Ghost of Madalena
Episode Name: Ghost of Madalena Written By: Blair Cast: Blair, Morrison, Starfleet, Sulkat, Turtledove, Tyler and Zian. Produced By: Starfleet Directed By: Blair Aired On: Sun Oct 20 22:43:33 2002 Stardate: 52720.2
Time: Sun Oct 20 15:49:54 2002
Stardate: 52719.5
The USS Thomas Paine has been in flight for several hours now en route to the Amaria system, playing ferryboat for an important passenger who, unexpectedly, has not been of the lord-over-the-Starfleet-grunts variety. This passenger is one Dr. Samuel Fielding, whose last several days at 419 were spent installing holo-emitters on several key decks (in the Paine's case, all of them) so that an emergency medical hologram has access to any of several decks at one time.
The trip's commander is Lt. Sulkat, who has had very little to do besides occasionally telling Morrison, at the conn, to double-check the course. Around the sides of the bridge are Tyler at Sciences and Blair at Engineering, both periodically running checks on the new holo-emitter systems. Meanwhile, Zian and Fielding sit on either side of Sulkat's chair. We open on the Paine approximately one-half the way to Amaria.
Turtledove is standing at Tactical, looking efficient and cheerful, inspite of the lack of work.
Morrison reports from the Conn station, "Lt. Sulkat, we are on course for Amaria, maintaining Cruising speed."
Zian sits in her seat in the Command arena, absently watching the stars. After a bit, she shifts a bit, leaning forward and turning her gaze toward Dr. Fielding. "So, Doctor... the EMH's are fully online, now? We certainly could've used it a few times in the last couple of months. Still, better late than never, I suppose..."
Time: Sun Oct 20 15:59:59 2002
Stardate: 52719.5
Sulkat stirs slightly, his gaze wavering from the viewscreen to the conn briefly. "Excellent, Lieutenant," he says needlessly.
Morrison nods.
Tyler is at the science station, tapping at her console occasionally and studying the readouts. She does her duty without complaint as she examines the data from the holographic emitter system. "...he said no, unfortunately. It's too bad. I think the two of you would have gotten along well," she says to Turtledove.
Fielding nods, an amiable man with black hair peppered here and there with gray. He sits forward on his chair, turning a bit to face Sulkat and Zian. "Well, the idea had to go through Starfleet and the Federation first, you know, and then -back- to me, after which I could finally get about to -implementing- it...something of a Red Tape Syndrome, if you will. Pity that the EMH can't actually cure that," he chuckles.
Blair idly pokes at his console, half-tempted to put one elbow down and rest his chin in his hand. With each poke another diagnostic screen comes up, each with the same: readout after readout of...well, the same.
Zian snorts softly. "Ah, yes. Bureaucracy. The universal constant. Unless you're the Borg. They don't count."
Turtledove's eyebrow twitches at Tyler's last comment. Her mouth twists into a half-grin, half-grimace. "Er. Lt. Tyler. Thanks for the thought, but... I'm actually not sure that I even want to be... you know... involved at the moment." She pauses, the eyebrow rising a bit higher. "Possibly not until the end of the War, for that matter." She grins at Tyler, teasingly, then looks back at her console.
Morrison makes a minor course correction to compensate for subspace drift, and the computer beeps in response.
Fielding almost grins. "There you go. The hive mind mentality is lousy for individuality, but I've never heard a petty bureaucrat tell me resistance was futile." He pauses, raising his eyebrows slightly. "They generally need at least fifteen more words."
Sulkat comments quietly, "The only thing that bureaucracy doesn't slow, unfortunatley, is bureaucracy itself." He scratches idly at an itch on his thigh and shifts his weight in the chair. He does /not/ look comfortable.
. o O Morrison thinks "My first ... here, and assigned ... helm. Better than ... back on the station, at least. ... I can get ... experience ... of it. At least the controls aren't that different ... the Phoenix."
Tyler looks back to Tera. "I thought the same thing too once, you know." She gives her a smile of her own, then a computre bleep draws her eyes back to her console. "Uh, Ensign Turtledove, confirm there's something... Odd... on internal sensors?"
. o O Morrison thinks "Hive ... Borg. ... Enemy. ... Oh, what's up?"
. o O Morrison feels Anger, at the Borg.
Zian laughs softly at Sulkat. "By the Deities, I should hope not! The federation would come to a grinding halt if that ever happened." She inclines her head slightly toward Fielding, acknowledging his point. "I doubt you'd come across a bureaucrat who would actually argue that resistance is futile, given that most bureaucracies are remarkably resistant to change." She turns her gaze, dark eyes settling upon the back of the helmsman's head, a faint frown turning the corners of her lips down.
<CONTEST> Tyler contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
. o O Morrison thinks "Resistance ..."
Lt. Wendy Tyler frowns hard. "I can't get a good fix on it, Captain," she reports. "It's moving very fast, appearing and disappearing down on deck 4. It's there, then it's gone..." Her fingers tap across the computer and it buzzes at her. Her frown deepens.
Morrison coughs loudly into her fist, shakes her head, takes a breath.
Fielding chuckles. "Oh, they would certainly tell -me- resistance was futile, where their rules are concerned. It's simply a matter of how many sentences they require to say it -- " He cuts off, glancing back at the two officers speaking behind him, brow furrowing.
Sulkat stands and leaves Command.
Sulkat stands, frowning. "Please clarify, Lieutenant," he asks quietly.
Turtledove's forehead creases thoughtfully as she fiddles with her console. "Captain, internal security systems are flagging odd, and I'm reading small power surges all around the lower decks... the surges are very fast and short, sir." She taps her console a few times, her expression growing more thoughtful. "It doesn't seem to be a security breach, nor a living organism for that matter, sir. Just little power fluctuations, slightly larger than normal."
Zian glances over her shoulder, brow furrowing as she turns her attention to the conversation of the officers behind her.
Morrison says, "Lt. Sulkat, I am experiencing an unusual amount of what appears to be subspace drift, causing us to be slightly off course. Correcting." She makes a minor adjustment, and the conn computer station beeps in response."
Zian frowns, looking toward Fielding. "Which decks are the new holoemitters installed on, Doctor?" she inquires curiously.
. o O Zian thinks "New equipment installed and ... a sudden ... weird ... that's ... bit ... to ..."
Tyler lets the other officers answer for her. Their explanations are better than any she's got at the moment. "It's appearing on deck 3, too. And its pattern indicates that it's in the same places each time."
Morrison turns to Sulkat, standing at the Command Chair, "Sir, permission to run a simple diagnostic on Helm, and Conn systems?"
Sulkat's frown deepens as he turns to face Tactical. "How widespread are the fluctuations /exactly/, Mr. Turtledove?" His hand begins to move to rub at his neck, but he curbs the urge at the last moment. Looking back over his head briefly at Morrison, he replies curtly, "Granted."
Fielding scratches his head. "...Well, all of them," he says, brow furrowing slightly. "The only exception is that there's a manual lockout on the bridge, but they've been installed everywhere else...."
<CONTEST> Morrison contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Turtledove answers immediately, while looking at her console. "They are spread throughout decks 3 and 4... at discrete points. Their distribution appears to be random, sir."
Morrison Computer, commence level 5 diagnostic, on Helm and Conn systems. Begin. The computer beeps, then buzzes.
<PROVE> Tyler has the advantage of Mathematical Ability at 3.
Zian chews her lower lip as she listens to the reports. "Could the holoemitters be causing any of this?" she asks, looking apologetically over at Fielding. "Not that I don't trust your work, sir, but I'm naturally suspicious of any new systems that've been installed when anomalous readings like this start popping up."
Sulkat grunts. Quietly, again, he says, "I don't believe in random." He scratches his jaw for a moment. He turns back to face Science and quietly asks, "Lieutenant Tyler, please check to see if there is a pattern to these fluctuations."
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Physical Sciences (Mathematics) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Morrison looks up from the Conn station with some alarm and concern, as she says, "LT. Sulkat! The course corrections I have made are valid, helm has responded appropriately each time...but Sir, we are /Definitely/ drifting off course. Diagnostics show all systems nominal and responding appropriately."
Morrison attempts to access the Astrogation computer. Her fingers fly across the board, with a few chirrups and buzzes, then a beep.
