Dark Dreams of Reality

Posted on Fri Dec 23rd, 2022 @ 2:04am by Lieutenant Alice Jordan ( Barclay de Tolly ) & Captain Samuel Woolheater & Ensign Mrera Sr’au

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: MD 3: 03:30
1752 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

Previously:

Quickly sterilizing Mrera’s arm, the medic put a port into her arm. Then she connected two bags through a drip. Handing them to Napoleon, she stated, “Hold these until I find something to hang them from.”

Napoleon complied. He held her hand as he felt this is where he needed to be.

Alice rolled her eyes a bit. “Napoleon, I know you are just a computer engineer but once power is restored, you will be wanted in Engineering. “

Napoleon nodded. “Understood. I will know when to go. Do not worry Mrera, I will be with you as long as possible.”

________________

//Now//

The scenes dancing in Mrera’s mind were dark shades like fog intermingling, then becoming psychedelic, faded big and becoming brilliant, back to the shades of fog drifting about. It created an eerie scene. She heard Napoleon talking with a female voice not her own. It seemed the female was attempting to lure Napoleon away from Ensign Sr’au.

Mrera wanted to scream, “No Napoleon! Don’t leave me for here! We’ve got ssomething going for uss!” Her lips moved, but no voice was to be found. Her breathing became labored, believing Napoleon was falling for the charms of another. No Napoleon! I love you!

The marine medic had done what he could do. The patient’s vitals were beginning to become stronger. That was a positive sign.

Turning to Napoleon, the medic reported, “Her vitals are stabilizing. We’re going to need to move her to a shelter area. I know we have one up and running in Marine Country. You’ve done all that you can do, sir! You are needed. More than just her is going to die if we don’t get power to the ship. Communications are down. Life support is on auxiliary power and running out. We can move her and let her know where you are if she comes to consciousness.”

Now Mrera heard another male voice counseling Napoleon to go with the other female. Certainly he saw how much Mrera was in love. She never stated it, but the connection was there from the very beginning. All she could do was think the words, I need you Nap! I love you!


Napoleon kissed her gently but felt she might not be fully knowledgeable of what she was saying. Being the gentleman he was and still is, Napoleon held her hand for comfort. “You have me.”

She heard his voice, smelled his scent. It brought Mrera comfort, but why couldn’t she see him. Mrera had not realized her eyes were not open; she was unconscious. She wanted to speak, but couldn’t. All she could see were the dark colors blotting the vision of her closed eyes.

She was secure. The only thing holding her from resting easy was the eeriness of what her vision showed her. Was she inside the darkness of the holodeck again? That must be the truth. As long as her Napoleon was there, Mrera felt safe, despite the confusion her eyes saw.

The medic looked at two marines and gave a command. “ We need to get her to the Marine shelter.”

The two men shoot back with, “Sir, yes sir!” They came over and lifted the Caitian officer, one by the legs, the other under her shoulders.

The medic looked at Napoleon and Alice. “You are welcome to follow.” To Napoleon, the medic said, “I know you want to be with her. Carry the saline bags and stay close to these two. I must move one to the next wounded person.”

Napoleon nodded. “You will be okay my dear.”

Alice’s son walked up. He was not even a teenager yet and he was already helping where he could.

The Marines carried the Ensign to the turbo lift shaft. The lift wasn’t working, so the quickest way to Marine Country was straight down. “We need a rope,” one said to the other. “You got one in your pack?”

“I do,” the other said,

The two Marines gently laid Mrera upon the deck. She mumbled something in her unconscious state. All that could be made out was “Nap.”

The marine with the rope pulled it out of his backpack. The two worked together to wrap it about Mrera, just under her armpits. It could handle five decks at a time, with one lowering her down and the other five decks below to receive her.

“You’ll need to go just before her, staying close to protect her from falling,” a marine stayed to Napoleon as he wrapped the free end of the rope about himself and knotting it. “She should be stable, I’ll only be releasing a few inches of the rope at a time.”

“Understood,” Napoleon replied as began to repel.

The marine began to slowly lower Mrera down the shaft, ensuring she not be dropped into Napoleon, knowing him off. Five decks below, the second Marine assisted in pulling both Mrera and Napoleon out of the shaft.

