Cargo Bay 1 - Mustering

Posted on Wed Apr 13th, 2022 @ 5:03am by Lieutenant Sapphire Morgan [Lalor] & Lieutenant JG Nerinath zh'Rhilror [Lalor] & Cadet Junior Grade Triston Montgomery [Lalor] & Avalon [ADMIN NPC] & Lieutenant Clara Lawson & Tristi Richardson & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Lieutenant Etrara Khalten & Ensign Olivia (Carter) Voight & Lieutenant JG Damien Blackford & Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Lieutenant Scott Gregory [Taylor] & Captain George Charles [Reece] & Lieutenant Alice Jordan ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Lieutenant JG Jason Danvers [Taylor] & Lieutenant JG T'Kek [Naxea] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Chief Warrant Officer Man'darr [Naxea] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Gavin Lovejoy & Ebi [Rin]

Mission: Season 5: Interlude: Darkness Abounds
Location: MD 4 19h00
7169 words - 14.3 OF Standard Post Measure

=/\= Cargo Bay 1 =/\=

Clara stood in the door of the Cargo Bay and watched as people began to muster in there. As people passed she took phasers and other weapons off of them and placed them in crates which would be placed around the Cargo bay to be cloaked.

Tristi came up. "All the beds are set up as you wanted" she said pointing to rows of triple bunks, for the crew.

"Thank you Kiddo." Clara said.

Heather arrived in the cargo bay along with Fernando and their newborn son Cody. Given the fact that Cody was slightly premature, and that she was still recovering from early labour and pre-eclampsia, they had been unable to leave aboard the shuttles. Instead Cody was brought down from Sickbay inside a specialised incubator. With most people yet to arrive Heather chose a quiet corner where they could set up. She offered Fernando a nervous smile. "I hope everything goes to plan Imzadi, I hate Cody being a part of this."

"I know you don't Heather and neither do I but you'll both be safe in the shuttles and once this is over, we'll be reunited and a family again." Fernando said as he squeezed her hand, trying to comfort Heather and reassure himself as well.

“We’re not going in the shuttle’s Fernando, that’s why we’re here, Cody can’t leave the ship and I’m not going without him!” She looked around. “We’re prisoners just like everyone else. Why else would I have these fake bruises from putting up a fake fight?” She smiled.

Fernando grinned sheepishly. "I am such a bozo head. I apologize Heather, I wasn't thinking. My mind was on the coming fight and keeping you and Cody safe." He admitted

Heather smiled. "Hopefully you wont need to keep us safe my love, if we stay out of trouble they'll hopefully leave us be."

Next in the door Kiera found herself and Rhen a couple of beds together. If anything went pear shaped she could be of use, hence her decision to stay aboard the ship.

Rhen obviously not interested in goings on around him was snoring loudly on his bed his arms behind his head and his ankles crossed. Was he worried yes but he refused to show it the best thing he could do was just sleep.

Arriving from medical Emily made her way over to a bed near Heather and Fernando. Even though they were all out of Sickbay Cody was still a patient and she wanted to be nearby if any medical assistance was needed.

Etrara sat on a bed in the corner legs tucked under her silently watching. No one had been to talk to her but she had not really met anyone socially as yet. She felt a little lonely though as people were talking to each other. There was even a baby in an incubator which she thought was unusual and not really in the spirit of things. She made a silent note to keep an eye on mother and child.

Sitting on his bunk, George felt concern and confusion. Looking around, he saw an unfamiliar female Klingon officer looking over at an incubator, which held a tiny baby. George hadn't noticed it before and felt a pang of parental concern for the safety of the infant.

Standing. He moved over to the Klingon, making sure he didn't startle her. "Hi," he said to her, a friendly grin on his face.

She turned around and for some reason felt a little guilty. “I was concerned for the baby, it should not be here.” The fact that a male had come up and spoken to her unnerved her as always. Her rape and physical abuse was always there edging around in her mind when men spoke to her socially. She looked down. “My name is Lieutenant Khalten Chief Tactical Officer. I am new.” She added unnecessarily as she stepped back.

