Creeping Death, Part II
Anomaly TrekMUX Episode (#02-002)
Infirmary - Station 419 - [IC]
Throughout this room, the sound of forced air and the electric hiss of Level Three Containment Fields can be heard. The light blue fabric which covers the walls does little to disguise the severe sterility of the place. Eight medi-beds lie side by side down one wall. Above them, the monitors blink softly as they display appropriate medical information. On another wall, the extensive Medical Library computer's display screen shows tests in progress, simulations being run, and station monitoring information. Along the other wall, a series of small examining rooms sit with identical sets of medical testing equipment. Moving through all this is the quiet and efficient staff of the Chief Medical Officer, whose office is opposite of the infirmary's entrance.
Holliday has pulled the horrible body of St. James from cold storage and set him up for the autopsy. The body is yellow in color, and in places, crystals are breaking through the surface of the skin. It creaks as he is moved. T'sal has taken the rest of this shift off for personal time, and the Infirmary is quiet except for the normal hissing of the machinery and the dull rumble of the deckplates.
Holliday 'suits up' for the examination: gloves and forcefield. He frowns a bit, looking over the man. "Computer, begin recording. Autopsy exam, Chief St. James.." He glances at the chronometer, "Began, 22:15 hours, Stardate 51506. Symptoms of viral agent appear to have increased slightly since T.O.D. Residual growth?" He begins to run a deep tissue scan to image the damage to St. James'.
The computer chimes in the affirmative. The deep tissue scan reveals more of the construct of the crystals. The crystals, while delicate individually, actually have an amazing resilience - they can bend fairly far without breaking. And the way the structure is organized is actually a marvel of engineering - together, they form an extremely tough and complex structure that could withstand quite a beating.
Poole arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind her.
Poole has arrived.
Holliday continues to run a variety of scans, running thru the basic autopsy protocol- more specialized tests can be run later depending on what is found in the preliminary exam. "The silicon crystals formed in the body's tissues seem to have organized into a.. self organized structure?" He pauses a moment to ponder this..
Doctor Holliday is wearing long gloves, and is working on what appears to be an autopsy of St. James. The body of St. James is horribly yellow, and in places, some sort of rock is punching up through the skin from underneath.
Gwen wanders into the infirmary, her left hand clutching her right arm. She stops in her tracks as she spots the autopsy.... thinking for a moment, she decides to stay, and coughs once rather loudly to announce herself.
Holliday looks up from the task at hand to the entrance. "Evening, Lt. Sounds like a bad cough." He smiles, looks her over once. "What can I do for you?"
Poole shrugs slightly, though it moves her right arm and makes her grimace. "I think my arm is still banged up from the Etowah crashing.... It was alright, but it seems to have flared up today." She moves a little closer, though she's still a little grossed out by the dead body.
As Poole speaks, there is a slow creaking noise heard from somewhere in the direction of Holliday, like a heavy boot crushing ice-capped snow.
Holliday nods. "I'd been meaning to ask you about that.." He begins, now looking towards the source of the sound..
Gwen's eyes stare past Holliday to the source of the noise, her feet bringing her a step or two closer.
St. James, or what used to be St. James - his arm has moved approximately two inches. Could be the body is still settling - like a human corpse will sometimes give off gas and burp, or residual electrical impulses will make the cheek twitch.
Poole blinks her eyes a few times, staying where she is. "Did, um... Did you just hear and see that?" She looks to Holliday, trying to verify that she isn't quite that insane.
Holliday frowns. "Could be normal decomposition I guess, though the body's been in cryo since T.O.D.." He doesn't sound too convinced. "Well, I just started this.." He gestures towards the body and chuckles, "But I'm already ready for a break. Why don't you have a seat.." Indicates the biobeds, and he picks up a hand sensor. "Computer, we'll resume the autopsy examination shortly. Hold log."
The computer chimes in the affirmative as Holliday moves to help Poole.
Behind Holliday, there is a metallic buzz as something passes through the containment field. Over Holliday's shoulder, Poole can see the body of St. James sit up quickly like something out of a 20th century horror film, the flesh drooping off the now crystalline creature. The nightmare actually passes /through/ the containment field as if it were not there, throwing its legs over the side of the biobed and trying to stand.
"Um... umm..." Gwen keeps mumbling, she raises a finger to point behind Holliday. "Doctor, look out!"
Holliday turns slightly at the noise. "What th'!" He takes a few steps sideways away from the 'animated crystal thing'.. "I'm always afraid this is going to happen.. Never had, til now.." He comments dryly, then "Computer, activate a higher level containment field around.." What is it? "The remains of St. James."
The thing is human shaped, but it is far from human any more. It creaks as it moves, sliding off the biobed, one arm outstretched for Holliday as it takes a step forward. It makes no other sound than the crunching of ice as it moves. The computer complies and erects a forcefield, however it takes another step forward and with a metallic 'whump', it passes through that one, too. It lashes out, seizing Holliday by the throat. It's 'fingers' start to press together, and Holliday can feel the precious oxygen suddenly very hard to get to.
Holliday says "ghgh. Ehhk."
The creature continues to crush Holliday's throat, moving his arm down as the Doctor slumps down to his knees.
