‘The Game’s Afoot’

Posted on Friday August 12th, 2022 @ 9:30am by Lieutenant Commander Niali Deval Dr & Lieutenant Steven Edgeware
Edited on on Friday August 12th, 2022 @ 5:46pm

Mission: New Worlds
Location: USS Oberon
Timeline: 249507.20

Team Oberon

CMO Lieutenant Steven Edgeware MD
2XO Lieutenant Niali Korial.MD. PHD Chief Counsellor

Remaining on board the Oberon Lt Korial Currently acting XO and CMO Dr Steven Edgeware have to interrogate Tor to try to find out why he is on board the Oberon, what are his plans and why he wanted Lt Korial’s Command Codes? They will also interview Arle Lt Korial’s sister who arrived with Tor to try to find out how much, or what she knows. The CMO will also continue to care for Captain Trensu.

[ON]

[BRIG]

Tor sat on the bench in his cell, he would not admit to himself that he was becoming anxious. He was not used to being restricted and out of touch with what was happening. Since the group had been genetically altered to fight the B’ahi they had complied with every order despite their obvious distaste for some of the things they had been asked to do. Bad things happen in war they had reasoned, but now the war was over they had expected to be able to return to civilian life. Then they had been told this was not the case. They would continue to be used as a fighting force and they would never be allowed to see their families again. They would even be subjected to more genetic manipulation to enhance their military usefulness.

He grimaced as he remembered how his team had reacted to the news and then the grains of a plan to find and kidnap the geneticists and force them to reverse the therapy had been hatched. But, they needed to find them first hence the need for the enhanced scanning the Oberon contained. Once he had obtained the command codes from Niali, and that was something he regretted but the genetic rage had taken over. He was sick of killing but obtaining the codes had been absolutely necessary to their plan. It was through these that he had found out the Federation team was also looking for the freighter. Tor knew that he would have to stand trial and execution for Niali’s murder whether he it be by his own world or the Federation; he had no idea, of course that she was still alive.

He continued with his thoughts. Once his small team was onboard they would take over the bridge and track the Federation away team as they looked for the freighter they had come to find. Tor’s anger began to rise and he had to clear his mind. As always it helped him to remember his youth living by the sea of Donaya. His heart rate began to slow as he felt the sun on his skin and listened to the sound of the waves lapping at his toes.

He smiled as he thought of Arle and the baby she was carrying, all he wanted was to return to his home with her and to see his mother once again. Although she was First Minister he could not believe that she had agreed to this. No, this was Security Minister Valev’s doing and they had sworn he would pay.

[BRIDGE]

The ‘murdered’ Niali was resting for a moment in the Captain’s chair on the bridge of the Oberon, the grey green swirl of the planet high on the viewscreen. The away teams had beamed down to Vein ll to begin their missions and Naili had ordered security to maintain a presence in all sensitive areas of the ship, the transporters were locked down and the ship should have felt safe but, to Niali it didn’t. It felt like an itch she could not scratch on top of the fierce pain in her leg despite the brace Steven had given her. It had not been 24 hours since she had ended up in sickbay after being gravely injured by Tor and she would rather have been in bed but, that was not to be. Niall stood “Lieutenant Meuller please open a channel ship wide?”

Meuller nodded, “yes sir” as his fingers opened the communication.

USS Oberon this is Lieutenant Niali Korial, Lieutenant Commander Kerr has had to beam down to the planet. I am acting XO until he returns. Please keep his orders current although I wish a security officer to company all Command staff whilst they are going about their business Korial out.” She nodded to Meuller and sat down again musing about her next problem Tor.

Her pregnant sister Arle was resting in guest quarters and had yet to be told of Tor’s perfidy. She turned to Lieutenant Meuller at ops. “Lieutenant you have the Con, if anything ANYTHING changes let me know immediately, also please relay any communications from the surface directly to me.” She stood, winced and tried not to be seen to hobble as she entered the turbolift and pressed her comm. =/\= Lieutenant Korial to Dr Edgeware =/\=

[MESS HALL]

Steven had been browsing over Tors medical file. How do you get someone who had been genetically altered. To cooperate and answer questions? Who could probably break your neck with his little finger and laugh while doing it? There was a glimmer of an idea on Edgware's mind but it was tilting towards the un-ethical. His comm badge chirped making him jump and spilling his drink.