George took in a sharp breath as he picked up the fear and images of her being raped from Etrara's surface thoughts. Swallowing hard, he quickly got himself under control. He sat down across from the Klingon woman and gave her as friendly a grin as his screaming brain could muster. "C-Captain George Charles, Assistant Wing Commander." He took a few beats to try to clear his mind. "I'm...I'm sorry," he said just loud enough for Etrara to hear. "I'm Betazoid, and, while I wasn't looking into your mind, I did hear your fear about me and..." he glanced about to ensure no one was close enough to hear, before looking back into Etrara's eyes. "...the attack on you," he whispered.

Her breath caught in her throat which turned into a low growl. “Betazoid, I should have guessed. So, go on laugh, tell me to get a life, get over it or some other such platitude.” She said bitterly, she backed off and was about to turn away then stopped. She figured she needed to begin to speak to people and that, for the first time she would do something her whole body and mind were telling her was wrong. “ Shaking inside she said “my name is Etrara."

George wasn't insulted by her reaction. He had certainly felt as she did, back when he and Emily were receiving treatment for the abuse they endured during their childhood. Instead, when Etrara turned back to him, he nodded calmly. "George. I understand the pain you endured, and are still enduring. I will not give you platitudes. I will only be honest. And honestly, what happened to you was horrific. No one should have to carry those scars. And I'll tell you something else. No matter what you tell yourself, how you could have done something different, how you could have been different, the one truth out of all of it," He leaned a little closer, his eyes full of kindness, genuine understanding...and a bit of rage, the kind of rage a victim feels after the fact. "You..did..nothing..wrong."

She admired his honesty but looked down and whispered. "I know I did nothing wrong but my whole life….I have never been able to look at a man as other than a threat. No male friendships, no love, no intimacy and no thoughts of children. That is what I live with ..other than I am looking for the man that implanted my mother and will challenge him to the Klingon Rite of Vengeance and when I do I will kill him. So, you see I am not worth your time, I am beyond redemption I just do my job.”

George shook his head slowly. "Etrara, you have already formed a friendship with a man. Me. It's still a new friendship, however, I am interested in seeing it grow." He paused briefly. "There are those that are beyond redemption. I do not see you as one of them. As one who has been through hell and back, please allow me to suggest something?"

“You are very kind” she said. "But I do not really know what a ‘friendship’ with a man would be like but what would you suggest?” She waited.

He gave her a soft grin. "Well, we could start with just talking and getting to know one another?"

Emily had caught the momentary initial shock flash from George's mind, from where she sat on her bed near Heather and her baby. Getting up she walked over to him. "Whose your new friend?" she smiled warmly.

Errata smiled, “hello I’m Etrara Khalten, I volunteered for this.” She said waving her hand around the crowded bay with a slight laugh.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Emily, George's twin sister." she smiled warmly. "I'm a nurse so I figured my place needed to be here, especially with little Cody and Heather still being onboard.

Etrara looked relieved. “I was worried that the baby is here at all, so it is a relief to know you are here although I do see Commander Sthilg is over there although he looks a little….” She hesitated, “frightening’.

"Sthilg frightening? Not at all." Emily smiled. "Actually I think we may have a lot in common." She looked at George. "I caught what George saw in your mind. I ... I'm a victim too. It was George who brought me back from the edge of insanity, he saved my life."

George nodded. "It's true. Our foster parents were...well, let's just say, their souls are damned. And about your father? Trust me when I say, killing him, as good as it will feel at the time, will end up burning a hole in your own soul, that you will never be able to fill. I know, for I beat our foster father to death, for doing what he did to my sister." George's mind and the energy around him were starting to get very charged up, as he relived the abuse and the last night he and Emily were in that hell.

"George ... stop." Emily stepped closer to her brother, she wasn't as experienced in the use of her abilities as George and right now his emotions were threatening to crash in on her mind. "Please! Stop!!" She looked into his eyes the expression of overwhelming emotion in her eyes.

George felt the emotional wave from Emily wash over his mind. He physically deflated a little. "Thank you, Emm," he whispered.

Etrara was shocked at this admission, she put her hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry I have brought all this up for you, I will leave you to each other, thank you for reaching out to me.” She was glad that he had not picked up on her plan to end her life after this exercise was over.

George's eyes shot up, a bit wide. Reaching out, he gently took hold of Etrara's right forearm with his. "Don't do it!" He spoke softly. "I don't..I don't know what you are wanting to do, but, please don't! You will be needed here!"

