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T'Var continues firing as she attempts to make her way to Rangin.
She hears Delaney calling to her.
"Everyone keep firing and make your way to the transporter pads."
T'Var will do her best to reach Rangin and carry him to the transporter on her own. If she needs help, she'll order Pourtash to help her.
.... *waits for rescue* ...
Kylah suddenly notices T'Var moving toward Rangin and swiftly adjusts her aiming to avoid accidentally shooting the tall Vulcan, and Pourtash, and Hayes. Three of us all going after Rangin--has T'Var forgotten she already ordered Pourtash and Hayes to retrieve him? "T'Var!" Kylah screams above the din, ignoring protocol entirely as she tries to be heard over the creatures and the noise from the phasers. "The three of you can't all do the same thing, you'll get in the way of each other's fire! Since Delaney needs one of us to leave, let Hayes go!"
T'Var realizes that it's useless to shout orders with all this noise. She will just have to trust that her crewmates will work their way toward the transporter pads as quickly as possible.
The first order of business, though, is to rescue Rangin. The doctor fires at the Sakathians around Rangin, hoping to find an opening so that someone can seize the opportunity to reach him, then get him to the transporter.
The altered Sakathians continue to crowd into the room, screaming unnervingly, but the Starfleet officers choose their shots and cut them down one by one. After several more minutes, close to two dozen dead zombies litter the deck, almost filling the broken doorway. There are many places in the room where you could not step without putting your foot on one. Finally no more enter. There is a lull, and although you hear noises down the hall, it sounds like there are none just outside.
Kylah sees that her phaser's energy is nearly depleted; she has perhaps two more shots left. The others each have between six and ten.
Hayes begins to shake badly, drops her phaser, sits down and leans against a bulkhead. A zombie got almost within arms' reach of her before she was able to hit it.
Pourtash joins T'Var in dragging Rangin out from under several dead zombies. The xenobiologist is conscious but groggy. His blue Sciences uniform shirt is now badly stained with zombie ichor.
T'Var orders her five crewmates to the transporter pads immediately. She has everyone give her their phasers.
"Mr. Delaney, I will need you to show me how to use the transporter for all of you." The doctor pauses a moment. "And then how to transport myself when you are all safely on the shuttle."
Rangin groggily allows himself to be carried by his crewmates to the transporter while trying to get rid of the stars floating around his head.
"Are we still alive?"
Relieved to see Rangin freed at last, Kylah takes a deep breath. She'd be tempted to collapse like Hayes, but this sudden quiet and lack of the Sakathians' furious onslaught has so lifted a burden from her chest that she's almost lightheaded at the sense of release.
Then T'Var's order shocks her--though by now, nothing Starfleet officers do should be a surprise.
Kylah glances at Delaney rather than the Vulcan, wanting to gauge his reaction to T'Var's command. As weary as she is at always having to argue with her superior officers, she cannot in good conscience--or even just by her nature--remain docile when she feels she is right.
"With all due respect, that is an imprudent action. It wastes time by requiring Delaney teach you a skill he is best equipped to perform, and besides, leaving you alone is utterly reckless. What if the Sakathians reach you after we've gone? We have two severely injured crew members and no chance of connecting with the ship for two days. Would you leave your patients without proper medical attention for that long?"
She grabs her incendiary device and moves to the door, looking out to see how far away the Sakathian creatures are--and how plentiful. Shuddering, she looks toward T'Var. "Even with a dozen phasers you can't fight off those creatures alone! You would be martyring yourself and possibly condemning Fujishiro and Rangin as well."
She pulls herself up formally, her gaze piercing T'Var's. "I recommend we go three at a time instead."
If the Sakathians are at least several yards away, Kylah should add: "And I also suggest creating a barrier for the creatures--flames will do the job nicely," she adds with a sudden humorless smile while lifting the flask made by Jovan.
Everyone is now on the transporter platform but T'Var and Kylah. All have turned in their phasers to the doctor but Kylah.
The noises in the hallway have gotten a little louder, and maybe a little closer.
