Reality? What is Reality Anyway
Posted on Sat Sep 30th, 2023 @ 11:13pm by Captain Linda Wilson & Commander Sandy "Phantom" Risa & Commander Qillin Wren & Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell & Lieutenant Commander Yadira Risen & Lieutenant Reeza Cuyu & Ensign Ryan Mackenzie & Crewman Tetayn Wren & Lieutenant Commander Klarth & Lieutenant Kit Murrow
6,936 words; about a 35 minute read
Mission:
Into The Void
Location: USS Lionheart - Various
Timeline: Day 17?
BRIDGE
The captain started looking at the file when suddenly the red alert sounded. "Captain, picking up a spatial anomaly of some kind ahead. It appeared suddenly. Unable to get a reading except that it's there!"
"Full reverse. Avoid this thing!" Linda said.
"Unable to avoid it Captain! No time!" Raven said from flight control.
Suddenly reality began to change. Strange things began happening throughout the ship. A redheaded wood pecker appeared on the bridge and laughed manically pecking holes in everything yet no sparks appeared. A little girl in a rainbow dress atop a white horse rode around the ship. She keeps stopping and asking people if they know the way to rainbow land.
COUNSELOR'S OFFICE
Reeza heard the red alert in the middle of her session with the Lorut's teen-aged daughter. Smiling tightly, she excused herself to the young woman, and went to check the computer. Indeed, it was a red alert-one that they were unable to avoid. Suddenly, she felt a bit sick to her stomach as her late husband appeared in front of her. "Luca!" He simply turned his head sideways at her, and then smiled. "Reeza! You look great." He flickered a moment, and then reappeared again, this time, dressed as a Prophet. What the hell?! She called out for R'Elle.
"Lt. R'Elle? Are you ok back there?" She reached for her phaser but just as quickly, the vision disappeared and the dizzy-stomach feeling left. She poked herself to see if she were dreaming...she wasn't. She returned to the treatment room to find Lorut Aya staring distantly at the wall. "Are you ok?" The girl snapped back to present. "Oh, uh, yeah. I thought I saw a mermaid. I am sorry. Maybe I've been studying too much." Reeza sighed. "Maybe. Why don't we end it here for today, and we can touch base again on Thursday?! We'll see what this red alert is about! And let your mother know that I may be late picking up Cuyu Soja." The teenager stood up and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Thanks. I'll see you later. My mom might call down to talk to you." Reeza simply nodded and escorted the young woman out of the room before she ran, full speed, to the Helm.
"Umm yeah, think so!" R'elle called out. She was seeing things that couldn't be possibly there. An anthropomorphic possum with a fishing pole walking through her office and then disappearing. She sat down. This was weird.
Back in Reeza's quarters strange things were happening. Two slices of toast just popped out of Doria's head. It seems she had an added accessory. A fully functioning android with a toaster up top.
SECURITY OFFICE > CORRIDOR
Rayek was seated in the Security office reviewing next week's security crew rotation on his PADD when the alert sounded. The Romulan Starfleet officer shot up out of his seat, and headed for the door almost immediately. He tried to tap his commbadge to call Commander Arkyn to report his ETA, but discovered that his Starfleet uniform had inexplicably been switched to that of a Romulan Star Navy uniform with its square-shouldered, checkered patterned grey and silver. What an eyesore!
He checked over this new uniform to see what tools he had available to him and he discovered in his duty belt, in place of a phaser or a disruptor he had an child's toy revolver, and in place of either a comm badge or a communicator, he had a 20th century 'walkie-talkie'.
"Elle!" the Romulan called as he continued to make his way towards the turbolift. "What's going on around the ship?" But there was no response. Worse, when he arrived at the turbolift and called for the bridge, the automated voice responded in a foreign language... which Rayek's in-ear Universal Translator was not translating: Den epitrépetai i prósvasi.
Was that Vulcan? or maybe Andorian? Whatever it was saying, the meaning was rather clear with the lack movement of the lift. He wasn't permitted onto the bridge. He had no means of communicating with anyone on the Bridge either since he doubted the ships systems monitored for radio frequencies INSIDE the ship.
Suddenly to his surprise several males of different species came out of nowhere. They were all dressed the same, white t-shirts, blue overalls and work boots. They carried various types of construction equipment. They began tearing up walls and bulkheads, however the ship still functioned normally. At least as far as Rayek could tell.
