3.6 - All the Fun of the Fair

[gracemitchell]

Now Grace knew something was wrong. Melain seemed different and somewhere in the recesses of Grace's mind there was a spark of rememberance. She remembered a child who couldn't hear or speak, of whom she was examining. This memory was sparked because the child Massally was acting different, too. Grace kept the child in her line of sight to see if she could pinpoint what was different about Massally. Then she noticed, the child was listening to them, she was pretending to be deaf. Has Massally been playacting all this time? Is she an agent of the Dradian's and are they trying to circumvent the Federation in some way? Is Melain aware of this? Or maybe she's been drugged? Too many questions without answers and time is running out.

Grace didn't want to take a chance of the child finding out that Grace suspected her. Grace also didn't want to take a chance that Massally could hurt Melain, it would be more prudent to leave sickbay with the others and tell them what she suspects. Perhaps, Frek could lure Melain away from sickbay long enough for Cyle to take Massally into custody. Too much thinking Grace, use your telepathy to find out for sure. No, I won't unless Zhuk tells me to, not yet.

"Excuse me Colonel, I think we may be through here, perhaps we should go question the Captain once again? The doctor has given us all the information she has for now. Carry on Doctor."

Zhuk knew by Grace referring to Melain in the formal address that, Grace had something to report she didn't want Melain to hear. Cyle caught on as well, since he had previously noticed Grace rarely used formal titles. Zhuk spoke first "I believe you are correct, Counselor."

"Good job, Zhuk. You figured it out my code" Grace thought. "Looks like Cyle has too."

"Yes, Counselor! Perhaps the Captain will have more information for us now."

The three of them left sickbay, as soon as they were in the corridor Cyle started to ask her questions but Zhuk motioned to wait until they were in a more private setting. They walked to Grace's office as it was near sickbay and Grace offered each of them a seat.

"Now, Grace what can you tell us?" Zhuk asked.

"I was watching the child, Massally. Her actions were different, like she was listening to our conversation. I am basing this on some old medical knowledge. A few hundred years of medical knowledge. I had a memory flashback while watching the child, it happens rarely. I know I had observed Massally when she first came on board and she was definitly deaf then and if Melain had found a cure she would have told Frek or me. We had discussed the child in depth before. Massally was very subtle, but the signs were there without a doubt that she was listening to us."

"This raises more questions, I am afraid. Has she been fooling all of us? Did the Dradian's place her on our ship to create problems? Is Melain in danger or is she under some drug?" Zhuk thought outloud. "I want answers not more questions."

Grace shook her head "I'm sorry Zhuk. I could go back into sickbay under some pretense to get closer to the girl. I didn't use telepathy, but I sensed that Melain was uncomfortable around me, which is very unusual for her. We've always gotten on quite well!"

Cyle had been listening, then another odd thing struck him "Grace, your use of the formal doctor and not her name, both the Colonal and I picked it up as a signal, but the doctor didn't."

"That's right, she didn't. I did not see any reaction from her at all. Perhaps she didn't want to give it away to Massally."

"Cyle, place two security officers in sickbay, under strick orders they are not to let the Doctor or the child out of their sights. I am thinking Massally made Melain go to the surface with her earlier." Zhuk said.

"Zhuk, do you think the Dradian's are working with the Betan's to cause trouble between the Federation and the Klingon empire? Do you think they framed Harrias?" Grace asked.

"It seems to be how this is beginning to look. We don't have much time and too many questions. I'm going to talk to Frek, he is Melain's closest friend, perhaps he would be able to get more insight from her. In the meantime, Cyle and Grace go back to the planet and help Jamie and Vincente."

Cyle just nodded his head but Grace couldn't help saying a few encouraging words "It seems to me, Sir, that you wear the mantle of command very well. Much better than I did, that's for sure."

(O.O.C I decided to slow the process a little and throw suspicion on Massally-even though she is a child. Having a security detail will hamper Inisha and Rebana from being able to join their fellow rebels. Just wanted to keep things interesting for a while.)

[Deleted]

Melain's slight meditiation came to a rude end.

"Hold her down!" Jacab orderd, Melain watched as Seth hesitated, then complied. Moments later she felt a hypospray compress on her neck "There, stand back, lets see if it works.

As a doctor Melain was acustomed to seeing the signs of a drug in others, in herself it was much difficult to determine what they had given her. Her vision went out of focus, her muscles relaxed and her stomech clenched. Was it a sedative?

"It's working" Jacab laughed.

"Watch her head!" She heard Seth yell.

The ground rose up at her with extrodinary speed, and the room around her faded into darkness.

