(Untitled)

[goldvogel]

Three weeks.

There were days when the mere thought made her want to scream. At other times it simply drew her attention back to the feeling of guilt that kept eating away at her heart. For three weeks she had been trapped in this place, confronted by its madness and unable to find a way back. And at the same time her ship, her people were in

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[00_doctor]

I had pulled an all nighter in the lab, the occurrence of which was dropping markedly. I was rapidly running out of leads to follow, resources to plunder, and I could barely admit to myself that it just wasn't working. I would keep trying, until I reached the very end of the road, but the end was near. I could feel it.

Tired, more than a little dejected, but unable to face the idea of going to bed, I wandered into the rec room to perhaps lay hands on some recreational reading and found someone even more depressed than I was. It was nice to be able to focus on that, even if it turned out to be just for a moment.

"Cap-." "Um. Kathryn." I was going to have to get used to addressing her without rank, might as well start now. "Are you alright?"

[goldvogel]

Kathryn had been so absorbed in her own thoughts that she hadn't even noticed someone had entered the room. The words startled her momentarily and it actually took a second or two to recognize the speaker. She had really hoped she might be alone in the rec room for a time and now that he had caught her in this state, she was more than a little embarrassed. True, she had probably been worse when they had met the first time, but still, she hated it when someone caught her showing weakness.

It wasn't his fault, however, and she had to admit that she appreciated seeing a familiar face. Someone who might understand. "I guess I am, yes." On second thought, that seemed to be a rather pointless lie so she added, a little closer to the truth: "On the other hand, I might just be going mad... I'm not sure anymore, to be honest."

[00_doctor]

"This place can do that to a person." I said with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "It takes awhile."

[goldvogel]

She looked up at him and made an effort to return his smile. "Does it? Did it get easier for you with time?" She couldn't imagine it ever would for her.

"Don't you... feel you should be somewhere else? Back home?" Normally she wouldn't have asked such a question, since it sounded to much like a reproach to her own ears. But at the moment, she could really do with some advice and this last question was simply the closest she came to actually asking for it.

[fallen_ancient]

After days of slipping in and out of the Compound as nearly unseen as she might, a shadow between trees, a sun dapple on the river - here then gone leaving nothing but the whisper of an impression of her presence behind - Morgan tired of fire-heated coffee, trifling meals, and cave floors. In truth, for all that Morgan preferred seclusion and meditation to crowds, she had never been an ascetic. Discarding luxuries was a simple matter, but having to hunt her own food was quite another.

This morning, meditation on the Parchment having put her into a peaceful and kind frame of reference, she glided into the recreation room to share a quiet moment and some coffee with whomever she might find. The woman she did find had newly arrived, Morgan knew, as she made a habit of tracking the newcomers to see they did not disrupt the lives of her friends - and, although she rarely admitted it, to see that they settled in. This one radiated a core strength Morgan found appealing, all of her actions considered and considerate that Morgan had seen.

[goldvogel]

Kathryn hadn't noticed her entering the room and the unfamiliar voice, however gentle its tone, almost made her jump out of her chair.

She didn't know the woman, in fact she couldn't even remember having seen her before. On the other hand, she hadn't been very attentive towards her fellow islanders so she might just have overlooked her. She seemed friendly, though, and there was something calm about her, that she found pleasent in her own upset state of mind, almost soothing.

As the name registered, she vaguely remembered some childhood stories that her mother had told her, but she'd never been much into mythology. And even if the recollection had been an unpleasant one, the impression she got from this woman was certainly not.

She attempted to smile and cover her momentary weakness: "Kathryn Janeway. I'm sorry that I reacted like this just now, I'm afraid I was so lost in thought that hadn't noticed you." She didn't want Morgan to think it was her fault, after all.

[fallen_ancient]

"Please," Morgan said mildly, mouth quirking slightly at the corners. "There is no need to apologize. If anything, it is I who owe you an apology for startling you."

Dismissing the issue with a graceful flicker of her fingers, Morgan sipped her coffee again before lowering it to rest on her thigh. "I did not wish to disturb you when I came in, so I made myself still. Forgive me. Observation is a bad habit of mine."

[goldvogel]

"It's alright." Kathryn smiled, remembering her own, much less subtly observations over the last few weeks. "I wouldn't call it a bad habit either."

By now her mind was concentrating on the present again, leaving the disturbing thoughts of a few moments before behind. At least for now. She glanced at Morgan's cup, noticing the faint scent of coffee. "Is that coffee you have there?", she asked, thinking that perhaps she might get herself another cup as well, lack of sleep or not.

[simpletailor]

Garak was most commonly in the compound at odd hours. He didn't generally wish to converse while going about his day, so he had to do things such as get food, check his mail and other such small tasks when others were not there. At the moment, he was in search of another source of ancient fashion. The dresses were due tomorrow and he needed just a bit more detail on what kind of seaming was required at the hem. He knew many focused on the larger elements, but really, the small elements could make or ruin a garment

[goldvogel]

The sound startled her momentarily, as she hadn't expected to see someone else in the rec room at this hour. It was nothing compared to the surprise she felt when she looked up, though. Somehow, Dr. Bashir had neglected to tell her about the fact that there were other species from the Alpha Quadrant in this place. And Cardassians at that

[simpletailor]

By the way she startled at both the sound and his species, he concluded that she hadn't known he was here. Interesting. Apparently Dr. Bashir had not extended the same courtesy to her that he had extended to Garak. Dr. Crusher had clearly not done so as well. What did it say that they did not warn their fellow Federation officers about the presence of what their organization (if erroneously) viewed as a potentially hostile species? He would have to think about that. For now, though, he turned, with the usual friendly smile on his face.

"Ah, good morning," he greeted her, and didn't add her rank. Even with her visit to Terok Nor for the launching of the Voyager, he perhaps should not know it.

"I do apologize for disturbing your solitude. I have noticed that there are almost always other individuals present, however, no matter what the hour. The habitable section is small and the population relatively large," he informed her amiably.

[goldvogel]

"No need to apologize. As you say, there are almost always people around wherever one goes in this place." She smiled and wondered whether he found that to be a good or a bad thing. She herself was more inclined towards the latter at the moment. She wasn't going to complain about it openly, however.

"I guess we should be grateful that there is a bit of civilization here at all.", she said instead.