Without comm badge or firearm, Rayek's sole option was to attempt to intervene physically - he was well versed in many martial arts - yet when he tried he was completely ignored as if he wasn't present, and none of his attempted hand-to-hand attacks landed... though it wasn't like the worker intentionally avoided him or that he had judge distances wrong...they just inexplicably had did not land and had no effect.
Frustrated with this the Romulan looked around for something else that he COULD interact with that might have some effect.
Suddenly Rayek spotted what looked like a tin can attached to the wall there. It wasn't there before.
Rayek approached the tin can warily, studying it for it's purpose, unfamiliar with its' 20th century use.
Suddenly the can began to ring and shake from the ringing.
The ringing noise was rather reminiscent of the old 20th century telephones he’d seen in movies with Saqa7. Feeling a tad bit self conscious -as if he were being pranked- Rayek reached out to the tin can and spoke into it like an intercom. “Hello?”
The voice came out as something like "Wah wah! Waahh wah waaaah wa wah!"
Just then a human boy about ten came along. He was dressed in a yellow t-shirt with a black zig zag across it, and old fashion 20th century earth type shoes. "Maybe I can help mister. That sounds like my teacher. Maybe I can talk to them and interpret what they say."
Rayek regarded the boy for a moment feeling like he should somehow recognize this stranger. He eventually nodded. “That would be appreciated if you could do that.”
The boy took the tin can and held it to his ear. He listened. "They say it's the bridge and all sorts of crazy things are happening and could you come to the bridge and report in and see what you and your security people can do?"
Rayek nodded at the boy's interpretation. "Please, tell them I'm attempting to make my way there, but I too am experiencing the 'all sorts of crazy.'" He then inclined his head towards the boy. "Thank you. May I know your name?"
"Charlie Brown sir!" The boy replied.
STATEROOM
Ull was sitting in his stateroom reviewing security reports on his padd when the red alert klaxon sounded. He looked up momentarily and by the time he looked back down he was sitting at an old wooden desk with a stack of papers in his hands. As he got up from his chair it made a wooden scratching sound as it slid back on the now wooden floor. "What is going on?" He mumbled to himself before he reached to his commbadge. When he tapped it he realized it felt wrong and when he looked down at it all he saw was an old metal sheriff's badge on his chest. He then made for his door, which looked like the old wooden doors of a saloon now, and started to briskly walk towards the elevator towards the bridge.
Before Ull could get very far he was confronted by a man in old western garb. He was packing two six guns. One one either side. He had black suit on and thin mustache. "Alright sherriff, draw! Draw! Draaaww!" He began whirling around and sparks came out as he began to spin around as various pooping sounds could be heard. Three men came out of nowhere. "Not again!" the leader, a white human with a bowl cut said.
"Yeah well here we go again!" he one with brown hair sticking out in several directions said.
"Coitainly! Nyuk, nyuk nyuk!" the stout, bald headed man said as they carted the gunslinger off to a nearby room and seemingly vanished.
Ull paused and watched the gunslinger and three men with confusion. "What is going on here?" He whispered again to himself as he restarted his walk towards the elevator, also looking around for a way to get comms with anyone as he walked.
Ull checked the room that the three men and gunslinger went into as he walked by it.
The room was empty.
As Ull walks into the elevator, he finds himself in a Saloon out of earths old west. All the inhabitants are orions. One of the saloon girls slinks up to him and says, "Hey tall , green and handsome. Buy a girl a drink" she was very beautiful.
Ull looked at the female Orion and tapped the Sheriff's badge on his chest. "Sorry, I'm on duty."
"Oh come on Honey. A little drink never hurt anybody. Besides, a girl can get lonely. A real man like you can help."
Ull paused for a second and looked around the saloon before saying anything else. "Actually, have you seen any of my Deputies around lately?"
"Can't say that I have. Your the first in here today!" She responded.
Ull tips his head to the female Orion. "Thank you for your assistance." He then moves his way out of the saloon.
He exits the saloon and finds himself on a great veldt like Africa. Wild animals prowled the veldt in front of him. He now wore khaki's and a pith helmet.
Ull adjusted the pith helmet on his head and looked around at all the animals running around in front of him. He dusts off the khakis that he is now wearing and takes a few steps forward.
