~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mission: A Dream of the Past, Day 10 Stardate: 2406.10.19 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List of Headers: (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - CSO/2O Kyle Morie Rin - 0405) (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - Senior chief Melody Haverstaad - 0410) (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - CSO/2O Kyle Morie Rin - 0410) (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0410) (USS Boudicca - Outside Transporter room 1 - TAC/SC - 0431) (Ceti Sigma IV-Kurgarian City - Dr. Madison Munroe- 0435) (Ceti Sigma IV-Kurgarian City -Lt jg Trevan West- 0436) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - John Fredericks TAC/AST - 0437) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0440) (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, Alleyway - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0450) (USS Boudicca- Bridge- TAC/SC Ensign Skylynx- 0500) (USS Boudicca - Bridge - OPS Lt. Yalta Schafio - 0500) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City, Motel Room, FO, Commander Grailik, 0515) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0516) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City, Motel Room, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara, 0517) (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City - Motel Room - CSO/2O Kyle Morie Rin - 0517) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - SO- Dr. Madison Munroe- 0517) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0517) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City, Motel Room,Ensign John Fredericks, 0520) (USS Boudicca - Somewhere Else - The Shadow - 0530) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad- 0544) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad- 0544) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Dr. Domini Alizara- 0546) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room – John Fredericks TAC/AST Ensign (jg)- 0547) (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room – Ensign John Fredericks TAC/AST- 0559) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Start of Compile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - CSO/2O Kyle Morie Rin - 0405) ==================================== Melody looked around, worried yet determined not to let it show, then walked over to the CSO. She knelt beside him, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you jealous with Johann there, I know you got a lot on your mind... I just hadn't gotten around to telling you yet." She said loudly for anyone listening as she gestured to the First Officer with a turn of her head. "Let's talk about this?" She leaned in closer and put an arm around the CSO's arm. "This isn't the time to be breaking down Sir; up you go, before you get us killed and you make me very unhappy..." She whispered just for him, yanking on his arm. In a light, but very determined, gesture. Kyle looked up at Melody and wiped the tears which covered his eyes he watched as Domini leaned against a wall only a couple feet from him. "Taker your time." Domini said, leaning back against the wall casually and spreading her feet apart, for balance, ran her hands down the leather, making sure that the eyes that were on her team were on her and not on the others. A man walked up and knelt at her feet. "Wondrous one, might this insignificant thing ask where the Most Lovely One does business?" ::Domini stared down at him with the appropriate disdain. ::Goddammit Kyle, pull yourself together. I don't care about your issues right now, we're on an away mission and they are a luxury that we absolutely can not afford.:: Kyle about to rise to his feet was blown back down by what Domini sent him he paused for what seemed like a second or two as he tried to recover from it. "No." Domini said, raising one foot to the man's face. When he leaned in to kiss it, she kicked, making sure not to make contact, and then turned away from the blubbering man. "You are not in my league." She said coldly, moving back towards the party. ::Kyle, do you think you can get it together ?:: She looked up at Grailik, the concern obvious in her eyes. "It might be a remnant of the attacks. Psychic attacks generally leave their .. victims... with panic attacks." ::And as for what is going on between me and Maddie, that is none of your concern. You were interested in Kestra, if I remember right, and spurned my advances, such as they were. I'm sorry Kestra is gone, and you are lonely.:: Kyle stood up and brushed himself off he gave a short smile to Melody letting her know he was ok now. He looked over towards Domini as she leaned against the wall hatred built in his eyes. ::First off miss goody two shoes..I never asked to join this away team I would have been just fine back in my quarters but my qualifications seemed to benefit this mission. Considering what I experianced before this mission started I could have asked to be excluded what with having a nightmare about my mother. Of course your help bringing that little outbreak under control was much appreciated not that you cared one bit over it considering thats what you joined starfleet to do. :: Kyle walk over closer to Domini and continued. ::And two... the feelings I had for Kestra were strong yes i'll admit that but the only thing we became were good friends and your advances which I spurned away? I never did such a thing, what i'm sure I did do were store those feelings deep inside me so they would eat away at my very emotions. Why would I do such a thing? maybe because I never thought someone the likes of you would ever care to become involved in a man who lost his mother and grew up never to understand what real "Love" is. :: By now Kyle was mere inches from Domini's face the last of which he wanted to say fell out of his own mouth for all others to hear. "I'm madly in love with you but with Maddie in the way I don't think a relationship between us would ever take any shape or form....and for Kestra I can only hope the best for what lies ahead in her own life." The hatred subsided in Kyle's eyes as he forced a kiss upon Domini's sweet lips the taste was remarkable something which he would try and remember as if it were a goodbye kiss. Turning back towards the others he gave a short nod. "Sir with all do respect, lets get this goddamn mission over with so we can all go home." Kyle pressed on towards the meeting point as he thought about what he had just done whatever the case may be he was still sulking over the whole thing. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - Senior chief Melody Haverstaad - 0410) ==================================== "I'm madly in love with you but with Maddie in the way I don't think a relationship between us would ever take any shape or form....and for Kestra I can only hope the best for what lies ahead in her own life." Melody brought her hands up and massaged her temples, being close enough to hear every word. The only thing that hadn't stopped her from stepping in *yet* was that, she assumed, a Dominant would allow a bit of 'rebellion' once in a while. But that wouldn't last much longer. She dropped her hands when he turned and said. "Sir with all do respect, lets get this goddamn mission over with so we can all go home." He started to move, but Melody had already made up her mind. ~They can court-martial me later.~ She grabbed him by the shoulder, turned him around with a quick yank, then hauled off and backhanded him with a good portion of her strength. Melody was slight of frame, but she'd been in security for years, her workout regimen put most people to shame. From the look on his face, he might as well have been shot. "You don't have to go yelling because I left you!" she said, fairly loud for the benefit of everyone and the guards. With utter determination she grabbed a hold of his shirt-collar and yanked him nose-to-nose. She whispered, "If you get us killed with your antics, I will shoot you myself.... Sir." She had said 'sir', but she had meant 'cur'. There were times that operation security gave her rank weight, this was one. "Now get yourself under control or, as Security on this little jaunt, Ill have you stuffed into a crate and left here while we accomplish our mission... a mission which is infinitely more important then your little personal spat with the Counselor. There are several hundred lives at stake, now playact your part properly so we don't get our butts shot off." Her face was iron and her tone acid for all that it was whispered. She pushed him away and took a couple steps back, "Let's get moving, before the Guards think we're here to steal the bank or something." She said in a much lighter tone, though her eyes were still locked on the Science Chief. Her hand was stroking her modified phaser, in case he went nuts and they had to get out in a hurry. ==================================== Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - CSO/2O Kyle Morie Rin - 0410) ==================================== "I'm madly in love with you but with Maddie in the way I don't think a relationship between us would ever take any shape or form....and for Kestra I can only hope the best for what lies ahead in her own life." Kyle had just finished giving Domini a kiss when he had been hauled off by Melody. He was puzzled as to what exactly she wanted and then out of nowhere she slapped him almost knocking him down. "You don't have to go yelling because I left you!" she said. Kyle was shocked, puzzled, and bitterly confused but he guessed maybe pulling something like this wasn't the time nor the place. Then it dawned on him what exactly she was doing and what he was doing wasn't such a bright idea. He looked over Domini, Grailik, and Melody and shook his head "Sorry..." he whispered in a low tone he could feel the eyes of guards from far off watching. He needed to dig himself outta this one and fast, pushing Melody against the wall he whispered in her ear. "I'm ok now, play along." Turning he gave a quick nod in Grailik's direction and focused his attention back towards Melody. "Why did you just hit me women! You didn't leave me I left you so what if i'm been cheating on you with her." He took a quick glance in Domini direction. "You just weren't enough anymore it fell apart and I tried to get us back together and the only thing that would work was to leave you." If there was ever a time that Kyle felt extremely stupid it was now considering he had a brakedown which was something that the team didn't need right now. "But... i've just been unable to stop thinking about you and..." That was his cue taking and pushing Melody's arms against the wall he began to give her deep passionate kisses considering he had to make this look like one of those 'We broke up and thru some crazy thing got back together' that much he remembered from the briefing of the culture. Kyle felt the guards far off turn there attention away and he pulled back from kissing Melody he wasn't too sure but to him it didn't seem as if she enjoyed that one considering the crap he just pulled with the backpack and all. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, outside the Repository - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0410) ==================================== "But... i've just been unable to stop thinking about you and..." He pushed her arms against the wall and began to kiss her. Melody decided, for the time being, to just deal with it. After a few seconds he pulled away. The Security Officer smiled brightly, but her tone was veiled menace when she said "Do that again and Ill rip off your nuts... Sir." ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Outside Transporter room 1 - TAC/SC - 0431) ==================================== Ryko paused with the fully-armed Security squad outside the transporter room. He leaned against the bulkhead and breathed. Whatever was in there was in for a nasty surprise. Ryko stood up, brought his phaser rifle to chest height, and motioned for the team to get ready. He breathed through the O2 mask with deep, calm breaths. ~Nothin' fancy, no heroics, by the book this time,~ he thought, and moved forward. He removed an access panel cover and activated the manual release. The transporter's doors whooshed but didn't open. Ryko sighed and wrenched the things open out of frustration. He backed off. "Skylynx to Straton, we're about to get inside the transporter room," Ryko said. ~Hope I've got a guardian angel up there, ~ he thought. (Reply Straton) "Watch my back," he said. He knew full well he could trust Straton with his life. She'd pulled his butt out of the fire before, if necessary she could do it again. But Ryko wasn't going to jump into the fire this time. "Alright, let's go," Ryko said, and advanced, phaser flung to arms length. He entered the room, and was confronted by something completely unexpected. (Reply Straton) "A whole mess of nothin'," Ryko said. He looked around at the battered, blown out remains of transporter room one. "This place is a complete wreck, it'll take months to fix," he said. He ordered the team to fan out and search for anything even remotely strange, then tried to force some life into what was left of the transporter room's console. The panel was black, and it was going to stay black, thankyou very much. Ryko abandoned the futile attempt and pulled out his tricorder. One clear sweep of the transporter itself, and he confirmed what he thought he'd find. "More DDZ residue, Major," Ryko said. (reply straton) "I have no idea. But if this had happened a matter of hours ago, this mangled wreck could have been the away team," he said. He folded up his tricorder. (Reply Straton) "My original theory was wrong. Who or whatever is causing all this pointless destruction isn't trying to escape. It's trying to trap us all like rats in a cage. Taking out our means of getting off the ship little by little. The advantage is now we know that, and we can prepare defense," Ryko summarised. "The team found more trace remnants of DDZ. The entire compartment was almost completely depressurised by the blast," Ryko said. "Best guess, there was much more used here than in the science labs, so much that it's managed to do a fair chunk of damage to the environmental systems too." (Reply Straton) "I intend to find out. I'm returning to the bridge," Ryko said. "Rest assured that I will have a full and complete report on this ready for yours and the captain's leisure," Ryko said. "Skylynx out." Ryko took one last glance at the completely charred transporter room. ~It's a miracle the floor wasn't blown to hell,~ he thought. ~Well, no time to waste.