Nashinarhr

[elizabethquinn]

Beth's sweep of the station section she'd been assigned didn't turn up much, a few skittish people, who had obviously been captives of the New Order and one unconscious Vulcan, who'd obviously been hurt during their initial attack. Beth had no problems with him being unconscious, it saved her a lot of trouble, as she called for him to be transported to a secure location for treatment.

It was actually a fairly impressive station, if you ignored the means by which they'd come by the technology they used, they way they'd blended it together for their own purposes was actually fairly ingenious, in a twisted sort of way. "Ensign Quinn," one of the marines in her group approached her at a trot. "We've been ordered to split up, three of us are supposed to go to the Majesty while the rest finish off this section, I thought you'd like the change to go over."

"Yes," Beth nodded. She would and yet, she wouldn't. But she felt like she should, after all, she had been assigned to the ship, she had a duty to be there. "If you don't mind, I'd like to come with you to the Majesty."

Beth followed the marines easy pace back to the transporter pad. "They're working? I thought we knocked them all out?"

"We did, it's just a handy location for the Paugh to lock onto us, they'll be beaming us to the Majesty," the marine told her, tapping his comm badge.

One of the Majesty's transporter rooms materialised around her, dim lighting illuminating them. The Vulcan's had done enough work to make her fly after they'd attacked, but it wasn't fancy. "We need to start searching deck by deck, from deck 8-14, report in every fifteen minutes."

Beth nodded, double checking the phaser she already knew was set to high stun, before she headed towards the rear sections of the ship. Only essential systems were online and that didn't include lighting in some of the sections. Emergency lighting was all she had to work with, as she carefully explored the shuttle bays, checking every shuttle, before moving down through deck 9's recreation and living quarters and down to deflector control and engineering support.

If she'd expected to see a bustle of crew in engineering she'd have been wrong, although there were officers both from the Majesty's own crew and the ships that had been sent to rescue them, there were far less than she'd expected and it was a very sombre environment.

Ignoring those working, Beth made her way through the engineering sections, quickly and quietly, clearing room by room, she had just finished reporting in, as she checked the crawlspaces down to the lower engineering deck, when she heard a din.

Beth immediately went on alert, senses strained for any other sounds, as she palmed her phaser, checking the settings again, as she moved towards the noise.

She heard a low growl as she moved deeper into the rear compartments where she'd heard the noise, making her pause. Did the Majesty have animals on board? Or could it have been one the Vulcan's had brought over? Even a domesticated animal could be dangerous given the right circumstances. Beth kept her eyes well trained as she moved closer, the dim emergency lighting in this section making it difficult to see much of anything, as a shadow slowly emerged from the darkness.

Beth stopped short. A Sehlat. Who the hell would think it was a good idea to keep a Sehlat on a ship? She knew domesticated, they were favoured pets of Vulcan children, but a ship was no place for an animal like that. Beth wasn't great with animals, she'd only ever had one pet as a child, a lizard, who wasn't very entertaining, unless it was eating.

"Okay fella, lets just put those nice sharp teeth away," Beth said carefully. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The animal looked at her cautiously and Beth swore it was thinking, it had an expression she thought looked a lot like Jerron when he was considering something, which was saying something, because it had to be hard to convey expression with fangs like that.

"I'm sure you're scared... or angry, but if you just let me come a little closer, we can find out who you belong too and take you back..." Beth put one hand cautiously out, palm flat as her other remained by her side, still holding her phaser, just a precaution, if the Sehlat did decide she looked like a good choice for supper.

[Deleted]

Hawk’s head was a whirlwind of emotions as he came out of his drug induced sleep. He had no recollection of where he was or how he'd gotten there and the bright lights above his head hurt his eye, although the clean sheets over his naked chest felt oddly comforting and he wanted to snuggle down into them and hide. As his eye opened he got a distorted view of the man sat above him and for a mere second, he wanted to flinch away from the big reddish haired man, although he didn’t know why. There was some vague memory of someone hurting him, his bare knees on a cold tile floor as they stood over him, but it was too much effort to try to remember and instead, his eyes focused on the one familiar thing in the room, the face of his friend. If he looked at Falco it wouldn’t hurt. If he looked at Falco he could blot out the rest of the world and no-one would hurt him.

With an effort, he tried to make words, but his throat was on fire and someone appeared to have stuffed it full of sharp and blazing hot talons. As he swallowed he felt as though they were cutting into the soft tissues of his throat and he tried to cough them away. Finding that to be entirely too painful a procedure, he concentrated instead on breathing and locking his eye…right eye, what was the matter with the other one, on the reddish haired man’s presence. He tried to reach up, but his reddish haired friend had his hand in his grasp. He’d worry later. For some inexplicable reason he thought Falco might have been dead, and seeing the comforting presence at his bedside, he relaxed marginally back against his pillow, desperately trying to communicate his relief to his friend.

“Thank…Roux” he rasped with a whisper that sounded like a match striking over sandpaper.

He saw the eyebrows rise on the reddish haired man’s face and couldn’t understand why, but he was happy just to have his friend’s presence in the room and very slowly he drifted off into an intense and painful sleep.

In his dreams, Hawk was back in his white cell, cowering in a corner. Half formed shadows danced around him as he tried to swat them away with hands that were still anchored down immobile. He let out a frightened whimper and Falco soothed his forehead as he snuggled against the comforting hand. The dreams returned and he could feel hands upon him. He was held down although he fought to escape with every fiber of his being. There was a loud noise and lights and pain as he fought for his life and a lancing pain through his head as he tried to remember anything.

And then he was in a white bathroom and the white floor was cold and the water was hot. There were men around him; men in white uniforms with cold hands, touching his body and making him shudder. They were forcing him to his knees and making him…making….Dam! He forced himself awake, unable to process that last small bit of information and lay quietly, his panting rasping through his sore and swollen throat as the sweat trickled annoyingly down the sides of his face, tickling the bristles of his unshaved skin.

He looked around for Falco and saw him lying on his bed.

“Falc?” he tried to say, but nothing came out. He tried again. “Falc?” A little better but still no more than a cough and a rasp, it was enough to get the reddish haired man’s attention though and the green eyed man sat himself up and walked quietly over to the bed, still disbelieving that Hawk could forgive him for his actions.

“Maybe that’s what he wants to tell you McCloud. Maybe he wants to tell you to get out of his life”, Falco thought.

He bent down over the still trembling body on the bed and was surprised at how agitated his friend was. He braced himself for the inevitable.

“What can I get you buddy?” the words sounded hollow and meaningless and he hated himself for saying them.

Hawk’s lips were working, but no sound came from the tortured throat and Falco leaned his ear close to his friend’s mouth.

“Remembering……hurts” he rasped. His hand grabbed for Falco’s arm and held it in a surprisingly tight grasp.

The reddish haired man’s world fell to pieces. “I’m sorry Hawk. I’m so sorry…you have every right to hate me. Dam, I hate myself! I should just get away…I’m sorry”.