She blinked and she took his hand, “Thank you George but I have been empty most of my life. All I ever wanted was to be in StarFleet, fall in love, find someone that wanted me for me male or female. I thought I had found it when I was at the Academy but she was killed in a piloting accident.” She brushed her tears away, “I don’t know why I am telling you all this, you have enough going on, both of you.”

"Because we are friends," George replied quietly. "Friends lean on each other for support." He stood up and, without thinking, pulled Etrara in for a warm, gentle embrace. It wasn't one of love, but support and kindness.

She stiffened in his embrace, this was the first time she had been in male arms since her assault. She clenched her fists ready to knock him down. She felt the warmth of his arms around her, they felt different, softer and non threatening. For a moment she leant into him enjoying the feeling of protection he gave her. Then she pushed him away her eyes blazing. "How dare you!” She cried as people began to look over. Her feelings confused her. “I’m sorry, I should not have done that, I apologise.” She sat down on the cot, arms round herself tightly and rocked lost in a vision of that day when her world was forever changed.

George knelt down in front of her. "It's okay," he responded softly, his tone non-threatening. "You had one of the worst pains that can be visited on someone, visited upon you. You don't have to apologize, not to me, not about this. However long it will take, if you want it, my hand is always open to you in friendship. Here, you are safe. I will never do anything to harm you. I give you my word."

“I think your word is worth something” she said. When this debacle is over then if I have not committed the Hegh'bat maybe we can talk, I would very much like to have a friend.” Her voice lowered, “ but if you betray me I will kill you.”

"My brother would never betray anyone" Emily stood in defence of her brother. "He's my hero, just give him a chance."

“If he chooses to be my friend with everything that comes with it and is true I will apologize, of course I will give him a chance. I am sorry to upset you Emily.”

"No, I'm sorry" Emily sighed. "I'm just ... overwhelmed at the moment." She moved away returning to her bunk to sit down and get a handle on her abilities.

George looked at Etrara. "You are safe, with us," he said simply. He then moved over to try and comfort his sister. It was clear by his actions that their bond was stronger than simple sibling affection.

In stepped the ship's chief doctor who had gone somewhat overboard with his makeup. It looked like his jaw had been broken along with several teeth. " You'd better take thisss ssshe does have a phaser mode." He said handing Clara his artificial arm.

Rhen continued to snore loudly but despite the appearance of being uninterested he was plotting several senarios in his head. Although he was waiting for someone to start discussing a plan with the others to factor in the rest of the crew other than himself and Kiera.

"Will you pack it up with the snoring!" Kiera gave her husband a poke. "8Don't go planning anything major in that head of yours just yet, there's a baby in here, he and his mother need protecting above all else."

Rhen lazily opened an eye lightly swapping her hand. "Well, someone decides to take action wake me up." He rolled over showing his back to her. "Don't worry about the mom and kid I have my eye on them..." He was already back to snoring again a few seconds later.

Kiera sighed. There were times she could give Rhen a good swift kick up the backside for his annoying habits.

Damien was next to enter, raising a hand unconsciously to his face, running over the new bruises and scars the Medical team had given him. As he entered, he handed his Phaser over, reluctantly. He didn't like to be parted from his weapon, especially in a situation like this, but he understood the need for it. Finding a bed in a quiet corner, he glanced around the room, looking to see who else would be a part of this plan. He had to see Vira. He didn't know where she was going to be stationed and had couldn't shake the sinking pit in his stomach. He knew that she was more than capable of looking after herself, but that didn't stop him from worrying about her.

Naxea entered the cargo bay as she took in those already present. Man'darr followed in behind her. She could see the apprehension in some of their eyes at the unknown events to come.

"Hopefully this won't take too long before we get to beat the hell out of this Admiral," Man'darr commented.

"They'll likely have him in custody before you can get to him," Naxea replied as she crossed her arms and leaned back against the bulkhead.

"I can still dream, can't I?" he replied before taking a seat on a nearby storage crate.

Entering the cargo bay following the two Marine officers, T'Kek looked about the bay at the growing number of assembled crew of enlisted and officers. He had been informed of the plan from Doctor Sthilg but he was rather anxious about it. He had never had any training of this kind of scenario at the Academy, especially from the Medical Track. There, they had only received two weeks' worth of combat training--one week of hand to hand and another week of phaser training. His mind drifted to what his Academy friends were doing at the moment with their first duty assignments. Couldn't be nearly as exciting as the Elysium has been so far. Finding an empty cot and not personally knowing anyone else, he sat down on it.

