The Calming Embers

Posted on Tue Feb 18th, 2014 @ 9:27am by Ensign Corrine Steiner

Mission: Manhunt
Location: ICU-1, Sickbay, SB332

ON:

Within the artificially preserved cycles of day and night, the time was very early, well before dawn. It had been several hours since Corrine had been brought down by a brutal blast.

For a few moments, she became partially conscious. As her eyes slowly opened.

There were calm, quiet voices in the darkened ICU room, "What's that alert light?"

"Emotional stress... computer identifies brain activity as fear." A woman came around and leaned down that Corrie might see. "Hey, you're okay. Don't worry. You're still on starbase."

She looked towards the medic who, still staring at the readings, shook his head. He then mouthed to her, "She does not believe you."

The woman sighed. She wanted to speak reassuring words, but the patient's eyes crossed for a few moments a she faded back and forth to consciousness. She simply rested her hand on Ensign Steiner's shoulder, "I'm sorry."

Corrie realized that she had rolled onto her side. Barely able to move, she studied her bed and then looked to the woman.

The kindly visitor smiled, "No, no restraints."

Corrie brought her hand up to examine. A vivid layer of glowing light clung over her whole body. She barely managed a whisper, "Wha..."

"Molecular stabilizer field. You caught a nasty phaser set on 'Klingon' right in the back."

Corrie's eyes lowered in sadness. Again, she faintly whispered, "I deserv..."

The woman's tone was gentle, "No. We wouldn't do that to people. It was an over zealous intel officer named
Beekman-"

The biobed diagnostics spiked in readings as Corrie's eyes widened in terror.

"Hey, hey! He can't reach you! Captain Von threw him in the brig."

The panic reflex didn't abate. Try though they may, they couldn't calm the tormented patient. Finally, the medic shook his head and tapped at the bedside console. Within moments, the sedated patient slipped back into unconsciousness. He looked to the woman, "I don't know what's been going on, but something's bloody wrong when just mentioning a name causes that kind of reaction."

The woman shook her head as she studied Corrie, "You're not just some Awol. That whole story reeks." She brushed her fingers at Corrie's hair and whispered, "What did they do to you?"

OFF:

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Ensign Corrine Steiner
Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet