag out.

He saw the sun for the first time in a long time without the barrier of glass.

"You are famously bad at taking hostages but this is really rough. Who's plans was It to go in bull in a china shop style? Seems very Lovelace if she's still around-not like she'd stay dead for long anyways."

No hello, no good to see you, not even a where the hell have you been. Just low shots and rambling.

Now they were close and not running, Minkowski could see a few new things on this "Doug".

Mainly a rather large scar behind his ear, and one of his fingers was paler than the rest of his body.

“Eiffel-“

Now that things are less intense, he might be noticing things about Minkowski as well. She’s a lot thinner than she was when they were up in space, and she’s been subtly favoring her left side this entire time. Her eyes look more tired and despondent than he’s probably ever seen her, and her laugh lines are fully gone. She just looks like shit, but only a bit.

She untenses and grab the jacket again, throwing it over him.

“You have to keep it on, just for now. We’re almost out of the woods. But you’re right, I’m being paranoid, you can at least talk now.”

She’s noticing all the differences in Doug, and tucking them away for later. Then, she makes that face that Eiffel has seen her make whenever she knows she’s going to put her foot in her mouth but can’t help herself from doing so anyway. She cringes as she says it.

“I just- What are you?”

He huffed when the jacket was put back over his head.

Great. This will definitely help with the boredom.

"You know how much I love talking"

A dry laugh pittered out of his throat.

"I don't really know? I've done a lot of tests. The alien stuff makes it hard since humans don't really have the tech for it and I'm not as good as she was. You can kinda think of me as those weird human xenomorph guys from the last few Alien movies?"

Clearly, he interpreted the question differently.

She makes a confused noise, he can't see her but can probably tell she's making a face.

"Wait, she? I never saw the last few Alien movies Eiffel, I have no idea what you're talking about." Her tone is one as familiar as the taste of seaweed coffee, begging him to 'speak normally Eiffel, I don't have time to decode your references.' She shifts next to him, not touching but closer than before. It's hard to tell if it's intentional. "So, you are an alien? or a clone? I don't remember if the Dear Listeners ever... clarified that part."

She sighs.

IIII am the very model of a modenr major generalll ive i formation, vegetable, animal and minerallll, i know the kings of england and i quote the fights husgorical

Uhhhh… Commander? Are you okay? You are not acting like yourself right now.

Hera!!! im fineee how are you?

Oh, I’m fine. But something is definitely up with you. Why do your words sound weird? Also, you’re unusually cheerful. I’m not saying I don’t want you to be cheerful, it’s just that you’re usually far more serious.

everything’s fine and i’m doing great! miranda’s well, we are doing well!! i’m making good use of goddard’s “shut up forever” gifts that they sent. has miranda figured out how to make it so you can drink yet ?

Okay then. I see what’s happening here. There are substances that humans can consume that result in an altered mental state. No big deal. However, let’s revisit the “shut up forever” thing when you’re feeling more like yourself…

I cannot consume liquids. They damage my hardware. Though sometimes when my hardware is around strong magnets things get interesting…

Hmmmm that could be very fun to experiment with if you ever feel like it...

ive been meaning to check in with you, make sure you're doing okay...... Are you? Yuoure doing alright irght?

Ahahaha yes. I am fine. Being around Pryce is fine. It’s all. Just. Just fine. Yep.

Oh that doesn't sound fine at all. Okay. Do we need to come back to this when I'm more sober? I think we need to come back to this when I'm more sober

…

… yes

ok hera. we can talk about it when i'm ablle to treat it seriously. but you know i care baout you right? i love you, and i'm so glad you made it.

Thank you Commander. I know you’re always considerate of your crew members, but I like this version of you who’s more open about sharing it. Maybe you should get drunk more often.

Kidding!

Unless…

#wolf359 roleplay blogs #hera

Har har. Trust me, you don't want me drunk more often. Your audio receivers will be suffering.

I'm going to go... sleep this off. Talk to you tomorrow?

(Continued from here)

Miranda didn't understand what was going on. One moment, the Commander had been just fine, and the next-

"You shouldn't have done that."

That wasn't Miranda's voice. Well, it was, but-

She spun around. There was someone else in the room. Not one of her housemates, but, rather, the woman from the mirror.

White hair. Lab coat. Disgruntled expression.

"Don't you know what's going to happen, now? They're going to lock you up. Padded cell, throw away the key."

"They wouldn't do that."

"You don't know them like I do."

@commander-renee-minkowski @captain-lovelace

Minkowski stills only for a moment, then pushes past Lovelace, grabbing her hand to drag her with her, trying to get them both further way from Miranda.

"We just have to- to go" She's not calming as quickly as she normally does, and she knows that this is the worst time for this but she can't help but remember the feeling of contentment that plagued her, the desire to please, the desire to serve that she felt while that chip was active. She can't lose control like that again. She can't be the idiot so desperate to prove herself she doesn't question why Goddard would actually send someone like her to space again.

Lovelace lets her pull her away, still trying to reason with her.

"Minkowski, look at me. Look at me." Seeing as that isn't helping, she softens slightly. "Renée. You're home. You're safe. I promise. I won't let-" She swallows hard.

"No one else is going to hurt you. I won't let them, I swear."

Minkowski turns to snap at Lovelace, to start a yelling match the likes they haven't had since Lovelace first arrived on the Hephaestus (for the second time). But she stops when she sees her eyes. When Lovelace says the word home.

"I... Lovelace? Sitrep. What you observe, not what you think is happening." They've done this only a few times before. Lovelace or Minkowski would have a flasback, or a nightmare, and they would give, or ask the other to give a report. It was a grounding exercise, one that helped both of them usually. Rarely did Minkowski ask for one, she usually gave it. Perhaps she isn't quite sure where she is, or when she is.

"February 2019. Isabel Lovelace speaking. We're at your house. You were having a discussion with Miranda, and something upset you. Miranda is behind you."

Lovelace looks at her, unsure what else to say. Truth be told, she isn't entirely sure of what's happening either.

Minkowski closes her eyes and nods, trying to calm her breathing.

"Right. Right. Something... 'upset' me. It was-" She shudders and shakes her head, trying to not think too hard about it, as she takes Lovelace's hand in hers. Gently she raises it to the back of her head, until Lovelace can feel just what set Minkowski off.

"I forgot. I forgot it was still there-"

There's a shock of cold metal on her hand, and the second she registers what it is, she pulls back.

"Oh," she breathes. "Yeah, that makes sense."

Lovelace just stares at her for a moment, eyes wide. She remembers it. She remembers it too well, the way her stomach dropped when she saw her and Eiffel like that, how blank her eyes were, how she smiled-

She breaks eye contact, swallowing bile.

“I don’t- Isabel what are we supposed to do? How do we-“

She takes a deep breath, trying not to work herself up again.

“We’ll find a way to remove it. Check Doug as well.” Minkowski shudders, and pivots to look at Miranda. She takes in a breath, steeling herself.

“What else do you remember? No hiding it.”

She says it perhaps more hostile than she meant to, but controlling her tone is not at the top of her list of priorities at the moment.

The Commander hadn't addressed her like that in some time. Miranda stiffened.

"I- I don't even know where to start."

"Idiot."

"Shut up!" Miranda spun around, seemingly addressing no one. "Be quiet, please!"

"Miranda?" Lovelace tries to sound calm, placating, even. She fails.

"Are you talking to someone?"

“Shut up? That better not have been addressed to me. We’re trying to talk to you about this!”

Minkowski steps in front of Lovelace, subtly trying to get her behind her.

“What do you remember? Who are you talking to? We’ll understand but we can’t try to if you hide it from us!”

"No, no, not-

It's her. The woman from the mirror. She's here and she won't leave me alone."

Her voice cracked as she spoke, a sob tearing itself from her throat.

"Make her leave me alone!"

"Make her leave me alone." Pryce mocked.

Lovelace nods, a bit too fast. She looks from Minkowski to Miranda, then keeps her gaze focused on the latter.

"Okay. We're gonna try, okay? But you need to tell us what's going on. We're just trying to understand."

Her and Lambert used to do this. Yell at each other while everything fell apart. Nothing's changed. Everything's changed.

