Compile summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.25 (USS Mystique, Ensign (jg) Mason Garrett and Angeni Windsong Trommashere, Ten-forward, 1741) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Dreamscape - CSO Ketal - 0100) (USS Mystique - Sickbay - CSO Ketal - 0950) (USS Mystique - Sickbay -Ensign Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 0955) (USS Mystique - Sickbay -CSO Ketal - 0956) (USS Mystique - Sickbay -Ensign Angeni O. Windsong Trommashere-0957) (USS Mystique - Sickbay -CSO Ketal -0958) (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - CSO Ketal - 1120) (USS Mystique - Jeffries Tube - Cargo Bay - Dr. Markstein - 1122) (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - CSO Ketal and Dr. Markstein - 1125) (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - Dr. Terry Markstein - 1130) (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - CSO Ketal - 1131) (USS Mystique - Markstein's quarters -- Dr. Markstein -- 1135) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Nimitz - Science Lab - Lt(jg) 'Shades' Falthgood - 0800) (USS Nimitz - Science Lab - Lt(jg) Zach 'Shades' Falthgood - 0804) (USS Mystique - Transporter Room One - Ensign (jg) Mason Garrett - 0900) (USS Mystique, Bridge, OPS, Lt (jg) HHril, 0901) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Begin compile Stardate: 2406.10.25 (USS Mystique, Ensign (jg) Mason Garrett and Angeni Windsong Trommashere, Ten-forward, 1741) There were several unoccupied tables in the ten-forward lounge when Garrett and Angeni entered. Garrett asked for a small glass of Saurian brandy and waited as the bartender fixed the doctor's drink, then they moved across the lounge to a table near the forward view. He'd already satisfied his taste for alcohol — or rather synthehol — for the day, but didn't want to order water. "So what's your story," Garrett said to restart the conversation. "How did a lovely and intelligent lady such as you end up in Starfleet?" Angeni looked at her white russian. She sipped it slowly, and she smiled softly, nodding as she licked her lips, leaning forward. "Well...it happened sort of by accident. I worked at Johns Hopkins to finish up the end of my Neurosurgical program. One of the nurses, her son was in Starfleet, and I got to hear the stories back from the academy, and from when he first arrived and worked on a Starship. Then, my sister was accepted into the Engineering program. I still didn't want to get into it...but something just made me apply. I got accepted, and everything just seemed great. The academy was wonderful...but...they deemed me ready and shipped me here right at the height of the incident to be in medical. Ever since..I've been here." She sipped her drink again, and she paused for a moment,then she continued. "Now...if you want to know of my past history, that's another story...another long one. Long story short. I lived on a reservation, moved to a small city in Tennessee, was raised by Bryson and Marie Trommashere, grew to know my darling sister Madison, my dog, Baxter, and then I ended up in Medical school, then here." She leaned back in the chair, stretching again as she smiled, gesturing with her hand, "So, what's the story of you, Mason. I bet you've had a unique past, middle, and I bet you have some interesting plans for your future." "So far the middle part has been very interesting," Garrett acknowledged, nodding. "In the time I've been on this ship I've been attacked by Marines, crawled for my life through Jeffries tubes, buried a runabout into a cargo bay wall and had my head cracked open by another Marine. In addition, I've met two beautiful women who have both pulled me from death's door. My life hasn't been dull, lately. "As for my past," he continued. "My parents were special liasons on Vulcan and I spent almost my entire life there before going to the Academy. They — died — suddenly when I was twelve." He felt some of the old wounds trying to reopen. There were too many unanswerable questions there. "Um. Afterward one of my tutors, Pata, became my foster father and I lived with his family. I had distant relations on Earth whom I hardly knew. Some of them offered to adopt me but I wanted to stay on Vulcan. At that age, orphans are allowed to give their input as to where or with whom they prefer to live." He swallowed a little more brandy. Angeni smiled softly, and leaned forward, putting her hand on his and applied a gentle squeeze. She looked into his eyes, nodding slightly. "If I can offer any word of comfort...your past is rather similar to mine..." Her voice broke off as she looked down at her hand on his, and she moved it back away, back around her own glass, looking down in the milky mixture... "I know what it's like to lose both parents...I lost both of mine...and a sibling...in one day..." She looked back up, the faintest idea of a tear in the corner of her eye which she blinked away and she put the doctors smile on her face...the, 'there's nothing more we can do but wait' smile as she listened to him talk. Her mind started reeling as her face seemed to get hotter. She was so painfully shy...but she felt kind of comfortable around him, and it made it easier to talk to him, but she still felt very shy. It would take a bit to pull her out of her shell. "Nobody can really foretell the future," Garrett said. "I'm essentially a scientist. My specialty has been Gravitonic Science and Physical Theory but I really haven't used it since coming aboard. Pata probably knows everything there is to know about every sort of computer Starfleet has used in the past two centuries. He taught me a lot about them. and that has been very helpful so far." She nodded and smiled, "Pata sounds like he was a wonderful influence upon you. You seem to have grown up into a wonderful and handsome man." She ended that statement with one of her genuine, bright sunny smiles, and she ran her fingers through her hair. Garrett looked across the table at the radiant woman sitting before him. She was something special. Her smile pulled at his heart in ways that scared him a little. It was at that moment that a flush coursed through his body. "Woe!" Garrett said, sitting back suddenly touching his fingertips to his