David entered next and looked around. Seeing Naxea and Man'darr off to the side, he handed in his weapons to be hidden, then made his way over. "Ma'am, Sir," he nodded to each respectfully. "Are we having fun yet?"

"Always, Corporal" Naxea commented with a grin. "But in all honesty, I'll be glad when this mission is over." The mission eerily reminded her of their encounter with the Mirror Universe. The fake bruises that the Medical staff gave them didn't help any.

Lt. JG. Napoleon Bond asked David and the others, “How can I help? I have hidden some already but if you need, I am here.”

"Just make sure everyone remains confident. Thats the key--" Naxea doubled over in pain, as she pushed back against the bulkhead to keep herself upright.

Man'darr jumped up off the crate he was sitting on. "Are you alright, Colonel?"

Naxea clinched her teeth as the pain began to subside. "Yeah...just an abdominal cramp," she replied, blinking through the wave of nausea that hit her as she recovered from the cramp, slowly standing up.

As soon as Naxia doubled over, David reacted instantly, getting his left hand up under her right armpit to brace her. While his grip was hard as steel, he made sure he didn't hurt her more than she was already hurting. "I'll go get a medic, Ma'am!" He wanted to go right then, but waited for the Colonel to steady herself.

Naxea shook her head. "I'm fine...just a little cramp," she brushed it off as the nausea began to subside.

Hearing the conversation and the grunt of heavy footsteps showed the arrival of the gorn. " Naxea what happened?" He inquired his empty arm socket wiring slightly. " Dam it doesss sssomeone have a tricorder?" He said as he looked at his missing arm

Tristi, who had been hanging back walked up and placed a medical kit beside him. "Kass said.... this was .....to be given ....to you" She stammered out. The teenager had never been near a gorn before.

" Thank you my dear." The gorn replied calmly as he took the medical kit. " Firssst time ssseing a gorn?" He inquired given he look of shock on her face.

Tristi shook her head "No Sir" and scampered away.

Running the tricorder over Naxea an aferamtive look began spreading over hisss face. " Naxea thessse crampsss how long have they been happening? He asked calmly.

This is my second time experiencing it. The first wasn't this bad so it must have just been a minor muscle cramp. "Why do you ask?" she raised a curious eyebrow and was beginning to feel better.

" Jussst checking. Isss Sss'hib here?" The doctor enquired as a smile spread over his face.

"No, he is elsewhere. He wanted to remain at large on the ship, hiding," Naxea explained. "Why do you need him, Sthilg? What is going on? It's just some minor cramps. I probably just need to drink more water, that's all."

" Ah Ah AH Nothing wrong my dear." The gorn said reassuringly. " You're having a perfectly normal reaction for a bajoran woman'sss who'sss two to four weeksss pregnant" he said with a reassuringly warm smile.

Naxea's eyes widened. "Pregnant?! " she blurted a little louder than she wanted to, causing several others in the cargo bay to look in her direction. "Great...I picked a hell of a time to be pregnant," she sighed

David couldn't help but smile broadly. "Congratulations, Ma'am!" He kept his voice down as he spoke, but, it was clear that he was overjoyed for his commanding officer.

"Fate rarely callsss on usss at a moment of are choosing." Sthilg replied calmly. "Naxea I need to know any drugsss or medicine you've been on in the last month. Sssomething musssst have helped ssstablissse the bajorian and Sssequusss proteinsss."

"Nothing I know of but I did meet with the Sequus Priestess that accompanied S'hib back from his homeworld...she touched my stomach during a prayer, blessing, or whatever she called it, but I don't see how that could do anything."

"Congratulations Colonel" Heather smiled as she ventured over to Naxea having caught her raised voice exclamation. "Welcome to the mother and baby club."

"Thanks, I think," she replied with a sigh. Getting pregnant now, with no XO currently was not ideal.

" Not much to go on." The gorn thought to himself before looking at the marine xo. " Ssstill I'll have you in for a ssscan after all thisss to sssee how everything'sss developing. That'sss isss if you want me I can assssign another doctor." The gorn added politely.

Alice kept quiet as she looked around wondering what to do. She was glad her son was with Tonya, safely out of harm’s way.


Raye sighed as she walked into the Cargo bay, her clothing looking worse for wear.