As they continued to follow the trail sounds of wild animals come from all around them. Still scraps of cloth here and there lead hem onward, ever onward. After what seemed forever, there appeared a shack for lack of a better term in the distance.
(tag Storyteller)
SICKBAY
Klarth was in sickbay talking to a patient when the red alert went off suddenly he was in what appeared to be a human operating room from hundreds of years ago. S'Lace was holding a bloody saw and shouting 'doctor we are ready for you!' Klarth started to exam the patient at first it was flesh and blood but then it started to turn into candy wrappers. They were all of Klarth's favorite earth candies and before he could decide if it was appropriate to eat candies things began to change again....
Suddenly, he found that he looked like an anthropomorphic hedgehog and S'lace was a mink with blonde hair. Strange things were happening for sure.
"We've got to get up to the bridge" he said to S'Lace. Klarth never thought he'd find a mink attractive but he had to admit there was something very alluring to him about her.
S'Lace stared at the hedgehog-like Klingon, watching his pink nose specifically. It twitched and wiggled as he spoke. Was it any wonder the Mink looking Vulcan found it difficult to explain the oddities occurring today. "Um.. yes of course" S'Lace replied looking away from the Klingon and gathered a medkit and medical tricorder to bring with them to the Bridge.
BRIDGE & CORRIDOR
Reeza arrived, out of breath, which was surprising to her, given she chased a couple of kids around all day. She looked around. WHAT WAS HAPPENING? The entire deck crew from the original, flagship Enterprise was here. She tapped her Comms badge. ==/\==Captain, can you...==/\==Comms was down. Great. Where was everyone? She approached the (hopefully) imaginary Uhura. "Lt, uh...Ma'am. Where are we?" The Uhura responded. "Lt., we are back in the Beta Quadrant, heading for Risa for shore leave. Did you hit your head when we hit warp? You should go see Dr. Bones." Reeza nodded, mouth open but no words came out. What the hell?! She shook herself, and suddenly, they were back on the Lionheart, like normal. "Comms are down, and why is my dead husband alive and well in my office? Raven, are you ok in there?" She drew her phaser. It wasn't the smartest idea, probably, but it was the best one she had. She was just a Counselor, not an engineer or ops, or even Security. That jogged something in her head. Rayek would know what was happening. Hopefully. She holstered her weapon, and took off down the other hallway, sprinting at a speed that belied her earlier exhaustion. She spotted the Romulan, staring at a wall. She stopped next to him.
"Commander, what's happening?" She said.
Hearing footsteps approaching from behind Rayek turned around and found himself no longer in the corridor with the tin can or the boy named Charlie Brown. He looked thoroughly confused. "Lieutenant. I don't know. It could be a number of different phenomenon." There were several entities that were known to be able to alter reality like they were experiencing. Or it was possible that they were under the influence of some mind altering drug or particle. Really the possibilities were unlimited. Narrowing it down would require managing to find the source.
"We need to get to the bridge." Rayek stated.
She nodded. "Ok, but they're not going to let you on dressed like THAT," she said. "You look like a...well, a Romulan." She sighed. She thought quickly; there was a general replicator in this hallway. She led him to it, and spoke. "Computer, current male uniform tunic, gold. Roughly the size of...Commander trLhoell, please." A moment later, the machine spit out a new tunic. "Here, put this on." She made a face. "Hurry, please, we don't have time for modesty," she explained.
Rayek grimaced at Reeza’s comment. It wasn’t like the uniform made him any less a Romulan. But he figured arguing would only waste further time. While he waited for the replicator, he half expected more oddness, but thankfully that didn’t happen. The Romulan arched an eyebrow at Reeza’s remark about modesty. Modesty was for those who felt self-conscious about their body. Rayek didn’t. He stripped off the Romulan tunic, giving Reeza a brief view of the many scars that littered his chest and abdomen, and pulled on the black and gold colored tunic she handed him. “Better? May we go now?”