Blair sits up slightly, glancing over at Morrison and frowning slightly, then peeking at his console. "...Reading affirmative use of maneuvering thrusters, sir," he comments, peering.
"They're appearing in nine separate points, sir. But randomly among those points. It's like a game of tic-tac-toe," is Lt. Tyler's reply to Lt. Sulkat.
Sulkat had been halfway through a turn to face Blair at the Engineering station, but cuts that maneuver off halfway and turns back to face the conn, eyes narrowing. Nodding, he absorbs the information given to him by various officers around the bridge. Turning his head to face the Engineering station, quietly, he asks of Blair, "Status of the holo-systems?"
Morrison looks to LTJG Sulkat. "Sir, it seems manuevering thrusters are partially not under my control. Shall I shut down maneuvering thrusters?"
GAME: Morrison spends a courage point.
Sulkat thinks a moment, then gives the order he was about to give anyway; "Full stop, Mr. Morrison."
Blair glances down at his panel. "...Holoemitters are...on, sir, running approximately the same levels as they have been. Reading no changes."
Morrison answers quickly, "Aye, aye, Sir. I am also trying to project the drift-corrected course at this time." She adjusts her board, in an attempt to shut down maneuvering thrusters, and the Warp Drive's forward motion.
Sulkat sends an apologetic look Fielding's way. "My apologies, Dr... we may be a little late."
Zian pushes up out of her seat and goes to hover behind Tyler, peering over her shoulder at the science console. "Anything I can do to lend a hand, Tyler?" she asks quietly.
<CONTEST> Morrison (claiming advantage) contests her Space Sciences skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Fielding turns, glancing at Sulkat, face in all seriousness now. "I have little intention of getting off the ship until I'm sure my inventions are working properly, Lieutenant. I hesitate to force their workings upon anyone else, otherwise."
<CONTEST> Tyler contests her Computer (Modeling) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Morrison contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
Tyler doesn't glance back to Zian. "I'm building a computer model. Lt. P'Trell is either playing a practical joke, or this is pretty amazing."
Sulkat nods, and smiles an utterly mirthless smile. At least he tried. "I do hope its a minor problem, Dr." The smile vanishes upon Tyler's words. A little louder - his voice seems to be rising ever-so-slightly with each problem - he turns to face the conn completely and asks, "Lieutenant... is this a good amazing, or a very bad amazing?"
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Morrison makes the Computer Astrogation Databanks do her bidding with a series of buzzes and chirrups, as she reports "Sir! Projected new course is on the board, working to display it on main viewscreen. A bit louder, she yelps, "Sir! Helm is responding sluggishly, we can only reduce speed to...Warp factor 2.45, and I can hold it there with difficulty. "My attempts to shut down maneuvering thrusters have met with no response! Course changing to...I'll have it in a second..."
If Zian had been smiling earlier, all traces of it are gone, now. "I think Pry--Lieutenant P'Trell's sense of humor has been flagging a bit, lately. I somehow doubt this is his doing." Her brow creases as she studies the model, trying to make sense of it. "This is the part where i wish I hadn't been /quite/ so intent on focusing on social and psychological studies. This is out of my league, i think."
Tyler looks over her shoulder at the acting captain. "Sir, I've finished my model and analysis. Permission to put it on main viewer?"
Sulkat merely nods, and turns his attention to the main viewer.
Fielding turns as well, a clear look of concern on his face as he turns towards the viewscreen, sitting forward intently.
Morrison makes the computer beep, then buzz, as she plots the course on the main viewscreen. She reports, "Lieutenant, there are several possible destination planets in the direction of our new course, but the one closest to the projected flight path is the colony planet of...New Gaul. Relaying coordinates and data to Sciences station for analysis and exploration data retrieval from Lt. Tyler's Station, Sir."
Turtledove glances up from her console to check out Tyler's model.
Zian backs away from Tyler's station. She obviously doesn't need any help from Zian. Turning toward the viewscreen, she crosses her arms over her chest and frowns, looking about as useless as she feels. After a few moments of studying the display Morrison posted, she moves back down to her seat and tries hard to look relaxed and serene. She's Betazoid, she can do that, right? Right?! *twitch*
Morrison speaks as she looks down at her Conn board, "Lieutenant, now coming on course for New Gaul, helm unable to be slowed to less than Warp Factor 2.45 Holding there with difficulty."
. o O Morrison thinks "What ... hell ... going ... is ... responding ... all. God, Where ... we ..."
. o O Morrison feels scared, and concerned.
. o O Turtledove thinks "...hey, Wendy ... do some neat stuff..."
. o O Sulkat feels Worried, tense, controlled.
The model appears on screen. On it is a three-dimensional representation of the ship that zooms in on the deck 3 and 4 power grids. Playing out at a normal pace are two games of tic-tac-toe. Power spikes represent the X's. Power drops represent the O's. When one wins, their line flashes three times. When a cat is reached, the whole grid flashes once. A tally racks up how many games have been played, and the numbers are in the millions. A percentage breakdown of X wins, O wins, and Cats are available as well, and averages out to 33 percent. The time stamp indicator shows that thousands of games are being played per second, but the model has been slowed to a pace for human comprehension.
Fielding stares at the model for a long moment. "What in the world...?" he murmurs, giving the viewscreen a sidelong look and starting to turn back towards Tyler. "Lieutenant -- " Morrison cuts him off, however, and at the mention of the colony world his face turns absolutely pale and he whips back around. "...New Gaul?" he says, in a slightly small voice. "...Are you sure?"
Sulkat misses Fielding's expression, but catches the nature of the tone of his voice. "Problem, Dr?", he asks. But without awaiting an answer, he swiftly strides back to the command centre and retakes his seat. In a no-nonesense I-want-answers-yesterday tone, he asks that question which good officers have been asking since the creation of Starfleet: "What the hell is that?"
Morrison replies, absolutely sure of her data. "Affirmative. Steady on course for New Gaul, helm at Ward 2.45 and holding. Maneuvering thrusters acting of their own accord, keeping us on course for new Gaul. My attempts to shut down manuevering thrusters have failed."
Zian swivels a little display screen beside her chair toward her, and taps in a few commands. "Computer, display any information in Starfleet databanks concerning the colony of New Gaul."
GAME: Zian spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Zian (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
. o O Morrison thinks "... at ... I'm probably ... top ... at the Station. It'll just take someone ... more time. Do ... Assigned Job, ..."
. o O Morrison feels Frustration.
The information on New Gaul appears, the computer model of tic-tac-toe shifting into a small screen in the corner of the viewer. "New Gaul. Federation Colony World, population 1.8 billion. Established approximately 46 years ago, New Gaul has served as a research and learning area for many Federation scientists." A short pause, then a two-second burst of what seems like completely aimless babble -- even gibberish -- which shortly ceases. "No other information on file."
Sulkat nods in acceptance of Morrison's report, and sighs, almost inaudibly. "Mr. Blair, how are the engines holding up under these unusual circumstances?"
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Life Sciences (Silicophysiology) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Turtledove's eyebrow goes up at the tic-tac-toe game, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. Softly, she says, "Whatever it is, it can't be a particularly heuristic adversary. Millions of games and X hasn't figured out how to win everytime?" Her attention shifts to the information on New Gaul.
Blair looks down at his instruments, tapping at it once. "Well, sir," he says, biting at his lip slightly, "holding the engines at 2.45...has them working as if they're at 2.45. Less strain than cruising speed, sir. It's not as if anything is straining to push us forward...." Confusion reigns, however.
Morrison looks up at the viewscreen, at the gibberish in the file, and mutters under her breath, "Huh. What was that? That's not right."
Sulkat doesn't clarify his request. Instead, he asks of Morrison, "What was what, Ensign?"
Zian's frown just keeps getting deeper and deeper. "Well. That was remarkably uninformative. Computer, specify what areas of study are the focus of the research on New Gaul."
Morrison says easily, "Sir, I studied for two years at the Daystrom Computer Research Institute, as part of my Academy Curriculum. I've done Computer modeling and research, on the USS Phoenix, two years after that." She points up at the screen, and says, "What ever that end-of-file tag scrambly gibberish thing was, I've never seen anything like that. Sir." She looks at the viewscreen again.
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Tyler frowns as she taps on the console. The computer chirrups at her and she says, "Sir, the game is a sub-process of our main computer."
