Where are we

Posted on Tue Jan 19th, 2021 @ 4:34am by Captain Elijah Rutherford & Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy

Mission: End of Line
Location: Unknown
Timeline: Following "Holodeck adventure" and "When the moon is round"
1533 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

There was no way to know for sure if what he'd just experienced had been real, or holodeck induced. Lhaes slumped to the deck as he materialized, feeling weak and very sick. When he ran a trembling hand across his neck, his fingers did come away green.

He felt his arms tremble as he pushed himself up in a sitting position, closing his eyes to keep the room from spinning. Had he really been bitten and drained, or had something else occurred? His long experience in intelligence warred with the memory of what had happened. What if he'd been injected with something?

The Romulan shook his head as he opened his eyes and forced himself to look around the unfamiliar room.

Not far away, a fully-clothed Murph groaned as he began to come about. Squinting against the bright overhead lights, he had no memory of where he was or why he was in this strange almost characterless room. "Lhaes?" he asked as his eyes brought the Romulan's familiar figure into focus.

"Yes.." The Romulan turned his head towards the chief engineer. "Where are we... are we dead?" He shook his head. "No that doesn't make sense, I don't feel dead. Weak...and sick, but not in danger anymore. Do you recall what happened to you?"

"This isn't death," Murph answered simply as his eyes searched the room for clues. He walked to a wall and felt the cool smoothness of the material. "Patrick and I were..." he tried to recall the details of the attack that unfolded in the holographic sauna. "I was stabbed by a Klingon and then there was... a light." He gave that a moment, felt his chest to make sure there was no wound still. "So ok, it sounds like I died, but this isn't death. Why are you here? Hologram attack?" So many questions, but the one that flashed in his head was Where is Patrick?

Lhaes nodded as he shakily got to his feet. "We were in a bar, attacked by creatures of the night. A... vampire... Got me. I think..." He paused as he searched his memory. "I remember feeling very drained and then nothing before waking up here." He could sense the worry in the other man. "Patrick.." he started, "I assume he is safe, if he isn't here?"

"I don't know, maybe? Hopefully," Murphy replied tensely. "Who were you with?"

Looking thoughtful for a moment, he then offered a wry smile. "The majority of the senior staff," he chuckled, "and the captain's cousin. Lieutenant Sullivan was injured in a... Zombie... Attack. I'm not sure how but I feel the safeties were disabled. I do hope they can escape the program we were in. We seem to have edited the program, though I have no idea where we are. Perhaps we should look for a way out?"

As if on cue, the solid wall near Lhaes revealed a seam and then slid away to show a way out to the main nexus of the station.

Murph looked at the wall, then to Lhaes and raised a shoulder in a half-shrug. "I don't know about you, but I am ready to get off this station and back to Majestic."

"As am I... I've had enough of holograms for quite some time," the Romulan replied as he stumbled towards the exit. He closed his eyes a moment in an attempt to regain his balance. "Commander... some assistance would be appreciated, if you would. I feel... somewhat unhinged." If he were a man who occasionally indulged too much he'd ascribe the feeling to being drunk, but having never been in such a state, he could only guess. "Shouldn't we find your partner, and the rest first? Or do you want to use the ship's sensors."

"We need to get to the ship. We'll be in a better place to help everyone," Murph answered as he moved next to Lhaes and took his arm.

"That makes sense," the Romulan agreed, "and sickbay. Are you experiencing any after effects of your ordeal? Physically I mean... you said you were stabbed?" He tried to keep up a conversation as they walked, preferring the distraction.

"A medical check-up seems prudent," Murph agreed, but shook his head. "However, first things first. We have to find out where everyone else is and who might be in danger."

Stepping through the door, Oz looked about in surprise, then down at himself, then looked at Paddy. His eyes wide with awe, what ever his creator had done, worked. "I haven't disappeared! It.. It worked!"

Hearing voices, Lhaes nudged his companion and pointed ahead. "Did you hear that too?" he asked. At that moment two people came walking around the corner.

"Murph!" Patrick's eyes lit up as he spotted the two bedraggled officers. He patted Oz on the arm before racing ahead, wrapping his arms tightly around the Majestic's chief engineer. "You're alright... right? I was so worried... so scared you were gone."

Oz chuckled at the reunion of Paddy with his love, then spoke, "Hi I am Oz, and hopefully we can help each other out with this Adna station problem. I had sent Glowbug to Gwendolyn and some of the other members of your crew, hopefully they have gotten out of their scenario."

Murph embraced Patrick, and answered, "I'm okay. Who is this?" He looked over at the unknown. "Another hologram?"

Still holding on tightly to the chief engineer, Patrick turned and gestured towards his companion. "This is Oz, he helped me get out of that program we were in." He blushed a little as he spotted the security chief. "Oh...hi..." he said by way of greeting. "You don't look so good...."

Lhaes just frowned. "Oz, can you help us get back to the ship? We'd be more useful there to retrieve our crew."

Right before Oz could speak, a message is heard coming from his staff.


=^=To those who can hopefully hear me, I am Splice, I am here to help you, and also need help as well. Do you have anyone who can make their way to find the jamming device near engineering? I can not get to it, I am...playing hide and seek with Adna. Be warned, there are hunters out there, I will do what I can to help out, hopefully my friends have found you. Also, I hope you have a doctor with you, I-I-I'd like to be released from my imprisonment. If that is possible.

I know that my vitals are okay, but, I don't know for how much longer. Depends on how much longer my Guardian can keep me hidden. I am afraid though that Adna, who was supposed to be more helpful, isn't anymore. I will try to be in contact once more. Just be careful. Glowbug, Gwendolyn, Oz, hopefully you found some people. I will send a message to you as well. I've got to go, Splice, out. =^=

Oz looked at the three men. "I can help you get to the ship. Then I need to get with someone who can help get rid of that jammer. I am surprised that Splicer was able to make some connection but then again, she may be the reason why I was able to keep in touch with Glowbug and Gwendolyn. Hopefully others of your ship have some form of communication device?"

He mused for a moment or two then laughed. "Enough of my musings. Come, lets get you to your ship then, I'll go help the others. Do either of you know someone who has some engineering skill?" Oz not realizing that Murphy was an engineer.

"I.. I am engineer," Murphy offered after a moment. "It sounds likes we have a mission." He turned to Patrick and put a hand on his shoulder. "I think you should return to the ship. If anything happened to you..."

"Or you..." Patrick choked out. "Please be careful Murph." He knew better than to argue, the man was a Starfleet officer, it was his duty to help. "Promise?" He couldn't bear the thought of losing him (again).

Murph took Paddy's hands in his own and looked him hard in the eyes as he held them close to his chest. "Patrick O'Malley, I promise you that I will be back because I'm crazy about you. So when we're through this..." He swallowed hard. "Will you marry me?"

For a moment, Patrick was struck speechless, only able to stare at him. "Yes," he finally choked out, "yes yes I will marry you." This warm feeling swelled up in his chest, making him feel all warm and fuzzy as he kissed Murph fiercely. "I love you too," he breathed before turning to Oz. "Take me.to the ship please..."

"You're wish is my command" Oz said with a nod and smile. "Let's get going then. " turning to lead the way. He paused and looked at Lhaes and Murphy, "If you need some help, just call out for Glowbug, or me, when you step back into that mess. Well, see you later." with that he motioned for Paddy to follow, heading in the direction of the exit towards where the ship was.