Home Straight

Posted on Tue Mar 29th, 2022 @ 8:09am by Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Commander Finchley Kerr & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Lieutenant Niali Korial MD

Mission: Paranoia Nebula

Partially disabled, the Sunfire continued to move further from the nebula that had tried to consume them.

"Captain, suggest we calibrate a series of warning buoys to the nebula's biosign and set them at a distance of 1000 kilometres. Hopefully that should give any incoming vessels enough warning to stay away without preventing the creature from ingesting other native space dwelling life forms." Commander Baldric requested from one of the science stations on the bridge.

From the center seat Savar swiveled to look at her as he replied. "An excellent idea Commander Baldric, please see to it and launch the buoys when they are ready. In addition, send a general to all ships in the area that this a dangerous section of space and to be avoided at all costs.”

"Aye Sir" Baldric made the necessary requests of the various departments to organise the warning bouts as well as sending out a general broadcast to all ships in the area. They had been unable to save the Ferengi ships, but could prevent further ships falling prey to the creature.

~ SICKBAY ~

Aurora sat on a far corner biobed, as far from the crew as security could put her. She already felt guilty enough for what she’d done to Niali, she just wanted the matter cleared up once and for all.

Dr Sarah Wilson approached the biobed with caution, the forcefield was lowered on her approach and she had a calming smile on her face and a medical tricorder in her hand.

"I apologise for the precautions, I just needed one more neural scan to prove you're back to normal then we can release you." Sarah explained, activating the sensitive medical devices and running the scans.

Aurora nodded. “I’ll still have to attend a hearing regarding what I did, I don’t even remember doing it! I could have killed Niali.” She paused. “I just want to go home to my family.”

Niali moaned as she felt the pain in her chest, coming back to consciousness slowly, she remembered being stabbed by Aurora and wondered how that had happened. She felt as though she needed a long sleep before going back to work. She tried to move but was unable to. She slowly opened her eyes and then closed them again, the glare was too much. “Hello” she whispered through parched lips.

Dr Wilson moved her attention from Aurora to Niali and grabbed a hypo as she walked over to the biobed. "Easy there Doc, this will dull the pain somewhat" she said warmly, noting the readings on the biobed. "Rest, everything's ok, everyone is well"

Turning her attention back to Aurora "you're latest results continue to be clear, you're free to go"

Aurora nodded but instead of leaving she moved to sit at Niali’s bedside. “I’m sorry, I would never have hurt you!” She offered a Niali an apologetic glance.

Niali turned her head slowly to see Aurora sitting there beside her. She stretched out her hand for Aurora to take. “Of course I know it wasn’t you, it was my fault for not taking enough care of you Aurora.” she croaked. I will be up and about in no time and one day we will laugh about this.

Aurora too Niali’s hand for a few moments. “I certainly hope so Niali, I could have killed both of you.” She sighed. “You need to get some rest so you can both recover.”

Niali gave a little smile. Well you didn’t kill me so you get to carry on putting up with me! I do have a favour to ask you though. When you are on the bridge can you keep an eye on Commander Kerr for me. I am beginning to care for him and I am worried about him, do this for me Aurora and I will be happy? I am so tired I think I will sleep a little now, come back and see me okay?” She squeezed her hand.

Aurora nodded. “Of course I will, now you sleep. I’ll come back and visit.” She waited a few more moments before she headed for the bridge.

[Bridge]

As the Sunfire left the area, limping back towards DS9, Finchley started lamenting very quietly to himself "Farewell and adieu to you fair unknown nebula species. Farewell and adieu, to you species unknown. For we're following orders for to limp back to Deep Space Nine, and so nevermore shall we see you again...”

Baldric smiled at the theatrical dialogue and ran another sensor sweep, continually checking if the Sunfire was travelling as well as could be under the circumstances.

Arriving on the bridge a few minutes later Aurora made her way across to Savar. “Doctor Wilson has cleared me for duty, Permission to take my place Sir?”

Savar looked at his wife, to anyone else it would appear his facial expression remained the same. But one who knew him as well as Aurora did, would see the slight crinkling of skin around his eyes and his eyes filled with pleasure. "That pleases me a great deal Aurora, both personally and professionally. Permission is granted."

Aurora did indeed see the joy in her husband’s eyes and expression, making her smile. “Thank you Savar.” She took her seat feeling somewhat ill at ease after events with Niali, wondering if the bridge crew would feel the same.

Finchley had lost track of time and hadn't realised his shift had now ended. Turning to the Lieutenant who had come to relieve him and take over, he nodded his thanks.