[Harrias Jira]

Lani had watched the whole situation without much comment. Grace’s observations had amazed him, he had not seen anything suspicious about the Doctor, nor the young Dradrian. Then and again, he realised that his heavy workload was starting to get the better of him. He had rarely had over 6 hours of sleep a night over the past couple of weeks, and he had worked 16 hour days for 4 days in each of those two weeks. He was barely suppressing a series of yawns at the moment.

Having given orders to the crew, Zhuk was walking back to the bridge. Lani had just started to follow him when the Andorian swivelled back to look at him.
- “You need some sleep man. How long have you been on?”
- “Took the night, and then rolled over to now. In total around 14 hours I guess.”
- “Get a meal and some sleep. That’s an order Lieutenant Commander.”

The martian smiled at his first officer. He was a confidence inspiring officer, that was for sure.
- “Aye sir. I might look in on the Captain as well.”
- “He would appreciate I’m sure. But don’t let him keep you from your bed for too long.”
- “I won’t. Good luck sir.”

The two parted, with Talla heading down to the mess hall. In the end, he decided to get his meal and take it to the brig with him, so that he could kill two birds with one stone.
- “Captain.”
- “Aha, so there is still a crew then. It’s good to see you Lani. Or so I hope?”
- “Well, we certainly haven’t found anything to implicate you further boss.”
- “I’ll take the small victories.” The trill smiled, although he certainly didn’t feel all that happy. There was something about a cell that made one laugh at almost anything.
- “I’m afraid we aren’t making much headway sir. And there is a klingon cruiser demanding the ambassador’s body, and that of the murder.”

Harrias sighed. This was the last thing that was needed, the klingons getting heavy-handed. But, of course, it was their ambassador that had been killed, and they wouldn’t let it rest.
- “Do they know I’m in custody?”
- “No sir. We told them we are investigating leads, but have no suspects.”

The conversation carried on along similar lines for a while, until soon Harrias had a fair idea of what was going on beyond his small cell. He didn’t like his prospects much. When Lani retired to his quarters for the sleep he had been prescribed, the trill leant back against the wall of the cell.

Why couldn’t he remember? Anything. Anything he could remember would be of some benefit, even if it proved that he had done it. And had anyone found out about their relationship. Surely if they had, they would have come to speak to him. And why oh why did he keep dreaming of a large group of robed men, one standing out by far with his green robe. Maybe he should speak to Grace.

[gracemitchell]

Cyle and Grace approached Jamey and Vincente, appearing to enjoy the festivities but in reality they were keeping a watch out. The problem was, none of them knew exactly what they were looking for.

"Report!" Cyle inquired but it sounded more like an order.

<Jamey or Vincente>

As the four of them of kept a watchful eye out, it seemed that in every direction they looked they saw another large blue robed man. So many that they had began to loose count.

Grace was deep in thought when she heard someone crying silently. She looked around but only saw people enjoying themselves. She heard it again, someone was definitely crying. Grace turned her head in all directions, still nothing.

"Grace, what the devil are you doing? Your turning your head so fast, you may break it!" Cyle asked.

"Twice now, I thought I heard someone crying, but I don't see anybody. Wait there it is again."

"Do you think you maybe hearing someone crying telepathically?" Jamey asked.

"It is possible."

Cyle asks "Is there anyway you could find out for sure?"

"I'll try and meditate and see if I pick anything up. Give me a few minutes."

Grace began to meditate, it was strange for the other three to look at her. She seemed to be staring straight ahead. "If I didn't know any better I would think she was just enjoying the show. And if she doesn't tell you, how is anyone going to know if she is meditating. This isn't anything like when I meditate, I have to close my eyes. Very different!" Vincente said.

Grace began to speak out loud of what she was seeing "I see the back of a young girl crying, silently, because she can't speak. The little girl is sitting over a woman. The woman is lying on the floor. The woman is alive, but the little girl does not know this. I can't see their faces, wait! I see ridges on the woman's nose. She is a Bajoran." Grace came out of her meditation. "Why would a Bajoran woman be here?" She asks the other three.

[Jamey Gaz]

Standing in the crowd one would think that this was only a mob of people franticly trying to see what was going on in the middle of the town square. But in fact, they were having so much fun that each wouldn't have known if the sky started to fall. There was music, food, drink a real smorgasbord of action. Two young people were running through the crowd setting off holographic smoke bombs. They would make a loud noise and send a wonderfully colorful plume of smoke in the air that would change colors many times before the battery cell ran out.

The smells were wonderful, like a carnival that was selling every known sweets known in the sector. The place was full of blue; everyone was wearing blue. That made Jamey think about the man in the storefront he and Vincente talked to that was in green. Talk about someone not fitting in.

Jamey and Vincente made their way across the street and started to go into an alley way when they saw Grace and Cyle.

"Report!" Cyle inquired but it sounded more like an order.

