Arrival at NASA

Posted on Thu Jan 26th, 2023 @ 10:45pm by Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis Dr & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix & Lieutenant Seth Travis
Edited on on Thu Jan 26th, 2023 @ 10:56pm

Mission: Living History
Location: Cape Kennedy, Florida
Timeline: Current

The away team arrived at the NASA administration building promptly at 9a.m. Jon led the group in. His approach was friendly but business like. They were here for a reason and no one was going to interfere with it.

Callie wasn’t used to wearing a suit, but she had to admit it looked good. Standing alongside Jon she smiled as she looked at him.

Jon returned her smile. "Looking mighty good there Agent Rivers." He said shorting her name. "Yes, sir mighty good." He turned to the others, "Alright by the numbers we have an investigation to deal with. So, let's get it done and we can go home.'' He left the last vague so anyone listening would think he was talking about the FBI building in DC.

As Shon stepped from the vehicle it became clear to her that the air around them was so much different from that in the city. Much cleaner it smelt of ozone and salt as the sea hit the shores of Merrit island and the wide open grasslands of the protected reserve. The two tall towers dressed by the lettering NASA stood proudly in the distance and after those near the shore the towers used to launch their vehicles into space. Her improved hearing could even make out the sounds of the sea washing against the wild grass. It had also surprised Shon that there were 7000 buildings that stood on the site including a whole village for the workers that lived there. She smiled at Phoenix, “remember this place?” She asked.

"Yeah..." James said before falling silent. He had never thought he'd be back. To the real thing. Not some museum or historical site. It had been almost nine conscious years and 353 unconscious years since he had been to the cape. To see it in all of its glory. Surprisingly, he remembered most of it clearly. Enough to note what could be the same, and what could be changes in history or things he just didn't remember being there.

“All this promise” Shon mused. She placed her hand on Phoenix’s arm. “Anything different to your remembrances?” she asked.

"It's a damn shame that the world fell just a few years after I was frozen. All that promise gone" he sighed. He was glad he missed the Third World War, but he knew of so many people that perished based on 'historical' records. He was glad that by the time he was unfrozen that things had changed for the better, despite any of the major galactic wars. "Besides any of the information we've been given regarding the changes, there hasn't really been any that I can think of" he looked at Shon. "But so far we haven't seen the rest of the base in it's current state yet. I'll probably be able to make a better judgement once we get closer to the subject we are looking for" he said in case anyone was listening, implying the Temporal Agent they were looking for.

She smiled and nodded. She would need to watch him. For all the bravura he was showing she felt sure that this would be difficult for him. Turning to Seth she noted how good he looked in his ‘suit’ and she smiled at him. “Well Sir,” she said turning to Jon, “The air here is much better and there should be no problems,” she looked around the group, “for any of us”. She noted this as her tests on the group and what they were breathing was so different from their real lives and could cause them respiratory problems if they breathed it too long.

She turned to Callie “How is your…headache?”

Callie gave Shon a smile. “It’s manageable for now, thank you. I will be sure to let you know if it gets any worse.”

“Good agent, it may begin to get a little worse once we begin to merge with the population inside.” She looked at Jon as a male in a dark suit rather like theirs approached them.

“Good morning,” he announced in a rather haughty voice. “My name is Doctor Samuel Maddison Director of infomantics in this Directorant of NASA. I believe you are the FBI agents we are expecting?”

Jon didn't reply at least not immediately. He favored Maddison with a disapproving stare before giving him a short, curt nod. "That is correct. Agent Grayson, I'm the agent in charge. This is the rest of my team." He waved hs hand to indicate the others. "Agent Rivers." He said looking at Callie, is my second, if she says or asks for anything it is just like coming from me. Understand?"

Maddison looked down his nose at them determined not to give the FBI agents an inch. After all they had no business digging into NASA. He looked at Callie up and down and smiled. “Agent!” He nodded. He looked at the rest of the FBI team, “Follow me please, there will be parts of this facility you will not be allowed in without Presidential order.” He indicated for them to follow him. At the doors he stopped. “Of course you will need to be subjected to security your persons and belongings.”

Jon reached into his jacket, "You mean a Presidential order like this?" He said waving the document under Maddison's nose. "We're dealing with a threat to national security Mr. Maddison and as for being subjected to your security, We're not the local rental cops. We're Federal agents and we will not be subjected to your security." He pulled out his cell phone. Perhaps you'd like to talk to my boss and explain why you are hindering our investigation and we've been here all of five minutes."

Maddison took the document from the Agent’s hand and looked at it carefully, folded it and gave it back to him. Then..…he called Jon’s bluff. “Yes, I would like to talk to your boss. Some of our information is contained in ‘clean’ areas which have added security.

Jon smiled like a cobra preparing to strike. "Have it your way Mr. Madison. Though I feel it fair to warn you that once this is over the only rockets, you'll be around will be bottle rockets." Jon opened his phone. "You still want to talk to my boss?"

