A World of Hurt

Posted on Tuesday November 8th, 2022 @ 11:44am by Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: World of Mion Nova
Timeline: Current

[ON]

Back at the shuttle, Trensu was concerned. Where they were in a woodland area that would not have a dust storm of this type. Trensu looked around at everyone. "well this is going to be a bumpy ride after all." said Trensu looking outside through a shuttle window. "Jo see if you can get the away team on the coms" asked. Trensu.

Trensu looked back outside as the light dimmed as the dust got denser. Little sparks ran across the hull of the shuttle Trensu knew the Dust had metal particles in the dust and that was not a good sign. Probably Commo and sensors were going to not work. Trensu looked away looking at the crewmembers there at the shuttle all doing their part just as they were trained to do. Trensu smiled I could have not got a better crew.

Niali stood by the door of the small hut they were in. The storm was still raging outside, battering at the door the sound of what appeared to be sand cascading onto the surface. She wondered for a moment if the dwelling might become covered after a while.
“I hope they are okay at the campsite,” she said, more to herself than anyone in the room. Then it seemed for a moment that in a short minute when the storm was less the sound of scratching on the other side of the door could be heard. In a second it was gone as the storm ratcheted up again. She shook her head thinking she had imagined it. She unscrewed her canteen and took a drink of the cool water to sooth her parched throat and put her ear to the door again.

Jason leaned back, "They'll be okay," reaching for the whiskey bottle "There's a small stone fire pit over there we can warm things up and cook, plus we have a two hundred-year-old bottle of whiskey."

Niali nodded and then added, “what is whiskey?” She asked.

Jo had managed to put the fire out and retreated to the shuttlecraft. they would not be able to sleep out in the storm without more adequate shelter. Maybe a cave or something, she hoped the others were alright.

"It's an alcohol made mostly on earth, it's made from grain, usually purified water in aged first in oak barrels then in the bottle in the dark, in the case of this particular one, it's over two hundred years old from a place called High River, this particular one is harder to find since it's made in very small batches, and it's impossible to replicate." Jason pulled out a cloth bag to reveal shot glasses, "I don't break out bottles of this very often." pouring a full ounce into four of the glasses and picking one up for himself, and quickly throwing it back followed by a "WOOT!"

“ Now that’s a fine whisky,” Edgeware said after draining his glass.

Although he never touched alcohol while on or off duty on a starship. When he was on Earth that was another story. Then again with all the arguments, he had with his mother. It was no wonder he did not have a nose like the legendary Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer. Whiskey though was not his usual tipple. Ale. Real good old Irish stout. Now that was his drink. Not many places on Earth sold it. But in Ireland, it was as common as drinking water. He glanced around at the hut.

“ You know the inside of this hut reminds me of….” Steven began but the sound of scratching stopped him. He walked over to the entrance and pulled the door slightly ajar. A tiny bear-like creature with large sorrowful eyes looked up at him. Perhaps it was the whiskey that had taken away his common sense. He picked the poor ruffled furred creature and carried it in.

The poor little thing looked at them all trembled and buried its face in Steven’s chest.

“ Looks like we have a little visitor,” Steven said

Niali moved over, “be careful Steven, we do not know if this little thing Carries any diseases or whether it bites.” She stroked its chin and felt….something she did not know what. She began to relax a little and her brain fogged. Her symbiont was trying to warn her of something but she felt warm and fuzzy. She had not intended to have some of Jason’s whiskey but she took a glass and downed it enjoying the feeling of warmth it engendered within her system. Somehow the storm outside receded as did her worry about…..everything. She sat down quietly taking out her tricorder, for a moment she looked at it not remembering why she had it then she put it away again.

Jason leaned back looking towards the door, "It's getting dark and the storm doesn't appear to be letting up."

“Comms still are not working,” Niall said having tapped it several times. She looked over to Steven who looked very comfortable holding the little alien creature. “Steven?” She touched him on the shoulder. “How are you feeling, warm, fuzzy, happy? I think this creature is emanating some sort of …..” she was struggling to find the words, her brain was beginning to fog once again. “Some sort of ……relaxing alpha waves. Jason, can you use your tricorder on the creature?”

The small creature gave a little hiccup.

“ It could be the whiskey,” Steven said

"I wasn't sure how much of a drinker she was, but she isn't the first Trill to drop from this stuff." Jason said pounding back another shot "This little guy seems to be mostly harmless." closing the tricorder he sat back "He must be a local critter and appears to be very affectionate."

Niall smiled “SHE…can hear you you know! One of us has to stay on top of it all. We are stuck in here for who knows how long with limited food and water. We will have to leave at some time so I suggest we all make sure we are able!”

"I stand corrected." Jason paused to look outside "It's only over that hill, if it wasn't for visibility we could just hike back, but I also packed rations."

