And Then That Happened...
Posted on Mon Jan 23rd, 2023 @ 12:19am by Crewman Melly & Commander Ash Randall & Lieutenant Commander Cyrus Marner & Lieutenant R'elle & Captain Wilkan Targaryen & Captain Nathan Bishop & Lieutenant Commander T'Lisha "Hawkeye" Bishara
Edited on on Sun Feb 5th, 2023 @ 3:01am
7,336 words; about a 37 minute read
Mission:
Short Treks
Location: Starfleet One
Timeline: 2431-03-11, 12:30
(continued from: Getting A Bit Carried Away)
(Cafeteria)
Melly watched as the Bounty Hunter was taken away by Lieutenant Commander Patton. The fear she held for the security chief since their earlier meeting began to go away, replaced by a happy admiration for the man. He saved her. If not for that man who she thought didn't like her she would be on that Bounty Hunter's ship, restrained, and en route to Orion where she would never see Ms Jasmine again. So she decided it best to put aside her earlier thoughts and try to be friends with the man. She in her panic tried to grasp to Jasmines legs but knew she did not like being touched, so she moved back. "My apologies Ma'am." Melly had repaniced and clung to the first person who was near.
Cyrus had just come into the food area to get something to eat, when a big hullabaloo happened. When he noticed what was up he quickly ran in that direction. To his surprise he found himself with the petite Melly grasping on to his feet. "Um Melly?" not knowing if she realized it was him and not someone else she looked to be in the state of sheer panic!
The small three foot eight inch girl remained holding Cyrus's feet but then remembered how she was told not to touch people. Looking up to the safe form of Cyrus she said, "My apologies Sir." Melly scooted back and placed her hands to the metal collar around her neck and tugged as hard as she could.
This was a mistake. Energy crackled all around her body as she struggled and writhed on the ground, it was like every spot of her body was being shocked. Even the worst panel explosions in a starfighter was not this painful, the small girl kicked and screamed as she thrashed on the ground unsure to let go or what to do. All she knew was she would not try to remove the collar again. She writhed about looking up to Jasmine and Cyrus, hoping they could tell her what to do.
To Cyrus's dismay seeing Melly's distress he was on his knees near her. "Melly, Melly let go!"
Melly obediently did as Cyrus told her, she trusted him completely. Letting go of the collar she shook from the jolts for a few moments more before they stopped then she squeeling out placing a hand to the collar as she looked back and forth. Her pupils dialated and her eyelid half drooped as she laid on the ground wiggling around happily with a look of contentment and almost joy on her face. She definitely was no longer in pain from the sight of things.
Ash crept up next to Dr. Marner, the screams and cries of the stricken child drawing the Tuansee over from, somewhere, in the crowd, and was shocked by the sight of a little girl, with a collar around her neck, writhing on the ground. "What the..." was all the Engineer said, before looking to Marner, a questioning look of concern on her face.
T'Lisha also felt the young girl's pain as she heard the agonizing screams from the child. Hurrying to her side and held her hand in comfort. The collar around her neck was the instrument of an obedience collar. A painful reminder that she belonged to someone and that was the one thing T'Lisha could not tolerate. "Ash, how in the world...can you get it off?" she asked.
The new councilor , R'elle rushed in . ""What is K'tal's name is that thing on her neck? Maybe we should take her to sickbay and make sure she's alright!"
Cyrus gave a slight sigh after he took a visual examination of the collar. "Obedience Collar used for controlling slaves. I am getting really tired of seeing these things." giving a slight frown. "And this isn't Melly's fault at all." he looked up at those who have gathered. "I do believe I have a tool to take care of this."
Melly held to the hand of the lady who took her hand and wiggled about with her eyes closed. Nuzzling her head against the ground she opened her eyes and looked up to the people hunkered around her. The two nice cat ladies, the one vulcan was it? Then to Jasmine and Cyrus. Wiggling a bit she then lowered her eyes, "How may I be of service Ma'ams and Sir." The moment she said this she felt another sharp pain on her neck causing her to jerk about and then smile closing her eyes again a moment. Her hand, still held to T'Lisha started to feel sweaty and slightly clammy.
Ash stifled a growl as the collar did it's thing, again and looked up at R'elle and then across to T'lisha. "Tic-toc, doc. That collar has to come off and I don't have my bag with me, at the moment." She said, to Dr. Marner, quietly.
