First Contact (Part 4 of 4)

Posted on 01 Nov 2013 @ 1:01pm by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Scarlet Blake & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle & Commander Norvi Stace & Ensign Im'er Mor'an & Ensign Natalie Chevalier & Lieutenant JG Victoria Crawley & Lieutenant JG Jacrux & Lieutenant Aria Rice

2,275 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: Setisar VI - Surface, Alien City
Timeline: MD 06 - 1147 hrs

Previously, on First Contact (Part 3)...

The alien gave the slightest point of her slender finger towards Scarlet. "We wish to analyze you. Lieutenant Commander Scarlet Blake." The leader of the away team seemed to be the most cooperative of all the members, and a side door to the large chamber suddenly materialized and another room could be seen. Two aliens walked out of it and stood on either side of the entrance, apparently waiting for Scarlet.

And Now, the Conclusion...

[ON]

"Wait," Stace cut in and stepped forward as her face twisted from Scarlet and back to the alien. The room seemed cold and silent, as if a momentary murmur would shatter the glass-like stillness that now surrounded them. Her face dropped into a resolve and a look of both panic and regret fell across her freckled features like a mask of fear. "You won't get all the necessary data from just one member of our crew. The Borg have assimilated countless species from both the Venture and the Galileo. One of my own included: A conjoined species of two entities. A sacred gift should one possess one." She patted her belly with one firm and defiant stroke. "We may look similiar, but like the differences in ships we search the stars in, we're all built slightly differently." She dropped her head and took in a deep breath. "Analyse me as well otherwise we may lose precious time in saving as many as we can."

"We do not require analysis to reverse assimilation." the alien softly replied, not sure if she understood Stace's request properly. "We require analysis for exploration." she explained, then paused to consider the request further. "We will analyze you as well. If you wish to be explored."

Stace's eyes narrowed as the confusion herself set in. She shook her head unsure of why they would need specimens if not to reverse the assimiliation process.

"No," Scarlet shook her head firmly. She wouldn't allow someone on her team to be put through that. She didn't relish it herself, not having been kept as a prisoner and poked and prodded in her time, but if it served as an exchange and kept the rest of her team safe? So be it. She could grit her teeth and put up with it. "I will suffice," she told the alien, nodding as she moved forward. "Rhodes, hold the fort," she said with a voice she made sure to keep light and casual as she moved into the room.

Rhodes stepped up next to Blake and said, "Ma'am, I strongly object to this course of action. Allowing this will not bring us any closer to a mutual resolution."

"It might," Scarlet replied, meeting his eyes to show she meant it. "They agreed to let our people go from the Borg. This is the exchange," she gave a half smile though, that showed she had expected him to say something like that and that it was fully the right thing for his position. "I'll be fine. You're in charge until I get back," she nodded firmly to him, indicating for him to return to the group, wanting him to look out for them while she was gone. She turned to walk further into the room.

Theron understood and gave her a nod and moved back to stand next to the Doctor and looked toward the Commander walking away.

Allyndra again spoke up. "If your records are complete and I am sure they are, I am the ship's physician. As such I would request to be present during any procedure in case something goes wrong." She smiled tightly but made polite nod of her head, "After all I have more 'experience' with these various species."

"No need," Scarlet replied, holding her eyes, hoping she'd understand without her having to explain in front of anyone. "We are...trusting each other," she said, but looked back to the aliens as she said it, nodding to them in acknowledgement. This wasn't just an exchange of information, it was a sign of trust, and someone had to stick their hand into the water first. She took a slight breath, carefully holding the mask of calm and neutrality on her features to hide her nerves at what might happen. "Doctor, I need you to remain with the team and assist Lieutenant Rhodes," she gave her a nod with the words. On a more personal level, she had no idea how she would be examined, and she felt anxious enough about that. She didn't want to be seen in a time of personal vulnerability by someone she worked with. If she had to do it, she wanted it at least to be private.

Escorted by the two slender creatures who stood guard on either side of the door, Scarlet entered the room and they followed her inside. The entrance shimmered and solidified, putting the away team's leader out of sight from everyone else.

The alien woman who had spoken to them and initiated first contact now turned back towards the rest of the team with her always-present neutral expression. "She will provide us with much exploration from her analysis. We are pleased you have cooperated. A strong gesture. Of peace."

Lt. Rhodes faced the slim alien, as now leader of those left. "Peace is what we desire, yet captivity and being controlled by another is not. I hope this sharing of knowledge lends to that end."

There was trust, and then there was foolishness. To keep from pacing, Jac flexed and clenched his artificial hand again and again, feeling the still-strained muscles protest at the movement. The aliens were picking off their command staff, one by one, didn't anyone else see that?

Aria frowned as she looked down, taking a breath before looking around. "Hey," she suddenly said. She was worried about Scarlet. Very worried. So she felt a question brewing in her head. "What's your name?"

"We are Le'kt," the slim bald woman answered, her attention turning towards Rice. "I am known as Nar'prokTke. You may call me Nar. If it is easier to pronounce."

"Okay...Nar..." Aria said and took a breath. "Make sure Blake is alright, okay? She's one of us. She's a friend. I won't have her harmed, okay?"

The creature identified as Nar looked at Aria unflinchingly with her sparkling big black eyes. "Your colleague will not be harmed," she paused momentarily, "we promise."

The aliens lived long, news Jac took with a proud jut of his chin, for he would probably live at least that long, or longer, because of his heritage. Long-lived races had a consistency of culture not present in short lived races like humans. Jac wanted to concentrate on the aliens, but his nerves were too on edge to concentrate on a more respectable question.