The computer whirrs a moment, and a list rapidly scrolls across the screen. "Primary fields of study and research on New Gaul. Botany. Chemistry. Computer Sciences. Holographic Projection. Zoology. Archaeology. Anthropo..." In no particular order, the list continues until it hacks off in the middle of 'Geneti--' and fuzzes with gibberish again. "No further information."
Sulkat lets out a long breath, and finally relents to the urge to rub at his neck. His voice returning to its level, quiet self, he says, "Okay. So. The main computer is playing tic-tac-toe with itself, and meanwhile changing our course. Is there any correlation between the game, and our course? Or is that game just a distraction? Ideas, suggestions, recomendations... lets hear you're thoughts, everyone."
Fielding, meanwhile, is standing up, still a bit pale. "Lieutenant," he says towards Morrison, "you're sure you can't...can't turn away...or anything?" he asks. "We're locked on course?"
Sulkat adds softly, once Fielding has finished speaking, "And Dr. Fielding... I'm awaiting an answer to my question, if you please."
Zian is perched on the edge of her seat, by now, any illusion of relaxation she was trying to maintain long since forgotten. "Sir, recommend we run a level one diagnostic on the data retrieval subsystems. There's definitely something wrong with the computers."
Turtledove tap-taps at her console, nodding at Tyler's statement. "Captain, records show that the game has been running since the Paine left dock, possibly earlier..." She tap-taps some more. "Sir." Her expression is surprised. "There are no signs of external alteration... in other words, whoever set it up had authorization."
Fielding turns, surprisedly. "...Uh -- Lieutenant," he says, a slightly forced smile crossing his features. "...I...think I must have missed the question."
Sulkat raises an eyebrow. "I asked if there was a problem, Dr. No disrespect intended, Dr., but you seemed disturbed at the mention of New Gaul... so I asked: is there a problem?"
Fielding blinks. "There shouldn't be," he says. "There shouldn't...the holo-emitters are just that, holo-emitters." He turns back towards the viewscreen, which abruptly clears itself, returning to the blank starfield.
It's at that moment that a sudden surge of power reads across the boards. With a kick, the Thomas Paine leaps into maximum warp, internal dampeners requiring a split-second to accommodate and shaking the entire ship. Maneuvering thrusters are no longer on, as the ship is heading straight for its course...and then over the speakers, a little girl's voice says petulantly, "I want to go -home-!"
Fielding promptly faints, right there in the middle of the bridge.
Sulkat blinks in confusion; then snaps out crisply and efficiently, "Someone take care of Dr. Fielding, and see if you can revive him as fast as possible. Zian, run that diagnostic you suggested a moment ago. - Tyler, see if you can find a way to communicate with whoever it is who is responsible for this. Morrison, keep trying to slow us and/or stop us."
Zian is halfway out of her seat and moving toward Dr. Fielding when Sulkat barks his orders. Not even pausing, she orders the computer to run a diagnostic as she pulls out a tricorder, tapping in commands to configure it for medical use before scanning Fielding.
Morrison is stunned, and seems in shock. As the ship leaps forward, she alerts, and clutches the chair as the Inertial Compensators kick in. As power surges through the deckplates from below, She erupts with, "Gods....Now passing warp six! Warp Seven! Warp EIGHT! WARP EIGHT POINT FIVE, WARP EIGHT POINT EIGHT!...WARP NINE, SIR, and climbing! She's got engines, all the way open! WARP NINE POINT ONE...!" Attempting to order engines to All Stop!
Tyler looks at Sulkat. It looks like the method of communication has been established, so she says to her console, "Uh, I'm Lt. Wendy Tyler of Starfleet. Where is home?" She knows the answer is probably New Gaul. "And who are you?"
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Zian (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Morrison contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
Morrison says, "Helm unresponsive! Warp Nine point two! She's maxed out! Helm is answering Full Emergency Speed, Sir!"
Blair taps at his console quickly, bringing up another diagnostic. "Engines reaching Warp 9.2," he calls out, holding onto his console with one hand. "Nine point two two...two three...." He hits a couple of buttons to no avail. "Two three five...."
Turtledove manages to brace herself against her console as the ship rocks and accelerates, maintaining her balance with relative ease. While still gripping her console with one hand, she continues to tap thoughtfully at the controls, but apparently has nothing new to offer for now.
Tyler doesn't get a response, and there's silence for a moment after the question, and then, "This is -booooring-." And the comm clicks off. With another small kick, the ship stops accelerating, levelling out, and red lights begin blinking on several consoles, indicating a lockout of function. Turtledove's remains function, as does Tyler's, but Engineering and Flight Control functions simply...won't give anything but 'status reports'. Which, of course, don't relay very much.
Sulkat begins to open his mouth; then closes it again. Of nobody and everybody, he asks, "Can she... it... can whatever entity that is hear us when the comm-channel is off, do you think?" He doesn't appear to be going by the assumption that a little girl could do all this.
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Programming) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Security) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Zian pulls out an emergency medical kit (what? You didn't know there was one hidden around here somewhere?) and grabs a hypo and a vial of plain-vanilla stimulant, injecting it into Fielding's neck. "Fielding'll be just fine, sir..." she reports as she heads back to her station, dark eyes skimming over the data waiting for her on her console. "Diagnostic has defaulted to level two, unable to run a level one diagnostic on the computer systems at this time. Level two shows no abnormal computer functions... but /something/ is redirecting processor speed..."
Morrison turns from her dead helm controls to the Acting Commanding Officer, and says with the best professionalism she vcan muster, "Lt. Sulkat, Permission to call for a relief helmsman, so I can lay below to do diagnostics. All the Helm functions are locked out, except for basic status displays. I also highly recommend we immediately go to Red Alert at this time, Sir." She adds, "With respect, I'm probably one of the most qualified Computer Engineers here. My Physical Sciences degree was in Computer Science, not Physics, or Chemistry, and I am a more than qualified Programmer, Researcher, and Mathematician. Permission to be relieved from helm duties to go down to the core and check things out, Sir. Perhaps with a member of Security, or a Security Team, as it seems that someone somewhere on this ship is running unauthorized programs, Sir."
. o O Morrison thinks "... me go, the ... are dead."
. o O Morrison feels Hopeful
Tyler turns to look at Sulkat. "Uh, sir, it seems to be gaining awareness. It is growing. I can't quite track down the process, though. Maybe we can talk to her in sickbay, using the new emitters?"
Turtledove's thoughtful expression clears up, growing harder and more focused as she examines the output on her console. "Captain. I am reading an anomalous unidentified life-form belowdecks..." She blinks. Then blinks again. She taps at the console a bit. Her eyebrow goes up. "This is unusual." She looks at Sulkat. "Data indicates that the life form is... well, dead. Human, dead, and... mobile." She looks back at the console with a quietly amazed expression. "Its movement is sporadic, jumpy... discontinuous and intermittent throughout the deck, sir."
With another shudder, Blair calls out, "Speed holding at nine point one!" and then, with a very, very frustrating blinking red light, Turtledove's and Tyler's consoles simply...shut down, their surfaces going completely black but for a light reading 'systems locked out'. Fielding, meanwhile, does not stir.
Sulkat looks incredulous at Turtledove's information, but asks of Morrison first, "Can you do the work here, Mr. Morrison? Or is it absolutely neccessary that you go below?" Then, turning to face Turtledove, he asks - still incredulous - loudly, "Dead? You're telling me that there is a dead body moving around down there?" He scratches his jaw, then asks tentativley, "Any chance of containment fields? Or are those down too?"
Zian looks back to Fielding after giving her report on the diagnostic, and moves back to the man's side, kneeling beside him and checking his vitals the old fashioned way--she's suddenly not trusting anything the electronics have to say. "Doctor Fielding? Doctor, can you hear me?" She reaches for her hypo, prepared to give him a dose of something stronger if the previous shot doesn't kick in soon and revive him.
Morrison replies very carefully, "Sir. I must advise again that Red Alert is warranted. At least to deploy security patrols. With respect, all the bridge controls are dead, unless I'm mistaken. I won't be able to do anything here, as it is locked out by software. I believe I can assist much better from the Primary computer core, as I can access the hardware from there. But I am almost certain I will need a security team now, to escort me. With your permission sir, I'd like to be relieved from helm, and head below." She takes a breath, kind of shaken, "With a security escort, at least send one there, please, even if you don't send me."
GAME: Sulkat spends a courage point.