"Can we transport it off? if not then maybe we should interrogate the naussican who put it on her? Or maybe, ash can you get your bag transported up here? I want this off her as soon as possible. I am very scared what it is doing to her!" R'elle said.
Cyrus drawled out "Now just take a breath, that might work but, I don't know if there is something that might do something else. I should have something that will work out. Its a fine tool for a good many things." he tapped his communicator. "Computer transfer Cyrus 394 tackle box to this location." an old tackle box shimmered into existence right beside the doctor, he looked at Ash, then opened it up and handed a tool, it looking like an Orion tool which has a few uses including unlocking a collar. "Here" it to Ash. "I am going to put my fingers where it has activated, its going to hurt but I need to break the contact. I need you to unlock that thing once I make my move. Ready? Let's do this." and Cyrus did as what he said he would. "Just hurry please!" and gritted his teeth.
Ash took the device from Dr. Marner and was about to suggest they switch roles when the, stalwart, physician jammed his finger in between Melly's neck and the business end of an injector on the inside of the collar. "Okaay...maximum effort it is." She commented, fiddled the Orion, multi-key to expose the release prong and then began looking for the release port.
Melly, not exactly following but feeling Cyrus's fingers instinctively nuzzled against his hand and arm with her neck. Opening her eyes she looked up to him and then around to everyone as if partially snapping free but she was confused. "What..?", her body looked like it was about to move as she started panicking and worrying. Not understanding she looked up for support.. for help..
Melly began to panic but then the two doses of drug in her took back over, she did not fight, she did not struggle, she occasionally nuzzled Cyrus's hand again and held weakly to T'Lisha as she whispered meekly, "I will be a good girl. I promise."
"Melly, hang in there. We'll get that thing off!" R'elle was very upset over all this. She hated to see anybody unjustly punished. Melly didn't hurt anyone and now this Nausican claims she is a slave? Well security would deal with him. Melly was their priority right now.
It took a few seconds to locate what Ash was looking for on the collar and, with some care to make sure it was at the right orientation, the Tuansee fitted the prong into the port and turned it clock-wise, like you would a key. Ash hadn't seen one of these devices for almost 50 years, a time in her life when she was much younger than the, stricken, Melly and lived as a ship's pet on an Orion slaver. With a satisfying, click, the collar popped open and Ash put a hand on Dr. Marner to steady him.
Cyrus gave a nod to Ash, his voice a bit rough from being hit with both the shock and endorphines. His hands aching from that onslaught. "T-t-thank you." He looked at his fingers. "I think , uh we need - uh." he shook his head to try to clear it some. "to get to sick bay" actually feeling a bit woozy. He was grateful for Ash's steadying hand. "If someone would um get my tackle box and bring it along to Sickbay, I uh would be much obliged. " he looked at R'elle "you're going to have to give the word and those here transported to... I think you know what I'm trying to say. The lady holding Melly's hand." What Cyrus was trying to say was those who were giving Melly support to go with.
Melly squirmed about on the floor and whimpered looking a bit pale and feeling green from the drugs. With her free hand she places it over her mouth and turns but does not get sick. Her small form however shook a bit as her hand rested against the injection site now that the collar was gone. She had watched Ash free her. She did not know this nice cats name nor the other cat. But she was thankful for them and the nice woman she thinks was a Vulcan? Resting her head against the Vuican ladies leg she whimpered and shook a bit. "Please make it stop, I feel sick."
R'elle tapped her conbadge. "Sickbay, beam us to sickbay. We have two victims of an orion Obedience collar. Lt. Marner and crewman Melly! This is an emergency!"
Ash felt the transporter lock initiate and, heeding the doctors request, tried to snag his tackle box with her tail before the transporter beam could initiate. As with comedy and revolving doors, timing is everything and the Tuansee was a hair late as she, and her tail, departed with out the tackle box in tow.
A transporter beam formed and transported Melly and Cyrus off leaving the collar open laying on the ground and the fishing tacklebox as well as the orion multi key left in Ash's hand.
(Maelstrom General Hospital)
The pair materialized in Sick Bay as a few nurses helped Cyrus to a bed while another carefully lifted the limp and clammy Melly to another. One nurse scanned Cyrus with a tricorder before hitting him with two doses of hypospray to try to clear his head of the drugs in his system. "Sir. What happened? Do we need a pediatrician for the child?"
