A Bigger Better Picture pt2
Posted on Wed Oct 13th, 2021 @ 3:26am by Commodore S'thenosis Gorgox & Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Senior Chief Petty Officer Ronson Mitchell
Mission:
Gamma Quadrant
Location: USS Sunfire Holodeck
Timeline: Current-ish
"If you would please." She gestured to both Aurora and Savar. "I understand the two of you are intimate, and that this case may bring back troubling memories, however, I ask that we remain professional and continue moving forward as our time is limited." She took a moment and looked at each of them, in turn, to ensure they understood the message. "Good, then, who was the first to step foot on the planet's surface?"
"We are husband and wife Commodore and we know what is expected here," Savar replied. "As to who was first to set foot on the planet's surface. I was, I led the away team in a search of the civilization that was native to the planet."
"Congratulations on your union." She gave a curt nod. "As you were the first, would you be so kind as to retrace your steps to the best of your memory." She recalled the report which had described Commander Savar in a red-fever state associated with his advanced stages of Pon Farr, but she chose to allow him to explain the personal details if it became necessary.
Savar began. "I was first on the planet's surface." He said as he walked to the location. "I called the Liberty to inform them of our progress in finding the civilization. I was standing as I am now outside the mouth of the cave."
"And you Miss Vali, where were you at this time?" The Dragoness motioned for Aurora to fall in line and deliver on her perspective. "Please, be as detailed as you can manage."
Aurora nodded. “I arrived on the surface with the rest of the away team, at some point I’d come into contact with what I thought was an irritating plant as I developed an itchy rash on my arm. I was sensing the planet’s population below the surface of the planet, and we were about to go and investigate some tunnels when the Cardassians caught us up.”
S'thenosis watched as Aurora went through the motions, her curiosity piqued at the mention of the arrival of the Cardassians. "How did they arrive? Transporter? Shuttlecraft? And was Maccet with them when they 'caught you up?" Fleshing out details, like adding shading to a canvas, she attempted to pull memories from someone who was struggling to give them up and she could tell it.
"In answer to your questions Commodore. The Cardassians were already on the planet's surface unknown to us. Gul Maccet was indeed with them, as he was leading them." Savar replied.
“They captured us, they wanted to use us as bait to get Captain Kaylen down on the surface.” Aurora frowned. “I didn’t know at the time but my rash was caused by something designed to incapacitate Rhenora, it infected me too. It made me scratch my arm raw, I became feverish and it affected the control of my abilities.”
"So, an obvious trap and a well-facilitated administration of poison. I do recall a bit that may lead to a discrepancy in your story, however, do go on. The Cardassians landed, where?" She asked of no one in particular. The holodeck would sufficiently show her soon enough as the scariest-looking shuttlecraft, with jutting spikes and racing stripes, descended from the storm-filled clouds. Confused she swiveled to Savar, "Cardassians?" she asked. This was Mr. Gomez's recollection after all and it would seem he had embellished a bit.
"As I have previously mentioned Commodore the Cardassians were already on the surface of the planet. They had taken refuge in one of the caves and waited for us to appear." Savar answered. "As Aurora has stated we were to be bait to get Captain Kaylen to the surface."
She watched as the shuttle finished landing before commenting. "Perhaps Mr. Gomez's recollection of the events has skewed from reality slightly unless there was a second shuttle to have landed after you entered the cave structure? In either scenario, please, carry on."
Bob looked at the creature who resembled a dragon with a hurt look in his eyes. His recollection of the events where what he thought had happened - in all honestly he hadn't thought twice about it since they had left that blasted planet with everyone in one piece.
"I"m sorry I remembered wrong" He said ashamedly, eyes casting down towards his scuffed boots. The holo recording was starting to unnerve him.
Aurora looked at the older woman. “They kept us prisoner, it was only when Maccet arrived that I found out I’d been infected with a pathogen he’d also infected Captain Kaylen with. By that time I’d scratched my arm almost raw and I was feeling the effects of a fever.”
Bob looked at Aurora as though she had grown two heads " There was a pathogen? Nobody told me there was a pathogen!"
"Calm yourself Mr. Gomez." Savar told the agitated Ensign. "You were not infected. There is and was no cause for alarm."
" But the fact there was a nasty nasty germ thing going on just makes this whole thing worse! Those Cardassians were really up to no good. " Bob continued - building up steam in with own emotional diatribe.
""Emotionally put but nonetheless quite correct Mr. Gomez. The Cardassians were up to no good." Savar replied coolly,
"Very bad no good. They used us as bait to get to the Captain, now I find out there was germy germies as well. The whole thing was nasty business!" Bob got on a roll until he realized just who he was addressing.