The air left Maddison’s belly and he deflated under the pressure of Jon’s stare. He nodded. “This way…please” he said as he indicated the entrance.

Jon closed his phone with a very authoritive snap. "Your cooperation is greatly appreciated by your government." He turned to the others, "This way, it's time to go to work."

Callie followed on paying attention to all that was going on around them. She could just imagine what would happen if they discovered she wasn’t fully Human. It made her feel nervous but she didn’t show it.

Shon followed holding her medical bag with a quick check that her ears were hidden by her hair, for some reason she had begun to perspire. She tried to slow her breathing.

Before turning to follow Maddison, Jon turned and winked at the others.

James made a mental note of Maddison. He didn't remember him from his time at NASA. But there was also thousands of personnel on the base, so it would have been impossible to remember every single one. He would also keep an eye on Maddison while he was with the group. Something wasn't adding up about him. It could be nothing and he didn't know what specifically, but he felt something was off about Maddison.

James noticed what was going on with the doctor. He looked at Seth and then at Shon. "Agent Travis, are you alright?"

Shon stopped and leant against the wall, “just a little dizzy Agent Phoenix.” She smiled although her dizziness was quite profound.

“Doctor Maddison?” She asked, “can you please direct me to the powder room?”

Maddison stopped and looked at her his eyes noting her pale skin and slight sheen against her dark hair. He had spent a large part of his life learning when someone was uncomfortable and he knew this woman was uncomfortable. He held out his hand and pointed to a small door near to them. Shon nodded her thanks and slipped inside. The few stalls that were there were empty and she sighed with relief as she pressed a wet pad against the back of her neck. She wished she had a medical tricorder with her to provide a quick diagnosis to what was probably nothing. She entered a stall and sat down. Her chest felt compressed and she found it unable to take a large breath. Then the reason came to her. Her Vulcan physiology as applied to respiration was finding it difficult in the Earths current atmosphere. The gas exchange was too low and too slow, she wondered if T’Plana had found it the same?

Seth looked toward the women's bathroom door. He was concerned about Shon, her color was off most likely from her pregnancy. He looked at the others and then back to the bathroom door waiting for Shon to exit.

Shon exited the bathroom looking cool and collected. “Just a little ‘pick me up’ she said smiling at Seth. “Where do you want us to begin Sir?” She asked Jon.

"We'll start with records and look for anything out of the ordinary. Look at recent arrivals." Jon replied.

Callie nodded as she moved across to Shon. “Are you sure you’re feeling better agent Travis?”

Shon smiled at Callie. “Just got to breathe a little less Agent Rivers. Air out here is different from where I come from.”

“Ahh of course” Callie nodded and offered a smile. “If you need a break let me know.”

Seth moved to Shon's side. "Are you alright Agent Travis?" A smile playing on his mouth.

“Yes, I’m fine thank you Agent.” She smiled. “Just a little lightheadedness.” She put her hand out to stop someone, Maddison was obviously not going to help them. “Could you please direct us to your records department?”

The woman who’s name tag said Amy smiled. “You’re the Federal Agents?” Shon nodded. “Then, please I am going there.” She indicated an elevator to the right of them. “This way please.” Shon followed.

The agents moved en mass to follow Amy into the elevator that would take them to the records department, and they could begin their search there.

Following on Callie just hoped they’d find who they were looking for sooner rather than later.

As they reached the records department, Jon spoke again " Agent Rivers you and I will take the records A through M. Agents Travis and Agent James you will handle the records N through Z."

Callie nodded and smiled as she looked at Jon. “Yes Sir”

Phoenix nodded at the order and moved himself to the records starting with N. His strategy was to begin at the beginning.

Shon nodded and looked for the PaDD containing the records. She laughed when she was presented with drawers of paper records, “cute” she said to nobody in particular. Seeing that Phoenix was beginning at N she decided to begin at Z and work backwards.

Seth deicided to split the difference and he started at S to see if he could discover anything unusual.

Shon had gotten to the ‘Y’ section. Names in this time seemed so different, it seemed to her there was a heaviness about them a world in turmoil, people in turmoil it all seemed so sad. She took a couple out and began to place a pile that she could take somewhere quiet to study. After sorting through ‘V, W’ she had gotten a pile of six. She took them over to a desk looking out towards the high towers of the launch pad. So primitive but also so brave. She began to go through her papers.

Jon had gone through the A and B sections was working on C. He glanced over and saw Callie hard at work on her file. He wanted to aske her if she had picked up anything odd on Maddison but would wait until they were alone.

Shon stopped for a minute and noted Maddison looking at Jon intently whilst talking into his phone. After a few minutes another man dressed the same walked over to him making sure his back was to the room. He whispered something into his ear which Shon caught with her Vulcan hearing. She picked up her papers and moved over to Jon. “Have you noticed Maddison, he’s watching you intently whilst talking into his communications device. There is another man with him and I caught what he said ‘level two report to Jackson’.