T'Lisha appeared in a shimmer of light and moved over to the child and picked up her limp hand. Speaking softly into Melly's ear, "I am not going to leave you alone. I will be here with you " she whispered.
The Admiral, having been working on a separate project from Starfleet Command, had been away in his Office aboard the Enterprise during the calamities on the station. Having received notice of what had happened, the Admiral returned to the Station, "Report, please."
Melly was laid on the bed as she was being scanned by a female nurse. The small crewman was shivering from the drugs, a one dose fits all injection of a drug of that calibur could be a lot for someone of her size and body mass. Two doses... now that was a issue. She was meek by nature after all that Admiral Norith had done to her, but she was slipping in and out of panic and bouts of complacent happiness. She looked up to the nice Lady T'Lisha, the small crewmans thoughts and emotions bleeding out of her. Fear of being bad, desire to please, panic over how the drugs made her feel, and thoughts of surrender to get more of the drug that made her feel.. happy.
She nuzzled the 'older' woman almost out of instinct from the place the drugs put her in but she gently and timidly held to the womans hand as her pale and clammy skin felt cooler. Beads of sweat formed all over her and as she squirmed the crinkles of her medical supplies were more hearable.
Looking up slightly, she saw a man there. Her vision was hazey as she could not tell his face despite focusing. But the uniform, the pips denoting rank. An Admiral.
In her drug addled brain 'An Admiral' meant 'Him'. She had been caught by a bounty hunter saying she was a runaway slave and he treated her as one before she stabbed him. That meant this was 'Him'. He had come for her. Now what would she do? Would she give in? Would she fight? She stabbed 'Him' forty times and he lived.
Well the first thing she did as her thoughts gathered as well as they could, Well I appearently have wet myself with confidence. Her inner voice said as she was thankful for the nappies she had to wear for these situations. Then her thoughts projected loudly to any close empaths or telepaths. As she started scooting back using her feet to scoot herself on the biobed. She scooted and tried to hold to T'Lisha, almost trying to crawl up into her arms if able to get away from the Admiral, from 'Him'. Her thoughts were fear, terror, hurt, and the pain and humiliation 'He' had done to her and will do to her now that 'He' has her. She could not escape 'Him'.
Threw tears she squeeled out, "bad girl sorry, bad girl sorry, she will be good Admiral Norith, she promises."
Cyrus waved off the nurse after she had administered the hypo spray to offset the injections from the collar. "Admiral we had a situation." his words were interrupted by Melly going into panic mode. His voice barked out a bit sharply, just to get through Melly's panic. "Melly, it isn't Norith it is Targaryen." moving over to where she is.
Melly's body shook one hard time but she started to process a meek voice saying softly but only a tiny bit more calm, "Admiral William?"
Upon materializing, Ash had immediately moved clear to get out of the way of the medical personnel. It was the 101 of being a non-medical personnel in a medical emergency as she knew, all too well. The engineer took immediate stock of the who and what, noted the missing tackle box and, silently, cursed to herself at not being quick enough to grab it and was going to return for it when Mellys terror at the sight of Admiral Targaryen drew the little Tuansee in her direction instead.
He looked at Willian "A bounty hunter apparently came to get her, snapped an Orion slave collar around her neck, she tried to take it off and well, that went from bad to worse, for the moment. Ash was able to get the consarned collar off. And those things are nasty, they have an awful bite." raising his hands and a nurse pulled him back to his bio bed to take care of the wounded digits. "Nurse I was talking with Targaryen."
"I don't care, you need to make certain to take care of your hands doctor.."The nurse scolded.
Ash moved to be beside the bio-bed close to the cowering Melly and, gently placed a hand on her shoulder while she, pretty much, climbed onto the bed with the child and bumped her forehead to Melly’s. There were no words but the thought was crystal clear, “ You are safe.” And a feeling of calm.
Melly began slightly calming, feeling the warm soft forehead against her. Slowly she opened her eyes not to see the Admiral in the distance but a kitty face obscuring him. With a almost giggle between tears she nuzzled the kitty back.
R'elle was not far behind. "Melly how are you feeling?" This was a bad situation. Melly was damaged enough emotionally as it was. This surely did not help! She took Melly's hand. "It's going to be alright Melly!"
She gulped softly and nodded to R'elle, her small cold clammy hand felt a bit warmer as it was held by R'elle, the look of panic begining to try at least to fade.