"We were just about to go around to the back of the building and see if we could kill the power. Vincente and I know there is a force field causing us to not be able to scan inside this building. We also saw the Doctor walk down the street after we had detected a transport, she walk into that building and not very long after we picked up another transport. We couldn't get the location but we did pick up that it was going to the Nevada." Jamey reported.

Grace began to speak out loud of what she was seeing "I see the back of a young girl crying, silently, because she can't speak. The little girl is sitting over a woman. The woman is lying on the floor. The woman is alive, but the little girl does not know this. I can't see their faces, wait! I see ridges on the woman's nose. She is a Bajoran." Grace came out of her meditation. "Why would a Bajoran woman be here?" She asks the other three.

"Grace," Jamey said, "we have not seen the Doctor leave that building ... you could be seeing Doctor Melain. We need to try to get to that power connection at the back of the building ... the Nevada could then get a lock on the whole group of people in the building and transport each to confinement until we could sort this thing out" Jamey continued to suggest.

<Grace, Cyle, ...>

[Deleted]

(O.O.C OKay, you may notice that I took out a few posts of mine. This is because I realize that all of you are on the planet, several of my posts (1 and a 1/2) had most of you in sickbay with Inisha and Rebana. Those posts are better saved for later when you guys start closing in on them)

[Harrias Jira]

OOC: Hmm... well, that's because Zhuk, Grace, Lani, Frek and Cyle WERE in sickbay. They then went BACK to the planet again...

[gracemitchell]

The four of them headed to the back of the building. Jamey and Vincente worked to disable the power in what looked like a power junction box. Cyle and Grace were on watch to make sure they were not interupted.

"Got it!" Jamey whispered then he tool his tricorder. "I have lifesigns for a Bajoran and a Dradian."

"You were right, Grace. There is a Bajoran in there. I wonder who the Dradian is. This could be a conspiracy." Cyle theorized. He signaled the ship to get a lock on all life signs in the building and beam those people and the away team directly to a confinement area. Cyle also suggested the Hrisvalar and Frek meet them there.

Zhukarak and Frek walked in to the confinement area just as the away team materialized. They looked on astonished when they saw Melain (who was still unconsious) and Massally materialize with the away team.

=^=Johnson to Security Detail, are the doctor and child still in sickbay=^=

=^=AYye, sir! =^=

=^=Keep them there. Johnson out=^=

Zhuk looked at the away team "Is there any positive way to find out who is who?"

Jamey looked at his tricorder "My tricorder says they are Bajoran and Dradian! Beyond that I don't know."

Zhuk looked at Grace "Can you see into their minds to see if they are who they appear to be?"

"I will try, but they will have to be seperated from the group For better acuracy I will have to touch them. I should check the one who looks like Melain, anyway." Grace answered.

Cyle stood a the ready, while Frek lowered the forcefield and Jamey and Vincente removed Melain and Massally from their containment with the others.

Grace used Jamey's tricorder on Melain and determined that she was just drugged. Grace layed her hand on Melain's shoulder and knew she was who she looked like. Massally, came over to Grace almost as if she knew what Grace needed from her. Grace looked in to Massally's eyes, touched her shoulder reassuringly "Yes, this is Massally." Massally motioned to Melain with tears in her eyes, Grace told her telepathically that Melain was going to be alright.

Zhukarak looked at the others who were behind the containment field "Who are all of you and why have you kidnapped our doctor?"

No response.

Grace walked up to the containment field and pointed out Noma and Seth, "Colonal, these two were the ones Vekra and I had met in the shop." Then Grace pointed to the large blue robed man "And, that one is the one I saw in my vision. I think he would be the one in charge"

Zhukarak asked again "Explain to us why you have kidnapped our doctor and this child. The Federation has serious punishment for this kind of offense."

Still no response, however the one called Seth was beginning to look afraid.

"Which one of you killed the Klingon Ambassador? I should inform all of you, that if you do not cooperate, we will turn all of you over to the Klingon's who happen to by in orbit around your planet." Zhuk threatened.

Seth was really beginning to become distressed. He had heard stories of what Klingon's do to prisoners. "None of us killed that Klingon."

"Shut up, you fool. Do not speak to these outsiders no more. They can do nothing to us if we keep quiet." The large blue robed man said.

"In that you are wrong, sir. We could take one of you out and our Counselor can find out what we need to know with out you hearing that person speak." Zhuk said.

"You are lying, Blue Skinned one. That human has not the strength to extract information from anyone of us."

Zhuk looked at Grace "Can you find out the large man's name?"

Grace concentrated her mind on the one known as Seth "His name is Jacob."

All of the prisoners looked astonished, Jacob especially "How did you find that out?"