She wasn't watching, but Rayek's torso, of scars and marks-reminding her of her own parents' from their time in the Bajoran labor camps-caught her eye. She didn't ask or even flicker in her expression, just filed it away. In case. Finally, he'd changed his tunic, and she looked down at hers, just in case some weird Cinderella thing had happened and she was now wearing a ballgown. Nope, just her regular teal tunic. She nodded once, and led him onto the Bridge. "I am sorry. But with whatever is happening, I thought it was safer for you to be in a Starfleet uniform. I don't want people to react," she explained, quietly, pulling him along, literally, by the hand. They arrived on the Bridge-it was back to normal from her earlier vision of the first Enterprise bridge. She breathed a sigh of relief. "I found Commander tr'Lhoell," she said, to Risa. "I can take the Science console," she said, settling in.
Rayek gave a nod to the XO and moved to take over the Security/Tactical station from the junior officer presently there. He wondered where the Chief was. Then he had a thought, comms might be down... but maybe not internal sensors. The Romulan began a scan of the ship for Orion life signs and was pleasantly surprised when the idea seemed to work.
He found several Orion lifesigns all over the ship. However things kept changing and it was hard to pinpoint. One was definitely on the Bridge. Most likely the captain. However the rest seem to change location.
BRIDGE
Sandy was livid, not just with herself, but with the entire situation that just got out of hand. She could feel this coming and not being able to warn the captain but the ship as a whole, made her even angrier. "Captain, this is what I was talking about. This same thing. We should have been ready, or at least me in the warning," she said in exasperation.
"Ready? ready for what? how do you prepare for something like this?"
Looking at the stations, she called out for reports from the crew hoping to get a handle on what was happening if you could get a handle on it at all.
"Atmospheric pressure is high. Was it a black hole?" Reeza exclaimed. She was only a counselor, but had been cross-trained on Bridge duties. She understood some science, but most of it was over her head. "High levels of radiation," she reported. "I'd correct course, back the way we came, if you want MY opinion as Counselor," she said. She breathed in deeply, calming herself down.
"Lt. Murrow, report." the captain ordered the science officer.
Reeza stepped away from the Console to let Murrow take over. Thank Goodness he'd shown up on time!
"Lack of a scientific term..Space is broken" Murrow said. "My console is having a fit. Detecting a NX-Class ship, only for it to disappear and a flying old earth aircraft carrier appear. I can't make sense of it. But I'll try"
"Do the best you can Lt. I'm not sure what qualifies as normal anymore. It seems reality has gone haywire!" Capt Wilson said
Murrow's sensors were detecting another ship at long range. hard to make out yet but it seemed to be coming closer.
After Murrow's report, an older human came out of the main screen on what looked like a old fashioned Earth sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. He had a long white beard and a red suit. "Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!" he said.
At the call out for reports, Rayek reported out the status of the ship's defenses and weapon systems. All showed as green on his display - ready to be called upon if needed. He also reported out the lack of internal and external comms but that internal sensors appeared to be currently working and even added. "I've located what I suspect to be Command Arkyn on Deck 3 in the hallway outside his stateroom."
Then having an idea Rayek pulled the short range radio from his belt and clicked the transmit button while watching sensor on his comm board. Nothing. With his long slender fingers he tapped on the screen to adjust what the sensor looked for and what they screened out and then clicked again on the radio's side button. This time a burst of static was heard over the Bridge's speakers.
The Romulan nodded in satisfaction then turned towards the junior officer he'd replaced at the station. "See if you can locate him on Deck Three. Take this radio and pass it to him. Instruct him to click the side button and hold while speaking to communicate with the bridge."
The sec/tac officer took the hand-held radio from Rayek and then set off towards the turbolift. It was at this time that sleigh and reindeer came out of the viewscreen complete with a jolly old elf.
Rayek's attention then turned to the figure he immediately recognized as Santa Claus - a fictional being from what he'd been told. As his only weapon presently was a toy revolver, Rayek didn't bother reaching for it. Instead, anticipating danger to the Captain, the Romulan planted his hands on the edge of his console and with mighty push from his legs vaulted over ledge to land between the Captain and Santa, assuming a defensive stance. "State your intentions!"
Even as he called out to the mythical being, Rayek was attempting to read its mind to learn. He half expected not to make any connection, much like he would not be able to connect to a hologram or figment of his imagination.
Sandy stood paralyzed looking at the view screen. Her mind was locked on to the image of a ship that she was captured on and tortured by when she did intelligence. Whatever this captivating force that was plaguing the ship had swallowed her up completely. She crumbled to the deck in a heap completely catatonic and unconscious while the entire memory replayed in her tortured mind.
