The Voices Don't Like You (part 2)

Posted on Fri Mar 20th, 2015 @ 7:28am by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant Commander Orin ch’Valri

1,057 words; about a 5 minute read

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

"Medical believes we are under some sort of neurogenetic influence. The doctor has yet to isolate the source. In the past day there have been ten fights, four assaults and one attempt at sabotage. Mutiny is not far distant. If this goes much farther I will be forced to confine everyone to their quarters and lock them in until we can figure out what is going on." She leaned forward and placed her hands on Orin's desk. "I need your help, Lieutenant. I need someone in security I can trust. I'm not sure if you're the right person, but at the moment, you're all I've got."

[NEW]

Orin raised his brow again, glimpsing down at her hand before standing up slowly from his chair. "Captain. I can assure you, I can be trusted. I've put ever officer I have in those corridors. Stopping those ten fights, preventing anymore assaults, and ensuring the one attempt is the last and only attempt. I promise you. I have been, and forever shall be, on your side. I'm sorry you can't see that, but if you have trouble remembering, you can keep in mind that me and my people were the ones that got the rest of the away team back on board." He stopped for a moment, his eyes and antenae shifting a bit before focusing back to T'mpest. "My record speaks for itself, Captain. If you have to. Re-read it."

T'mpest leaned forward. "I mean no disrespect, Lieutenant, but right now I trust no one but Lieutenants Cattmor and Foster. I do not yet know you well enough to trust you."

"Oh, I am sure you mean nothing but disrespect." Orin replied quickly, leaning closer to her as he continued softly. "You need to remember that this thing influences peoples minds, Captain. According to medical so far, you could be affected as well as everyone else on board. The problem, as I see it, is I don't have marines out there, I have security officers. Most of these grunts haven't seen anything but a simulated fire fight and that's not enough to get you through the day. Starfleet put me here with a bunch of untrained officers and only four people that know the right end of a phaser."

Orin stopped and put his head down, letting out a deep breath. Slowly, he raised his head again and looked her back in the eye. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. This neurogenetic thing is not only affecting my team, but also me as well. I am not going to bother you with the details, but we, as in all of us, need to keep a level head. This distrust you're feeling might just be part of what's effecting us and the crew. You need to sit down before we end up at each others throats. And I can assure you, with my training, it won't end well for you."

"Of course I'm affected," she replied. "Right now, I can hear everyone on the ship, Lieutenant. Even you." She shook her head. "I can feel the paranoia and the hatred. I am here because if I don't get help we are going to end up in the same predicament as the ships we just encountered." She didn't move away. "As for ending up at each others' throats, I am Vulcan. I am also the former Chief Intelligence Officer on board this ship. Don't discount me because I am the Captain."

"I am not weak!" Orin yelled as he slammed his hands onto the desk, cracking the console screen that was built into it. "I am far stronger and faster then I appear, but let's not start counting bodies because I assure you that's not going to help matters." He said looking her firmly in the eyes. "What you need to do right now is focus on one mind. One person. One thought. Block everyone else out from your mind and focus on your goal. Getting through this and holding off this thing as long as possible until a solution is found. Do you understand me?"

"I did not call you weak," she hissed, trying very hard to keep from throwing something at him. "Nor am I counting bodies. You appear to be the one who has a problem with that. Perhaps I came to the wrong person for help." She stood back and turned to the door. "I will take my demons and leave you to yours. Perhaps you should talk to someone about them." She was practically humming with tension. If she didn't get relief she feared she would lose control and she could not afford to do that.

Orin tapped a button on his desk to lock the door than jumped over the desk. As T'mpest reached the door suddenly she was turned around and shoved against the wall closest to it. Orin looked at her deep into her eyes and placed his hand, similar to how they would be in a vulcan mind meld, on the side of her face. "I apologize in advanced but you need to focus." He said with an angry tone as he struggled against her. She would find he was in fact stronger than he looked. "Captain. Right now, if you have to, focus on my mind. My thoughts. You want to trust me, look inside my head. Look inside and figure out for yourself whether you can trust me and my team."

Her arms shot up and out, pushing his hands away from her and then shoved him backwards. She reacted instinctively, without thought. Her pulse rate increased and she felt a surge of adrenalin as she took a defensive stand.

Orin stumbled back but quickly kept his balance. He looked back to her and smirked slightly, feeling a rush as if he were back on the battle field. "Okay. The fun way then." He replied as he got into a fighting stance and cracked his neck slightly. "Show of hands. Who can see better in dark? Computer: Lights off." Suddenly the dim lights turned off, leaving both T'mpest and Orin in a dark locked room alone.

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant Orin ch'Valri
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Commander T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer

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