Gwen's eyes get really large, obviously she's never seen anything like it.... Not an ancient movie buff by any means. "I don't think that will stop it, Doctor." When the creature starts attacking Holliday, she taps her combadge. "Lt. Poole to Security... we need a heavily armed team in sick bay, this is an emergency." In the meantime, she lashes out with a kick at the creature.
Holliday's hand scrabbles on the console beside him, seeking ..most likely, the sonic scalpel he'd intended to use in the autopsy.. He's running out of time though..
The creature is expressionless - it's eyes are a pale yellow, but they do not move about, just stare into space. It continues to crush the good Doctor's throat. Holliday is starting to turn a purple color.
<GAME> Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Unarmed Combat skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
The creature grab's Poole's leg as the kick lands, and it pulls her up into the air by her ankle, then tosses her like a rag doll into the bulkhead. At that moment, Holliday's finger clutch around the laser scalpel.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Fitness skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Poole takes 1 levels of damage and is now at 4/7.
Laser.. Sonic.. The difference in this case is of minimal importance. Holliday activates the tool and brings it to bear on the creature's arm..
Gwen hits the bulkhead pretty hard, but at an angle... perhaps a few bruises, a broken rib, but she's not dead. She struggles to get up again and go at the creature once more.
<GAME> Holliday spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Holliday contests his Primitive Weaponry skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
The Doctor brings the scalpel to bear, but can't quite get it turned on.
Gwen goes for another kick, this time sweeping at the thing's legs... perhaps she could topple it?
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Unarmed Combat skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
Poole tries a leg sweep. Her foot hits against the crystal creature, and instead of toppling, it lifts its leg and slams down on Poole's side. Bright lights of pain pop before her eyes and the world starts to swim.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Fitness skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Dramatically Fails!
Holliday discards the scalpel and struggles on survival instinct now, trying to imbalance the creature and break it's grip... Maybe some of his Starfleet training remains in motor memory..
Poole's hips and spinal column are crushed in a sickening sound of breaking bone as the creature shifts its weight down onto the woman. There is nothing for her to do but scream in abject pain - followed by a thankfully quick black-out.
<CONTEST> Holliday (claiming disadvantage) contests his Unarmed Combat skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Holliday kicks and struggles, but is starting to pass out. The doors whoosh open, finally, as security arrives. The point man fires off a shot from his phaser rifle, however it's just a tickle to the yellow crystal horror crushing and stomping its way across the officers. It tosses the now-limp Holliday aside as it starts to move toward the entrance to the Infirmary to take out the security team. "Stun has no effect! Override heavy stun and kill settings!" someone shouts. They continue to blast at it, setting their streams higher and higher and higher, shooting one at a time, together - anything to stop this terrible ice-crushing creature before it can make its way among the civilians.
Finally, after unloading their weapons on maximum kill settings, three of them together manage to push it back, then finally vaporize the creature in an explosion of sparks and shards of crystal.
Gwen, of course, is out for the count. She's not moving, barely breathing as well. Though she isn't conscious, tears still stream down her cheeks.
...
When Holliday wakes - he is lying on the biobed. Over him is T'sal. Poole is still unconscious, but at least she's no longer dying.
Once the flow of air to his lungs, and more importantly, the flow of blood to his brain is returned, it doesn't take too long. Holliday rubs his head and says hoarsely, "I guess I'd be cranky if I woke up being autopsied too.." He tries to sit up..
Head clearing, Holliday says, "So much for your night off, T'sal.. Status?"
T'sal says, "Lt. Poole I could only stabilize. But she has massive internal bleeding, her organs are damaged, and her spine and hips are crushed. I repaired the bone, however the spinal cord may be severed. I've started growing new organs for her."
Holliday groans. "Good." A pause. "May get to test some of the stuff I've been reading up on then." He says, his tone almost the exact opposite of the 'tone' of the words themselves.. He's sitting on the bed's edge now.. "What'd you do on me? And where's.." Cough. "Our ex-ensign?"
T'sal says, "Your wounds were mostly superficial. However if security had arrived any later, you'd have been dead from asphyxiation. A dermal regenerator was sufficient."
T'sal gestures toward security, who are cleaning up the shards of crystal and the rotting flesh. "There."
Holliday smiles weakly. "Leading to superficial asphyxiation then?" He half chuckles. "Shoulda played possum sooner, maybe." Shakes head. "Well, I should be ok to go back to work then.." Another weak chuckle. "Computer, it looks like I won't be finishing that autopsy. Download log." He stands. "Let's get that stuff in containment then.. I'm going to want to look at it later.. And we'll need to run some decontamination sweeps on people and place. Nurse, ETA on the replacement organs?" He steps over to look at the readout over Poole..
T'sal nods once. "They will be available in eight-point-two minutes."
Holliday nods, looks to the chronometer. How long has he been out? "Albright. Lets suit up and prep a surgical area. They should be ready by then.."
...
Nevaren arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.
Nevaren has arrived.
Still limping, if only slightly, Nevaren makes his way through the infirmary's main doors. "Hey, Doc?" he says, not exactly looking at what's happening as he speaks, "I've been waiting in the 'Zone for over an hour."
Gwen is lying quite still on a biobed, probably kept from consciousness by drugs of some form or variety. She looks in really bad shape.... like she tried to fight against a brick wall.
Nevaren stops quite suddenly, seeing Poole on the biobed. "What in the name of the prophets..." His voice trails of as he looks at Holliday. "What the hell happened to her, Doc?
Holliday steps from one of the anterior rooms of the Infirmary, dressed in red surgical scrubs.. "Ahh!" He raises a hand to his head as if just remembering.. "Sorry, Nev.. Something came up. -Got- up and walked, actually.." Pause. "She got in the way of a big rock.." Another pause, "Where to begin.."
Itaani arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind her.
Itaani has arrived.
Gwen is lying quite still on a biobed, probably kept from consciousness by drugs of some form or variety. She looks in really bad shape.... like she tried to fight against a brick wall. (repose... not like I'm going to be saying much...)
Itaani peers in... "Did I hear someone say..? she asks the nearest nurse...
Holliday's dressed in surgical scrubs, and is pulling on the gloves as he speaks. "Probably, Itaani. What did they say?" He looks to Nevaren, "Remember that silicon based sample I sent you a couple days ago?"
Nevaren shakes his head sheepishly. "Been a bit busy. I read your report though.""
Itaani steps in, "The Lieutenant?
Holliday's uncharacteristically silent regarding Itaani's question. He shrugs to Nevaren, "What was left of St. James just got up of the slab like something out of a bad holo and dismantled both of us before security got here ... I'm not sure of all the details myself. I was a bit busy being throttled at the time." He rubs his throat..
Itaani murmurs, "n'kaisha..."
Itaani glances around the place again..
Nevaren shivers. "Where's the body now? I'll take a look at it."
.oO (Gwen's off in her own little world at the moment, one very similar to the real world... She's back on the Aegis again, the future one not the present Aegis. A glance reveals she's on the bridge, and at the stations around her are familiar faces.... Balin, Accolon, Nevaren, Holliday, Itaani, Ghorev... Tyler and Jade as well.)
In the -real- world, Gwen's closed eyes are moving in a type of REM sleep.
Holliday gestures towards the center console, where a couple of 'jars' with integral containment fields sit. The fields hum softly, and the jars are filled with yellowish crystals.. and some other, organic materials. "They just finished sweeping up, Nev."
A display flashes on the console, and Holliday gestures to the others. "If you want to wait in the.. waiting area.. I'll let you know, Itaani, as soon as we get done here.."
Itaani says "If we're all clear, then... Those crystals are becoming a real security threat."
.oO( On the bridge of her dream ship, Gwen looks forward at the viewscreen. The ship is at red alert.... It's rocking under attacks. Balin speaks up, "Structural Integrity fields are failing, shields are down..." Then Tyler says, "It's time to abandon ship... You're going to die Gwen.")
Itaani slips out into the waiting area, and stands there, leaning against the wall.
Holliday nods, chuckles. "Yeah, I guess so.. Three casualties off one infection? Hadn't thought of it quite that way.. Maybe you can fill her in, Nev?" He nods once more, apologetically, and then raises the 'mask' over his mouth, leaving only his eyes exposed- eyes that actually gleam a little- this is his area of expertise, after all..
He then steps towards where T'sal and the rest of the staff have prepped a surgery area and are bringing Poole in, attaching a surgical 'clamshell over her biobed and lowering the overhead sensor array- it's 'around the corner- their actions can be seen, somewhat, thru the heavy sterile fields surrounding, but details are vague..
<GAME> Holliday spends a courage point.
Nevaren shakes his head again. "I only heard about St. James infection. But from your reports doc, you say the virus is related to the one that affected Balin AND is also related to the crystal circuits?"
.oO (Dream Itaani turns around from Ops. "Hailing frequencies open... Would you like to make a hail?")
<CONTEST> Holliday (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Science (Surgery) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Holliday (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Science (Surgery) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
<CONTEST> Holliday (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Science (Surgery) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Fails!
Nevaren steps towards the jars, gingerly. Though he is dressed off duty, he has his trusty satchel with him as always. he pulls out his tricorder and flips it open. He begins a scan of the remnants, carefully noting each and every find he makes.
.oO ("No." Is Gwen's response to Tyler, it comes out in the real world as well... a low, but understandable, "No." She turns her head as Itaani speaks, her frown deepening as she vaguely remembers that she probably is dying... the rock monster must have killed her. Is this the after life? She seems to make up her mind and responds to Itaani. "My sister? Is she here?")
.oO (Dream Itaani is suddenly dressed like a medieval Andorian priestess from some movie. "I will attempt to patch you through, Poole, child of Poole....)
.oO( In the dream, there is a bloop from the computer, and Majel Barret's voice says, "God is not aboard the Aegis...")
Holliday treats Poole's injuries.
.oO (The ship rocks heavily once again, the structural integrity field... or what's left of it, is fluxuating rapidly. Gwen clings onto her chair, not wanting to let go. She knows she's dead now, or close to it. At that realization she looks to Itaani, "Where's my mum?... Oh wait... They aren't dead yet.")