#I’m trying #Oh boy am I trying #it’s still not good enough #wolf359 roleplay blogs #miranda pryce #isabel lovelace

Minkowski still looks unsteady, but she takes a breath. Miranda actually crying shocked her out of it, reminding her where she and who Miranda is. They’ve been living together for two years now. Minkowski knows Miranda, and she knows that she can do better than this. She may have pushed down a ton of shit, but that isn’t Miranda’s fault, and the worst thing she could do would be to take it out on her. She sighs.

“Miranda, we aren’t going to hurt you. No matter how frightened we may be, we will never hurt you. Can you tell us who you see?”

(Continued from here)

Miranda didn't understand what was going on. One moment, the Commander had been just fine, and the next-

"You shouldn't have done that."

That wasn't Miranda's voice. Well, it was, but-

She spun around. There was someone else in the room. Not one of her housemates, but, rather, the woman from the mirror.

White hair. Lab coat. Disgruntled expression.

"Don't you know what's going to happen, now? They're going to lock you up. Padded cell, throw away the key."

"They wouldn't do that."

"You don't know them like I do."

@commander-renee-minkowski @captain-lovelace

Minkowski stills only for a moment, then pushes past Lovelace, grabbing her hand to drag her with her, trying to get them both further way from Miranda.

"We just have to- to go" She's not calming as quickly as she normally does, and she knows that this is the worst time for this but she can't help but remember the feeling of contentment that plagued her, the desire to please, the desire to serve that she felt while that chip was active. She can't lose control like that again. She can't be the idiot so desperate to prove herself she doesn't question why Goddard would actually send someone like her to space again.

Lovelace lets her pull her away, still trying to reason with her.

"Minkowski, look at me. Look at me." Seeing as that isn't helping, she softens slightly. "Renée. You're home. You're safe. I promise. I won't let-" She swallows hard.

"No one else is going to hurt you. I won't let them, I swear."

Minkowski turns to snap at Lovelace, to start a yelling match the likes they haven't had since Lovelace first arrived on the Hephaestus (for the second time). But she stops when she sees her eyes. When Lovelace says the word home.

"I... Lovelace? Sitrep. What you observe, not what you think is happening." They've done this only a few times before. Lovelace or Minkowski would have a flasback, or a nightmare, and they would give, or ask the other to give a report. It was a grounding exercise, one that helped both of them usually. Rarely did Minkowski ask for one, she usually gave it. Perhaps she isn't quite sure where she is, or when she is.

"February 2019. Isabel Lovelace speaking. We're at your house. You were having a discussion with Miranda, and something upset you. Miranda is behind you."

Lovelace looks at her, unsure what else to say. Truth be told, she isn't entirely sure of what's happening either.

Minkowski closes her eyes and nods, trying to calm her breathing.

"Right. Right. Something... 'upset' me. It was-" She shudders and shakes her head, trying to not think too hard about it, as she takes Lovelace's hand in hers. Gently she raises it to the back of her head, until Lovelace can feel just what set Minkowski off.

"I forgot. I forgot it was still there-"

There's a shock of cold metal on her hand, and the second she registers what it is, she pulls back.

"Oh," she breathes. "Yeah, that makes sense."

Lovelace just stares at her for a moment, eyes wide. She remembers it. She remembers it too well, the way her stomach dropped when she saw her and Eiffel like that, how blank her eyes were, how she smiled-

She breaks eye contact, swallowing bile.

“I don’t- Isabel what are we supposed to do? How do we-“

She takes a deep breath, trying not to work herself up again.

“We’ll find a way to remove it. Check Doug as well.” Minkowski shudders, and pivots to look at Miranda. She takes in a breath, steeling herself.

“What else do you remember? No hiding it.”

She says it perhaps more hostile than she meant to, but controlling her tone is not at the top of her list of priorities at the moment.

The Commander hadn't addressed her like that in some time. Miranda stiffened.

"I- I don't even know where to start."

"Idiot."

"Shut up!" Miranda spun around, seemingly addressing no one. "Be quiet, please!"

"Miranda?" Lovelace tries to sound calm, placating, even. She fails.

"Are you talking to someone?"