Prisoner Exchange, Part 4: Pain, Transfer, Death

Posted on 04/25/2020 @ 3:10pm by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG S'Lace & Ensign Calliope Stratus & Ensign Neteri Blackfeather & Ensign Romal Seshel & Ensign Verek Vurkensh
Edited on on 04/26/2020 @ 1:34pm

Mission: S1E2: The Plomeek Soup Conundrum
Location: USS Blackwell, Brig; Shuttlecraft Flying Hawk; USS Crazy Horse, Bridge and Sickbay; Unknown Stealth Craft
Timeline: Day 5 at 1345

[USS Blackwell - Holding Cells]

The alien was unconscious. Barely alive. But at the touch of Tahlin's hand, the blue-green translucent form seemed to reshape around Tahlin's hand, crawling part way up her arm. As it did so, a presence formed in Tahlin's mind, ripping through her unbarricaded thoughts, as pain spread along her nerve endings, blinding her with the intensity.

The prisoner tsked quietly and returned to his bunk, legs splayed open, eyes glazed somewhat as he absorbed what was happening.

Tahlin opened her mouth in a silent exclamation--the pain was blinding, but she'd gone through years of training to resist crying out, though it was a near thing. Slapping at her combadge, she cried out, "Lae'Or to shuttle! Request emergency medical staff to the Blackwell now!"

With effort, she pulled her hand away. Her fingers hurt, and her mind was still foggy.

[USS Flying Hawk]

Ensign Stratus did not hesitate nor waste time by inquiring. She immediately went for the comm controls. "Medical emergency! Emergency medical staff needed on the Blackwell urgently" she said on the comm channel.

[USS Crazy Horse - Turbolift]

S'Lace had just entered the turbolift when she heard the summons. She was about to redirected the 'lift to the transporter room, she opted for the Shuttle bay instead. She tapped her comm badge and said, "S'Lace here. I am on my way. What is the nature of the emergency? Perhaps I might be able to instruct someone via communicator to deal with any immediate crisis?"

"Unknown situation" replied Calliope Stratus. She knew it was not a sufficient answer for medical personnel. She continued "I was just told to have medical alerted and ready...I was not given the details" Status reported

"I see," S'Lace replied. She signed out and tapped the badge again, "Bridge, This is S'Lace. I was informed my presence is needed immediately but the person who asked for assistance could not adequately describe the nature of the medical emergency. I am on my way to the shuttle bay now. Are we aware of the status of the Blackwell's medical personnel?"

"No," the Operations officer said. "Stand by while I request more information. Crazy Horse to Flying Hawk. Request status update on medical condition of prisoners."

"Acknowledged," S'Lace replied. Ensign Vurkensh gave a grunt that could have meant almost anything.

"Thank you," Stratus replied. "I'm a little occupied at the flight controls right now...getting as much information as we can sent your way" added Stratus.

[USS Blackwell - Holding Cells]

As Mac'Kensey and Jeffries also touched the alien prisoners, the same thing happened. Barely alive, neither made no movement that indicated recognition. But at the security guard's touch, the translucent skin reshaped, closing in on their hands, as the alien's mind burst, hungrily, into their own carrying with it a crippling wave of pain.

Both of the younger security people screamed. Jeffries appeared worse off, if the volume and quality of scream was anything to go buy. He reflexively jerked his hand back, howling. Mac'Kensey, still impacted but faring a little better, turned her head barely towards Tahlin. "What's... Happening... Lieutenant?"

Voices meant to be in chorus howl, a mournful cry, rising to a shriek and falling, fading rapidly. The welcome dies. Everything is dying. Cries unanswered. Unheard. The sounds lessen to a whimper and then to an ominous quiet.

Tahlin withdrew her hand, shaking. "Prophets... What..."

Alvar stopped to check on Tahlin. "You all right?" he asked.

"I... Don't know. ... What the hell was that?"

