Hide and Seek Part II
Episode Name: Hide And Seek Part II Written By: Starfleet Cast: Clough, Dakin, Duncan, Ghorev, Idrani, Sulok and Tyler. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Starfleet Aired On: Mon Apr 08 02:12:24 2002 Stardate: 52250.1
Time: Sun Apr 07 20:53:16 2002
Stardate: 52249.7
Everyone has gathered for the away mission in the shuttle bay to prepare for transport. One team member, Ghorev, was not on the bridge as all of this went down. Dakin, as the commander of this team, is briefing Ghorev on what they are doing, where they are going, and why.
Dakin says to Ghorev, "All right, here's the profile. We've got a Lithian ship stuck in a subspace fissure in the gas cloud we came to look at. Objective's cut-and-dry: get in using our 'alternate' means of transport, grab a deceased Lithian for Sciences to look over, and get out. Drawbacks: we don't know if or if so, how many Lithians are still mobile down there and we've got a Borg Cube floating around in the cloud that so far hasn't showed us any interest. Yet."
Ghorev says "I see," with pursed lips. "So, basically, it's a common, everyday milk run." A smile. "Remind me to stay in Engineering with the doors sealed from now on. But let's do lead the way."
Duncan checks his Phaser's charge and reattatches it to his belt.
Clough is, at present, checking the status of her medkit, assuring herself that everything is in order, then doing the same to her tricorder and phaser (for all the good /that/ will do her) in turn. Muttering, mostly to herself, she comments, "Next time I volunteer for an away mission, it'll be to Risa."
Duncan checks his Tricorder.
Duncan wields his Type I Phaser.
Dakin looks over to Idrani, "Idrani, feel free to bring your blades if you want, but I'll tell you now they won't be much use to you against these things. Your discretion, but I'd advise leaving the combat to your phaser for the duration of this drop."
Sulok stands quietly a few moments before approaching Dakin and remarking, "Sir, I should note that I feel that the size of this away team is going to endanger lives uncessessarily."
Idrani nods. "Aye, sir." She does, however, carry her hrisal at the hip. But she has her phaser, also.
Dakin nods to Sulok as he checks the charge on his rifle, "Opinion noted, Ensign, but the orders go higher than me and quite honestly, knowing these creatures like I do, we're going to need the extra manpower, believe me."
Ghorev sets down the rifle, to pop open the case he's been holding at his side. A quick visual inspection of the contents. "Alright, pattern enhancers all read as fully charged and status lights are good. So we should be able to get back."
Dakin raises his voice so all can hear him, "All right, for those of you new to all this, you should know now that everything that you will experience on this away mission is Level-7 Classified. Simply put, there will be no reports filed, no log entries official or personal entered. Unless addressed by one of the senior officers in direct regards to this, this mission never took place. This goes to the top of the Starfleet Chain of Command. Are there any questions?"
Ensign Tyler, the young science officer, steps into the shuttle bay. She is carrying a PADD and a tricorder at her hip. She approaches Dakin as he speaks.
Clough finishes checking her equipment and looks up. This isn't the first away mission she's been on that never happened, so she simply shrugs and waits patiently.
Idrani nods. "Aye, sir."
Duncan stands completely relaxed and waits, cradling his phaser rifle.
Ghorev hoists the rifle, cradling the butt against a hip, so that his other hand can hold the case containing the pattern enhancers. "A classified milk run. I stand by that statement, after all."
"On your mark, sir," Tyler says to Dakin. She starts to walk away from the group as she taps commands into her PADD.
Dakin looks around to the group, making sure that no one else has any comments. Satisfied that everyone's ready, he says "Right then. The cone of silence drops now." To Tyler, he nods. "Now, Ensign."
Tyler responds, "Aye, sir." She punches a button on her PADD. There is a sudden wave of white light and noise and the crew is standing in an entirely alien environment. The floor is a black glassy substance that, if wet, would probably be pretty dangerous. The walls are blue-white columns of crystal that are glowing, causing the entire area to be exposed to an eerie, dim light. The domed ceiling is of the same surface as the floor. The room is hexagonal in shape and is roughly ten meters across, wall to wall. A column of clear crystal, a meter in diameter, rises from the floor to the ceiling. It pulses slowly with light and a humming sound, about one beat every two seconds. The floor is mildly vibrating underfoot.