As he turned to make his way off the bridge, he heard Aurora's voice as she spoke to Savar. Fixing his stare on the Captain he said "Sir, temporary repairs have now been completed on the Starboard strut that housed the nacelle we lost, a round the clock engineering team has been set up to make sure all safety precautions and measures are kept in place for our journey back to Deep Space Nine. Once we've docked there, a specialise structural team have been assigned to assess the damage to the Sunfire, a...Chief Hannigan will be reporting in to you before she and her team begin preliminary damage checks. My shift just finished, but if you need me for anything Captain I'll be available."

"Thank you for a concise and professional report Mr. Kerr. Most exemplary. Please see that you rest." Savar replied noting mentally that Kerr did not look at Aurora. * A definite sore point* He concluded. "I will await Chief Hannigan's visit." He finished.

"Thank you Captain" Finchley replied "I shall and I'll also ensure the Chief is brought to you directly once they report onboard" he finished, bowing slightly from the hip and nodding his leave to Savar.

He didn't make any eye contact with anyone else as he made his way to the turbolift.

[Sickbay]

Now free to do what he wanted, minutes later he found himself hurrying into Sickbay. He stopped and asked a nurse where Doctor Korial was, and he was quickly taken to Niali's biobed.

As he looked down at her, she had a peaceful look on her face, however his gaze was soon drawn to the wound area on her chest. He so wanted to be able to swap places with her, take the pain and the wound she'd received on himself so it could be spared from her.

He gently laid his hand across hers, and leaning down whispered in her ear "My Lady..."

Niali woke to feel his hand on hers. she smiled wanly so pleased to see him. “My knight” she said through parched lips. “You came to see me and that makes me feel better.” She tried to sit up and received a sudden burst of pain. “I want to get out of here but my symbiont thinks differently.” She tried to laugh. “They released Aurora back for duty.”

"I came as soon as time permitted me to" Finchley replied, then beckoned the nurse near by to bring some water and a cloth to dampen her parched lips. He knew she wouldn't be allowed to drink just yet, so he took the cloth, dampened it, wrung it out and wetted her lips himself.

"I'm happy it makes you feel better, and it gladdens my heart to see you're able to speak with me, I was worried I'd have nobody to nark at me" he laughed.

He chose not to reply to Aurora being back on duty but instead said "I think your symbiont is right, you do need to keep your feet up, and as to getting out of here, I think that'll be Doctor Wilson's call. I think that's more likely to be once you've rested and recuperated on DS9. I was wondering, once M'Lady is better and back on her feet, would she do me the honour of allowing me to wear her favours at dinner?"

She noted he said nothing about Aurora but she knew he smarted with the unfairness of letting her back on duty before she had been cleared or not at a tribunal. “Thank you for the water, that feels really good.” She smiled at him and tightened her grip on his hand. “As for narking Commander Kerr this physician will soon be back on her feet making your life difficult. “She moved a little and winced in pain. “Any harder or an inch or two down and I think that would have been the end of old Niali. She didn’t know what she was doing you know Finchley. I heard the entity moved into you and you saved the ship, I wish I had been part of it.”

She turned her head to look at him, “I have developed…..” she paused. “Feelings for you and I hope you feel the same?” She asked with a questing glance her eyes filled with pain.

"You did your part with the infrasound idea Niali, it was you're idea that saved the ship's crew from the horrors they were imagining and pains they were going through" Finchley replied, once again choosing to ignore any comment made about Aurora. he wouldn't be drawn into any conversation on her being allowed back on duty, regardless if she was entity free.

"As for me, I acted on reason and instinct, nothing more" he said "however, your presence would have been appreciated."

His other hand moved over hers as he heard what she said about her feelings towards him. As he did, he raised her hand and lightly kissed it saying "My Lady, my feelings for you are as deep as an unfathomable ocean. When I'm in your presence, would I to be able to take my heart out and show it to you, it would beat faster than a humming birds wings."

“Sir knight your words drop from your lips onto mine like liquid pearls to refresh my being.” Her eyes closed and she nodded away for a moment then just a soon opened them. Any news about Commander House? I ultimately failed to get him removed from the bridge however. To my mind there were too many people interfering. I keep dreaming about it, going over it in my mind.”

"He's been removed from duty by the Commodore and is under arrest pending an enquiry into why he shot the Captain" Finchley replied. "I'm not privy to any further details as no-one's informed me as to what's happening with him right now. I have to admit, going over it in my minds eye, it's a very strange situation. I mean, Commander House didn't make any attempt to even speak to the Captain, just shot him."

She looked thoughtful. “Maybe even the beginnings of a mutiny, but, where were the others, so that doesn’t fit. At the very least it was reckless endangerment, like something snapped inside him. I don’t know if Dr Wilson has had a chance to see him.”

"I've no idea if Dr Wilson has seen him or not, you'd have to ask her" Finchley replied.

TBC