Unexpected visitors

Posted on Fri May 23rd, 2025 @ 11:30am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali

2,534 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Masimal
Location: Sunfire

"Computer, origin of the transport" Captain Kaylen Rhenora snapped as she realised they may have a very big problem on their hands.

"Transport originated from Masimal' the computer intoned. Rhenora's gut clenched.

"Security lock down that section, full biohazard protocols."

In the Science lab Aurora was still going over the message when the alert claxon sounded. Staying in the lab she tapped the comms. “Vali to Bridge, what’s happening?”

"Someone from Masimal has beamed on board on deck 4. We're working to isolate them and contain any pathogens." Rhenora explained, watching the security teams sweep out of the bridge to deal with the issue.

"Dean, shields are up now?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh.." Dean glanced down. Hitting a few things, "They are now."

“Understood Captain, I’ll stay in the science lab.” Aurora was about to lock down the lab when the doors swished open and strangers she didn’t recognize came rushing in. She tapped her comm badge whilst trying to maintain a distance. “Vali to security, intruders at my location.”

"Bridge to security, head to the science labs" Rhebora ordered, knowing that anyone sent in there would now be considered infectious. "Aurora, are you alright? We'll need to keep the security fields up for a while until we can solve this mess"

“I’m fine Captain, I understand.” Aurora responded wondering just how much trouble she was truly in.

"Sickbay, medical contagions in the science lab. Unknown number of intruders from the planet, plus Aurora and possibly some security personnel." It wasn't a call the Captain wanted to make but she needed to protect the greater population OK the ship.

"Aye Captain. Dr Wilson is on the away mission but We'll get Dr Tarsis onto it" sickbay replied after a moment.

Meanwhile in the lab Aurora was faced with several scared people some of whom didn’t look well. “Please…be at ease, I mean you no harm.” Aurora motioned towards what few workstation seats there were. “I’m Aurora Vali, ship’s Counsellor. Who are you?”

It took a few moments for the universal translator to work before the frenzied screams became somewhat more understandable. "You must free us! The parasites, they control us!" The words were almost terrified in their delivery. "It drives us to kill but we can't control it"

“Okay, calm down” Aurora gave them a curious look. “You said parasites? What kind of parasites? How do they spread?” She gave an apologetic look. “Sorry I just need to know as much as you can tell me so that I can help you.”

They ran towards Aurora, feeling a vacant host without a parasite already in it, arms outstretched and slobber drooling from their mouths. Their skin was ashen, almost translucent in places and all decorum had gone out the window.

Aurora tried to back away but she was outnumbered by the visitors and had little chance of getting away. She didn’t even have chance to reach the lab weapons locker before she was overwhelmed by them.

It was at that point the security team in envirosuits swarmed in, targeting the visitors and stunning them. The beam worked for a few moments but not to its usual effectiveness.

One of the visitors grabbed Aurora's hand, leaving a greasy mark where the skin had touched hers. Unbeknownst to the Sunfire team, this was how the parasite moved.

Aurora backed away from the still moving visitors. “Be careful they’re prone to outbursts of violence.” She quickly moved to pick up a tricorder to get as much in the way of readings as she could for Sarah. “Vali to Sickbay, I’m sending you some readings from our guests Sarah.”

"Dr Wilson is on an away mission, but we'll gladly take any information we can get" Dr Tarsis replied. "Hang on...they're in the room with you? Damn we have to consider you and everyone in the vicinity as potentially infected"

"Okay, I've had enough of this." Dean did give Jennifer a glance, however she was on the shuttle. Sending a quick message; 'I'm sorry.' Before turning and running to the Turbolift. Calling for Deck 4. No he didn't need a weapon, he was one when he wanted to be and they all knew that. What he didn't think of was the spores being in the air. If that got into the air system the entire crew was screwed six ways from Sunday.

Aurora should have already made sure that the air flow system was cut off now so it couldn't spread. Regardless of that, once he stepped off of the Turbolift he was immediately jumped and attacked my more infected. The hell happened to there being just one? Thankfully the three of them Dean took care of in quick order, snapping their necks. Well two of them. The third was a little more difficult. Dispatched with a series of close combat moves, in which, he did get bit before he finished.