Reeza moved quickly towards the Commander. "Commander Risa?" She extracted a Tricorder from her pocket-she was a mom, and was NEVER without that, a stash of band-aids, at least one safety pin, and myriad toys in her pockets. She ran the wand over the woman as she shouted. "Get Dr. Klarth up here now, please, or at least open a Transport!! Some kind of psychic emergency. I'll radio to Lt. R'Elle to meet me," she said, standing up. "Commander tr'Lhoell, can you pick up anything? Captain, how's that transport??" She looked up-NOT AGAIN. Uhura peered down at her from where the Captain was supposed to be. *Didn't I tell you to go to Dr. Bones?* NOT NOW, BRAIN. She closed her eyes again, then opened them, back on the Lionheart.
In her office, R'elle received the message. "No No no!" she tried to calm herself but her fiancé had collapsed.
She took several deep breaths. "Ok I'll meet you in sickbay." she said in a measured voice. She had to force herself to be calm as she hurried to sickbay.
==^==It'll be Ok==^== Reeza did her best to soothe the woman over the radio, but it was hollow, even to herself.
The sudden collapse of the Commander behind him, the Romulan assumed was some form of attack by the Santa figure. Rayek moved to subdue the 'jolly old elf', attempted to grab hold of Santa's arm and put it into a lock behind his back. "Do not resist. What have you done to the Commander?" At Lt Cuyu's query to him about 'picking anything up', he assumed she meant telepathically. Presently, he felt nothing - but then after years of training, had learned to keep himself shielded pretty much all the time. Cautiously, the Romulan lowered that shielding to test if this was a psychic attack.
'Ho ho ho! That's not nice Rayek. You can get coal in your stocking for attacking Santa Clause! Christmas is about giving not hurting. I have presents for all. I hope she'll be alright. After all she and the counselor will be married soon. They're both such nice girls!"
"Blast it!" Linda said. "Get Klarth up here even if you have to physically drag him from sick bay and get him up here and someone tell the counselor her fiancee has collapsed.." she said to the nearest security officer. she tapped her combadge, =^="Wilson to Commander Wren, do you read me?" =^=She would feel better if all qualified hands were helping out and Wren was a very qualified engineer. She would willingly let him take over in Engineering. It was chaos all throughout the ship.
-^- This is Tetayn, -^- the wrong Wren answered. -^- Qillin is not available to take your call right now, but if you would leave a message, I'll be sure to have him return your call as soon as he is able. -^-
=^="Tetayn, this is Captain Wilson. Tell your brother to get to engineering right away! We need all available personal! He has access to everything! I'm making him chief engineer temporarily and if he does a good job, he can have the job permanently."=^=
-^- He's tied into the décolletage of a talking tree currently. I'll have him out in a jiffy, but the tree is not cooperating. -^-
"OOkay! Well as soon as you can get him out the better! Call security if you have to!" Linda said.
From Tetayn's comms, the tree could be heard -^- Oh, oh. Oh, I love you. I love you. Love, love, love, love, love... -^- And Qillin could be heard to give a concerned and disturbed groan. -^- I've got this, -^- Tetayn assured the captain. -^- I'll have him in engineering it two shakes of a lamb's tail. Tetayn out.-^-
Shortly after that, the tree vanished and Wren was released.
While the Captain called out orders and spoke to Commander Wren's companion, Rayek disregarded Santa's warning of coal in his stocking and instead maintained a secure hold of the intruder.
In answer to Reeza, Rayek shook his head. "I don't sense anything telepathically that might have caused this." He regarded the Santa he still held securely. "I don't sense any thoughts from this one. It's like he's not even here." Could this all really be figments of their imagination? he wondered.
"Commander, from what I understand of the Humans' stories, Santa Claus is a jolly elf, and I think it's ok if you let him go. He'll probably disappear, like Uhura, and Cuyu Luca," she said. She realized she was no longer shocked by what she was seeing. "Damn it," she said quietly, but sighed. Now what?!
"Ma'am, I'll head to the Medical Bay and take over for Lt. R'elle there. If you need me for mission advising or something, I am a call away," Reeza said. She turned to Commander trLhoell. "I will check on Doria, as well, again," she said. Without waiting for further instructions, she ran at full speed out of the Command deck. It was very out-of-character for the young Counselor, BUT she knew two things-this wasn't normal, and that being on the Bridge without a specific task just made her nervous, and she was likely to accidentally do something stupid due to nerves.