“Once I have had something to eat I am going to attempt to get back to camp. I am worried about Trensu? And I can’t stay here forever.”

Jason slid one of the packages across the table, "We could just relocate the camp here."

Steven nodded.” We should try and get back to camp. The Captain may of been injured in the storm.”

The small creature gave a little yawn. Steven gave it a closer look. Apart from the over large eyes. The creature had some over large paws for the size of its body. Remembering puppies on Earth having the same characteristics. Steven gave the creature's tummy a tickle. But he was really looking for the remains of an umbilical cord. He found it and was able to determine how old the creature was.

“We may have an even bigger problem. This creature is a newborn. Meaning its parents won’t be too far away. If you compare its size to a baby. They're probably quite a lot larger with sharp teeth and claws. They may not take to kindly to their child being missing from where they hid it.” Steven warned

Jason looked at the creature, "Not knowing where 'mom and dad' are we should reunite them, add in Niali is looking a bit rough, I'll get her back to camp, you get to take kiddo to meet with mom and dad," Pausing to reach into his pack he pulled out a box, "It's a wildlife stunner, nonlethal, it'll scare them more than anything if things get hostile, keep it on setting one or you'll drain the power supply faster." passing it to Steven.

Niali sat in the corner looking at everyone quietly, estimating the strength it would take to relieve them of their weapons. For the past hour, she had been stroking her phaser. There was something wrong with them all and she felt that they were not the people she had beamed down with. Somehow they had been taken over by…something, she did not know what. They were huddled together with that little animal, plotting against her she was sure. Now Steven or whoever, whatever it was that had entered him had been given a weapon by the other one. She knew that now was her only chance she stood and pointed her weapon trying to cover them. “Drop your weapons, all of you NOW” she barked.

Steven slowly dropped the weapon. The small creature jumped off his chest and hid behind his leg. Something was affecting her in here but what? His mind raced as it rushed through various scenarios. It had to be the whisky. No one else was behaving out of character. The symbiont had to be it. Somehow Korial had taken control again. But to his knowledge Trills had no problems with alcohol.

“ Korial. Niali knows we would not hurt her. Your host has been affected by something in this hut. We are her friends searching deep down and looking through her memories. All we want to do is go back to the campsite. Our friends there could be in danger.” Steven left out Jason’s whisky probably being the cause.

Jason turned his hand palm facing away from Niali then moved his thumb resulting in a second stunner starting to slide into his hand, he glanced over to Steven and then down to the little creature, "I'll deal with this I think you need to get our new little friend out."

“Uh huh” Niali shook her head from side to side, she gestured to Jason, “slide that weapon out and throw it over here, do not think I cannot see it, and you” she said to Steven, “give me the creature! I am going to leave.”

Jason looked at her, "The little one is going back to her family, you and I are going back to camp, I'm not in the mood for another rogue crew member." Jason held the stunner pointing upward to the ceiling, "We're going too talk and that's all"

Niali made a break for the door and was through it and gone. The storm was still raging and the sand was so thick it was difficult to see. She was already beginning to feel better. Her head was clearing and she began to realize what she had just experienced. For a moment she thought of returning to the hut but then was not sure if she would not return to the way she had been. She could only reason it was the sweet little creature that possibly had some effect on Trill physiology. She shrugged, zipped up her jacket, and began to walk.

Steven watched her from inside the hut. He saw the sudden change in her. The little creature came out from behind his leg.

(~ Big creature with the small creature inside gone now. ~)

Edgeware rubbed his forehead as the strange thought impeded on his mind.

“ Is it just me or did something disturbing just happen?” He asked

Jason looked at the little creature and then out the door, "Wait until I sent you two clicks on the comms, then take our little visitor home to her family, the ionization from the storm hopefully isn't messing up short range communications too much."

Steven nodded. The small creature lifted its paws wanting to be picked up. Edgeware had a sneaking suspicion the creature could understand every they said.

Jo tried the comm system but whatever this storm was it was affecting sensors and communications in the shuttle.

After escorting Niali about fifty meters away from the settlement, he double-tapped his com-badge to notify Steven they were away from the village, he then tried too reach camp "Elliot to base camp, signal check."

=/\= Shuttle one to away team does anyone hear me, shuttle one to away team please respond =/\=

.....Static.......

=/\= Shuttle one to away team does anyone hear me, shuttle one to away team please respond =/\=

-----Much less static------

=/\= Shuttle one to away team does anyone hear me, shuttle one to away team please respond =/\= Jo kept trying.

Reaching into his pants pocket he pulled out a handheld communicator "Go shuttle one, this is Elliot."