When Yi got close to her prisoner, she closely studied it, not wanting to get too close until she was certain she and everyone else was safe. She saw just how out of it the prisoner was. She wasn’t sure her superiors understood how bad this was. “Sir? I think this guy might need medical attention before he can be moved. Or at least a scan. And I don’t have a tricorder.”

"I was thinking the same thing," was Tahlin's dry comment.

Todd had his tricorder out and scanned him.

PO3 Rickman took point as he was the lowest ranking member and led the prisoners out. They didn't move which was odd, perhaps they weren't really there. At least that's what he thought in reality he was writhing helplessly on the deck.

"This is getting ridiculous," Alvar muttered, before turning to Tahlin. "At this point we may be looking at the very distinct possibility of having to use the shuttle's transporters to move the prisoners. Thoughts?"

Tahlin, still gasping for breath, said, "Or stun them... Last resort, though."

[Elsewhere]

The ship was small, sleek and utterly alien in its design; countless hours of design and testing had resulted in a vessel that could slip in practically anywhere undetected especially when an operative had done the preparatory work. Leave nothing to chance.

The pilot maneuvered his vessel with the ease of long practice, his expression grim and near thunderous. This was not the first time they'd had to retrieve Sifir. Not even the tenth. The pilot nodded, one sharp jerk of his head, and his companion's hands danced over the controls.

The transporter beam, green-gray shimmers of energy, targeted a unique signature and enveloped the prisoner who was no longer protected by shields and force fields. One moment there and the next gone. Once aboard the vessel, Sifir laughed, a low, guttural sound that felt like jagged claws along nerve endings, and bowed slightly to his rescuers.

"You're needed," the pilot said as he brought his ship around and left, as quickly and quietly as he had come. "Himself said that it's time to stop playing and get serious."

Sifir smiled, a chill and lifeless slash in his face, because he was always serious, especially when it came to his one pleasure in life. He found a seat and let images drift across his mental landscape, pairing them up with names. Todd. Lae'Or. Yi. Rickman. Othran. He would remember and he would find them again ... but first, business.

[USS Flying Hawk]

With the arrival of the Flying Hawk at its destination, Ensign Calliope Stratus ran some quick system inspections. She wanted to make sure that her 'bird' was still able to make it back in one piece. Stratus opened a communication channel. "Flying Hawk standing by" she announced.

Glancing out a port side window, Romal noticed that the Flying Hawk was positioning itself alongside the Blackwell. Leaving his seat, he walked to the front section and spoke to the young pilot, "Ensign Stratus, I couldn't help but overhear something about a medical emergency. Now, I'm well aware that the Blackwell is a prisoner transport ship, but I don't really know the level of danger aboard that ship. Should my engineering team be equipped with phasers!"

Ensign Stratus smirked a bit. "Well, it is a prisoner transport key word there being prisoner" the pilot said crisply. "I would not go anywhere unarmed, especially on a a prisoner transport, they are not known for their subdued mellow personalities" she added.

"Understood. . . I suggest we beam aboard the Blackwell, since docking with it might infect the the Flying Hawk with a computer virus, at least that's my theory. I also notice that everything seems to be happening all at once. Should we wait awhile, since you might be needing the transporter for a medical emergency?" Romal suggested, not wanting to get in the way, especially of a life and death situation.

She had to agree with the assessment about the virus. "Proceed with the transporters. I'll defer to your expertise" she replied. "If you use them quickly, I don't think it will cause interference with the medical emergency" she added cautiously.

"Very well, I'll set up the coordinates." and Romal went to the transporter control panel and laid in the location of the beam in, double checking it to be sure. He then passed out phasers to his team of six engineers, making sure they each had their equipment.

"I've set the transporter to beam us onto the bridge. Be prepared for anything, it could be a real mess over there, but nothing we can't handle, right?" Romal asked his patiently waiting engineers and got several thumbs up.