Itaani touches a few buttons on her dream-console, again in uniform. "We're in the between-place, now, captain."
Meanwhile, back in the waking world, Holliday's transplanted the cloned organs, and sets to work at rebuilding Poole's spine.. After a time, he steps back and sighs loud enough to be heard thru the surgical mask. "Well, that's all I'm going to get today.. I keep fooling around in there any more and I'm running the risk of doing new damage.. Let's close." And he and his staff begin to do so..
.oO( All around her in her dream Aegis stand Gwen's fellow crewmen. They all wear smiles,... well, everyone but Balin... but he's usually more grumpy than happy anyway. The red alert disappears and the ships stops rocking underfoot. Balin speaks up, "The ship has survived. You are not dead yet, Gwen. Get out of here.")
There is a slight buzz as Holliday steps thru the 'airlock' of the double containment field around the operating table, pulling down his mask as he does so..
A few hours have passed since the beginning of the operation. Nevaren is asleep on a couch in the waiting area. His tricorder lies on the med console, downloading it's data into the med and engineering computers for cross referencing.
Itaani stands, waiting much as she was before. Her chaka, sheathed and still folded, is cradled over one arm as she waits.
Holliday hasn't changed from his scrubs, though he's removed the hood and gloves, and he too sits waiting, although he's seated at one of the consoles, watching the biofeedback from Poole's 'bed.
Nevaren stirs in his sleep, fidgeting uncomfortably. Like he's having a bad dream.
Gwen's breathing is better than before, as well as her coloring... her cheeks are flushed pink. She looks serene as she lays on the biobed. After long minutes her pulse quickens slightly, and starts to wake up.
Itaani .oO If one more bad thing happens, I'm going to stick it like a flying tlaak."
Holliday stands, and goes over to nearer the bed. Not too near, but 'standing by'..
Rather abruptly her eyes flicker open and she almost immediately closes them again. Gwen speaks softly, "Dim lights......." She doesn't dare move, but she goes through a mental inventory of her body based on what she can feel. "I feel like a wall fell on me."... She says this to no one in particular, hell she's still adjusting to the lights and can't tell who's there.
.oO(Deep in the Dilitium Mines of Clourr, Nevaren stumbles, the rags on his back tearing on stalactites and sharp edges. Two Cardassian Glins chase after him, Neurowhips in hand. One shouts and points as he see's Nev on the edge of a chasm. Both the cardy's run at Him, ready to let loose their vengence. Nev looks at them, then at the chasm, then steps off into the darkness. Falling... falling.... falliiiiiinnnnggg......)
Nevaren shoots into a sitting position, making a frightened gurgling noise. He quickly looks around, taking a few moments to realize that he is still on the station. He rubs his eyes, mumbling "Is the operation over..?"
Itaani says "Not as yet, she's been stable for some time."
Nevaren nods slowly, his bloodshot eyes looking around the room. "Good. I don't need to lose another friend to Sinclaire.. not this way."
Itaani nods.
Holliday reaches over and dims the light over the biobed, also switching on the 'patient controls'- kinda like the handset on an old 20th century hospital bed. "Mornin'. Or evenin'. That's not too far off what happened." He comments, regarding her status. "What do you remember?"
"I remember that thing with it's hands around your neck," Gwen chokes for a moment, then closes her eyes. "I...... I..... I didn't want you to die, Doctor... Pierce." She opens her eyes, "I don't remember anything after that, it happened too quickly. I attacked, then I was out.... Adrift."
Itaani hrms, absently, in the waiting room,
Holliday nods, smiles a little. "Well, I appreciate your concern, Gwen. I wasn't too keen on dying either.. Glad to have you back with us again.. Lets see how you're doing.." He steps to the foot of the bed, reaches to take Poole's foot thru the silvery blanket, hoping for the reflexive curl of toes as he sqeezes at a nerve.
Gwen's toe does curl, but as soon as it does, she cries out in pain. "Ow, ow, ow, ow...." She grips the sides of the biobed with her hands so tightly her knuckles are white, gritting her teeth as well. "That -bloody- hurt!"
Holliday frowns slightly, releasing the foot as soon as she begins to cry out. "I was going to ask if that tickled.." He looks a little concerned. "I guess I'll split the difference and be glad you feel it though."
Gwen shakes her head, "It's alright... Already fading. There, see." She moves her toes underneath the sheets easily now.
Holliday nods. "Well, you've displayed a healthy reflex response anyway. So far so good. And I bet you've hardly noticed the injury to your arm."
"I was coming in to get it checked.... guess it's the least of my worries." Gwen relaxes her toes again, then takes a deep breath. "That thing hurt me bad, didn't it?"
Holliday nods, taking a seat on the biobed beside the one Poole lies upon. "Yes. Guess you picked a good place to get hurt in.. It would have been worse without the facilities on hand." He says frankly. "You should see the 'bus that hit you though." Gestures to the jars on the center console. A pause, a look of concern crossing his face. "But ..what leads you to say that?"
Nevaren leans back in his chair, looking at the ceiling. His face is colored with concern and worry as he waits for the doc to make his final prognosis.
