Three Days, Three Weeks, Three Hundred Years
Posted on Wed Apr 8th, 2026 @ 3:55pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Josef Forstinger & Lieutenant JG Leilani
Edited on on Wed Apr 8th, 2026 @ 4:50pm
2,212 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Ready Room
Timeline: MD 10, 1300 Hours
Josef had not said anything. Not when on the way to the turbolift, not as they stepped in-and especially while they were riding it to the bridge. It was eerie. He didn't even look at Leilani-or anything for that matter, he just kept staring ahead-the only real indication that he was even alive was him breathing, inhaling and exhaling out his nose. His thoughts were an incoherent blur, almost like static.
Leilani said nothing, either letting her empath and telepathy gently feel Josef thoughts as they rode the turbolift
Upon the turbolift's arrival to the Bridge, Josefs head slightly perked up-or well, his eyes moved to look at the doors swooshing open.
More Carpet, more wood....or at least he thought it looked like wood. More of the same colors....it was like he was stuck in a giant office building.
He took one step out of the Turbolift. His Senses immediately overwhelmed by the amounds of noise, the beeping, the lights-its like he stepped into a huge control center-but then again. That is what a Bridge was-but the thing was, he couldn't make sense of it, couldn't understand it. He was once trusted to handle equipment worth thousands if not even millions-but now ? His eyes moved again, staring forward once more. Now onto the Viewscreen.
And to him, he saw nothing but the void. It was majestic, beautiful even-but something inside of him, some deep part, it told him that this was wrong . Yet he didn't show it. Or tried to anyway. There was nothing in his eyes.
" Josef. " Leilani said softly from the door to the captain's ready room.
Despite Leilani's soft tone of voice, Josefs head turned to face on the proverbial drop of a dime. Yet again. The Sharp turn snapping his face to her direction. Yet there seemed to be no malice nor anger in him or his action-or at all. Normaly he would've made a bad joke to qlleviate some tension-but he didnt even do that. Its as if he became some sort of robot.
Captain Johansen had stood up from her position at the conn and crossed the short distance between the well of the bridge and the path to the Ready Room.
"Counselor," Remy nodded to Leilani before turning to Josef, "Mr. Forstinger."
She held out a hand directing them to walk ahead of them into the Ready Room.
Leilani nooded and stepped into the ready room, looking back to make sure Josef was following.
Josef would not respond to the Captain, at least audibly. Following behind Leilani
after taking one more glance towards the main view screen.
"Please, have a seat." Remy looked at both Leilani and Josef without ceremony as she walked around her desk. She stood waiting for others to sit.
It seemed like routine as Josef sat down into one of the chairs. At surface level anyway. In actuallity his body was tense. Like a coiled spring or wire. Yet his face still remained neutral, almost looking indifferent to what was happening.
Lelani nooded and took the seat.
The Captain nodded at each of them as she took her seat.
"Mr. Forstinger," Remy began, "When we put items in secure locations and into locked storage containers, that should be a signal to you that the area is off limits."
"Or do we need to assign a full time security detail to you until we can have you on the next transport back to Earth for cultural acclimation therapy?" As Remy finished she met Josef's gaze with steady authority.
"I simply... reacquired my property. Or, well, issued property. Or what, has this Utopian Society gotten rid of Property Laws as well?" The Soldier responded to the Captain, reflecting her words at her rather poorly.
Yet still. Her steady authority didn't seem to bother the man in the slightest. At least on the surface, that is. The Betazoid, amongst the three, may be able to pick up some things starting to bubble below the surface. Specifically, when the Captain continued talking about the security detail, Earth, and therapy .
"Ah. So lock me up, ship me away back "Home" and throw me away into the loony bin." His body finally moved by his torso, slightly leaning forward, but not much else. His voice growing audibly more agitated, though suddenly being calm again as if a switch was flipped as he continued on. As if he had only now realized his tone of voice. "I just wanted to help the best way I could. And I don't enjoy being amongst crowds underdressed. Kept me and those around me safe so far. Unlike that Senator Lady." he does slightly twitch, saying the last part, as if recoiling at himself for having said it out loud, his posture leaning back and relaxing again. "I only drew it to protect the Counselor and those around us from harm. Like that Blue Lady." with this Justification, his deadpan expression stare, and tone of voice returned.
"Loony bin?" Remy looked to the Counselor for some clarification.
" An old Terran term for a mental asylum," Lelani explained.
"Josef, I know you come from a different world, but we don't really lock people up in the Federation," she attempted to explain. "Not unless they are dangerous."
"Now, you attacked my crew when you felt threatened on Freecloud - under quite understandable circumstances. No one is holding that against you. But you certainly demonstrated some formidable capabilities when it comes to combat readiness and training - and straight out of a crygenic freeze none the less," Remy pointed out. "So, you can understand why I would need to take some precautions while we get to know you. But, you've not been imprisoned here. However, if you can't agree to follow our laws, that could change."
" Josef we have rules on firearms for a reason. What if you'd missed and pierced the hull?" The betazoid added.
"And you think I am." the mans eyes looked upon the Betazoid briefly before returning to look at the Captain. "I don't remember Freecloud. Before I was frozen-" Uncharacteristically, he seems to freeze for a second. Leilani could suddenly hear gunshots, shouting, and the smell of blood, recycled air and damp cold water. "It was in active combat." he finishes the sentence. Masking it as having had to find the right words.
