Answers, Now! (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 08 May 2017 @ 1:23pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Aren Ban & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Amaranai Franklin & Ensign Miraj Derani
Edited on on 13 May 2017 @ 6:07pm

3,278 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: IRW Ganelax - Transporter Room, Brig
Timeline: MD -45, 0003 hrs

[ON]

The shimmer of green transporter particles quickly cleared from Saalm's vision. Her eyes snapped around to take in her new surroundings aboard IRW Ganelax, as well as its crew. Several Remans with disruptor rifles were present and were slowly processing moving the DuJa'Q's crew to their designated areas. The Orion didn't move for several moments, and instead remained on the transporter pad of the Romulan warbird. She searched with her eyes for any sign of Medara, but after not seeing her, resigned herself to the revelation that she'd declined to personally welcome her aboard. And though not the most diplomatic of moves, it was typical of Romulans and their kind.

A Reman guard stepped forward and motion for Saalm to step off the pad in order to clear the way for the next cycle of arrivals. She hesitantly obliged while still glancing around to see who else was present. Our of the corner of her eye, she saw both of the Wyatts in the corners as well as Derani. They were under guard by two Romulan security officers who didn't know what to make of the two women's restraints.

Miraj had arived on the transporter pad, hands still bound, and blinked around at her new surroundings. More strangers. Not even any of the new people from the DuJa'Q. What the hell was going on? A bat-faced Reman pulled her off the pad, drew her over to one side, frowning at her bound hands, as if not sure what to do with her.

He didn't move to take her anywhere, and she assumed he was waiting for someone else to arrive as well. She had to wait as well, and stood to watch the other arrivals. More and more of them came off the pads, not a single familiar face. She looked for Luke, and though the injured were brought over, he wasn't one of them and she turned cold inside. It seemed just as she found him, he was gone. Again. She was totally, utterly, alone.

Abbey had been one of the first to arrive and after saying goodbye to Eelim who had been 'guarding' her she was now in custody by the handful of Romulan security officer. She sat crossed legged on the floor a bruise on her head from where Mimi had taken her down and several cuts and gashes. She was still covered in crusted blood and on the sleeve was torn from when she applied first aid to her father.

Luke was laying on a stretcher-like device and was being attended to by Romulan medics, he was also under guard like the rest of the command staff though he was unsure why he spent most of his time dazed and confused or net even conscious. He was told several times to remain still and that the guards were just a precaution. Looking over to abbey and seeing her in such a state made his heart throb. With any luck, any confusion that had happened would be cleared up when the whole crew was aboard. After he heard what had happened he could see why she was under guard but despite his feelings for Miraj he may have done the same thing, even if it was just to get her out of harm's way from a retaliation from the Klingons.

Amaranai had gone straight to the transporter room so she was ready when the warbird began transporting survivors to the ship. Once on board the Ganelex, she wasn't really sure what to do. She wasn't told anything by Lirha or Ban, so she simply moved aside. One of the Kreanan officers looked at her and told her to leave the transporter room and head to the lounge if she didn't need medical attention. Amaranai looked herself over and figured that what she needed the most was rest and so she nodded and headed to where the officer had pointed.

"Franklin!" Saalm called out when she took sight of the gold-collared security officer being told to leave the transporter bay. She stepped forward and pushed her way past one of the Remans until she was closer to the Human. "I need you here," she said, with subtle dual meaning before pointing over towards where St. James and Derani were situated.

Before Amaranai exited the transporter room, she heard her voice. Her voice. Lirha. She turned around to see her commanding officer approaching. The request could have been taken different ways if others knew the private lives of the two officers.

"Yes, ma'am," she said and moved aside. "Thank you," she said, though, this was more of a whisper and only to Lirha.

All she could do, then, was wait somewhere else. At least here, she would be able to watch Lirha and imagine the two of them lying in bed together pushing these terrible events out of their minds with other, more pleasureable thoughts. But none of that would be possible for a while.

Allyndra had to stare down a couple of Romulans that wanted to hustle her off and out of the way. "No, no, no!" She said. "I am the chief medical officer and already have some of these assessments on the incoming patients. Please, just let me direct and provide what I can."

The Romulan officer finally gave in and nodded to the Reman guards. "I will have some of our medical personnel take notes. When you are ready we will direct your to our medical facility."

"Thank you..." she barely got out before injured began to arrive.

Aren had been the last of the command staff to beam aboard and looked at the assembled group. With the events on the Klingon vessels, Aren could tell that this day was only going to get longer. He took a step forward and stumbled slightly, his legs only feeling heavier. With is right hand, Aren reached around and felt the stab wound on his back. "I think I could use some treatment and maybe a sling?" Aren asked, only now just realizing how weak he felt.

"Come on, come on," Allyndra said heading over quickly. "Lean on me and let us get that looked at. I think the darn blade must have turned on a bone otherwise I don't think you would be here." She urged him along, the Romulans were acting as if they had not expected quite so many people and certainly not this many injured. "I will take care of this personally."