"I feel different from before.... Patched together." Gwen yawns, raising a hand to her mouth to stop it. "And if I caught what you were looking for by curling my toes... you were checking to make sure my spine was either undamaged, or repaired." She says this last bit matter-of-factly, eyeing the doctor carefully. "Probably the latter...."
Holliday nods. "Well, your records will show a shattered pelvis and several fractured vertebrae from this, though I'm hoping there won't be much more to show for it.. I replaced a few organs too while I was in there, free of charge. It'll probably take a few days for your body to get accustomed to the new organs, and it will take a while for the bones and nerves to mend, even with 'stimulators.." A pause. "Well, do you feel up to some visitors, Gwen? I think there are some other people who've been worried about you as well."
Gwen nods ever-so-slightly, but asks something softly before anyone enters. "Will I... Can I... Um, will I be able to have children?" She can't quite bring herself to gaze into the Doctor's eyes for the answer.
Itaani 's brow furrows, she moves, then, restlessness finally reasserting itself.
Nevaren stands up suddenly, and walks to the corner looking onto the Surgical Area. He peeks around the corner, seeing how everything is going.
You mutter to Poole, "I don't see any reason why not. Your reproductive organs weren't really damaged. .. I wouldn't advise practicing for that too soon though."
Holliday stands and gestures to Itaani and Nevaren- you can come over now.
Itaani glances up at the motion, and approaches. "Lieutenant?"
Gwen nods again, flushing with what might be embarrassment. Then she looks up to see who comes in.
Nevaren walks slowly towards Poole, looking a bit sheepish. "Hey there, Poole. Good to see you awake."
Poole smiles at entering pair, spotting the Andorian woman first. She manages a little wave for the both of them as well, then says, "Hello, Itaani.... Nev."
Holliday otherwise treats the question with a clinical concern, like any other problem or illness voiced by a patient. He drops back to stand a few paces away, saying something quietly to Nevaren and Itaani as they pass.
You mutter to Nevaren, "Not too long, of course."
You mutter to Itaani, "Not too long, of course."
Itaani nods. "I was nearby, I thought I should wait.
Nevaren nods as well. "Same here. We couldn't leave you alone."
Tyler arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind her.
Tyler has arrived.
"I'm glad you are here... Glad, I'm not alone." Gwen blinks her eyes slowly, hard to tell whether she's doing it on purpose or if she's tired. "I had a dream. And you were there, and you, and you...." She points from person to person, then as Tyler enters she says, "And you too." Then that smirk of hers appears, it seems her sense of humor is as odd as ever.
Holliday looks over from where he stands at the edge of the group gathered around Poole's bed. "Miss Tyler. Business or social call?" He looks her over as he habitually does anyone entering the IR..
Holliday chuckles. "Do you dream in color, Miss Poole?"
Itaani steps right up to the bed. "Interesting. We were, of course, here. It seems some n'kaisha, a false spirit took St. James' body, with the help of some of that unnatural technology.
Tyler steps in looking worried, her gaze quickly moving across the room for Gwen. She stops in front of Holliday timidly. "Suh-s-social, sir," she stammers. She ducks around him and toward Poole's biobed. "Are you guh-going t-to be okay?" she asks.
Nevaren smiles slightly. "As long as you are doing okay... I just wanted to make sure..." Slowly, Nev's face falls something like guilt and fear mixed washes over his face. "I'm sorry, Poole, I am so sorry." He whispers hoarsely as he quickly turns on his heel and stumbles out to the waiting room.
Holliday nods to Tyler, seemingly relieved that she's not in need of his services. ..It's been a long day..
Itaani glances briefly to Tyler, to whom she's still yet never been introduced, in spite of it all.
"I'll be okay, I think." Gwen replies to Tyler, then looks to the Doc as if for verification. She doesn't reply to Holliday's question, but she does grin at it. As Nev leaves she raises her hand, "Wait, Nev... It wasn't your fault, don't leave."
Tyler bites her lip. She looks to the others, her eyes about to flood open with tears for her commanding officer and friend.
Gwen takes another deep breath, obviously not quite able to handle all the people. She puts a hand out to Tyler, then says, "It's alright Wendy. I'm fine.... have you met, Lt. Itaani before? She works in Ops."
Tyler looks toward Poole. "Wuh-what happened?" she asks her, her bottom lip twitching.
Itaani scrathes her chin, briefly, and looks to Tyler. "Something faintly troubling.
Nevaren steps out into the waiting area, fuming. His fist strikes out, hitting the bulkhead with enough force to cause a low bong like sound. Nev just stands there, looking at his bruised, and probably bloody fist against the wall, ignoring the pain.
"A dead body got up and attacked the Doctor... I couldn't stop it, or even delay it... knocked me around like a doll." Gwen shakes her head, then takes another steadying deep breath. "I should have tried to find a phaser or something."
Tyler frowns and steps back. "A duh-dead body?" she asks incredulously. She looks to the doctor. "Huh.. Huh-h-h.. What was it?"
Holliday shakes his head. "Nevaren, how am I going to catch up around here if you do stuff like that. Lemme see your hand." He picks up a dermal regenerator..
Nevaren doesn't move for a moment, then slowly pulls back his hand and holds it out to the doctor. He doesn't say anything, but just continues looking at the bloody smear on the wall.