T'Var has Delaney and Kylah switch places on the transporter pads. She will then have Delaney transport them to the shuttle. Kylah is free to keep her phaser or give it to T'Var or Delaney.
Once T'Var is contacted by Collins that everyone has safely arrived on the shuttle, she and Delaney will attempt to leave as well.
Now? ;)
Collins helps Rangin to a seat once they materialize. "Collins to T'Var. They're here. Come aboard." She breathes a brief sigh of relief "Lieutenant Pourtash, take the helm and be ready - I want full impulse once everyone is aboard." She sits at the comm "Shuttle Meitner to USS Yorktown. We'll be heading to the rendezvous as soon as the rest of the crew is on board. How quickly can you meet us? We have injured. Collins out"
You should still wait to see if what T'Var ordered actually happens. The transporter could break down, the zombies could attack at that very moment, etc. Your posts should just be about what you intend to do. No harm, no foul this time, though, so don't worry.
Delaney immediately beams Pourtash, Kylah, Rangin and Hayes to the shuttle, and they materialize safely there. T'Var hears Collins's report of their arrival on her communicator moments later, and Delaney carefully sets the tricorder for his and the Vulcan doctor's beamout with a five-second delay. They both quickly step onto the platform. Just as the transporter effect takes them, they see three more dark gray zombies enter the room through the shattered doorway. The Sakathians' angry screams of frustration as they rush the platform are the last sounds the two Starfleet officers hear while aboard the accursed station.
The entire boarding party is now aboard the shuttle, along with Dr. Waite. Fujishiro is flat on the deck, still unconscious and feverish. Rangin is conscious, still a little groggy as he shakes off the phaser-stun aftereffects, and his arm throbs with pain where he was bitten. Hayes still looks very upset; T'Var thinks she may be in shock.
Pourtash says quietly to Collins, "There will still be a lag before the Yorktown gets our message and responds, ma'am. Given her speed towards us and the time passed since our last message, maybe 15 minutes or so each way...?" That sounds about right to Kylah. The helmsman sits down in the pilot's seat and runs through a quick preflight checklist, and nods, smiling. "Everything checks out." He touches the control panel keys. You all feel the shuttle turn in space and then begin to accelerate, passing over the station and heading out of the system. He says, "Course set for Cavinre... going to full impulse now. I'll go to warp when we're out of Sakath V's gravitational field."
"Good" Collins acknowledges Pourtash. To T'Var she says "please do what you can for the wounded." To Kylah, she says "Sit." as she points to one of the rear seats. "I don't want to hear a word from you until we are safely away."
Since arriving on the shuttle, Kylah has remained in place, standing stock still in dread, when Delaney and T'Var materialize as well to allay her fears. After confirming Pourtash's query with a distracted nod, she's about to express her relief to T'Var but is silenced by Collins's order. Her face burns at the rebuke. All she can do is move to the back, where she sits and looks straight ahead. I'll have plenty to say soon enough, she thinks contemptuously. But to the Captain, not you. And you'll not like it any better then.
Despite her exhaustion, hunger and thirst, she remains stiff as a board in her chair. Kylah could collapse as easily as Hayes, but her pride won't let her. Nevertheless, she grips the chair seat beneath her, knuckles whitening as she girds herself against what she knows is coming. Sure enough, though the cacophony of emotions that have assailed her all day are now stilled, those that now replace them aren't much better. Within the space formerly occupied by fear and fury are the echoes of what each Sakathian's death--the deaths beckoned by her own hand--felt like: Inarticulate rage. Unbearable pain. Then emptiness. Over and over again.
Her Starfleet training included a brief warning on how it would feel if a battle ensued and one were forced to take a life. Not surprisingly, the instructor could not have known how Kylah in particular would respond, and thus had no advice even remotely relevant to her situation. Remembering his platitudes--"Lethal force is an unfortunate but necessary act you may be required to use to defend yourself or others"--does little. It certainly doesn't stop the echoes.
Kylah hasn't cried since her parents died ten years ago. She won't do so now.
T'Var begins as thorough a medical check of each officer as she can under the circumstances, then will report her findings to Collins and begin whatever form of treatment she can while still on the shuttle.