"If I may ask," he picked his words carefully as he could, "Did you always greet strangers with such an inspection, before the Borg? Did you have allies, or other enemies, grand cycles ago?"

Turning her attention to the Romulan hybrid, the bald alien inhaled what appeared to be a deep breath. "We do not greet strangers," she answered somewhat vaguely. "You are the first. In many grand cycles. Since the Great War. This cloud offers us seclusion and protection. We have lived alone in peace. Until your kind arrived."

She looked at the other team members and realized the line of questioning was most likely how this collection of species gathered most of their information. A primitive verbal exchange of knowledge. Nonetheless, she appreciated the effort.

"We once traveled the stars. Just as you now do," she continued with her punctuated sentences. "Many allies. Kind species. We explored them. In exchange, they explored us. A harmony. Then we explored the enemy. The Borg. Our friends tried to help during the Great War. Now we fear they do not exist any longer."


Twenty minutes later...

The side door in which Scarlet had disappeared earlier suddenly shimmered and opened, and the apparent same two aliens from earlier once again stepped out and stood on either side of the door. Their analysis was now complete.

Theron turned excitedly, yet hesitant, toward the open doorway.

Scarlet moved forward to her team, her breath tight from what she had just experienced. Her skin, usually pale, managed to be a shade paler, highlighted all the more with her lack of hair. She felt nauseous, and the head pain she'd had ever since the Borg attack when she'd been thrown to the deck was still merrily throbbing away at the base of her skull. But she was on her feet, and moving freely, regaining her balance. In all, she was sure that the 'exchange of knowledge' was a success, but it was certainly an experience she would never want to go through again, or would forget anytime soon.

Taking a couple steps to meet the Commander, Theron asked, "Are you alright? Say something." Anxiety was filling his mind, but he suppressed it waiting for the Commander's reply.

"I'm fine," Scarlet assured him, although she clasped his arm tightly for just a moment to keep balanced. She swallowed hard, having spoken making her notice the sickly lining of gel that still coated her tongue and the inside of her mouth. "Thank you," she nodded to Theron with a small smile, straightening herself up again, looking more herself now she'd gotten herself steady.

As Theron helped support his Commander, he could feel the tremors in her body as she held his arm. She had a strong grip and was using it at the moment. Anger began to well up inside him, but tried not to show it. Their hosts had been forthright and had returned Scarlet to them. Theron then thought it odd that he would think of the Commander by her first name. An emotional connection no doubt, caused by this ordeal. He returned the slight smile to Scarlet and turned to face the bald figure before them.

Allyndra used her medical tricorder to scan the Commander, but other than a heightened level of anxiety physiologically she seemed fine. Emotionally though she wondered.

Aria watched Scarlet, but realised she didn't want to feel...trapped. So she kept back, watching her friend closely.

Catching her breath as she stood with her crewmates, Scarlet regained her composure, watching the aliens with an acute sense of their technological ability. "I hope our assimilated crewmates can now be returned home?" she broached the subject, having to rely on that tentative trust being built as to their honesty in how soon that could be arranged. Not knowing how their 'control' of the Borg worked, she wouldn't be able to gauge a realistic time frame for the event.

The slender and tall woman watched Blake while she exited the chamber, pleased with the knowledge they had gained from her examination. Her bright black eyes stared at her and she agreed to the terms of their arrangement. "Yes. We will arrange for your crew to be returned. We thank you for your knowledge and exploration. We are pleased." She paused for a brief moment to consider the Federation crew's request. "It will take several cycles for us to locate all of your crew. Then remove assimilation and return them. Please be patient. You may remain with us while you wait. We can provide nourishment and comfort."

Scarlet nodded to her, even offering a small smile. "A good idea, I think," she replied lightly. They could keep an eye on what was going on, but it would also be a great chance to try and get some information about them in return.

Allyndra smiled, but it was a smile that showed the sharp little inner teeth. It was not necessarily meant to be friendly and for a moment she could not help but wonder how they would taste. She reminded herself from her initial scan that these were physically fragile beings and most likely their blood was as thin as their bodies.

"About bloody time," Aria said dryly, frowning as she looked around. She shook her head with annoyance, over all of this. "Next time, Nar, just...you know...hail and ask before doing this, okay? Most species are accommodating when the option is assimilation..."

Lt. Rhodes turned to face his assistant who was voicing only what others wanted to. He raised his hands lightly, motioning for her to cease her comments and the direction they were going. This was definitely not the time to anger or rile up their hosts.

The alien woman stepped closer to Blake and gave her what appeared to be the faintest sign of a private smile. "Please follow me. With your group. I will take you to your comforts." she softly said, then turned and lithely walked towards a new door on the opposite of the room which had just opened up.

[OFF]

--

Alien Woman (Nar)
Le'kt Representative
[PNPC - Lirha Saalm]

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Commander Scarlet Blake
Chief Counsellor/2XO
USS Galileo

Lt. JG Victoria Crawley
Psychologist
USS Galileo

Junior Grade Lieutenant Norvi Stace
Chief Research Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Im'er Mor'an
Operations Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Aria Rice
Assistant Chief of Security
USS Galileo

ENS Jacrux
Archaeologist/Anthropologist
USS Galileo

LT Delainey Carlisle
Asst. Chief Counselor
USS Galileo

ENS Natalie Chevalier
Ecologist
USS Galileo

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