Triston stood behind her and they looked around. "Bunks over there" He said to his friend. "Wonder where your Boyfriend is?"

Raye turned and gave him a shrug. "Wonder where your Girlfriend is" she snarked back.

Gavin had come over at the end of Raye's conversation with Triston who he pointedly ignored. "Hi Raye." He greeted her.

She gave him a warm smile. "Gavin!" She linked her arm through his. "Staying on board are we?"

Gavin returned her smile with one of his own. "Yes, we are." He replied happy to see Raye and that she was staying aboard as well.

"Is this one taken?" Ebi asked, indicating the cot next to Damien's. His clothing was now singed by a couple phaser burns, and his face sported a large bruise around a busted implant. Several of his knuckles were scraped and bruised as well.

Damien looked up at the sound of the voice, a look of shock quickly flickering over his face. A mixture of seeing the extent of injuries on the other's face, and the Borg implants. But he quickly shook his initial shock off and offered him a friendly smile. "Sure. Go for it." He said, gesturing to the bed next to him.

Ebi dropped down on the cot, offering a hand and introducing himself as he did. "This is not exactly how I imagined getting to meet the officers of this ship."

===

Etrara walked through the crowd and negotiated the bio beds her target Sthilg, she was desperate to speak to the CMO. Then she saw him with his painful looking wound. “Doctor May I have a private word please?”

" Off courssse my friend." The gorn said as he moved her to one of the empty corners of the cargo bay.

“Commander I am sorry to bother you at this time but …well I need something for anxiety, I have never seen so many men in one place and I can feel myself becoming…well very aggressive and I am afraid I will begin something I will want to finish with a death….My Klingon side wants to protect me by forcing me to be the aggressor. I also feel unwell, double vision, sickness and chest pain. Please help me?” She asked earnestly.

" I understand. " The gorn said calmly putting on his best grandfatherly tone. Reaching for a first aid kit clipped to his belt he removed it and began looking through the content. Despite only having one arm he he moved with a skill only one of his age could master before pulling put a large box of pills. " Now let me sssee." He said looking through the multi coloured pills that looked like a sweet shop or emergency meal kit. His real fingers were rather large so sheepishly he looked at Etrara.

"I'm afraid I forget how big my real finguresss are. Can you pick two of thossse and two of thossse." he said pointing to two separate pills.

She looked at him a little oddly, “Doctor, isn't it a bit far to go to remove one’s arm for this, and if I am not mistaken didn’t you had two in sickbay ?”
She reached in and removed two red pills and two blue ones, “these?” she said.

The gorn smiled as he rolled up his folded sleeve to let her see the connection port in his arm socket. It buzzed slightly as he moved his soulder " Artificial. I lossst it in the dominion war. One of it'sss functions is a phassser. Anyone who knew me would have taken it upon my capture. And yesss thossse two take two now and the othersss in four hoursss." he said reassuringly.

“What are they designed to do and what, if any are the side effects Doctor?

" A powerful paracetamol and Chamomile. They ssshould help you calm down and dull the pain." The lizard explained.

She looked askance, “with all due respect Doc I am not sure they will do anything for Klingon rage?”

" My dear I've ssserved asss a medical officer in the KDF for over a hundred yearsss. I know what worksss to calm klingonsss down." the gorn said reassuringly.

“I understand sir I will try. Thank you.” She turned away and walked off, picking up her water bottle she downed all four pills at once.

" Breath in and out. Clossse you eyesss and think of a frozen foressst. Feel the snow under your feet crunch and the wind in your face." The doctor called after her.

Etrara looked for George and Emily, she felt very badly that she should apologize for her behavior but the crowd seemed to have grown much larger and she had already lost her cot. She began to feel desperate in the crowd and began to imagine every eye on her. She stood and bellowed “GEORGE, EMILY WHERE ARE YOU?” she could not breathe and her chest felt constricted and her legs could no longer carry her. She fell hard onto the floor hitting her head on the metal of a cot and passed out.

Emily was quickly at Etrara’s side. “Doctor I need you!” She looked towards Sthilg who was suddenly becoming a busy man.

Sthilg had been pulled away by a crowd of ancsous patients, yet when he heard his name being called he excused himself and hurried over. " What happened?" He said calmly

“
Emily looked up at the large Gorn figure of Sthilg. “She hit her head pretty hard, no signs of external bleeding though”

George was right there with her, placing his hand on Etrara's shoulder. "She...she's afraid, Doc.." he spoke quietly to Sthilg.