Duncan quickly does a visual scan of the room for movement, and relaxes only slightly when He sees none.
Dakin exhales and tightens a one-handed grip on his rifle, using the other hand to pull out his tricorder. He immediate;y begins scanning for exits from this room.
Idrani begins to scan with her tricorder as well. She keeps the rifle in her other hand.
Ghorev keeps his own hip-slung rifle grip, holding the precious pattern enhancer case in the other hand. *Very* quietly, he asks, "Do we know definitively that any of them *are* deceased, or are we intended to be the ones making it so?"
Clough takes a moment to orient herself, then visually scans the corridor she appears to be in, taking in the walls, columns, and floor in due course. Her thoughts then turn internal and her eyes narrow.
Duncan slips his tricorder out of his holster and starts taking and recording scans of the local temproal phenomina.
Dakin says to Ghorev, "Sensors came up negative for biosigns, which quite honestly doesn't tell us much. We're hoping to get one intact, but I'm not going to tell anyone not to defend themselves if this place is a hotzone."
Sulok pulls out his tricorder and flips it open, scanning the area, his
phaser held against his chest.
Clough murmurs, quietly, "Something's alive. Or at least, something is
thinking. If... I didn't know better, I'd say we were on the Borg cube rather
than the other ship." She is silent a moment. "Be careful, if I had to
wager a guess, I'd say they aren't all dead."
Duncan taps the side of his tricorder in frustration then closes it and puts
it away.
Idrani comments, "I'm getting nothing on my tricorder, sir."
Tricorders are having a hard time penetrating the glowing blue walls.
Everyone can pick up their immediate surroundings, the away team, but nothing
beyond.
Ghorev says "Folly to split up. Rann, care to name a direction?"
Dakin nods in agreement with Ghorev, but explains, "I think we might
need to find a way out of this room first." He reaches for his combadge.
Dakin taps his comm badge, "Lieutenant Dakin to Lieutenant
Edwards."
Over Dakin's comm badge a voice answers, "Lieutenant Edwards here."
Ghorev says, drily, "That's why I'm ....." He pauses for
politeness' sake as Dakin taps his badge.
Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "We've entered the ship without
incident thus far. Tricorder scans are negative across the board, but Clough's
picking up psi-signs besides us. Meaning we've at least got some Lithians still
active."
Sulok moves closer to Clough and asks, "Are you sure they aren't
actually borg?"
From Dakin's comm badge, Edwards says, "Active as in conscious or just
alive?"
Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Unknown either way at this time. She
says someone or something is thinking here. On another note, can you get a fix
on our position? We're in a closed room that we may have to burn our way out of,
and I'd rather not take a chance on subjecting us to hard vacuum."
From Dakin's comm badge, Edwards says, "We can't see you, Rann. So be
careful."
Into his comm badge, Dakin says, "Understood. Dakin out."
Dakin reaches up and taps his comm badge, ending transmission.
Ghorev says "As I was saying, we should all focus on one wall and do a
search. Obviously, a room which has no way in or out is pointless." A
movement of arm to twitch the barrel of the phaser rifle, still braced against
the hip. "Since all we see are the walls and ths central crystal column,
one, or the other, should have some way of opening an aperature."
Clough looks over at Sulok somewhat belatedly, having been listening to the
conversation between Rann and Michael. "They aren't Borg. I can sense them,
too. They're far greater than what is here, but farther away. But... the thought
processes seem similar... hive-like." She turns to look at Rann, "Are
we sure that none of the Borg have entered the ship so far? It... I suppose it
/could/ be a fewer number of them that I am sensing nearby, but, I don't believe
so. I suspect these aren't Borg I'm feeling, but... I can't wrap my mind around
them just the same. There is a consciousness... a collective, maybe. But, I
don't believe it is Borg."