While Reeza was the most logical one to go fetch the Klingon medical chief. Rayek was concerned over Reeza's safety along the way. Rayek intended to call out to her to be careful, but he suddenly found his mouth had become a closed zipper. It took a moment to change over his hold of Santa to unzip it but by then the Counselor was already out of sight. "Glohhaasi' mnekha" he murmured. (*Good hunting)
He then looked to the Captain, still holding Santa in a painful armlock. "What do you want done with the intruder? I'm uncertain if the brig could hold such an entity." Or figment.
"Rayek, let him go. Santa Claus is harmless. I appreciate your due diligence but I'm pretty sure we can trust him." Linda said
The Romulan frowned at the order but did as told even as he attempted to get the Captain to see reason. "Captain, despite appearances... that is not 'Santa Claus'. Santa is a fictional concept - from stories told to children to elicit good behavior year round. This entity is merely taking his form - there is no reason to believe it can be trusted."
"Now how do you know I'm not Santa Clause? And what makes you think Santa Clause doesn't exist? For your information I have existed for untold centuries in one form or another. By many names have I been called. Many cultures know me, believe in me. I am the spirit of giving! I exist to promote generosity!"
"Rayek, I think he's ok. With all that's going on it's hard to be certain of anything but my instincts say he is ok." Linda said.
That the Captain had based her order on 'instinct' had the Romulan raise an eyebrow skeptically, as he moved away from the Santa back towards his Security console. This was going to end badly but short of disobeying the Captain he had little choice in the matter. He decided to change focus. He'd overheard the Captain's conversation with Tetayn earlier and took advantage of the fact that comms were working once more to get a status report from each of his teams. =/\= "tr'Lhoell to all Security - status report."=/\=
Santa turned and leapt into the viewscreen and vanished. The Romulan eyed the screen warily, not trusting at all that the fictional character was gone for good.
A few reports came in then mid-way through his calls, the comm suddenly went dead and started a rapid-paced beeping continuously. The a voice came over the com link "Number please."
This frustrated the Romulan who had to bite back on cursing vehemently. Oh well, he still had the hand-held radio on comms.
TURBOLIFT & SICKBAY & BRIDGE
Meanwhile, the Bajoran made her way quickly to a Turbolift, praying to the Prophets that the computers were working. They seemed to be, though with the speed of late 20th century tech. Still. She didn't care; it was faster than running. She made a mental note to use the gym more often-she was more out of shape than she'd thought. She appeared in the Sick Bay quickly.
"Commander Klarth, you're needed on the Bridge. Turbolift A3 is working. Kind of," she said. "R'elle, I'll cover the Medical console up on the Bridge, if you need me," she went into the Counseling office and got a few things she'd need, and then hurried back out. She cursed in Bajoran when she saw the others still standing there-unsure if it were another image or they were just slow. She didn't wait to find out, and instead, headed to the Habitation decks to check on the girls. She went first to her quarters. Doria was fine, though a bit annoyed by the addition of the toaster on her head. Reeza didn't blame her. "Once we figure out what has happened, I will let you know. Do your best to stay calm, ok? If you need to, come down to the Counseling office with me," she said. She left, checked in with the Loruts -who were also experiencing some issues, but assured her that Soja was OK-and then returned to the Bridge. "Turbolifts are down," she said, catching her breath. She REALLY needed to go to the gym more often, apparently. "Dr. Klarth is on his way," she said, as the Doctor replied at the same time she did. "What did I miss?"
"Well we have Santa Clause on the bridge, the XO collapsed and it looks like reality is going haywire. other than that not much." Linda said.
"Already on my way" came Klarth's reply. "I should be there soon." And soon after Klarth arrived on the bridge and began scanning the unconscious Commander Risa.
"Doctor, do you need my help in Medical?" Reeza asked the Klingon, as he appeared on the Bridge.