Dr. T'Var finds that Fujishiro is feverish and nearly comatose. A full scan with a medical tricorder shows that her brain activity is deteriorating, as if her brain were being cooked inside her skull by the fever. T'Var can't think of what else can be done for her.
The Vulcan healer gives Rangin a full-spectrum antibiotic dose via hypospray, has him lie down on the deck and covers him with a blanket.
Hayes tells her, "I'll be OK, Doctor. Thank you. I just... need some time to think things through." She looks pale but already a little more relaxed than on the station.
"Can I help?" Dr. Waite asks her.
Everyone else seems to be all right other than some scratches and bruises.
Pourtash asks Collins, "Top speed to the Yorktown, ma'am? That'd be Warp 4, if you wish."
"Make it so, Lieutenant" Once they go to warp, Collins sits next to Kylah "Ensign, blurting out suggestions when under stress is one thing, and sometimes useful. All but telling your commanding officers that they are wrong and foolish is not and borders on insubordination. Prior to the accident, you acted well, especially in trying to improve relations with Director Geb and the Sakathians in general. Even after the accident, you acted well, remaining cool under pressure. But once the situation became bleak and our lives were in danger you reverted to some sort of spoiled child. I know everyone reacts differently to stress, but to advance in Starfleet, you must learn to maintain professionalism. I will tell Captain Singh about the things you did well, and where you did poorly, I will report it as an expected reaction by an ensign on her first mission. You will not be reprimanded this time, nor disciplined. But you will not be at the top of anyone's list for a mission until you have demonstrated more control and respect." She gets up to go back to the front of the shuttle, but turns "and it would be perfectly acceptable and understandable if you wish to request a change of quarters." The last thing Collins wants as a roommate is someone who holds a grudge. She sits in the command chair and stares at the chronometer, willing the time it takes for her message to reach the Yorktown to speed up.
"Thank you, Henry," T'Var answers. "I am most concerned with Mr. Fujishiro. Any and all suggestions would be most welcome."
T'Var's sensitive Vulcan hearing cannot help but take in what Collins has just said to Kylah. Perhaps, at a more appropriate time, the doctor will sit down with the young ensign and learn more about what's going on with her and why she acted as she did while on this mission.
Pourtash nods and takes the Meitner to Warp 4. Soon you cross the orbit of the outermost planet of the Sakath system and head into deep space.
Waite says, "None of our experiments exposed human beings to the latest batch of ntLd serum. I just don't know why she's reacting this way to what I presume was a bite by one of the... altered Sakathians." He looks over T'Var's tricorder readings, shakes his head and says, "I'm sorry, T'Var, but I think her condition is terminal."
In the cramped confines of the shuttle, Rangin can't help but overhear this. He feels nauseous and uncomfortable, but not dying. Hayes gives him a drink of cold water.
After Collins's speech, during which Kylah was as silent and immobile as a statue, the younger woman waits until her superior officer leaves her alone again before she so much as blinks.
Kylah has never felt as demoralized, impotent, misunderstood, underappreciated and dismissed--at least, not since she left Elas. Her efforts at not crying are weakening treacherously, and she continues to dig her fingernails into the uncomfortable seat, using pain to distract her and keep the shameful tears at bay.
The resentment burns so brightly in her chest that the thought suddenly occurs to her that if her Guardian were somehow able to contact her at this very moment, asking her yet again to undertake one of his multitudinous schemes that would betray the Federation's treaty with Elas in favor of the more dangerous but profitable Klingons, a secret, dark part of Starfleet Ensign Kylah would be sorely tempted to comply. Or at least consider it.
This fleeting notion terrifies her and she closes her eyes to rid it from her mind.
When she opens her eyes again, she watches T'Var and Waite with Fujishiro, and then shifts her attention slightly to Hayes's actions. She approves of the latter and cannot fathom why these Federation medical experts are relying merely on their tools. Are they so reliant on their precious scientific technology they're confounded with basic physiological crises that can be controlled by other, less technological methods?