~ "Alpha team, remain here, keep constant watch on this room, don't let anyone or anything in or out." The team responded and took up position near the doors. Ryko knew that his only reasonable course of action now was to post 24-hour armed guard near the other transporters and the shuttlebays. A good option, but in their current deployment, security and marines were nowhere near capable of being stretched any thinner. He called up a mental list of the safeguarded places on the ship. The bridge, engineering, sickbay and the mess hall. ~Mess hall does have its own integral defences,~ Ryko thought. He had assigned 7 teams to this area. He tapped his badge. "Security teams Delta thru Sigma, relocate to the remaining transporter rooms and shuttlebays immediately," Ryko said. The teams responded. This left Mess hall with 3 teams. It was enough, Ryko decided. For now. He headed back towards the bridge, removing his combat suit on the way and stowing them in the corridor stores. He stepped inside a turbolift. "Bridge," he said simply, and the turbolift began to move, then suddenly stopped with a thunk. "D*mmit," he said, and opened the hatch at the top of the car. There were a full 2 decks, some 612 ladder rungs between him and the bridge. He shrugged, and started climbing. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV-Kurgarian City - Dr. Madison Munroe- 0435) ==================================== "That was a close one," West said, coming out of the shadows. "I figured it would, umm shall I say, 'arouse' suspicion if I were with the two of you." Maddie wasn't too sure if she appreciated the inuendo, but understood the thought. She just rolled her eyes at him and turned back to her tricorder. "While I was back there," West pointed to a run down looking building, "I got some strange readings from that building. Faint, barely registering on my tricorder, but there is either something in or under that structure. I think we need to take a look. Fredricks, contact the other team and let them know." (reply Fredericks) Maddie followed West and Fredericks to the building and made some adjustments to her tricorder. True enough, there were some low level power readings. Low level but unusually high in amplitude. It was very odd. If it weren't being dampened, it was a very different form of power. She looked up at West, curiosity in her eyes. "Possibly a power generator, or dampening field. I am picking up heat from this area. It's not a security system is it?" he asked. "It doesn't appear to be," Maddie replied, although she wouldn't really know a security system if came up and bit her on her... ankle. She could see that this puzzle was occupying West way too much so she decided to remind him of their mission. "Lt," she said firmly, "remember that we are on recon only. We really don't have time to investigate this more thoroughly right now. Perhaps it would be better if we reported to the commander and came back to look at this later." (reply West, room for more if you want) They headed down the street away from the power source. Pretty soon they found themselves roaming through city streets. Maddie stopped outside a closed toy store, looking at what was inside. She could see the looks on the faces of her companions. "You can tell a lot about a society by the toys they allow their children to play with," she explained. She looked with interest in the store window. "For instance, note the toy weapons, showing the children how important owning weaposn are in this society, or at least growing up to be able to use one. Also notice the number of puzzles and mental growth games. This shows the importance of intelligence or education in this society." She looked up to see the two men totally uninterested in her report. She shook her head and rolled her eyes again. ~Men. Maybe I should find them a big gun shop.~ "Shall we continue on to the rendez-vous point?" she suggested. As they rounded a corner Maddie heard some laughter and a peel of giggles. They looked down the street to see the others already there. As they got closer Domini stepped towards them. Maddie felt a surge of relief and excitement at seeing her. As they closed the gap she felt an urging from Domini in her head. It was more of an image of them being watched. Suddenly Domini grabbed the back of her hair tilting her face up to meet hers. "You are late, little girl." Domini said, looking down into Maddie's eyes and grinning as sexual a smile as she could. "Were you detained?" Maddie was taken by surprise by the suddenness of the action. At first she wasn't sure what was going on. But when she saw the look on Domini's face she decided to play along. "Yes Mistress, we were stopped by the police in order to identify ourselves." "Ah, yes. Well, I suppose that I can't blame you for that." Domini said leading her over to the others, but not releasing her grip. "Master, the girl I was speaking of is here with her friends. As I mentioned earlier, the girl is a student and is afraid for her reputation, should it be known that she was visiting our...services." Maddie wasn't exactly sure what Domini was actually talking about, but she had a general idea. The idea of her requiring their "service" was both shocking and exhilirating. But to be honest, she'd be most happy being left alone with Domini. "Ummm..." she tried to think fast, "I'm just not sure exactly what your services would be, but perhaps we can find some place more discreat to speak of them." ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV-Kurgarian City -Lt jg Trevan West- 0436) ==================================== "That was a close one," West said, coming out of the shadows. "I figured it would, umm shall I say, 'arouse' suspicion if I were with the two of you." Maddie wasn't too sure if she appreciated the innuendo, but understood the thought. She just rolled her eyes at him and turned back to her tricorder. "While I was back there," West pointed to a run down looking building, "I got some strange readings from that building. Faint, barely registering on my tricorder, but there is either something in or under that structure. I think we need to take a look. Fredricks, contact the other team and let them know." "Possibly a power generator, or dampening field. I am picking up heat from this area. It's not a security system is it?" he asked. "It doesn't appear to be," Maddie replied, "Lt," she said firmly, "remember that we are on recon only. We really don't have time to investigate this more thoroughly right now. Perhaps it would be better if we reported to the commander and came back to look at this later." Trevan looked up from his tricorder, "Yes, you're absolutely correct. Let's pack it in gang and head back to the rendez vous" The team packed in their gear, however tricorders were at the ready just in case something interesting popped up. They proceeded to walk down a main stretch of road, mostly all closed up for the day but you could clearly see in the windows. Food, clothing, toys etc were all sold here. 'Not so much difference from Earth, or Rigel for that matter' he thought to himself. Apparently Maddie was taken with the toy shop, he noticed her stopping in looking in the dark store. "You can tell a lot about a society by the toys they allow their children to play with," she explained. "For instance, note the toy weapons, showing the children how important owning weapons are in this society, or at least growing up to be able to use one. Also notice the number of puzzles and mental growth games. This shows the importance of intelligence or education in this society." "Absolutely, very astute oberservation. Now lets keep moving." replied Trevan, however from the look on her face, she did not appreciate the tone or the lack of interest in Trevan's face. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - John Fredericks TAC/AST - 0437) ==================================== John and his group moved onward until the other half moved into sight. As they drew nearer, Maddie speeded forward toward the leather clad Domini who reached over and pulled her hair back forcing Madison to tilt her face upward and stated in a haughty voice "You are late, little girl were you detained?". While the two woman were acting out their roles Melody came over toward s Fredericks and asked if they had had any problems with the cities security. None that we couldn't handle he replied with a wide grin directed towards the oddly submissive looking Madison. Any Problems at your end? (Reply Melody) John looked over at Rin who looked a little unwell and said in a low voice to Melody "Anything I should be aware of? He doesnt look to well." ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0440) ==================================== "None that we couldn't handle She followed his grinning gaze back to the Counselor and mission specialist, then turned back with a quirked eyebrow. ~Why is it, I wonder, that every male but the First Officer on this away mission is awash with frelling hormones and a'rearin' to go?~ "Any Problems at your end?" She turned a discreet gaze at the CSO, "Internal problems, I think they're taken care of now." "Anything I should be aware of? He doesn't look to well." The Senior-Chief frowned and crossed her arms, "Some sort of spat between him and the Counselor, apparently he is in love with her or something and someone else stepped onto his would-be turf. Hrm," she paused thinking. "It nearly got us caught, security in this berg is unbelievable, I would certainly classify it as a full-blown police state." ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City, Alleyway - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0450) ==================================== Melody crossed her arms behind her back as she looked around the alley they had taken residence in temporarily. They were all together, the area had been scouted, there was nothing more they could do here. They had just opened channels to the Boudicca to beam-up and prepare for the second phase of their mission. =^=Boudicca to Away Team, are you secure?=^= Melody looked at the First Officer and nodded, her side of the Alley was secure. Fredricks was on the opposite side. (reply: Fredricks, any) The portable phone, what their communicator had been hidden in, buzzed again with voice. =^=Situation here is unstable, we cannot beam you out, Transporter Room 1 has been destroyed by explosives and we're still checking out the rest before we dare use them. Find someplace to hold up, a secure room, you should have enough monetary resource to do so.=^= Melody closed her eyes and sighed in-audibly. A bombing on the Boudicca, how wonderful. ==================================== (USS Boudicca- Bridge- TAC/SC Ensign Skylynx- 0500) ==================================== Ryko opened the Bridge turbolift doors to be confronted by two of his own security officers with phasers trained on him. "Easy, guys, it's me," he said, climbing out of the turbolift shaft. He dusted himself down and breathed. He stretched his neck and cracked his knuckles. "Nothing like a good climb if you need a workout," he said, patting one of the security officers on the shoulder jovially. He crossed the bridge. "Ensign Skylynx returning to duty, sir," he said, catching the captain's eye. He knew Sevant would have heard by now what had happened in the Science labs, but he also knew that there were far more important things to worry about right now than bickering. (Reply Sevant, IYW) Ryko simply nodded at the captain and promptly wandered towards the TAC station. He relieved a very miffed-looking ensign and logged on. ~What's the beef, did I steal your fire?~ he thought with a laugh. He glanced, smiling, over at Yalta. She looked stressed. He sent a console-console message. =/=What's wrong honey, you look like a sun just exploded in your face. Everything alright?=\= ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Bridge - OPS Lt. Yalta Schafio - 0500) ==================================== Yalta had settled in minutes ago and still her morning was difficult to swallow. The last time she remembered to have an awful morning was at the academy during the tactical training, where the instructor woke up, army still, everyone at the wee bit hours of the morning. Giving a taste to everyone the marine type of life. Sleeping on the top bunk, she fell over the instructor... hard. Her mind return at the work to be done when she saw Sky walking in but it didn't help much her mood, until she saw a message coming from his console. =/=What's wrong honey, you look like a sun just exploded in your face. Everything alright?=\= =/=I got a ruff morning, fell off the bed, trip.... I'm just lucky that I didn't hit my big toe. What happen to make me woke up so rudely?