The gorn ran his tricorder over the hybrid. " No, no internal damage. Let'sss get her into a corner and try to create sssome kind of barrier. " the gorn said as he started to look around.

Carefully, George took hold of Etrara's uniform front and pulled her up into a sitting position. He then grabbed her left arm and pulled her upover his shoulders into a fireman's carry. Straining slightly, he then stood up. "Okay, Doc, where to?"

Somewhere in Etrara’s mind she could feel herself moving, neurons fired and adrenaline spiked to dangerous levels. She tried to break free but could not, her brain would not let her. Her brain gave up and she began to seize violently.

" Ssshe'sss haveing a ssseizure put her down." The gorn said as he reached into the kit and drew out a leather bite guard. " Put her down and put thisss in her mouth make sssure she doesssn't bite her own tongue." he said handing it to George as he began mixing up a hypospray.

George did as instructed, carefully lowering Etrara down onto the nearest bunk. He then took the bite guard and positioned it in her mouth before too much damage was caused.

" Hold her ssstill." the doctor said as he injected her with a hypospray. The effect was almost immediate as her breathing steadied and her shaking slowed. " There we go my girl." the gorn reassuringly said.

George carefully held her head and neck, making sure she didn't thrash around to much.

There was sound, lots of it, talking and laughing loud and then softer. She wanted to turn over and sleep, pull the cover over herself like…..like what, when. She tried to draw on a memory to put everything in context but could not…she had no memory, no memory of anything, who was she, where was she. She slowly opened her eyes to see people round her. “Who are you?” She said haltingly are you my family….if you are please tell me who I am?”

" Your Lieutenant Etrara Khalten chief tactical officer of the USSSSSS Elysssium. You had a nasssty fall there my dear." The gorn responded.

“Who are.…you?” she turned her head and her eyes widened in fear and panic…” What are you?” She whispered looking for ways to escape this fearsome creature.

" I'm Sssthilg the ssship'sss doctor. " The gorn said still remaining calm but concern was forming in his mind.

“WHAT SHIP?” she shouted and backpedaled to the edge of the cot looking left to right into the sea of people. She put her hand to her forehead to try to rub away the headache and felt the ridges on her forehead, “what…am…I?” she whispered and began to scream.

George was speechless by Etrara’s reaction and behavior. "Doc!" He exclaimed as he tried to send calming thoughts into Etrara's mind. "What the hell is going on with her?!"

Etrara looked at George grabbed him and pulled him to her. With fear in her eyes she asked, “who am I, what is wrong with me?” She placed his hand on her forehead so he was touching her Klingon ridges. In a trembling voice she said, “what are these and who is that?” She pointed to Sthilg. Her Klingon side which gave her strength and sense of place seemed to have disappeared, she was lost. “Help me!”

George grunted softly, when he was manhandled by Etrara. Closing his eyes and taking a quick breath, he calmed his mind. Then, he opened his eyes and looked directly into Etrara's eyes. Using his telepathic and empathic abilities, he reached into her mind.

Please forgive this intrusion, my friend, He spoke directly to her mind, while continuing to send calming feelings and images into her mind. My name is George. You are Etrara. We just met a few moments ago, but, we did start to become friends. You are safe here. You are aboard the USS Elysium. You are her new Tactical Chief. Those ridges on your head are normal for your species. You are a hybrid of Risian and Klingon. The Klingon side of you is where you get the ridges. As for the reptilinoid, he is Commander Sthilg, the Elysium's Chief Medical Officer. He will not harm you. No one here will harm you. Do you understand me?

The strain of both communicating and trying to calm the terrified and powerful woman was starting to put a strain on George's mind. However, he would not stop until his friend was safe. As their silent conversation continued, his nose started to slowly bleed.

She gently touched the blood coming from his nose and rubbed it between her fingers, then, suddenly she produced a small d'k tahg from her boot grabbed him round the neck and placed the tip against it. She growled using her strength to subdue him. “You all lie, you have done something to me, tell me or I WILL kill him.”

Her attack was so sudden, so fierce, George simply reacted without thinking of the consequences. "SLEEP!!" He shouted as he forced his way deep into the depths of her mind and put her into a deep, dreamless slumber. He then grabbed at his throat, feeling the thin cut from her blade.

