Those Above
Posted on Wed Mar 5th, 2025 @ 5:02pm by Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & Commander Jennifer Baldric
1,788 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Ramant
Location: Science vessel
"We're dropping out of warp" Commander Jennifer Baldric mused to her cell mate Pamela, who by the look of her was now the equivalent to 3 months pregnant. Baldric didn't feel so hot herself and pressed her hands to her lower back to ease the pressure there. She listened carefully to what was going on outside, there had been hurried footsteps a short time ago, a marked change from the even measured stride of this emotionally restrained race.
Lt. Hoff, now relieved of his pregnancy, and 'medically' recovered from his sickness, was on a hover cart being pushed back in the direction of Baldric's cell. Walking along side was the same Scientist as before as if she was returning to the scene of the crime, or, she was coming to her senses.
Baldric stood as the forcefield around the door was lowered, the door opening soon after to reveal Hoff. "He's alive?" It was almost a question rather than a statement. He had been very unwell when he had left beforehand. "What have you done to him this time?" She moved forward, feeling awkward with her rapidly expanding belly. This was not how she imagined her career playing out.
She looked Baldric dead in her eyes, "We have spared him of any further suffering. This specimen clearly does not have what it takes to grow an embryo, so we have designated it as a breeder." She paused as she watched Baldric clutching at her abdomen. "Are you experiencing complications as well?" Her eyebrow raised to show her mild curiosity.
"No, but I'm not supposed to be carrying your children either. We want to help you, but forcing this upon us is wrong. We're not yours to experiment with" Baldric said forcefully. She paused again. "I can feel it moving. This is wrong!"
She stared, perplexed, "You are helping and despite your internal conflict we are learning so much from this experiment, both good and bad." She paused as she studied Baldric's posture. "Rats wasn't it? Hmm, yet despite all of your rage, you still appear to be just a rat in a cage." She applied a false smile for the briefest of seconds.
That was when Pamela let out a cry of pain.
Baldric parked the idea that the phrase sounded like the lyrics to a centuries old grunge song and turned to her cell mate, who was looking as though she were nearly at full term. "Whoa. That happened quickly" Jennifer murmured to herself as she scooted over, wrapping a supportive arm around Pam. She shot a worried look at the medic. "What have you done to her?" Her voice was low and threatening.
"She has been progressed. We are on a timeline after-all. Now step aside and allow us to extract the specimen." The scientist stepped to the side and allowed the orderly squad to bring the hover pad up. They would have to gas the cell occupants and removed the ailing patient. That was, unless Baldric intervened.
"She's in labour?!? It's only been a few hours. Our own gestation goes for 9 months, heck our delivery can go for days. You're gonna kill her by moving things this fast" Baldric challenged, stepping forward. "If she dies you will lose both the child and the mother." The gas started to seep into the room.
"Then we shall do our best work to ensure at least the most important one lives." The Scientist grinned maniacally. Her face contorted in what appeared to be false sympathy. She was pressing the gas control button but without warning the gas stopped flowing. Perplexed, she pressed the button again only for it to deliver a negative klaxon sign.
Then, the security field dropped. It dropped not only on the local cell, but all along the entire grid. Next, the alarms blared. The scientist in a state of panic, looked up and down the line, eyes wide with fear.
Half gassed Baldric and Hoff struggled to right themselves then lurched for the now open cell door. The scientist up and ran leaving Pamela along on the gurney and in labour. She howled and contorted with pain.
"I need you to move crewman" Baldric hoisted her under the arm and motioned for Hoff to grab the other side. "We'll get help as soon as we can" she encouraged. From the cells the Sunfire crew emerged in various states of wellness.
The ship shuddered as the re-entry rockets fired off, traversing the atmospheric layers. Within minutes the great vessel would be setting down just outside the Capital where they would be greeted by the throngs of Ramant's people, hopeful for some hint that their futures would no longer be bleak.
*** Savar and Aurora's cell**
Savar sat with Aurora as they munched mechanically on the food brought to them. He felt the change in vibrations to the ship. "We have dropped out of warp Aurora. I would surmise we have reached our destination." He now wondered what their captors had in store for their Sunfire captives
Aurora was about to speak when alarms started blaring, and the cell barrier dropped. “Am I seeing things, or did we just get a chance to get out of here?” She gently picked up their daughter hoping it was a good sign.