To his credit Jon didn't react to what Shon said. He nodded and replied so only she could hear. "Good work Shon. Excellent in fact. I don't know what the message means but we have more then we started. See what else you can find out without drawing attention to yourself."

Shon walked away back to the window and moved forwards as though entranced by the views from the window. The other man in the dark suit had left by then but Maddison was talking into the phone. Shon could see his reflection in the window and he appeared agitated. His voice was clearer now ‘it’s not long now we have to hold them off until then’. Son missed the next bit but the next word she heard was ‘execution’ she turned and saw Maddison looking straight at her. Shon pointed to the window. “I’ve never seen such a beautiful sight.” She said smiling. Maddison scowled and shut his phone with a snap and walked away. Shon moved back over to Jon and told him what had occurred. “Who is looking at M?” she asked.

Callie looked up from her files as Shon spoke. “I’m going through K, L & M now. I haven’t found anything so far but there’s plenty more to go yet.”

Phoenix had just finished the N section and moved onto the P section. There was nothing of interest yet. He crouched down and opened a drawer that was located on the bottom of the unit. The drawer was labeled to indicate that it held personnel files for any base personnel with last names starting with the letter P. James focused. He mentally prepared himself for whatever he might find.

He carefully skimmed through the personnel files. Nothing seemed off. He stopped in his tracks once he reached one with the label, "Phoenix, James." He took a deep breath. Without any of the changes to the timeline he had already begun his training for Alpha Three. Ideally, if his file mentioned anything regarding what was supposed to occur, he could move on. But that turned out to not be the case.

James opened the file and stopped dead in his tracks. He had prepared himself for changes on this level. But he hadn't for anything this big regarding himself.

Callie sensed a change in Phoenix’s emotions but couldn’t say anything out-loud while they had company. “Anything with you agent?” She looked towards James hoping he’d realise she was sensing him.

"I pulled up my file from NASA" he said quietly while still looking at the file. He looked at Callie. "I found a change in the timeline."

Callie nodded. “Understood” She took a quick glance around mainly checking that Maddison was still on the phone out of the way.

Jon had found a couple of possible suspects but no red flags in neither of them. He looked up and saw Callie talking to Phoenix. Had he found something? Was he telling Callie? Jon would wait until they were alone to find out.

After a few minutes Maddison re appeared and walked over to where they were. “If you told me what you were looking for I could help you?” He looked at Callie. “I see you have ‘M’ in hand. I can assure you you will find nothing of note. Here let me help you.” He grabbed Callie’s hand.

Jon saw Maddison move towards Callie and then grab her hand. He put the file cards down and moved to her. "Problem here Agent Rivers?" Even though the question was directed at Callie his eyes were fixed on Maddison.

Callie took the advantage to pry Maddison’s hand from her arm. “It seems that my looking at the M section has Mr Maddison somewhat uncomfortable Sir.” She gave Jon a look. “Maybe I should pull your file Mr Maddison? See what it has to show us.”

Maddison smiled, “you will not find my file in this drawer Agent.” He said brushing his hands together as though he had encountered something dirty. He walked away out of the room followed by another woman.

“I’m going to follow him” Shon said quickly.

"We'll be filing assault charges on you Maddison. So, please stay where we can find and arrest you." Jon said in an attempt to rile the man, there was definitely something odd about him. He turned his attention to Callie, "You okay sweetheart?"

Callie nodded. “I’m fine, but there’s definitely something off about Maddison. He didn’t want me looking through these files.”

"Shon wait." Seth said to his wife. "Be smart about this. We can run a background check on him and see what it shows before we go after him. HE isn't going anywhere." Seth stressed. "He knows, he's a suspect."

Shon nodded and smiled. “Yes, you’re right. You know me going off half cocked. I’ll run a check on him and then we will see. There is just something about him that doesn’t fit somehow.”

Callie put down the files, she was feeling more rattled than she liked. “I’m going outside to take a breather, I won’t be long.”

"Alright Callie. When you come back, you can pick up where you left off." Jon answered with a smile. "You sure you are alright?"

Callie nodded. “I’m fine, I just need some air that’s all. I won’t be long.

Phoenix had actually been distracted by the commotion that he had forgotten about the file, which was on the floor in front of himself, as he was still crouched on the floor. After Maddison had left he looked back down at the file and recalled what he had found as a change to the timeline. He'd have to tell Jon about this.

Jon watched Callie go get some fresh air before he turned back to Phoenix. Looked like he had something on his mind. Hopefully it was something that moved them one step closer to catching the rogue time agent.


= Meanwhile outside =

Heading outside Callie put some space between herself and the main building, so many uncontrolled minds pushing on her dulled down senses wasn’t helping. Stepping near the kerb there was a sudden scream of tires as a madly driven car almost struck her, she dived out of the way hitting her head in the process, and everything went dark.”

(TBC: In “Do I know you?”)