T'Lisha never let go of Melly's hand the whole time she went through the worst of her panic. She would have grabbed her in he arms but the arrival of the Admiral stopped her. Then with the flood of emotions from the child and her panicked cries, T'Lisha realized just how much of a horrid and damaging traumatic experience the girl had. Just as Ash had converted a sense of calm, T'Lisha gazed into Melly's eyes and projected, ~~~Melly, you are not alone and among those that will keep you safe~~~ that said, she felt a sense of trust for those around Melly finally.
Melly turned to the nice lady holding her hand and heard the voice in her mind. Being from another dimension the Onlies were receptive to telepathy but not telepathic themselves. They could hear projected voices in there minds but could not respond with it. Instead she kept her eyes focused to the woman and nodded softly, "I am not alone and I am among those who will keep me safe." Melly repeated this several more times keeping her eyes up to the woman. After a few moments she seemed to calm, her addrenaline helping push threw some of the bad drugs. Some remnants remained however.
She then sniffled slightly and looked to the nurse, "I am sorry Ma'am.. i'm.. umm." She looked down to where her nappies were covered by her uniform, "I am sorry I appear to have umm.. yeah. Never living this one down.. met a lot of nice people and then went and wet myself." As she said that she laid back on the biobed, finally having some of her faculties back and finally able to think.
The Commanding Officer of Deep Space 12 listened to what was happening, the back and forth as his Chief Medical Officer worked on the patient, "Can anyone tell me where the Nausicaan is now? Has security captured him?"
R'elle looked to the Admiral, "Admiral. Counsleor R'elle here. Yes he is in the brig. No worries there!"
After a moment of deep introspective thinking she pulled her knees up to her as her hands were being held by the nice people. Resting her forehead to the knees she took a deep breath and began banging her forehead on her knees in complete frustration as she sobbed, "He sold me.. he actually sold me.. he said he would if I was bad and now I belong to.." The revelation of the only Orion she met with Norith, the slave trader. She started banging her head again against her knees, "I deserve this. I was bad. Now I am a slave and deserve this."
Having deemed his hands sufficiently taken care of, Cyrus had come over after the hypo spray having been administered to Melly to deal with the endorphines. "Melly, enough." stopping her head from banging upon her knees. "Just breathe, slow and steady, Melly." he knew the story behind what she'd gone through. Cyrus looked at the others.
Cyrus lifted her chin up and looked Melly in the eyes. "Melly, you are not a slave, not anymore and that collar has been broken. And you work with us as part of the Federation, as a crewmember. I want you to take a look at those who are here for you. Anyone and I mean anyone who tries to take you away from here, won't have a chance due to these individuals gathered here." He motioned towards T'Lisha, Ash, R'elle, William, then himself.
"Do not be afraid anymore." He gave a bit of a smile.
Melly smiled weakly then a brighter smile. She looked around to all the new friends. The two wonderful catpeople, the rather emotional Vulcan, the kind Doctor, a man she idolized while serving under him being the Admiral. Her mind and thoughts went back to her starfighter missions, the barfight she once had where she was biting a Gorn's knee while she was wrapped around his leg like a koala. She then thought about the horrible things Admiral Norith did to her and she shook once but powered threw it. She then thought of the time at the Penal Colony, then being collected by her boss to be her aid. She thought of the sleepover.. then it dawned on her as she looked around a bit erraticly.
"Melly, it's ok. Noone will hurt you. We won't let them." R'elle said she she squeezed melly's hand gently. "You have friends here Melly. You just relax."
"Where is Mommy.. I mean. Sorry the drugs had my head funny there, disreguard that. Where is my boss?", she looked around now as she was calmer but she was confused. "She said she would always keep me safe. Where is she?"
Ash nodded agreement with the statement by Dr. Marner, slid off the bio-bed, and looked to the admiral. "Admiral, permission to go see this Bounty Hunter?" Ash asked, quietly, with a glance to Melly and then back to Admiral Targaryen.
During this time the nurse tending Melly walked over to ask softly to Doctor Cyrus, "Is she a child? I'm rather confused by all this. She looks like one, she seems to act like one at times and not at others. So I can better treat her needs what is she?"
R'elle wanted to have a crack at that bounty hunter as well but she knew it was better she didn't. As councilor, her place was here with Melly.
