Procidens Actio Pt II
Posted on Tue Mar 22nd, 2022 @ 12:49am by Commodore S'thenosis Gorgox & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell & Commander Finchley Kerr & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Sandra "Phantom" Risa & Lieutenant Commander Thriss Kla'ren & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Lieutenant Niali Korial MD & Lieutenant JG Avarak & Commander Jennifer Baldric & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Senior Chief Petty Officer Ronson Mitchell
Mission:
Paranoia Nebula
Location: USS Sunfire
Timeline: Current
Outside the Sunfire a lone high yield torpedo carreened torwards the Nebula creature. Inside the bridge, a stunned S'thenosis, Ronson, Savar and Dean watched and waited to see what would happen next. Below decks lay another story as the previous level of chaos was returning to normal, at least for some.
"Karadis to Kerr, torpedo launched by someone, detonated off of the starboard bow of the Sunfire..." Kardis reported over the COMM"...no idea at the moment who launched it, if I were to guess, they were doing what you'd suggested to me earlier."
"But that...that's the wrong energy source, that's a warhead source" Finchley replied horrified "what if this creature reacts wrongly to the warhead energy output...it could blow up in our faces!"
"Frankly, yes Commander" Karadis replied, then closed the COMM link.
[Sickbay]
Niali was dreaming, the light seemed so very far away a meager spot in the dark. Her eyes flicked round to see if there was anything else to estimate the distance from the light. She had always been afraid of the dark as a child, maybe, she thought, she still was that frightened six-year-old who believed in fairies and flying hedgehogs. Mama would wake her soon and tell her everything would be okay, and then the dawn would break over the trees sending slivers of light like thin fingers through the branches into her room. She lay there listening to her mother’s voice but it did not seem like her mellifluous tones. It was growing louder now and she tried to raise her arms to plug her ears against the cacophony that now threatened her rest.
Who was she, where was she? That question was answered like the shattering of an ocean wave booming onto rock. Her eyes opened and she knew where she was and that what had happened to her had not been a dream. “My symbiont!” She exclaimed and put a hand to her chest. Then she remembered him, Finchley rescuing her like some knight in armour in one of her old tales. She tried to call out for him but her throat was so very dry. “Please, please where is Finc…. Commander Kerr, is he safe?” She was not sure if anyone had heard her as she was dragged backward, the light collapsing in on itself until it became so very, very far away once again.
There was nothing Finchley could say or do now, someone had taken it upon their self to fire a torpedo. The Caption, Executive Officer, the Commodore and Mission Advisor were all on the bridge, they would deal with what had happened. Just then his COMM badge chirruped again.
“Nurse Windum to Commander Kerr, Doctor Korial has been calling for you.”
“I’m on my way now, Kerr out” Finchley replied.
Within a couple of minutes, he was in Sickbay and by Niali’s side. Taking her hand gently in his, he also reached out his other hand and began slowly stroking her hair, saying “Hey, where are you at, come back to us, we…I need to speak with you about something serious. Come on, you can do it, just concentrate on my voice and come back to me.”
Niali heard him in her deep sleep, everything hurt this time and she badly needed analgesia. She felt his hand in hers warm and firm and opened her eyes squinting at the harsh light that invaded her retinas. “Finchley?” She whispered and turned her head towards him.
Finchley looked at her and smiled, glad to see her come to consciousness again.
"Now Doctor Korial" he said in a low voice "what would your tutors at Starfleet Medical say to you now if they found you lying down on the job?" he joked, continuing to stroke her hair.
She smiled wanly, “did it work Finchley, the infrasound, did it work, is everyone safe where is Aurora? she stabbed me, my symbiont? She had to stop, talking was too exhausting. She noted he was stroking her hair and it felt good, relaxing. “Thank you for saving me,” she said in a low voice.
"As far as I know, the infrasound seems to have worked" he replied "though, looking around here, it may take a little while longer for some to get back to full working capability. As for your symbiont, I really don't know, sorry. I'd hazard an educated guess though that they don't think it's at risk for the time being otherwise you'd be in surgery right now.
As for Aurora she was on the bridge when I was up there a little while ago. I think she's been sedated and will be brought here and placed under close arrest. Whether or not she'll be tried for the attempted murder of a fellow officer I don't know, Savar's covering for her, saying she wasn't in her right mind, but that has still to be proved. Personally, I think it looks like he's putting his personal emotions for her first because she's his wife and it's her who attempted to murder you, rather than his duty to the ship and its crew. I could be wrong, but that's how I think it looks."