"I am a telepath." a couple of them did not seem to understand what a telepath was, Grace obliged them with a different explaination "I can read minds."

All of them were now afraid, it was Noma who started to tell them how they had hoped to cause a war between the Federation and the Klingon's, just as she started to go into plan more detailed, Jacob started to backhand her. Jamey and Cyle were quicker than Jacob. Jamey dropped the forcefield long enough for Cyle to stun Jacob. Noma and the rest couldn't stop talking after Jacob was stunned. Cyle removed Jacob from the others so he wouldn't harm them. Hrisvalar signalled the security team stationed outside the Captain's quarters to release him and for the Captain to meet them at sickbay to hear what the inposters had to say.

<Tag anyone>

[Deleted]

Noma was tending to the front of the shop with Marese and Tenya, the two older women had warned her that the Federation aliens where pokeing around again. She had left the back room when Seth and Jacab started arguing about the Doctor. Seth was getting soft and Noma was starting to consider cutting off thier engagement. She was just about to stick her head out the door to see if the Star Fleets had left, when the store seemed to vanish, and was replaced with a dull silver room. Replacing one wall was a blue shimmering force field.

"She's a doctor, the gods will not approve of our actions to one who heals...What? where are we!" Seth's voice quiverd as he looked around. Beside his Jacab looked livid. Tenya and Marese stood in silent shock toward the rear. The Dark skinned girl was hovering over the Federation doctor's unconsouse form.

Noma turned her attention back to the force field, on the other side she could see the Federation officers, they where talking amongst themselves.

one of the blue skinned aliens stepped forward. "Who are all of you and why have you kidnapped our doctor?"

Seth opened his mouth, as if to respond, but was quickly silenced by Jacab's angry stare.

The officers spoke to each other again, and the women who had come into the shop pointed out Noma and Seth, then Jacab. The Blue skinned alien, who seemed to be incharge spoke once more "Explain to us why you have kidnapped our doctor and this child. The Federation has serious punishment for this kind of offense."

Seth felt as if he would burst, but his fear of Jacab overpowerd his fear of the officers.

gracemitchell said:

"Which one of you killed the Klingon Ambassador? I should inform all of you, that if you do not cooperate, we will turn all of you over to the Klingon's who happen to by in orbit around your planet." Zhuk threatened.

Seth was really beginning to become distressed. He had heard stories of what Klingon's do to prisoners. "None of us killed that Klingon."

"Shut up, you fool. Do not speak to these outsiders no more. They can do nothing to us if we keep quiet." The large blue robed man said.

"In that you are wrong, sir. We could take one of you out and our Counselor can find out what we need to know with out you hearing that person speak." Zhuk said.

"You are lying, Blue Skinned one. That human has not the strength to extract information from anyone of us."

Zhuk looked at Grace "Can you find out the large man's name?"

Grace concentrated her mind on the one known as Seth "His name is Jacob."

All of the prisoners looked astonished, Jacob especially "How did you find that out?"

"I am a telepath." a couple of them did not seem to understand what a telepath was, Grace obliged them with a different explaination "I can read minds."

Seth's dilema was wuickly solve dby Noma's resolve, she figured that if they spoke up, then perhaps the Federaton woudk turn them over to thier own government rather then the Klingons. "Star Fleet has no business with Beta IXX, we want no part of your Federation, or the Klingon Empire, but you and the Betan government do not know what is best for us. We are the Divine Purins, we serve Herandin and the gods, we do their will. They oppose outsiders, we oppose outsiders. The Government has forgotten the old ways, so we take matters into our own hands. We saw the doctor and child wandering by the galleries..."

"Quiet or I will Damn you to Teralla with all the strength in my spirit!!" Jacab screamed, he raised one hand threateningly.

In an instant the forcefield was dropped and one of the Officers pulled out a phaser. Jacab hit the ground at the group felt liberated.

Seth almost smiled, and took off where Noma left off "We had suspected this would occur and planned accordingly. We took them hostage, we replaced them with some of our own. They killed the Ambassador, they took on your captain's form using a technique our people invented hundreds of years ago." He explained. "Please, have mercy. Many of us joined the order feeling desperate for something more. Once joined Jacab and Inisha would not let us go. I did not want them to hurt the doctor, though I believe she is only unconsouse."

"We will not send you to the Klingons yet, but you will remain in the brig. Release the Captain and send a security detail to Sickbay." The Blue Skinned commander orderd. "

In a flurry of motion the officers. The doctor's sleeping form was beamed out of the brig, and Massally was led away by the telepath's hand , several guards where left behind to guard the Broken Betan order.

"What if he wakes up?" Tenya asked, pointing to Jacab's crumpled form.

