Assassin Among Us

Posted on Tue Dec 27th, 2022 @ 2:05pm by Lieutenant JG H'orri Of the Red Fur & Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell

1,063 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Into The Void
Location: various

CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS

Devin finished packing the duffel bag full of necessities before she was transferred out of her quarters. She looked about one more time and sighed. While she had been situated here for the past several years it had not felt like home they way it had been that brief time she had shared diplomatic quarters with Dare. That had been...fun. Thinking of Dare made her feel maudlin, she wished her niece were here to talk to, and-

"Stop it," she muttered. She was starting to feel sorry for herself again. She had known what she had been getting herself into, knew in the end it would come to this; her leaving these quarters and likely facing criminal prosecution. There were no happy endings, she had accepted that, she-

Her comm chirped. Grateful for the distraction she tapped it, "This is the captain," for now, Devin added to herself.

"Captain," Alia replied, "I am reading numerous energy expenditures. Transporter usage, force fields going up."

"I see," Devin replied, "Did you ask Elle?"

"I actually did," Alia replied, "And I received what I believe was an automated response with her apologizing and that she would respond as soon as possible."

"Thank you, lieutenant. I will look into it." Devin signed off and reflexively glanced at the ceiling, "Elle?"

"I apologize," Elle replied in a rote manner, "But I am currently busy and will respond as soon as I am able."

Devin paused three full heartbeats.

Then she turned towards the bed to grab her jacket and scowled at Marta who had decided to lay on it, and stalked out of her quarters without it. She tapped her badge again, "Alia I am coming to the bridge. If Elle deigns to speak with you kindly inform me, won't you?"

Devin realized her expression must have been positively murderous because the personnel in the crowded corridor scrambled out of her path as she made for the turbolift...

THE BRIDGE'S HEAD

"Dammit." The Romulan chose to voice his frustration. "Can we Emergency beam out the personnel in the Shuttlebay and vent the area, blowing the shuttle out into space before the engines reach critical?" Rayek looked to Ull for an answer.

"I am beaming them out now."

"K'tal take that woman!" R'elle was in a foul mood. She hadn't stopped the assassin and was somewhat sick because of the gas! "We have to counter her and we have to stop rumpleteaser from exploding. Ull, how about it? anything you can think of?" At least she damaged the assassin's suit. That should help some.

Rayek facepalmed as the solution came to him, recalling oppositely how his own brother - a fellow Tal'Shiar agent - had gained control of Rayek's shuttle and had attempted to kill him by overloading EPS board remotely. "Commander Ull, you need to use the scoutship's remote override codes to gain control of the craft and shut down the engines."

"I think she probably thought of that," Elle replied, sounding distracted, "And I am sending someone in to try and stop the overload. But Shorn is going to escape again if we don't do something."

The Romulan gave a frustrated grimace at Elle's words but realized that she was probably right. Since the cramped space of the head was distracting, and without knowing where Shorn was, Rayek opted to go to the next best place - the Bridge. He exited the head and crossed over to the auxiliary console - since he technically didn't have a station on the ship - and began looking searching for Shorn himself.

He first called up the security video feeds in the Shuttlebay. What he saw almost had him cussing out loud.


ENGINEERING

Crewman Parev cleared his throat as he approached the Chief Engineer.

"Commander," he said, "I don't want to get anyone into any trouble but lieutenant Shadai hasn't reported for duty and she was due on an hour ago. I called Sickbay but-what the hell?!"

Sheppard found himself inside the Rumpleteaser, moments later an engineering repair kit beamed in at his feet.

"Hello, Commander," Elle's voice said from all around him, "We have a bit of a problem; the scout ship's been rigged to explode in a warp drive cascade and I can't stop it and could you please do something about it because the captain holds a certain sentimental value towards it and I have a saboteur to stop and I really appreciate you and all you do to keep me running good by now-"

The voice cut off and Sheppard thought he could hear a growing whine coming from under his feet...

RAYEK'S QUARTERS

H'orri calms down out of battle fury. "By the Mothers, . . . And the Romulan's quarters of all things. Let's see." Walks over to the computer terminal then remembers. "Elle is probably busy." She uses the basic computer functions to show her were the nearest armory is then attempts to leave the quarters. "Hope this Romulan hasn't changed the security protocols h-"

SHUTTLE BAY

H'orri found herself outside what appeared to at the shuttle bay exit. Elle said, "H'orri, I can only catch glimpses of Shorn; R'elle damaged her suit so I catch glimpses of her. But I can't get a lock on her. Somebody has to grab her before she gets away."

A pause, then Elle added, "You can't kill her, lieutenant! We need her alive! You understand? I know it's a risk but the Captain needs to know what Shorn knows!"

H'orri takes a deep breath. "This is still a Starfleet ship. You are violating my rights as an officer. Of course we don't want Shorn dead. He deserves a trial. Now please help me get back to where I belong as an officer of this ship. Continuing to hold me against my will is exactly what you don't want Elle. If you disagree with me look up the trial concerning Commander Data's free will."

H'orri sighs again. "But we can discuss these double abductions with the Captain when Shorn is dealt with. Cause I assume this is the Captain's orders by proxy." H'orri walks into the shuttle bay. " Shorn alli alli oxen free."


Shorn laughs and teleports in front of the Captain stabbing her before Elle can telport him away from his teleport device and into the brig.


Elle teleports Klarth and the Captain to sick bay.

(responses)

 

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