Two questions that needed to be answered, and Cyrus thought for a moment as to how it needed to be dealt with. To the nurse he responded. "Melly is from the planet Miri. There are records of them in medical under the file of Doctor Leonard McCoy. She is older than what she looks but still has the body of an Eight year old due to the preservers."
Now as for Jasmine Haynes, he looked up to see on record where she was at. He frowned slightly then looked at Melly. "Crewman Melly, it appears that your boss has been transferred." looking kindly at Melly with regret and compassion in his eyes. "However, as I had mentioned you have people who are wanting to watch over and protect you. A lot of security. You see you have friends and also those who are willing to associate with you." giving a nod once more towards those that were there. "Things will be taken care of." Cyrus glancing towards Admiral Targaryen, then back to Melly.
"Security will take care of this, Commander," the Admiral informed as he looked at his Chief Engineer. "They're responsible for the interrogation of any threat aboard this station. They'll do the interrogation."
"Understood, Admiral. I wonder how he got onto the station, in the first place, without checking in?" She mused aloud knowing that, in the Federation at least, a bounty hunter checked in with Federation authorities if they were on a job so there were no 'mis-understandings'.
Willian looked at his Chief Medical Officer, "Please keep me updated on what is happening. I need to discuss this with Starfleet Command."
Cyrus gave an acknowledging nod. "I will make certain of that Admiral." he then turned his attention to Melly, then looked around at Medical, they were going to have to get things back to its normal pace. He addressed those that were there. "Okay, I do believe we need to get Melly a new room mate, or other quarters. I do not think it would be proper for me to have her in mine. I am not certain. This is a bit of unconventional circumstances."
"I have room." Ash volunteered, helpfully, as she peered up at Dr. Marner. "I sleep in a hammock...Oh, and, before I forget, I'd better go collect your tacklebox and that collar before there's mischief. Sorry about that. I couldn't get a hold on it quick enough." She added, shifting from one subject to another in mid-sentence.
Cyrus gave a bit of a nod towards Ash, "I am sure it can be found soon enough. I have a tracker on it."
The doctor's eyes gravitated towards T'Lisha then towards R'relle, as a thought was playing around in his head for temporary solution. "Why don't we move this to a conference room so we can get this sorted out. I think we need to let medical get back to its routine. "
"I agree Doctor! Let's take this to the conference room." R'elle said.
The nurse in attendance looked at Cyrus then stated, "Well in a moment you will do so, she needs to get cleaned up first." motioning for those to step back and placing a privacy screen around Melly and herself. A few minutes later the privacy screen was removed and Melly was cleaned up and in dry clothing." There that should be more comfortable." the nurse remarked with a smile, then scowled at Cyrus.
"I like her! She's feisty!" R'elle said with a grin referring to the nurse.
"As do I in more ways than you can count. I am reluctant to let go of Melly's hand. She has calmed down quite a bit more and I wouldn't mind if she stayed with me," T'Lisha said smiling at Melly.
Melly smiled relaxed as she looked up to the non judgemental Nurse who helped her, once she was changed and dry and set she saw the screen move and then she leaned forward to hug the nice Nurse tight. Smiling happily Melly leaned back on the bed and closed her eyes for but a moment to center herself. However the moment the eyes closed... she was out like a light. She was asleep, but she was happily asleep and calm.
The nurse smiled down at Melly, then looked towards the rest of those there. "I'll keep watch over her whilst you have your conference."
Once more, Ash was intent on going out the door to go retrieve Dr. Marner's tackle box only to, instead, move the direction of the bio-bed with the sleeping Melly on it and just stand there and watch the sleeping child. For several moments Ash stood there, very quiet and still, before she moved the direction of the conference room. The little Tuansee felt that she needed to be there.
Cyrus looked at the nurse and gave a nod "Just make certain there is security to keep watch over things."
He then turned to the others, "Shall we?"
T'Lisha followed the rest and entered the conference room.
Cyrus and the others had been in the conference room for a few minutes when fresh out of the academy, idealistic young Ensign Tarran walked in. He stood six feet two and looked more like security then medical, but his uniform was pressed and his boots shined to a glare. He had his dark hair trimmed to uniform regulation and even his fingernails were by the standard reccomendation of the manual. He was a good medical technician but far from worldly, or in the case of Starfleet universly. Waving to the head Nurse who was watching Melly the Ensign logged into work and walked over.