Dean didn't notice it yet as he moved on. Aurora and them were the priority. Having to go hand to hand with another four infected crew members before getting to Aurora in the lab.

Meanwhile the slightly metallic voice of Captain Kaylen echoed through the science lab. "Hold tight Aurora, we have help on the way but we need to keep this contained as much as we can. If these people are contagious, we risk the rest of the Sunfire crew"

Her voice was followed by that of Dr Tarsis from sickbay. "They are infectious, their scans correlate with those from the shuttle. Anyone who goes in there doesn't come back out"

Aurora was surprised as the Science lab doors opened again to reveal the arrival of Dean. “Commander what are you…?” She trailed off as she noticed he was injured. “Ohh no, not you too.” She motioned to his bite mark. “I’ll get something to clean your wound with.”

Dr Tarsis was still listening on the comm. "Do you need medical supplies? How many are injured? Are the intruders alive or dead?" He shot off rapid fire questions and wished the CMO were still on board.

"Yes, me," Dean glanced at the bite. "Forget about it for now. You know I'm much more resilient than the usual human. We'll deal with it later. My purpose is to keep you alive, Aurora. We figure this out. Ever seen an old TV series called Star Blazers? No matter the trials and tribulations, they always win out in the end. Even with some losses. Know what." He smirked a little, "Today is not the day for losses. We need to figure this out and..um..unless we're planning on moving out of here, to say Sickbay. Going to have to kill those doors. Otherwise, just stay behind me."

Aurora looked at Dean questioning his decision. “Is it a good idea us moving around the ship? I don’t have any wounds, but for all I know I’m infected just like you.” She looked at her hand noting a greasy looking mark that wasn’t there before. “Scratch that, I’ve got a mark on my skin that wasn’t there before, it could be a sign of infection.”

"You just said, oh no, not you too. Also, Tarsis said that those near are infected, it's airborne. So we're in the same boat. No pun intended," Dean smirked a little. "So we need to get out of here and to Sickbay or one of the isolation labs. I will clear the way and make sure that you get back to your child. You have a family to be there for, Commander Vali." Moving to the doors and stopping half way, "When are you and Savar ever going to get married. I mean..it's been awhile, geez." Dean gave a little teasing smirk. "Also. Since you're over there. Look up House holo-two-six-five eight. Replicate the shield."

"We'll clear the corridors to ensure the rest of the crew aren't infected." The Captain ordered, making the appropriate changes to clear people from the area. She locked down the environmental systems in that area and tried to isolate the infection as much as she could.

Aurora looked towards Dean curiously. “Savar and I are already married Commander, we have been for some time.” She offered a wry smile. “Vulcans don’t go by surnames, hence why I use my family surname.”

"Corridors are clear, you're free to move to the isolation ward in Sickbay. Dr Tarsis will meet you there" the Captain advised through the comm system.

“Acknowledged” Aurora responded. “Let’s get out of here.”

It may have seemed silly to everyone else, but that shield he had Aurora replicate actually made a lot of sense. It was a round shield made out of duranium, branding red, silver, and blue with a silver star in the middle. It would keep whatever it was that beamed on board at bay; as well as used as we weapon. Slipping his arm through one strap and holding the other. Giving her a nod and taking lead.

Aurora followed on behind Dean, whatever it was that was in the process of infecting both of them was working quickly, she could already feel a change in her emotional state. Though it seemed controllable for now.

Once they arrived at the quarantine bay, Dr Tarsis was waiting in a full envirosuit, along with two nurses. "Alright you two, are the aliens contained or are they behind you?" He asked calmly.

Dean shook his head a little, "Not that I am aware of at the moment." Closing his eyes a moment and taking a bit of a breath. Giving a grit of his teeth then opening his eyes again. He could feel that a little bit as well, more than likely not as much as Aurora was.

“They didn't follow us, at least not that I saw” Aurora paused to focus on her emotional control. “Sorry, Whatever this contagion is it’s affecting my emotions. Not that I feel violent or angry, yet anyway.”

