When the Moon Is Round (Part III)

Posted on Sat Dec 5th, 2020 @ 11:19am by Lieutenant Lily Marlow & Lieutenant Laural Hawke & Lieutenant Commander T'Par & Lieutenant Orin Sempton

Mission: End of Line
Location: Starbase Adna
Timeline: MD 3
1690 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

We last left our intrepid heroes facing off with Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies. Lily had introduced herself to Barr, the others were gathering, plans made to get out of the bar. Meanwhile Lhaes caught the sound of something coming up from behind with his keen hearing. He swiftly pushed Lily out of the way of the attack, grappling with the Vampire and being bitten. We resume with...

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Lhaes's quick action saved Lily, for a vampire had targeted the CMO as his victim. Instead of grabbing Lily, the vampire instead found himself in contact with the Romulan security chief. Snarling in rage at the loss of his original victim, he changed tactics and grappled the security chief, biting down.

Lily hit the floor with an "Oof!" twisted around to see what had happened, her eyes widening. "No!" she gasped out seeing what was transpiring.

Though physically strong himself, Lhaes was no match for the immortal vampire. He felt the fangs sink down into his skin, felt life drain from him as he had no chance to fight it off. He managed to throw his blade to Lily. "Go," he whispered faintly, "get them out."

"Wait.. what?" scrambling to get the knife Lhaes tossed. She rose from the floor, feeling just a bit sick to her stomach. "What the heck has the safety protocols been taken off the holo-people?"

"We're obviously experiencing some technical difficulties," Hyacinth said, in the middle of terror she somehow found this amusing. "Uh, program issues? A glitch, a bug . . . . something needs repaired."

"I think the problem is more fundamental and more intentional," T'Par speculated before she looked to Orin. "Lieutenant Sempton, does your knowledge of Earth folklore extend to this creature?"

Lily, taking the dagger that Lhaes had thrown to her, lunged towards the Vampire who had bitten her rescuer. She stabbed at him and the vampire vanished just before she connected. She barely stopped in time to prevent herself from stabbing Lhaes. Lily was losing her cool, feelings of fury rising up. Normally an easy going, trying to keep a positive mindset sort of woman, but this.. Oh.. she wasn't happy.

"I have had enough!" she shouted, "Its time to take the battle to the station. Let's get the injured out of here. Orin, get Lhaes, Hawk, Faust and T'par get the rest of the civilians rounded up and lets get going..." Lily stopped, realizing that there were some people missing. "Uh, I don't see the civilians anywhere, where did they go? Do you see them?" straining to see through the encroaching monsters.

"I don't." Orin replied, as he hefted the Commander up, placing him on a chair. Keeping pressure on his neck wound with one hand, Orin checked his pulse with the other. Thready at best. Needs a medbay "But that creature, I believe it's a vampire. Early Christian symbols, namely a cross, and garlic ward it off." He closed his eyes for a second, trying to retrieve more information. They shifted around rapidly, as he tried to remember more. "Stake to the heart, ultraviolet light or holy water will destroy it, though in some cultures removing it's head is said to kill it as well. They're also extremely obsessive, throwing rice or something, they'll have to count it all." He checked the commander's neck again. "Bleeding has mostly stopped, we don't know how much he's lost." He turned his head to Lily. "Lieutenant, you may want to check him first."

Standing a short distance away, Lieutenant Sullivan gritted her teeth as she watched the green stain on the cloth Orin was holding to Lhaes's neck grow larger. The only source of solace came from knowing that the most medically qualified members of the crew were tending to the injury. Breaking through the startle, the ship's pilot starting scanning the area for the large group of civilians that they had been separated from. Even though her eyesight was keen, Lilith's search was largely in vain. The pervasive mist reduced the visibility to no greater than a few meters.

"That group of civvies was too big to just disappear," a furrow of confusion creased her brow. Sullivan shook her head and turned her attention back towards the other officers. "Can we get Commander Sommers stable? We need to move, we're far too vulnerable out here."

"Doctor, I think we are all in agreement on your plan but Commander Sommers requires your attention," T'Par said as she also surveyed the mists for the civilians. "I think, at this point, we have to assume we are facing a coordinated intelligence, perhaps belonging to independent holograms resentful of their programming, which is effectively in control of the station. I also believe that they are toying with us."