"That is the laast of our worries. Unlawful use of the guising means life in prison for us accomplises, death for Rebana and Inisha and with what I've heard about these kligons, their punishment will be worse!" Noma moaned.

"The gods are ashamed of us, we have let them down." Maresse hung her head in shame.

"We must reconcile ourselved to them, come let us pray for their mercy and strength." Seth usherd the others into a circle.

[Deleted]

(O.O.C sorry for having two posts in a row, but this seems like the right time to reintigrate these)


Having completed the autopsy and prepared the body for transport, Inisha was at a loss about what to do. Her only role now seemed to be to keep the crew from catching on to the reality of Vekra's murder, and keeping them from noticing their doctor's absence.

She decided that having worked for so long, Doctor Lorre would probably have retired to her quarters to rest. Rebana reluctantly followed, the assurance of being able to continue her work with the security systems in the room keeping her from protesting. Inisha had to admit she was beginning to be more impressed with rebana's work. She had managed to figure out the Doctor's command codes, and they where able to use them to reactivate the transporters.

Before Inisha could figure out where the doctor's quarters even where the doors to sickbay slid open, another blue skinned alien walked in wearing command colours, this must be the first officer, now Captain. He was followed by a marine, and the one person Inisha did not want to see, the ships counsellor, the telepath.

Inisha was never very good at clearing her thoughts, but everything she knew about it she put into practice and prayed to Herandin that Rebana would do the same. "I was just about to catch a bite to eat, is something wrong?" she asked.

"The Klingon ship has arrived, and they are requesting both the ambassador's body and the murderer." The andorian replied, Inisha seemed to recall that his name was Hrisvalor.

"The Body is ready for transport, but surely you are not giving them Harrias?" Inisha did not have to feign concern, Federation stuburness and loyalty was something they relied on to spark the war.

"If at all possible we will not give them Harrias, certain things have recently come into the light that may aid us in avoiding that." Hrisvalar replied.

"excellent, is that why you are here?' Inisha asked.

"No, did you find anything on the planet?" He asked, at this the doors to sickbay slid open again and four gold collared officers stepped in holding Federation phasers Inisha suddenly felt boxed in, six StarFleet officers blocked the door and she did not know her way around the ship

Inisha assumed he meant when she was 'retracing Vekra's steps and decided to play around to stall fo rtime "No, I'm sorry I should have past it by you but everyone seemed so busy. She did spark some anger in some of the civilians, but I hardly see why anyone would want to kill her over that, or how they could get to the ship. Is there anything else?"

<tag Frek, Zhuk, Cyle, Grace, any of you who wishes to reply>

---------------------

Rebana watched the crowd of StarFleet officers assemble around Inisha. They where on to something, but where they on the right path? She wasn't about to stick around and find out. While working with the cameras in the Doctor's office she had seen a panel near the floor. Most likely linking to a conduit. Right now that was the only way out.

The panel came off easily enough, and she was able to slip inside, the only question that remained was where should she go, and how would she get off the ship? She knew for certain whe would have to keep moving, and so she crawled as fast as she could down the Jeffery's tube

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

OOC: UPDATE: I must have been halfway asleep when I read...or thought I read all of the posts. In fact I just realized that I only read page three and then proceeded to make this post, without ever noticing page four. I did find it odd that everyone had slowed down a bit when infact no one had. So just take this as a back post.

With just under four hours left until the Klingon Bird of Prey showed up, Zhuk was enjoying some alone time in his quarters, as much as alone he could be with the presence of Theel'zhiin. Having a snack together helped Zhuk go over the days' events. He just couldn't believe that Harrias was the actual murderer, at least not willingly.

Before he could take another bite from the hard, crunchy bread hew was holding, his door chime alerted him that someone was just outside.

"Enter!"

A Tholian Lieutenant, a LT Flexic if he remembered correctly, came in. He was part of the team that manned the medical science lab. He stepped forward with the pip that had come from the Captain's collar.

"Any new findings?" Zhuk asked him.

"No sir. We only found the Captain's DNA on it." Lt Flexic answered while handing over the pip.

"Very well. Thank you." The LT took that as his dismissal and turned around exiting Zhuk's quarters. Zhukarak rose, took his dishes to the recycler, and left his quarters for a journey to the brig with the pip in his hand and Theel'zhiin riding along on his shoulder. Arriving at the brig, Zhukarak could see Harrias just past the guards who were monitoring the power output of the forcefield. Harrias rose in anticipation of what news Zhukarak might have.

"Well Zhukarak, making any headway?"

"If by that you mean progress in your investigation...very little. An away team is investigatin on the planet as we speak. Currently we have no evidence that would suggest that you are not the murderer. I came to give you this." Zhuk raised the pip that he had brought along. With a nod to one of the guards, the forcefiled was lowered.