He tried to get up to leave, but the feathery arm was still there, hanging onto his and he looked down in confusion. Another eye was looking back at him also in confusion and the silent lips were working again.

“Why sorry?” Hawk whispered, his eyebrows tenting in an effort to understand.

“Because I was not able to stop this from happening to you” Falco pointed an accusing finger at the bruise around the olive toned throat.

“Not your fault...” The rasp ended in a painful, hacking cough and Hawk curled into a ball, trying to take the pressure off his damaged ribs and raw throat. Falco rubbed his back and then handed him an ice chip from a cup near the bed, placing it on the feathery haired humanoid’s tongue as Hawk sucked at the piece of melting heaven. He had no voice to speak with, but he still needed to communicate somehow with the man at his bedside. He knew Falco well enough to see that he was hurting and he wanted to comfort him and to let him know that whatever had happened to him, there was no way that he could ever blame his best friend.

He took a deep breath and tried to force the words through his swollen larynx.

“I remember the drugs and I remember them betting you to a pulp when we were in that room. You…” Another fit of hacking took him and shook him and Falco paused, poised on a knife edge until Hawk was once again lying back on the pillow gasping and sweating. He handed him another ice chip and the feathery haired humanoid closed his eyes in bliss.

“Don’t try to talk Hawk. Just lie quiet OK, the doctor said she would have her equipment soon and then your pain will be gone?” the reddish haired man tried to persuade his friend to relax, but Hawk had the bit between his teeth.

“Hurts too much to talk….just shut up and listen” the whisper was sounding more painful by the minute and Falco did as he was told, sitting back and waiting.

“I don’t remember everything, but I do remember the torture and you had no more control over what happened than I did. Just let it go, it was nobodies fault”. He saw his friend look away and grabbed for the big square hand.

“Are you listening to me?”

Slowly Falco nodded, love and amazement at his friend was brimming over.

“I just needed to say I was sorry” Falco said quietly.

Hawk nodded the pain in his throat exacerbated by the whispered conversation. He wanted to sleep, but there was too much to say to the big man; too much to share. “I think I’m going to need you to help me, if you will?”

Falco’s eyes traveled up his partner’s body, fixing on the battered, bruised face. “I’m always here for you. You need to ask? What are you trying to tell me buddy?”

The feathery headed humanoid looked away, thick black lashes veiling his stormy eyes. “Don’t know exactly. Dreams…..hope they are not real”.

“Do you want to tell me?” Falco asked with apprehension.

The feathery head on the pillow shook wearily. “Too tired now…I need to sleep, Stay?”

Falco smiled, more relieved than he cared to admit to his friend. Although his body craved rest just as much as Hawk’s did, he sat back on the hard chair and nodded, watching as the feathery haired humanoid’s body closed down and his breaths acquired the quiet regularity of sleep.

Doctor Holsen burst into the room saying, “I finally have what I need to repair your injuries. I will have you both fixed up in a few hours.”

She started in on Hawk with a dermal regenerator.

[Lorna Holsen]

JP between Lorna and Hawk

The tall feathery haired freighter officer transported into the Klingon ship that afternoon and made his way up to the sickbay on deck 2. He smiled at the pretty young nurse and flashed his bright green eyes at her as she melted behind her desk.

“I’m looking for two friends. They were brought here from the Majesty, Hawk and Falco McCloud?”

“Are you family?” she asked, seeing a remarkable similarity between this freighter officer and the feathery haired freighter officer.

“No, just a friend but a very close one” he winked at her and she giggled.

“Could you hold on a moment, Sir? I think Doctor Holsen wanted to see any visitors before they went in. I’ll page her”.

Condor waited by the desk, idly drumming his fingers on the top as he waited.

Lorna was frustrated her efforts to help Hawk and Falco had so far been met with limited success, she was starting to run out of ideas. Their memories were patchy and painful. She received a page from one of the nurses saying that a visitor had arrived to see Falco and Hawk. Lorna was intrigued and hopeful. She hurried to greet the new comer.

A woman with coppery-brown hair hurried doen the corridor towards him. She lab coat flowing behind her as she walked. She held out her hand to him and directed him into her make shift office in sickbay. They sat down on the hard uncomfortable chairs.


Lorna was slightly surprised to note that the newcomer also had feathery hair, she wondered how far he had travelled for his friends. “I’m Doctor Lorna Holsen. I’ve been looking after your friends, Mister…?”

“Mr. Aves, Condor Aves, but please, call me Condor” Condor liked the straight forward approach of the doctor and warmed to her instantly.

“Are you a close friend of Ha... Mr. Hawk and Mr. McCloud?” Lorna asked, remembering at the last second to be formal.

The freighter officer nodded.

“Condor, I’ve seen some rough treatment of humanoids in my time, but I’m afraid your friends have been through quite a lot in the past few days”. Lorna spoke softly she had seen some bad things and was doing her best not to stir up any of her own memories as she spoke.

Condor’s eyebrows knitted together in concern. “I heard they were drugged and that they were experimented on and made to forget their identity. Is there something else, Doc?”

Lorna swallowed, smothering her empathic sense as she did so, she was sure that Condor was a genuine friend but she didn't need to feel his worry on top of her own.

She nodded sadly. “When Hawk was brought in, he was still unconscious and in very bad condition. I did not at that time have the needed equipment to treat them properly however I just finished treatment on both of them and they are resting quietly”.

“Their memories are already beginning to return. They can already remember the last encounter with the 'Vulcans' and the fact that they were drugged. Fortunately, in that respect, the drug’s effects are short lived. The only reason they were as docile as they were when they were in captivity is because they were given the drug each day. But I’m afraid when I examined Hawk I found abnormal brain wave activity for a Falconian”. The doctor paused, letting the statement sit in the air between them.

The freighter officer nodded. “Yes, so just what does this mean doctor? What is abnormal about his mind?” he saw the look on the Lorna’s face and the color drained from his own. His eyes searched hers for clarification.

Lorna was forced to look away from Condor's piercing gaze. “I’m afraid there is evidence that Hawk somehow has some Vulcan brain wave patterns” she said gently.

Condor got up and paced the small room, his blood boiling at what his friend had had to endure. Finally he turned back to the doctor. “Does Hawk know?”

Lorna shook her head “As I said, their memories should return in full. How they will deal with this depends on what they remember…how they are told about it and how this may have occurred?” She looked enquiringly at the freighter officer know that the presence of a friend could make all the difference to a traumatised patient.

“And you think you should tell them?” Condor asked quietly.

Lorna wasn't surprised that Condor could read her. “No, I think it would be best to come from a friend…someone they trust and with whom they can let their true feelings out”.

The tall feathery haired humanoid let out a deep breath, understanding the enormity of what Lorna was asking. “Look, Doctor I only came to see how they were….I don’t know…Don’t know if I can do this. I only wanted to see them but they must not see me here or even know that I was here?’ He sat down heavily and put his head in his hands.