He stood up for a moment, smiled and said "As for me saving you..." and he bowed theatrically at the waist "...my lady, what would Sir Lancelot be without his Lady Guinevere."
Niali smiled, “it was my fault, I should have left the force field up before waking her. That person was not Aurora, she is gentle and would never have done this. Captain Savar will do the right thing I am sure. She closed her eyes, then opened them and looked at him. “Am I really your Guinevere?”
Standing up straight again Finchley replied "No Niali, it's not your fault, you can't blame yourself, you were doing your duty, what you believed was right. An investigation will determine the facts and make a verdict, it's procedure. Believe me, I don't want her to be found guilty, she's a very capable officer, diligent in her duties to the ship and it's crew, however, the fact is, she did what she did and it needs to be investigated properly. As for Savar...something was different about him when I was on the bridge. I can't put my finger on it, but, when Lt Vali collapsed, Savar seemed to act different moments later."
He smiled widely at Niali and went back to holding her hand again "You are indeed my Lady. Now, you need rest, I'll ask Dr Wilson to keep me posted on your progress, for now, I think I need to return to Camelot" he laughed.
Thank you Finchley, when you see Dr Wilson can you tell her I need analgesia….” Then a thought struck her. ““I wonder if whatever was possessing Aurora transferred itself to Savar? Finchley be very careful, I don’t want to lose you now.” She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"Certainly" Finchley replied to Niali, and then thought on what she said. True, 'if' Aurora was under the influence of something else, could it transfer itself from one person to another, but how?
"I shall be, you just take care of you" he said as he watched her all asleep again. As he began walking towards the exit, he saw Dr Wilson.
"Doctor Wilson, Dr Korial was saying she needs an analgesia, would it be possible for you to go and speak with her just now please?"
"Of course" Sarah nodded to Dr Perrin to took over where she was working and headed into where Niali was recovering.
"Thank you" Finchley replied then nodded his goodbye, making his way out of Sickbay.
Sandra lay sedated and still unconscious in her chamber. Even though she was sedated and unconscious, she still dreamed of being devoured by some energy being. Frightening as it was, she could not bring herself out of the dream. In her mind, she screamed but there was no one to hear her.
Dr Perrin eyed the readings with caution and moved his medical tray in case he was needed. It seemed the crew were all reacting differently as they came out of sedation.
[Bridge]
Meanwhile, the creature seemed to be moving towards the explosion created by the torpedo Ronson had fired. It operates it was indeed hungry for energy. It enveloped the expanding sphere and absorbed the contents before turning its attention back to the Sunfire.
"Well, that obviously answered that." Dean gave a sigh. "Great, so we're essentially no farther to an answer than we were before."
Finchley entered onto the bridge and heard what House said.
"Actually, if you'd listened to the idea I was going to suggest before, instead of some idiot firing a high yield torpedo, we may have saved ourselves some time and perhaps gotten out of this situation," he said. walking over to his now sorted console.
From the side of the bridge, S'thenosis watched as the mess unfolded. There was a clear lack of cohesion between several of the crew members. Mr. House, whom she had met, and this Mr. Kerr, whom she had not, seemed to be at odds with one another. She could only blink and mildly shake her head. So far the situation did not warrant her return to her studies and that fact alone had her biting her tongue.
< Sickbay >
Niali had a sudden thought despite the now residing headache. She reached for her commbadge and tapped it gently.
=/\= Dr Korial to the bridge =/\= I have an idea could we encircle the ship with infrasound? Korial out.=/\= she lay back exhausted and went back to sleep.
Aurora stirred, as she opened her eyes she found herself restrained to her biobed with a security detail for company. “What’s going on!? Why am I restrained!?”
Niali who was on the next biobed was gently dozing now she had her Analgesia on board, heard Aurora’s troubled voice and turned her head. “Aurora, it’s me Niali, how are you feeling?”
Aurora turned her head to look at Niali, the sudden recognition of some events came flashing back into her mind. “Niali ... I don’t know what happened! I remember waking up but ... did I hurt you?”
“It wasn’t you Aurora it was…some other entity. You ended up on the bridge trying to get to Savar. I think you were trying to get him to help you. Next thing I know they are bringing you back unconscious and in restraints. I am not sure if they believe that the entity has left you, but talking to you now…I know it has.” She rested quietly for a minute the strain of talking tiring her.