temples. "Something just drained ninety percent of the energy out of my body in one second. I think your drugs are wearing off." Angeni sat straight up in the chair...her mind went around in a full circle. She knew she was shy, and sometimes her conversation got rather dry...but she was trying. Her face kept that smile of her to hide what was going on in her mind, and she nodded slightly, reaching for her drink and downing it in one gulp. The strong vodka burned her throat, and she winced. It had been a while since she had drunken anything strong, especially vodka, but this moment constituted her drinking it all in one gulp. "Let's finish our drinks then I'll walk with you to your quarters," Garrett offered. "Sure..." She stood up and looked around, the bright flush coming to her cheeks. She looked down at him, stammering as she tried to form words. "Uhm...well...I...uhm...if you want..." She closed her eyes, trying to form the words. "I...have a lot of...stuff to unpack...and...it'll probably go faster if...I could get some help...so...maybe you'd like to help me?" She extended her hand to him, and she was shocked that she did that, but she didn't care...she was trying to come out of her shell...and this was as good of a step as any... Garrett looked up at her suddenly feeling like reality was starting to run amok. If he was reading her right, then she thought he was suggesting something more than he'd truly intended. He took her hand and stood up, leaving his glass half-filled on the table, and they walked into the corridor side by side, silently. He'd been too abrupt. To straight-forward. Too "Vulcanized." The thought of making love with her held an appeal that could easily overcome everything Pata had taught him about mental focus and clear thought. But he wasn't sure either of them were ready to share that kind of intimacy with one another. But at the same time he didn't want to hurt her again. He didn't want to see pain in those lovely sapphirine eyes, especially not a pain he might cause. "Angeni," he said. "If you ever want to take lessons in subtlety don't go to Vulcan for it. They are about as straight and honest as any race in the galaxy. I suppose I wasn't very subtle back there. My social graces are definitely lacking." And they're lacking right now, he thought, feeling sure he was fumbling again. He stopped and looked directly at her. "I offended you by cutting our meeting short then I suppose I suggested something that had more implications than I intended." Angeni's eyes flashed with a horror that was apparent in her face and everywhere over her body. Even her voice was hurt as he could hear tears in her voice and see them in her eyes. The light petwer grey. She caught it immediately, and was too stunned to speak to say anything at first... ~I thought I was being subtle! All I asked was for him to help me move my stuff in?!~ "I do care about you but I don't want to repeat mistakes from my past. I got hurt and hurt someone I cared about, though she wouldn't show it outwardly." He felt the barb digging at old wounds again. "I'm not sure either of us are ready for any sort of deep intimacy right now. I want to be sure." She stopped and wheeled around to face him, her face bright red. Her voice was like acid as she leaned in, letting her venom fly. "All you men are the exact same! I just met you a few hours ago...what do you take me as? Some street walker turned Starfleet Doctor? All I wanted was help moving my things into my room, that's it. I guess I should never have asked for help. You automatically think I wanted intimacy now? I've been up for about 4 days straight, I probably smell like a goat, and you think I wanted to go there. I'm Sorry, Mason, I can walk to my room myself...I thought you might've been different, and seen me for my true self...I just wanted someone to help...me...move my...stuff in and decorate my room..." He took her into his arms and held her. "Please don't be hurt. God I don't ever want to do anything to hurt you." Tears were streaming down her face as he grabbed her, and she responded like any scorned woman would. She shoved him away from her, her strenght apparent as she shoved him...hard. She took three steps forward, whipping her head around, the feather falling from her hair. "Congratulations Mason. You've achieved exactly what you DIDN'T want to do. Good bye." Angeni wheeled back around and walked into sickbay. She had a hurt look on her face, and she didn't say a word to anyone she saw. Angeni grabbed her things and walked out of sickbay again. Garrett's mind tried to bring everything into perspective. What had just happened? He made a friend, insulted that friend, went back to her and took her out for a friendly drink then insulted her again all in the same day. Her use of the term 'street walker' was a new reference to him but it wasn't hard to intuit the meaning. He certainly hadn't meant to insult her moral character in any way. She re-emerged from Sickbay crying softly as she went past him, not even giving him a glance. He truly hated seeing her so upset and the fact that he was the cause made it worse. He wasn't sure if he should go after her, or if that would only make matters worse. Then he spotted her feather on the floor. He bent down and picked up the fallen ornithological ornament, remembering how lovely she had looked when he'd first seen her wearing it — the stark white contrasting the raven black of her hair. He wondered if he would ever see the good doctor's heart-felt smile again. He had a lot to learn about human women. Angeni was hurt...badly. Her first date in about seven years went horribly wrong, and when she tried to use something as simple as moving in as another conversation builder...he threw it back into her face, implying she wanted something from him. She walked in through the doors to her room, set her stuff down, and began unpacking...alone... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Dreamscape - CSO Ketal - 0100) Ketal stirred fitfully as images formed in his sleep. At first they were jumbled and surreal but formed quickly into recognizable shapes and patterns. He found himself on the shore of a lake looking out across the water at the distant shore, he recognized it instantly as he had been there a number of times. A name drifted into his mind ~Yes... The Great Salt Lake in Utah.