Holliday shakes his head again, then nods. "More or less. The whole story is probably more complicated than that, but that'll do until we know more. Pharoh's curse indeed.."
Holliday runs the regenerator over Neveren's knuckles..
Tyler shivers and rubs the goose bumps off her arms as she crosses them. "Zuh-zombies?" She looks between them, hoping that this is some sort of practical joke on her.
Gwen seems to be lost in her own thoughts at the moment. She rambles softly, "I probably shouldn't tell my mother, she'd be upset."
Itaani nods. "That might be wise.
Nevaren looks at his repaired knuckles, flexing them. His face is a mask of cold, detached, disinterest.
Holliday raises an eyebrow. "Well, I only have to notify next of kin if the patient is a minor or.." Pause. "Well, neither of those apply to you." He looks to Tyler, then to Nevaren, back to Tyler. "Actually, you might want to take a look at this, Ensign." He sets the 'regenerator aside, mutters something about not being sure that the bulkheads are so sturdy or not.
Tyler follows Holliday, looking doubtful. What if he shows her a zombie? She'd definitely scream. She looks wound up enough to at any moment.
Nevaren walks back into the surgical room and to the console where his tricorder rests. He checks his work on the terminal, seeing how the analysis went.. trying to bury himself in his work
Gwen murmurs once or twice more, "Thought they were dead." Then she goes silent and is asleep again.
Nevaren triple checks the results as he begins to read off the results. "The Iso-Neural Circuits and the remains of ST James have Identical chemical compositions." He says quietly, scrolling down the screen, "Silicon and some unidentifiable elements. They molecular structure varies, though. The Circuits are dense and solid, tightly packed. ST James structure is composed of interweaved lattices.""
Holliday gestures to the jars containing the remains of the reanimated crystalline structure of St. James, which are still resting on the central console counter. "Here's what's left of our 'zombie', I guess. I believe we have a video record of the incident as well, as I was recording the autopsy.. And there's the data Nevaren just mentioned."
Nevaren looks up from his console and at the pile of silicates which was once a Starfleet officer. He just continues looking at it, or past it.. or both.
Tyler blinks, looking at Nevaren, then the containers. "The zombie was a silicate?" she asks, peering into one of them. "With the same chemical composition as the arti.. As the iso-neural circuits?"
Nevaren just nods.
Itaani says "Which definitely connects Sinclaire's technology with the artifact, in some way."
Nevaren says "Doctor... can you replicate the virus and keep it in containment?"
Tyler glances toward Itaani, then back toward the jars. "We d-don't talk about artifacts, s-sir," she says quietly. "I'll n-need one of these containers, duh-doctor?" she sort of half-asks, intending on taking one anyway.
Holliday says, "If I had to hazard a guess, Nev, I'd say that may be a case of form follows function. This got up and walked, whereas the chips are un-animate, I think?" He looks to Tyler, "And yes, with the same chemical composition as the *arti*-..Iso-neural circuits." Another nod to Nevaren, "Right. My question is -what- this is intended for maybe." To Tyler, "I'd like to separate the organic material first, but yes." To Nevaren, "I can't even get a good look at the virus yet." A frown.
Nevaren looks very.. Vulcan at the moment. "I need a working sample so I can reprogram the biofilter on the transporters to filter it out. Apparently I didn't do a good enough job the first time." His cold facade crumbles ever so slightly, "Because if this thing is related in anyway to the virus that attacked Balin's telepathy, it SHOULD have been filtered out. The biofilter is supposed to be able to filter out entire virii families."
Itaani says "It may be engineered to avoid the scans. What I would like to know, is where does the silicon come from... there isn't enough in a humanoid body to make all that crystal..."
Tyler's head turns toward Holliday. "I'd luh-like access to your ruh-research in the investigation, duh-doctor." She reaches up and tucks an errant lock of hair behind one ear. "It w-will help me fuh-figure out more of it."
Holliday shakes his head. To Nev: "It wouldn't have done any good in this case, as we beamed back thru -Sinclaire's- transporter." A pause, "I don't know that I'd say it's ..biologically related, like different strains, so much as it's got the same ..designer." To Tyler: "Sure. I'll open the main files to you now, and get you the rest as soon as I can go thru it for content." To Itaani, "Good question- I'm theorizing that it's somehow initiating a chemical reaction betwen itself and the electrolytes in the body that results in this sillicate compound.."
Itaani nods, "I'm not a chemist, but it might need to be more than chemical..
Tyler looks toward Holliday. "If the virus is engineered, is the luh-life-form that it d-delivers as well? Or is it d-designed to fuh-facilitate ease of the cuh-creation of that life?"
Holliday says "I can't say at this point, Ensign. As I said, I'm just now trying to figure out what the virus was designed to do.."
Itaani says "Sinclaire mentioned something about protecting the technology. SHe also seemed utterly unconcerned with its effects."
Tyler frowns and looks to Itaani. "What do you mean?" she asks the Andorian.
Itaani says "When we rescued you and St. James was attacked by something that srayed the liquid on him, Lt. Poole told Sinclaire to stop the attack. She said something dismissive about it being a mechanism to protect the technology."