"Heard there was some ruckuss in the cafe's? I..", he looked at the one in the bed and began to scan the room and heard faintly the voice of Cyrus in the conference room. Narrowing his eye's he whispered, "Pardon me a moment Nurse." He then straightened his uniform and promptly walked to the conference room.
(Conferance Room)
Once all were gathered knowing that the nurse with Melly would be rather protective, he addressed the others.
"A quick brief where Melly is concerned. She is an Onlie, in other words from the planet Miri, where Doctor McCoy had helped work with their medical condition. A few years back Melly was...brought in to service of a man named Noritch, he is a despicable denobian slime devil. Prone to control someone and to well...make things unpleasant for Melly. Anyway she had an altercation with Norith one which sent her to prison for the deed. She stabbed him after many years of torturous behaviour. And now she is here serving with us as a crewmember. Apparently he had literally sent out a bounty hunter to collect her. There is a lot to tell but long story short, there here and now would by a place for Melly to stay."
"Well as I mentioned earlier, she can bunk in with me. I have more than enough room and my gifts would go a long way in helping her acclimate to the now part of life, and medical can find a way to eradicate the blasted meals..
Ensign Tarran walked into the conference room and cleared his throat, "Lieutenant Marner. May I request clarification why we have a dangerous felon not strapped down like the monster she is? I watched the entire FNN trial. She attacked and tried to murder a flag officer! She should have been ejected into space. Why is she here and why is she not strapped down so she doesn't stab one of us? Don't let her looking like a child sway you Sir. FNN explained she is mentally unstable and violent! How long before she stabs Admiral Targaryen? At least restrain the monster! Starfleet regulation 32-0-6-B states clearly..." The Ensign got himself more and more worked up with each word.
Ash eyed the ensign, while he spoke; his demeanor, bearing, mannerisms and appearance and sighed to herself. Barging into a closed conference room and, immediately, spouting nonsense and quoting Star Fleet regulations to a room full of superior officers and departments heads, was hardly an endearing act. The, 30 year, engineering officer looked to Dr. Marner. This was the hospital and, though she outranked him, this was HIS domain and his party and up to him to boot the party crasher if he was of a mind to.
Now Cyrus can be a pleasant enough man, good bedside manners, kind to people in general, easy going. However there are things that truly raised his ire and got his dander up, and this young upstart of an ensign just hit the number one on his list. Cyrus turned, his face rather dark and he was furious.
Cyrus drawled out with a rather biting tone. "Ensign or shall I say CADET, just you stop right there. Turn around and get your whiney little behind out of here and get packing." there was an undertone of a growl in his voice and there was coldness in the Doctor's eyes. "You will not be allowed in my medical bay anymore, you will not work here anymore. Do not do quotes at me either. I suggest that you move quickly." Cyrus standing up and facing the upstart of an ensign. "And I mean NOW!" Cyrus wasn't in the mood to deal with someone like this no not one whit.
Ash looked to the Ensign, then looked to the door, and then back to the Ensign. "Your point of egress is immediately behind you and, in the case you are lost and have issues with directions, I will be happy to escort you out." The Felinoid engineer advised him, quietly.
R'elle look at him and said "Ensign, I suggest you acquaint yourself with the truth before opening your mouth! I further suggest you leave as you are making us all very angry! " She glared at the ensign who obviously had a lot to learn! Like don't piss off members of the crew that can literally tear you a new one if you piss them off too much!
"And as for your spouting off about that trial, who are you to judge as to what happened. She is here, she will stay here. And saying Crewman Melly is to be strapped down like some Hannibal Lector" Cyrus took a step forward towards the ensign, "That is uncalled for and unwarranted, if she is the monster that you have slated her to be, she wouldn't be here. And are you going to be saying that the those in authority that have higher ranks than you and I,do not know what they are doing?"
It would almost seem that Cyrus had grown taller than his 6 foot frame, due to his rage building even more.
"Now... Get out! Before I throw you out!" Cyrus losing even more of his last reserve of self control.
Fuming with anger, T'Lisha stood tall and grabbed the Ensign and spin him around. Her piercing eyes drilled into his mind, "If I see you around, near, or in contact with Melly, you will regret being born. Is that clear or do I have to..." Bridling her own anger, "Get OUT NOW!!!" she shouted.
The Ensign looked floored by everything then nodded and slipped out unsure of his fate but growing more angry as he went.