=/\= Shuttle one to away team does anyone hear me, shuttle one to away team please respond =/\= Jo kept trying. =/\=

The strength of the storm seemed to be lessening and there were occasional gaps in the flow of sand so one could see the lie of the land. Niali headed towards the green award the shuttle was on. The enjoyment of the trip had gone from her and she wanted to obtain a medical tricorder to investigate what had happened to her in the hut. She was very afraid that it had been Korial and, as she walked the feeling in the pit of her stomach began to grow.

Jason made an adjustment to the communicator "Shuttle one respond."

The shuttle's communications system started to crackle some. Something was trying to get through. Trensu knew the away team were competent officers and they would find cover during the storm and would make it back to the shuttle soon as it was over. "Jo, try to clean up that signal," asked Trensu.

Niali had almost reached the shuttle. There seemed to be something in the wind that was making it more difficult to breathe. She found the edge of the grass and saw the smooth edges and elliptical shape of the craft. She breathed a sigh of relief and entered. It was relatively peaceful inside compared to the storm outside. “Trensu, Jo, I’m back she said unnecessarily. “Everyone allright?” She asked as she took off her coat and reached for the medical tricorder opening it and running it over herself. “Well that’s why it was so difficult to breathe, the dust contains an unknown metal.”

=/\= Ah Lt Elliot, I have been trying to reach the team for some time is everyone alright =/\= Jo said sounding relieved.

-Outside hut-

The small creature began to make happy little chirping noises. Steven then saw why. Standing in the undergrowth was a much larger version of the small creature. Visions of Steven being deprived of his limbs in a most blooded fashion. Came to his mind , so slowly Steven put the little thing down. It wobbled as all toddlers do towards the creature.It’s chubby arms outstretched. There seemed to be some kind of communication between them. Then the small one climbed on his parents back.

“ Thank you” The parent said and moved away.

Steven just nodded. If anyone had told him that a huge bear like creature. Would verbally thank him for looking after its young. He would of escorted them to the brig. For being drunk on duty.

Shuttle.

“ Where did Niali sorry the XO go?” Steven asked

“I’m here Steven” Niali said. “Trensu has discovered there are some sort of metal particles in the sandstorm and they have made me short of breath so I am just going to give myself some oxygen. How are you feeling and, did you deliver the baby back to it’s parents?” She placed the mask over her nose and mouth and immediately began to breathe a little better.

Jason looked at the ground "Until we know what happened it might be a good idea if you wear a dust mask, also I think we should break out the handheld communicators, the badges don't seem to be able to cut through the remaining ionization." Jason looked at the metallic powder closer "Are there any psychedelics that are known to cause these problems in trills'?"

“ Thankfully not many. The symbiont relies on bio-electric form of connection with the host. Much like most life forms have with their brains. But it has a much more unique structure. It seems something in this dust is inhibiting that. Fortunately, it’s not completely, Korial is not the most pleasant people. Niali how are you feeling?” Steven asked.

“A little better thank you, Steven,” she said removing the oxygen and giving herself a hypo that would increase the oxygen uptake in her blood. She sighed and sat back. “Did you deliver the little once back to its family?” she asked him.

“ That’s good to hear. Oh yes, they are reunited. A most interesting species if we have time. I would like to study them if it’s possible.” Steven said.

Tresnu was pleased that Niali and Steven had made it back. That was why he trusted his officers and the Command team. The World of Mion Nova had more secrets Trensu thought. But Trensu he had to make sure his crew was ok first. "Niali and Steven, get clean yourselves up. Medically get checked out and make sure you're ok, get some rest. Make sure you fill out a report on the contact species. It sounds like you had quite the adventure. Is there anything I need to know about the contact species you met?" asked Trensu.

“Steven would be the best person to answer those questions. The creature seemed to attach itself to him immediately.” Niali said.

“ I think if any of us had opened that hut door then the creature would of imprinted on them. It had a basic form of telepathy. It was able to sense Niali’s symbiont. The older creatures could speak. Which for a creature of that size is quite unique. Steven reported

Jason finally entered camp, "Well that was interesting, How's Niali?"

“I’m fine now thank you Jason.” Niali called from the back of the ship. Her oxygen discontinued she was opening a pouch of rations. How is the storm out there? I thought it was lessening.

Steven looked at his tricorder and shook his head.The storm seemed to be going in a circular motion. Building on every circle. The next round was not going to be pleasant. But after that it would blow itself out. The trick would be to survive the last round. He then showed it to the tricorder to the others.

“ Sorry to butt in. But you should see this.” He warned.

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Niali Korial
Executive Officer
USS Oberon.
&
Lieutenant Steven Edgware
Second Officer/Science Officer
USS Oberon
&
Captain Ahkhsu Trensu
USS Oberon
&
Lieutenant Jason Elliot
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Oberon
&
Ensign JoAnne Grant
Chief Operations Officer
USS Oberon