Dakin nods again to Ghorev, then points to one of the six walls. "Let's
try that one. Everyone over here and start looking for some hatch or anything
that might lead to an exit." He leads the way towards the wall he's
indicated.
Dakin says to Clough. "Aegis' sensors are blind to the interior of this
wreck, so there's no way to tell unless we find a way out of here."
As the crew gets close, three of the walls spring open, four columns of
crystal going up, four others going down. Passages of similar design to this
room lead away from this area, ending about ten meters as they begin.
Idrani startles a little as the walls open. She tries to scan down the
corridors with her tricorder.
Idrani notes calmly, "Silicon base structure. Corridor appears
empty."
Ghorev makes that sigh-like trilling noise. "Right. So of course they
have proximity sensors. That'll teach me to treat them like dumb brutes without
technological skills. Remind me next time I start to doubt."
Dakin blinks slightly as the walls part. Collectively, he dryly remarks,
"Convenient." He nods to Idrani then says to the others, "All
right, move out but stay close. I don't want any of us to get separated if these
walls decide to close unexpectedly. Rifles to Setting 6. Jack 'em up only if
absolutely necessary. Meeting a live Lithian counts." He then begins to
head out of the room and into the passage.
Sulok adjusts his phaser rifle and moves forward slightly and looks towards
Dakin, obviously awaiting orders. As those orders are given, he starts forward,
his phaser held at ready.
Clough murmurs, mostly to herself. "A maze, then. We could be searching
forever." She gestures to the trio of passages. "Pity we don't have a
loaf of bread to mark our paths. It could save time."
Duncan checks the settings on his phaser rifle and waits patiently.
The crew moves down the passage without incident. As the last crewman passes
under the door, it slides shut as quickly as it opened. The passage is about
three meters wide, and ends in another glowing blue-white wall.
Ghorev says "Well. Dare we approach?"
Dakin exhales. "We do indeed." He proceeds down towards the
blue-white wall very cautiously. "Keep active scans going. I want no
surprises."
Duncan pulls out his tricorder again and begins scanning again just to see if
there's any data at all he can gather.
Regardless of orders given, the doctor does not pull out her own tricorder,
instead, she frowns darkly, ebony eyes blacker still with her concentration. She
is not beyond light conversation, but in depth reflection is somewhat out of her
grasp just now - she is more attentive elsewhere.
Idrani stays relatively close to Clough, protecting the medic, so to speak.
She continues to scan with her tricorder.
Sulok with his phaser rifle still out proceeds towards the wall.
Ghorev uses forearm and hip to keep his rifle stable as he walks forward.
Duncan looks over to Dr. Clough for a moment and then moves on.
The crystal wall slides up and down, revealing a room similar in shape as the
first, but is about twice as large. About two dozen columns of a dark,
red-colored rods of crystal rise about two meters into the air, each about a
meter in diameter at the base and drawing to a narrower point at the top. Toward
the other side of the room, dividing the room at an odd angle, is a curtain of
shimmering white light that rises from floor to ceiling and wall to wall.
Clough speaks, to no one in particular, "If I thought I were doing any
good, I might thank you for the comment. As yet, I remain undecided." Her
words are offered softly, but she falls silent again afterwards.
Duncan taps a few keys on his tricorder and announces. "We've reached
the edge of the chronoton field. We may have an easier time with scans once
we're out of it."
Dakin nods to Duncan then indicates the light curtain. "Any ideas on
what that is?"
Duncan adjusts his tricorder and checks his data. "Interestingly enough
that is a physical manifestation of the chronoton field. It's what the ship
itself is stuck in."
Dakin asks, "Is it safe to go through or do we need to find a way around
it?"
The curtain shimmers, waves of white light moving across its surface like
like smoke through a wide-beamed laser.
Duncan approaches the edge of the field making scans of it as he moves.
Ghorev keeps a wary eye on the surroundings, and specifically the
surroundings around Duncan as he moves forward.
Clough turns her attention from the curtain as Duncan begins his examination.
She does not approach any of the walls - even the one they entered through, but
she examines each with the same focused curiosity.
Dakin cautiously follows Duncan as well.
Idrani stays close to Clough, looking intermittantly between the doctor and
the curtain of light.
Duncan slips a stilus out of his pocket and taps the edge of the field with
it.
The stylus passes right through the field.
Duncan pulls the stilus back and scans it carefully.
Sulok moves into the new room and then moves aside, watching back down the
passageway they just came through.
Duncan says "Doctor Clough, any medical research on the effects of
chronotons on biomatter?"
Clough is mildly distracted when she replies, but she hesitates only for a
moment. "No such research has been done since I have acted as Chief, Agent
Duncan. As to any research done prior to that time? I am unaware of it, but that
hardly means it has not been done."
Duncan Nods to the Doctor and turns back to the field and touches it with his
bare hand. "We should be fine Lt. Dakin."
Dakin nods. "All right, forward then." He takes point, heading into
the curtain. Assuming there are no ill effects, he stands and waits for the
others to pass through as well.
Duncan puts his tricorder back in hits holster on scan and record mode, then
steps through the field into the next room.
Clough leaves the walls she was studying, noting Idrani's presence at her
side with a polite - if distracted - smile and murmur of thanks for whatever
reason. As the rest begin to move through he curtain, she follows, allowing
herself (or perhaps Idrani, if she chooses) to be the last to pass through.
There is a tingling sensation as the crew passes through the field of light.
On the other side, the way light and color work together does not seem to be as
intense. Everything has a washed-out, muted quality to it.
Idrani walks through the curtain, following Clough.
Sulok walks up behind Clough, still looking down the corridor, his phaser
rifle held at ready. Watching the rear of the group now, since the others seem
to have the front of the group well in hand.
Ghorev hrms at the sensory shift. "Odd," is all he says.
"Someone scan further? My hands are rather ... engaged at the moment."
Dakin nods and pulls out his 'corder for a quick scan.
Clough speaks softly, and again not to anyone in particular, "The...
collective... is greater here. I still do not believe it is a Borg collective I
am sensing, but whatever it is, it is greater on this side than on the
other."
Idrani looks at her tricorder readout. She blinks, then looks again.
"Sir... I am reading that we are currently inside subspace. Can someone
confirm that?"
Duncan says "You are correct Ensign, we are inside a pocket of subspace
surrounded by a chronoton field."
Sulok, standing behind Clough, remarks off handedly, "The Lithians are
probably still moving here, our sensors could not penetrate the field, I
expect," his rifle held at ready.
Dakin taps his comm badge, "Lieutenant Dakin to Lieutenant
Edwards."
There is no reply.
Ghorev, after a moment, seems to realize that no response is forthcoming.
"The field's interference?"
Duncan says "We're inside a chronoton field, we're slightly displaced
from the timeline that the ship exists in, Thus normal communications isnt going
to work. I think I can get some kind of communications link but it will be low
bandwidth at best.""
Dakin sighs and taps off his comm badge. Nodding to Duncan, "Do it, we
may have to call for beam-out from here." He looks to Clough, then looks
towards another wall. "All right, we keep going." He cautiously
approaches the next door/wall.
Dakin reaches up and taps his comm badge, ending transmission.
Sulok says towards Dakin, "Sir, we can go back through the field,"
and he points towards the chronoton field.
Duncan taps the side of his Tricorder in frustration. "I'm not getting
anything, but I'll keep trying."
Idrani remains quiet, listening. She occasionally looks down at her
Tricorder, checking the readings.
Ghorev says "Indeed, if Agent Duncan can't find a bypass route, we may
have to make this our ... beachhead."
Dakin pauses then turns and nods to Sulok. "All right, back out we go.
We'll try to search out the 'dead' areas before taking a chance on the 'live'
ones. Before we do, is anyone getting any kind of scan readings that could help
us?"
Dakin triggers a door, and it opens on a Lithian that was coming down the
corridor but hadn't triggered the crystals to part. It pushes itself up off its
fours and into a semian-like bipedal state and puts one leg into the room.
Ghorev throws himself to one side to get a better line of sight, one that
hopefully does not *include* the Chief of Security, and fires. "Step
lively, Rann!"