Aren didn't feel like arguing, though he wasn't about to look weak in the eyes of the Romulans or the rest of his crew. "I can...walk. I just need a moment to get my bearings." He said, whipping blood that poured from a nasty slice from his forehead where Chorag and head butted him. He made sure to follow Allyndra and the rest of the Starfleet personnel why they were finally escorted out the transporter room.

"Why are these two prisoners detained?" asked one of the Romulan guards, pointing towards Derani and St. James, the Mirror version of Abbey.

As Saalm approached with Franklin in tow, she held up a hand to allow herself to speak. "These two were involved in Chorag's mutiny attempt. But I do not know why, or which of them is guilty." If either, she admitted to herself, not fully knowing the details of what'd transpired. "I request that you place both of them in the brig while I speak with my other officers," she requested.

One of the Romulans raised his head, as if taking instructions and suggestions from the Orion rear admiral were somehow beneath him. But then he complied without a word of protest. "It will be done as you desire, under Medara's orders," he replied. He motioned to his other guard who reached down to haul both Abbey and Miraj to their feet and lead them towards the exit.

"I want my CO!" Miraj protested as she was pulled up, "Or my XO. I want to speak to someone I know. I want to know what you've done with them!"

Abbey rolled her eyes "What so you can try and kill them again" She snarled feeling the anger rear its ugly head back into her mind, suppressing it she allowed herself to be carted off leaving the pink haired traitor behind her.

"I didn't try to kill anyone! They were forcing me to help!" Miraj shouted back. "You don't know anything about it. You weren't even there!" She didn't know who this woman was, but she wasn't going to be shouted at by a stranger when all she was trying to do was save people.

Allyndra caught the exchange and started over but they were already hearding the two off. She had more to attend to before she could handle Miraj.


Brig

The door to IRW Ganelax's large detention center opened, and both Derani and St. James were given forceful pushed into their backs by their guards as an indication to enter. A single open cell loomed in front of them, devoid of any amenities and only containing a single cot and head.

"Move!" yelled one of the Romulans.

With reluctance, Miraj moved forward, sitting down on the bed with a resigned sigh, her day was getting better and better. She sat back and leant against the wall. Hopefully they wouldn't be there long.

Abbey dug in her heals, at some point, the guards moving Miraj had overtaken her and in some twisted logic she was being put into the same cell. "I WILL NOT SHARE A CELL WITH THIS TRAITOR!" She said showing the first attempts of struggle against her captors. "Lock me in a two by two torture cell I don't care, but not with her!" She said pointing directly at Miraj with her blood stained hands.

The Romulan guard escorting Abbey noticed her outburst when she was shown the cell. With a quick and forceful motion, he pulled one of her arms behind her back then bulled it upwards to lock her shoulder and torso into his grip. "Silence, Federation traitor!" he hissed at her, then pushed the Mirror Universe woman into the cell with the half-Boslic.

Miraj shuffled along the bed so she was as far away from the new woman as she could get. "Look, I don't want to be here either. Just leave me alone." She shut her eyes. She didn't want to be harangued whilst they got wherever they were going.

Abbey was furious but instead of shouting and cursing everyone to Hades and back she sat on the opposite side of the brig and stared at Miraj with a burning hatred. If the woman gave her any more reason she doubted she'd be able to stop herself from killing her.

Miraj could feel the glare even with her eyes closed, and shifted uncomfortably. The silence ground on her like a millstone, the pressure to fill it relentless. "I wasn't trying to kill anyone. I was trying to warn them."

Allyndra finally managed to make it to the brig area. She could hear the words being exchanged. The guards there were not exactly friendly and looked at her in suspicion. "I am a doctor and one of those prisoners I believe is having a neurological problem."

"Please wait," one of the guards said and went to talk to someone superior.

Allyndra moved toward the force field. "Hello Miraj, do you remember me from the Klingon ship?"

Miraj shook her head. She was the same species a the doctor, but she didn't remember her. "I've not seen you before."

While Derani and the doctor spoke to each other, Saalm listened. Something didn't seem right -- the conn officer's answers were that of someone who couldn't identify those people around her, which concerned the Orion. She looked over to Ban, then to Franklin, and spoke quietly to the two of them out of earshot from anyone else. "What is wrong with Ensign Derani?"

Since Lirha had asked her to stay, Amaranai followed her - not like a puppy or a junior officer, but like an equal - wanting to find out exactly what was going on with Miraj. She listened to the young woman as she talked nonsense. Didn't she recognize anyone?

"I'm not sure," Amaranai said. "She's been talking like that since we arrived on this ship. It's almost as if she's got sudden memory loss."

Considering what happened, Amaranai thought that it could have been triggered by the trauma. Perhaps with a little time, Miraj could make a full recovery.

"She was hit with the phaser on stun and fell into the flight console. It seemed like she hit her head fairly hard." Aren offered, as he was careful not to make any sudden movements. Allyndra had stopped the bleeding a the Romulans had been decent enough to give the detains basic medical treatment and a sling, which had eased some of Aren's pain.

Allyndra was trying to think and asked Miraj, "Ensign, listen to my voice only. Do you remember my voice on the last ship? Perhaps previous?"