Tyler taps uselessly against her blackened console. She frowns to herself and places her hands in her lap. Swivelling back toward Sulkat, she says, "My console is dead, sir."
Turtledove gives her console a couple of well-intentioned taps, but gets nothing. She doesn't seem surprised. "Captain, the lifeform's movement indicates that it is using some method of teleportation. I'm doubtful that we can trap it using normal containment fields." She looks at her console, frowning slightly. "Sir, I'm locked out of my console at them moment, permission to switch to Mission Ops in order to continue monitoring the 'lifeform'?"
*click* "I'm still -booooored!-" A short pause, even as the comm hisses softly. "Oooh. Hey, what's this switch do?" There's a soft giggle right there with the usual impending sense of doom that phrase provides, followed by... "Warning. Deck One Life Support shutting down in thirty seconds. Sealing fields will be in place in twenty five seconds from mark."
Fielding begins to wake up, holding his head and sitting up, looking up at Zian surprisedly even as the computer intones the obvious. "Mark."
Morrison stands and leaves Conn.
Sulkat curses loudly, doing everything in his power to prevent himself from doing the arm-waving thing. "Everybody out! And I mean yesterday!", he snaps out somewhat needlessly, and /by far/ too loudly.
Turtledove stands and leaves Tactical.
Zian's dark eyes widen as she helps Fielding to his feet and grabs her medkit. "Doctor. /Who is she?/" she asks urgently, even as she ushers him toward the nearest exit. "What's going on? I could sense that you recognized the-- the entity that seems to have taken control of the Paine. Now would be a good time to tell us about her."
Morrison yells towards Sulkat as she bolts from her chair, and dashes for the turbolift, "I've got to get to the Primary Computer Core! Lieutenant, we need to go to Red Alert, please have a security team meet me there, in Computer Control!
. o O Morrison feels Fear
Tyler blinks and scrambles up from her post, following the others in a rapid rush toward the turbolift. Her brow is creased with worry, but she's holding herself together well under the stress.
Tyler stands and leaves Science.
Zian stands and leaves Command.
Turtledove's eyebrows twitch as she calmly steps away from Tactical, then heads swiftly toward the lift.
As the group topples and smashes itself into the turbolift, Fielding holds his head and rests against the lift wall. "...I...I don't understand," he says faintly, eyes squeezing shut. "It...it's voice...." Abruptly, his hands ball into fists, his voice becoming very small. "It sounds like my daughter, but sh-she's supposed to be dead...!" And on that note, the turbolift doors abruptly close, silence falling down over the room like a blanket.
Morrison touches the pad beside the turbolift door.
Morrison summons the turbolift.
The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.
Morrison boards the turbolift as the double doors slide open.
Morrison has left.
Tyler boards the turbolift as the double doors slide open.
Tyler has left.
Blair boards the turbolift as the double doors slide open.
Blair has left.
Zian steps onto the turbolift at Deck 1.
Zian has arrived.
The doors slide closed.
The doors slide open at Level 1.
Sulkat steps onto the turbolift at Deck 1.
Sulkat has arrived.
Turtledove steps onto the turbolift at Deck 1.
Turtledove has arrived.
The doors slide closed.
Sulkat says, "Deck 3."
The computer confirms entry with a chime and the turbolift starts to move toward Level 3.
Sulkat wields his Type I Phaser.
The doors slide open at Level 3.
Blair steps out of the turbolift.
Blair has left.
Sulkat steps out of the turbolift.
Sulkat comes into view wielding a Type I Phaser.
Sulkat has arrived.
Morrison steps out of the turbolift.
Morrison has arrived.
Zian steps out of the turbolift.
Zian has arrived.
Tyler steps out of the turbolift.
Tyler has arrived.
The turbolift doors slide closed.
The turbolift doors slide open with a hiss.
Turtledove steps out of the turbolift.
Turtledove comes into view wielding a Type I Phaser.
Turtledove has arrived.
The turbolift doors slide closed.
As the group steps back out on Deck Three, the corridor seems perfectly normal, up to the intersection. In the intersection in the corridor is a patch of grass, appearing to be growing up through...dusty ice. The soft sound of laughter echoes through the hall briefly, and Fielding shudders again, eyes still wide.
Sulkat barks somewhat belatedly, "Red Alert!" Almost immediatley, his gaze is caught by the lower wall panels - which he remembers carry environmental suits and survival kits. Kneeling, he removes a panel, and hauling out one for himself, orders not-so-calmly, "All of you - get into environmental suits. Lets not have a repeat of what happened on the bridge." 'Shaken' is definitley a good word for his appearance.
Zian takes a moment to digest Fielding's comment about his dead daughter, then tilts her head in the direction of Turtledove and Tyler. "With all due respect, sir, we'd already figured that much out. I understand that this topic is likely painful for you, but if you could give us /any/ additional information, it could be vital to our survival." As she speaks, she begins squirming her way into an environmental suit.
. o O Morrison thinks "Suits, Yes, ... I think ... that?"
Morrison says, as she struggles with the bulky suit, "This image, in front of us, It's /GOT/ to be a hologram. But still slippery, I'll wager. I suggest treading carefully on that ice."
. o O Morrison thinks "... yet very very alert, ..."
Blair also slips into one of the suits, checking his fastenings and sticking the helmet on, then moving about a little bit and getting out his tricorder. "Probably right, Lieutenant," he says, glancing at Morrison. "Think we're gonna wanna watch out, sir."
Turtledove eyes her shaken leader, then calmly proceeds to the panel and pulls out a suit. She tries to give Sulkat a reassuring smile as she suits up. She glances at Morrison. "If it's a hologram, our sensors need a swift kick. They most definitely indicated that this thing is a member of the living dead."
Morrison faces the group, just prior to seling her suit, "I'm not familiar with the Brilliant class, We're on Engineering Deck, is there a secondary computer core nearby that we can access?"
Tyler starts to pull one of the suits on, making sure to set her tricorder down first. Tyler whispers to Turtledove, "I hate these things. Tyler dutifully obeys Sulkat and begins to don it. She seals the emergency suit. She then picks up her tricorder again and flips it open to begin a scan of the... terrain... in front of her."
Tyler starts to pull one of the suits on, making sure to set her tricorder down first. Tyler whispers to Turtledove, "I hate these things." Tyler dutifully obeys Sulkat and begins to don it. She seals the emergency suit. She then picks up her tricorder again and flips it open to begin a scan of the... terrain... in front of her.
Fielding begins getting into one of the suits, slowly pulling it on, looking nearly as shaken as Sulkat as he speaks. "...My daughter Madalena was born about fifteen years ago, when Rina and I lived on New Gaul." He pulls on a pair of the gloves a bit roughly as he fastens them, face taking on a bit of a dark look. "There was an accident with a reactor...an explosion of some sort...first one New Gaul had seen in twenty years..." The gloves cover his eyes as he holds his head for a moment, before pulling the helmet on. "It claimed my daughter and five others. I still wonder why Rina and I survived her, and not the opposite...."
Down the corridor, the grass begins to turn softly, tilting one way, then another, then back the same as if being blown by the wind. Down the hall, nothing can be felt, particularly in environmental suits, but it seems fairly obvious to those watching nonetheless.
<CONTEST> Tyler contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Morrison does not believe the obviously holographic terrain down the corridor, as she checks her suit integrity, then does the check for Sulkat, and anyone else within reach.
. o O Morrison thinks "That grass there is not real."
Turtledove reveals her Knife.
Turtledove reveals her PADD.
. o O Morrison feels pose whips around to the left, watching Turtledove.
Morrison whips around to the left, watching Turtledove.
Morrison relaxes, Turtledove is obviously just getting her gear ready to deal with the zombie-six-year-old-holographic whatever it is.
Turtledove begins to transfer all sorts of goodies to her environmental suit. Knife, tricorder, PADD, etc. She dons her helmet seals her suit with relative precision, and stands ready to act, still wielding her phaser I.
Zian finishes suiting up, and doublechecks Fielding's suit to ensure that everything is properly sealed and fitted. "Were there any experiments running at the time, doctor? Anything that might explain why your daughter seems to be manifesting herself here? Could she somehow have.... I don't know... phase shifted, or--or something? This is not the area of science that I have much experience with."