Kylah once had a raging fever as a child, to the point where she actually heard voices that weren't there--for her, this was especially disturbing--and when nothing else worked, the royal physicians had packed her in ice to lower the fever boiling her brain and forced fluids and salt to a degree that Kylah could not stomach any sort of fowl broth for weeks afterward.
Even Hayes, a mere ensign, seems to understand the importance of hydration. But the two doctors are wasting time looking for causes, checking their instruments, and shrugging their shoulders. Incredible.
Only when Waite gives an outright false theory does Kylah finally break her silence. We're out of range of the station now, she thinks sullenly. Surely Lieutenant Collins will not order a court martial for my daring to speak.
"No, Dr. Waite, Mr. Fujishiro was not bitten," she says clearly but in a dull monotone. "She said herself she wasn't wounded until one of the creatures just grabbed at her. It appears this infection is the result of that scratch on her arm, which you sterilized twice yet it kept bleeding." Her gaze ignores her crewmates and focuses on the water stores in the shuttle. Kylah then adds, with as little inflection as possible: "If I may make a suggestion. Of course, our physicians on Elas are far less sophisticated and have fewer advanced technical tools at their disposal than Federation medical professionals. But when confronted by such a high fever, they simply make certain to keep the patients well-hydrated and do all they can to keep them cool. Perhaps decreasing the temperature in here will buy Fujishiro some time?"
She looks at Rangin with sympathy and concern. And you too, I hope.
Having been attended to by Dr T'var and accepted the hypospray, Rangin thinks back over the last few minutes. On the one hand, he's glad the trick with the tricorder worked, on the other hand, the news concerning Fujishiro is severe. After listening to the others, he ponders back on other cross transmission diseases he has encountered, not as a doctor but as a exo-biologist.
He pushes himself into a sitting position, his back to the wall and blanket wrapped around him. He forces himself to speak, despite the nausea, to get the message across.
"Kylah's right you know, you do need to lower her body temperature. That heat is probably the body trying to fight it off. The antibiotic you gave me, is probably going to do nothing apart from make me feel like something is being done. It's partly viral in nature, you'll probably need to identify and create a retro virus if you want to save her. If you want to slow its progress, I would suggest putting her into coma to try and prevent too much damage to the brain. If you're lucky, she may be able to fight it off over time, but she's going to need all the time we can give her."
He takes a deep breath, the ache in his shoulder and arm currently dull, but raw, throbs of pain.
"I'd start with taking blood samples from me and saying why I'm not as badly affected, probably species based... who knows... blood transfusion........may be of use."
He slumps slightly, worn out, and breathing deeply trying to recover from the exertion.
Collins does not turn around to face Kylah after she corrects the doctor, She has a point, Collins thinks, and at least this time she was calm about it. Collins' focus is on the all too slowly closing gap between the Meitner and the Yorktown. She is aware of what T'Var and Waite are tryong to accomplish, but she doesn't trust Waite any farther than she could throw him. T'Var must have this under control. I have no medical background so I'd only be in the way. She continues to stare at the passing star blurs.
T'Var listens attentively to Kylah and Rangin. "Your suggestions are valid," the doctor replies. "I can assure both of you that I am doing everything possible to assist Mr. Fujishiro. Unfortunately, as Dr. Waite has stated, we do not know how humans are impacted by this virus. Proceeding with what is considered logical may in fact do more harm than good."
The doctor scans Fujishiro yet again, then frowns. "Until I have access to better medical facilities...." T'Var shakes her head.
"You cold blooded..." utters Rangin under his breath but probably loud enough to be heard without realising it.
"Doctor," he says at a more controlled volume, "You know the effect it has on Sakathians. You can see the effect it is having on both Coridanite and Human. We have the files from the station and my tricorder readings. Draw your conclusions from the facts you have at hand and act. If you don't have all the facts. Use your experience and guess. If you don't have the tools here. Improvise." biting off the last words at the shock of T'Var's non-action.