Only then, did he realize what he had done. "Doc," he spoke softly. "She's alive, just unconscious. However, in following with Starfleet orders on the use of telepathy, I surrender myself to you, a superior officer, both for treatment of my wound, then, to be arrested. The charge, mental violation and assault." When he was done speaking, he sat perfectly still, his hands on his knees, as he kept his eyes locked to the deck plating infront of him.

“George ... no!” Emily rushed to her brother’s side, giving Sthilg an almost pleading look as she waited to see if the Gorn Doctor would have her brother arrested once he was treated.

Sthilg was stunned. Nothing he'd given her should have lead to this not even in the most severe reactions. Hearing Emily voice shoke the gorn from his shock as he blinked and looked at the pair. Seeing George wounded he reached in for the first aid kit. " Medical directive ssseven George. In the event of unknown medical abnormalitiesss the chief MD can override ssstanding ordersss." he said reassuringly as he fixed the mans wound. Keeping one eye on Etrara. " Emily pleassse check her other boot for another blade."

“Yes Doctor” Emily nodded and proceeded to check Etrara”s other boot as well as her clothing. She wasn’t as accomplished in using her abilities as George, but as she touched Etrara she was whisked away into the other woman’s mind, her body hitting the floor unconscious. Inside Etrara’s mind she looked around.
What? ... where am I?

The sand of the beach stretched for miles and ended in the rolling white capped green of the ocean. A cooling breeze skittered making little swirling tornados of fine sand as a set of tall pines provided an end to the scene. Just into the darkness provided by the trees a girl lay unconscious, naked, battered and bleeding her face spiked with pine needles.

"This can't be real" Emily looked around. "Etrara?" She moved across to the girl lying on the ground. "It's me Emily."

The girl, half Klingon in features turned and stood without looking at Emily and began walking across the sand to the ocean. Paddling into the burgeoning surf she turned and looked at Emily through sightless eyes. “Who am I?” She asked, then without further ado walked into the ocean until her head was covered by the cleansing waves, she did not emerge.

The room was warm, the old house by the wharf had seen better days and had avoided the ‘new revolution’ in architecture. The room contained a small chest and an old fashioned wardrobe from the 21st Century. Across the bed lay the figure of a woman passed the first flush of youth half dressed in a blue robe. Her hair was grey and loose and was mixed with the dark hair of the half Klingon woman who lay across her crying. On the floor a bottle that had contained poison lay dripping the last of its contents onto the faded carpet. The half Klingon woman looked up at Emily with sightless eyes. again she asked “who am I?”

“You’re Etrara ... we’re inside your mind. Look into my memories you can access them while I’m in your mind, see yourself and remember who you are. You don’t have to be afraid.”

“Then I am you if you are inside my head, I am Emily and you are Etrara. We both have pain, show me yours?”

Emily nodded. The backdrop changing to the scene of what had happened to her, of George spending years caring for her. It was still painful to think about even now.

“Where is this, I do not remember it. What happened here?”

“Nothing good” Emily sighed, Rapid flashes of images filled the air around them, images of pain, hurt and what George had done to save her. “You have to wake up Etrara! Wake up!!”

Etrara felt all Emily’s pain inside her mind and screamed “I WILL KILL THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID no one deserves those perversions, and to children!!!” She began to thrash about, opened her unseeing eyes and attacked the first person she saw, jumping upon and grabbing Commander Sthilg around the neck with the crook of her arm and slowly attempted to strangle him.

Emily sat in something of a dazed state, she was barely aware of what Etrara was doing, she was barely aware of anything.

Sthilg was totally shocked as the patient he'd been treating shot up and started strangling him. " Etrara it'sss me doctor Ssstilhg." He manged to splutter through her grip.

Deep inside her brain she could hear something, quiet at first and then louder until she had to let go to put her hands over her ears to try to block out the sound. Then she saw the enormous wave pounding towards her, then, it hit washing everything from her brain, she felt the peace that non existence could bring, the ‘not knowing’ anything new in the universe. She reached for her knife but it was not there. Then the wave took her and she settled back into the peace of unconsciousness brain activity slowing almost to non existence.

Sthilg coughed loudly as his breathed in hards as her hands fell away from his throat covering the floor in a puddle of gorn flem.

" All mother give me strength," he said as he returned to tending to his patient moving her away and into the recovery position.