“Unfortunately you are also under arrest for your attack on me…but I am sure it will all be sorted out.”
Aurora shook her head. “I wouldn’t ... I would never have hurt you. I’m so sorry Niali.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I have to see Savar! If this ... creature left me it could be within him through our bond. If it’s there I’ll know ... I have to get to the bridge!!” She struggled against her restraints making the security guards nervous.
Niali sighed and reached for her comm and when she tapped it gently it sounded like an explosion going off in her head. =/\= Korial to Cmdr Kerr =/\=
Finchley tapped his COMM badge and replied "Kerr here, how can I help you Doctor Korial?"
“Sir Lt Vali is awake and wanting to speak to Captain Savar, she is worried about the creature being inside him now. Someone better address it. Korial out.
[Bridge]
Finchley looked round at Savar, then looked at Commander House and questioningly said "Commander House?"
[Sickbay]
“Aurora someone should be down to speak to you soon I am surrrrr” she slurred her words as she fell asleep once again
All Aurora could do now was wait.
Sarah had overheard the conversation regarding Savar being possibly compromised and her heart sank. This mission seemed to be going from bad to worse.
[Bridge]
"Actually, Commander. We had a lot going on, and you keep running off to Sickbay and who knows where else. I'll also be having a conversation about you always throwing 'disrespect' at us. When you feel it's alright for you to insult others while on duty, and on the Bridge." Dean stood up, looking back to the screen. "Tactical, load a number of mines but sour the milk. Give it a negative charge. Set the distance you drop them, just enough apart that it will still follow them. Helm, move us towards any 'rock' within range so we can put it between us."
“I was beamed to sickbay when I was unwell Sir” Finchley replied and I went to my office to check on something that I believed could help stop this creature trying to destroy us. On my way back to report those findings I was close enough to sickbay to check on Doctor Korial after her COMM message. Finding her very badly injured, I used what triage training I had to help stop her bleeding and cauterize the wound before bandaging it for Dr. Wilson to carry on helping her” he finished.
Dean glances a moment and grabs a phaser from the compartment by the Command chair. Since Ronson should be busy carrying out his orders. Having heard again about this 'infected' or 'possession' or whatever it is. Just turns and fires on Savar with a high enough setting to put the Vulcan down.
Tapping his comm badge. "Bridge to Sickbay, beam, Savar there and put him in a force field." Pushes the button on the command chair for all hands. "This is Commander House. As of 1836 hours, I'll be assuming command of the Sunfire until further notice. This is due to extenuating circumstances that may have compromised Commander Savar, as it did Lieutenant Vali." Hits it again to close the channel.
“Do you wish me to fill in for you Captain?” Finchley asked the CO
"In a moment, Finchley. We're dealing with the thing trying to eat us, because if that happens it won't matter." Dean looked back to see if the orders were being executed.
Chief Ronson Mitchell watched on as Savar was stunned then beamed to sickbay, Commander House stepping into command and setting a series of mines to change the trajectory of the creature, or to piss it off - either would work in their favour.
The firing on a Command officer without provocation was a capital offense and commander Dean House had just acted without warning or explanation. S'thenosis was committing it all to memory, yet staying back to watch the events unfold. Her power was limited and therefore her presence was not welcome. In times of mutiny, they hang those with rank first.
[Sickbay]
Niali woke again, she felt as though she had been asleep for hours. She sat up gradually and swung first one leg then the other off the biobed. It was time for her to be back on her feet helping her shipmates. She felt dizzy and weak but found if she moved slowly she could cope with that. She grabbed a biosensor and moved slowly to Aurora. Security moved towards her trying to stop her. “Gentlemen, this is my sickbay and I am going to check on my patient MOVE.” She said in a commanding voice.
“Aurora, how are you?” Niali asked commencing a scan.
Aurora looked at Niali “I need to ...” her attention was drawn away as an unconscious Savar suddenly materialized in Sickbay. “Savar! What happened!?” She strained trying to get up to get to her husband. “Let me out of these restraints!! I need to get to my husband!”
Niali looked on as Saver was beamed into her sickbay, she was mad as hell. “Aurora I am going to the bridge to sort this out I will return, just try to relax.
She began her slow walk to the bridge holding the wall as she walked. Her chest felt like someone pressing a spiked fist into it. Breathing was difficult and she became pale. A few minutes later she arrived.
TBC