~ It was not the largest natural lake in the northern hemisphere of America nor the most striking but since a short vacation there he had returned several times to see it, the scientific applications of the heavy, mineralized water fascinated him. "Ketal. Come in soon before it gets cold." He turned to see his mother standing in the doorway of the vacation home that lay just off the shoreline of the lake. He could hear his father David Leary talking inside to his younger sister about one of the many problems encountered on the cargo ship he maintained. Space fascinated the half- Vulcan, inflamed by the stories of his fathers' experiences. "I will be only a moment mother." He said then the scene changed. (Change) He ws standing in the meeting hall of Prince Hanaldine on Raelleus IV and his left side was throbbing, he looked down with difficulty at the short feathered shaft protruding from his side. ~That doesn't belong there. ~ He thought dimly and pulled it out quickly. A fountain of salt water poured from his side, draining him. (Change) "And how is this done mother?" He asked. He was sitting in the family home near the Black Hills in South Dakota. T'Lar O'Leary was sitting in a straight backed chair watching him impassively. "The mental disciplines I have been teaching you Ketal are but the foundation for greater things and the healing trance is one of them. It is one of the simplest also because it deals directly with the control of the body and not interacting with an outside intellect. She motioned to him and he got up and sat in the floor before her. "In the same way you use your mind to control your heartbeat and respiration among many others you can direct the defense and repair mechanisms for its rebuilding and healing. You must go deeper than you have gone before and find those systems." His eyes closed, he felt her touch his temples and cheeks with her fingertips and her conciousness neared his. (Change) Ketal looked down at his streaming side and began to apply the techniques he had been taught, as he did so the water changed color, becoming green; the color of his blood. He descended through the layers of consciousness and as he did so he felt himself fall heavily into a sitting position which he barely kept, nearly rolling over onto his injured side. (Change) Guided by his mothers' mind he found the control systems for his body's systems and following her lead he manipulated them. (Change) With the pain in his side growing as he sat on the floor he finished reaching for them and as he manipulated them the flow of blood slowed to a trickle then stopped, as he slumped forward his hands opened, he dimly heard a clatter as what was in his hands fell to the floor... then silence. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Sickbay - CSO Ketal - 0950) Ketal dimly heard the sound of voices, they sounded as though they were coming from above him, as though he were in a deep well. He heard his mothers' voice as a whisper. "Be aware that when you must use the healing trance you can not awake from it on your own, you must have help, often only a blow will do." He tried to rise to conciousness but it was as though a great weight were above him, holding him down. He heard the voices again and redoubled his efforts with little success but after what seemed like an eternity he was able to force words from his mouth; speaking little higher than a whisper. "Help me." The voices stopped and he heard someone moving toward him. A voice spoke nearby now but the words would not connect, were not comprehensible. He managed to force more words from his mouth. "Must have help." Was there a way to break through? "Hit me please... hit me." He felt the trance pulling him back down, washing him away, sucking him down like an undertow. "Must hit me!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Sickbay -Ensign Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 0955) Angeni was checking on her patient. His vitals seemed to be rather stable, but she couldn't understand what was going on. She paced back and forth, her head shaking in worry. She heard a noise, and she saw his lips moving, so she could only assume he had said something. She neared him, lowering her head down, ear side down to try and understand what he was saying. She heard him murrmur, "Hit me" and her eyes went wide. She was standing there, and she spoke to no one in general. "I doubt that's a real medical procedure..." She wrung her hands, looking around for help. She started very gently slapping his cheeks, thinking that would help him. After a harder slap than she wanted, she pulled her hands back and jumped. She was afraid of hitting him...he could've been dreaming and talking in his sleep, so she knelt down, talking loudly. "CSO Ketal...This is Dr.Windsong-Trommashere...if you can hear me...wake up...uhh...yeah...uhm...Time to wake up!" She was starting to get rather frustrated as he didn't wake up. Suddenly, she heard a light voice come from somewhere, so she automatically assumed it was coming from him. In her haste to try and catch what he had said, she brought her head down a bit faster than she wanted and WHUMPH! She smacked her forehead against his...hard. She took a step back, holding her forehead, wincing in pain, murrmuring softly. "I really didn't mean to hit you...but that's kinda what you said you wanted...Ithink...maybe...I'm sorry!" She looked in a mirror, watching the red mark grow into a slight lump. She frowned slightly, seeing the same lump appear on Ketal's forehead. She winced and figured it'd be best to tell him what happened...when he woke up. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Sickbay -CSO Ketal - 0956) As the trance tried to drag him back down Ketal resisted fiercely, trying to rise once more to the surface, he could feel something like raindrops lightly hitting his face. Suddenly some words started to filter through and coalesce in his consciousness. " Ketal...This is ...Windsong... if you can ...wake up......yeah.....wake up!" In the depths he was starting to feel stronger as he felt something hard hit his forehead, it jarred him a bit, loosening the hold of the trance and he rose a bit more toward the surface. "I ... didn't mean ...hit you...but that's kinda ... you wanted...I think...... sorry!" He could feel the weight breaking over him but it wasn't enough. "Again!" His voice was stronger now, nearly conversation level as he tried to shout out the words. "Strike me again!" (Reply: Angeni) He felt a heavy blow at last and the crust broke allowing him to push through. He felt his cheek burning from the blow as he opened his eyes. Dr. Tromashere was standing over him with her eyes wide and something held loosely in her right hand. The young woman had a frightened look on her face as though he were a grizzly bear ready to pounce and a red swelling on her forehead. He took a deep breath and felt a small pain in his forehead as well as the burning cheek. Sitting up in the bed he cocked his left eyebrow at her as she jump-skipped back a step. "Thank you Doctor for your assistance, I am fine now." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Sickbay -Ensign Angeni O. Windsong Trommashere-0957) Angeni was holding onto a cloth, dabbing away the sweat on her forehead as he called for her to hit him again. She wrapped the cloth around her knuckles, trying to save him from a lasting imprint of her knuckles on his face. She paused for a moment, then she stepped back in a fighting stance, her hands low. She bounced around once or twide on her toes, then she let loose with her right fist, sending it flying into his jaw. She pulled back a bit at the end to keep from knocking any teeth out. She stood wide eyed and freaked out, her face pale with horror...as he sat up, she couldn't help but move away from him for fear of him returning the punch. As she heard him speak, she moved back to his side, scanning him with the tricorder. "Please...call me Angeni...and...I'm glad that I could help...your vitals and everything seem normal...sorry about your head...I didn't mean the first one...the second one I did...can you tell me what was wrong, or how you felt...or something?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Sickbay -CSO Ketal -0958) The Doctor picked up a tricorder and began scanning him as he watched her, his mind clearing now. "Please...call me Angeni...and...I'm glad that I could help...your vitals and everything seem normal...sorry about your head...I didn't mean the first one...the second one I did...can you tell me what was wrong, or how you felt...or something?" He cocked his head slightly as he looked at her and replied. "Wrong? Doctor... Angeni. Nothing is wrong." He paused for an instant to allow the fog in his head to dissipate then realized of what she had been speaking. "Ah. I see. It appears you do not know of a Vulcan healing trance. It is necessary for the one in the throes of it to have aid to come out of it. A shock to the system such as one or more hard blows is most often necessary. As for what you did, I am very appreciative of it. Thank you." (Reply: Angeni) "I am fit enough leave now Doctor." He sat up and slid his legs over the edge of the biobed glad to find himself in sickbay rather than on Raelleus, he saw MCO Richard Lee on a nearby bed. The last he remembered they had been in Hanaldine's palace. "You yourself said that my readings are normal and I wish to return to my work." (Reply: Angeni) "Thank you Doctor... Angeni. Would you notify the Captain please that I am cleared to return to duty?" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - CSO Ketal - 1120) Ketal had left sickbay still a little stiff, the soreness would disspipate over the next few days if he took it easy but there was no pain which relieved him. It was hard enough to concentrate on his mental disciplines with the medications he had been given without adding the pain he had been carrying after being shot by the crossbow of one of the Raelleans. He was sitting at his desk looking through reports when he came across one by a Dr. Markstein. His eyebrow rose a bit as he considered the name. Had she come aboard after he had left for the planet? He looked through the roster for the science section and pulled up her bio. ~Interesting! I have more catching up to do than I thought.~ He thought for a moment about a problem that they had come upon while on the planet then leaned forward again and pressed the com button. "Dr. Markstein. This is Ketal, CSO. Would you please meet me in my office? I have some investigations to conduct and will need your assistance." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Jeffries Tube - Cargo Bay - Dr. Markstein - 1122) Terry Markstein checked the readings on her tricorder. No trace remained of the herb they had used to sedate the marines in cargo bay. She breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she needed was to contaminate the ship's air supply just as they were getting things back under control. Her com badge chirped as a message was relayed from her desk com. It was from CSO Ketal. =^= Dr. Markstein. This is Ketal, CSO. Would you please meet me in my office? I have some investigations to conduct and will need your assistance.=^= Terry hastily packed her equipment, then hit her com badge. =^= Sir, this is Markstein. I'm on my way.=^= She hurried from the tube and made her way to the CSO's office. Terry hadn't met Ketal yet, but she had heard snippets from the crew and felt that she would probably get along with him. Actually, Terry thought there were probably few people she wouldn't get along with, by her pure force of will to avoid conflict. She entered the office and nodded her head at the CSO. "Sir. Ensign Markstein reporting in." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - CSO Ketal and Dr. Markstein - 1125) Ketal looked up as the young woman walked in and gestured to the chair placed across his desk. "Have a seat Dr. Markstein. Please pardon me that I do not rise, I am still a bit stiff. I had not had a chance to see you when you came on board and wished to talk to you, also I have something I would like for you to research if you have no other pressing business." The office was spartan with little ornamentation. Not that Ketal himself was utilitarian to that degree but had not had time to gather many amenities. The room held the desk and two chairs, a cabinet, replicator and a few samples. The half-Vulcan leaned forward in his chair as he continued speaking, "I took the opportunity of looking over your bio before calling you and your resume is impressive. Would you give me a brief summary of your studies please?" Terry tried to recall what little she had learned about CSO Ketal, but she had had so little time to acquaint herself with the crew. She settled herself into a chair facing the senior officer. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. With all the recent events, I have not had a chance to meet many people on board this ship." Terry filled the officer on on her background, trying to be concise but thorough. "At Cochrane University, I picked up a BS in Biology and another in Temporal Mechanics. I also took some classes at the San Antonio Science Institute, Theoretical Science Technology and Nanophysics. Both introductory." Terry realized she was unconsciously rubbing her hands along her pant legs. Doubtless, the CSO already knew all of this. Okay, what was relevant? "Of some relevance, obviously I worked in several areas before deciding to join Star Fleet at a later age than most. I worked at the think-tank, SimTec, for several years, trying to work out applicable uses for Temporal Mechanic theories. However, I really enoyed Xenobiology and that's why I applied to Hopkins. I obtained a PhD in Xenobiology, with a specialty in toxicology. After I graduated, I stayed on with the university's explorer program, doing field studies in the alpha and beta quadrants. I joined Star Fleet, hoping my skills in understanding Xenobiotoxicology could help in dealing with unknown species and illnesses." Terry gave a little shug. " I don't know if I'm suited for what you have in mind. However, I'm ready and willing to give it a try." She waited for the CSO's response. The CSO's facial features didn't alter during her speech, not that Terry expected a half-vulcan to respond to her rather boring litany. Ketal nodded as she spoke, the impression he had been forming since looking over her bio filling in and crystalized, he leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together as he considered her for an instant. One thing he noted was that though she had a very scholarly background she was also outgoing which was often mutually exclusive. "Actually Doctor my impression is that you will make a good fit for the research I have in mind." He eased up from his chair and moved to the replicator as he spoke. "I have not had a chance yet to gather the necessary data from the Gunnel since I was released from Sickbay less than two hours ago however I will fill you in on the more relevant matters and after you leave here you can download the information from the shuttles sensors. Would you like something to drink while we talk?" Terry gave a terse nod. "Please." After gathering the drinks from the replicator he walked back to the desk and set them down then returned to his seat. Terry leaned forward and retrieved her drink from the desk. "While on the planet some members of the the away team began undergoing psychic changes. Dr. Mias reported growing stronger mentally and Ms.Trenor reported new abilities before she left for the rescue. I myself also noticed an augmentation to my very feeble mental powers. I was raised on Earth you see among humans and have not undergone the training my people receive on Vulcan therefore consequently my control over my telepathic abilities is limited at best. I noticed however I was able to begin picking up thoughts over a distance which is not normal for a touch telepath such as Vulcans." Ketal paused, uncomfortable for a moment then began again. "There was much interference to the sensors on the planet however there should be enough information accumulated to at least allow you to lay the foundation for your researches. I would like for you to investigate these extra sensory mutations and determine their cause if possible, whether it is organic, psychic or related to some energy form. Do you have any questions?" Terry needed a moment to think over the substantial amount of information Ketal just imparted. her brain was already racing through the various possiblities that could cause these changes. The likelyhood of the changes being caused by a biotoxin were slim, but it was certainly possibly that a different kind of bio-agent on the planet could create these kind of metaphysical changes. She could investigate these possiblities, but a xenogeologist would greatly help her investigations. Terry suddenly glanced over at CSO Ketal, realizing she had been quiet for an extended period of time. She smiled briefly. "So intriguing I got lost there for a moment. My apologies. I can investigate this, sir, but won't promise any specific results as the variables are too great at this point. I suggest an initial investigation and analysis before further steps are taken." "Agreed." Ketal stated flatly. Terry leaned forward, lacing her fingers together. "Also, sir, I have certain field experiences. However, my knowledge of geology is limited. Do you have a xenogeologist who can accompany me?" Ketal considered that question quickly. "Indeed. I see my estimation of you was correct. You have a very logical and agile mind. One other thing you will find as you go through the sensor data from the shuttle is the presence of an asteroid that struck the planet with cataclysmic results 300 years ago. It has been in my mind to do a full investigation on it when possible. There is one xenogeologist on board who will be of help to you. Ensign Daniel West is his name and I believe you will find your association with him profitable. Also I am sure you will have no problem enlisting the members of the Away Team for tests when available, including myself of course during your examinations. Is there anything else you require?" Terry considered carefully before answering. Better to be thorough the first time around, rather than requesting things at the last minute. "I'll some time to review the shuttle's information and planet's history before disembarking. I'd like to review the scans of the planet's surface topography