"I've always been a law abiding citizen, Captain. But you can't expect me to have sat by and done nothing. I've survived the past 4 years by the skin of my teeth. Always prepared for anyone or anything. I knew something could happen, so I took my own precautions."
As Leilani spoke up, he showed more emotion-though this time it was suprise. "Hull ? No-I-" There seemed to be regret on his face now. He hadnt considered that aspect. Somehow forgot it.
"I'm sure you have," Remy began, "-- been law abiding. But as you've seen, the world is a very different place now. Much larger, many more players. The politics are different. The laws are different."
Remy continued firmly, but not without compassion, "Josef, at least for now - you are a civillian here. You are going to have to accept that your safety, and the safety of others is in the hands of the trained personnel that you see around you."
Seems Remy's supposed reassurances had now the opposite effect once again. "What ? Like the Ambassador's?" he seemed visibly irritated now, like something was gnawing on him-or at least so deep down he doesn't acknowledge it-or wishes to at the moment."I could've helped, but instead everyone dogpiles on me. I've survived Death Squads, Nuclear Holocausts, Forest Fires, Mass Extinction events....for you Captain-and for everyone else it might've been a couple hundred years ago. But for me, it was not even a week ago. I can't sit around in a shoebox and do nothing. I can't sleep, so what do you want me to do Captain ?"
" We want you to take a step back and breathe. You said it yourself that you didn't take into consideration about the hull. Did you know the security system would have expanded the copper in your gun. You could have seriously hurt someone, including yourself. " Leiliani added as softly as she could mange. More due to the fact that she was doing her best to block out the images Josef thoughts were putting into her mind. She breathed in and out, focusing on good memories. Group hugs by the academy pool, her family's arms around her and the face Xalanth pulled when she told him she was pregnant.
"There are a lot of things you didn't consider," Remy added, emphasizing the Counselor's point. "This type of attack isn't even something you could have helped with, and if others had seen the weapon - you could have ended up in a lot more trouble, possibly even hurt."
"I am listening to you though," Remy stated as she looked at Josef in the eyes. "You feel idle. You want to be useful."
"We could talk about some classes," she offered. "We have an extension center on the ship. "You need to learn about the current state of affairs in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Earth borders both. Obtain proficiency."
"We can also talk to Major McEntyre," Remy continued. "I am not comfortable letting you train on weapons yet. But maybe you can do PT with our Marines for now. Get to know some other people on board."
"Counselor, how does that sound?" the Captain asked.
The betazoid nooded. " I think that would be very helpful."
Josef didnt like it. But the two women were right. He didnt know if it bothered him more that they were indeed right-or that some part of him deeply wished they weren't.
Even through that. He couldn't come up with any reasonable objections. He appreciated the compassion-but again, for some reason, some part deep down hated what felt like pity comming from them-like almost everyone on the ship seemed to have for him. Pity, like he was some lost child crying out for his mother.
"Sending me back to School ?" he replied. With what seemed to be bitterness at first. Before finaly swallowing a bit of his pride, and with a bit of hoarseness in his voice replied with a simple "Fine."
Then, with a sudden switchup in tone, he smirked. The hoarseness on his voice gone as quickly has it appeared. "Though im afraid I wont be able to provide my last few report cards. Forgot them at home."
"I wasn't thinking much of anything that you would have learned in the 21st Century anyway," Remy assured him. "Though you'd be surprised what our databases can dig up."
"It's settled then," Remy stated as the Captain took to her feet. "Counselor, if you could find a course or two suited for Mr. Forstinger's station in life, and I'll have Commander Andersen reach out to the Major about when he's holding PT. Have him send over a schedule."
"Of course, captain." The betazoid replied with a nod to the captain and a polite smile to Josef.
Remy stood up and straightened her uniform jacket. "Mr. Fortsinger, if there are any questions about the rules and expectations while you are aboard my ship, I suggest you familiarize yourself with those rules now," she stated firmly. "There will be consequences if we have another violation."
Josef knew he pretty much had no choice in the matter. Then again, it was better than doing nothing all day. To think he had only been here for 8 days and already caused trouble. That 8-9 Days ago everything was how it was supposed to be, that his family and some of his friends were still alive and well....
The Brief Spiral into his own thoughts were interrupted as the Captain stood up. Almost out of reflex Josef mirrored the movement except he had no uniform to straighten, so just kept his arms to the side. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, his response to her firm statement were but a simple nod and a "Yes Ma´am."
Leilani knew, reading that Josef was telling the truth. Standing up she looked at her captain. " May we be dismissed captain."
"Of course," Remy replied with a gracious nod as her eyes followed them out the door.
Josef stood up when Leilani did. Looking between the two women as they talked. For a second he thought he felt hrr digging through his head, or it was just a quick paranoid thought surfacing, before turning back to face the Captain, giving her one last nod before walking out the door. Great, like this week-or hell, time since he woke up could get any worse at this rate.
Captain Remira Johansen
Commanding Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant JG Leilani
Counselor
USS Astrea
(NPC of Xalanth)
Josef Forstinger
Civillian
USS Astrea
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