Ash watched the Ensign leave the conference room and scowled. The Ensign was wrong to have barged into the conference room and make an ass of himself but the Tuansee was taken aback, just a bit, by the escalation. Emotions were keyed, no doubt, and a pompous ass was just the trigger that was needed, she guessed. The Tuansee shrugged and waited to see if there would be any, further, discussion.
(Maelstrom General Hospital)
The Ensign came out angry but he pushed that down and walked over to the Nurse. "I think the CMO needs a sugar bar.", the Ensign said before looking over as an alert sounded for a file or project or something the nurse was doing, he wasn't sure. Looking over to the woman he gave a fake smile, "I'll watch her so you can get your alert. Don't worry, i've got a kid sister her age." This was a lie but not a easily proven one.
The nurse raised an eyebrow, but went to check on the medical alert.
The Ensign leaned down close to the sleeping Melly's face, "We're not done old lady. You just cost me my position and this aint over. I should be here more then you. You may look sweet and innocent but so does a Bluegill." Leaning back up he unpinned Mellys crewman badge from her collar and her combadge and rolled them in his hand looking them over before dropping them on the floor. Then he turned and left as the nurse was away, effectively following the CMO's orders.
Captain Nathan Bishop, executive officer for the Enterprise was moving through the hospital when he heard loud voices. Arriving at the scene he saw Cyrus and T'Lisha and a young girl he didn't know. "What's going on? Why the loud voices?" He asked.
Cyrus who witnessed T'Lisha bodily remove the Ensign from the conference room, gritted his teeth at the arrival of Captain Bishop. Cyrus had a sinking sense of he was in trouble. Sucking in a breath he then stated in a quiet tone, "I lost my temper sir when an ensign came into a conference and demanded that Crewman Melly be put in restraints and declared her to be a menace, and that she'd stab Admiral Tagaryen. There was that trial that was televised far and wide. And yet it seemed that he was calling into question the reason why Crewman Melly is on the station and working here, when it was the top authorities decision for her to come here to work." he took a breath then added. "Besides being injured due to a slave collar that had been placed on Melly, I guess I am a little bit hangry to boot. So my niceness grew thin."
Bishop looked at the man. "Doctor, your body language and tone seem to say that you think I am mad at you. I am not. I merely asked you a question as to why the loud voices." He paused for a moment. "Crewman Melly? Oh yes, I remember now. How is crewman Melly now and shouldn't someone be with her?"
Cyrus gave a sheepish smile rubbing the back of his head, "Okay I thought that I was possibly in trouble, and yes I have a nurse watching over her-"
Cyrus now noticing the return of the nurse who had been watching over Melly. "Uh nurse, why aren't you keeping an eye on Melly like you said you would?"
Nurse Gable had a puzzled expression in her eyes. "I left her in charge with that ensign, Ensign Tarran."
Cyrus's face turned a mottled color, both white then a dark red, and he gave Nurse Gable a baleful look and her eyes widened and took a step back. She'd not seen this sort of expression from the doctor, ever. He moved over to check on Melly to see if she was alright, a sharp intake of breath. And Cyrus looked around after he discovered something not quite right, she was missing her crewman badge and combadge. A step and his boot brushed against something and he looked down. There they were.
"Nurse Gable, why are these here on the floor?" looking up towards the nurse. then he picked them up
"Um.. err... I do not know sir." Gable stammered out.
Cyrus pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger and winced. "Nurse Gable..." then his shoulders drooped, and he looked at Bishop, "Sorry sir"
Ash followed Dr. Marner, out of the conference room, once it was clear things had concluded there and was, mildly, surprised to find the XO of Enterprise now present as well. While Dr. Marner and Bishop conversed, the nurse joining in after a fashion, Ash waited near the bio-bed for an opportune moment to interrupt while she watched Melly sleep.
"Doctor?" She addressed Dr. Marner, in her, usual, quiet tone. "I'll be happy to share quarters with Crewman Melly." She reminded him and looked to Bishop and nodded a greeting. "Nathan." She addressed him, informally, and headed off to retrieve the doctor's tackle box and the slaver collar.
A moment or two after Ash had slipped out Melly began to stir. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked around. The Captain and the Doctor were present and she had a much clearer head now. Sliding down from the biobed with a wobble the small woman steadied herself and stood at attention. Saluting the Captain she announces weakly, "Captain on deck!" The woman was lucid and seemed stronger still with a hint of timid fear. She was in a dry outfit but missing her combadge and crewman rank pin. She stood three foot eight inches, her soft blonde hair was in twin ponytails which seemed to match her gold operations outfit well.