The hybrid closed her eyes and listened to the voice. It was very similar to Allyndra's. If she hadn't already seen that she wasn't, she would have thought they were the same. "You do sound a lot like her," she allowed.

She nodded and said, "Thank you." She then turned aside and pulled Ban out of ear shot. "Sir, I think our ensign might have some sort prosopagnosia, what is known as face blindness. She is having trouble associating faces with people."

Aren nodded, understanding that this could become a serious issue if not treated. "With what you have available is there anyway to determine the extent the of damage to her?"

"Unknown for sure until I have time to run much deeper scans and do a full assessment. I am just guessing mind you that there was some sort of neurological injury. How much, and if it can be corrected or not is not something I can say yet. Unfortunately...." Allyndra looked back at the flight officer. "If that is the case the same area that handles face recognition in some humanoid species is also the area that handles spatial concepts, angels that sort of thing."

He had seen enough head injuries in his time in Starfleet to know what could happen if there flight officer didn't get treatment and quickly. "If we don't get her more astute medical care soon, she might not fully recover." Aren said just loud enough for Allyndra to here.

"Correct sir. She might not be able to handle flight control duties. Again, how much damage, how long it will take, what remediation is not something I can answer at this point."

"Then I think it would be prudent to petition the Romulans." Aren said as pushed himself off the ground and walked over to Lirha. "Sir, we should ask the Romulans for Ensign Derani and Commander Warraquim have full access to medical facilities, Warraquim thinks that Derani may have a serious head trauma and it needs to be treated right away or it could cause permanent brain damage." Aren explained urging Lirha to make a formal request for medical aid.

Saalm listened to her XO's request as he revealed the early diagnosis to her. Looking at him with surprise evident in her green features, she then glanced through the brig's transparent force field to Derani, then to Warraquim, and finally back to Ban. It would most certainly explain the reason for her recent strange outbursts. And the mention of possible brain trauma greatly concerned her. She opened her mouth to agree, but then remembered the original reason why she'd been placed in the brig.

"I will arrange it. But what of her involvement with Chorag?" Saalm hated to ask, but knew it was her duty to remind him of the predicament. "Was she intellectually compromised before we entered the Neutral Zone? Or is this a result of her phaser wound?"

"That is something I don't know. And to be honest we can't know that question until Warraquim is able to run some scans. As for her involvement...well I will be honest, I don't like it, there were a number of things she could have done that she didn't, but that doesn't mean we withhold treatment. She is still a Federation citizen and, for the moment, a Starfleet officer." Aren said wincing after an attempted shrug. He knew that helping Derani was the right thing, though he did wonder what was going to become of her.

The security officer listened to the commander and then to Lirha. She thought about Miraj and what could have happened to her.

"Well," she started. "I don't know anything about her being intellectually compromised, but just after we got about the Klingon vessel, she and I had a conversation. Miraj seemed completely with it."

Amaranai sighed.

"I hope she's okay," she added.

Aren nodded in agreement. "I hope that everything will be okay." He turned his head to look at the ensign, for a moment. "Regardless of past conversations, she needs to be treated, and detained as an accessory to attempted mutiny until we can conduct a formal inquiry that will either exonerate her or recommend judicial proceedings. We need to do this by the book...or as close to the book as we can, all things considered." He said motioning with his right hand to encompass the entire cell. He again turned his head to look at the ensign. "But before that happens she needs a real medical facility, and treatment as soon as possible." He finished looking back at Lirha and Franklin.

As much as Saalm wanted to keep Derani constrained within the Romulan warbird's bridge until she could get some answers, the sound reasoning of her XO was beyond refute. She agreed with his assessment and, like him, felt that the well being and safe care of her crew was the priority. The rest would soon be figured out. "Very well."

Turning to one of the Romulan guards, Saalm, pointed towards Derani. "She is injured and needs medical attention," she began. "Both my medical and executive officers believe she has suffered brain trauma. Let us take her to your sickbay. Please?" she asked, appealing to the guards sense of compassion.

Clad in a silver-gray uniform with crossing shoulder sashes, the Romulan man adjusted his footing to betray a sense of uncomfortableness at the suggestion. He looked to the other guard nearby, then to the brig's force field, and finally back to the Orion and her Trill and Human associates. "I will escort you," he replied in acknowledgment. "But this woman is, as you say, a traitor. She'll be under guard wherever she goes."

Aren nodded in understanding. To be honest, Aren wouldn't have wanted it any other way. "Very well, thank you for your quick response. One of our security personal, a Lieutenant Junior Grade Galan, will be guarding her at all times while she is in sickbay." Aren said to the Romulan guard, be fore turning to Warraquim and Derani. "Do what you can for the Ensign." He said as he watched them get up to leave.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer

Ensign Abbey St. James
Security/Tactical Officer
[PNPC Wyatt]

LCDR Luke Wyatt
Strategic Operations Officer

Lt. jg Amaranai Franklin
Assistant Chief Security / Tactical Officer

ENS Miraj Derani
Chief Flight Control Officer

CMDR Allyndra Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer

CMDR Aren Ban
First Officer

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