with this Ensign West. Perhaps it will give us a place to start. It should be noted, sir," and Terry blushed a little in embarrassment as she spoke, "I have little tactical experience and so will need to refresh myself on security protocols with an away team." Terry tilted her head in apologetic explanation. "I took the required tactical classes, but they revoked requirements on the last few at the Academy as they were concerned about replenishing their scientific ranks. At least, that's how it appeared to me." Concerned about moving from explaining into excusing her lack of tactical defense abilities, Terry ended her talk. Nothing else occured to her about what she needed to start on the assignment. She could feel the anticipation of the job raising the hairs along her arms and slightly raising her pulse. "I believe that's everything, sir." Ketal nodded in satisfaction. "Very good Doctor. After returning to the planet we will have an opportunity to gather samples but until then do all you can. I will expect regular reports on your progress. Dismissed." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - Dr. Terry Markstein - 1130) Terry left the CSO's office with a fog of swirling thoughts competing for her attention. She needed to prioritize the most efficient way to investigate this phenomenon. She swept through corridors and into her quarters, where she had set up her own little work station. She would do the bulk of her primary research in the science lab, but first she wanted to come up with a plan of action. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique -CSO's Office - CSO Ketal - 1131) Ketal leaned back in his chair after Dr. Markstein had left the room, confident that the researches he had assigned to her were in good hands. He looked down at the china cup on his desk holding the Kenshin tea with lemon he hadn't as of yet drank from and picked it up. Taking a sip of the tepid liquid he mused on the vast amount of data on the planet that would have to be culled through. Not only was there the extra sensory symptoms of parts of the away team to be investigated but also it would be important to determine the cause of the sensor and communications interference on the planet. So much about Raelleus IV was a mystery that would have to be probed, prodded and turned over to shake out every available clue and even then it could take years ... or more to completely understand the civilization and its environs. He began looking through the reports again and stopped suddenly. "Computer open logged report by Ketal, CSO dated 2406.10.23." [Report opened] "Run report." [Raelleus IV is somewhat arid with only a 40% water concentration and the oxygen is 2 points below Earth normal but certainly habitable. Readings are still coming in on the vegetation and those are showing that the planet is sparse in that regard also. Most of the habitable land is barren except around the settled areas that are clustered within 500 miles of one another, the colonists had logically been forced to intermingle with the natives because of the relative barrenness of the surface. The five inhabited cities are also set close to the only large water source in the area, that being a river that flows from a large ridge of mountains to the northeast. Possibly the most interesting of the reports though shows an immense impact crater on the far side of the planet from the habitations, there has not been enough time yet though to make an accurate reading of its age but it is certain this must have been the cause of a cataclysmic event in the planet's history, one possibly great enough to have caused current conditions. End report.] "Computer forward this report to Dr. Terry Markstein's terminal for review.' [Acknowledged] there was a short pause. [Report forwarded.] Ketal nodded, the twinge in his side from earlier had dissipated and he had a lot of reports to go over but he needed some nourishment so he got up carefully from his chair and walked through the office door intending to go to ten forward for lunch. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stardate: 2406.10.26 (USS Mystique - Markstein's quarters -- Dr. Markstein -- 1135) At her desk, she whipped out a data pad and started making a list. She decided to treat this as an outbreak and tackle it much the way old science centers would track down the beginnings of a epidemic. The sensations the crew experienced could be considered a disease and determining the etiology of the disease would not only help them figure out what happened, but also how to prevent it from happening again. She keyed in the steps she needed to take. Interview crew members who were affected on the planet. Review their medical logs and look for similar symptoms. Then, she needed to retrace their steps on the planet, using their logs and interviews, which could lead her to causal commonalities. Ensign West would be of great help if he could evaluate the planet's crust in the specific areas where crew members were located. Perhaps this asteroid Dr. Ketal mentioned would be a factor. Like the one that fell on earth millions of years ago, causing the extinction of the dinosaurs, only this one might have been packing something more damaging or curious than irridium. Terry finished up her list, then stood up and stretched. The next step was sick bay to check crew records and start interviewing them. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Nimitz - Science Lab - Lt(jg) 'Shades' Falthgood - 0800) "Sir?" Zach said, running the Captain's words through his mind that he had just heard, and not quite believing it. He had talked to the head of Strategic Operations for the fleet many times about the darker side of Starfleet, there were few things that were taboo with them. The face on the screen didn't so much as twitch. "We ran into evidence of something called 'Project Mystery Train', there was quite a big hullabaloo about it, in fact. It's nothing I've ever run into; I was wondering if you had." Zach sat back in his chair, his eyes wide open and his jaw hinged as far as it would go. It was a rarity, but he was in shock. "Oh Lord," he muttered after several moments that lasted an eternity. "No oh no... this isn't good, it's got to be a coincidence, nothing more." Yet, he knew it wasn't. The Captain on the screen frowned at him, but Zach wasn't paying attention anymore. "Mystery Train," he muttered. "D*mned Project Mystery Train." The Scientist rubbed at his mustache, no longer paying any attention to what went on around him. He hadn't heard the term 'Mystery Train' in more then a dozen years, not since he had coined the Project Name himself. His eyes closed and he considered... (Milthra IV - Project Headquarters, 'Artifact Room' - Commander Falthgood -1500) =^=It's been two months Zach,=^= the figure on his screen said. =^=I want results, not more analysis, Commander.