"Crewman 3rd Class Melly of Miri, Yeoman to..", she stopped. "Yeoman. Reporting in Sir!"
R'elle came out of the conference room. "Hello Captain. Easy Melly. You are supposed to be resting. Captain, I heard all the commotion. Doctor, I think it's pretty obvious Ensign Tarran mutilated them. Captain, I have serious reservations about his behavior! Especially concerning Melly!I think he warrants watching. Perhaps counseling."
"Ash." Nathan replied in greeting before looking at Cyrus and R'elle. I think this ensign bears watching at the very least. What do you both think of a security officer being placed at her door. To stop any unathorized entry." He smiled at Melly, "Relax Yeoman Melly. You just relax and stay calm. You are in good hands.''
"I'm all for it! Especially with that ensign on the loose." R'elle said.
"Yes Sir!", Melly relaxed but feeling a bit wobbly she was helped to the biobed by the nurse. Laying there she sighed, "I want to get to work." She then looked to the Captain, "Thank You Captain, I appreciate the everything everyone is doing. I will be calm and I am going to do my best to make sure no one regrets letting me here."
She looked about, "What Ensign? If I am allowed to know?"
"His name is Ensign Tarran" he thought for a moment then remarked, "If I may, I am thinking that Crewman Melly be staying in the quarters of Commander Ash Randall for the time being. For now though we best get a new id and commbadge for Melly, what do you think? He looked around for Ash realizing that Ash had left to go get his tackle box. "I'll have to thank the commander for her help. "
He looked at Melly, "You need to recover for a day and then you should be able to get to work." giving a smile to his new found friend, Crewman Melly.
Melly gave a smile and nod from the table, "I dropped my stuff off in the new quarters, I do not think I will get to keep them with boss being reassigned but there too big anyway. I have a duffel, my stuffed bomber, and a fluffy pillow boss replicated me. Won't take but a second to move. Thank You, so very very much all."
Cyrus gave a nod to Melly. "I think it would be wise, at the recommendation from Captain Bishop." giving a nod in acknowledgement to the man, "Have someone in security to escort you to get your belongings and get you transferred to Commander Randall's quarters, Crewman Melly, right now it would be best." giving a nod.
He also looked at T'Lisha "I definitely appreciate your help with Melly and with that Ensign as well."
A glance around medical, Cyrus gave a slight sigh "Well it appears that we need to get things back to business normal, and I need to get back to work."
Nurse Gable spoke up, "Sir, if I may, you need to take the rest of the day off as well." and she gave Cyrus a cold stare. "I strongly recommend that to be done."
Cyrus admired the firmness Nurse Gable had. "Very well, just keep me informed though as to what is going on."
Nurse Gable gave a nod.
"If you all will excuse me, I think I am going to go get a late lunch." Cyrus said with a bit of an at ease smile.
"Go ahead Doctor." R'elle said. She turned to Nurse Gable, "You ok? Not the best morning I suspect!"
Talking to melly, "Alright Melly! You are to stay put until tomorrow and rest. When Ash comes to pick you up, then you can leave assuming the Doctor releases you but not until then. And if he says you can't go, you stay put! Ok?"
Cyrus called back over shoulder as he headed towards his office, "Crewman Melly does have the go ahead to leave, and perhaps it would be best for her to wait until Ash returns with my tackle box." then he disappeared from view.
Nurse Gable gave a nod towards R'relle "Yes its been a challenge,but hey at the end of the day with no deaths it can be called a good day.
T'Lisha felt her heart sink a little when she found out that Melly was not going to stay with her. She walked over to Melly, "Melly it is best you go with Ash as she won't pick up your emotions but understand this, I will always be here and all you have to do is hit your combadge or just send out your feelings and I will come fast," she said grasping Melly's hand.
Melly smiled and gently held to T'Lisha's hand and gave the nice supportive woman a big hug, "Trust me, you'll see me around. I promise!"
~fade to black~
Part Two of:
http://sf1.16thfleet.com/index.php/sim/viewpost/300
This is Follow by an Epilogue:
http://sf1.16thfleet.com/index.php/sim/viewpost/307
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