"Looking Onto The Darkness"
[Previous post: "Executive Tricks", written by the always ready Serena Switt]
=-=
Stardate: 60324.1145
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Lea looked at all the biobed currently occupied. The CMO had known that sooner or later her staff would be called to duty, but not like this. Lea had expected there to be casualties from the MERCURY, not from their own ship.
Lacerations of all shapes and sizes were the point of order at the moment, but there had been no casualties. Whatever those things that had appeared out of nowhere had been, they had not killed anyone.
"Here is the latest report," one of the nurses said, handing over a PADD to Lea who quickly read it. All things considered the crew had pulled through well with only a few severe injuries. It had actually not been all that surprising that the CEO had been amongst those on that list. Lea knew of David's uncanny habit of getting himself in the middle of a conflict and getting injured. Even if it meant that he had to inflict the injuries on himself by punching something.
At least this time David had not done it on purpose, wanting to defend his staff and department. Despite the good intentions though, Lea could imagine that the CEO could have found another way. Something less direct that would have accomplished the same without risking his own life.
"Doctor Summers," someone said making Lea turn around where she stood. At first the CMO had expected to see one of her staff since the battle had ended. When Lea saw Eva though, the CMO immediately feared the worst.
"Where is the injured?" Lea asked, looking behind the chief of security to see nothing.
"Captain Rikar…" Eva began before Lea cut her off by reaching for a medkit and storming past the Edo/Betazoid woman. It was only after the CMO arrived into the corridor that she realised that she did not know where she was going.
"Where is she?" Lea asked in a panic, not wanting their CO's first mission to be her last.
"Relax Doctor," Eva said joining the frantic CMO in the corridor. "The Captain is fine. She sent me to inform you that your expertise is required. There is *something* waiting for you and Lt. Maya in the Brig. You can't miss it."
"The Brig?" Lea asked, taking a few moments to figure out what would require the expertise of the CSciO and CMO. "You *captured* one of those things?"
"It was found dead in Main Engineering," Eva said setting the record straight. "Impaled by one of its own claws. Engineering staff reported that it was Lt. Dawson who did this. However it happened though, the captain wishes for you and Lt. Maya to analyse the carcass."
Lea hesitated for a moment. Her primary duty was to take care of the living, not perform an autopsy on a never before seen alien. While looking back through the still opened doorway of Sickbay, the CMO saw that everything was under control. As much as she might had wanted to stay, Lea figured that going against the CO's order would not be a smart thing to do.
"Guess I'm going to need this after all," Lea said lifting the medkit into view of the ensign. The gesture showed that Lea had been ready to follow the security chief.
=-=
Stardate: 60324.1150
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Bridge
Eva and Lea walked in to find Maya already inside the force field surrounding the creature. In order to give the CSciO and CMO enough room to work, Eva had decided to leave the creature in the middle of the main room. A force field had been set-up around the creature, the energy barrier surrounded by several guards. Lining the far walls, Lea noticed that several Marines had also been dispatched to provide extra security.
"You did say that it was dead?" Lea asked, finding it hard to believe that so much security had been required for a single dead alien. Looking at Eva's eyes who were on Maya, the CMO replied to her own question. If the creature had not been dead, the CSciO would have certainly been by now.
"Lower the force field!" Eva ordered to let Lea join Maya and the creature that they were to examine.
"It is dead, right?" Lea asked, feeling the static charge of the force field against her back. Maybe the creature had been playing dead, waiting for a chance to strike. Maybe it had not liked Shillians and preferred Humans. Whatever the reason could be, Lea had been searching for some reassurances.
"Actually I am still trying to confirm the status of the creature," Maya replied not at all helping Lea's nervousness. "I mean I can offer an educated guess that the creature is at least incapacitated. It has not moved since it was brought here. Beyond that though I have not had the time to perform any in-depth scans."
"You really didn't have to wait for me you know," Lea said with a loud gulp. Reaching into the medkit the CMO pulled out her tricorder and opened it. Lea's hands had been trembling so much that the device popped out of her hands. The worst part was that it landed onto the creature and bounced to the floor at her feet. Lea glanced at the many security officers and marines before reaching down for the instrument. If the creature was not dead, it was certainly making a good show of it.
=-=
Tiffany Rose {lady_tiffany_rose@mail.com}
Ensign Lea Summers 2005 post #287
Chief Medical Officer
USS ANUBIS