“You said you were a good friend. You would be doing them both a great favour” She swallowed and mentally bracing herself for the empathic onslaught lay a hand on his shoulder. She proceeded to explain to him as much as she had been able to determine about what had happened to the two officers.

[Deleted]

Sept 5, 2008 15:44:11 GMT @elizabethquinn said:

Beth stopped short. A Sehlat. Who the hell would think it was a good idea to keep a Sehlat on a ship? She knew domesticated, they were favoured pets of Vulcan children, but a ship was no place for an animal like that. Beth wasn't great with animals, she'd only ever had one pet as a child, a lizard, who wasn't very entertaining, unless it was eating.

"Okay fella, lets just put those nice sharp teeth away," Beth said carefully. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The animal looked at her cautiously and Beth swore it was thinking, it had an expression she thought looked a lot like Jerron when he was considering something, which was saying something, because it had to be hard to convey expression with fangs like that.

"I'm sure you're scared... or angry, but if you just let me come a little closer, we can find out who you belong too and take you back..." Beth put one hand cautiously out, palm flat as her other remained by her side, still holding her phaser, just a precaution, if the Sehlat did decide she looked like a good choice for supper.

=^=Hawks mind in the sehlat=^=

The sehlat put its head down in a non-threatening way as Beth reached ever closer. The sehlat stretched out its neck to sniff the hand she extended and cautiously licked her palm. Beth felt more at ease after that and lowered her phaser as she petted the animals head. During this exchange the sehlat managed to maneuver to the other side of Beth where it tried to signal her to follow it as a human’s dog might do.

“OK boy, you wish to show me something” she said to the beast “Lead on.”

Ensign Quinn followed the sehlat to the turbo-lift and they both entered.

Looking down at the animal she asked “Well I don’t suppose to can tell me which deck we need to go ...”

Before she could finish the sehlat tamped the deck plates with its paw four times.

Beth looked a little amazed but called out Deck 4 to the computer.

The sehlat lead her to the entrance of Hawks quarters where it laid down as if to guard it.

“Well is this who you belong boy?” she inquired.

[elizabethquinn]

Sept 9, 2008 1:26:36 GMT @hawk said:

=^=Hawks mind in the sehlat=^=

The sehlat put its head down in a non-threatening way as Beth reached ever closer. The sehlat stretched out its neck to sniff the hand she extended and cautiously licked her palm. Beth felt more at ease after that and lowered her phaser as she petted the animals head. During this exchange the sehlat managed to maneuver to the other side of Beth where it tried to signal her to follow it as a human’s dog might do.

“OK boy, you wish to show me something” she said to the beast “Lead on.”

Ensign Quinn followed the sehlat to the turbo-lift and they both entered.

Looking down at the animal she asked “Well I don’t suppose to can tell me which deck we need to go ...”

Before she could finish the sehlat tamped the deck plates with its paw four times.

Beth looked a little amazed but called out Deck 4 to the computer.

The sehlat lead her to the entrance of Hawks quarters where it laid down as if to guard it.

“Well is this who you belong boy?” she inquired.

Beth bit her lip a moment, unsure, she'd heard through the grapevine, that Cmdr Hawk was being treated in the Klingon sickbay, what was she going to do with his... pet, until he had recovered?

The Sehlat looked at her, eyes that made her feel somehow... watched, like the animal knew what she was thinking. "Well I don't suppose you could tell me where I'm supposed to put you?" she asked, rhetorically. The creature rubbed it's nose against the door of Hawks quarters.

"Cmdr Hawk isn't in there," Beth felt slightly ridiculous, talking to the Sehlat, but there was just something about it that seemed... conscious, like it understood more than it could, or should. Beth searched her mind, but nothing she knew, although she would admit, that wasn't much, suggested that a Sehlat, had the level of intelligence this one seemed to be displaying. She had expected it to talk. "Is there anyone else who could keep you?"

The Sehlat simple mashed it's nose against Hawk's door again and looked patient. "Okay, I get it you want Cmdr Hawk," Beth said. Biting her lip, Beth tried to remember the name of the Majesty's doctor, the one responsible for Cmdr Hawks care, maybe she'd have an idea. Or maybe she should just take it with her for now, it seemed to like her well enough, maybe... but Beth hadn't a clue what to do with it, lizards and Sehlat's weren't from the same family tree, not even nearly.

"Clark to Quinn," her comm badge chirped.

"Quinn here, Sir," Beth replied promptly.

"You were due to check in five minutes ago Ensign," Clark said.

"Uh... Sorry sir, I found a Sehlat, in one of the engineering Sectors and it led me to deck four, Cmdr Hawk's quarters, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it," Beth said.

"A Sehlat? Sehlat's don't typically lead people around like dogs do Ensign," Clark said.

"I realise that Sir, which is why I don't know what to do, it's not behaving like a typical Sehlat, but the only thing I know for certain is it seems very attached to Cmdr Hawk," Beth said.

"Well Cmdr Hawk is on the Paugh, being treated in sickbay, I suggest you just lock your new friend up somewhere safe for now and deal with him later," Clark said.

Beth faltered for a moment, as the animal butted it's head against her leg. "Sir, I think I should take it to Cmdr Hawk."

"He's in sickbay Ensign, in pretty bad shape from what I heard, I don't think it's the place for an animal like that," Clark said.

"Yes Sir, but I really think... I can't explain it Sir, but this animal, I don't think he's just an ordinary animal Sir," Beth felt herself flush, glad at least that the marine couldn't see her. "I'd like permission to take him over to the Paugh."

Clark's sigh could be heard on the other end of the comm. "Very well Ensign, do whatever you think you have too, but the drinks are on you when we laugh at you later."

Beth thought she blushed, even brighter, if that was possible. "Yes Sir, Quinn out."

Giving the Sehlat a look, Beth knelt to stroke it slightly. "You're gonna get me in a heap of trouble fella," she told it. "Come on, lets go find Cmdr Hawk."

[Deleted]

"Chief Lewis to Colonel Larok, I've found a lab or chamber of Horrors depending upon your point of view. Everything here is in Vulcan I think but Sgt T’Pril says it is a very old dialect.”

“Acknowledged Chief; activate your locator beacon and I will join you.” Larok looked at his forearm display and followed it to the lab. Arriving at the lab Larok looked around the room and moved over to look at the items that T’Pril and Lewis were looking at.

“This is written in the language of the Sundered from before the Time of Awakening. I can read it well enough. This is what my father warned me of; they are trying to bring back one of the First ones of the Mind.” This news caused a gasp to escape from T’Pril. This caused Larok to look at the young Vulcan Sergeant. “Sir I ask forgiveness “To which Larok replied “No need the cause was more than sufficient.

