From: Jamie LeBlanc (plainsimplegarak_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Sat Jun 28 2008 - 14:54:32 PDT
“Join Us” (Continued from “A Trip Into the Dark”)
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Location: USS STONEHENGE
Stardate: 2.80628.1746
Scene: Sickbay
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“You should stay still.” Suvek perked a brow lightly while watching the shifting Alterian. “Moving about does not help.”
“But I can’t feel my shoulder anymore.” Izzy replied, fidgeting behind the shielded area. “I’m worried about what happens when it reaches my chest.”
“Worry is illogical.” The Vulcan replied smoothly. “Sit still and breathe evenly.”
“Then jump five times, turn around and stand on your head.” The civilian doctor’s voice was bright and perky. “And don’t forget to touch your nose with your tongue.”
Despite the look of worry that creased her brow, the little Security officer chuckled a little. Suvek, on the other hand, looked rather… unamused. “That is not a recommended course of medical action, Doctor Jos.”
“Well, it’s better than just telling someone to sit down and shut up.” The Andorian sassed back.
Suvek shook his head slightly. “Your suggestions are illogical and driven by emotion. I am completed with my analysis.” Turning, the young Vulcan walked out, leaving Arjan and Izzy alone in the containment area.
Slowly the Alterian Security officer turned to fix her gaze on the blue skinned man. “I think it’s progressing faster.” She murmured. “I feel hot, like I’m in a sauna.” With her uninjured arm she wiped beads of sweat from her brow.
“That’s what I came to talk to you about. I was going over Aerdan and Suvek’s scans, when I found an interesting pattern. The null things attached to the engines seem to be feeding from our energy, and looking into your bioscans, the infecting agents spread through your body by feeding on bioelectrical energy. At least I think – they are dimensionally phased so getting sensor reading on them are almost impossible. I’m working from the effects I see rather than the readings of the infection itself.” He started slowly.
“Go on.” She gave a small nod.
Arjan offered her a small, hopeful smile. “I’m hoping that if we can slow the process we can isolate the infection and remove it before it spreads too far. And that’s where you come in.”
She furrowed her brow a bit. “I don’t understand how I’d do that, unless you wanted me to try to hibernate?”
“No, but bioelectric energy is often highly connected with endorphine release – and for almost all humanoid species that is tied to both action and emotion. This infection seems to have adapted to feeding on the most common energy release it encounters – the reaction of the body to shock and fear. The best way to slow it down is to…”
Iszhlana cut him off midsentence, a pained irony in her tone. “Stay calm, don’t worry. You’re starting to sound like Suvek.”
The elder Jos twined his antennae together. “Well, that is one way of putting it. I was going to suggest a strict regimen of positive activity and providing you with whatever I can to relieve stress.” He paused and a small grin slid across his features, despite the tension in the air. “I can ply you with treats and honey… or I can call Suvek back in here and have him teach you the basics of Vulcan meditation.”
Izzy sighed, not knowing whether she wanted to cry or smile. “I’ll start with a plate of cookies, then.”
~*~*~*~*~
Scene: Darkened and Gutted Corridor
Claws made a soft ‘tak’ sound as they gripped the ceiling. It was the only assurance Matthew had that the Captain and T’nennt were still just ahead of them, since he was determined never to take his eyes off of Peter, he had to depend on his ears.
Just ahead of the Ronnie slunk forward, flaring a light down the corridor. She squinted and held up a hand. “Stop a sec… I think I see something.”
Just behind her Kiros shuffled to a stop and put a hand up to his eyes. “I don’t see anything…”
“Shh..” Aerdan hissed from just behind Peter. “I can hear something.”
Very slowly Rharn and T’nnent edged forward, superior Nocturian vision pierced the gutted night. The captain’s dark eyes widened slowly, catching the movement the Vulcan engineer had picked up, but not on the floor as she expected it. Two lithe forms were slinking across the ceiling, much like T’nnent and herself. Turning towards the green skinned Nocturian she conferred in silent conversation before turning back towards her first officer. “Two crewmembers… ahead.”
“Since when did our crew take to walking on the ceiling?” Kiros murmured, finally catching a glimpse of the approaching people.
Aerdan took a peek at the scanners and then back up. “Since they started mutation. The readings are very similar to Ishlana… but far more progressed.”
“Are they dangerous?” T’nnent asked.
The Andorian shook his head slightly. “I can’t tell if they are hostile or not… but I can tell you we shouldn’t get too close. Everything suggests that the dimensional infection is passed on contact.”
At those words both Ronnie and Kiros took a reflexive step backwards. Rharn stayed on the ceiling, watching the two crewmembers approach cautiously. Both female, they looked still mostly human, but their skin had taken on a chalky, mottled appearance. Their fingers had elongated and stretched to form a web-like appearance that adhered to the top of the hallway. Dark hair was still draped across their shoulders, and they stopped about five meters away, watching the small away team.
Like a flash Matthew gasped, reaching both arms out to catch Peter as he fell. Aerdan knelt but the Brit held up a hand. “It… it’s ok…” the words straggled out of Peter’s mouth. “I can … hear them…”
Rharn swiveled her head to peer at him carefully. “Can you speak with them?”
A bead of sweat drained down Peter’s face as he struggled to remain focused. “No…but… but I can hear them.” He paused and lifted his head, staring straight at Rharn. “They… they would like us to join them.”
“Join them?”
“No… not like… they demand we join them.” Peter murmured back.
Kiros looked up to the ceiling, his voice cutting through the air, pointing to where the crewmen on the ceiling were starting to amass. “Captain… they’re coming!”
~*~*~*~*~
NRPG: Sorry for taking so long to write. I hope this makes sense. It’s a difficult story to follow. >.<
~*~*~*~*~
Jamie LeBlanc
Lieutenant Commander Aerdan Jos
Chief Medical Officer
USS STONEHENGE
From HyperNews_at_youth.net
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Oct 06 2008 - 03:10:48 PDT