"Zhukarak, you know as well as I do that under the circumstances that I am not in the position to be the Captain right now."

"You may be the number one suspect for this murder, and you may be charged for it, but until you have been convicted you are still a Captain and deserve to wear the rank of one. Therefor you are currently out of uniform."

Harrias just looked at Zhukarak and gave a slight smile as Zhuk handed him his pip. Zhuk noted how he put it on with pride, but he sensed that it wasn't the pride of his rank but the pride that he had of his crew.

With another nod to the guard the forcefield was raised once more, seperating the First Officer from his Captain. "I will keep you aprised of any new developments. Speaking of such, the Klingons are sending a ship and will be demanding the murderer of their Ambassador in a little over three hours. I have a plan in mind to stall them some, if we need that time. I must return to my duties." Zhuk turned with Theel'zhiin in tow, and left the confines of the brig area.

[fthelev]

They both looked identical, if it weren’t for Grace and the differences in behaviour it would be hard to say which of the two was the true Doctor Lorre Melain. The one standing here before him or the unconscious person they beamed back onboard only minutes earlier.

“…is their anything else?” Frek, standing in the doorpost, stared at the person saying those words. “I would like to get something to eat some rest now.”
One could almost feel the tension in the air.
“What are you going to have?” Frek asked.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she sounded somewhat irritated, “Some steak or something like that. What does it matter?”
Frek caught some movement from the corner of his eye. It was Captain Jira. With almost all the Betans exposed and in custody he had been released. It was most clear to everyone who had been the murderer, especially with the confession of Seth.
Frek gave Grace, who was standing besides, a significant look. They both knew Melain was fasting. The impostor had given herself away.
“Give it up, it’s over,” Hrisvalar said.
“What are you talking about?” She was still trying, but there was a flare of panic in her eyes. The emotions weren’t lost to Grace either.
“Your fellow conspirators are in our brig, they already talked,” Grace told the Melain look-alike.
She didn’t reply, her eyes glided past the officers, now all standing in sickbay. She stopped when she spotted Captain Harrias Jira, it was probably that moment when she realised she had lost.
“Mr Johnson, take her to the brig,” Jira ordered. His first one since he had been confined.

“Where’s the other one?” Grace suddenly asked. They all had been concentrating on the one impersonating the doctor and failed to notice the one imposing as the Draudrian child slip away.
“She must have gone though the Jefferies tube,” Hrisvalar realised, “It’s the only way out. Seal all exits from that tube and scan for her position, we can’t afford to have her escape.”

[Deleted]

(O.O.C shall we drag this on a little longer, tihngs have gone far too easily haven't they *malicouse laughter*)

Inisha fle tlike a Tanetha cat ready to spring, she'd spent three years in the Governments special forces and knew how to get out of a tight spot, granted she'd never been in a spot this tight, but the gods would provide her with what she required.

As if her prayer was answerd a beam of light began to expand on one of the biobeds as someone materialized. It was the Federation doctor, either dead or under the effects of a sedative, Inisha hopped it was the later.

With the quick and graceful motion native to her species Inisha plucked up a hypospray and lept over to the biobed, pressing the hypo to the doctor's neck. "This hypo is programmed to administer a fatal dose of Rexaline as soon as I relax my grip on it. Shoot me and she dies, stun me and she dies, fail to comly with my will and by the gods she will die!"

"And these demands are?" The Andorian commander asked.

"Free me and my Comrads, erase all the data on our presence here, give us a shuttle and then never speak of this again." Inisha proclaimed.

"You do realise that by complying with your demands we will forfeit the captain's life?" The commander's voice rose and he stepped forward."

Inisha pressed the hypo deeper into the doctor's neck. "Ah, one more step and you will find yourself without a doctor. Yes I do realise the Klingons will want your precouse captain and I care not. You must choose who is more important, the ships healer, caregiver to a child, or the Captain, who's records show has been left somewhat.. wanting in that regard."

<tag all>

-----------------------------------

In the jefferies tube, Rebana suddenly realised that she was standing out. Everyone knew that she was an imposter and they would not hesitate to apprehend her. Anxiosly she searched through her bag and came out victoriose, The hypo containing the Captain's blood sample and the guising formula was still half full, enough to last her several hours. Granted she did not have his clothing, that would have to be remedied.

she pushed open one exit to see a room, someone's quarters. with any luck they had a spare uniform, and with any luck it would fit the Captain.

The gods where with her, there was a uniform, it was command colours although slightly large. It would have to do. It took a few moments for the formula to take effect, it felt wonderful to be of decent height again. She brushed back her brown hair, the very picture of command. =A=Computer initiate site to site transport, here to the brig Command code...=A=

It was too easy, the guards watching over the rest of the order didn't seem to think twice when Rebana materialized and once they realised what was going on, it was too late. She'd asked them to lower the force field, because she needed to speak to one of the captain's, they'd let down their guard for a moment to comply and that was all she needed. A pickpocket in her earlier days, slipping a phaser ouf of it's holster was a simple task.