By now Chief Lewis was more than lost; “Sir I do not begin to understand what you are talking about, but it does not sound good for us or the people we have been finding here.” Larok kept reading while he answered the Chief’s question. “Chief these so called mind warriors were attempting to break the will of their captives to transfer their Katra’s to animals so they could perform a Fla-tor-pan and transfer the Katra contained in the Katric Ark they found. I can only speculate that their use of non-Vulcans for these experiments were because Sefar wanted to use the knowledge of this warrior without having to give up his place as the head of the Clan. I need to get to the Paugh as it seems they were very close to breaking Mr. Hawk and he may be in need of more help than the Doctors can give him. Chief gather up all this material and make sure it is transferred to the Intrepid when it gets here. Sgt if you find the ark be careful that no one touches it. Have it beamed directly to a stasis unit. {Larok to Paugh one to beam up}”

As Larok materialized on the transported pad he was greeted by a Vulcan in the uniform of Vulcan Security. “I will take that Colonel.” Larok just gave the other Vulcan a look that made him take two steps back. It was evident the Vulcan security officer was not about to push the issue with another Vulcan especially when that Vulcan was wearing combat armor with a Klingon Bat’lth sung on his back.

Larok proceeded out the door and to the main sick bay. Entering Sick bay with the security officer on his heals Larok stopped the first nurse and asked; “Is Commander Hawk still here?” “Yes sir he is in the isolation ward.”

Entering the Isolation ward Larok approached Hawk’s biobed. Turning to the Doctor; “Doctor have you administered him any Lexorin? 30cc’s should help; it seems the Commander is suffering from a Mind meld. I am willing to help if; a Vulcan caused his pain lets see if a Vulcan can ease it a little.”
When Larok received no reply he put a hand on Hawks face and began a light meld to get a sense of the mind within. He jumped back. "This is not Commander Hawk but a mind that's been in a Sehlat." After a few seconds to recompose himself; Larok returned to Hawk to continue. When Larok broke contact he sat back;” Doctor this is not Commander Hawk; but a Vulcan who's mind has spent time inside a Seleyat . I will attempt to help him get his bearings; but I am no healer. This will have to do until the Intrepid gets here. They are bringing a full Vulcan Medical crisis team to deal with the victims of the mind warriors. If we can identify this Officer we can see if Fal-tor-pan is possible. If not they can take his Katra back to the hall of ancestors, on Mt. Seleya.


<Tag Hawk>

[Lorna Holsen]

Lorna was checking up on Commander Hawk when the Vulcan Marine walked into sickbay. He came into the isolation ward, clearly on a mission.

“Doctor have you administered him any Lexorin? 30cc’s should help; it seems Commander you are suffering from a Mind meld. I am willing to help you if you will agree to let me meld with you.” Lorna had wondered about that but her telepathic skills were non existent so she hadn't been able to check out his mind personally. She had seen a lot of telepathic damage though and this looked nothing like anything she had seen before.

When Larok received no reply he put a hand on Hawks face Lorna was about to suggest that be didn't at least until she had got him attached to some monitoring equipment, after all entering a damaged mind could be very dangerous.

He jumped back. "This is not Commander Hawk but a mind that's been in a Sehlat." Somehow this revelation did not surprise Lorna all that much, she had been in starfleet long enough to know that 'weird' and 'unexplained' and 'should not be able to happen' were all in the job description. She had seen some pretty strange things in her time so far and this was officially in the top five. Besides since she had first had a sense of the Commander Hawks emotions she had known that there was something very wrong. This would fit that description. Now, of course she would have to figure out how to undo it.

She sighed and walked out of the isolation area. It was then that a female security officer walked into sickbay a Sehlat by her side. Lorna broke into a very wry grin.

"Greetings Ensign, now normally I don't allow animals in my sickbay but for one that contains the mind of Commander Hawk I'm willing to make an exception. Do come in, I'm Lorna Holsen by the way."

Tag: Ensign Quinn

[elizabethquinn]

Beth was glad she'd spent time on the Paugh now, at least she knew where she was going. She had to look strange, walking down the corridor of a Klingon ship, with a Sehlat at her heels, but she ignored the looks she got and the sniggering she heard from a passing Klingon, as she headed to sickbay.

"Greetings Ensign, now normally I don't allow animals in my sickbay but for one that contains the mind of Commander Hawk I'm willing to make an exception. Do come in, I'm Lorna Holsen by the way."

Beth looked at the Doctor and blinked. "Commander Hawk's mind?"

"We think so, yes," Holsen replied.

"I… I'm Ensign Quinn, I found this, him, on the Majesty, Engineering deck, he led me to the Commander's quarters. I just thought he was the Commander's pet, but he seemed… strange, like he was trying to tell me something" Beth said, quiet unable to wrap her mind around the idea that it was a person in there. "I guess maybe he was."

[Deleted]

=^=From Hawk in the sehlat=^=

At the very moment that Larok laid his hand on Hawk, Falco awoke and attacked the Vulcan figure hovering over Hawk’s body.

“Take you’re stinking paws off my friend you…, you damned dirty Vulcan” Falco screamed out as he grabbed for Larok’s neck.

Larok easily put Falco down gently with the Vulcan nerve pinch. He knew that Falco had suffered at the hands of evil Vulcans and held nothing against him.

The commotion in sickbay distracted both the Doctor and Ensign Quinn as they peered through the doorway of sickbay together. Just as the Doctor headed into sickbay to assist Larok with Falco, the humanoid calling him self Mr. Aves turned the corner of the sickbay corridor. The sehlat that was sitting quietly near the sickbay door lunged, in what look like an attack mode, toward the freighter pilot. Condor did all he could to back peddle as fast as he could to evade the animal. He tripped and fell flat on his back as the huge sehlat leaped in the air landing directly over the top of Condor’s chest.

Ensign Quinn spied the sehlat from the corner of her eye and reached to stop it but the sehlat was much too quick for her grasp. She pulled her phaser after regaining her balance and prepared to stun the animal. Just as her finger reached the trigger she realized that the sehlat was only licking Mr. Aves and not eating his face. She quickly pulled the animal off Condor and helps him off the floor.

“Are you alright Sir,” Beth asked.

“Yes I am fine Ensign,” replied Condor.

“Do you know this sehlat Sir? It seems to know you,” she inquired with a look of curiosity.

“No I do not,” Condor answered then quickly turned and disappeared down the corridor. “Hawk would be angry if knew his Father was here” Condor thought as he fled the Klingon ship.

“That was odd” she thought as she led the sehlat back into sickbay.

[Lorna Holsen]

"Greetings Ensign, now normally I don't allow animals in my sickbay but for one that contains the mind of Commander Hawk I'm willing to make an exception. Do come in, I'm Lorna Holsen by the way."

Beth looked at the Doctor and blinked. "Commander Hawk's mind?"

"We think so, yes," Holsen replied.

"I… I'm Ensign Quinn, I found this, him, on the Majesty, Engineering deck, he led me to the Commander's quarters. I just thought he was the Commander's pet, but he seemed… strange, like he was trying to tell me something" Beth said, quiet unable to wrap her mind around the idea that it was a person in there. "I guess maybe he was."