Turning to the pilot, Romal said, "One last detail remains, please ask Blackwell's Captain permission to transport six engineers onto his ship."

"I will do that now," replied Ensign Stratus. She opted to simply send the request textually and patiently waited for a response. Once she was given it, she turned to Romal and gave him the signal.

In a shimmering light, the engineering team vanished, two at a time, finding themselves on the bridge of the Blackwell. Tapping his combadge, Romal called in, =/\= Seshel to Stratus - we're still in one piece! =/\=

Calliope smirked "Stay that way, please" she replied. "The shuttle is still holding together too. Clear space as far as sensors can see...no ion storms or anything of that nature."

[USS Blackwell]

Alvar tapped his comm badge. "Othran to Flying Hawk. There's just been an unauthorized beam-out of one of the prisoners, the shapeshifter specifically. Scan the area for any other ships, and notify the Crazy Horse of what's happened."

[USS Flying Hawk]

"Beginning scans, Sir" replied Calliope who attempted to trace the energy signatures of transporter technology, hoping the technology used was dissimilar enough from Federation signatures that she could isolate it. She slammed her fist down upon the flight control console in front of her. "Damn it!" she shouted and muttered a few colorful words under her breath.

Calliope immediately relayed the information to the USS Crazy Horse. "Flying Hawk to Crazy Horse," she began. "We have an unauthorized beam-out of one prisoner. I am scanning the area, but having difficulty locating any other ships in the area."

[USS Blackwell - Holding Cells]

Alvar turned to look at the 4 other prisoners, who looked practically comatose. "All right, now I'm getting irritated," he muttered. He turned to Tahlin. "No more Mister Nice Guy here. We will be beaming these four over to the shuttle."

"As you will..." Tahlin furrowed her brow--the pain was receding now, at least in her head. "Its going to get a bit crowded... I suggest we use both shuttles... Any volunteers to watch the prisoners on the Flying Hawk?"

"We'll take two of them, Sir," responded Mac'Kensey, gesturing to herself and Jeffries.

"Good... I'll join the Kicking Bear crew, assuming the commander has no objections? Somebody has to fly the shuttle."

Seemed like as soon as the Chameloid beamed out Todd came too and shook it off. He got up.

He looked at the four other alien prisoners they must have worked in tandem as they seemed to be out of juice at the moment.

"You want to help you take the other two Ensign Blackfeather?" Todd said.

Yi's weapon was in her hand; she ready for anything since the beam-out of the Chameloid. She nodded to Todd and to those in Command. "We can keep a close eye on these two on the Kicking Bear."

Looking perplexed by the beam out of her prisoner, Neteri looked at Todd, "Huh.....oh yes Todd good idea. Let's get them to the shuttle before anything else happens." Her mind was running over the scenes before and after he disappeared and she still couldn't figure it out how it was done.

"Good..." Tahlin tapped her combadge. "Lae'Or to Kicking Bear. Computer, respond."

"Responding," came the dry, female voice over the channel.

"On my signal, prepare to transport Rickmann, Yi, Blackfeather, and two of the unknown aliens at my location to the shuttle."

"Acknowledged. Establishing transporter protocol now. Transporter limitations will require beaming one at a time."

Tahlin rolled her eyes. "Computers," she muttered.

Alvar shrugged. "It is doing what it is programmed to do," he said. "Getting annoyed at it for that accomplishes nothing."

"I know that..." Tahlin chuckled darkly. "Thanks for the reminder."

[Shuttlecraft Kicking Bear]

The computer began the sequence in the order specified. Rickman first followed by Yi and then Blackfeather. And then two of the now comatose aliens, by order of their prisoner identification numbers, were moved over to the shuttle. "Transfer complete," the computer reported.

Having receive no specific instructions, the aliens lay on the deckplate now, side by side, and by happenstance, the back of their hands were touching.

"I think it might be a good idea if we separate these two they look like they are regenerating or something." Todd stated.

"Makes sense," Yi observed.

