The Taken pt 2
Posted on Wed Feb 12th, 2025 @ 11:24am by Commander Jennifer Baldric & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell
Mission:
Ramant
Location: Ramant ship
The cell shield dropped as Aurora, Savar & their newborn daughter were returned so that Aurora could rest & recuperate ahead of the scientists plans to return to to them at a later time. Relieved that the scientists appeared to have little interest in N’vea for now, Aurora let herself rest knowing Savar would make sure their daughter was looked after.
Savar was indeed looking after Aurora and N'vea. "Rest Aurora. You must rest, so you can regain your strength. N'vea needs you to watch and protect her. I need you for your insights and any thoughts, insights you may gather from our captors that we may be able to use to organize and escape."
Aurora nodded as she lay down on the uncomfortable excuse for beds the cell had.
"Remain strong Aurora. We will get out of here. Do not give in to despair." Savar spoke softly to her.
Meanwhile up the corridor Pamela and Commander Baldric were concerned about Lt. Hoff who was in the cell with them. He had been in considerable pain since being returned to the cell and was now shivering and pale. "He's not well, high fever from whatever they did to him" Jennifer placed a hand in his forehead and recoiled when it was burning hot.
She approached the cell forcefield.. "Hey, I've got a sick man in here!" She yelled, trying to get the attention of anyone on the outside. A guard approached, followed by a scientist. "A male you said? Regrettable, but he has served his purpose."
Baldric squeezed her hands into fists, clenching her teeth but trying very hard to remain calm. "That man is my responsibility. If he dies, the Federation will come asking questions. Let us go, we can help you with whatever problem you're trying to solve. But letting my people die like lab rats is only going to make things bad for you"
"You speak as though we should care about your Federation. Our primary goal is repopulation and if a specimen is not capable of aiding in that goal, they are of no use to us. Your primitive culture apparently still experiments on innocent rats, so I question how you are any different than we." The scientist reached for the control panel to gas those within but suddenly hesitated as Baldric spoke again.
"We have learned over many years that conducting scientific experiments on sentient creations was unjust and cruel. Our medical sciences are advanced, perhaps we can assist you in your population issue. Have you thought of what a fresh perspective could offer?" Baldric sensed the hesitation and pressed forward, running a quick list of those most suitable for assisting these people. "Our Chief Medical Officer is still on board the Sunfire I believe. She has one of the best medical minds I know. Allow us to contact her and ask for her help"
"You must know that cannot happen. It would not only be counter-intuitive, but that course would take us back into the teeth of the beast that is your people. We have seen your weapons and we know what you are capable of, so much destruction. No, where we are going, Ramant, we will be safe there to carry on our experiments and eventually find a way to repopulate." She inched closer to the panel, intent on putting them to sleep in order to relieve them of the male.
"We are not a beast. We are explorers and help others where we can. We belong to a Federarion of planets who all believe the same thing. We can help you if you let us." Baldric implored, realising she was losing ground. "You have the ability to make yourselves and your ship disappear. I can tell you where our medical officer would be. Bring her here and she will help you."
The scientist pressed the button releasing the gas. As she watched those within begin to pass out she stared into the pleading eyes of Baldric. "I'm afraid it is beyond too late for that. Besides we have enough Doctors at our disposal." In her mind, however, she was contemplating the concept of a fresh perspective. Their people had strived for so long without finding a solution and a fresh perspective might be just what they needed.
"Damnit we can help you!" Baldric got out before the gas claimed her mind, shutting it down and sending her slumping to the floor. Her arm was outstretched as though still offering aid.
As the gas cleared and the field dropped the armed escort moved in to take the males body. They stopped as they exited for direction. "Shall we dispose of this one?"
The scientist pondered her options and the plight of the bold specimen. "No. Take them to Medical chambers and have the fetus evaluated for removal. Try to save the patient. We'll see if that provides some incentive for the rest to carry on. Perhaps they are not as animalistic as we were led to believe."
When Baldric awoke, Hoff was gone, and she felt utterly terrible. Perhaps she could have argued their case differently, perhaps she could have found a way to help him. Guilt set in and she sat back against the corner of the cell, head still spinning from the gas but mind reeling from failure.
Pamela slid over to where Baldric was sitting and placed an arm around her. "Commander, you must remain strong, for all of us." She, herself was entering what felt like her second trimester and was afraid they would be back to snatch her before too long. "You tried your best, what more can we ask for?"