Savar arched an eyebrow at Bob's expression. "Germy Germies? Not scientifically accurate but essentially correct." He replied.
"I fully understand the contagion as I have read the medical report. From my understanding it was delivered, potentially, the evening before during a diner party served on board the Sunfire." The Commodore said while addressing Aurora. "We will circle back to that situation, however, now I believe I need to see your perspective of what went on inside the cave. Was there conflict, conversation or otherwise with Maccet? At what point did your Captain arrive to exchange herself for hostages and what happened after?"
She motioned to Bob, "Mr. Gomez, you are excused unless you have anything else to offer. Please have Crewman Ronson summon the Captain, at her convenience, of course." S'thenosis said as she waved Bob away.
" Yes Dragon Lady Ma'am" Bob scampered towards the holodeck archway, trying to get as far away from the intimidating Commodore as she could.
A Short time later Captain Kaylen strode into the holodeck, confident and defiant in her stance as she approached the assembled group. The exuded confidence was not one she felt internally, instead the recreation of Orias III causing a flurry of trepidation to course through her.
" Commodore, Commander, Counsellor" She greeted each of them in turn.
"Captain." Savar greeted his friend and CO. "Thank you for coming so promptly."
" This is an important matter - I consider it a top priority" The Captain replied with a smile.
"Flawless logical Captain. My compliments." Savar replied lightly.
"Indeed." S'thenosis muttered under her breath.
The Captain nodded and turned her attention to the Commodore " Where are we at Commodore?" She took in the cave, the barren wasteland that the planet was, and the somber tone of her crewmates. So far there was a holographic representation of both caves, the cage in the rear of the primary location, with holographic representations of the Sunfire crew who had been captured within it. It made Rhenora's blood run cold recalling what had happened next. Gul Maccet had bartered with her crew's life, demanding she come down to the planet herself in exchange for their lives. He then bound her, beat her, then tried to kill her before Commander Savar killed him.
Savar could see the tenseness in Rhenora's frame as she spoke to the Commodore. Undoubtedly she was remembering her time on the planet with Gul Maccet just as he was.
She turned her attention back to Commodore S'Thenosis " Where would you like to begin?" The words were filled with a calmness that didn't make it past her exterior.
S'tenosis looked at Rhenora and let out a guttural breath of air, "I am not one to be completely heartless Captain. As I understand it, the next bit we will have to face involves a fair bit of pain on your part. As well as that of your crew." She said while gesturing at Savar and Aurora. "If it is too much for you at this time, we can return when you are ready. I would not shame you this moment of trauma, Captain." She was candid, and sincere, two words not usually spoken alongside her name.
"We need to get it done to prepare the best defense for Commander Savar. IF that involves a little pain on my part - I will gladly suffer it" The Captain replied strongly "Gul Maccet is the criminal here, not Savar. We just need to prove it"
"Then, by all means, we were just about to enter the cave sequence of events. Whereas Savar and Aurora here were in custody, along with other crew members, if memory serves. That is until you arrived. I'd like to walk through the scenario, again, only if you're up to it." She gestured into the caves as the storms picked up the intensity in the distance.
"Of course" Rhenora steeled herself for what was to come. It wasn't her finest moment that was for sure. She walked towards the cave, unnerved slightly as to how real it all seemed. Almost a perfect recreation of how everything looked.
Savar watched as Rhenora walked towards the cave as she prepared to relive the unpleasant situation on the planet's surface. Her confrontation with Maccet, his binding of her and then physically assaulted her by striking her. He wished he could spare her this pain but it was not possible. He made a mental note to thank her for her unwavering support and friendship.
Rhenora took a breath as they entered the cave before focussing her thoughts. "Maccet was standing here, when I beamed in" she started, pointing to a location within the cave "the away team were behind bars, and he was waiting for me" she started.
"Correct Captain," Savar answered. "In addition, Aurora was beginning to fall ill to the virus and I was combating the onslaught of Pon'Farr."
Thoughtlessly, S'thenosis rolled her eyes. She would never grow to understand why, in an age of holograms that could detail events with recorded facts, humans, in general, liked to spell things out with messy layers of emotion. "Perhaps, to speed things along, we could allow the hologram to play itself out and if there are any discrepancies we can correct them at that time." She motioned to the scene in front of them.
"As you wish Commodore." Savar replied placidly.
" Of course" The Captain nodded. Having the scene play out before her without having to describe every nuance down to the letter was going to be much less traumatic. It was oddly macabre, knowing that this man was going to attempt to kill her and she now had to watch the replay.
TBC