"Agreed, and make sure they can't touch anything else either. Watch yourself in the process Todd!", Neteri said quickly.

"Yes, ma'am." Doing her best to avoid touching her prisoner, Yi managed to get the alien into one of the shuttle cargo hold's corners.

And just like that, two lives that could have been saved, were lost.

[USS Blackwell]

Tahlin turned to Othran. "Am I dismissed to get the prisoners back to the Crazy Horse, Sir?"

"Indeed you are, Lieutenant," Alvar said. "Let us not take any more time than has already been taken."

[USS Crazy Horse, Shuttlebay]

S'Lace was a competent shuttle pilot and would be able to make the trip, but departing without permission would exacerbate what was rapidly becoming an already confusing situation. She was also reluctant to call the bridge; it was likely they were busy. All the same no one could make rational decisions without facts. And the fact was she felt that there was a two in three chance she was not where she was supposed to be. She tapped her badge, "Sickbay, S'Lace here. There is an as yet unknown medical emergency on board the Blackwell, we are awaiting further clarification. I want Sickbay on alert; until we know otherwise we will assume the worst; expect a possible direct beaming of patients to Sickbay. I am in the shuttle bay and I will make facts available as they come to me."

"Sickbay here," Leonie replied. "We're staffed and ready and waiting for more information."

"Acknowledged," S'Lace replied.

She tapped her badge again, "S'Lace to bridge, I am standing by in the shuttle bay. Sickbay has been alerted to a potential medical emergency. Should I head over to the Blackwell or should I stand by?"

"Bridge here," the Operations officer answered. "Prisoners are unresponsive and are being transferred to shuttles pending return to the Crazy Horse."

S'Lace had plenty of questions, but she had a feeling the bridge had few answers at this time. It would be illogical to attempt to compel what was likely an over worked officer to offer what would likely only be speculation. Knowing it was illogical did not ameliorate her frustration. Ultimately all she said was, "Understood. S'Lace out."

She stood. And waited. And tried to exude an air of calm as a proper doctor should.

The Kicking Bear, with two bodies pushed far from each other, returned to the Crazy Horse, settling in on the Hangar Bay deck; the hatch opened.

In the interim S'Lace had ordered up a pair of anti-grav stretchers in the event any of their potential patients were no longer ambulatory.

Tahlin exited. "Doctor, they're all yours... The prisoners, that is." Her tone was tight, full of frustration.

She stepped on board with her nurse in tow, medical tricorder in hand. She regarded the crew, then the two motionless aliens on the deck.

"Thank you," S'Lace murmured as she regarded the potential corpses. She made a half-hearted attempt at maintaining a neutral tone but she feared the sentence was dripping with sarcasm. She pointed at the second form and to Nurse Vurkensh said, "Readings" then she knelt beside the first. As she ran the tricorder over her potential patient she said to the others, ""So, can any any of you explain the state of these beings?"

"They were alive barely just before we transferred to the shuttle. They had their hands touching each other and they looked like they were regenerating. We separated them and I guess in separating them the process, whatever it was, had been broken thus ending in their deaths", Neteri said to the doctor.

S'Lace stood and examined the readings on her tricorder, then compared them to the Nurse's. There were no appreciable differences. She said, "It would be helpful to find any records on this species at all. Is there any possibility the Blackwell-"

"I'm sorry, I didn't see anything," offered Yi.

"I didn't see anything either, except of course for the manifest. There was nothing on there species or any kind of mental powers. I this case ignorance is our greatest weakness." Todd said.


[Shuttlecraft Flying Hawk]

Loaded up with her 'precious cargo,' passengers, Ensign Calliope Stratus brought the Flying Hawk up to speed. She had plotted a course back to the USS Crazy Horse's coordinates, the most direct and safest that she could take. Though her eyes were constantly checking sensors readings concerned.

