A Timely Rescue?

Posted on 31 Aug 2020 @ 2:41pm by Commander Kristiana Petrova

979 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Ab Intra
Location: Shuttle
Timeline: MD 01, 1630

As expected, his fellow beings in the storm sensed his presence and they spread apart like the tide to allow the shuttle from the USS Odin to descend to the planet's surface unscathed. The small craft touched down next to the other, clearly damaged shuttle. He had to wonder what his brothers and sisters had done to that shuttle, and he had to wonder why. Didn't they want more bodies back up top? Or had they thought it easier to take them if down here?

He did not sense that any were taken, and he was curious about that...but not for long.

There were other things to do.

"Shuttle..." The being hesitated as he looked for the ship's name. "...Magni to Shuttle Modi. Petty Officer Romanov here, and I've been sent to bring you back to the ship."

It was a few moments before a reply came. "Modi to Magni, Petrova here. It's good to hear your voice, Petty Officer. We had a mild mishap and lost one of our crew, some are injured, we could use the evac."

The being frowned slightly at the news that one had been lost. Why had his fellows been so careless? That was a body they could have used, after all. "Acknowledged, Modi. I will be on the surface in approximately..." What were the time measurements of these creatures? "...minutes. Prepare for evacuation."

"Acknowledged, Magni. Just home in on our location, Modi out," Kris replied taking a moment to lean back, closing her eyes and allowing the hint of a smile of relief to form. She didn't let that moment last though. "Alright everyone, evac is on the way. Get your stuff, get ready to board the rescue shuttle, we're getting out of here! Palmer, help me take care of Lake, we're not leaving him behind."

* * *

In short order, the being in Lorelei's body had the shuttle on the ground. The electrical storms overhead closed in again, and the being was distantly aware of their chatter. They were curious and wanted to know what was going on, but he was angry with them for ruining a potential host.

Once landed, it was a short matter to get the crew--living, unconscious, and dead--onto the new shuttle. The being grew angrier to see that his fellows had damaged another of the crew, a woman that was still unconscious as she was loaded onto the new shuttle. Once they were secure, this body's...brother, as he was called, hugged the body. The being was immediately uncomfortable but knew enough to return it.

"You should sit," the being said in Lorelei's voice, managing a smile that he figured was expected. "You're hurt. I'll fly us back."

Quinn smiled with relief. He didn't even tease her about a petty officer giving a lieutenant an order and just went to sit while Lorelei's body returned to the pilot's seat and began lift off, broadcasting the thought for his fellows to move out of the way once again. There would be time for them all soon.

After securing Lake's body Kristiana took her seat next to Lorelei on the flight deck of the cramped and almost overloaded shuttle. She looked not the worse for wear, a few scratches, very dusty but otherwise fine. "Thanks for coming to get us, Petty Officer Romanov. We'd been trying to find a way to contact the ship. It's lucky you got through the storm ok, you sure you can get us back out again?"

"I'm sure," Not-Lorelei replied with total confidence. "Commander." That one was added as something as an afterthought, but it was said. The body's eyes remained straight ahead while the hands guided the ship through the inexplicable sudden parting in the storms.

Kristiana furrowed her brows when she noticed the storm clouds parted seemingly to grant the shuttle passage. She seemed stumped for a moment as she quietly muttered "That's - weird," and she glanced over at Lorelei with a suspicious expression.

Although dimly aware of the look being cast her way, Not-Lorelei didn't bother looking back. Who cared what this woman thought, after all? She was only going to play host soon. In fact...

Now, the being inside Lorelei Romanov looked at the other woman. She was the first officer of this ship and thus had all the access. The original plan had been to bring her back to the ship where the more...focused, more controlled beings could take her over, but why wait? This body wasn't nearly as useful as he needed, and thus he turned back to the controls, set an "autopilot" course and then vacated the body of Petty Officer Romanov.

Heading straight for Commander Petrova.

Struggle.

Every take-over was different. There was usually a fight, the being expected this. Some were more hard fought than others, some less so. Most prospective hosts didn't have the mental fortitude to keep up the fight for long, though.

Most.

Some hosts cowered, cried, deep inside, laying down in the hope that not struggling would make the pain go away. Some pleaded. Some paced angrily in the vast halls of their minds. Some bided their time. And then there was Kristiana.

Rage.

She screamed, though her physical body remained still and quiet. She screamed more. Terrible insults in Klingon, Cardassian, Ferengi, and Federation Standard of course. Holding Petrova under control was going to take concentration. One lapse, one moment of distraction, and this raging human woman could take over again. Tear through the mental bars. But, for now, she was locked away in the depths of her own mind, and the being had control.

The shuttle approached the ship, Kristiana-being using the information within the woman's mind and the body's rank and qualifications to pilot the shuttle inside, vacating it on a jog without taking further care of the rest of the stricken away team.

 

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