Lorna smiled "Welcome to the madhouse Ensign." Lorna opened her mindsense slowly, her use of it and her empathy while on the loose on the 'vulcan' ship seemed to have expanded her senses' range a bit. She could definitely sense a mind in the sehlat, she couldn't usually sense animal.

"Colonel Larok," Lorna said reentering the isolation room. "I think we have located Commander Hawk's mind although I currently have no idea how we are going to get it back into his body."

[Deleted]

The sehlat walked right to the bio-bed with Hawk’s body and lay beside it. Everyone in the room watched with anticipation, not knowing what to expect next. The sehlat seemed to go to sleep on the floor and only moments later.

Hawks body sat up, “I am so glad to be back where I belong” Hawk said shaking his head to clear his senses. “Doctor you will need to sedate the sehlat quickly before it comes too”

“Very well Commander” Lorna said as she reached for the hypo-spray.

Hawk turned his attention to the Vulcan Marine, “Colonel you will need to mind-meld with the poor soul trapped inside that animal. He is a Vulcan male who believes he is a sehlat. Please help him if you can” Hawk pleaded with deep concern for the poor tortured soul.

Hawk stumbled over to the young ensign standing in the background. “Ensign I owe you my life as it were and I thank you” Hawk said with conviction as he placed his hand on her should.

[Deleted]

Hawk turned his attention to the Vulcan Marine, “Colonel you will need to mind-meld with the poor soul trapped inside that animal. He is a Vulcan male who believes he is a sehlat. Please help him if you can” Hawk pleaded with deep concern for the poor tortured soul.

Larok Looked at the Sehlat; "This will not be easy but I will do what I can." Larok approached the sehlat and knelt beside it placing his hands on both sides of it's face. {I am Larok show yourself to me, both of you. Purr....tabar hungry; I am here but were is here, My name is...Solat? You both are in the mind of Tabar. Fal-tor-pan is not possible as it seems they discarded your body. I can offer you transport to the hall of ancestors, leave you two together or to free your Katra. I will join the ancestors. "
Larok stood and faced the assembled officers. "I have Solat's Katra and the Sehlat is hungry. I will transfer the Katra to one of the Healers for transport to Mt. Selia; as for the Sehlat it's name is Tabar and if no one clams it I will. Now I think I'll sit"

Larok did not quite make it to the chair before collapsing to his knees.

<tag>

[elizabethquinn]

Hawk stumbled over to the young ensign standing in the background. “Ensign I owe you my life as it were and I thank you” Hawk said with conviction as he placed his hand on her should.

Beth bowed her head slightly. "You're welcome, Sir," she said. Turning her attention at the same time as Hawk, to watch Larok mind-meld with the Sehlat. She was almost fascinated by it.

Larok stood and faced the assembled officers. "I have Solat's Katra and the Sehlat is hungry. I will transfer the Katra to one of the Healers for transport to Mt. Selia; as for the Sehlat it's name is Tabar and if no one clams it I will. Now I think I'll sit"

Larok collapsed to his knees, before he reached the chair and Beth moved almost without thinking, at the same time as Doctor Holsen to grab him, helping him onto the seat.

"I am fine," Larok said. "A momentary lapse."

Beth didn't think he looked fine, but she wasn't the Doctor, deciding discretion was the better part of valor, she moved back to give him space and kept her mouth shut.

[Lorna Holsen]

Things were moving very quickly in sickbay. Hawk's mind was seemingly back in his body. Lorna now only had to deal with an unconcious Sehlat with the mind of a Vulcan in it, a semi-collapsed Vulcan and two Falconian patients neither of which were going anywhere until she had thoroughly checked them over.

She intercepted Commander Hawk and returned him to his biobed. He seemed to be okay but Lorna wasn't going to rule out some sort of neural shock. "It's good to finally meet you Commander," She said with a smile. "I'm Doctor Lorna Holsen, I'm going to need to medically clear you before I let you out of here. Your body took a lot of damage, you are obviously a very tough customer." She set a full physical and neurological scan running.

(Tag: Hawk)

Lorna ran a tricorder scan of Colonel Larok, noting that he was pale even for a Vulcan. "Your neurotransmitters are spiking all over the place," Lorna said examining the readout. "You pulled a mental 'muscle' doing that mind meld. You need to get eight hours rest and probably some meditation before you'll be okay to return to duty."

(Larok)

With one patient attended to and returning to his quarters to rest Lorna turned to look at the results of the scans on Commander Hawk. "There physical damage you took has nearly finished healing but I am going to recommend you stay on light duties for at least a few days. As for any lingering neurological issues, I don't yet have enough information to say for certain but you are looking pretty good. Do you have any questions?"

(Hawk)

Lorna returned to where Ensign Quinn was sitting, the security officer seemed a bit bemused, Lorna was feeling a bit the same way. "Ensign, I assume you're returning to the Majesty." Ensign Quinn nodded.

"I don't want to leave my patients here but I need a message sent to Neilas Anders, Starbase 17. Can you tell him that I am okay and I'll contact him personally as soon as I can?"

(Ensign Quinn)

After Ensign Quinn had left sickbay Lorna was left alone with the two Falconian patients. She went over to Falco, he had been resting through the drama and was now stirring.

"Hello," Lorna said gently as he focussed on her. "I thought you'd like to know that your friend, Commander Hawk, is going to be all right."

(Falco)

"How are you feeling? Is you memory returning?"

(Falco)

[Deleted]

Larok looked up and due to the fatigue let a half smile slip. "My neurotransmitters are all over the place because I transfered the others Katra to my mind where Part of my mind is busy trying to help him cope with what has happened to him. I will be ok after a healer has taken the Katra from me for transport to the Hall of ancestors. So if you would give me a little stimulant it would help."

As if on Que in walked a team of 4 Vulcans all in healers robes. "I am Healer T'mel, I will accept the Katra and help him ". Larok nodded as the Healer reached out and iniated the meld to relieved Larok of the Katra.

Larok stood and snapped his fingers the Sehlat stood and followed the Vulcan out of sickbay. T'mel looked at Larok and the Sehlat following him. "It appears you have been chosen.." Larok just nodded and replied;"So it would appear that I have family again."

[Deleted]

Sept 18, 2008 15:04:40 GMT Lorna Holsen said:

She intercepted Commander Hawk and returned him to his biobed. He seemed to be okay but Lorna wasn't going to rule out some sort of neural shock. "It's good to finally meet you Commander," She said with a smile. "I'm Doctor Lorna Holsen, I'm going to need to medically clear you before I let you out of here. Your body took a lot of damage, you are obviously a very tough customer." She set a full physical and neurological scan running.

Hawk smiled at her as he thought she would say, “A very tough bird” as many aboard the Majesty have never let him know who or what he is.

With one patient attended to and returning to his quarters to rest Lorna turned to look at the results of the scans on Commander Hawk. "There physical damage you took has nearly finished healing but I am going to recommend you stay on light duties for at least a few days. As for any lingering neurological issues, I don't yet have enough information to say for certain but you are looking pretty good. Do you have any questions?"

“Yes I do indeed have a question for you Doctor,” Hawk said with deep concern. “What is the condition of my dear friend Falco? My mind was removed from my body during the drug injections and beatings but his was not. Only my body has lasting issues however Falco is a different story.”

“I do not have any answers for you Commander. It is too soon to tell what damage if any was done to Falco’s mind.” Lorna informed Hawk with a sense of loss.

“In that case Doctor I will remain here until Falco has recovered. I have retained memories from the sehlat host and I know what he has been through better than anyone” Hawk insisted.

“It is true that I might need your help but for now you must leave until I assess his condition” Dr. Holsen insisted.

“I will not leav…” Lorna cut Hawk off before he could finish saying, “Please Commander trust me to know what is best for your friend. I will call you the moment I feel you are needed.” The Doctor said with sincere concern.

Hawk agreed to the Doctor’s terms and prepared to leave sickbay for other quarters near by.

[elizabethquinn]

Lorna returned to where Ensign Quinn was sitting, the security officer seemed a bit bemused, Lorna was feeling a bit the same way. "Ensign, I assume you're returning to the Majesty." Ensign Quinn nodded.

"I don't want to leave my patients here but I need a message sent to Neilas Anders, Starbase 17. Can you tell him that I am okay and I'll contact him personally as soon as I can?"

"I'll see what I can do Doctor," Beth promised, nodding finally before heading out of sickbay.

As she walked slowly towards the transporter room, mulling over everything she'd just seen. It was beyond insane, Beth thought she knew what to expect, but she'd never even imagined the events of the last few days. Was she cut out for this? She knew she could handle herself in a fight, fighting was easy, it was just a matter of being better than the other person, faster, smarter, luckier, but deranged Vulcan's, displaced minds, it was more than she knew how to deal with.

Beaming back about the Majesty, she was glad to see more people in the corridors, lots of yellow uniforms busily working on putting the ship back together.

She wasn't sure where the best place to go first was, but lacking any better ideas, she headed for the bridge, hoping someone would be able to tell her what was going on and she'd be able to use a station there to contact Neilas Anders for Doctor Holsen. Plan in mind, she put her doubts to the back of her mind, she could deal with them later, cut out for it or not, here and now she had a duty to perform.

[Deleted]

TEG held a laser welder in one hand and a piece of sheet duranium in the other as he assisted with repairs to the bridge. Rachael was running new optronic cables between stations after they had been melted by fire. Nik was behind one of the stations working on connecting sensor relays to the appropriate terminals for data distribution.

The plate that TEG finished welding was the base for the new Captain's chair, since the last one was melted beyond recognition in a firefight to regain control of the bridge. TEG was however distracted by the loss of so many good people, and he worried about the lasting effects on Hawk, Falco, and the rest. TEG recalled the actions of his rag-tag crew he broke out of the brig and how they were able to retake the ship, section-by-section, in a way that seemed just a little too easy to him. But, regardless of why, the ship was back under control, but it would take some time to get back up to flight ops, and Captain Cornette may have been spared some of the physical effect, the psychological scars will take some time to heal. TEG sill did not understand why he was not as easy to control as others, but that was something he would have plenty of time to explore in the future.

It was during this period of contemplation that TEG spaced out and it wasn't until he felt a tug on his uniform that he awoke from it.

"Could you direct me to...." The young woman's eyes enlarged as she saw TEG's rank insignia as he turned to facer, and given the color, the realized who he must be. She snapped to attention, "Acting Ensign Elizabeth Quinn, reporting as Chief Tactial Officer and Security Chief."

"Relax Ensign. We are a bit informal, at least for now. Welcome aboard. I would give you a tour, but as of yet, there's not much to see aside from blank workstations and holes in bulkheads."

"Thank you sir. I was wondering if long-range communications were operational yet, I have a message to send for the Doctor, and I would prefer to send it before I forget."

With that, most of the workstations on the bridge lit up, indicating that the final needed connections to the EPS relays and ODN conduits were finished. Cheers rang up from some of the engineering staff as they knew that most of the required bridge work was done.

"It appears that you are just in time Ensign. Please, feel free to send the message, then please assist any way you can in affecting repairs."

TEG walked off toward the science station, which was still dark and rapped on the panels, then he called out, "Nik, are you almost done in there?"

"Almost, I just need to connect one last relay," With that the science station came to life and several other displays on the bridge came on, "We now have external sensors."

With that, Nik crawled out through an access panel on the side of the console next to a turbolift door. With the bridge in working order, albeit not in good cosmetic condition, TEG decided it was time to check out how everyone was doing. But before he did, he picked up the ships dedication plaque from the floor and reafixed it to the bulkhead. "A sign of good luck... We'll see."

[Lorna Holsen]

"My neurotransmitters are all over the place because I transfered the others Katra to my mind where Part of my mind is busy trying to help him cope with what has happened to him. I will be ok after a healer has taken the Katra from me for transport to the Hall of ancestors. So if you would give me a little stimulant it would help."

Which explained things a bit as far as Lorna was concerned, Vulcan neurology and mental abilities were certainly not her speciality although some instinct told her that if she was going to stay with the Majesty as she hoped she would have to learn. She supplied the requested stimulant and was relieved when the team of Vulcan healers arrived. She distantly wondered if it was possibly for a non-vulcan to understand the ramifications of what Colonel Larok had done.

She spoke to Commander Hawk and was relieved to be able to discharge him to quarters although it would probably do them both a lot of good to be transfered to more familiar surroundings on the Majesty.

Lieutenant Falco worried her she was pleased that he was sleeping, the mind was generally a resilient thing, she knew that better than most, however, she was still unable to tell what the affects on his mind would be. However, she remained hopeful, she had to.

Lorna settled in a chair monitoring the unconscious Falconian she wondered vaugely what Neilas would make of the situation she had gotten herself into this time. Every time they worked together things were 'interesting'.

[Deleted]

Sept 18, 2008 15:04:40 GMT Lorna Holsen said:

After Ensign Quinn had left sickbay Lorna was left alone with the two Falconian patients. She went over to Falco; he had been resting through the drama and was now stirring.

“Hello,” Lorna said gently as he focused on her. “I thought you'd like to know that your friend, Commander Hawk, is going to be all right.”

(Falco)

“How are you feeling? Is you memory returning?”

(Falco)

Falco turned away from the doctor saying, “I do not wish to remember. It is too painful. I have horrible nightmares and I want it to stop!” Falco cried out.

The doctor tried to calm the lieutenant but it did no good. Falco became violent as she tried to again sedate him. As she struggled with her patient 2 Klingon guards rushed to her aid with one slugging Falco unconscious.

“What did you do that for?” she inquired.

“I sedated the patient for you doctor” replied the Klingon guard.

That was the last straw for Lorna as she made arrangements for her patient to be transferred back to the Majesty where she could treat him properly.