Dakin's eyes go wide as he dives out of the way, understanding fully what
Ghorev's likely talking about without bothering to look behind him. Hostile
bearing down.
Clough's eyes widen in surprise at the sight of the Lithain, and takes a step
back in spite of herself. "There's /nothing/," she says to no one,
shocked and not a little bit intimidated by the Lithian's sudden appearance.
Foregoing her tricorder /and/ her medkit, she chooses instead to bring up the
phaser rifle she has been equipped with, though she doesn't yet fire.
"Whatever I'm feeling," she continues still speaking more to the air
or herself than anyone else, "isn't /that/... /them/... whatever." Too
far to have a clear line of sight, she holds her fire and takes another step
back. "What chance that the field behind us might effect them more than
us?" This last, finally, seems directed to Duncan.
Sulok lifts his phaser rifle, and opens fire, moving sideways slightly to try
to keep his line of sight and keep the rest of the away team safe.
Idrani discards her tricorder for the moment, bringing her rifle to bear.
Seeing that she does not have a clear shot, she holds her fire. She also tries
to either hear additional footsteps or get a glimpse behind the creature, in
case it isn't alone.
Duncan Seeing that he's not in line to shoot anything, quickly scans through
the doorway past the Lithian to see if any other hostiles are closing on their
position.
GAME: Ghorev spends a courage point.
GAME: Dakin spends a courage point.
The creature brings one of its crystalline arms heavily down on Dakin's back
as the Bajoran tries to dive out of the way. It pins him down on the floor with
its weight, crushing the man's spine with a sickening crunch. It leans forward,
as if about to charge the others, barely affected by the phaser blasts from
Ghorev and Sulok. It pinning Dakin has brought it further into the room, giving
a clear LoS for everyone.
Ghorev fires again. "We've got our test subject, people! All weapons
unload!"
Dakin lets out a grunt of agony beneath the Lithian's arm and would probably
be going into shock right about now.
More than once since joining Starfleet, Callie has been called into question
for putting herself in danger to save another. At this point, it seems highly
unlikely that's going to change any time soon. She begins to skirt the firing
squad, doing her level best to stay out of the way of friendly fire, but lowers
her weapon and takes her medkit instead. "Get it off Rann! Now!" is
her single order as she starts taking the long route in that direction - both to
give her order time to be followed and to get to him without getting shot first.
She isn't going slow about it, though... she's rushing just as fast as she
possible can and remain even remotely safe from phaser bolts - the Lithian, she
seems not to give a damn about.
Sulok takes a brief visual sweep of those nearby and, without really having
to adjust his rifle, opens fire again.
Idrani grits her teeth as the doctor darts past her. She opens fire on the
Lithian.
Duncan takes careful aim with his phaser rifle and says loudly enough to be
heard by everyone in the room. "Set your rifles to their highest power or
we're All going to be lithians shortly.", then fires on the lithian with
full intensity.
GAME: Sulok spends a courage point.
GAME: Idrani spends a courage point.
The creatures is buffeted back slightly by the directed energy discharges.
The shift in position takes some of the weight off Dakin's back, but it is still
on top of the security chief. As Clough inches closer to the fray, she watches
in horror as a white cyrstalline proboscis slides out from the creature's
'face', and sprays a thick, viscous, blue, and glowing goo onto Dakin's arm. It
turns on Clough, being the next closest target.
Ghorev says "You heard the agent's suggestion, folks. Consider it an
order." He increases the intensity on his own weapon. "Full intensity
--- fire!"
Clough is worth jack shit in a firefight and she knows it. She also doesn't
care at this point. The horror of watching Dakin being infected doesn't entirely
sink in just yet, nor does the fact that she's next in line. One hand is
occupied by her medkit which keeps her from bringing the phaser rifle to bear,
but she still has her hand phaser, and damned if it isn't coming out. She draws
it, raising the setting to full intensity absently and taking aim, all the while
continuing to move toward Dakin, Lithian or no. She'll do what she can to avoid
other bolts, but there's a wounded man down, and she isn't the sort to give up
until long after the fat lady has sang.