=/\= Eech all me uniform…..oops sorry Edgeware here.=/\= he said

Niali smiled at the poor doctors discomfort =/\= Doctor, we need to get together and make a plan to question Tor and my sister, please come to the XO’s ready room as soon as you are available =/\=

=/\= I was just thinking about that. Yes. I just need to pop to my quarters. Then I’ll be with you.” Steven said

[ XO, READY ROOM]

Now with a clean uniform Steven pressed the bell and waited to be let in.

“Come in” Niali called as she produced two coffees and put them on the desk in front of her. She sat down and took one sipping the hot liquid in enjoyment. “Doctor, please have a seat, there is a coffee if you would like it. I would like to thank you for the leg brace it is much more comfortable to walk now.” Niali continued without preempt. “We have been tasked to find out what Tor wants with the ship and us. He is obviously not who he claims to be,” she paused obviously uncomfortable. “When he attacked me is was as though he was no longer humanoid, more machine, he wanted me dead and I must admit to being afraid of confronting him on my own, even with security present, and, I do not think he will answer my questions. Can you help?”

Steven gave her a padd.

“ This is Tors bio bed readings. It’s not in his medical record. These people never put this down as it is highly illegal. Tor has been genetically altered. You are very lucky he did not kill you. I have seen this level of mutation before. The historical files mention Captain ***** came in contact with them. They are bred to withstand anything. But there may be a way. It’s highly unethical though.” Steven advised

She looked over the details on the Padd he had given her, a small whistle emitting from her as she read. “No wonder I could not best him” Niall exclaimed then looked at Steven, “I am not sure we have the luxury of ‘ethics’ when we are dealing with someone like this. It may be that there is a whole army of such beings on the planet.” She mused to herself. “I wonder if these beings are part of the problem on Vein ll?” She sipped her coffee. “What is your plan Doctor?” She asked.

“ Well. We have two options on this. One over the years a formula has been devised that can revert an augment. Reduce Tor from a bio killing machine to a weak kitten. It’s extremely painful and career ending for probably myself although you would get away with a demotion. Then again what if we make him think we have the formula. I can inject him with a flu virus. We can say unless he talks we won’t give him the antidote.” Steven said.

“The second option is by far the best Doctor and it may just work but, I suppose it is reliant on how much he has been mentally conditioned ?”

“ If anything it won’t matter. The mind is a curious thing. It if feels the body is in danger. It will do all it can to survive. A bully is always scared of the tools of his dominance suddenly vanishing. But let’s see how things go. I will have the hypo spray ready. Plus the antidote if he relents. How are you by the way?” Steven asked

Niali smiled ruefully not wanting to alarm the CMO as to how ill she really felt, having had abdominal pains and a nosebleed earlier. “like someone tried to kill me, the leg hurt the worst but the brace has helped. I cannot say if someone pushed me over I could get up, if that happens I might need a hand.” She laughed. “How long will it take until you are ready Doctor I get the feeling this is a time sensitive matter?”

Something in her mannerisms set of a red alert in his head.

“ I can have the hypo ready in 5 minutes. But it’s you I am concerned about. Your looking a bit pale there Counsellor.” Steven said concerned.

Niali sagged, “so you noticed! I really cannot be wasting time right now, we need to be interrogating Tor..but I wonder if I am bleeding internally? I feel weak and earlier I had a spontaneous nosebleed, the first one I have ever had and now I am dizzy. Doctor I am acting XO now and cannot afford this.” Niali sighed, Please prepare your hypo let’s get this distasteful thing done.” She laughed a little, “where is Korial when you need him?” Was her rhetorical question.

Steven ran a probe over Niali. He adjusted some levels and pressed a hypo against her arm. He then ran a the probe over her head.