Kylah stares at T'Var in acute disappointment at the doctor's frustrating reply. She's trying to think of some response that won't get her into more trouble when she hears Rangin's half-muttered insult, followed by his cogent argument. If the situation weren't dire she'd cry his name aloud in her homeworld's traditional manner of displaying approval. Instead she nods and sends him another supportive, affirming look. She turns to the Vulcan again.
"Mr. Rangin's suggestions are more than Dr. Waite provided, despite being the one to help develop this experiment," she says softly. Even when trying to remain calm, Kylah cannot let Waite's responsibility go unremarked. "Something in the Coridanite biology may be the key to saving Fujishiro. There is no other way to perform more research or gain more insight until the Yorktown arrives--or unless we chase down that Sakathian ship, which seems an unlikely option."
Suddenly she remembers the data device she took from Chief Porr. Without his password, only the Yorktown's powerful system might have a chance at decrypting whatever information is stored there. She curses inwardly at having lost the chance to talk to the security chief before he was transported off the shuttle.
But she focuses on the here and now--which is what she's certain T'Var must do. "I only ask you this, doctor: what profit is there in doing nothing? Is it not true that sometimes one must treat the immediate symptoms even if you do not know the underlying cause? For example, you closed Fujishiro's bleeding wound before knowing the precise nature of what caused it--not once, but twice. For all we know, letting her bleed might have prevented the infection from running through her system. But she was in danger of blood loss and you made the only logical decision at the time." Kylah shakes her head wearily. "I cannot imagine any logic in just waiting while this poor woman dies or is permanently brain damaged by her fever."
She falls silent, wishing for the thousandth time today that there were more she can contribute--or would be allowed to contribute. All she can do is think. Why is Fujishiro so much more affected than Rangin? He was bitten twice, she was merely scratched with a far less invasive wound. Perhaps the infection is not passed on by saliva...
Kylah thinks back to each of the people attacked in one way or another by the Sakathians. She remembers one constant: each one had dark stains--not blood, but some sort of excretion or ichor from the creatures--on their uniforms. Could the ichor itself be poisonous? Might contact with the altered Sakathians' skin have triggered this virulent infection?
She is neither a doctor nor scientist, and knows her ruminations are useless. Uttering them aloud to T'Var would likely be considered more insubordination. While she's moving beyond the point of caring about being reprimanded, she doesn't think her pride can take another hit. So instead, while their superiors wait to make their decisions, she turns to Rangin and murmurs her theory to him, ending with: "If this is so, could some sort of antivenom be produced if the ichor on the stained uniforms were examined and its toxic agent identified?"
The stars ahead streak past as the shuttlecraft Meitner continues forward at a steady Warp 4.
"Would you mind the helm for me, please, Mr. Collins?" Pourtash asks as he engages the autopilot. He turns around and says, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving. Can I get anything for anyone?" He goes aft to check the emergency ration storage locker.
The subspace comm panel soon chimes. Collins presses the Receive key and you all hear Capt. Singh's voice: "Lt. JG Collins: Your latest message has been received and understood. We're still on our way at maximum warp. If you maintain Warp 4, we should meet you in approximately 30 hours. Do your best for your injured and, as soon as possible, submit a full report on what happened. Members of your boarding party who are capable of doing so should also submit personal reports. Singh, S.P., USS Yorktown, commanding."
A human doctor would be quite insulted by the comments of her crewmates. T'Var, however, is not human, therefore she remains calm and will do her best to reassure them that she is doing all she can to provide the proper medical assistance to Fujishiro under the circumstances.
"I understand your concern," the doctor replies. "I have given Mr. Fujishiro broad-spectrum antibiotics and other medications which should help with her fever and other symptoms. While I do not believe lowering the temperature of the shuttle will make much of a difference, we can give that a try -- with Mr. Collins' permission."
"Just a protein bar and some water for me thanks" Collins tells Pourtash as she taps the panel to take the helm. She also adjusts the shuttle's internal temperature to 18 degrees Celcius. "Grab a jacket, if you need it," she tells the crew, "Also, in case you didn't hear the Captain's message, she would like personal reports from everyone who is able. Once I give Pourtash back the helm, I will write the mission report."
