The Voices Don't Like You (part 8)

Posted on Mon Apr 13th, 2015 @ 2:59pm by Captain T'mpest Michaels & Lieutenant Commander Orin ch’Valri

1,333 words; about a 7 minute read

[CONTINUED]

[OLD]

He got up and lunged at her again. This time, she deflected the attack and used a Vulcan Nerve Pinch to disable him. He dropped to the ground and she stood, straightening her uniform. The conditions on the Ranger were deteriorating. The brief reprise in Orin's office was clearly over.

[NEW]

T'mpest needed to get to Intel and figure out what was niggling at the back of her mind.

As T'mpest's back was turned, another officer approached her, sneaking towards her with weapon in hand. As he came upon her, undetected, he raised his arm over above his head and prepared to plunge the knife into her back. When the arm dropped down heavy, he was stopped by another hand grabbing it from behind. Quickly, the Ensign was turned and slammed into the wall as Orin stood there, the reflection of the man's face in his goggles as a grin formed on his face.

"You're not as quiet as you think." Orin replied before the Ensign lunged at him. The Security Chief quickly disarmed the officer, stopping the knife wielding arm in mid swing and turning the wrist slightly to cause the hand to open in reflex. As the knife dropped, Orin quickly responded with a powerful opened palm strike and than a right cross, across the face of the Ensign. Both the knife, and the ensign hit the ground at the same time. He stood there for a moment before looking over to T'mpest, speaking in between breaths. "You alright?"

She nodded briefly. "Yes. It appears that the situation is more grave than I surmised." She'd been lost in through, a dangerous activity under the circumstances. "Thank you."

The second attack shook T'mpest more than she cared to admit. She was also more pleased to see Orin than she cared to admit. She glanced down at the Ensign who was covering his face in pain. "Under the circumstances, I would appreciate your assistance with a matter," she said to Orin.

Orin smirked slightly, nodding his head and crossing his arms over his chest. "As you wish."

TAG (and I may respond to it)

T'mpest took the less-congested corridors to Intel and unlocked the door, visibly relaxing when it closed and locked behind them.

"I have heard of a creature that causes anger and hatred. If I can find it in the dtabase, it might help us with our current situation."

She turned to the computer. "Computer, search for all instances of a creature that feeds on anger and hatred. Compare with creatures that influence thought."

The computer began to list creatures that had been encountered by Starships in the past. Crystalline creatures, viruses, Red Jack.

T'mpest remembered reading about that in her search of real life correlations to fictional characters, or real-life events that turned into fictional entities. Red Jack and Jack the Ripper were one of those. It was a fascinating possibility, but she didn't think they were dealing with that type of creature. This one fed on nightmares and paranoia more than anger and hatred.

"...Entity on Beta XII-A," the computer continued.

"Computer, pause," she said.

She turned to Orin. "Could we have something similar? A creature that induces nightmares and paranoia only to feed on the emotions?" Or not emotions... "Or the electromagnetic impulses from the brain?"

"You lost me with all the science stuff." Orin replied with a slight laugh before clearing his throat and continuing. "However, it sounds about right. A lot of the ship are experiencing similar reactions. Nightmares and paranoia which keeps them uneasy and much more prone to violence. It would explain the fighting. Your idea that the ship is in mutiny." He paused slightly, looking to the screen for a moment before looking back to T'mpest with a concerned look. "That would also explain why Medical isn't getting anywhere. It's not a virus, its an entity. Something that can think and react. Adapt." Orin paused again, looking back to the screen and whispered softly. "Something that can hopefully bleed."

"It would have to be non-corporeal to get on the ship," she said. "I do not believe such an entity would be capable of bleeding."

"Then I'll find a way to make it bleed." Orin replied slightly hostile. He didn't like the idea of something harming him, his friends, and the crew that could not be effected by the means he was used to. He was always taught, that if it bleeds, it can be killed and that thought was always a sense of control for him. It gave him a way to fight. A way that he knew he was good at, but this way was far more complicated and he felt a bit out of place.

She walked over to Orin, her expression grave. "However, if we have such creatures on this ship, we must get rid of them before we exit the gas cloud." She glanced at the data on the monitor. "The entity on Beta XII-A was driven off by laughter and happy thoughts." Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "Although I do not believe we have the proper pixie dust."

"Laughter and happy thoughts?" Orin replied, a slightly confused and concerned look on his face. "I think its safe to say I might be screwed on that level?" He paused again, clearing his throat and letting out a slight sigh before he continued. "I'm afraid that's far more complicated than you think. We can't just tell everyone to start laughing and thinking of bunnies, kitties, and clowns. Not every person, or species, thinks the same things are funny and happy. Most of them might be too far gone." He paused slightly, raising a brow behind his dark goggles. "Are you sure that's the only way to deal with them?"

"No, I am not. That is how the crew of the original Enterprise dealt with the creature from Beta XII-A. We are not dealing with the same creature," she said. "I believe we are dealing with a multitude of creatures who affect us on more basic level. These creatures feed on our fears. I do wonder if endorphins would have a similar effect?"

"I would much rather give it a taste of its own medicine." Orin replied, letting out a bit of a sigh before looking back to T'mpest. "Let's put the fear into it and feed off them." He stopped and took a deep breath, trying to keep calm and not fly off the handle like he wanted to. After regaining himself, he looked back to T'mpest and nodded slightly. "I'm sorry. All of this puts me out of my element. If you asked me to shoot something from a distance or devise a way to stop an incoming force, than I can do that. All this science stuff. Non corporal enemies. Mental attacks. It's all new to me. Just future proof that I need to change my way of thinking."

She gave Orin a half-smile. "I am far more comfortable with scientific answers and logic than I am with giving it a taste of it's own medicine. I will leave that to you, if the situation arises. For now, we should inform the crew of our findings."

"Do you wish to accompany me to the bridge?"

"How else are you going to get there safely?" Orin replied with a bit of a smirk. "Besides, I would feel better accompanying you there. Consider me your phaser. Better to have me there and not need me than to need me and have me not there."

She grew more serious, remembering the current problems on the ship. "I would prefer you with me as well." She walked to the door and paused. "Once more into the breach?" she asked.

Orin smiled and nodded his head, following T'mpest towards the door and replying softly. "As you wish."

____
OFF

Commander T'mpest Michaels
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Orin ch'Valri
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

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