Idrani increases the power on her rifle. Fires again.
Sulok sees that the doctor is about to be attacked by the lithian and moves
towards her, moving to shield her and get her back from the creature, putting
his own body in the way. His rifle held at his side, the need to preserve life
taking precedent.
Duncan continues to aim at the Lithian and fires again. "Thank you Lt.
Ghorev, you may have just saved our lives."
GAME: Idrani spends a courage point.
The Vulcan security officer is knocked painfully back against the crystal
bulkhead from the wide swing of the creature's powerful crystalline arm. Sulok
does manage to push Clough out of the creature's way, though, saving the Doctor
and taking the blow in her stead. The others pound on the monstrosity with the
jacked up settings on the rifle, and it rears back once more under the assault,
before finally exploding in a rain of shards of glass and dust. Lying under a
layer of the remains of the Lithian is the crushed form of Dakin.
Ghorev says "Damn it!" He comes forward. "We need slightly
lower settings next time so we can take one intact for study as planned. Doctor,
if you can keep Lt. Dakin stable here, say so, otherwise I'll try to set up
these pattern enhancers so you can get back to Aegis."
Idrani moves forward to cover the corridor that the creature emerged from,
(or the door, if it closed) in case more of them show up.
Duncan shakes his head. "No Mr. Ghorev we dont. If we dont find an
already dead one, baring a medical miracle we may well have a live one on our
hands in about twelve hours." We can either hunt for a dead one, or take
this..." points at Dakin's body. "soon to be live one back to the
ship."
Duncan says "Either way we need to get the wounded out of the subspace
field, or we wont be able to transport back off this ship.""
After regaining her footing from being pushed by Sulok, Callie returns to her
earlier goal of reaching Dakin. "There'll be no stabilizing him here,
Lieutenant. I need the sickbay /now/. I need the /infirmary/ even worse."
She turns a glare onto Duncan. "And we'll see about miracles, Agent. I'm
not ready to give up."
Idrani glances sidelong at Ghorev briefly, but keeps on the lookout for more
creatures.
Hefting up his rifle, Sulok takes in a deep breath through his nose and moves
to make sure that everyone present is better covered, setting his rifle up to
its maximum level. In case more come along.
Ghorev says "Fine. Agent Duncan, Ensign Idrani, help the Doctor carry
Lt. Dakin back to the other side of this field. Mr. Sulok, if you're recovered
from that blow, cover them. I'll start setting up the enhancers."
Idrani shoulders her rifle. "Aye, sir." She walks back to Clough
and Dakin, asking the doctor, "Is there a chance of contamination by
contact with him, sir?"
Sulok nods towards Ghorev and moves to cover them, his rifle held at ready.
Seeing a few shards on the ground, he asks towards Ghorev, "Should we take
a few samples sir?"
Duncan looks to Idrani "Lets Go Ensign." moves to take Lt. Dakin
under the arms, and waits for Ensign Idrani to grab his feet. As soon as she
does he hustles through the field back to the other room.
Making her way to Dakin's side, she looks him over without yet touching him.
She kneels, keeping away from the goo that coats his arm. She looks at Idrani,
"Likely. Hold a moment."
Idrani doesn't touch Dakin until Clough gives the okay. She does remove her
uniform jacket, as it may form a crude barrier to prevent contamination, if
wrapped around Dakin's goo-covered arm. She offers the jacket to the doctor.
Clough retrieves her phaser again and adjusts the setting once more.
"Start getting that field set up on the other side of that barrier,
Lieutenant." That said, she looks down at the very unconscious Dakin,
murmuring, "I'm sorry," to him in Betazed. She activates the thing,
then, and sets about removing the goo-covered arm. A one-armed Bajoran is better
than a dead one, after all.
Ghorev doesn't see the Dakin carving, as he's already heading for the other
side of the field, setting up those enhancers.
Duncan stands mute while the Doctor does what she has to do, then
says."Doctor, that probably just saved his life, if the infection hasnt
alreayd gotten into his bloodstreem."