=^= "Admiral, if we operate it now, we will be operating half blind and..." =^=And I don't care, do it, use the data you accumulate to further your experiments. Doenitz out.=^= The Commander closed his eyes and sighed. He was already missing the days when he had just been a lowly scientist, this was his first project in command and it was already giving him an ulcer. He sat back as a hand wrapped itself around his neck. "Zach," the voice said, "You don't have much of a choice here." "I know love," the Scientist said. He stood and turned, looking down at his five and a half foot wife. He bent down briefly and touch foreheads with her, then strode out of the door of his office and onto the main floor of the research facility. It was an old temple, as best as the archaeologists could determine. It wasn't the facility that had interested Doenitz, nor Zach... but the wonderful things it held. Standing in the middle of the room was a giant portal. As best as they could determine, it was the gateway to a stable wormhole, a wormhole that could be directed. That was the theory anyway, they hadn't been able to prove it one way or the other. They had been at it for two months, ever since the sucker had been found to be active even after nearly 40,000 years. Zach crossed his arms and looked at it, there were so many possibilities. There were a couple people, Zach included, who thought the technology could be evolved into a portable unit. There were even a few theoretical equations that stated it might even be possible to load the thing onto a station and make a gate large enough for a ship to transfer through. Assuming, of course, that this thing proved to be a gate of some sort and not an over-sized nightlight. "Alright, boys and girls!" he bellowed into the room. "Warm up the machinery, prep the teams, it's time to ride this Mystery Train!" His grin was infectious, even if it wasn't entirely heart-felt. He wanted to send people through that Artifact, but there were too many unknown variables, it would be decidedly dangerous for whoever went through. None of the probes they had sent through had done any good, the one thing they had noticed about the gate was it required some sort of biological entity to pass through. They had sent animals through, but none had ever come back... it was hard to make any lower life form walk back through a giant red gate. That meant human testing, unless they could come up with a convincing enough Android to fool the makers of technology so advanced that hardly any of the underlying theory was understood. Zach found that possibility... unlikely. Project Mystery Train was a perfect example of why he dealt with the paranoid security and blacklisting of this particular Reverse Engineering department, the technology was absolutely stunning. It's implications rocked Zach to the core. After several minutes, three men in full gear walked up to the gate. Zach took a seat at one of the terminals, "Activate the artifact." That was one of the things that he insisted upon until they knew exactly what the thing did, calling it 'The Artifact'. That was the only official name it had ever had. He put on a headset and closed his eyes for a couple seconds to steady his nerves. "Team one, begin when ready." he finally said. He smiled wanly, "Send a postcard if you find Atlantis." He didn't bother looking up; rather he watched a sensor reading of the Artifact. The team members wasted no time, and with phasers up, they all stepped through after a very short hesitation at the Event Horizon. Zach folded his hands together as data scrolled on his screen. They had immediately lost track of the members. Zach was about to stand up when everything around him began shaking. He grabbed the console by instinct as the temple literally rolled around him, stones fell from the ceiling and consoles began sparking. "What the hell?!" he bellowed. His hands flew over the console as people began yelling data out. "There is a subspace power surge coming from the gate!" someone with a feminine voice yelled from behind him. Zach confirmed that, there were waves of energy coming off the portal, and they were getting stronger. He thought quickly, "Hit it with tetryons, counteract the waves!" he yelled, "Before the da*n thing brings the temple down on our heads!" It was all controlled chaos, men and women ran back and forth. Several more blocks fell from the temple, and many of the supports his men had placed groaned ominously. Zach kept a good hold of the console as the earth under him did another jump. Without any warning, the visible Event Horizon of the gate flared a malignant red, and something was spit out. Slowly, ever so slowly, the gate calmed and the subspace waves subsided. Well before they had finished, however, Zach was out of his seat and running to the gate. What had been spit out was a single body, from the clothing, one of the three people that had walked in not more then a couple minutes ago. The officer was lying on his stomach, there was much visible blood and his uniform was shredded. The weapon was still strapped across his neck, it laid to the side of him. His arms were sprawled, and his skin had a very strange hue to it. Zach flipped the officer over, intend on giving aid. What he saw caused his eyes to widen in horror however; he fell back and scrambled away as quickly as he could on nothing more then instinct. The man's face was a ruin; he looked like he had aged a hundred years, on top of the ruin it had received. Not only did he look old, but he looked like someone had taken a bat to his head. And that wasn't