This pattern continued, five decks at a time, until finally the three were safe in Marine Country. After a brief rest, the two Marines ensued carrying Mrera to the shelter in the Marine deck with Napoleon following. After brief meeting, the doctor and the two marines left to report to Captain Woolheater.

Napoleon felt relieved seeing the Marines. He kissed Mrera on the cheek. He saw others were being treated as well. The whole area had been turned into a hospice. Napoleon pressed his communication badge. There was no response. He turned to Mrera saying, “I need to get to Engineering to help them with Communications.”

One of the Marines who was a Betazoid exclaimed, “No one is to leave the area. We can not risk loosing a Marine. Plus we have on good authority, there are a lot of Engineers working on this.”

Napoleon reached for Mrera’s hand saying, “It looks like you are stuck with me.”

When Samuel heard that more crew had been rescued he was delighted. The report from the SAR team was very encouraging and when he was finished with his work in marine tactical, he sought out the new arrivals.

MARINE MEDICAL

Sam carefully walked through the busy facility. There were so many people! After a few minutes of looking, he recognized Lieutenant Bond from the Engineering department. He walked over to the bedside. There, on the biobed lay a Caitian female whom Sam did not recognize. "Excuse me? Lieutenant Bond right? Napoleon Bond? I'm Captain Woolheater. The search and rescue team just gave me their report sir. I am glad that you the lady here are safe and sound. How are you both doing? How are you feeling?" he asked.

“Managing,” Napoleon answered. “Yes I am Lieutenant Bond. Can you get a message to Engineering to let them know I am okay.”

Sam was so surprised by that and his face showed it despite his best efforts to maintain that marine military coolness. So, his face and body said, ~Oh-b-oh!! What is that?!!!~ and he thought to himself, ~Get a message to Engineering?~.

Two marines lowered their heads when they saw Woolheater short-circuit - they knew what was coming and said quietly to each other, "Ohhh...shit!"

The medical bay here was packed with patients and all of them in very bad shape. If marine medics together with Doctor Carmichael weren't here, there would likely be many more dead. There was the occasional delusional scream from someone in immense pain. And there was painful crying and tears.

Samuel recovered and took a deep breath in and said, "Lieutenant, I realize that you just got here. Perhaps the Lieutenant is not aware of the gravity of the situation?" Sam said clearly irritated. And as if on cue, Sam had to step out of the way to allow two marine medics space to pass. They were carrying a dead body. Two. Dead bodies. Wrapped in sheets from the biobed where they died. One was a red bloody mess and the other was a green and blue mess. Sam never took his eyes off the Lieutenant. And when the grim detail passed he let a couple of beats go by and started again.

"Lieutenant? An hour ago we made contact with the bridge. And the XO sent me a note. The ship has been struck by a 'quantum filament'. We've not been able to get into Engineering, which I believe is your department, because of the state we find ourselves. Just in case you were unaware of the severe, crippling damage the ship is in. So, yes, we will be escorting you to Engineering. But it will be a lot more than just delivering a mesaage." Here, Sam pointed to the "SFMC" logo on his body armor and said, "Do you see this? It is not an abbreviation for 'Some Fucking Message Couriers'. If you want a message delivered - as long as you and it go to Engineering - I don't have a problem. We need your help to regain control of the ship. Before we crash into a star or a planet or some other hazard out here that gets us all dead. So, if you're not injured and if you can walk, you sir are needed, right now, in Engineering." Woolheater barked, "SERGEANT! When the doctor discharges the Lieutenant here, please escort him to Sergeant Gami's position outside of Main Engineering?" The sergeant said, "Yes sir. Right away Captain."

The IV was now empty and Mrera began to stir. Slowly her eyes opened. Looking up into Napoleon’s eyes. Barely able to whisper, she spoke, “Your sscent has been with me the whole way. Or brrought me grreat comforrt. I only wissh I knew why yourr sscent iss sso familiarr to me.”

Sam said to Napoleon, "We'll take good care of the patient. You're needed in Engineering. Right. Now. If you please?"

Napoleon nodded. “Thank you. Mrera, do not worry, you are in good hands.”

Alice turned to her ten year old son Alexander. “Help where you can but do not get in the way.”

“Yes Mother,” Alexander said as he kept observing.

For some reason, although she couldn’t put her paw on why, Mrera trusted Napoleon. She smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” she said first to Napoleon, then eying everyone else, “to everyone.”

Napoleon departed as he was escorted to Engineering.