Tyler reports from over the comm, "Captain, I do not recommend we enter that environment. Right now it's just the floor and walls. But I think our environment could change rapidly at the will of the entity. I suggest we follow Lt. Morrison's idea and go to the core."
Fielding raises his hand as if to touch his face, and the glove conks off his helmet visor. "Ow," he mutters, looking excessively jumpy. "...None that should have caused this. ...I...I don't know. My wife is a holoprogrammer herself," he murmurs. "She programmed a very simple, holographic -model- of Madalena. She said I could test the emitters I installed with it, and I loaded the program, but I couldn't start it. The thought was...too painful." He bats a fist against the helmet, looking frustrated. "I don't understand how a model could do -this-!"
Sulkat slips into his suit... just. He struggles mightily with it - apparently all that bulk isn't as easy to manage as he would have people believe - but manages in the end. Apparently, the suit brings him some comfort - when he speaks, his voice has retained some of that calm quality that it had at the beginning of this seemingly simple transport mission. "Thanks, Morrison," he says simply. "I agree, Lt. Tyler. Lets get there as fast a is safe, also. I don't think we need give this entity any more time to improve its abilities. - Turtledove, personally keep an eye on Dr. Fielding. This entity might well attempt something.. unpleasant.. towards him."
Tyler offers to Sulkat, "Or he could be the key to getting it under control."
Morrison looks to Sulkat for leadership, "Sir? Your orders?" She looks at Turtledove, and says, "Damn." She unzips her suit, and transfers her tricorder to the outside of her suit. "Ah, shit," she lets escape as she rigs her tricorder outside her suit, then struggles to re-seal it. She looks at Turtledove, and slaps her on the back with a gloved hand, saying boisterously, and laughing, "Ensign, remind me to buy you a cold one when we get back!" She looks at Fielding, Stunned at this new Knowledge. "Test Program?!?"
Blair looks around, tricorder still running. "The core's that way," he says, pointing down a different, nearer corridor. "One other problem, sir. Nothing's running but there is a holoprojector set, sir, a little outside the door."
Turtledove nods to Sulkat, and takes a position about 2m behind Fielding. Once there, she gives Morrison a covert wink and grin, the standard Security officer's response to a compliment.
<CONTEST> Sulkat (claiming advantage) contests his Command skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Morrison is non-plussed to hear about more holographic problems, as she blurts, "Well, that's just /wonderful/."
. o O Morrison feels in Awe of Sulkat's dynamic leadership. Them suits was a good idea, yup.
. o O Morrison thinks "... on, ... ready."
Tyler awaits Sulkat's order. She aims her own tricorder down the direction indicated by Blair, though.
Zian reflexively reaches for the phaser she hasn't carried with her since the Occa mission, and mutters a Betazoid obscenity under her breath, settling for the hrisal she had transferred to the outside of her suit earlier. Not that she really expects a knife to do much good against what is most likely a non corporeal entity of some sort, but hey, at least she's not unarmed.
Morrison says, "We're ready, sir. Let's do this.""
Sulkat switches his phaser from hand to hand for a few moments, then orders definitivley, confident that everybody is ready, "Lets move. If that holoprojector so much as squeaks the wrong way, I want it out of commision immediatley. It might be a trap... so everybody be prepared."
. o O Morrison thinks "... What ... of ... Knife ... THAT?!??!"
. o O Morrison thinks "... Out here, on the Jem'Hadar ... Don't Play. I like."
Morrison says, "Lead on, L.T.""
Morrison wields her tricorder in readiness. She looks down, and mutters, "Damn." She reaches down with a gloved finger, and turns it on. The tiny copmputerized scanning device beeps, confirming it is indeed, on.
Morrison coughs nervously
It happens as suddenly as most of the officers can recall anything happening in their careers. Ten steps down the corridor, Sulkat and his phaser in the lead, and suddenly they're standing in that icy, dusty field with grass growing. Despite the sheen of the ground, the snow-covered mountains abruptly in the distance, the ice-capped roofs of the town that wasn't there a half second ago, their boots crunch as if on dirt and gravel. A cold wind blows through...or at least, according to the suit sensors, the outside temperature drops. And then the really strange stuff hits.
"Tera Turtledove." The speaker is an Andorian...decked out in a complete Western costume, right down to the spurs, black leather boots, and two blue antennae sticking up above his wide-brimmed hat. His hand hovers over a six-shot on his belt, and it's a few seconds before Turtledove notices that one sits on her own, and her phaser appears to be nowhere to be found. The Andorian speaks again, a sharp Western twang with small hints of a Graalen accent. "Ah'm callin' yew out. Didja come here t'stare, or didja come here t'draw?"
Morrison says, "Computer, This is Physical Sciences Officer LTJG Morrison, End Holographic Program, on my authority."
The computer chimes. "Unable to comply."
Morrison moves in front of Turtledove, and faces the Andorian, "Don't move, Ensign."
Sulkat glances straight at his own phaser, in his hand. Its still a phaser. Not many people have ever looked more relieved than he does. Belatedly, he calls out, "Nobody mo-" but only gets out so much before Morrison moves in front of Turtledove.
. o O Morrison thinks "Zian, ... rush him in ... seconds, ... say now. ... if ... if not ..."
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
Turtledove's eyebrow hits a vertical limit as an incredulous smile forms on her lips. She watches the Andorian carefully, as her hand drops to the apparent six-shooter at her waist... Her eyes remain locked on the blue cowboy... and then... Morrison jumps in front of her? She blinks. "Lt. Morrison, what are you doing?"
Morrison says, "Saving your life.""
The Andorian re-sets his stance, spurs jingling. "Outta the way," he says to Morrison. "My quarrel ain't with yew. Ain't nobody I'm 'bout to plug 'cept for Turtledove, thar -- and we're gonna do this honorably or yew'll just hafta go first, y'hear?"
Morrison says, "Computer, This is LTJG Morrison, engage Holographic Safety Protocols.""
The computer chimes. "Safety Protocols are not available."
Morrison says, "You gonna shoot a woman? Tell me again about honor."
Sulkat appears to consider merely shooting the Andorian where it stands - but somehow gets the idea that won't work out very well for everybody involved. Instead, he moves alongside Morrison and leans close, saying, "That was /not/ a smart move."
Zian's jaw sets as the Andorian appears, and she tenses, her dark eyes alert. She reaches out to forcibly pull Morrison aside, her voice low and tight as she informs her, "Last time I was in a situation where someone interfered with a Security officer who was trying to do their job, I damn near got shot. I am /not/ letting that happen again. /Stand down/, Morrison."
Turtledove chuckles, a rather surprised and cheerful chuckle. "No offense, sir. But I sincerely doubt that you can out-dodge me." She flicks a glance at Sulkat, trying to get his reaction to the situation, then looks back at the Andorian. "Lt. Sulkat, permission to remove Lt.jg. Morrison from the equation."
Morrison replies tersely, "Reprimand me later, if we live. I'm buying us time."
Morrison moves out of the way, stands clear.
Across the icy, grassy, dusty...wherever the team is, the Andorian waits, and by all appearances, has all the time in the world to do so, hands hovering over his pistol.
Morrison says, "This is not the way, Turtledove.""
Tyler fiddles with her tricorder some. Her fingers, fattened from the suit, fumble with the controls. She huffs her displeasure behind the glass, paying more attention to the tricorder than their environment. She's managed to get a flickering bubble of reality back that is there less than it is not there. She's apparently trying to disrupt the holographics system with her tricorder.
Turtledove continues to focus on the Andorian, hand poised over her primitive weapon. "It may not be your way, Mr. Morrison." She pauses. To Sulkat, she says, "Orders, sir?"
The Andorian's head turns towards Sulkat, slowly, and he intones, "Ah kin draw faster'n you kin run, bwah." His eyes narrow, and even his antennae bend forward slightly, as his gaze settles down and tightens.
Sulkat focuses on the Andorian, and nothing else. His gaze does not waver as he says to Turtledove quietly, "One moment." To the Andorian, he says quietly - barely audibly, in fact, "Nobody draws faster than me."
A soft chuckle is the response. "Ah ain't after yew, bwah. Yew want yer revenge after she's done, yew step out when ah'm through with 'er. This duel is t'right wrongs, en ah -ain't- lettin' her off th'hook this time. Take a step out, Turtledove. Yew scared?" Add on the kind of sneer that doesn't cross an Andorian very often, and one might suddenly wonder why more Westerns weren't made -with- Andorians. The effect is quite direct.