"Security and the marines can mop up the intruders. Right now we need to focus on both of you" Tarsis said in a reassuring tone. "Show me where they touched you?" He indicated to Aurora as he pointed to a nearby biobed for her to sit on."

“Right here” Aurora motioned to the area as she took a seat on the biobed. “All I know right now is that I’ve got a headache, and I feel…short tempered.”

"Well that's not too bad considering your body is trying to fight off a pathogen" Tarsis replied with a laugh. "Now lie down so I can do a full bioscan and see just what that body of yours is doing." He motioned for Dean to do the same and hoped like he'll one of them showed some kind of natural immunity.

There wasn't any grumble, shifting to hop up on the bio-bed and then lay back. Though he moved the monitor on the arm over where he could see it while Tarsis could see the main screen. "Damn ankle biter."

"Eh?" Tarsis looked up from the blood chemistry flowing across his screen. "What do you mean Commander?' He asked.

"Literally my ankle. Bastard got me as I was coming around a corner," Dean replied.

"I certainly hope you gave the son of a bitch a lesson for that!" Aurora offered from where she lay.

Tarsis came closer, pulling up the trouser leg on the offending ankle and examining the skin beneath. "Hrmmmm, mild skin irritation, local immune response, slightly elevated temperature" He mused and ran the same scans where the intruders had touched Aurora. "Hrmmm same thing, yet from what I can see, humans ans those with very similar biologies have a much more pronounced local reaction but overall lesser total reaction" He pondered aloud. "Yet those who are Betazoid, or augmented seem to fair better"

“I do have Copper based blood like all Vulcans” Aurora added. “Maybe it’s slowing the progress of the infection?”

"Since when do Betazoids have copper blood? Shouldn't it be green then? Cause..your blood is red." Dean shrugged a little bit as he had no idea about that. Smirking, trying to take it in stride. "I would hope I'm more resilitant."

“Actually my blood is green Commander, unless something changed I’m not aware of” Aurora grinned. “I’m half Vulcan, that side dominated my bloodwork all through my mother’s pregnancy.”

"Your genetic make-up is indeed complex" Tarsis smiled, and it seems to be somewhat adept at keeping this nasty at bay. Both of you actually. The human based specimen I have running as a control is not faring so well." He examined the small skin sample under the microscope again.

Dean tilted his head the other way, "Well then why not use my anti-bodies. See if you can make a vaccine? Not saying a cure, but at least something that we can inoculate everyone with."

"I'm a step ahead of you aready" Tarsis with a smirk as he pressed a hypo into Dean's neck to collect some bood. He did the same to Aurora and began splitting the blood into to its various components.

"Do we get lolly pops?" Dean smirked a little bit.

“I’d prefer chocolate, or at least something for my headache.” Aurora offered a wry smile.

"I can give you a mild analgesic, however I sknt want to dampen your body's immune response." Tarsis explained cautiously, glancing over at a nearby monitor. "Elevated temperature, elevated heart rate, massive uplift in white blood cells, its fighting this hard" He cautiously reached for where the alien had touched each of them, examining the skin and the lesions there. "The marks are not growing, however the localised swelling indicates the response is not only local but system wide" He mused aloud.

“I just hope our systems can keep up the fight. We need to know what this infection truly is.” She looked between Tarsis and Dean. “Now we’re already infected we could go down there and obtain samples without fear of further infection. We’d just need to avoid the natives.”

"I'd rather keep you here and work out how your body is fighting it. It's our best chance for them, and possibly us. With this pathogen on board we could all be infected' He said honestly. "But with you two, we have a chance"

"There is a particular reason that I had you replicate that shield for me, Aurora. To keep them at bay." Dean smiled a little bit. "I say we go with your plan. I could go all out and even replicate the uniform." Smirking a little bit. "Sorry Doctor, but it's a better bet to pull everyone else out. If my time with horror content, they should ignore us because we're infected."

"That's a pretty wild assumption there" Tarsis frowned and drew a few more samples. "If your condition is stable in a few more hours, maybe. Right now I can't risk a regression if you go into a higher pathogenic load location"
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