The Burning woMan

Posted on Tue Jun 3rd, 2025 @ 9:43am by Commander Jennifer Baldric & Lieutenant Sarah Wilson & Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell

1,255 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Masimal
Location: Masimal - Mountainside
Timeline: Current

Meanwhile Jenna and Savar continued to work. As the fungus continued to fight by allowing itself to burn, Jenna was growing impatient. She paused in her efforts, "Increasing phase power." She dialed up the phaser and continued her efforts.

Scanning, Bonnie started to see a difference. "It's working, the fungus is reacting. It appears to be pulling away, or dying off. Careful not to increase your charge too much near the injector assembly, Commander."

Jenna paused, "Why don't you have a phaser, Lieutenant?" Then she turned slightly and asked Savar, "Do we have a spare phaser Bonnie could use Commander?"

Bonnie began to sweat and stammer into her mic. "Um, ah, that, um... not really a, you know, a bad idea..."

"There are spare phasers in the weapons locker Bonnie. get one, we can use your assistance in dealing with the fungus. The sooner it is removed the sooner you may begin your repairs." Savar replied as he continued to burn the fugus away.

Meanwhile, Sarah was increasingly agitated inside the quarantine field. She scratched and gnawed at her skin as though it was on fire, grimaces of discomfort and pain emanating from her mouth. She seemed to have lost the ability to think coherently and was consumed by the sensation.

"Hey guys....hold a second," baldric called to the crew working outside, having a wild stab at a theory.

Stopping just shy of picking up a phaser, Bonnie could audibly be heard thanking her lucky stars.

"Jenna, stop. Commander Baldric has something to say." Savar remarked before addressing Baldric, "Go ahead, Commander, what is it you wish to say?"

The phasers stopped, and instantly so did the noise from inside the shuttle. "Whoa, that's nuts. What you're doing to the fungus is directly correlating to the pathogen infecting Sarah." Baldric commented, drawing the bow she had hoped wouldn't be drawn. "But we also need to get the hell off this rock."

"An interesting theory, Commander. I don't wish to cause Sarah any pain, and yet it seems we were without attempts to remove the fungus. Communication is needed to proceed in protecting Sarah and leaving this planet." Savar replied. "Perhaps by talking to Sarah, we can reach and communicate with the virus inside her."

Jenna, sarcastically asked, "You, uh, want to have a little chat with the sentient plant? I've heard Vulcans can talk to some weird things, but this would have to be a first." Her eyebrow was elevated with piqued interest. She removed her foot from the nacelle and gestured "Be my guest." She said backing off and offering Savar easy access to the fungus on the side of the shuttle.

Savar arched an eyebrow at her. "Really, Commander Ramthorne, you must keep an open mind. If a countryman of mine can communicate with a Horta. Communicating with a fungus should be no different. At least in theory." He added as he moved into position.

"Horta have brains, biological functions, children... Not to say I'm not curious, I am. I'm also highly skeptical."

"Me too." Bonnie said meekly, her tricorder out to record the occasion.

Savar looked between Jenna and Bonnie. "The fungus is alive and it reacted to stimuli that is pain. Communication may not be on a spoken level but through images." He paused, "I wonder if speaking to the virus that Sarah is infected with might be a better alternative."

"Hrm, either way you may have to violate the quarantine protocols. I can't recommend you entering the doctors quarantine field, but out here the risk is negated by the environment." Jenna offered as she continued to wait for him to make up his logical Vulcan mind. "Bonnie and I will be here in the event something goes wrong."

Savar was silent as he weighed the pros and cons of each action. "I have no desire to break quarantine protocols or put the rest of us at risk of infection. Attempting contact here while it may not be the best decision, it is the best we have available unless anyone has a better option."

Baldric nodded as though she was happy with the choice of action. Sarah meanwhile seemed calm although pensive. She rubbed at the blotches on her skin as seemed to be almost possessed by something. "It doesn't want to die, it just wants to live, but it needs hosts and this planet is running out of them"

Savar was about to attempt to make contact when he heard Sarah's comment/observation. "What did you say Sarah about needing hosts? Do you know, are you able to tell if they must be higher level biological hosts?" He looked over to Baldric, "Perhaps a compromise or an alternative to infecting humanoid beings can be found. Contact Captain Kaylen and let her know our situation."

Baldric put in the requested call to the Sunfire and advised the ships CO of the situation, relaying all the developments so far.

"Hrmmm, keep attending to communicate with it, and we'll see if we can come up with a solution for alternate 'hosts'" The Captain signed off.

"Captain wants us to keep talking to it, and will work on an alternative for hosts" Baldric relayed and was nailed with a piercing look from Sarah.

"You will find us fresh hosts" she stated simply. "This one will keep us sustained until new ones can be found"

Savar nodded at Baldric as she relayed what the captain had said. "Understood. As you are there with Sarah, attempt to talk to the infection. We will help, but they must not harm Sarah."

Baldric changed tact a little. "We will work with you to find fresh hosts, but we must first return to our ship. The fungus is preventing us from doing so. You may come with us to ensure we follow through," she offered, palms facing outward in a gesture of honesty.

Sarah paused as though communicating with something or someone else. "We will accompany you, the 'fungus' as you refer to it on the outside of your transport, is withdrawing."

Savar relayed the information to Baldric, "The fungus is indeed removing itself from the shuttle. It will be a few minutes more before the shuttle is completely free. Can you tell what, if anything, as far as the infection to Sarah, is occurring?"

Jenna and Bonnie stood off to the side, simpy taking in the interaction between the infected Sarah, Jennifer and Savar. Jenna was interested, bothered and curious all at the same time. She knew to never underestimate a Vulcan when it came to interspecies communication.

Bonnie moved up close and whispered, despite her words flittering through the comms, "Um, should we be doing something?"

Amused, Jenna responded, "Nah, just let them cook and keep scanning until the fungus has cleared the nacelle. Then we'll make our repairs, I guess." The fungus did continue to retract from around the shuttle and after several minutes the nacelle was starting to clear.

Savar watched as the fungus slowly but steadily pulled away and off the shuttle. When it was finally clear he spoke to Jenna and Bonnie, "Commanders, I believe you can begin to affect repairs. I am going to check on Sarah." He then and entered the shuttle. His attention on Baldric and Sarah. "Sarah, how do you feel?"

"This specimen is not operating at peak efficiency" the pathogen inside Sarah replied, using her voice as though it were its own. "We require more nourishment than it is able to provide whilst still remaining functional. "


TBC

 

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