Funky Fungus

Posted on Wed Jun 11th, 2025 @ 11:46am 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

1,112 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Masimal
Location: Masimal
Timeline: Current

The fungus began to retreat from the shuttle, allowing the team to begin repairs from their rough landing and weapons exchanges.

"How is it looking out there?" Baldric called from inside the shuttle as she ran through the systems checks.

Bonnie, already hard at work on the nacelle, raised her thumb in the air to show progress was being made and then just as quickly returned to her work. Jenna queued up her comm with a chuckle and replied on Bonnie's behalf, "We'll be done soon. Stay warm and I'll let you know when to fire her up."

Savar entered the shuttle. "The fungus is moving off the shuttle. Jenna and Bonnie should soon be able to proceed with making repairs." He then turned and faced Sarah. "The specimen as you refer to, Sarah, is weakened by your presence inside her. You are affecting her body's natural defenses as it views you as an infection. You must lessen your effect on her otherwise she will perish, and so will you."

"Her body will provide enough nourishment for us to return to your vessel." The pathogen within Sarah continued as the shuttle began its preflight sequence as the final repairs were made.

The plasma torch turned off, Bonnie made one last scan before speaking, "She should be ready to start."

"Preflight check OK, ready when you are Jenna" Baldric moved out of the pilot's seat.

"Go ahead and fire her up. We'll gather our tools," She looked at the tools surrounding Bonnie in a state of mess, " And we'll be along shortly."

"Make sure no further physical degradation comes to her. If she perishes, so do you." Savar replied evenly.

"You will take us to the others" Sarah replied as the shuttle began powering up. The pathogen seemed confident of its success in its endeavour.

"We will take you to our ship, and you will meet with our captain and we will talk in more depth about what we began here. As we agreed." Savar replied crisply and evenly.

Bonnie and Jenna entered the shuttle, closed the hatch and each removed their helmets all while sort of dancing around one another. It was clear from the interaction which one had the two left feet as the smaller Bonnie stumbled and bumped her way into her seat. While the taller, Jenna maneuvered gracefully into hers.

Jenna strapped in and performed her last-minute personal checks to ensure she was comfortable flying the ship. It was nothing against Baldric, more of a personal comforting knowledge of the ship and security. She engaged the thrusters and backed the shuttle off the boulder they were beached upon, before angling the shuttle skyward and providing the necessary thrust.

The shuttle rose into the sky, the makeshift repairs holding as they ascended through the clouds. The pathogen within Sarah seemed agitated but tried to remain calm, obviously unfamiliar with routine space travel.

"All systems register nominal." Bonnie read aloud from her systems console.

"Shuttle to Sunfire, we are inbound, you will need to establish a level 10 quarantine field in a suitable location upon arrival" Baldric announced.

"Commander Baldric, "I believe once the quarantine field has been established that Sarah be directly transported to it. It will reduce the chance of infection among the crew." Savar remarked as the shuttle passed through the atmosphere and into open space.

Bonnie turned to Commander Savar, "Sir, I don't recommend using the transporter system until we've identified the extent at which the infection has altered Doctor, uh, Sarah's genetic makeup. One of two things could happen: we could inadvertently spread the infection into the ships bio-nueral systems or..."

She paused long enough to think of the worse scenario before continuing, "Or the transporter might filter the pathogen out of her system, but take with it a part of her, which could kill her." Bonnie looked over at Sarah, not fully knowing yet how much Sarah was consumed by the fungal spores or the infection or that they were one in the same.

Savar listened intently to Bonnie's reasons. When she had finished he nodded and said. "I stand corrected Bonnie, thank you for pointing out the flaws in my thinking. Disregard the use of the transporter."

"Any time." She blurted before realizing how that sounded insulting. "Sorry, I mean, um..." But she stopped, foot proverbially in her mouth and returned to her console.

"We can't beam her?" Baldric looked surprised, that having blown her plan of getting the doc treatment without potentially infecting the rest of the crew.

Sarah looked on dispassionately, the pathogen changing her behaviour and switching her attitude from caring to cunning.

"We need a plan, one that doesn't risk the crew but gives the doc the best chance" Baldric whispered to the tram around her as they drew closer to the Sunfire.

"An astute observation Commander." Savar replied. "What if we keep Sarah contained behind this forcefield when we dock and put another around the shuttle as an added precaution and hold discussions here? While we search for alternate hosts for the virus." Savar asked looking at the others.

"OK that's a good fall back if we oe the rest of the team can't come up with a better solution" Baldric admitted, at least the crew would be safe.

The shuttle rose quickly through the strato, pushing the spore clouds aside like they were puffs on the wind. Moments later the horizon broke and the shuttle entered space aiming for a tiny dot in the distance. It was always a beautiful site, like coming home after a long hard day.

The shuttle bay doors loomed open before them. "Take us in Jenna"

Savar gave a nod of acceptance at Jennifer's reply and he didn't disagree with it. It was a fall back solution. Hopefully a better arrangement could be found.

The mighty bay door opened and Jenna eased the shuttle in for and smooth landing. She always hated the automation tractor beams taking control at the last second, instead preferring to rely on her own skills and instincts. The shuttle set down with a slight thud and the doors began opening automatically.

There was an assortment of people, techs and nurses waiting just beyond the ship. Including armed security personnel and others. Jenna hung back to shut down the shuttle, as did Bonnie, for different reasons as she was not comfortable in chaotic crowds.

Captain Kaylen and the rest of the senior officers walked in, proceeded by the medical a d security teams. Once they retreated and declared the shuttle and crew, barring Sarah, safez she addressed the away team.

"How bad is it down there?" She asked cautiously.


TBC

 

RSS Feed