“ You need to return to sickbay once this is over. I have given you something to stabilise you for now. But I warn you, it will not last. I have all we need to continue and strongly encourage. We get going now.” Steven advised

Niali felt a little better after the hypo and stood. “Let’s go Doctor.” The pair entered the turbolift and exited just outside the brig.

Something crossed Steven’s mind.

“ Oops. Better give us a shot of this. He’ll smell a rat if we all get sick at the same time.” He said as he pressed a hypo on her arm.

[THE BRIG]

Security was already there when they entered. Tor stood when he saw them and smiled. “As you can see I am still alive.” Niali said to him. To her amazement he bowed slightly.

“I am relieved you are, you fought well, how is my wife?”

She withdrew her phaser and changed the settings. “Arle is fine, we want some answers from you Tor, my weapon is set to kill and I will use it if you make a move against us. Security wait outside.”

The two security personnel looked at each other and then back at her. “Our orders are..”

Niali cut them short, “your orders come from me as acting XO. Remain outside.”

“Yes Sir,” they said and decamped outside the brig. The door swished shut and the three of the were alone.

Niali lowered the force field around the cubicle and indicated for Tor to sit.

“ How are you feeling Tor?” Steven asked

Tor stood and Niali gestured for him to sit down. “Stand again and we will restrain you.” She said, her voice cold. He shrugged and sat down.

“As you wish.” He said. “I am fine thank you Doctor Edgeware although I am not sure why you are asking?” He questioned.

Steven looked over his padd.

“ Just checking really. Just wondered if you had any problems sleeping. Conscious playing up.” Steven said

Tor looked at him. “I do not sleep Doctor, why do you ask?

Steven tapped in few figures to his padd.

“ That’s for us to know and you to find out.” Edgeware said with a wink.

“Tor, we need to ask you some questions and I want answers. Why did you try to kill me?” She heard her voice sound hard and cold. Tor smiled.

“What do you want with the command codes for the Oberon?”

“Tell me what you know about the geneticists, who are they, where do they come from and where are they now?”

Tor stood and Niali pushed him back down hard, his head struck the back of the brig and Niali felt Korial smile. He was waking.

“If you think I am going to tell you anything you are oh so mistaken, he replied coolly, and I would think again about touching me.”

“Doctor?” Niali asked.

Steven tapped some codes into a hypo. Then he looked at Tor.

“ Thanks for telling us you don’t sleep by the way. It will make this work even faster. Did you know that many years ago. Our ancestors also had problems with bio killing machines like your good self. The thing is although they where beaten. There was always a worry they may come back. So a serum was devised that when applied to their body. Would turn them into weaklings. Now I know you will say just try it. But we don’t have to get close. A dart or even the air system will be just as effective. The pain level of course will be astronomical. So it’s up to you. Answer my colleagues questions or become weaker then a baby.” Steven said.

Tor sat silent for a moment a smile on his face but for the first time he wondered if the doctor could really do what he said.

“Let’s begin easy” Niali said. “Why do you want the Oberon command codes?” Silence. She tried again. “What do you know about the geneticists?” Inside her mind a voice asked *enough of this* Niali turned to Steven and nodded.

“ Very well.”Steven pulled out a cartridge from the hypo. Then he held it up for Tor to see.

“ I can fit this into the air system for this room. It won’t effect us of course. Your start feeling as if you have a bad cold. Then it will get worse. The shivers. Mucus coming out your nose. Sore throat. Sweats. A bad cough and then the fun really starts.” Steven said standing up.

“Will you answer my questions Tor?” Niali asked. Tor remained silent. “Very well then, I am sorry you have opted for this. I hate to hurt my sisters husband.” She looked at Edgeware and nodded.

Steven moved towards a wall panel.

“ Now unlike you we are not mindless bio machines. So if at anytime you wish to talk. The process can be reversed.” He opened the panel and placed the cartridge inside.” So. Here we go.”

Tor was silent as he looked ahead. He felt sure the Federation would not resort to any such measures as to force him to divulge what he knew although, inside a small niggle of doubt began to enter his mind. “Do you worst!” he exclaimed. Niali stood, arms crossed waiting.