Only now, that things have calmed down, does Jeremi become aware of the looming nausea threatening to overtake her yet again. She calls back to Pourtash "Lieutenant, please see if there is any herbal tea back there."
"Not hungry thanks, just some water." says Rangin as his stomach rebels at the thought of any food.
"We have plenty of ichor, I'm covered in it, but somehow I don't think its a cause in itself." he responds to Kylah, "Check the medical data you uploaded to see if it contains what the transmission vectors are."
He picks up his tricorder and starts going over the readings he took from himself and the late Mrs Porr. "Dr T'Var, my apologies for speaking out of turn," he enquires, "but what are the current readings on Fujishiro and are they starting to look like either of these?"
Pourtash, Hayes and Waite munch on Starfleet-issue protein bars. Hayes is particularly thirsty and drinks a lot of cold water.
There is no herbal tea. Pourtash brings Collins a protein bar and a glass of water, takes his seat again and says to her, "I relieve you, ma'am." He leaves the autopilot engaged but keeps an eye on the control panel.
In looking at the readings from Rangin, Mrs. Porr and Fujishiro, T'Var sees some similarities but more differences. Each has or had some kind of bloodborne viral infection, apparently artificial, but it affected each of them differently:
Rangin was bitten by an altered Sakathian, and has been left sore, tired and nauseous, with a slight fever. The full-spectrum antibiotic which T'Var gave him does seem to be helping with a secondary infection which, she thinks, may have arisen from his exposure to the Denebian slime devils.
Mrs. Porr was bitten and then rendered unconscious by her infection, bled noticeably darker blood from the eyes and ears, was confirmed dead, but then "revived." She was, without question, physiologically and mentally changed by the virus.
Fujishiro was scratched, not bitten. She has been consistently and dangerously feverish, lapsed into unconsciousness and now coma, and has seen a steady degradation of brain function. T'Var cannot, with just her tricorder and medical scanner on the shuttlecraft, explain why three individuals - Coridanite, Sakathian and human - have reacted differently to what appears to be the same or a very similar virus. She knows that she will need the much more extensive resources of the Yorktown's Sickbay and Medical Lab.
Kylah could eat five protein bars right now but takes just one and some water, gratefully. She's been famished on and off since the seige began, and her mouth is as dry as dust. Now she's also cold thanks to the lowered temperature of the shuttle, but for obvious reasons Kylah doesn't even want to see if there are any extra blankets to use as a cover. She's the one who recommended the lower temperature, and she's certainly not going to reveal her petty discomfort as a result.
As she sips, she glances at Hayes with curiosity. She's been acting a little odd since the attack. T'Var found no physical injuries on the other ensign. Still, Kylah wonders if Hayes is still reeling from her close call with the Sakathian who'd nearly reached her in the transporter room. Then again, all of the crew--well, excepting T'Var--probably have some form of trauma as a result of the gruesome events today. Kylah realizes she doesn't even know if there's a qualified psychiatrist on board the ship; probably not, she's unaware of Starfleet making mental health a priority. Perhaps one of the other doctors on board the Yorktown is qualified to assist in such matters. As kind as T'Var has sometimes been, one can't expect much emotional support from a Vulcan.
Shaking her head, she turns to Rangin when he responds to her question. "I'll check the records, thank you," she says, a trifle hesitantly. She's not entirely certain what she's looking for, especially since--if Waite is to be believed, which admittedly is a big if--the altered Sakathians were an unintended result of the experiments. Not wanting to say this aloud, she simply adds, "I fear that whatever strange new species or physical characteristics these creatures developed were probably not recorded; there wouldn't have been time. Of course, you know biology far better than I, Mr. Rangin. You are likely correct."
While running the search, Kylah finds herself wondering exactly what happened in the hours or moments leading up to the alarm this morning. The truth is, none of them, not even Waite, were in that lab when the Sakathian research subjects apparently took over. How did it happen? How could the researchers not know what was happening? Were the Sakathians' transformations instaneous? That would seem hard to believe; outside of the magical horror tales she used to read to her younger siblings, no one changes from sane, rational being to monster in a mere moments. Such a biological change couldn't occur immediately. Even Mrs. Porr took some time to transform--though Kylah realizes she doesn't know how long before her death and transformation the woman was bitten.
