Sickbay Surprise

Posted on Wed Nov 13th, 2024 @ 8:58pm by Captain Aisling Banerjee & Commander Maxwell Fitzroy & Lieutenant Commander Subak Ren & Lieutenant Commander Dar'Kulthislian th'Voluthrianshain & Lieutenant Commander J'haz Sasha & Lieutenant T’Ux & Lieutenant JG Shijo Yara

1,508 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Crew Shakedown
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: 79379.73

SICKBAY

Aisling limped into Sickbay. She would have preferred to have conducted a staff meeting in a more dignified manner but her leg hurt like hell and damn it, she was tired of limping. And according to Elle the principles in their drama were all still there at the moment.

She paused and regarded everyone, took note of the two older men in non-Starfleet clothing.

"All medical personnel save for Doctor T'Ux, please leave," she said, "Sickbay just became a conference room for the forseeable future."

"But what if-" a young nurse began, right before Nurse S'Lace gently but firmly grabbed the young woman by the elbow and steered her towards the exit, murmuring to her, "There is this item called a 'first aid kit'..."

Aisling limped to the nearest examination table, levered herself onto it, she said, "This is Commander Sasha, our new Science Officer. Doctor, I have done harm to my leg, kindly cut open my trousers so that I may preserve some small scrap of dignity, and see to the puncture wound I have inexpertly seen to."

She glanced at the others, "Believe it or not, we might be dealing with beings from a "mirror universe".

Ren's expression darkens. "Well, that would explain it, then," he says. Not a twin Fitzroy in the ordinary sense, but in the rather more dangerous sense.

Fitzroy sighs "I was hoping it was just a Transporter accident clone. That's less of a pain in the rear end."

He turns to the Captain " Could they be working on the same problem we are, but from their end?"

Sasha had already repurposed one of the displays and sick Bay and was scrolling through reams of data. Images of the 13 individuals along with a Cascade of data for each one spilling across the screen made for a challenging corundum. She continued to make adjustments even as she looked to the gathered individuals surrounding her.

"That's as good a working theory as any. It would be refreshing to have allies attempting to resolve a particular issue from a mirror universe as opposed to a group with less than benevolent goals. But if that's the case we're going to need verification from a trusted source."

Aisling blinked, "Wait, are you saying you..." she frowned thoughtfully, "That is an unpleasant coincidence."

Fitzroy mutters "I don't trust coincidences...."

She turned to the two apparent civilians, "And you are...?"

"Elgan Cadwaller, Publican," the first said as Elle helped him sit up, "At your service. Although whether or not I still have a pub is unknown."

"S. V. Jones, sometimes Publican," Jones replied with a slight smile.

"He is sort of my disreputable Uncle," Elle explained as her tunic turned from blue to white and he hair fell about her shoulders, "Whew! Blue is not my color."

"Commander," Aisling said, "Commander Fitzroy first officer, liuetenant Commander Subak our Operations officer, Doctor T'Ux," she paused, and then added, "And Elle, ship's artificial intelligence. And before you ask, the Admiralty is aware of her existence."

T’Ux would help Aisling over to a biobed while she talked and did the introductions. There was only a grunt made when she mentioned his name because he was quite focused on getting her leg fixed. Cutting of trousers, treating of the wound, it necessary he would use a dermal regenerator. Though Aisling would be as right as rain soon enough.

“Mirror universes… but that’ll be quite a lot of them here,” the Caitian muttered. He had heard of such situations although they were rare and few between. “We should plan for possible infiltration among other things. Considering somehow they’re able to track us down. We could chip each other under the skin to check if we are who we are while on board. Temporarily.”

Once Elle was pronounced as a AI, Sasha attention was drawn to her like a new puzzle. Even as her data collated behind her on the display, the science officer began to scan with her tricorder.

"When did you achieve sentience, Elle? Is this a recent development for you or have you been self aware for a significant period of time?"

Elle turned to the Science Officer and brightened, "Oh, are you interested in my origin story? Devin and I are working on a musical that details my origins. Lyrically it is quite challenging; writing songs is difficult, although I am rather proud of the opening number, 'Boldly Go!'. I-"

"Elle," Aisling murmured tiredly from where she sat on the edge of the diagnostic table.