Zian gives Morrison a /look/ that could kill, if facial expressions were capable of such. She remains right where she is, still watching the goings-on alertly. Her gaze flicks to Tyler as she fiddles with her tricorder, then she softly clears her throat. Hoping to divert attention away from Tyler's efforts, she calls out, "Madalena, enough of this charade. Show yourself. Please, just tell us what you want. We'll listen. There's no need to go through all of this."
Morrison waits to see what happens.
Turtledove's mouth quirks up on one side, her eyes sparkling with an odd mixture of predation and amusement. "I... ain't scared, just curious. What'd I do to deserve this... challenge?"
Sulkat appears to be caught between the urge to shoot, and the correct procedure - whatever that might be.
. o O Morrison thinks "Have ... done ... before? I ... just trying ... Ensign from getting killed."
Tyler keeps fidgeting with the tricorder, trying to stabilize reality around them.
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
The Andorian tilts his head back slightly, indicating her with his chin. "Yew shot mah brother, Turtledove," he says levelly. "Eraynes Vaseera. Don't remember 'im? Yew plugged 'im in the back in a saloon. Ah'm out fer 'is honor. Now...draw!" And with that, the Andorian's hand goes for his pistol, hand darting downward.
Turtledove, likewise, goes for her pistol like a runaway carriage with no one at shotgun...
<CONTEST> Sulkat contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Projectile Weapon (Gunpowder Pistol) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
The Andorian seems to move a little sluggishly for some reason. In the instant before he snaps the six-shooter out, a couple of the others can spot a small, brunette-framed face in one of the nearby windows, which ducks out of sight again. In that moment, though, the Andorian is struck by Turtledove's shot, with the snap of a bullet and the beam of a phaser at once. His own shot goes wild as he topples to the dust.
With a yell, Blair snaps backwards, holding his shoulder. Tyler's tricorder lets out a bright green-blue spark, once, and Blair fades out as if walking through an invisible wall.
At this, people begin to stream out, some of them holding guns. "That ain't no honor!" one shouts. "Yew both fired at 'im!" another yells, pointing a finger at Sulkat. As the mob advances, however, the entire oncoming crowd begins to grow more sluggish, walking through water.
Morrison says, "Lt. Sulkat, Permission to try to call for The Doctor...Doctor Holliday...using the Medical Hologram's own programming...""
Sulkat snarls at his miss, but snaps to Morrison, "Granted! And everybody fall back towards where Blair... faded out."
Turtledove watches the Andorian fall into the dust, then twists her head around to examine the crowd. Her expression darkens as she notes their apparent hostility. She makes for Blairs position like a greased pig on a slip-and-slide.
Zian's lips tighten at the lack of reaction to her little speech. So much for talking their way out of this. "Evan!!" She cries out with dismay as Blair vanishes, dashing toward the spot where she last saw him.
Morrison says, "Computer, Lt. Blair was wounded, Engage Emergancy Medical Hologram, Image and Abilities ovverride as Holliday, Doc, Referece: Historical Files, Terra, Circa 1870, Tombstone, Arizona Teritory, Eart. Equipment Medical Kit, and double barrelled shotgun. Engage Program 5 feet behind the Andorian gunslinger, and beging Simulation. Initialize and run."
Morrison says, "Copmuter, Correction Eart as Earth."
Tyler drops her tricorder and yelps. She starts to finally notice the crowd and the rest of her environment. "Uh...." She says, her voice starting to choke with panic.
The crowd becomes more sluggish as it advances, some going for weapons with arms reaching slowly to their sides, steps dragging as if through hot butter. The weapons begin to rise as the officers and Fielding begin darting back, several sighting down rifles or shotguns. "Geeeeeet...theeeeeemmmm....!"
All the weapons fire at once with a resounding 'bang' that the suit helmets fortunately muffle...and then with another 'snap' everything disappears, becoming the corridor again. Nearby, Blair's hand is inside a panel, the other holding his bleeding side painfully. "...Overloaded the projector," he says, trying to sit up, hand gesturing slightly towards Wendy. "...Tyler's tricorder trick...must've fuzzed the end right there...."
And lastly, then, are the two newcomers. The Zimmerman-issue EMH, standing confusedly in a hat, holding a tricorder and a double-barrelled shotgun, and a little girl with brown hair, stomping one foot. "You BROKE it!"
Morrison feels herself for wounds.
GAME: Tyler spends a courage point.
Turtledove's eyebrows twitch with the abrupt change in scenery. She glances at the two newcomers, her phaser still drawn and wielded.
Zian drops to her knees beside Blair, opening up her medkit. "Shhhh... lie still, Evan. Great work, there, hon... you did real good. Now you just lay still, and we'll get you patched up in no time..." she murmurs soothingly as she sets to work, her combat medic training kicking in full force.
Tyler looks pretty freaked out, and as such, tries to stay near Tera.
Morrison says, "Computer, Restore Emergency Medical hologram to Standard abilities." She looks to try to get Sulkat's attention. She watches Zian work. "Zian, do you want to try intraship teleport transfer to sickbay?""
Fielding's voice is strangled. "Lena--!" And then, as if something's clicked, he grabs Tyler's wrist and pulls her with him, running down the corridor towards the computer core, speaking rapidly. "Rina must have programmed more into her than I thought...meaning when I installed the emitters...she must have started taking over processor space! She can't really access life support, it's locked out...it's a -game-." He looks back at Tyler as they skid to a halt outside the computer core, and he hits a button, keying in an access code. "Everything's a game, don't you see? She's not mature..."
Turtledove flicks a look at Tyler, giving her a brief, yet hopefully reassuring, smile before she is shanghaiied by Fielding. She looks back at the two holograms. She drops her phaser to her side, and addresses the little girl. "Hi there." She pauses, waiting for a response, and flicks a brief look at the EMH.
Tyler yelps behind her faceplate as she is grabbed. She doesn't resist as she is dragged along. "What am /I/ supposed to do about it?" She still looks pretty freaked out.
Morrison says, "Zian, I know you are busy, but I can't see Sulkat. You are in charge. I need to ry to get to the Computer.""
Turtledove's expression is cautious but not unfriendly.
Morrison says gently, "Or I can try to help here, for what it's worth."
The little girl looks up at Turtledove. "Will you play with me then?" she asks hopefully with large brown eyes, hands clasped in front of her and swaying with energy. "Pleeeease?" The EMH, in the meantime, glitters briefly before the hat and shotgun disappear. "Good thing," he says. "I was about to break the Hippocratic Oath. Goodness, what happened to him?" He moves towards Blair, but fuzzes out part way and reappears, backstepping. "He's just outside," he says. "If you can move him here, carefully, I'll see how well I can help."
Morrison looks up at the hologram, trusts the flesh. "Z, I'll stay here, unless you say go."
Fielding, in the meantime, keys the Computer Core open and pushes Tyler in, looking uneasy himself. "Unlock the computer's AI!" he says, finger stabbing towards the primary terminal. "It's pure logic and understanding. If she expands into that..." He smiles softly, running for another screen himself. "I'm just sorry I won't have been -there- while she grew up."
Zian nods distractedly to Morrison. "Go with Tyler and Fielding, then. We'll be fine, here." She looks up to the EMH, and nods slightly. Bending down, she takes hold of Blair under the armpits and, as slowly and gently as possible, begins dragging him inside the holographic emitter's range.
Turtledove's eyebrow twitches slightly, possibly because of that class at the Academy where they teach you about Psychotic AI's and their _wonderful_ sense of fun. She smiles at the holographic child, though her eyes reveal a dramatic increase in her caution level. "What... sort of game do you want to play? I'm pretty good at card games."
Blair winces softly as he's dragged, gritting his teeth and resting his head against Zian's arm as he's moved over, and the EMH shortly crouches at his side, starting his work and politely thanking Zian.
The little girl giggles. "Knights 'n Castles! You wanna be the dragon?" A rather wicked-looking sword appears in her hands, and with a little dance, she giggles again, but does not advance.
Morrison smooth's out Blair's hair, away from his face. "You're fine. Sorry, I got to go. You're in good hands." She looks to Zian, "Luck." She struggles to stand, shaken at the destructive power of a hologram unleashed. She runs down the corridor to try to catch Tyler and Fielding.