"They're holograms," Hyacinth said, confused. "Anyone ever heard of a hologram playing catch the prey before? And if so, have you any idea how to completely pull the plug and wipe the program?"

"Not specifically," T'Par said, "but I have heard of holograms attaining independence or even self-awareness and sometimes acting against organics."

The Romulan fought to stay conscious but it was increasingly difficult. "Leave me," he ordered weakly, "get off the station." He had been near death before, he knew he didn't have long unless some miracle happened. He felt his heart slow and he closed his eyes. "Leave," he whispered again.

Lily shook her head to clear it, tucked the honor blade into her bag, she quickly scanned Lhaes, then took out a vascular adhesive to close the wound. "That will stop the bleeding and no we won't leave you behind." Lily firmly said. She then gave him a hypospray of a stimulant. "That should keep you going for now."

She looked at Orin, " Do you think you could carry him on your back? His arms will be over your shoulder like a backpack strap, and his legs around your waist. This is the best way to transport him." Lily standing by to help Orin and Lhaes out. "If you don't mind. Then we can leave."

Lhaes offered a very weak smile but shook his head. "Tell Beatrice I love her," he whispered as he closed his eyes, "tell my children..." He slumped in the chair as his heart finally gave up trying to pump around what little blood volume had remained in his body.

"No, no, no, no.. this can't be happening. " Lily going over to see what she could do to revive Lhaes. "Lets get him down on the floor, I can't lose someone else." a hitch in her voice. Just as Lily reached out to pull Lhaes to the floor, to try to resuscitate him, he vanished!

Lily stared, feeling so many emotions right now, not knowing what ones she wished to express, then one came to the surface. She looked at the others. Her voice calm and placid. "Looks like that was for naught." rising to her feet. Any traces of tears gone. "Time to move on, and hopefully no one else disappears."

Standing beside Lily, Laural was stunned at the sudden disappearance of Lhaes. Looking around at the others, she was hoping one of them might have something to go on. She wasn't much of an engineer herself and she wasn't one for horror stories so she was more than a little lost with how to deal with these creatures. Suddenly a thought came to her. With the civilians disappearing and now Lheas, it was as if they were acting like holodeck enemies she would often program for training. "wait, the station has holo-projectors everywhere right?"

"Indeed." Orin choked out. Watching someone die in front of him brought back a series of unpleasant memories. They played vividly in his head, like an old movie on repeat. He watched a world turn to ash in front of him. A lush biosphere burned to dead rock. A tear slid down his cheek before he bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. The pain brought his mind back into focus. "It would have to, as the Starbase is run completely by holographic persons." He turned and looked at everyone around him. "It's more than likely that this Starbase is just one large holodeck."

"and Commander Sommers just disappeared like some holo-character. Maybe there's a connection there" Laural suggested

"Are you saying that we might be in some huge holo drama novel? Maybe compounded by something the HoloStation is looking for? " she looked at those left, "Let's go, maybe we can make it to the central computer for the station and shut it down or even maybe talk to the Great Wizard of Oz and find out... why. I have noticed that the holo entities we've encountered seemed a little bit off, and had some sort of emotional reaction. I had encountered the Klingon, who seemed disappointed that all I and Vannan wanted was food. Not any sort of combat. Then he disappeared. Any of the rest of you notice something off?"

"Yes," T'Par said. "The Bolian hologram seemed disappointed, even angry, that I did not wish an erotic encounter with one of his programs." She said it perfectly matter-of-factly now, though Lilith had earlier seen brief flicker in that Vuclan composure when it had been happening

While she was talking, and trying to keep her mind off of the image of Lhaes dying, Lily was taking a scan of the others to make certain they were themselves and not a holo entity. "I don't know if the medical tricorder is going to be giving proper readings..." feeling some doubt creeping in. Nope wasn't going to look at things in a dark manner. "Okay enough of that, I am going to cling on tightly as to what we are dealing with maybe a huge holo program, and that the others are safe and sound." looking at the others. "Let's go. And Sullivan, I don't want you to be disappearing at all."

She nodded towards T'Par, acknowledging what she said. "That is odd." she stated then moved near Lilith and then headed towards the door, with the monsters once more closing in.