Into the Fold

Posted on 03 Dec 2015 @ 7:03pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D.

1,054 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 09 - Empires
Location: Akkadian Fold Ship, Mirror Universe
Timeline: MD11 - 0440 hours

[ON]

The last thing Tuula remembered before being whisked away was seeing an Akkadian male give some commands. Now, she found herself basked in a bright white light. Instinctively, she raised her arms to block out the light. As she did so, she found that her hands were no longer manacled to her bed. She rubbed her raw wrists and looked around, taking in her strange surroundings.

Seeing an Akkadian leaning over her, fangs out, she looked up at him. "Where am I?" she asked.

"Not that one, the other one, Therin." A feminine voice said. The Akkadian stood up and turned and bowed deeply. "Pardon Mother," he replied and then looked back to Tuula. "My apologies I did not mean to frighten, you are safe."

He then bowed and went away. Rylina came over and took a seat. "I am Rylina and you are no longer in that place. You have been hurt. The Mother Mistress has left that you are to be treated which we have done. How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling..." Tuula slowly sat up and took a deep breath of the oxygen-rich air, taking in her surroundings. It was some sort of medical bay, but unlike any she had ever seen. The architecture had a smooth, almost organic feel to it that was pleasing to the eye, a contrast to the sterile walls and sharp corners of Starfleet vessels. Around the room, Akkadians were busily working, fluttering their wings as they gracefully zipped across the room.

Tuula looked down at her body; whether it was the transport or the Akkadians, someone had removed all of the mirror Tuula's probes and needles. And whoever did had done a marvelous job of regenerating any damaged tissue -- she couldn't have done better herself with a dermal regenerator.

"I'm feeling better," she said, looking around. "Where is Allyndra?"

"The Mother Mistress is otherwise occupied but safe and sound." Rylina knitted her brows. "I must tell you that though she has asked we heal you we are not completely familiar with your physiology. You must understand that we have avoided many other races. As such," her voice held real sorrow, "we have not been able to completely regenerate your spinal cord injury and thus you may not be able to walk properly."

"My spinal cord..." Tuula looked down at her legs. She could feel a faint tingle, for the first time in a long time. Reaching down, she pinched her thigh as hard as she could, able to feel a dull pain. "How did you do that?" she asked, looking up in awe at Rylina.

"We all have the ability to self-regenerate. However your physiology is different and we could only stimulate enough of your own ability to heal itself. I do apologize that we could not do more. Perhaps in time...." Rylina trailed off. She then smiled kindly. "However, your ship is departing and we suspect it is about ready to phase back into your own universe.

Rylina stood. "Do you wish to go?"

"The Galileo... it's escaping?" asked Tuula, surprised. Somehow, the crew must have managed to overpower their captors and return to its universe. "It's where I belong. And as much as I appreciate your hospitality, you will understand if I don't want to spend a moment longer in this universe than I have to."

"Very well the transition will be brief. While we do not have much contact with others. I must say that it was a pleasure for the brief time." Rylina made a formal curtsy. "May your journeys be safe."

"And yours as well."

It seemed as if the room just faded away before being replaced into the Galileo's sickbay. As if one woke from a dream rather than a transport.


************************
Below Decks

In a flash, Tuula found herself inside a small room. "What is the meaning of--"

As she stepped forward, she was shocked by her contact with the force field. It was an Akkadian jail cell.

A deep masculine voice came in that seemed to sound from every place. "You are to stand trial for accused crimes. We have been given permission that if we deem you enough threat we may disassemble you."

"Disassemble..." She scowled in response. "I have committed no crimes; all of my research was for the greater good, and all test subjects had forfeited their rights under Article 47 of the constitution of the Terran Empire."

"That Article," the voice resolved into an individual, male but almost one and half times as tall as any other Akkadian, broad shouldered and well muscled, "has no application here. Whatever makes you think that your within their sphere of influence? You attacked and committed physical harm against an Ar'bi'atritu of the House Warraquim. Her husband will attest to that." He shook his head. "I am no judge but would say your prospects are.....very poor."

Tuula stepped back and took a seat on the bench. Was this how it was all going to end? Her research, all for nought? There was some dark irony in her being captured by and meeting her end at the hands of the Akkadians of all people. She crossed her arms. "Do what you must. Everything I did was for the greater good."

"Was it? The Mother has looked at your research and it seems more for yourself than for anyone else. That is not for me to decide though. Still if I understand her musings....." He looked at the being before him. "We are no longer vindictive as we once were she said. I think perhaps that our Ar'bi'atritu will be able to finish the work she said and perhaps you can contemplate your days with your body fully restored picking blood flowers in the fields."

Shaking her head, Tuula didn't believe him for a moment. She knew what she had done, and while she didn't think it was wrong to experiment on non-citizens who had run afoul of Empire laws, she knew that they might have a different opinion. "Well then," she replied in an acerbic tone, "I look forward to it."

OFF:

Lieutenant (JG) Tuula Voutilainen
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

First Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo
plus various Akkadians

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