"Right, yes. Later."

Aisling turned her attention to the XO, "Am I to understand that you ran into at least one of our counterparts down there? Whom was it?"

Fitzroy nods "Either that or a teleporter clone....." He sights "None of those options are good ones."

She glanced at T'Ux, Subak and the two apparent civilians, a thoughtful frown on her face.

Subak gives a nod in greeting as the new Science Officer is introduced. He declines to offer the traditional Vulcan hand sign. "No, neither option is very good," he says to Fitzroy. "Here I was hoping I was just seeing things, but this...makes an unfortunate amount of sense." He rubs his forehead, likely still dealing with a headache.

AIRLOCK ONE:

The security guard stood at attention and regarded Commander Dar'Kulthislian with interest. Her hands had been held behind her back at rest but immediately dropped to her sides when it was obvious he was approaching the entrance to the umbilical that led to Kepler.

"May I help you, Commander?" she inquired, one hand near the phaser at her hip, the other holding a PADD...

Dar'Kulthislian stopped and stood at attention in front of the guard. "Liutenant Commander Dar'Kulthislian th'Voluthrianshain reporting. I was contacted by a Mission Specialist named Elle." He paused for a moment "I am here to speak with Captain Banerjee." He waited for the guard to verify and allow him entrance.

The guard's eyebrows rose at that, her palm was now on the grip of her phaser as she tapped the back of her comm badge with the back of her other hand.

"Lieutenant Shijo, Wells here at the umbilical. There is a lieutenant Commander Dar'Kulthislian here who claims he was directed to Kepler by a 'mission specialist' named Elle?"

SICKBAY

A voice cut in overhead:

"Lieutenant Shijo, Wells here at the umbilical. There is a lieutenant Commander Dar'Kulthislian here who claims he was directed to Kepler by a 'mission specialist' named Elle?"

Aisling's attention was drawn towards the holographic representation of the AI. Elle glanced at Aisling, then took a long step towards the right so Jones was between her and her Captain's penetrating stare.

"Might as well have him sent here," Aisling said to Shijo, "Since they were already invited..."

"Wells" replied Yara, "the Captain says send them up. And have them guided to the Sickbay."

AIRLOCK

"Understood, sir," Wells replied. She tapped her badge again, "Crewman Moody, if you would come down here to the end of the umbilical? Lieutenant wants some escorted to the Sickbay."

"On my way." A male voice replied.

Less than a minute later the doors cycled open and a male two meter tall human exited. He too was armed with a phaser. Without a word he took the tricorder off his hip, gave the Commander a cursory scan and grunted. Replacing the tricorder he said with a smile, "If you would come with me, sir, I'll take you right to Sickbay. Captain is being seen to."

Dar'Kulthislian's antenna both twitched involuntary. Nothing about this situation seemed right. Armed guards with hands on phasers? Dar' wondered to himself what happened to cause this kind of security response. "Very well, please lead on" was his curt reply.

SICKBAY

Aisling returned her attention to the others, specifically the three members of her crew that had seemed reluctant to answer her question. She did not know these people, had not yet formed a rapport with them. Had they seen her down there, which is why they were reluctant to respond?

Or...was it something else? What if...they were delaying her? What if...

Leath and Duranik. If there were two attacks, what if there was a third? And then she knew what she had to do.

"Elle," she spoke calmly, then snapped, "Seal Sickbay and gas it!"

All at once the isolation protocols kicked in and Anesthezine was pumped into the room. Aisling could only hope that S'Lace would be responsible enough to take her up fi-

Aisling found herself in the corridor outside Sickbay, suspended in mid-air. She realized Elle, once more in the appearance as the EMH, was holding her in her arms.

"Figured you did not want to take a nap," Elle explained with a smile.

Aisling smiled despite the gravity of the situation. Just then a tall, solidly built Andorian appeared, escorted by an almost as imposing human security guard.

"Ah!" Aisling said from her position still in Elle's arms, "Commander Dar'Kulthislian, I presume. Welcome aboard the Kepler...."

 

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