Steven had added a few extras to the mix. Apart from the influenza strain he had also mixed in some gastroenteritis as well. It would effect Tor for quite a while but hopefully the shot he had given himself and Niali would protect them. He pressed the cartridge home and pressed a button.

“ Anytime you feel like stopping this and talking raise a hand. In about ten minutes I will be surprised if you can still talk.” Steven said.

Tor sat for few minutes feeling nothing, then he felt his muscles contract and his hands began to shake. His head became muzzy and he felt a lag between his thoughts and action. He tried to stand but felt unable to. At the same time his abdomen began to cramp painfully.”

“Why do you want the Oberon command codes Tor?” Niali asked. She lifted his chin so he could look at her and, although he tried to move his hand to remove her he was unable to do so.

“What do you know about the geneticists?” Niali’s voice was cold and hard and she knew she wanted to hurt him, her ship, her family was in danger and she would do anything to help them. She felt a breath of pride from Korial “let me out my girl” she heard inside her mind. She pushed him aside.

Tor began to feel as though he had no control of his bodily functions at all and began to feel something he had not felt for a long time. Fear sliced through him adding to his feelings of disconnection with his body. He looked for help from the doctor but his face was stony.

“You only have to answer our questions and we will stop this Tor, I do not enjoy doing this to my sister’s husband and the father of her child. It would be awful if you never had the chance to see your child or become the father I am sure you really want to be.”

As the minutes ticked by he felt his chest seem to fill up and he attempted to cough. “I…….don’t……” he managed to speak although the oppressive feeling in his chest and the weakness throughout his body began to worsen. For the first time he acknowledged that he might die.

“Let us leave him for a while Doctor say an hour or so.” She turned.

“Nooo…” Tor whispered.

She turned back. “Why do you want the command codes?” she asked. “This is your last chance.

Tor gave up, he felt he would tell them whatever they wanted to know if they would just reverse how he was feeling.

“Command….codes so my group can ……..beam” he coughed “onto the ship through…a gap in the shields….already in place.”
Tor felt as though his heart might burst. “Please help me?” He looked at the doctor.

Tor looked at Niali and knew he would get no quarter from her and his abdomen contracted and the pain and pressure in his bowels became stronger.

“Gap will occur in…….an…hour.”

“Thank you,” Niali offered. “Now, the geneticists, tell us about them?”

“We want them…to change….us back but we don’t know where they….are.”

“What do you need to find them.” Tor was silent as he had a momentary clarity within his brain that saw all their efforts vanishing.”

Niali nodded and let Korial out. She took Tor’s hand and squeezed. The pain was excruciating as the bones in his hand began to break.

“We wanted to use the ships…….sensors…” Niali let go. “I promise I will tell you everything, just…..please…help me!”

“Can we reverse this Doctor?” She asked.

Steven nodded. He walked back to the device and pressed a control. He than removed the cartridge and quickly pressed a hypo against Tors arm. Edgeware hurried away before Tor could grab him.

“ It will take about twenty minutes but your body should begin to start up again. But remember any further shenanigans and it can be re-introduced.” Steven warned.

“Thank you, thank you” Tor breathed no longer the ‘super soldier’ that entered the brig. Korial disappeared deep down inside Niali and she felt profound sadness for what they had had to do to another being. However the safety of the crew overrode all other considerations.

“Another question Tor, “why did you try to kill me?” He lifted his head and looked at her.

“I was in something we call the ‘ragium’ we were told that this was a meeting of the darkest part of the mind with the military knowledge and the physical nature of our transformation. I am so so sorry. You are my wife’s sister and I had wanted a relationship with you, but, you were also in the way of my mission. I truly love Arle….” Niali could see fear in his eyes. “Arle knows about the mission, she has a weapon and will be on her way to the bridge. Please, if you love her stop her!”

Niali nodded and pressed her comm. =/\= Lieutenant Korial to security. Send a team immediately to Arle’s quarters and hold her there. She has a weapon but do not hurt her. Korial out =/\=

[OFF]