the worst of it. Worms, or wormlike creatures, began slithering out of every hole in the mans head. His eyes, his nostrils, his mouth and ears. As if that were a cue, his whole body began wiggling, as if there were hundreds of alien worms under his skin, just itching to get out. Zach continued backpedaling, getting away from the body and portal as he bellowed, "Security, decontamination measures, destroy that body!" He finally managed to get to his feet and get away just as a Security team came up and vaporized the body. He turned and leaned against one of the walls to catch his breath, and his aplomb. He shuddered several times, the ruined face and the mental image of worms pushing the dead-mans eyelids open to crawl out filled his mind and wouldn't leave. "Sir, do you still want to hit the thing with tetryons?" "Hell yes!" he said without hesitation. "There are still two other men in there, we can't risk them coming back. Shut that wench down!" It was only a theory, but it was generally thought that overloading the gate would shut it down. Whatever hell it lead too, Zach didn't want to know, and at this point he didn't care how spitting mad Doenitz would be if it suddenly stopped working. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Nimitz - Science Lab - Lt(jg) Zach 'Shades' Falthgood - 0804) "The b*stard continued the project," Zach finally said. Thoughts that hadn't filled his mind in years came filtering back, some of the more optimistic of the possibilities for the gate. If Doenitz had finally figured out what had gone wrong, and what it would take to get it working, then they could all be in a lot of trouble. He closed his eyes for several seconds, and then looked at the screen again. "Get that probe over here immediately, if you would. I need to run some tests on it... and quickly." The Captain nodded, "I will want a full report on what you remember Lieutenant. I'll make sure that probe comes within your reach sometime within the next month." "No," Zach barked, as if he was still a Captain himself. "Rearrange the entire fleet if you have to, I need to look at it far sooner then that." Rich quirked his head and said nothing. "Ill do what I can, Night's Watch out." Zach reached out and cut the channel, then leaned back in his chair again and held his head in one of his massive hands. "Oh God, let not everything unravel before our very eyes." he all but whispered. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Mystique - Transporter Room One - Ensign (jg) Mason Garrett - 0900) Ensign Garrett was surrounded by wiring and circuit boards when the captain's orders came over the comm. He had answered a priority request to replace a burned out power inhibitor leading into the buffer of Transporter Room One. "There will be a senior staff meeting in the Conference Room at 1000. Attendance is mandatory." He tapped his com-badge and acknowledged the order and set back to work. Inhibitors were built to last and a burnout was rare so they were buried deeper than other components. But in the odd occasion one did malfunction getting to it was more than half the chore. "How long until you're finished," an impatient ensign at the console asked for the third time. He was obviously annoyed that "his transporter" was in less than perfect order. "I'm down to the rod itself, sir," Garrett said, hiding the irritation in his own voice. He picked up his depolarizing wrench and broke the seal on the magnetic couplings at either end and pulled the six inch cylinder easily from its slot. "Please hurry ensign junior grade," the transporter attendant said, emphasizing Garrett's lower status. "Yes sir." Garrett said as he placed the couplings on their replacement then tightened the bolts and reactivated the magnetic seals. "The new one's in place sir." "I still have a red light on the inhibitors," said the other. "Yes sir," Garrett replied. "You'll likely have a number of red lights until I get everything put back together." "Why is the inhibitor light still on? I want the job done right, mister!" Garrett gripped his depolarizer hard and remembered a recent conversation with his Klingon friend, Bartok, who'd made very good use of a similar tool during the attack four days ago. He focused his mind and sent that thought hurtling into the void. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2406.10.27 (USS Mystique, Bridge, OPS, Lt (jg) HHril, 0901) ~And that just about does it.~ HHril said to himself as he scanned the data on the final PADD from the morning repair updates. Defensive systems were all online. Some were at full capacity... while others were not. Warp power had been restored, and the offensive systems were coming along nicely. He rubbed his eyes as he placed the PADD on the console. It had been a very difficult first mission for the Mystique, but she had faired well... all things considered. =/\=There will be a senior staff meeting in the Conference Room at 1000.=/\= came the voice of the CO. =/\=Attendance is mandatory.=/\= ~Isn't it always?~ he thought to himself before opening a comm channel from his console. "Acknowledged." he replied. "HHril out." HHril had not had much of a chance to speak with Vanyssa Winters since their long overdue conversation 3 days earlier. He still had much to tell her... much that needed to made clear, and would be in good time. He looked down at the chronometer on the console. 0900hrs. It was early, yet he was still pulling doubles for alpha and beta shifts. Not that he would ever complain about it. The fact was that one shift would not be long enough to get all that he needed to get done... done. ~Perfect time to visit engineering.~ he thought. "Crewman." he said to the young enlisted man that was his replacement. If you could please." he said as he rose from his seat. The crewman smiled and quickly took the seat vacated by HHril. The display quickly switched back to Starfleet standard which always brought a smile to his face. ~Note to self... meet with the OPS department for... training.~ "I'll be in engineering if you need me." he said to the crewman as he turned and walked away. "Aye, Sir." he heard as the turbolift doors closed behind him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End compile