Nevaren says "As if it really isn't her technology to control."
Itaani says "One therefore assumes it's either intended to be totally lethal to potential witnesses, which seems unlikely at this point, or at least that it's designed to defy analysis."
Tyler frowns deeper and regards the jar again. She turns toward Holliday. "We must destroy it immediately," she says quickly.
Holliday says "You think so Tyler? Why?"
Holliday frowns. "From Ensign Huxley's deposition, I got the impression that St. James was 'exposed' more accidentally.. But I don't know. As far as the mechanism of the sillication, it's going to be a chemical reaction at some level. Unless I guess, it's an energy-matter conversion.. I can check the record.." He calls up a display to do so..
Tyler takes an unconcious step back from it. "Ah-admir.." Her eyes dart between Holliday and Nevaren. "Ah-I mean S-sinclaire, used to tuh-talk about a tuh-terrible silicate life f-form.." Her eyes flash toward the Andorian woman. "It cuh-could be one. Ah-and if it is, it shuh-should be destroyed."
Itaani says "For what it's worth, I'm inclined to agree."
Nevaren frowns. "I would like to destrow it as much as anyone else, tyler.. But if it IS a lifeform we have to give it certain rights.. like the right o exist. It may not have infected ST James on purpose
Itaani says "It's certainly proven hostile."
Itaani says "In any event, it's time I got some rest. Good luck Doctor, Ensign, Nevaren."
Nevaren shakes his head. "We can't apply our standards to it. It may be just acting naturally, through instinct."
Holliday nods, chuckles. "What would you do if you woke up during your autopsy?"
Itaani says "The standards we should apply relate to biogenic weapons, I would think."
Tyler shakes her head. "Nuh-nevaren, you d-don't understand. Thuh-this thing, if it /is/ a Luh-lithian, should be destroyed /now/. If it stuh-stays in those jars it wuh-will reform, and by tuh-tomorrow, more puh-people will be hurt."
Nevaren growls. "You think I don't understand, Tyler? SInclaire used this thing as a basis for what destroyed Balins Telepathy..She purposely used *ME* as the carrier.. ME!. I want to see this thing DESTROYED. I don't want to go through this again. But we have a duty as starfleet officers to find out more about this.. creature or virii or whatever it is. It pains me as much as you.. No, it pains me MORE!"
Tyler blinks and stumbles back from Nevaren. She cowers, covering her head. The Grand Nagus would be proud.
Holliday nods to Itaani, "Well, the jury's been out on the life-status of virals for about ..four centuies now.. We're just getting to the question of -artificial life-, if the end form is in fact, atrificial.. But by all means, get some rest. I think we're going to need it, and I don't think we're going to answer all these questions tonight."
Itaani says "At the very least, extreme security for these samples is required, in the meantime."
Nevaren sighs, shaking his head ruefully. "I'm sorry, Tyler. But we DO have a certain amount of protocol for a reason. I suggest we put this thing in stasis and surround that with a level 5 quarantine field. Hermetically seal it off from everything else until we can dind out more. Maybe we can find out enough to be able to cram this thing down Sinclaires throat."
Itaani says "Since you seem to know about these things, Ensign Tyler, work out some method of safing these things. If you want to recommend to the Commander they be destroyed, I'll support you in that."
Itaani walks out without another word.
Itaani heads out and into the clamour of the Mall.
Itaani has left.
Nevaren closes down the terminal and grabs his tricorder, shoving it back in his satchel.
Tyler straightens up slowly when she realizes Nev's not going to hit her, or throw something at her. "Ugh," she says, holding her stomach. She wrinkles up her nose in a minor bout of nausea.
Holliday says "First of all, Nevaren, I'm not going to use biologicals on -anybody-, including Sinclaire. As far as the safety factor, yes, we're going to try and be as safe as possible- but this 'entitiy' continued to develop in crystasis, albiet at what's likely a slowed rate.. And it walked thru the containment fields in her like they weren't there. However," He turns to Tyler, "I can't condone destroying it- For one, it may be a lifeform, not just a viral mass. ANs second, if we destroy it, we loose a lot of opportunity for studying it, and maybe finding a way to counteract it."
"Are you allright, Wendy?" Holliday says in sudden concern at TYler's reaction.
Nevaren says "I'm going to TRY and get some rest now. You people figure out what you like. Me, when I get the chance, I'm going to make SOMEONE sorry."
Tyler continues to hold her stomach. "I huh-hope that decision doesn't duh-doom us all," she says. "Suh-sinclaire tuh-talked about them like they were the buh-black death."
And with that, Nevaren turns on his heel and walks out.
Holliday nods, "Thanks Nev. I'm sure I'll be in touch with you soon enough. Night.."
Holliday watches Nevaren's back for a moment as he steps out into the mall. Then he looks to Poole's sleeping form in the other room and says, "Guess we should all call it a day pretty soon. But.. Ensign Tyler, do you have minute more to.. step into my office and talk?"
Tyler nods, glancing toward the containers doubtfully. "Yuh-yes sir," she says softly.
Holliday nods, steps into his office.