Tyler frowns a bit and makes her way into the core. She moves to the computer's primary console and keys in her security override codes. She runs her hands across the keyboard, trying to separate the AI from the main computer.
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Programming) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Zian winces along with Blair, empathically feeling every bump and scrape. "Oh-- damn, I'm sorry, Evan..." she murmurs, fumbling for her hypospray and a vial of painkiller. "I'm afraid we haven't got control of the ship right now, doc, or I'd already have done an emergency beamout to sickbay." she glances over her shoulder, lowering her voice, "With this little girl's twisted sense of fun, I'm afraid to find out where we'd end up if she /did/ let the transporters engage."
Fielding slams his fist against the wall console he's working at. "Dammit!" he snaps. "They changed my codes from when I was installing the emitters -- I can't..." He looks up as booted feet announce Morrison's arrival, and he points at his terminal. "Lieutenant, I need you to splice two programs very, very quickly. 002, the central AI, and 457-B, Madalena." His look at Morrison is intense, one hand still pointing at his terminal.
Turtledove smiles wider, her head-shaking softly, as she responds to the little girl. "Me be the dragon?" She pauses, thinking. "But. That's... the most fun part." She pauses, thinking... thinking... "You're the youngest, so you should have the most fun, right?"
Morrison arrives, breathlessly. "Hold up. If we do that, she effectively becomes God, With all the knowledge of the Federation, driving a starship. YOUR little test program GADDAMN started all of this!"
Morrison says, "LT Tyler, two seconds of your time, please.""
Fielding's teeth grit, and he roars back, "Lieutenant, do you -want- to fix this? She's tied into seven dozen systems. Are you the hero or would you rather go back out INTO THAT HALLWAY?!" His face turns red, fists clenching at his sides.
The girl giggles, handing Turtledove the sword. "Okay. You be the knight!" And then she's a rather small dragon, roaring and snorting small jets of flame from his nostrils, and otherwise...sitting there, bouncing on its hind legs at Turtledove.
Morrison says, "Fielding, Your Daughter is dead. Deal with it. She's tried to kill one of ours. I'm going to deal with THAT, and HER, Now. Say Goodbye. You got 5 Seconds, before I pull the plug, and erase her for good." She turns to Tyler, "Unless, of course, you have any other good way to go about it?"
Turtledove takes the blade, grinning at the little dragon as the hilt slides into her hand. She eyes the giggling dragon for a moment, before taking a more relaxed stance. She smiles and takes a playful jab at the hologram, clearly intending to miss.
Turtledove says, "En garde, ye foul beast!"
Tyler glances over her shoulder to Morrison, pausing her console tapping. "Touch this computer and I'll have you in irons, Lt. Morrison. This is a life form. It's not going to be easy, but we have to try to separate the computer from the intelligence that is trapped within."
Oblivious to the mild chaos inside the room down the hall, the girl-turned-dragon hops and dodges the blade easily, giggling again. "Missed me!" the dragon's mouth says in her voice, and she bounces circles around Turtledove, light trails of smoke following her around.
Morrison says, "Tyler, look. I hear you, but it is not a life form, it is a holographic program, using the EMH system to manifest itself. It is acting like a virus, spreading throughout the ship. I'm not sure how. It's not Commander Data, it is a program."
Fielding's fist slams into the wall again, eliciting a metallic clank, but, with nothing he can do about the situation, he simply slides to the ground, holding his head with both hands.
Tyler snaps at Morrison, "Look, it has exhibited /sentience/. I /will not/ kill this thing because it is a program! Get on a terminal and help, or get out!"
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Programming) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
GAME: Morrison spends a courage point.
Morrison says, "Put me in Irons, then.""
Morrison says, "Stand aside."
Turtledove's grin widens, and in fact, she almost giggles herself as she turns around and around, attempting to keep up with the little scamp. "Why, you little devil!" She makes a few more playful jabs, as she turns around and around. "You're making me dizzy!"
Turtledove says, "The King's best knight! Getting dizzy! Why... it's unbecoming, I tell you.""
Tyler stands up and puts her back to the console. She levels her gaze on Morrison. "You will have to go through me first, Lieutenant. I'm the ship's foremost authority on silicon lifeforms, /and this qualifies/. Stand down."
GAME: Tyler spends a courage point.
The bouncing dragon giggles again, tripping over the flat of Turtledove's blade and going rolling into the bulkhead, where it collapses with another giggle before turning back into the little girl. The EMH looks slightly distracted by the thud, but turns back to his instruments, mouth pressing into a rather thin line. "Lieutenant Zian, would you administer something to thicken the blood near the wound? I'm afraid it seems the Ensign is a bit prone to producing red paint. 3ccs should do." Meanwhile, he carefully applies an anabolic protoplaser, eyes narrowing as he focuses.
Morrison says, "Let Sulkat Decide. I'm not challenging your knowledge or authority, or obvious experience. I'm just saying it is dangerous. Last I saw, Turtledove was gonna play games with it, just after it shot Blair. It has power it can't comprehend. Let Sulkat decide, I say. It's dangerous, and needs to be detroyed. That's my gut feeling. You may be right, but I am not in charge. I'm gonna advise him to ull the plug. I'll do as he says."
Zian slips the proper vial into her hypospray and administers the drug, watching the doctor's work intently. "Is there anything else you need me to do, doctor?" she asks, her gaze flicking down the corridor toward the computer core, then over to where Turtledove and the ghost-girl are playing.
"Computer, note the AI in the computer core as part of Lt. Tyler's classified experimental projects in accordance with directives from Starfleet Command. Lock direct access of the AI to my security clearance," Tyler states. "There. Now not even Commander Balin can tell me what to do with it, so the point is moot. Now take a terminal and assist, or stand aside."
Morrison looks at here closely, with, "Just who are you?"
Turtledove actually looks disappointed as the little dragaon disappears. Her eyebrows go up and her smile takes on a rueful shape. "The game isn't over, is it?"
Morrison breathes heavily for a few seconds. She sits.
Madalena giggles, getting back up to her feet and bouncing a bit. "Uh-uh! How bout this?" She giggles and a little, toy laser gun appears in her hand. "My mommy always used to say I was en-er-ge-tic," she adds, bouncing on the last word and beginning to run in circles again. The EMH frowns, nearby. "Despite the obvious distractions, Lieutenant, I believe I will be fine without you. You may check on him at any time, but the rest I'm afraid I will have to finish on my own."
Morrison relaxes a bit, after the big Mexican standoff. Whoever this Tyler is, She's got someone backing her. She's been handed a fait accompli, and knows it. "Okay, give me access. Have it your way. You know you need my skill, so let's do it together."
Tyler replies to Morrions, "Lieutenant Junior Grade Wendy Tyler. DTI Timefleet." She turns back to the main console now that Morrison has stood down and attempts to release the AI a second time. A nervous breath escapes her. She's barely noticed the heartbeat in her ears or the rush of adrenaline until now, and her fingers do shake somewhat now that things have calmed down with the conflict between the two of them.
. o O Morrison thinks "... hell is a Timefleet?"
. o O Morrison feels Confused.
Tyler gives Morrison the required access to assist in compartmentalizing the AI, but not to shut it down.
<CONTEST> Zian contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<PROVE> Morrison has the advantage of Mathematical Ability at 3.
<CONTEST> Tyler (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Programming) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
GAME: Morrison spends a courage point.
Turtledove's smile fades as her attention is drawn to the tiny laser pistol. She eyes the pistol warily, forcing a smile for the little girl. "I have a better idea. Do you... like to jump? Like, say... on a big fluffy bed, or something?" Her expression is hopeful. What little kid doesn't like jumping on the bed?
<CONTEST> Morrison (claiming advantage) contests her Computer skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Madalena giggles, bouncing around again and firing the gun. The bulkhead sparks, a small scorch mark appearing. "But this is -fun-! I wanna run aroooouuun--" With a sharp fizzle, Madalena abruptly disappears, as does her gun, leaving the corridor remarkably empty but for the steadily working EMH, who comments, "Thank you, Ensign, it's much easier to work with quiet."
Morrison takes a breath, and the computer begins buzzing, and beeping, as she says "Computer, New program, Morrison-1, Priority command of all Computer Functions. Program details as follows, Primary Objective: Calculate the value of the following transcendental numbers, to infinity, until ordered to cease at my Command: PI, e, Square root of negative 2. Secondarty Objective: Extract all data from memory banks, and Splice with Core A.I. personality. Reference: 002, The central AI, and 457-B, Madalena subprogram. Initiate, and begin."