Savar saw and heard the alarms blaring and saw the forcefield drop at the front of their cell. "Your vision is unimpaired Aurora for I am seeing the same thing." He remarked as Aurora picked up their daughter. I believe we should not hesitate in taking advantage of the situation." He answered rising to his feet and extending a hand to help Aurora up.
Aurora accepted her husband’s help getting to her feet cradling their daughter protectively. “Let’s get out of here, and join the others, let’s hope we can find a way to get back to the ship.”
"A most excellent idea Aurora. Let us not tarry in meeting with the others. Do you require me to hold our daughter as we make our escape?"
“Please Imzadi” Aurora nodded as she carefully handed over their precious daughter to Savar.
Throngs of Sunfire people moved into the corridors, looking for escape or anything they could use as a weapon. The orderlies charged with containing them fled as the shuddering of the ship ceased the a solid thud announced the ship touching down. With the ship on the ground the chances of escaping were exponentially higher.
What they needed though were directions, with over a hundred of them it would be easy to get lost or left behind in the chaos.
Savar took their daughter from Aurora and cradled her in the crook of his arm. With his other he placed it around Aurora. "Stay close to me Aurora." He said as he looked up and down the corridor. "We must endeavor to find and rejoin the others as well as an exit so we may escape."
The crew began to fan out, searching for anything that could be useful. Computer terminals, weapons, emergency exits, anything that could get them off the ship now that it was on the ground. Baldric and Hoff lugged the wailing Pamela through the corridor, acutely aware that at any given moment she would bear a child not her own. If they found one of their own medical staff all the better, but without medical equipment they knew how to use, Treatment options would be tricky.
Baldric spied Nurse Bridgerton in the throng of people and worked double time to catch up. "Nurse!" She called loudly as soon as she was within earshot
The young nurse span on her heels, already decidedly pregnant herself.
" I need your help, she's in labour" Baldric explained as they finally met up.
"Her and a few others. Damned crazy people, we need to get back to the Sunfire" The nurse grumbled, taking Pamela's weight.
" Step 1, get off this ship, we'll deal with what happens after that when it happens. They'll be looking for us" Baldric encouraged then vanished into the throng, pushing her way forward.
Jennifer's plan was simple, but the detail was lacking. She popped a few maintenance hatches and descended downwards, trying to find a cargo hold or shuttle bay or anything that would have large access to the outside. A handful of officers followed as the other continued the search on their current deck. They had no idea how big this ship was.
Erupting from the maintenance hatch 4 decks down Baldric stumbled on an orderly who looked terrified to see them
Seizing her opportunity the Commander pressed her advantage and wrapped the being in a headlock, squeezing to put pressure on its trachea.
"Which way to your hanger?" She growled threateningly.
“Don’t even think about lying either!” Aurora gave Baldric a respectable nod as she and Savar approached her side. “I’ve learned how to read your people, I’ll know if you’re lying!”
"If you try to deceive us, I promise you that you will regret that decision. Now answer the question put forth to you." He threatened.
The Orderly pointed towards the hallway "two decks down, that way" he squeaked with positively trembling.
"Thank you for your assistance in this matter" Baldric retorted sarcastically as she released him and took off towards the hanger, looking for a computer terminal she could use to alert the rest of the crew.
Savar, Aurora along with their infant daughter cautiously made their way down a corridor as they rejoined the rest of the Sunfire crew as they searched for an exit to escape this ship. All made more difficult due to not knowing the layout of the ship. They followed Baldric toward the hanger. " Commander Baldric, should we find a computer terminal, do you wish me to attempt to access it? "
"If you find one, definitely. Signal the rest of the crew somehow that the hangers and cargo bays should open to the outside if we can force the doors somehow. Two decks down from here. " Baldric ordered as they kept moving, looking now for a hatch to take them down another two decks.
"Understood Commander. I will begin a search for a computer terminal. If I find and can access a terminal, hopefully I will be able to also access the hanger and cargo bay doors as well." Savar replied.
"Great" Badric popped the cover off a hatch to reveal a maintenance corridor that looked to go down several decks. "Bingo" she cheered and ducked into it, disappearing into the myriad of maintenance and access tunnels.
Several minutes later she emerged near the cargo and hanger bays, only to encounter a number of Ramant waiting for them.
TBC
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