As soon as Etrara moved, George was instantly at Emily's side, his hands gently holding her face in his hands. "Emm? Emily?!"

It was several minutes before Emily showed any sign of a response, her eyes slowly focussing on her brother. “G .. George?” She shook her head. “What ... Etrara!” She looked around, then back at George. “I didn’t mean to ... I just touched her!”

He pulled her into a protective embrace. "It's okay, Emm...I'm just glad you're okay!"

Emily nodded. “I have one hell of a headache.” She offered a brief smile. “Think I’ll go lie on my bunk for a little while.”

He nodded. "Good idea! I'll come check on you in a few minutes." He kissed her forehead tenderly, then helped her to stand, he watched as she moved over to her cot then lay down. He then turned his gaze back to Sthilg and Etrara. "What the hell happened, Doc?!"

The gorn shook his head as he rubbed it with his one real hand. " I don't know. I have an idea, but i'd need a proper medical biobed to run the needed ssscansss. Can you bring over some more covers so I can give her some privacy? " he asked.

George nodded. He moved to a nearby empty cot and grabbed the unused blanket, then moved back to Sthilg and Etrara, holding the blanket up and acting as a wall, his back to them as he blocked them from the rest of the cargobay.

Etrara’s eyes opened, she could see a young girl not yet a woman being called into a room where a tall man sat and patted his knee. There was something about the movement that filled the young girl with fear. “Come now Emily all I want is for you to sit on my knee.” He said. Etrara began to fight in order to escape. “George help me!” She screamed.

Looking back at Etrara, while keeping the blanket raised for her privacy, George spoke quietly and calmly to her. "You're safe, Etrara. No one will harm you here. Let Sthilg tend to you, please."

Sthilg got to work tending for his patient. Hopefully, she'd wake up and be in a right state of mind again.

All Emily’s memories were now inside Etrara’s brain showing her the cruelty and abuse Emily and George had suffered. The memories were so strong she was reliving them as though she was Emily. She kicked and moaned as she lay there occasionally hitting out and moaning “no” She was unable to wake as the memories kept replaying in her mind.

Sthilg was continuing to mix his medicine giving the hybrid operations officer another hypospray to calm her and give her a nice long dreamless sleep. Hopefully, she'd be alright after the sleep.

Tag



=/\= Deck 18 Weapons Lockers =/\=

Black plastic buckles clicked together as their straps got pulled taught, fastening the bulky riot armour around his narrow midriff. "S'hib to cargo bay one, what's your status... I'm almost ready down here."

"Azhul, here. There is a medical issue that Doctor Sthilg is responding to," Naxea replied. Otherwise, we're doing good." There was a short pause as she decided on her next words. "And we need to talk after this is over," she finished, deciding not to inform him of the recently discovered news as she didn't need him worrying about her and rather focus on the mission instead."

"Well," S'hib frowned, unsure how to reply to the last thing she said. "Keep me updated... I'm going to cause some trouble when our guests arrive. And yes, I'll be careful... S'hib out."

Olivia had just walked into the cargo bay a few minutes ago after finishing up a few things up in Sickbay. She had grabbed a few extra medical kits to be on the safe side. Looking around, Olivia spotted the Colonel over to one side of the cargo bay and headed that way. She had noticed Sthilg handling a medical issue and knew that if he needed her he would call for her to come help. When she reached the Colonel, Olivia waited patiently until she was finished with her discussion with S'hib before saying anything.

As she finished her conversation, NAxea looked to the familiar Science officer. "What can I do for you, Lieutenant?" she asked, grinning at the woman.

"Just wanted to make sure everything was alright over here," Olivia replied. "One tends to worry a little when there are large crowds. Also, next time you get to talk with S'hib, let him know that I left a few extra goodies for him in my office over in Sickbay."

"Things are well for most, thank..." Naxea broke off just as she barely managed to turn away as she sneezed. "Ah shit," she sneezed again and again before managing to take a breath as the sneezing fit subsided. "Sorry, Bajorans unfortunately have a tendency to sneeze alot when pregnant."

"Congrats Colonel," Olivia replied. "Just make sure you take it easier as much as you can right now. Plus let me know if you need anything should Commander Sthlig not be available. I brought a few extra emergency medical kits to be on the safe side that can be hidden as needed. Some of the kids have a few extra things in them that could help should they be needed as well."