"Someone get Jacab up, Tenya, help me get these men out of uniform." She orderd, she would take control, she'd saved them after all.

"Who are you!?" Noma questioned, she had always been short sighted.

"Rebana, and I know how we can still start this war." Rebana beamed.

[gracemitchell]

Grace was angrier than she had been in a very long time. Keeping her voice steady she asked calmly "What is your name?"

"I don't see how knowing my name will save your doctor" Inisha said. "The only thing that will save her is letting me and my comrades go. Meet my demands."

"That's where you are wrong, friend. You see I'm not worrying about Melain right now, it is you I am worried about. You do remember that I am a telepath?" Grace could tell that she did remember. "Then I will ask you quietly and calmly to lower that hypospray and hand it to me."

"What does being a telepath have to do with me holding this hypospray" Inisha was starting to get annoyed with Grace.

"What do you know about telepaths? Did you know that some can insert an idea in your mind, control you and some can use their minds to take things away from you."

Inisha was beginning to look afraid, thinking to herself "Why would she tell me this if she could do that, she would have done it already, wouldn't she." Inisha looked at Grace again "I think you would have done one of those by now if you could do those things."

"If your so sure, then why not try to use that hypospray, go ahead, try it." Grace had been concentrating all of her thoughts on Melain to erect a shield like she had done for herself on the Borg ship so long ago. "But know the moment you do, one of these fine officers will stun you. Your not sure if I can do either of those things, and you won't use that hypospray, because if you do, you lose your hostage."

Harrias was at a disadvantage, he didn't know if Grace could do those things she mentioned or not. If she could, it was scary. If she couldn't, Grace was gambling with Melain's life, something he never would have believed her capable of doing. Then it suddenly hit him, in someway Grace was protecting Melain, so she wouldn't get hurt. Grace was also trying to get this woman to lose confidence and it seemed to be working. "Young lady, if you are a lady. Drop the hypospray. No one else needs to get hurt. Otherwise I will order the Counselor here, to use her telepathic ability in what ever way she sees fit"

Inisha was getting visable nervous. Cyle had been listening to the exchange, but had been watching the woman's hand closely. All he needed was for the hypospray to lower just a millimeter and the woman's attention diverted slightly. The Cyle saw it, she had moved just enough, he fired.

It was over quickly, Cyle took the woman into custody, while Tom the EMH began to examine Melain. The rest began to look for the other posing as a child.

<Tag anyone>

[Deleted]

Inisha was so shook up about the entire telepath incident she found herself lossing control of her appearence. Certainly The guising was nine tenths genetics and science, but so much of retaining the form relied on one's mental fitness and strength, at the moment she had none of this. The first sign of transition was a sharp pain in her ear. her won ears where not pierced so the doctor's ornate earring was alien to them.

"stop, please I have to stop." she begged the man leading her to the brig. Normally it didn't hurt like this.

"What are you playing at?" the man asked, Inisha recalled that this was Cyle Johnson, the ship's marine leader. "What the!!?"

the transition was more noticebale now, Inisha was almost back to her true form. The Doctor's clothes felt tight, and strange, the pain in her ear was thrubbing inceasingly. Her skin would bare a faint purple tinge now, her hair would coil together and thicken, her eyes change to violet and pupils become slits.

"So you are a female, Get up." The man orderd, hoisting Inisha to her feet. "Don't get your hopes up, I'm not taking you to the same cell as your comrads."

Inisha hadn't considerd this, her only thought was on the ship's counsellor, had she done this to her, had she made Inisha lose control, make her hurt? The idea of someone controlling your actions was precisly what had turned Inisha against outsiders, their abilities where outlandish, not natural, wrong.

The door slid open to the Brig, but the site inside was not what Inisha expected, or what she suspected Cyle did either. Instead of her commrads, the only activated forcefield held two male humans dressed in their underclothes, both knocked out on the floor. Sitting in a chair by the door was Seth, a far off look of sadness on his face.

"where are they Seth!" Insisha fumed.

"Answer your comrad, where are the others!" Cyle orderd.

"Gone, they left. They want to start the war, but they are wrong, it's not right. Your men are not in any danger, Rebana stunned them. Your ship however is in grave peril." Seth replied. "I stayed, I could not support what they are doing."

"Traitor!" Inisha screamed. "The gods will punish you for this! I will punish you for this!"

She was pushed into a cell by the marine officer, and to her dismay Seth was placed in the ajacent cell.