BRIDGE
Rayek turned towards the turbolift and looked to Reeza quizzically. From his perspective, she'd only been gone about 30 seconds, but she sound weary and her appearance ever so slightly different - more wrinkled in her uniform and her hair slight more disheveled than it had been prior to her stepping onto the turbolift. Then there was the almost immediate arrival of Dr. Klarth. It was as if time had stood still on the Bridge while it had proceeded everywhere were else. Rayek frowned as he answered Reeza. "You missed nothing - quite literally; as you only just left 30 seconds ago."
She raised an eyebrow. "Commander, are you feeling ok? I was certainly gone for longer than thirty seconds. It takes thirty seconds to run to the Turbolift." She cocked her head concernedly. "Doria is fine," she said.
"That's good." Linda replied. "You weren't gone more than 30 seconds our time. Time evidently is affected as well. I suspect our chief counselor will want to to accompany her fiancee to sick bay. Klarth, any idea what's wrong with her?"
Klarth looked at Reeza. "We could certainly use an extra hand in sickbay."
Klarth had scanned the Commander but the results were inconclusive. "I'm not sure why she passed out. I'd like to get her to sickbay to run some more tests."
"Well do it! She's no use to us here and I want to know what's wrong with her and possibly fix it! I need everybody on their feet if possible! " Linda said
"Of course!" the Klingon assured. "Give me a hand to carry the Commander down. No time to waste!"
Given the odd things going on with the ship, Rayek questioned the wisdom of letting the doctor leave the Bridge with the Commander, as such he sent the last sec/tac officer from the Bridge to go with the Klingon doctor to provide some protection and to assist carrying the Commander as the Bridge and its emergency med-kit didn't have hover-stretchers.
Shortly after that...
Doria appeared on the bridge out of a turbolift. "Mommy? I'm hungry!" Soya followed her and likewise remarked that she was hungry!
At the word "mommy", Reeza turned sharply. Her blue eyes shimmered a moment, as if she'd cry in the middle of the Bridge. She pulled herself together with a quickness. "Girls, what are you DOING here?" She sighed. "Excuse me, please, Captain. I'll escort the girls back home, and ask Lt. Lorut's daughter to watch them," she said. She bent to pick up Doria, as she liked it. "Commander, perhaps investigate some kind of lockdown protocol?" She called behind her.
Rayek's brow furrowed as he frowned at the recommendation. A lockdown now would strand the crew who knows where. "Lieutenant, I caution against you leaving the bridge." But his words were too late she was already on the turbolift with the doors closing. The Romulan sighed.
"They can't very well stay here," she said. Curses!! She was loathe to call her mother to the ship, but she just may need to if the children were going to keep this up. She couldn't risk her career-Soja needed a working parent.
TURBOLIFT
Mommy. This was a good breakthrough! She didn't want to be too excited-it was probably just the weirdness.
She would notice Doria was much lighter than before. In fact she felt different. It was not like she was made of metal and wires but now seemed like a living being.
"You're different somehow. Almost like a real girl," Reeza remarked. "I need you to do me a favor, though. I need you to take Cuyu Soja and go to the Lorut's. Don't leave there unless you're in danger. Do you remember how to use the comms?" She smiled when Doria said she did. "Good. You can contact me whenever. Can you help me?" She took the Turbolift to the Habitation decks, and dropped the two girls back off at the other Bajoran family's quarters, and then made her way to Sickbay.
BRIDGE / WILD WEST
Still keeping an eye on Santa as the rotund elf moved about the Bridge curiously, Rayek, using the walkie talkie, contacted the Security officer he'd sent in down to Deck 3 in search of Commander Arkyn. ="tr'Lhoell to Ensign Jun. What's your status? Over."= There was a slight pause before the Ensign answered. ="Um... I took the turbolift to Deck 3 as ordered, but I appear to be on some planet... or maybe the Holodeck?? I'm not sure where exactly I am... I'm walking in an arid desert right now..."=
It was clear to Rayek that the Ensign wasn't at all familiar with proper radio protocol as the Ensign just kept holding the button when talking but not indicating his portion was done with the obligatory 'Over.' Something else to train up the sec/tac department on.
Risking to talk during the ensign's next slight break, Rayek asked. ="Is the turbolift still in sight or did that disappear? Over." =
Rayek was grateful at least that the short-range radio still worked despite the 'apparent' distance. That seemed to suggested that distance wasn't being affected, just their perception of it.