Morrison turns away from her board to Tyler. "She's all yours. Do what you will. Be careful, for the wrath of a god is infinite, and not subtle, Lieutenant."
Turtledove's smile fades completely away. She looks at the EMH. "Quiet. But. Not safe." She pulls her tricorder from her environmental suit, and begins scanning, attempting to relocate the errant AI.
<CONTEST> Turtledove contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
The computer's voice echoes through the computer core, lowering in pitch as it goes. "Wor...kin..g...." The lights briefly do fuzz before reasserting themselves, and the blinking lights of the core itself slow down, blinking softly.
"Computer, isolate computer bank R-6 from the network and flush its memory to the secondary core. Allow input but no output," Tyler says. She waits until the computer complies, then says, "Computer, Download a game of Go into that databank."
Morrison is amazed to find herself saying, "Outstanding. That's it. That will work."
The computer's voice becomes even lower, grinding out "Pro...cess...ing...." For several minutes, the only things that really seem to be moving are the crewmembers in the core and corridors, as the ship itself slows nearly to a standstill, even the lights on the computer remaining in place.
Zian brushes fingers fondly through Blair's hair, then slowly rises as the EMH slows down and the lights flicker. She moves toward Turtledove, looking concerned. "Where'd the kid go, Ensign?"
Tyler looks up from the display of processor usage. "She's moving there, but it's slow. Lt. Morrison, if you could release some computer power, this would go faster."
Morrison looks at Tyler, with grudging respect. "Gladly, Computer! This is LTJG Morrison, Physical Sciences Officer. Transfer Command of Morrison-1 Program and system resources to LTJG Tyler. The Computer beeps.
. o O Morrison feels Drained.
. o O Morrison thinks "... REALLY need ... drink."
Turtledove's eyes look up and around as the lights fuzz, then returns her attention to the tricorder, swinging around toward the area containing Tyler and Morrison. Not being able to see and hear Morrison and Tyler, she starts walking in their direction. "She's close. Very close proximity to Lt. Morrison and Lt. Tyler."
Morrison looks tiredly at Tyler with, "Lieutenant, the Computer is yours. Let me know what you need for me to assist further."
Over her comm, Turtledove says, "Lt. Morrison? Lt. Tyler, I'm reading Magdelena's position in close proximity to you...", she rounds the corner, entering the room, and finding no sign of the AI. "I think." She looks back at her tricorder.
Tyler tries to free up a little bit more processor power in the direction of computer bank R-6, allowing the faster computing to go on in the Go game for minimum boredom and maximum speed. If anything is happening behind her, she's unaware.
As Tyler opens up more processing, the computer begins to move again, as does the EMH outside, and then, abruptly, everything snaps back to normal activity. The computer's display first reads 'Job completed', and then, moments later, it briefly types out 'Thank you, Wendy!' before status reports show R-6 is encapsulated. Fielding is now standing a few steps behind the two at the console, running one hand back through his graying hair, eyes slightly red-rimmed. "...I guess," he murmurs softly, "she's gone to her room, Lieutenant."
Zian stays near Blair and the slow-moving doctor, checking to be sure that the doctor's lack of speed isn't causing more harm than good. She holds out her hand for the protoplaser, looking at the doctor meaningfully. "Please, allow me to assist, doctor. There seems to be a problem with the ship's computer systems. I am a trained combat medic. If you can tell me what needs to be done, I should be able to do it."
As the EMH speeds up again, his movements resume their standard speed, and he says genially, "I appreciate the offer, Lieutenant, but I can't see any problems. It's quite the simple wound, all things said; not even a bullet to remove. Is it safe to transfer him to the sickbay?" he asks, looking up at Zian as he shuts off the protoplaser. "Don't worry, Lieutenant," he adds with a small smile. "He'll be fine."
Morrison breathes a long slow sigh of relief. They WILL make it home.
Tyler double-checks to make sure that the R-6 is wholly isolated. Once satisfied, she looks to Fielding and says, "I'll be giving over responsibility of her to you, Dr. Fielding. She's safe for now." She smiles to Morrison, then. "No hard feelings, okay?" she says.
Morrison says, with just the slightest bit of reserve, "Of course not." Then she gives a short little laugh, and then says, mischieviously, "Oh, No, no problem, Lieutenant...By the way...What In Blazes is a Timefleet? No WAIT! Better if I didn't know. We did it. I'm satisfied."
Zian grins wryly, her cheeks pinkening as she looks down at Blair, touching his cheek softly. "Y'hear that? I try to be all professional, and even the EMH can see through me. How ya feeling, Evan?" she asks. Glancing up at the EMH, she answers, "I'd rather we wait a few more minutes, till they come out of the core and tell us everything's okay, doctor. I don't want him shunted into a buffer mid-transport."
Turtledove smiles, regarding Wendy warmly, as she drops her tricorder to her side. "Well done, Lt.'s."
Dr. Fielding smiles faintly. "...Thank you, Lieutenant," he says softly. "...I'll...think. About her and about everything else," he says quietly. "I believe I may beam down to New Gaul for a while, actually. Perhaps it might do me some good to rummage up old demons one more time." He extends his hand to Tyler, then to Morrison. "I apologize for having caused trouble. I do hope the emitter system is of use to you," he says with a slight smile, "now that my daughter is no longer horsing around, it appears."
Morrison says, "Say, Lt. Do you play golf?""
Morrison says, "New Gaul...Do they have..Toga Parties?""
Turtledove's eyebrow twitches at the mention of the emitter system. "Er..." She wisely keeps her mouth shut, opting instead for a dubious smile in Fielding's direction. "We'll probably need to be... running some security simulations before we can bring the system fully online. Again."
. o O Morrison thinks "If ... ever bring ..."
Morrison nods at Turtledove's observation.
Tyler shakes Fielding's hand and says, "Just take good care of her." She glances to Morrison and shakes her head. "No... I can't say that I do. I prefer water sports for physical exercise. And I certainly don't do toga parties..." She walks over to Turtledove and sighs softly. This adventure has played with her nerves and it shows on her face. "Wow," she says quietly to her friend.
Blair looks up from his position on the ground, smiling faintly at Zian. "...Hey," he says a bit weakly, "whaddaya think you are, a Vulcan?" He extends a hand up towards her, just slightly, though the EMH looks disapproving. "...I'll be all right, just need a little biobed time and all that...."
Morrison looks at Dr. Fielding, "Doctor, I must apologize. I've never had children, so I can only imagine what losing yours must have been like. Looks like you get a second chance. Rare in this Galaxy. I...I'm sorry." She looks down.
Turtledove puts a hand on Tyler's shoulder and gives her a comforting squeeze, regarding her warmly. "I don't know what you did, but it seems that you've saved our butts, Wendy. Thanks." She grins and winks at young woman.
<CONTEST> Zian (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
Tyler walks out of the core beside Turtledove, already trying to get out of the suit she's in. "I hate these things," she gasps as she gets the helmet off. "Uh, it w-wasn't anything," she says, blushing.
<CONTEST> Zian (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Zian looks down the corridor as Tyler and Turtledove emerge. Seeing Tyler removing her suit, she smiles with relief, asking, "Everything's straightened out, then?" Turning toward the EMH and Blair, she smiles, bending down to kiss Blair's cheek softly before ordering, "Computer, initiate emergency transport for Blair and the EMH, directly to sickbay."
Turtledove grins at Wendy as she removes her own helmet. "That kid had a good sense of fun. I'm glad that you guys were able to contain her without taking her to pieces." She smiles at Zian, then lets her attention fall on Blair... concern takes root. "How is Blair doing, sir?"
"He'll be fine," the EMH says simply. "A bit of bedrest and the 24th Century equivalent of hot chicken broth and he'll be on his feet in no time." With that, the EMH and Blair vanish, one sparkling and the other fizzling out.
Meanwhile, behind the group, Doctor Samuel Fielding looks around the computer core quietly, his own footsteps echoing hollowly through the room. He moves for the door, then stops as it opens, turning back and looking once more, lips pressed thinly together, before he steps out with a soft smile, letting the door close behind him and lock.
In the warm glow of the running computer core, there comes a soft, echoing giggle.
