Lt Alex Storm - One Wrong Beat

[Karen Morris]

(( Cockpit of the USS Acheron - Ebers System, Balancar Sector, Alpha Quadrant ))

A small ball wormed its way behind her throat, with each second and every detail, she could feel it expand, seeking to cut off her air supply and to render her useless.  Alex swallowed … hard, it lodged tight.

 

Storm:  One wrong beat and we scatter ourselves among the stars instead.

 

K’Wara: Let’s not do that. Time to test whether Hinkly got your message, Natasha. ::to Alex:: LT Storm, once we confirm that the torpedo has reached Hinkly’s shuttle, I trust you’ll be ready to detonate ours.

 

Storm: Aye.  Immediately.

 

K’Wara: Launch the first torpedo.

 

Vailani: There she goes. 

Storm:  ::whispered:: May the four deities guide you.

 

K’Wara: That’s our cue. Hit it!

Alex’s pointer finger pinged once on the preset control.

 

Storm: Done.

Her diaphragm clutched.  Seconds ebbed away from her grasp, and her lungs burned for fresh air.  Flashes of silver and purple played between the two shuttles on opposite sides of the rift like a medieval fanfare announcing the arrival of a dignitary.  The explosion on the other side of the rift embellished the purple mist, scattering it across their entire field of vision.

 

Vailani: Did it work? 

 

Cole: :: Squinting out the viewport :: Maybe? I mean we’re still here so that’s something, right?

 

Storm:  I’m reading the shuttle on the other side.  It looks intact.  Lieutenant Cole, are we still being pulled toward the rift?

K'Wara: Response

 

Before Cole could answer aloud, the ship jerked to the side.  As Alex began to slip out of her seat, slender fingers tensed across the top of her console, holding on as they were blown about like dried leaves in a miniature spiral of cold autumn air.  The tactical officer’s eyelids shuttered themselves before opening in a soft echo of a prayer.

 

Vailani: Anything from Hinkly? 

 

Cole: :: surprised :: He’s still alive, shuttle appears to have stabilized and … he’s hailing us.

 

Storm:  I can sense him.  He’s worn but uninjured.

K'Wara/Vailani: Response

 

Cole: Aye, Sir.

Alex swiveled her chair toward the viewscreen, where an officer from a military force with which she was unfamiliar appeared.  Her eyes imperceptibly narrowed as they swept across his wrinkled, scorched, black uniform.  His insignia was a hollow oval, and his rank an X.  A tingling pressure near her temples characteristic of friendliness eased her tight jaw.  

 

Hinkly: =/\= Let’s try that again, Commander Hinkly of the UEA. Thank you for your assistance. Who do I have to thank for my timely rescue?=/\=

 

Nat turned toward her.  Alex raised her eyebrows and her shoulders. 

 

Cole: =/\= Lieutenant Junior Grade Cole, UEA Sir? =/\=

 

Storm:  We’ve not seen that uniform before.

K'Wara/Vailani: Response

 

Hinkly: =/\= All valid questions and concerns. UEA, United Earth Alliance. ::confused:: I’m surprised there’s anyone that doesn’t know who we are. As for how and why I was stuck in the rift. I was sent to investigate an anomalous signal that was being sent through an uncharted anomaly. Upon arriving I sent a probe through and somehow something shot back at me, damaging my engines and I started to slowly drift towards the rift.

Storm:  We’ve been caught on our side of the rift’s wake as well.

K'Wara/Vailani: Response

 

Hinkly: =/\= After realizing my options were limited I sent a distress signal to the Armstrong, but the interference from the rift proved to be fruitless, like screaming into the void itself. I took a gamble and tried sending a message through to whoever it was that shot me. Hoping for the best, ::laughing:: even tried throwing rocks.

Storm:=/\= Well that explains a few things.  You were the one throwing the rocks? ::Alex blinked:: Remind me to never get into a game of darts with you.  Your aim is dangerous.

K'Wara/Vailani: Response

Hinkly:  =/\= Darts?=/\=

Storm: oO Definitely not from around here. Oo =/\= Throwing game of skill.=/\=

K’Wara/Vailani/Cole: Response

Storm:  =/\= Will you be able to get back to your people?=/\=

Hinkley:  =/\=  I might end up limping the entire way there, but I’ll make it eventually. =/\= 

Alex fought the twitch she felt at the corners of her mouth.  She could sense that this guy was better off than he let on, but she admired his gumption and panache.

K’Wara/Vailani/Cole:  Response

Storm:  Unfortunately, we still have the conundrum of who sent the worm to the station.

K’Wara/Vailani/Cole: Response

~*~

Tags / TBC

~*~

Lt Alex Storm

Tactical Officer

USS Artemis

O240103SK2