="Yes, I can see the turbolift doors standing in the middle of the sand behind me... Oh hold a moment there's someone approaching."= Rather than release the 'talk' button so Rayek could respond, Ensign Jun tied up the radio channel as he moved towards the figure. The sound of sand and gravel under boot filled the comm channel.
="I see him! I see the Commander! Commander Arkyn!!! Over here!!"= Rayek could almost picture the young man waving frantically trying to gain the attention of the Security Chief. The sound of Jun's footfalls sped up as the Ensign jogged towards the Commander, still holding radio the talk button.
Ull noticed Ensign Jun calling out to him and he jogged to meet him. “Ensign Jun, have we figure out what is going on yet? I can’t seem to get anywhere on the ship.” He adjusted his helmet again after it was jostled during the jog. He took notice on the radio in Ensign Jun’s hand and grabbed it from him. “They can’t talk if you are holding the button down.” He chuckled slightly as he keyed up the old radio. “Any station, this is Commander Arkyn, over.”
Rayek was relieved to hear the Commander's voice over the 'radio' channel on the comms. At least that was working, for the moment. "Captain, I have Commander Arkyn on radio."
="Commander Arkyn, tr'Lhoell here. I'm on the Bridge with the Captain. She is fine at present. Commander Risa has fallen unconscious inexplicably and is being attending to by Dr. Klarth. The Bridge had been boarded by... an entity appearing in the guise of Santa Claus however it has since returned into the viewscreen. What is your status? Over.= Rayek knew his words must sound more than a little odd, but he stated things as they were.
="I am still trying to work my way the the bridge Lieutenant Commander tr'Lhoell. I seem to be in the middle of some great veldt right now."=
Ull looks at Ensign Jun. "You were able to find me here. Let's retrace your steps and see if we can find a way to the bridge."
The junior office looked skeptical. "We need to find a turbolift somewhere. It wasn't behind me after I stepped out.... At least not so far as I could tell." Still the young man, led his Chief through the arid grasslands that he had crossed on his search for the Commander. He knew he was on the right path back for every so often he spotted a torn piece of his uniform. Who said there was nothing to gain from watching the classics like Hanzel and Gretal?
Ull followed ENS Jun. "I wish we had some idea as to what was going on, or at least if there was someone that wasn't being affected by any of this. Though, I am not sure how the later part would help if we are still seeing all of these hallucinations."
For what seemed like hours they trudged through the veldt. eventually, on the horizon, a small shack appeared.
(tag Ull)
ARMORY
Meanwhile, in the armory, a figure appears to Ryan. It's Miri! "Hello Ryan! I'm Miri!"
Ryan had been flying solo in the armory for most of his shift, calibrating phasers and cleaning the ones that he’d had to use for the phaser class. Since no one else was there to complain about it, he’d decided to play some music, and was currently invested in a random playlist he’d found called on the ship’s database called “hawking_nbenj03”. Whose playlist it was, or where it had been brought from he didn’t know, but he really liked the music. He was especially drawn to the music by a group called “Green Day”.
“One a steady diet of…..Soda pop and ritilin…” he sang along with the music. “No one ever died for my sins in hell, as far as I can tell…. At least the ones I’ve gotten away with….”
He’d listened to the whole playlist already, but circled back to hear the Green Day songs again. Engrossed in the music and his tedious work, the Onlie didn’t see the newcomer at first.
“City of the damned, Lost children with dirty faces today. No one really seems to care…..”
“Hello!? Ryan it’s me… Miri.”
Ryan’s head bobbed to the drums and pounding guitar riffs as he sang along. “I don’t care if you don’t…. I don’t care if you don’t… I don’t care if you don’t care….”
“Ryan?” Miri asked again, receiving no reply.
It wasn’t until he turned to get something from the other side of the room that he saw her. He let out a startled yelp. Then she did likewise.
“Hi!” she laughed. I’m Miri.”
Confusion was etched across his face. “But…. “ He couldn’t figure out if what he was seeing was real or in his head. “…. How did you get in here?” he asked finally.
"I'm not sure. One minute I was somewhere else then I was here." Suddenly another Miri appeared, then another and several others appeared. Ten in all. two were redheads and one was a blond.
They all regarded him. "I've been watching you!" one said. She was one of he black haired ones.
=/\= "tr'Lhoell to all Security - status report."=/\=
(Tag Ryan)
(To be continued)
RSS Feed