Wormhole Vision - It was worth it

Posted on Thu Sep 9th, 2021 @ 11:17pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: Bridge - vision
Timeline: Backpost - in the wormhole.

“ Go! I’ll take out the secondary generator” Darj split off as they approached the centre, keeping low and utilising what cover they could to keep their profile as low as possible. Rhenora and the team pressed forward, the smoke concealing them as they raced into the compound that most were running out of. The explosion that took out the primary power source had a secondary victory, starting a fire in the rear of the complex as the power circuits overloaded, the acrid smell mixing with the unlying scent of fear. Another explosion rang out, adding to the chaos as Darj set the back up generator to overload and it sent another torrent of overloaded energy though the centre’s power grid. Forcefields failed instantly, freeing the prisoners and adding more chaos to the mix. The emergency lighting also failed sending everything into a thick choking blackness. Screams could be heard as the prisoners ran for their lives, the Cardassian’s long since given up trying to restrain them in the building that would rapidly burn.

Rhenora’s teams through the centre of the crowd, searching for their teammates as both Bajoran and Cardassian’s alike ran for their lives. “ Caro! Ped!” She screamed among the din. Desperation surged as they searched, still unable to find their friends. They hadn’t emerged from the smoke filled building yet, meaning they must be trapped inside. There was that moment of clarity, where the value of friendship and comradery was measured squarely against the odds of survival for all parties, that millisecond pause where the question is asked, and the answer given from an unknown source. Yes you may die, but you may also save lives. Did the benefit outweigh the risk? Potentially.

Acrid smoke burned her lungs as she headed down the blackened corridor, those that could escape having mostly done so already. She had a good idea of the internal layout of the building in her mind from the last time they had hit the place, and used one hand along the wall to keep her bearings. 1 cell… 2 cells… 3 cells…. Intel had told them that Caro and Ped were being held in the last cell, the cell now closest to the fire, their exit probably blocked by flame and smoke. Rhenora ducked low, trying to tuck under the smoke and heat rising from the increasing fire.

The heat was intense and the smoke choking, forcing the resistance fighter to her knees towards the end of the long corridor. Fingers still dragging along the wall she could tell she was close. “ Caro!” coughing interrupted her voice, forcing the air from her lungs. The flimsy material she had tied over her mouth and nose doing little to filter the smoke. She had to get out soon otherwise they would all die in this hellhole. Feeling her way forward she found the cell, inched her way inside and found two bodies curled up against the back corner. They moved as her hands reached out to them, meaning they were alive. She tore the sleeves of her jacket and handed them over “Tie these over your faces” she yelled over the noise, still not able to see. “ Follow me!” She only moved when she felt a pair of hands each connect with a limb of her own body. Crawling along the floor now she moved as quick as she dared, forcing her protesting body forward even as it complained bitterly about the conditions. It seemed like an age passed, each movement becoming more and more difficult and prolonged as the air thinned and the smoke descended. Still, there was a literal light at the end of the tunnel as they neared the mouth of the corridor. The Cardassians had either fled or were too busy tending their own wounded to care about the escaping prisoners, nor the trio that crawled half dead from the smoke and fire filled corridor. Somewhere behind them the building started to collapse, the fire in the ceiling weakening any supports to the point of failure.

Strong hands hoisted her up, words and voices starting to blur as she relished the sweetness of victory - her friends had survived, she had felt their hands right until they had emerged. Her mind released its iron grip on her body, allowing it to shut down and rest as it so desperately needed to.

Two days later she awoke, healing burns making her skin painful and her lungs and throat still burning from the assault of the superheated smoke. News filtered down revealing that Caro and Ped were alive, burnt as she was, but alive and would be back on their feet in a week or so. She closed her eyes again, a satisfied smile crossing her features - the sacrifice had been worth it.