A New Addition

Posted on Wed Apr 17th, 2013 @ 10:24am by Lieutenant Jourdan Abbott & Ruby Shapiro

906 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: What Dreams May Come?
Location: Calypso Children Ward

Jourdan had heard some great news from the Sickbay of the ship. She had heard that the little girl she had rescued from the Columbia had made a full recovery and all the Borg implants that weren't essential had been removed. Medical believed that as she grows up they will grow with her and keep her alive, however she might yet adapt and become fully biological.

Jourdan was looking forward to visiting Ruby, from what she had heard the little seven year old had been having trouble finding a place to live. It seemed as if some people just didn't want to have a child who had been Borg for a short while, or a child with so much emotional upset.

Walking into the children's section of the sickbay she was glad to see that most of the children in there were happy or just generally being checked up on. Immediately Jourdan was grabbed from behind. Jourdan turned around to see little Ruby holding onto her legs.
"Oh hello you!" Jourdan said shaking her of and crouching down to her level. "How are you today?" she asked.
"I'm ok Jourdan. Why did all the lights go out?" she asked curiously.
"Oh" she paused, best not to tell her about the Borg Virus "Well, we had some problems but I managed to fix them" she said.
"You fixed them?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, thats my job. I'm the one who fixs things when things break on the ship" she said.
"Thats what my daddy used to do. My mummy used to look after people" Ruby explained.
"Ah I see" Jourdan said. "Well, why not run off to play with the other children. I need to speak to Beth a minute" Jourdan said.
"The other children don't like me much" Ruby explained hanging her head slightly. "They say I'm dangerous".
"Oh no you're not" Jourdan replied "The only dangerous side you have is that you're too cute!" she explained tapping her on the nose slightly causing her to giggle.

Ensign Bethany Reeves was one of the childcare workers on the ship and had been responsible for the care of the children rescues off the Columbia. All of them had been adopted by new families, however she was having difficulty placing Ruby.
"Beth" Jourdan said walking into the office.
"Oh hi Jourdan, here to see Ruby again?" Beth asked.
"Actually, a little bit more than that" Jourdan said. Beth sat back in her chair and put her hands together.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Well, you say that Ruby's been having trouble fitting in with the families on the ship. She doesn't seem to be attached to anyone?"
"Yeah, she just doesn't seem to be engaging with anyone apart from you and myself" Beth explained.
"Well, I wanted to know if you'd see me as a suitable candidate to care for her. I've always wanted a child myself, however I guess I just never got around to it. Plus I did dig her out and she has become quite attached to me" Jourdan explained.

Beth's face seemed to lighten at the request.
"I thought you'd never ask Jourdan!" she said in response. "I can sort out all the legal side, but how about we ask Ruby herself. Of course I will need to give you a settling in period in which I observe you and Ruby, making sure she is properly cared for as per legislation" Beth said passing Jourdan a PADD. Jourdan took the PADD and scanned it over.
"So basically, you pop by once a day to make sure everything is ok?" Jourdan asked.
"Yeah, for two weeks then if you pass it all we can start making proper permament arrangements for you to be Ruby's legal guardian" Beth explained.
"I see. Well, lets ask her shall we?" Jourdan asked.

They walked out to see Ruby sat on one of the biobeds reading a book.
"We believe that when she was assimilated it has increased her intelligence levels. She's far ahead of her time, she seems to be able to read better than any other seven year old I've seen. She is also quite a handful, her body is stronger and more athletic than normal" Beth explained. Jourdan nodded in response.
"Thanks for the warning" she walked over to Ruby. "Hey, Ruby. I have a question for you".
"Ok" Ruby replied.
"Would you like to come and live with me sweetheart?" Jourdan asked.
"Yes!" Ruby said quickly, before Jourdan could reply Ruby had jumped off the bed grabbed a bagpack from out of a corner and had her coat on and zipped up ready to go.
"Looks like she's all yours" Beth said. "I'll pop by later this evening and see how you're all going".

Jourdan took Ruby's hand and led her out of the room into the corridor.
"So you exciting to be coming to live with me?" Jourdan asked.
"Yeah, its going to be fun. Does this make you my new mummy?" Ruby asked. Jourdan and Ruby stepped into a turbolift before she answered. "In a way it does, but you can call me Jourdan if you like. If we're both good you can stay with me forever" Jourdan explained. She couldn't help but smile, the Abbott Family had gained another child, not from blood but from the kindness of ones heart.

Posting By

Lieutenant Jourdan Abbott
Chief Engineering Officer

Ruby Shapiro
Child

 

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