All this being the case, were there any symptoms shown prior to the sudden display of vicious, animal-like characteristics? If so, why was everyone caught so off-guard?
So many questions, and none of them answerable except by Waite--whose testimony is unlikely to be trustworthy. Only some survivor who was in the lab--or someone with access to the secure video or audio records--would know exactly what happened.
Kylah's mind again flashes on the data device she purloined from Chief Porr. If she or some of the expert technicians on the Yorktown can hack into it, might it contain any video or audio data from the station's security monitors? Definitely something to consider when they get back to the ship.
The ship. This leads her to ponder the Captain's orders for a report. There's much she wants to convey, but putting it all in a written report makes her uneasy.
She puts her rambling thoughts aside and focuses on her data search. Anything that can help Fujishiro must be her first priority.
dpr
Frankly, T'Var is truly stumped by the information she currently has regarding this virus. There must be a connection of some kind. And there must be a way to reverse the results of the infection.
"When we return to the Yorktown, I will need to know everything you can tell me about these experiments and what could possibly have led to this most disturbing outcome," T'Var says to Waite. "You must be completely honest with me. The more information you can provide, the better."
Waite seems exhausted and irritable. He says to T'Var, "I've told you everything I know already, and helped download data from the research banks before we left the station. I'm as baffled as you are. Right now I'd just like to get some sleep, all right?"
Pourtash, while still watching the shuttle controls, takes a small subvocalization contact pad from the comm panel, puts it on his throat, and begins inaudibly recording his report for the Captain.
Hayes and Delaney, however, both decide to get some rest. They get blankets from the aft storage compartment, lie down on the deck a few meters apart and are soon asleep.
Kylah continues her research, but it's really not her field of expertise, and nothing leaps out at her.
Feeling gladly alone in the quiet, Collins grabs a PADD and types her mission report, hitting only the highlights, as she knows Captain Singh will want more details at the debriefing. No sense in telling the whole story twice. She chews the protein bar slowly and takes small sips from the water, lest her nausea finds reason to wake up.
T'Var is certain Waite knows much more than what he's willing to share. Perhaps once he's had some sleep and nourishment....
The Vulcan sighs. She will eat and drink a little something, then get some rest. She will then begin her report for the captain, keeping her focus on the medical/scientific aspects of this mission.
Kylah watches the others around her in the darkness. When she notices that T'Var is still awake, having somethng to eat right now, she moves closer to the older woman--careful not to disturb those who've fallen into much-needed sleep.
Before she addresses T'Var, she briefly gazes out at the infinity of space outside the windows. The sight makes her feel more vulnerable than usual. In a vessel like the Yorktown, it's easy to forget just how small even a starship is when compared to the universe through which it travels. In comparison, their shuttle is a speck of dust: invisible and insignificant.
"Doctor," she says softly. "I am sorry to interrupt you. But Rangin suggested that I look for any possible virus transmission vectors recorded within the data we downloaded from the lab's computers." She quickly explains her theory about the ichor being a possible poison, considering that the scratch on Fujishiro's skin seems to have been more dangerous than the deeper bites on the others.
"It is unlikely that I am correct, but perhaps there is other information here that you might find more useful. I don't really understand much of the medical terminology," she admits.
Kylah awkwardly holds out her tricorder. She's glad that as a Vulcan, T'Var is unlikely to hold a grudge for their earlier disagreement. She's also grateful that the darkness hides her flushed face. It's not easy for her to admit her own ignorance.
T'Var takes Kylah's tricorder and looks over the information. "This is quite interesting," the doctor says. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Ensign. I am sure it will prove useful."
With a nod, Kylah sits beside T'Var. She belatedly realizes that she could have just sent the information to T'Var's tricorder directly without having moved an inch. But she knows why she didn't. Unconsciously, she wants to sit beside the Vulcan. Despite their clashes earlier, it's T'Var who provides Kylah with the most sense of serenity. Her orderly mind and unflappable demeanor are like a calming blanket. The others... Even in rest, they still remind her too much of the chaotic violence of this day. Kylah desperately craves emptiness, silence, peace.