CMO's Office - Station 419 - [IC]
The light grey and and soft blues of this office are clearly intended to have a calming effect. In the center of the room is a large desk with a complex computer console on one side. Before it is a collection of chairs for visitors. On one wall is a series of display screens which show the current state of the station's life support and medical monitoring systems. A small view port gives a stunning view of the space surrounding the station.
Obvious exits:
Out <O>
Tyler comes in from the Infirmary.
Tyler has arrived.
Holliday leans against his desk, sighs. "Two things.. First: I wasn't there for that conversation with Sinclaire.." A chuckle. "So far, I've been lucky in that regard, I guess." A pause. "But you said you thought this might be a 'Lithian'. Why? And whatever it is, why the connection to the Artifact?" A pause, a smile. "I don't mean to give you the third degree, and I don't expect you to have all the answers. Just thought you might have some theories you weren't voicing."
Tyler walks in, peeking around as her eyes wander across the doctor's office. Never been in here, it seems.
Holliday chuckles. "I'm afraid I haven't gotten around to doing much redecorating.." A pause. "The other thing I was going to ask about was you- How are you feeling after your 'experience' of the last few weeks?"
Tyler ohs softly, shrinking a bit at all of the questions. "I d-don't know why it has a connection to the artifact, s-sir," she says. She can speak to the senior staff about the artifact these days. "Oh-only that S-sinclaire spoke to me of them suh-several times.. Thuh-that they were huh-horrible, unstoppable cuh-creatures - that they kuh-killed m-merely for the pleasure. Th-that they cuh-could ruh-regenerate.. And th-that they puh-present a tuh-terrible threat to the F-federation." She shrugs. "She wuh-wouldn't tell me more." Maybe it's something the old woman put into the girl's head as a childhood monster fairy tale. But perhaps not.
Probably not. Sinclaire's style more seems to be in interpretation, not fabrication- what was that old saying about the devil speaking truths? Holliday nods, considers. "Allright. I think I've figured out the function of the chips, though I realize now that I just isolated the circumstances apparently needed for their replication, not the means. I'd guess you knew about them before I did though, and reached the same conclusion?" He waves a hand. "But that's not so important. That crystal creature has the same chemical composition as the chips, and by extension, the Artifact. I think we need to look into the how and why of that?"
Tyler's brow furrows and she frowns slightly. Her head bobs in a nod. "Yes, sir," she says. "But it's a suh-silicon life-form. The.. thing, and the artifact. The chips are luh-living extensions, integration into the computer systems, nuh-networked with a phased energy communication net. Not entities themselves. But much the way we share the suh-same chemical construction as, s-say a dolphin, the silicon life forms would be chemically the same too. We're in the same genus, is all."
Holliday nods. "Hmm. Could be. I'll have to see what we have on record of the xenology any other sillicon-based lifeforms.. There's the.. Oh, the name escapes me.. Shelliac? and there've been a few other incidents of note, if I recall.." He muses for a moment, "But that'll take time. Now, the other- Are you doing ok then?"
Tyler nods slightly. "Yuh-yes, sir." She pauses, then shakes her head. "N-no, sir," she confesses. "It's b-been.. tough. S-some of the crew, I th-think, ruh-resent me for even muh-more reasons now."
Holliday nods, sighs. His posture has changes slightly, as he now rests his hands on the edge of the desk, rather than across his chest. "Oh? It's bad enough for people to judge someone on who they were in the past let alone what they might be in the future. I guess we do do it though." Shakes head. I think you're seeing Counselor Crae now.. I'd say keep doing that, as she's better for the social diseases I think.." A chuckle, "Nothing physiological to report though?"
Tyler shakes her head. "I stuh-still can't remember anything, Duh-doctor. Most of the stuff I 'remember' is fuh-from my personal logs."
Holliday nods. "No change there then." Hmm. "Well, memory repression isn't an uncommon response to traumatic events. The fact that you haven't remembered anything after reading your logs leads me to think it's been supressed or.." Shakes head again, then chuckles. "Though in your case, I guess it might be a case of 'retroactive repression'. But I guess that's all I have, so you can go, unless you had anything for me."
Tyler shakes her head. "Juh-just that I think we shuh-should destroy it. If it can regenerate, it shuh-should be destroyed. You said it wuh-walked through containment."
Holliday nods, considering. "You might be right, Tyler. It's not really my decision to make any longer, as this situation is rapidly expanding beyond the Medical department. I'm no temporalogist, but since it came from the 'other Aegis', there may be some questions come up regarding the purity of the timestream." He reaches up, runs a hand thru his hair, and groans to himself.
Tyler frowns a little to herself. "I suh-say we luh-lock it in a cuh-cargo bay, if it c-can go through shields. We cuh-can blow it into space if we nuh-need to?"
Holliday purses his lips. "If it can regenerate, I'm not sure tossing it out the airlock is such a good idea. We don't know what it's growth limits are yet, or even the specifics of that growth mechanism. But yes, I think putting the samples in an isolated area like a cargo bay might be a good precaution. I'll see about getting some equipment set up in there for cryofields, and we'll keep it under forcefield though that may not do much good. We'll monitor it for any growth or change, and see what the word from the top on it is?"
Tyler nods. "Yes sir."