"Shuttlecraft Flying Hawk to USS Crazy Horse" the ensign said as she opened a communications channel. "Flying Hawk to Crazy Horse, I am on my way back. Please prepare the shuttlebay" she added.

"Bridge to Flying Hawk," the Operations officer said. "Medical is already standing by as is security. You are clear to approach."

Ensign Calliope Stratus smiled hearing the operations officer's voice. It was the sound of home and it was exactly where Calliope wanted to be. "Roger that Crazy Horse...looking forward to being home" replied Ensign Stratus.

As the shuttle continued towards the USS Crazy Horse, Calliope approached the Crazy Horse lining herself up with the larger starship. She waited for the shuttlebay doors to open she quickly began to program landing pattern Sierra-Echo-Five, levelling her shuttlecraft and arching forward a bit.

"Flying Hawk to Crazy Horse...shuttle landing procedures underway....bringing her in nice and gentle" she added as the pilot carefully moved forward and tapped the controls waiting to feel the mild jerk when the shuttle made contact with the flight deck...and she jolted ever so slightly. It was one of her smoother landings. She decreased power, cutting the engines, and felt the clamps securing the shuttle.

The hatch of the shuttle opened and ramp was extended. Ensign Stratus was quick to be out of her seat and leaving the cockpit. "Get that medical team in here" she called out immediately.

S'Lace arched an eyebrow, then she motioned for Nurse Vurkensh to follow. Over her shoulder she said, "Do not touch the bodies. I would like as little decontamination as possible." she motioned for the orderlies with the grav stretchers to follow as she entered the shuttle. She regarded the aliens. She noted as well how their digits were touching.

"Hopefully your prisoners are still alive," she murmured as she took tricorder readings, "I need to know of anything that may have seemed unusual while on board the Blackwell," she paused, "Wasn't there a fifth prisoner?"

As she examined the readings she felt a pressure at the base of her skull, one that was growing...it was not unpleasant, more like...insistent...

Calliope placed a hand on her hip and leaned against the interior of the shuttle. "Fifth prisoner...long story and above my position. You'll have ask the others for more intimate details. The sonic shower is calling my name."

"Yes, you may wish to 'freshen up', as some say," S'Lace replied absently, "Considering how you will likely have to explain in person to the captain how you and your crew mates allowed one prisoner to escape and two others to die on your watch."

She noted how the pair were touching. Two had been separated and died, two touching and were comatose. The pressure grew more insistent. To the ensign she said, "Tell me, were these four kept in separate cells, and did anyone touch them? And if someone did touch them, who was it?"

Calliope looked at the woman with the slightest bit of agitation brewing underneath her otherwise upbeat personality. "My duties were to pilot the Flying Hawk, Doctor. I had no involvement in the actual interaction with the prisoners. I do not like seeing lives taken under any condition, and I'm sorry things ended up the way that they did; however, I did not touch any of them. If they were touched, then you will have to ask someone more physically involved with the transporting" explained Calliope.

S'Lace switched off her tricorder. She stood and said, "Well then, ensign, it sounds as if you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I am quite certain your crew mates will be heartened to hear that you have completely divorced yourself from any an all culpability."

She turned to Vurkensh, "Supervise the transport of the prisoners to the brig. Emphasize that they must be touching at all times. Also emphasize that there much be no physical contact. I recommend the use of space suits in their transport."

She departed the shuttle, attempting not to rush. The mental pressure from the aliens eased, but the lack of proximity did not diminish her concerns regarding what she suspected of the aliens' nature.

A Post by:

Cmdr. Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lt. Cmdr. Alvar Othram
Executive Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lt. JG Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant Calliope Stratus
Chief Support Craft Pilot
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG S'Lace, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Petty Officer 3rd Class Todd Rickman
Security Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Ensign Romal Seshel
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Ensign Neteri Blackfeather
Security Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Petty Officer 3rd Class Zhen Yi
Security Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Ensign Verek Vurkensh
Nurse
USS Crazy Horse