<tag Cyle>

[gracemitchell]

Grace entered the brig just after Inisha was placed in her cell. She looked around "What happened Cyle?"

"That one" pointing to Seth "Said they left the ship to start the war." Cyle answered. "I was just going to make a report to the Captain."

Seth spoke at this moment "It was Rebana. The one who was the child, she changeg her appearance to look like your Captain. She left the ship looking like your Captain."

"You will say no more Seth. Be quiet." Inisha screamed at him.

"Don't you think this telepath can know your every thougth, Inisha. It is over!" Seth yelled at Inisha.

Inisha looked at Grace with fear in her eyes. It saddened Grace that she had intentionally made someone afraid of her. Inisha asks Grace "Why did you make me change back into myself?"

"I didn't. I haven't done anything with your mind. It is true some telepath's have different abilities. I have only used one of them, the moving of objects, but I have never tried to implant a thought in anyone's mind. I won't ever try anything like that. It would be wrong."
Inisha looked less frightened then before but skeptical of what Grace said. Grace continued "Inisha, you may believe me or not, I am not going to waste our time trying to convince you. Did your comrades have an alternate plan to start this war?"

"I don't know and even if I did I wouldn't tell you. You will have to torture the information out of me."

"Good thing for you the Federation does not torture, bad thing for you that you will be turned over to the Klingons, I've heard they have ways that could be considered torture." Grace turned to Seth "Seth is your name, correct?"

"Yes."

"Don't be alarmed Seth, I am not going to hurt you in anyway. Can you tell us what your comrades have planned to start the war? Does it involve one of you looking like the Captain?"

"They plan on having Rebana continue to look like your captain. She and the others will go to Abraham and make Abraham contact the Klingons."

Cyle was quicker than Grace and he contacted the Captain, telling him quickly what Seth had just said.

Grace thanked Seth for the information, both she and Cyle headed to the Bridge where the Harrias was already communicating with Captain Hrath.

Hrath, was believing Harrias. It seemed the Klingon ship had a split screen up with an image of Harrias on both sides. Harrias informed Captain Hrath that we had the one of the ones who killed Vekra in custody and the Captain Jira on the planet was the other one. Captain Hrath wasted no time and beamed the planet side Jira to their brig. Cyle and a security team had beamed down at the precise moment to incapacitate the others until Abraham could have the planet's security take them into custody. Abraham thanked both Captain Harrias and Hrath and apologized for the horrible things his people had done. Inisha was transferred to the Klingon ship, Seth was transferred into the custody Betan's. The Nevada left orbit.

[Deleted]

Melain woke in sickbay, it took her a moment to figure out where she was, and where she had been.

"How long was I out?" she asked as Rachel aprroched her.

"Almost two days." Rachel replied, she was scanning Melain up and down with a medical tricoder. "That was a powerful sedative they gave you, you are very fortunate."

"How's Massally?" Melain asked, her biggest fear was what the Betans would have done to her after Melain was out.

"She's shook up that's all, I think she believed you where dead." Rachel replied. "I've got her typing up a report on what she knows about your time as captives, the captain will want one from you as well."

"When am I back on duty?" Melain asked, she knew better then to assume immediatly.

"I'd say about another day, but you are the doctor." Rachel smiled. "I had Massally fetch your regular uniform, I don't think you want to wear the jump suit around and your dress uniform has been stretched."

"My earring?" Melain asked, instincticly brining one hand up to her ear, it still was not there.

"With your clothes. They almost sent the imposter away to the klingons with it still on, but Frek pointed it out and they rescued it." Rachel helped Melain sit up, she still felt groggy.

"Imposter, Klingons? I think you might have to let me in on a few details." Melain sighed, it was wierd, feeling as if the world just went on fast forward around you.

Rachel's smile grew larger "I thought you might ask, you might as well lay back again, it's a long story..."

[Harrias Jira]

OOC: And we'll call that a wrap folks. If anyone else wants to add anything desperately, feel free, but if there is nothing more, I will lock the thread on Saturday evening.

For the moment, if you want to post anything, then feel free to create a new thread. I am just working out the details of the next mission, a outline should be up by the end of today, or early tomorrow.

[Zhukarak Hrisvalar]

lorre said:

Nevada woke in sickbay, it took her a moment to figure out where she was, and where she had been.

When did you change your name to Nevada... ;D!?!

That was a great mission from all involved. I have to give extra Kudos to Grace and Melain. You two pretty much took the lead and controlled this mission. Good job!

[Deleted]

I figured since I held this mission up I should take on the ship's name... just joking ;D I made an oopsy

[gracemitchell]

Just an FYI. If Melain hadn't started with great stuff, I couldn't have gotten my brain thinking. Great Job!