Nightmare

Posted on Tue Sep 14th, 2021 @ 3:07pm by Commander Peter Horn

1,352 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 3 - Fear Is Fear Itself
Location: USS Copernicus
Timeline: Mission Day 4 @ 1602 Hours

ON

PO1st class Engineer, Amalia Darcy came scooting out of the jefferies tube when she heard the General alert sound. She had felt the tremors of the ship, it rocking with being hit by something. "What the heck, again?" she ran to find out what was going on, literally running into someone, who was rather tall and built solid. "Sorry... um.. Ensign Matthews? I heard the call to abandon ship. I don't see anyone else around." the petite engineer looking up at Bobby. Well she was petite where he was concerned, he being a strapping 6' plus.

"Shall we get out of here?"

“No arguments from me,” Bobby said simply. “We have got the majority into pods. Your turn petty officer,” he indicated she follow him.

Amalia nodded and followed after Matthews. "A bit crazy don't you? This ship has had its full spectrum of woes and still keeps on sailing amongst the stars however, I am hoping that she survives this. Did we get everyone?" she pulled out her PaDD to check. "Wait we have someone left! Commander Horn, where are you?" she called out, activating the ships intercom. "Matthews and I are heading for an escape pod."

Peter had gone to grab the pup from the readyroom, but now he felt torn. Was he going to the pod, or was he going to try and locate his family? He had to trust designated crew would evacuate his family, he just had to. "Coming! Which pod!" he called out as he held on firmly to the struggling pup, grimacing has he did so.

"There's only 4 left now," Bobby said checking his PADD, and the other ones are on the bridge, 3 decks away, near medical and near engineering. So its this one. I hope you can find a way to strap in the dog sir as its going to be bumpy ejecting."

Nodding to himself, Peter used site to site transport to get himself to Bobby's location, not even mentioning that he had been on the bridge when he received the call. "The dog will be fine," he promised, "I can keep her under control." He climbed into the pod after letting go of Khione and ushering her inside. Then he strapped himself in and locked the pup firmly under his legs, keeping her in place by holding her collar. "Ready," he announced.

Bobby eyed the dog. He wasn't exactly strapped in. This pod was going to spin around wildly. That poor animal was not going to enjoy that at all.

He scanned rapidly. "I'm not picking up anyone else. So everyone strapped in?"

"I'm ready to go Matthews, lets get out of here." she also looked at the dog. "Just hang in there." she murmured to the dog.

Bobby punched the command to detach and the pod shot out of the ship. "Amalia. Will this lock onto that station do you think?"

Amalia took a look at the sensors and then towards the station. "Yeah I believe it will. Its the closest place and the Yosemite is further away."

She braced herself as the escape pod shot from the Copernicus, feeling the inertia pressing her against the seat, then they were away from the ship, she looked out of the porthole to see if she could catch sight of the Copernicus from where she was at. Also feeling slightly dizzy as well.

As the pod locked onto the station there is a distinct pull as the pod is caught with a tractor beam, pulling the pod and those inside towards the station at a quick rate of speed.

"Okay I really hope this slows down." Amalia remarked, through gritted teeth.

Peter braced himself, closing his eyes as he clamped his legs around Khione, using as much strength as possible to keep her locked in place. "Recommend fixing your eyes on a single spot, until we stop spinning," he said between slow breaths, "or keeping your eyes closed." When it finally did seem to stop spinning, he released his hold on the pup and forced himself to relax a little.

"Amalia, can you plug into any of the software in this pod and use it to get a read on anything on that ship?" Bobby asked the Engineer. The more they knew about where they were heading the better.

"Ship or the station it seems to still be spinning!" then Amalia got a reading. "Oh crud, we're heading for the station!" as the pod hurtled towards it. "And I can't seem to break us free!" she looked at Peter, then at Matthews. "I don't know what to do here!" feeling helpless.

As the pod drew closer, all three passengers plus dog in the pod, experience the pattern of a transporter beam surround them, then are rematerialized in a dimly lit corridor. "Where are we?" Amalia exclaimed, her voice echoing.

“I have no idea but stay close,” Bobby said taking point and raising his phaser. As they moved forward some lighting came to life. “This looks very familiar...” the human looked round.

Peter staggered as he suddenly found himself on his feet, after the nauseating experience of the spinning pod. Khione barked, then growled, her ears flat against her head. "Quiet," Peter ordered her, drawing her closer by her leash. "Familiar how..." he asked of the Human officer

“The architecture. The colouring... Oh boy. Is this deep space 9?” Bobby said.

"Deep Space Nine is operational though, is it not?" the Vulcan answered logically, "this place does not look operational. Does anyone have a working tricorder so we can take scans?"

"I do and since we left right after I came out of the jefferies tubes with my gear, I've got the tools." pulling out her tricorder. "There is power running through the conduits which is providing air for us to breathe, otherwise we'd be having trouble or be dead. There is light for us to see by as well." scanning the area around them. "This does seem like Cardassian in design though." Amalia remarked to Bobby and Peter. "If we can find security I can possibly get the cameras up and running and we can find the others if some of them are on the station besides us."

"Lets focus on finding that then, and a terminal to see if we can get a map. I'm afraid my Nor class station navigation is lacking," Bobby quipped. He looked at the dog not sure if it would be a liability or an asset right now. If they needed to be quiet and there were enemies around and it got spooked it would give their position away. But if there were enemies around it might just defend its master and hopefully him and Amalia at the same time if needs be.

"I have never been on a Nor class before," Peter supplied, "but if your tricorder works I am certain we can identify security or even OPS, and go from there."

Amalia nodded, scanning around, with her tricorder. "I think we need to head in that direction." Going from her memory of her engineering studies, and hours of poring over station schematics, besides ship blue prints, she decided to go with her memory. "This way." moving to the right, and heading down the corridor. "I wonder how the others are doing? Hopefully they have found their way here or even the Yosemite."

"There is something creepy about this place and its not just the design," Bobby said shivering. "See look at the pup. He doesn't look happy either."

"She," Peter corrected almost automatically as his eyes were drawn to the pup, who stood stiff with perked up ears and low wagging tail. She was growling deeply as she sniffed the air. "And I agree... Something is wrong... We should keep moving and make sure we keep having an escape route available. Do we have any weapons? I only have my dagger.." the Romulan honour blade which he always carried was safely attached to his left side. While mostly ceremonial in use and mostly to display his heritage, it was certainly usable in combat.

END

 

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