=\= ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City, Motel Room, FO, Commander Grailik, 0515) ==================================== They had been relatively lucky to find a motel in the immediate vicinity that still have a few free rooms. Grailik had appropriated two adjoining rooms, though it had required a large share of their monetary fund. He allowed Fredericks and Haverstaad to enter first to make sure the rooms were indeed empty. Grailik waited his arm slung loosely over Domini's shoulders to maintain the illusion of their cover to any one who might be watching. Once everyone was in Fredericks closed and locked the door. Grailik removed his arm from Domini and looked around at the other away team members. "Alright. We might be here awhile. Lets begin correlating what we've got so far. West, work with Fredericks and Munroe. Haverstaad, you keep your eyes and ears open. I don't want to take any chances of getting caught unawares. I'm not completely convinced everyone bought our little show out there." His gaze then moved to Domini and Rin. "You two with me," He said, pointing toward the adjoining door leading to the other room. (Reply Any on Away Team) Grailik moved into the room first, followed by Rin and then Domini. Grailik motioned for Domini to close the door. He indicated that each of them should take a seat while he remained standing, his arms behind his back. He regarded them both quietly for a few seconds, his face an unreadable mask. "Now, what the hell was that out there?" He finally asked, his voice calm but with a hard edge to it. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0516) ==================================== "Alright. We might be here awhile. Lets begin correlating what we've got so far. West, work with Fredericks and Munroe. Haverstaad, you keep your eyes and ears open. I don't want to take any chances of getting caught unawares. I'm not completely convinced everyone bought our little show out there." His gaze then moved to Domini and Rin. "You two with me," Melody, who already had her modified tricorder out, fielded a question about passive scans. Melody scanned the entire area, "Communications is mostly electronic impulse, just as we've been lead to believe. Phone systems, also radio-wave and microwave communication system, at least in this area." The First Officer disappeared into the room with the Counselor and Chief Science Officer. Melody allowed her lip to curl slightly, and she shuddered briefly at how close they had come to being captured. They still might, actually, the best kind of police would let their pray capture themselves in a tight confined place... like these rooms, for example. She pulled out her phone/phaser and moved to the door. "I've got this place covered; best get your head together with West and Munroe, Sir." She said with a nod to Fredricks. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City, Motel Room, COUNS, Dr. Domini Alizara, 0517) ==================================== "You two with me." Grailik stated, pointing towards the adjoining room. "Is the room free of listening devices?" Domini asked, half-seriously. She saw Frdericks sweeping the room then closed the door. She would not allow Grailik to turn this into a 'blame Domini festival'. She knew some of it was her fault, but for the most part...it wasn't something she could have directly predicted. "Now, what the hell was that out there?" He demanded, glaring at her. She sighed. He was going to make it into her fault. So she began to explain and attempt to take the high road. Before Rin could get a word in, Domini looked up and sighed. "Rin endangered our mission, first by forgetting his identification, second by having the breakdown in the first place, and thirdly by choosing to blame it on my relationship with Madison. Which, I may point out, is none of his business. I admit that I should have taken his nightmare today more seriously. He called me about it an hour before we were supposed to leave for the away mission. I had, what seemed at the time to be, more important things to take care of. He did not press the issue, He had not mentioned the nightmares previously." She took a deep breath. "I thought his breakdown at first was caused by the psychic attack. But looking over him now, it's not. He is acting like a spoiled brat. He doesn't need mind-healing, he needs a spanking." She looked Grailik directly in the eye. "I admit that this is my fault. No one reported that Rin was having problems, I didn't see it. I thought he was handling his mother's death fine. I didn't 'see' anything while I was mind-healing him yesterday. I should have read him deeper, which is the only way I could have known about the problems. Or he should have told me." She leaned back against the headboard of the queen bed, and sighed again. It was all her fault. She was a failure at being a Counsellor. "As for Rin's confession of his love, I knew nothing about it. I was shocked as you were, Sir. I did try to make an advance on him, cautiously, right after Kestra left, but nothing came of it. All the kind words out there were not helping him, so I did speak harshly to him, hoping to cut through his wallow of self-pity enough for him not to have us arrested." She laid her hands on her knee, and lightly thudded her head against the wooden headboard a couple of times, absolutely exhausted. "I know that sleep is a luxury that can not be afforded, but I've had 2 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours, same as the rest. Tired people make mistakes, Sir, and I made a big one in trusting that Rin would have pulled himself off the away team if things were as bad as he claims they are. I'm sorry, and I formally submit myself for discipline, in light of my error that nearly cost us our mission and a way home." She closed her eyes and imagined what life would be like on the penal colony when she got court-martialed. ~Maybe they'll just execute me and I'll get to be with Jade and Meiko again.~ ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV - Kurgarian City - Motel Room - CSO/2O Kyle Morie Rin - 0517) ==================================== "Now, what the hell was that out there?" Grailik finally asked, his voice calm but with a hard edge to it. Before Rin could get a word in, Domini looked up and sighed. "Rin endangered our mission, first by forgetting his identification, second by having the breakdown in the first place, and thirdly by choosing to blame it on my relationship with Madison. Which, I may point out, is none of his business. I admit that I should have taken his nightmare today more seriously. He called me about it an hour before we were supposed to leave for the away mission. I had, what seemed at the time to be, more important things to take care of. He did not press the issue, He had not mentioned the nightmares previously." She took a deep breath. "I thought his breakdown at first was caused by the psychic attack. But looking over him now, it's not. He is acting like a spoiled brat. He doesn't need mind-healing, he needs a spanking." She looked Grailik directly in the eye. "I admit that this is my fault. No one reported that Rin was having problems, I didn't see it. I thought he was handling his mother's death fine. I didn't 'see' anything while I was mind-healing him yesterday. I should have read him deeper, which is the only way I could have known about the problems. Or he should have told me." She leaned back against the headboard of the queen bed, and sighed again. It was all her fault. She was a failure at being a Counsellor. "As for Rin's confession of his love, I knew nothing about it. I was shocked as you were, Sir. I did try to make an advance on him, cautiously, right after Kestra left, but nothing came of it. All the kind words out there were not helping him, so I did speak harshly to him, hoping to cut through his wallow of self-pity enough for him not to have us arrested." She laid her hands on her knee, and lightly thudded her head against the wooden headboard a couple of times, absolutely exhausted. "I know that sleep is a luxury that can not be afforded, but I've had 2 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours, same as the rest. Tired people make mistakes, Sir, and I made a big one in trusting that Rin would have pulled himself off the away team if things were as bad as he claims they are. I'm sorry, and I formally submit myself for discipline, in light of my error that nearly cost us our mission and a way home." She closed her eyes and imagined what life would be like on the penal colony when she got court-martialed. ~Maybe they'll just execute me and I'll get to be with Jade and Meiko again.~ Kyle gave a heavy sigh his eyes still on Domini as he sat down on her left one foot on the bed the other resting on the floor. Grailik stood only a few steps away from them both but to him Grailik was non-existant. ~God, i've screwed up...I guess that's what I get for not having a mother's guidance. Mom..if your still alive wherever you are give me some of your strength right now.~ Kyle stood up if anyone was to blame it would be him as Domini had stated, but for some reason she was hiding that aspect. He could sense the anger she was projecting towards him if there was a time to apologize it had come and gone. "Sir....I appreciate being chosen for this mission based on what experiance i've gained over the past years, but my past life has been nothing but a roller coaster ride. I'm sure you know I lost both my parents considering such information is in the ship's computer logs. If you really want to be blunt I have no-one but a handful of aunts and uncles whom i've only seen once. I never had a chance to learn of my betazoid heritage considering my mother is dead as i'm lead to believe by starfleet, and because the 'gift' as my friends call it is doing nothing more then destroying my entire life. I hoped Domini could help me considering she is a mind-healer and knows a great deal on betazoid history." Kyle paused for a moment taking a glance at Domini who by now probably didn't want a single thing to do with him. "If anyone is to blame it's me I should have never joined this mission or starfleet i've been nothing but a thorn in everyone's side. Whatever action you wish to take please direct it towards me as i'm the one and only to blame I wasn't fit for this mission and I hid that from all of you. As for my feelings towards her they are true backed by my heart I didn't tell her sooner considering Kestra was still around and there was a slim chance of us getting together. I cherished the advance she made but hid the feelings since I don't know what it truly means to be in love, but everytime I cross paths with her I keep getting a painful feeling deep in my heart as if something is crying out, I didn't experiance this with Kestra maybe that's why we only became friends. I'll probably get court-martialed and shot for my actions today for all I know, but what I do know is that burning down in my heart will always be true for her. Maybe the best thing for me is execution it would ease what pain and suffering I have left considering i've become f*cking sick and tired of it." ~If I did get shot at least i'd finaly know if your alive mom...~ Kyle took a second before sitting back down on the bed, looking in Domini's direction he could still feel her anger something which didn't matter to him anymore he deserved it... any and all of it. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - SO- Dr. Madison Munroe- 0517) ==================================== Maddie stood ack and watched as the Fredericks and Haverstaad ran through their security procedures. She gave a cursor scan with her tricorder aswell, but she was recording more than scanning. Then her tricorder picked up a strange signal. She followed it to a medium sized black box that had a a glass shielding on one side of it and some wires coming out the back. She suddenly realized what it was. She clapped her hands with excitement and studied the television closely. There was a series of buttons at the bottom. On was markded on/off. She pushed the button and a picture leapt onto the screen. The picture was so bright and caught Maddie by surprise that she fell backwards and landed on her backside. She had to stifle a giggle. She sat there watching the "program" on the "T.V." with great joy. Not that she was entertained, but that she was actually able to value the experience. Then she noticed another button and decided to try it. The picture changed to two people sitting behind a desk. They appeared to be telling stories of the days events. This was critical information so Maddie decided to keep watching. She heard Haverstaad's voice from the other room. "Communications is mostly electronic impulse, just as we've been lead to believe. Phone systems, also radio-wave and microwave communication system, at least in this area." "There's also a system of passing information over carrier waves," Maddie called out. "Come in here and check this out." (reply Haverstaad and Fredericks) They all watched the news broadcast in amazement. There were world events, in which some leader in some country made promises of "nuclear disarmament." Maddie shook her head, knowing full well where the road of nuclear weapons lead. ~What next, biological warfare.~ It was all a no win scenario, leading to death and devastation. But the Earth did have to go through those growing pains aswell. Perioodically Maddie watched as either Fredericks or Haverstaad made a sweep through the dwelling. They kept looking more and more concerned. But they also continued to come back and watch more of the news. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0517) ==================================== "There's also a system of passing information over carrier waves," Maddie called out. "Come in here and check this out." Melody walked over and took a few moments to look at the contraption. "Electronical carrier waves, carrying multi-frame signals for sound and visual stimulus. Midrange, non-interactive, purely one-way." She said briefly. It appeared to be an informational program of some sort. She shook her head and turned back to her duty. Maddie, Fredricks and West had things to talk about. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City, Motel Room,Ensign John Fredericks - 0520) ==================================== John went with Grailik toward one of the nearby motels where he (Grailik) was able to obtain a couple of side by side rooms after first confiscating most of the currency John still had with him. ~Oh well, easy come, easy go~ he thought as he had passed the coins to Grailik, and then waved the rest of the team on up. Once they had reached the set of rooms Fredericks and Melody entered each room first, checking to be sure they were empty and could be secured. After receiving the ok the rest of the team followed. Thinking about the type of society they were in John removed the transformed tricorder and began scanning for listening or optical devices. No devices found. John thought it would be a good idea to keep a tricorder going to moniter approaching individuals from outside the building, he also asked Melody to see what she could pick up on a passive scan of the different frequencies they used for communication here. It might be nice to know someone was coming before they got here. (reply Melody, if you would like to) While that was going on Grailik took Rin and Domini into the adjoining room and closed the door. ==================================== (USS Boudicca - Somewhere Else - The Shadow - 0530) ==================================== The shadow nodded to a posted security guard at a Jefferies tube access point. Though not all the tubes could be covered, the very important junctions were already being guarded. It was a necessary side effect of the agent's actions, it was planned on, and they could be avoided. The agent was getting a lot of dark feelings from the crew, a lot of the people on the shadows tail were angry... in some cases, far more angry then scared. It was another psychological condition that was expected, this was a battle hardened crew and -someone- was mucking about with their ship. There was a good deal of fear, too... but not yet enough. There had to be more, the crew had to start making mistakes. S/he couldn't get close to any vital systems at the moment; there was far too much activity for that. So, that left only one thing to do. Random and senseless terror was an effective weapon, something s/he had been trained to use, so that is exactly what the crew of the Boudicca was going to receive. The Shadow had already figured out that dealing straight death took too long, it made it far to easy to be caught. At least, at first, with each attach s/he was loosening up and getting a solid grasp of concepts that couldn't be taught well and had to be experienced. It might be possible at this point to kill in a hurry, but that was a risk the Shadow just wasn't going to take, what counted was the mission... anything that put the mission at risk would be avoided. Besides, a person didn't have to be killed to be made neutralized. A scrambled mind was just as effective as death in the long-run. The Shadow almost smiled with giddy glee. Taking pleasure from these subversive acts had been programmed into him/her, though that fact was unknown to the agent. It didn't matter in either case, the shadow felt way too good to stop now. Sometimes duty could be incredibly depressing. But sometimes, every one in a while, it could be a true pleasure... like now, for example. The Agent had to decide what to do next. Wandering the ship was not a good idea. Eventually, the wandering would be noticed, someone would piece together that s/he wasn't staying in one place long enough to work on anything. S/he stepped into a turbolift, "Deck Nine, Junior Officers crew quarters." Someone else stopped in with her, an Engineer. The Shadow recognized the face, the Lieutenant was one of the Shift bosses of main engineering. ~That will do.~ S/he half turned to the female engineer and her eyes hooded once the doors had closed, s/he wasted absolutely no time. The Shadow needed to throw the scent of the hounds as far off as possible; this was a gods-given opportunity! The female engineer suddenly screamed and fell to her knees, just as the turbolift began moving. The shadow didn't move a muscle except for her half-hooded eyeballs, which followed the body down. The engineer suddenly stopped screaming, her eyeballs rolled up, and she toppled over head-first. The agent smiled, and then cleared HER throat a couple times experimentally. She tapped her badge, "MEDICAL EMERGENCY, TURBOLIFT, AN ENGINEER, SHE JUST TOPPLED OVER FOR NO REASON! COMPUTER, EMERGENCY STOP, DECK 7 SICKBAY!" (reply: Medical, Security, Ops) The turbolift stopped much sooner then it would, and when the door opened, there were medical personnel beginning to run over. It had only been ten seconds since her call ended. The doctors that arrived found the 'shadow' dutifully bent over the engineer, checking for a pulse. Blood slowly dripped out of the engineer's nose. The medical personnel wasted no time in pushing the agent out of the way. The agent babbled, "There was no warning! She just... screamed, and then fell over!" Inside, she exhausted. There had always been at least one witness each time she had dropped one of her prior targets. This time it was herself, who would think to check her in time? ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0544) ==================================== "We've got company." Melody said as she pulled her head away and let the curtain fall the half inch she had pulled it out. "One man has been standing outside by one of their motor transports for the last ten minutes. He has a bulge in his jacket pocket, and he keeps looking at our rooms, he also has a radio frequency communications device stuck in his ear." (reply: any, if desired) Melody pulled out her tricorder and scanned around again, she had been on-and-off since she noticed her voyeur, and she didn't much like the results. "The room two rooms down keeps crowding in more people, and they all are carrying firearms. I would suspect they are a police force." She brought her head up and looked at Fredricks and Grailik, "It would take us ten seconds to cut through these walls and disarm them, Sir. Unless you would prefer to wait for them to come to us, or unless we can get beamed out of here. We won't stand a chance on the open streets." ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Senior Chief Melody Haverstaad - 0544) ==================================== "We've got company." Melody said as she pulled her head away and let the curtain fall the half inch she had pulled it out. "One man has been standing outside by one of their motor transports for the last ten minutes. He has a bulge in his jacket pocket, and he keeps looking at our rooms, he also has a radio frequency communications device stuck in his ear." Melody pulled out her tricorder and scanned around again, she had been on-and-off since she noticed her voyeur, and she didn't much like the results. "The room two rooms down keeps crowding in more people, and they all are carrying firearms. I would suspect they are a police force." She brought her head up and looked at Fredricks and Grailik, "It would take us ten seconds to cut through these walls and disarm them, Sir. Unless you would prefer to wait for them to come to us, or unless we can get beamed out of here. We won't stand a chance on the open streets." The Counselor, standing right behind Melody, said, "John, can you sense anything from him? I can't read that guy down there. It's like hitting a blank wall." "Sir", the TAC/ASC said, "I detect extremely aggressive emotions and high levels of excitement. These people enjoy hurting others and I doubt they will stop before killing a few of us just for the fun of it." "We're strangers to the city, we don't have the appropriate papers, they've checked us out, and our identification is false." The Security Senior Chief sighed as continued to watch from a small crack in the curtains. "They want me because of my persona, and they wouldn't get a chance at one like me. They will take me, rape me, break me down, and then kill me when they have had their fun. The men they just want to kill." Melody checked the level of her 'phaser', then at her tricorder to spy on the guys a few doors down, then back out the window again. "Grailik, we have to get out of here. I don't know where we can go, we're being hunted by the entire city." "Your call sir" the TAC/ASC said. He suddenly stopped and slapped his forehead, causing Melody to quickly turn her head to see if he was being attacked. Satisfied that he wasn't, she turned her head back just as he said, "Sir how about someone going to one of the runabouts or shuttles and beaming us up from there. Their transporters and computer systems are isolated from the rest of the ship. They could get us out of here in a few moments. And unless I misread those guys earlier, we don't have but a few moments anyways." Before the First Officer could comment, Melody held up a hand, "There is another option if we act fast, Sir. The Boudicca replicated a lot of materials from this planet, including weapons. We could make a stand here; hold off anyone that comes, if we have some of those weapons transferred to us. We could hold them off in a classic terrorist scenario for a day or more if we were really careful... and then, when we're ready to begin the bank job, we could simply beam out. That will cause a sensation, and in causing a sensation, we will turn attention away from the bank we are robbing... all the public eye will be on the debacle here." She gestured to the news program which had been running non-stop; such informational programs insured that people would be watching what was going on. If most of the cities population was paying attention to the situation here, then very little would be afforded to the bank job until it was too late. "But sir, if we're going to go that route, we best move fast to get those weapons and set up." ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room - Dr. Domini Alizara- 0546) ==================================== Domini moved over, behind Melody so she could see out of the window. She frowned down at the man as Fredericks and Melody began to scan the other room. "John, can you sense anything from him ? I can't read that guy down there. It's like hitting a blank wall." John mentally searched the rooms next to them. “Sir”, I detect extremely aggressive emotions and high levels of excitement. These people enjoy hurting others and I doubt they will stop before killing a few of us just for the fun of it." Domini nodded. "We're strangers to the city, we don't have the appropriate papers, they've checked us out, and our identification is false. They want me because of my persona, and they wouldn't get a chance at one like me. They will take me, rape me, break me down, and then kill me when they have had their fun. The men they just want to kill." And she shivered, moving closer to Maddie, putting a protective arm around her. ::I won't let them take you.:: Domini promised. ::I'll protect you.:: "Grailik, we have to get out of here. I don't know where we can go, we're being hunted by the entire city." Domini said softly, scared, very very scared. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room – John Fredericks TAC/AST Ensign (jg)- 0547) ==================================== “Already on it” replied Fredericks to Melody’s instructions as he continued to scan the sounding area. “Picking up several beings going toward the office, they appear to be armed. One of them is using his communications device to tell the others to hold back for now but to stay ready for “the go”. Melody’s face went tight with the news John had given her, she then told them of a watcher standing outside that had been there for a period of time, he too was apparently armed. She then took her tricorder and scanned the rooms next door and announced that it was filling up with people also armed. Things were starting to get a bit tense. Melody was asking Grailik about deciding to try to tack them out here before they stormed in. John agreed with her thought about the open street, the away team wouldn’t have a chance even with the advanced weapons they had. John mentally searched the rooms next to them. “Sir”, I detect extremely aggressive emotions and high levels of excitement. These people enjoy hurting others and I doubt they will stop before killing a few of us just for the fun of it. “Your call sir” he said to Grailik as he pulled the Phaser that had been changed into something called a pager. ==================================== (Ceti Sigma IV, Kurgarian City - Motel Room – Ensign John Fredericks TAC/AST- 0559) ==================================== John slapped himself in the forehead and turned to Grailik, Sir how about someone going to one of the runabouts or shuttles and beaming us up from there. Their transporters and computer systems are isolated from the rest of the ship. They could get us out of here in a few moments. And unless I misread those guys earlier, we don’t have but a few moments anyways. John was setting his phaser to maximum stun with a medium dispersal pattern as he spoke.