Hawk also returned to the Majesty after hearing about the move and decided to report to the bridge before he checked in on Falco again.

[elizabethquinn]

Beth used one of the rear stations to send the message to Neilas Anders, reassuring him that Doctor Holsen was fine and would contact him herself when she had time.

Looking around she wondered where best to make herself useful, she wondered what shape the defensive systems were in and the weapons. The ship had been through a hell of a battle, it didn't seem likely those systems had come though in good shape.

Taking over the tactical station, she looked over the various reports coming in from all over the ship. To say the weapons and other defences had taken a beating was an understatement. "This is going to take weeks to right properly," he murmured to herself.

Quickly sending various orders to people in her department and requests for equipment from the Klingon ship, Beth handed the station back to the crewman who'd been there before, with instructions to keep her posted, she headed down through the ships to the main weapons array. She'd feel better seeing first hand what had to be done, besides it would give her an excuse to meet a few more people.

[Kaylana Cornette]

The USS Merrimac scuttled Kay off to the nearest starbase before she had time to protest. It seemed that a renegade band of mind warrior Vulcans with psionic weaponry were of interest to Starfleet and their allies. Understandable seeing as how not all of the Nashinarhr had been captured. Sefar had been sent off to Vulcan to face crimes. Kay and the rest of Starfleet agreed this would be a greater punishment than they could levy against him. But a remnant had escaped aboard one of their fringe vessels and had yet to be found. Though they were all known to be lesser talented psionics, they still possessed the knowledge of the Nashinarhr and were considered a grave threat. Thus, Cornette, being Starfleet’s newest resource, was ordered to debrief the brass on Starbase 109.

On the way there, Kay spent most of her time in self-imposed isolation. Her reasoning for doing so was vanity. In her first few hours after being released, Kay ate. And she ate, and ate, and then ate some more. Then she slept. When she awoke, she ate. Her appetite was insatiable, an obvious side effect from starving yourself for 5 weeks.

She also quarantined herself so she could speak freely to TEG. He was overseeing the repairs, which were enormous, and keeping her informed on Hawk and Falco’s condition. He told her tales of their newest shipmates who had risen to the occasion and were well on their way to being a phenomenal asset to the ship. Further, TEG explained that the Eonons had gratefully refurbished the Majesty’s bridge, but he found it not up to spec and had ordered a major re-haul. Thankfully, the rest of Kay’s ship had been spared the Nashinarhr’s refitting due to the cliffhanger, last minute rescue by the Klingons and the IKS Paugh, among others. With the exception of Engineering, most of the repairs could be done outside a dry dock.

When she wasn’t worrying about Hawk, Kay was thinking about the Lithone captain, Arblus. She ached to tell someone about his bravery; how his life’s last act was one of sacrifice. She had entered a message to be sent to his homeworld, but Starfleet had considered it to be low-priority and it had not been sent. Kay felt the burden of being the only person who knew how heroic he was. And she felt guilty. It was only in those final moments of his life that she had truly trusted him. Her cynicism had held her back from really knowing the man. He was a stranger who had valiantly done what she should have and it was eating her up inside.



After a long, grueling debrief, Kay arrived back aboard her ship via shuttlecraft. TEG met her at the bay, smiling an uncharacteristically broad smile.

“You look happy,” Kay said.

“I’m just glad to see you, Captain. And, for a change, most things are back to normal… at least they’re back to ‘Majesty normal’. We still need a few weeks in dry dock for Engineering to be up to par.”

Kay walked while TEG talked and she gave orders to set a course back to Bellicose for repairs. Kay told him of a new warp matrix Starfleet had been keeping under wraps. As this would be the opportune time to upgrade the engines, she had successfully coerced the Admirals to let the Majesty test drive it for them.

“At least something good came from all those meetings with the brass,” TEG joked.

“For now, the new system is top secret so advise crew on a ‘need to know’ basis only.”

Kay beelined it for sickbay hoping to see Hawk there. Instead, she ran in to someone new hovering over Lieutenant Falco.

“You must be Commander Holsen,” Kay guessed. The doctor was taking vitals and didn’t look up.

“Yes, please have a seat and a medic will be with you in a moment,” Lorna said, dismissing her.

Kay cocked half of a smile and sat down across the room. She observed the doctor nonchalantly, taking note of her extreme care to detail and the manner in which she spoke to Falco. Her voice was calm and reassuring as if she were subconsciously trying to transfer some of her mental calm to the ailing Lieutenant.

Finishing with Falco, Dr. Holsen turned to leave and saw Kay still sitting across the room. “Has a medic seen you yet?”

“No, and I don’t need…” Kay tried to answer, but was cut off.

“I’m sorry, the staff around here is pretty thin.” She hurriedly began to scan Cornette with her tri-corder. “Your electrolytes are a bit low but you seem fine… I don’t have a lot of spare time…” Lorna trailed off. She had only now searched the uniform’s collar to conversationally address the rank of the patient. “Oh, Captain… I’m so sorry,” she fumbled. “I didn’t know you were back aboard.”

“No worries, Doctor. I’m only here to check on the Lieutenant and inquire about Commander Hawk.”

“I’ve released Commander Hawk to his quarters and light duty. The Lieutenant, on the other hand… well, I’m still not certain he will fully recover. His mind has been severely damaged.”

The doors to sickbay parted and a tall Vulcan dressed in Starfleet Marine garb entered with Hawk following closely behind. “Greetings, Captain Cornette. It is good to finally make your acquaintance,” Larok said flatly.

“Your fame precedes you, Colonel Larok, Kay acknowledged back. "I was pleased to hear you had accepted an assignment here.” She nodded toward Hawk. “And we count ourselves extremely fortunate to have had you aboard for - such a time as this.” She smiled at Hawk who dipped his head and examined the floor. “Your contributions to the successful outcome of our recent dilemma have been duly noted to Starfleet.”

“As a matter of fact, all the crew performed above and beyond my expectations,” Kay said sweepingly. “Once we reach Bellicose, there’s a special ceremony planned.” She could feel the silent, collective groan at the thoughts of ceremonies and dress uniforms. “It’s a ‘special’ ceremony in that I’ve asked them to play it low-key. No pontificating dignitaries and NO dress uniforms.” She could feel now the ebb of relief.

Kay turned to leave and added, “Doctor, if you’ll permit me to delve into your field, perhaps Colonel Larok could assist you in reaching Falco’s mind?”

“Yes, sir, he has already assisted in helping Commander Hawk and with the mind that was also trapped in the sehlat. I’m sure he needs some rest first before he can attempt to help Mr. McCloud.”

“I’m confident you will do what is best,” Kay said sincerely. “And I’m very glad to have you aboard.”

Lorna could sense her deep sincerity for saving the lives of her friends. “Thank you, Captain,” she said as she watched her go. And as the Captain left, she saw her reach out a hand to brush across Hawk’s briefly as she passed him.


Cornette continued on, intent on seeing how Aarons was doing as well as meeting up with her new CTSO.

