<div dir="auto"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Mission: The Flames of Purity</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Day: 16  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Stardate: 2445.09.16</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Gamma Quadrant Planet – Shuttle Michaelangelo – CSO Lt Jg Erin  Cortez – 1235)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Erin froze, seeing the thinly veiled anger in Doctor Vespers face as he spoke to her. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In her mind, she knew that his concern for Lieutenant Bracken was translating into anger at her presumption of taking him away from his job but the illogical side of her took over and she froze.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Not knowing exactly what to do or say, her mind began replaying images, images of a moment that she had fought so hard to deal with. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As she stood a little still, she felt a hand grab her arm gently and turned her away from the doctor as the voice of its owner rang in her ears, shaking her back to the present.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" Come with me Sir, I will assist you in aiding the other members of the away team. " </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She nodded and followed Ensign Zot as he began to treat Ensign More, not really hearing the conversation between them. Suddenly bmZot handed her one of the medical instruments which she recognised was to stop the bleeding evident on the Ensign and she began to work.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" No need to worry Ensign , you will be ok. I have read some basic first aid instructions. Do you  require a reassuring bedside manner to place your mind at ease or would you prefer we mend you in silence?" </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“ Lieutenant Ravok.....permission to die sir...” He replied as his eyes went white, his head dropped back and he passed out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Ensign?" She said, a little louder than usual, an effort to rouse him which had no effect.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Taking a medial tricorder, Erin began to scan him as Zot spoke,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" Lieutenant Cortez Erin Julia, I will assist her while you finish with the Ensign. "</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Go ahead. I will keep an eye on Ensign More." As Zot moved off, Erin knelt beside Ensign More and sighed. She looked down at her tricorder and noted that the Ensign had simply lapsed into unconsciousness.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">~a result of his injuries. Keep an eye on his vitals and make sure that there is nothing untoward going on~ she told herself.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">She knew that something wasn't right with her but she couldn't place the feeling. The confrontation with Doctor Vespers had her rattled. She knew, deep down, that the venom on his voice was not directed at her.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Still, something was bothering her. The voice, the tonality it had had brought something to the fore. Forcing it back, she kept her eyes down, watching the tricorder and placed a hand gently on Ensign More's shoulder,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I got you. You are not going to die. Not on my watch."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Barely even aware of the fact they had docked back with the ship, Erin watched as the medical team came on board the shuttle and gently, took Ensign more off the Michelangelo and away to sickbay</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Reply Any )</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Posted by Jackie)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"times new roman";background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NRPG: There is a part 2 coming. Breaking it up so as not to have one massive novella.</span></p></div>