She rests her head against the window and closes her eyes, trying to focus on ridding herself of all the horror still clogging her thoughts. It's a vain attempt, of course: Fujishiro is still gravely ill, Rangin in pain. And so is Kylah--even though it's hours later, she can still feel the dull ache where the slime devil bit her.
But Kylah tries anyway. It's all she can do.
Waite gets a blanket and beds down on the shuttlecraft's carpeted deck for the night. In less than a minute he is quietly snoring.
Rangin feels very tired and also slips off to sleep. There is no change in Fujishiro's condition.
T'Var looks over the tricorder data Kylah gave her. Nothing leaps out at her at first glance; she will need many hours to review it and compare it to the observed symptoms of her patients.
Pourtash finishes his report, edits it, sends it to the Yorktown, and stretches. "Why don't you two get some sleep?" he asks T'Var and Kylah. "I'll stand the first watch."
T'Var acknowledges Pourtash's offer with a nod, then closes her eyes.
Rangin did try to get a few notes down for a report but dropped off in the middle of it.
Her report finished, Collins asks Pourtash "Are you good with the helm, Lieutenant? I want to grab a catnap here in the chair."
T'Var drifts off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Pourtash says, "I'm fine. I'll wake you when I need someone to take the conn." Collins falls asleep within minutes.
Rangin sleeps but tosses and turns. He wakes about three hours later, very sick to his stomach, and makes it to the head (toilet) in the shuttle's tiny aft bathroom just in time to barf. He feels achy and feverish.
Kylah tries to follow T'Var and Collins's lead, but keeps waking up in several restless cycles. She's uncomfortable with being in such close proximity to this many others when trying to sleep and finds it extremely distracting. She awakes again with Rangin, noticing his distress and worrying about him.
"Do you need anything, Mr. Rangin?" she whispers. "Should I wake the doctor? Or I could check the emergency stores; perhaps there's an antiemetic that might help you."
Rangin shakes his head, mumbles indistinctly and crawls back to his place on the deck. He pulls his blanket tightly around him, shivering. Pourtash frowns but doesn't wake Dr. T'Var. After awhile, the young Coridanite xenobiologist drops off to sleep again and is still.
Waite's snoring gets a little louder.
About an hour later, the communications panel chimes. Kylah sees there are two messages from the Yorktown, one for Hayes and one for Collins.
Kylah runs a weary hand over her face--the communications chimes woke her during one of her brief moments of sleep--and, after taking in a deep breath, reluctantly moves to wake the mission commander.
"Lieutenant," she says in a soft voice to Collins while gingerly nudging her. "You've just received a message from the Yorktown. Shall I route it through to your tricorder?"
If Collins says yes, Kylah will forward the message for her private perusal. Otherwise she'll give control to the comm panel to the older woman.
She'll then go to Hayes and will try to wake her as well--being even more gentle, considering what seems like Hayes's fragile emotional state--before making the same offer.
"Hmmm? mrflmmbl uh..." Collins stretches which clears the fog of sleep "to my tricorder, please, Ensign. Thank you." While the message downloads, Jeremi sits upright and checks the shuttle's panels as a matter of routine, making note that only an hour has passed.
T'Var's sensitive Vulcan hearing wakes her to the noises surrounding her. She looks about slowly. The doctor notices Rangin and immediately goes over to him. She scans Rangin with her medical tricorder, then frowns.
Collins sees that the Meitner is on course and running smoothly. Pourtash looks a little ragged but insists he's willing to remain on duty for now.
Both messages are text-only. Collins reads hers; it doesn't take long. Hayes also awakens and reads hers.
Dr. T'Var sees from her scan that Rangin is getting sicker. As before, the infection is similar to but not identical to that of either Fujishiro or Mrs. Porr. He is more feverish and dehydrated than earlier. His sleep is fitful and shallow; it does not appear that he has had sufficient REM sleep in the past day for a Coridanite of his age and brain chemistry.