[Lorna Holsen]

Lorna had transferred her patients to the Majesty, she was hoping that familiar surroundings would help with Falco's recovery. She had also found out that the Majesty's previous CMO had quit to go back to Vulcan. She had contacted Neilas, taking the time to set up a secure connection and had filled him in on what had happened. She had thought he looked worried about her when she described her imprisonment, but that had changed to anger fairly quickly. Neilas Anders probably knew her better than anyone, he had after all had a fairly detailed look at her mind once upon a time. Of course that had occurred under circumstances that neither of them liked to recall and was still under a security lock-out. Somehow despite the rather traumatic circumstances of that incident Lorna and the intelligence operative had become friends.

Lorna was deeply concerned about all of the Majesty's crew, although Falco had been the worst affected pretty much everyone had suffered to some degree or other. The mental trauma of having someone else exert their will across yours could not be denied.

Lorna had had Neilas pull a few strings and get her assigned to the Majesty. That meant Lorna had been able to make best use of the Majesty's facilities to care for her battered crew. Most of the medical staff had suffered and a lot of them were still in care on other ships so Lorna was pulling double or longer shifts and trying to be everywhere at once. Falco was spending most of his time unconscious and Hawk was coming to visit him at least twice a day for an hour or more each time. Lorna just wished there was some more positive news she could give him.

It was a deep rooted tiredness that made her run a check-up on the Majesty's Captain before noticing the other's rank pips. Fortunately Captain Cornette seemed more amused that annoyed by her slip.

“I’m confident you will do what is best,” Kay said sincerely. “And I’m very glad to have you aboard.”

Lorna could sense her deep sincerity for saving the lives of her friends. “Thank you, Captain,” she said. Lorna was pleased to see that the crew of the Majesty were more than crew to Captain Cornette, they were friends and family. That was something else that would help these people heal.

As the Captain left, Lorna saw her reach out a hand to brush across Hawk’s briefly as she passed him. Lorna smiled to her self, it was none of her business of course but the Captain's support would no doubt help Hawk recover from what had happened to him.

It was hours later and Lorna knew she really should be asleep but there was still so much she had to do. "Hi Lorna, I was told you had been assigned to the Majesty but, you know me, I wouldn't believe it 'til I'd seen it with me own eyes."

At first Lorna thought her exhausted mind was playing tricks on her then a pair of arms wrapped around her waist sweeping her from the deck with surprising ease. She laughed and then was put back down. She turned, knowing that there was only one person who would greet her in such a way. It had been years since they had last met face to face, back when she'd been on the Orion. Those smiling dark brown eyes hadn't changed.

"With a situation like this? Of course, I'd been in the middle of it." Lorna smiled. "It's been a while hasn't it."

Cris laughed, this was an old joke. Pretty much as old as their relationship. It was good to see Lorna again, as she had joked their relationship tended to be built in the strangest locales starting back when they had first met amid a load of quake ravaged buildings on Sephus II. "I guess so and definitely."

[Lorna Holsen]

Flashback I, Stardate: 2382.0325 Sephus II

Lorna is a 23 year old medical officer on the USS Ganymede who has only recently made Lieutenant j.g and Cris Leider is a 22 year old Tac-response medic, part of the first team in.

The ground was cracked where the quake had ripped though. Cris Lieder walked gingerly through the ruins, it had been 30 hours now, and hopes of finding further survivors were fading. There were fires still burning, no one had had the time to put them out. The ground still occasionally shook with after shocks and night was closing in. With the darkness would come sub-zero temperatures for at least 40 hours. The sensor deadening mineral in the local rock wasn’t helping matters. This had been an outpost with a population of 300, they’d got a distress call out before the quake had hit but it had arrived sooner and with more severity than had been predicted. Now at least 219 of those 300 were dead, Cris had seen 148 of the bodies personally and wouldn’t soon forget them

Cris walked slowly back to the beam-down point 25 hours straight was enough it was time for a shower and a drink. Besides the teams from the Ganymede were here now that took the pressure of the Tac teams.

“Can I get some help here?” A female voice shouted. Cris looked round but seemingly there was no one else in earshot. Cris sighed, no rest for the medic again.

It didn’t take to long to locate the source of the voice; however it did take a while to reach. A young redhaired Starfleet officer who was on hands and knees in what had been the basement of a building and was now a meter high space below ground level with the remains of three further floors perched rather precariously above it. Cris though that this building had been cleared but…

“Is that someone up there?” the woman called.
“Yes” Cris yelled back.
“I need some help. I’ve got a man trapped down here.”
Cris sighed audibly wondering how to get down to where the Starfleet officer was waiting. Response kit bumping against her hip, careful step after careful step eventually Cris reached the small clear area where the Starfleet officer was waiting. The woman turned out to be in blue and with the insignia of a lietenant jg on her collar. Her uniform jacket had been shredded down one side and she was covered with dust, she was however smiling.

Cris held out a hand, “Cris Lieder Tac-response team one, medic” The woman took the offered hand. “Lorna Holsen, USS Ganymede medical officer.” She paused briefly and looked at her tricorder screen which was flickering, she sighed and closed the device. “The patient is a human male, GCS 5, pulse strong in the extremities I can get to. He’s pinned across the left leg between hip and knee and we need to get him out.”

Cris absorbed this information, the trapped man was pinned by rubble that Lorna had been working at clearing and partially by a durasteel girder; this was a problem as it appeared that at least part of what had been the ground floor but was now basement ceiling was now resting further along the girder. Not to mention there was a definite nip the air now.

[Deleted]

*Larok made his way to the sick bay to see if he could help any of the victims of the Nashinarhr. Upon entering sick bay Larok saw the Co was up and around looking only slightly worse for the events of the past few weeks. Approaching the Capitan Larok addressed her;*

“Greetings, Captain Cornette. It is good to finally make your acquaintance,” Larok said flatly.

“Your fame precedes you, Colonel Larok, Kay acknowledged back. "I was pleased to hear you had accepted an assignment here.” She nodded toward Hawk. “And we count ourselves extremely fortunate to have had you aboard for - such a time as this.” She smiled at Hawk who dipped his head and examined the floor. “Your contributions to the successful outcome of our recent dilemma have been duly noted to Starfleet.”

*Larok nodded his head and replied;* " Thank you, but the honor is to serve. I am pleased that Lady Q's interest was peaked enough to bring me back from the Andromeda Galaxy in the past and allow me to have an effect on the outcome of these events. I am still slightly puzzled by her interference but as my old training officer used to say; do not look a gift horse in the mouth. I am not sure exactly what he meant by that but it seems to fit here.

After the Captain departed, Larok turned to face the Doctor." I have been cleared for duty by the Vulcan healers. They agree with me that I suffered no lasting effects, and my meditations have been enhanced by the presence of the Sehlat. If the Captain has no objections and it does not upset Commander Hawk I would like to keep him as a pet. As for helping Commander Falco, I am ready when you think he is."

<tag Loran>
Turning to face