Star Trek: Erin

Part 46: Her Stolen Name

     I rarely get notes.

     Messages, yes. Often. Text or video were simple and efficient to send. Since the pesky speed of light limit can't be circumnavigated without a starship, transmissions travel short distances, riding on starships whenever possible, until they reach their destination. Complicated code, but it's been made, so everyone knows it. And on a starship between officers, it's as easy as blinking.

     So I rarely get physical, old-fashioned, paper notes. Two weeks after Marple's death, I found it on my desk.

     I'd returned to my quarters after an exhausting day. Zabinski was ruthlessly driving the comms with medical project. An altercation had almost arisen between Fitzhugh and an annoyingly curious ensign, which I had to resolve. Nowak was swamped with his new duties as lieutenant. I reminded myself that this was just another step towards my goals, but I was tired.

     The note was folded once and placed near my computer. I frowned and opened it. 'Cobos, I need your assistance with a sensitive issue. My quarters. Tetra.' Well, that's cryptic as hell. I had a feeling Tetra had chosen now to deliver this based on our schedules. Better not delay. I departed, checking my phaser quickly. I didn't fully trust her.

     I found Tetra waiting for me in her quarters. It was less spartan than mine, although I was still re-personalizing after it'd been destroyed by a hull breach in a recent altercation with a gigantic planet-eating cornucopia. I'd been trapped on the third deck and got to work assisting with locating survivors from the hull breach, but I heard second-hand that the Enterprise put on a good show.

     Managed to salvage my Section 31 badge, tucked safely in a box under my bed.

     Anyway, Tetra had a collection of glass jugs in jewel tones dominating one shelf, while an obviously growing assembly of weirdly shaped knives partially filled another. The bowie knife was in a place of honour.

     I wonder if some of these hold no significance for this new Tetra. Does she keep some things around to keep up appearances? The knives are definitely the new Tetra's. I stayed close to the doorway. "You wanted to talk?"

     "Cobos, yes." Tetra was seated. "I have a problem."

     "Woah, really? I thought you sent me a weird note just to chat."

     I knew my tone had been all wrong even before Tetra said, "I should reprimand you, Cobos."

     "We both know this isn't an interaction between officers," I said. God, being tired made me cocky. "What happened and what do you want me to do?"

     Tetra considered me. "My first name is Pam."

     "Huh. So why the fuck are you telling me that?" I raised my hands at her expression. "Okay, language is a step too far. What does this have to do with anything, besides the fact that we've now bonded significantly?"

     "My name is the problem. Or at least it became one when I failed to respond to Sam."

     "I'm not following."

     Tetra leaned forward, hands between her knees. "My home dimension is nearly identical to this one in terms of genetics, which is why there are duplicates of everyone. Where it differs is in the setting, the sociopolitical situation. Essentially, my dimension is what would happen if everyone here lived by a more brutal code, but are at their core, the same." My stomach squirmed to hear it said so plainly. Tetra continued. "I thought everything would be the same. I've read everything I could about my alternate self, to understand my role here. But I never considered my name would be different. One letter, but I seem to have come under scrutiny for my oversight."

     I understood. "Your name is Pam, but the Tetra who died was Sam?"

     "Yes."

     "And someone's suspicious."

     "Lieutenant Hoal."

     I folded my arms. "Were you two friends or something before?"

     "I believe so."

     "Okay, well, I don't see what I can do about that. Couldn't you just change your name to Pam?"

     "Viable, but Hoal seems to have begun an internal investigation. He's been noting my mistakes these past months. Hints that I'm not who I say I am."

     "Still don't see how I'm involved."

     "You're involved because I say you are." Tetra's tone was dangerous. "If I'm exposed, so is your involvement with Section 31."

     My eyes narrowed. "Do you really want to threaten me, Tetra?"

     "What I want is rarely what needs to be done. So, yes."

     My fingers twitched. My instinct was to drop my hand to my phaser, but that wouldn't help matters. Get more information. "Fine. What do you want me to do?"

     "Two options. One, delete the files Hoal has on me."

     Highly obvious. And highly illegal. I would never do something like that, even to save my own skin. "And the other option?"

     "Find another way. Just get Hoal off my trail."

     No, I can't do this. It's bad even being here, conspiring. My heart skipped a beat. Conspiracy. I'm a security officer. Shit. Shitshitshit. I started down this path without even realizing it. Did I know? I mentally shook myself. Get out of here, Cobos. Before you're dragged farther. I drew myself up. "I'll give it some thought, but don't count on anything."

     Tetra gave me a thin-lipped smile. "Oh, I know I can count on you."

     I left Tetra's quarters feeling nauseous.