The scientist who had hesitated was watching over the Doctors as they worked on the specimen called Hoff or Specimen 998. He was having the fetus removed surgically and would undergo a short evaluation period. The words, the very idea of introducing an outside voice into the mix, was appealing as they reran in her mind. She could help but wonder if what they were doing was the right way to go about things. She had her orders, but she also had a conscience of her own and this was bugging her to no end.
Suddenly the ship shifted, dropping out of warp. She peered out of the nearby portal and noticed they had entered a solar system. They would be home in just over an hour. Then the specimens would be handed over to the Control Board and the Progenitors. So far they had not created any new offspring, only the one who was birthed before and the alien babe. And both of those had come from a single specimen. Could they have been wrong to grab so many? She stewed over her own thoughts.
In the background an alarm started blaring as Hoff's medicines wore off. "We're losing it! Internal bleeding in the Kidneys and tissue damage to the liver and circulatory tract." The doctors and nurses rushed in and set to work.
Baldric smiled for her cell mates benefit, not feeling as though she had accomplished anything other than being surgically made to be pregnant along with all the other woman who had been taken, and the occasional male, who they were realising couldn't handle pregnancy.
Meanwhile the Progenitor was checking up on the experiments progress, wanting an update on how many potential offspring were to be a result of it.
The panel of scientists stood, almost huddled together, in the background as the lead scientist faced the large view screen with the face of the Head of the Council of Progenitors staring back. "Well you see, out of a third of their crew we attained the most viable candidates and several we determined in the moment were compatible specimen. So far half have been impregnated with a fetus and other than a few, erm, mishaps, the first brood will be ready for delivery right after landing."
She had left out the details about the males failing to take to the impregnation and the X-97 Red Mist experimentation on purpose. She had also left out the individual specimens who were actively rejecting the introduction of an offspring such as Bonnie. The point was, they were collateral in the pursuit and thus expendable. "We have also run 'other' experiments which have potential rewards of their own." She added, keeping it light.
"So you have determined an emergency fail-safe for our race? You are to be commended. You intend on keeping this....clutch...of surrogates and using them for further broods?" The Progenitor enquired with an inclined head. "It would seem that it is the best hope we have moving forward. I give you full freedom to do whatever you must to obtain the largest number of live offspring. We have a bidding system for those who wish to raise them"
"You speak of the lottery system, I was made aware. I trust in return you've seen my request to join the list should we reach an agreement?" She inclined her head to show her intent before continuing. "As for this clutch, there are more than enough for a start but we are still in process of determining a more permanent solution to our current crisis. Of which I would like to speak with you in private once we arrive."
The Progenitor pocketed that particular nugget and saved it for later rumination. Something that couldn't be discussed openly must be prized indeed. "Remember, if you can discover a way for our race to be saved from extinction, you may have any reward you can dream of." The carrot was dangled.
"Yes sir." She replied professionally. From behind her someone cleared their throat, daring to interrupt the conversation. She dared look and saw the study technician from earlier and an intern who looked to be smiling uncontrollably. "If you'll excuse me sir, I believe a matter of importance has risen. We will speak after we land in approximately one hour." She bowed her head low as the channel closed.
Then as she turned towards the tech, in hushed tones, she demanded, "This had best be of utmost importance else I just lied to the head Progenitor!"
Savar continued to look after Aurora has she recovered as well as N'vea who was mostly sleeping. It was at this time Sidak appeared at the front of the cell. He stood looking at the only parents he had ever known. he was older now as well a teenager at around 16-17 years old. "Father." He addressed Savar, "How is Mother? My sister?"
Savar got up slowly not wishing to disturb Aurora while he still held N'vea. He walked to the front and looked at Sidak as they were separated by the forcefield. "Your mother is recovering Sidak and your sister needs some milk as well as diapers." He paused for a moment. "What have they done to you? You are not an infant any longer."
"My age was accelerated Father. These are my people, and they are dying."
"This is wrong Sidak. They are keeping your mother, me and are shipmates prisoners. Implanting the women with unwanted fetuses. This wrong Sidak. You must know this."
Sidak was about to answer when a guard came up and told him he was needed elsewhere. "I will be back when I can father. I will about getting the items you asked for,"
TBC
