The Edge of Freedom #27"
By: Riaan, Operations Manager, [PST]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.15 0815

=Deck 6=

Before Riaan's shift started at 1600 she decided to head off to deck six to see how the civilians were settling in.

Riaan wasn't sure how the civilians would think with her checking up on them and wondered if they felt that she was being intrusive or not but she just wanted to make sure everything was fine.

Her main concern were the children especially those that lost their parents.

Riaan thought back to the days when she was a mercenary and wondered how many children had no parents because of her but brushed this off to the back of her mind she had other responsibilities to tend to.

The first quarters Riaan dropped by a young voice replied enter as she pressed the chime.

Riaan entered the quarters and starting chatting to the family and asked if there was anything they needed.

James replied no thank we are fine you have done more then enough.

Riaan noticed a little girl sitting in the corner rocking back and forth in a fetal position. She was hardly visible sitting in the shadows. She sat right in the corner between two walls. The sofa almost hid the little girl in the corner. She had beautiful long blonde hair a little scruffy but under the circumstances it was understandable it hasn't been smooth sailing recently.

Riaan asked James if she could use the replicator for a minute and he replied go ahead. Riaan walked over to the replicator and ordered the replicator to make a doll, one in a soft yellow pretty dress, with beads down the front, with blond hair tied in a pretty blue ribbon, with blue eyes and white shoes. A few minutes later the doll was done.

Riaan walked over to the little girl and squatted down and handed her the doll.

She never looked up as Riaan handed her the doll. Hello my name is Riaan as she spoke softly to the little girl. What is your name, asked Riaan

The little girl never said a word.

The little girl appeared to be about 7 or 8 years of age but Riaan wasn't sure. No one knew the little girls name seeming she never responded to anyone since coming onboard and no one thought of asking seeming she was with these couples when they came onboard and automatically assumed the little girl belonged to them.

How long has she been like this James, asked Riaan.

Ever since we took her under our care, she lost both her parents and we were nearby when her parents were killed. They died instantly and never felt a thing I am pretty sure of that. They were caught in crossfire. She was holding her parents hand and we had a hard time getting her to let go. We felt badly about the effects and never thought anything of it and took her under our wings to care for. We don't know if she has any surviving relatives and we believe she is an only child there were no other children with them just her.

My wife shielded our two children so they couldn't see a thing.

After we came onboard and shown to these quarters we tried to clean her up the best we could. Unfortunately we never knew her parents personally. She hasn't eaten anything since coming onboard she just sits there rocking back and forth in a fetal position.

Our two other children have tried playing with her and getting her involved in games and what not and they to have had no success

I have tried everything and my wife Jane has also, we can't reach her it she is so lost and in a comatose state nothing seems to fizz on her.

She won't even eat we have tried and tried including leaving the dish there but she refuses to eat and she just sits there and rocks back and forth and fall asleep in the corner.

Riaan knew that something needed to be done and decided to page Ensign Zoie.

Riaan: "Computer, locate Ensign Zoie."

Computer: "Ensign Zoei is in her office."

This is Ensign Riaan to Ensign Zoie we have an emergency situation Deck 6 in one of the Family Quarters #4 with a little girl your assistance would be appreciated here.

Ensign Zoei to Ensign Riaan. I am on my way.

Zoei grabbed her case as she quickly strode through her office. She slapped it down on her desk, rapidly released the clasp, and ran her chilled fingers over the contents, reviewing the inventory. There were small toys, figures of people, blocks, drawing paper and colored pencils inside. Her long stride ate up the office floor between her desk and the recessed area where she stored small blankets. Grabbing a lavender fleece throw, covered in butterflies, she turned back to her desk. Clutching the case firmly in her left hand, fleece throw laying lightly over her shoulder, Zoei left her office for the turbo lift.

Exiting the turbo lift, confident strides carried Zoei to Family Quarters #4. Pausing at the door to identify herself, she hitched the case in her hand. It was heavy enough to cause a slight pulling in her shoulder. The door chimed and slid open.

Sorry to bother you Ensign Zoie but we have a little girl who hasn't eaten a thing since coming onboard she has lost both her parents and James and Jane besides their two children have tried everything.

She is over their in the corner rocking back and forth in a fetal position I was hoping you might be able to reach the little girl. She hasn't moved from that corner apparently and she falls asleep there. I replicated a doll hoping to draw attention but that hasn't worked either she never said a word nor looked up but just took the doll and hasn't said anything maybe you will have better luck then myself and this kind family that has taken her under their care. Unfortunately noone knows neither the little girls name nor her parents other then they were killed.

According to James both her parents died instantly and they never knew them personally. They felt bad about what had happened and without thinking about it they took her under their care. She was holding her parent's hand and James had a hard time getting the little girl to let go of her parents.

"Ensign, it is no bother at all. I appreciate you calling me. Anytime you need me for anything, don't hesitate to call for me," Zoei smiled slightly at the officer in front of her.

Well if you will please excuse me I have to attend to other business and see how our other guests are. If you need anything just page me. I will check back in later to see if you had any luck who knows she may open up to you, but it appears also she may not. She has been traumatized very deeply seeing the death of her parents. Well good luck.

"Have a good day, Ensign."

Riaan discreetly exited the quarters and proceeded on.

Looking around the room, she saw the small child curled in the corner. With a reassuring smile to the adults watching her so closely, she turned to the girl. Small, cautious strides covered the distance of the room slowly. Her aim was to approach the child as non-threateningly as possible. A short distance from the child, within arm's reach, but not touching, Zoei settled on the floor. Pulling her case to her, she slowly released the clasps on it. The sharp sound echoed throughout the quarters and the child flinched. Zoei noted it was a good sign the child was at least reactive to her environment. What wasn't such a good sign was the feeling Zoei was picking up of nothing-ness emanating from the child. There was no joy, no despair, no anything.

Opening the case, she pulled out two small dolls. One was a little boy and one was a little girl. Holding the dolls so they faced each other, Zoei said, in a high pitched small girl voice, "Hi there, my name is Patia." "Hi, Patia. My name is Lucio," replied a lower, young male voice. The two characters carried on a small conversation with each other, talking about likes and dislikes. As they appeared to become more comfortable with each other, their conversation turned to some of their fears. The little boy talked of being afraid of losing his family, and of being all alone with strangers. As they talked, Zoei sensed the little girl opening up. Aching glimpses of the pain the little girl was enduring began to show through. Daring a glance at the child, Zoei could see her eyes were now open. She was watching the interplay between the two tiny dolls. As the conversation turned to the feelings of aloneness and abandonment, the little girl sat up slowly. She began inching her way closer to the dolls. In her little girl voice, Zoei said to the little boy doll, "It will be ok, you will see." "It will not be ok!" the little girl cried. "You will be alone forever. You will never have your mommy and daddy back!" The same girl collapsed on the floor, folding into herself, sobbing piteously. Zoei scooted across the floor to her, laying her hand on her back softly, then rubbing gentle, calming circles along the girl's spine. The girl arched her back and Zoei removed her hand. Sitting up, the girl looked for the woman who had been rubbing her back, then launched herself into Zoei's arms. Her body wracked with sobs, tears streaming down her face, the child rocked herself against the counselor. For long moments, it was just the two of them in the universe as the child began to cope with the loss of her family.