The smell of burning flesh and fabric permeates the air. While the phaser is
more crude of a tool for medical work than the infirmary's amputation tools, it
does the job and cauterizes as it cuts.
Idrani waits for Dr. Clough to give the indication that it is safe to pick up
the lieutenant.
Dakin is currently out cold from the pain. Thus no blood-curdling scream.
Convenient.
Clough waits for the abrupt amputation to be completed, then reholsters her
phaser. "Assuming it can be saved as it is. Now, when we lift him, we lift
him as one. Log-roll him. Don't touch the arm. We move together as one to get
into that field the Lieutenant's setting up. If /anybody/ makes a false move, he
dies. It's that simple. Ready?" She puts herself in the position to take
his head and shoulders, exceedingly careful to avoid the goo-covered arm she
just removed.
Duncan follows the doctors instructions to the letter.
Idrani takes position at the midsection, waiting to move him on Clough's
mark.
Ghorev taps his comm badge, "Lieutenant Ghorev to Lieutenant
Edwards."
Over Ghorev's comm badge a voice answers, "Lieutenant Edwards
here."
Clough nods to the other two. "On three," she states. "Time's
ticking. I'd say we have about ten minutes before this all becomes moot."
She doesn't hesitate, taking a firm hold on her friend. "One... two...
three..." With that third count, she moves with the rest to stand, rolling
Dakin into her arms as she does - hopefully along with the other two.
Idrani lifts along with Clough.
Into his comm badge, Ghorev says, "Rann's been ... badly hurt, Michael.
How bad I'll leave it for Dr. Clough to explain, but under standard Away Team
protocols, we're gathering our wounded and bugging out. I expect them within the
enhancer field at any second. Once you've got us all, take us home."
Duncan on three, rolls Dakin's torso into his arms and lifts along with
Clough and Idrani.
From Ghorev's comm badge, Edwards says, "How did he get hurt?"
Sulok continues to cover the away team, his rifle held at ready.
Into his comm badge, Ghorev says, "He tried to step where a Lithian
/wasn't/, and failed."
The three carefully lift the Bajoran up and start to escort him out of the
field. As they pass through and out, the colors seem to intensify once again.
From Ghorev's comm badge, Edwards says, "The Lithians are in stasis.
That's why you're over there."
Ghorev, by now, is covering the team himself, while talking to his badge.
Into his comm badge, Ghorev says, "You'd think that, wouldn't you? But
that one seemed to disagree. I think they get mad when we spread lies about them
like that."
From Ghorev's comm badge, Edwards says, "We'll talk about this when
you're all aboard."
Into his comm badge, Ghorev says, "Aye. See you soon."
Ghorev reaches up and taps his comm badge, ending transmission.
Clough begins to move with the other two, counting her steps aloud. Once on
the other side of the barrier, she makes her way directly for the enhancers,
looking very much like she wants to say something to the conversation between
Ghorev and Edwards, but concentrating on counting her steps instead, being quite
certain that all of the trio move as one.
Idrani is quite careful to follow Clough's instructions.
Duncan walks in lockstep with Clough and Idrani and waits for further
instructions from the doctor.
Sulok moves after everyone, continuing to cover with sweeping movements of
his phaser rifle.
Idrani remains very quiet, following Clough's instructions on transportation
of Dakin. Once they are in position, she glances at Ghorev and waits for the
beam-out.
Clough gets into the enhancers and looks to make certain the other two are
with her. She then turns her eyes to Ghorev. "Directly to sickbay, please,
Lieutenant. We're out of time. Even /if/ the infection isn't in his blood, I
don't know that I can save him now. I just know I have to try, and the sickbay
is my only chance."
Duncan continues to hold Dakin's torso and waits for beamout.
Ghorev says "Of course, Doctor, because, you know, I fully expected to
beam you into a cargo bay and let you walk." With a quiet, trilling sigh
punctuating sarcasm perhaps slightly harsh from the heat of the moment, he
pauses for a moment and then taps his badge. "Aegis, six to beam directly
to Sickbay."
The transporter whine kicks in, and revs up. The shimmering takes hold of the
crew, and they disappear, leaving behind the three enhancers.
