Ensign Meris - The Core Falls Free

[Meris/Brian]

(( Holodeck 3, Deck 222, DS 224 ))

 

Meris adjusted their phaser to match the frequency, nodded once to Imril, and lowered the weapon. They shifted into a stable stance with a clear line of sight on the target, raised the phaser again, and waited for instructions. Their free hand was lifted behind their head. If they had been fencing, their posture might have been called an en garde position.

 

Imril nodded back and pulled a tricorder out of the case. They tossed the PADD into the case and closed it. The Bactrican slung the case over their shoulder and began a circuit around the warp core. Imril took position to starboard, opposite the clamp relative to Meris, staying well clear of the line of fire.

 

The paneling around the clamp assembly was broken, twisted, and shredded. The clamp itself remained sturdy, cylindrical, and free of warpage. In this case, it was too steady. The tricorder screen displayed the clamp and its supports as a discordant mess of blotches. They should have shown as a single uniform color. Any color would have done.

 

With one hand Imril held the tricorder and pantomimed signals to direct Meris’ fire. Extending their left foot meant fire. Retracting it meant stop. That way, they could keep one hand on the tricorder and the other on their weapon.

 

Meris nodded their understanding.

 

oO The Ensign wishes to dance. Oo

 

The first target was near the floor. Imril took aim at the clamp itself. Watching the tricorder readouts, they extended their foot and began to fire. A continuous beam soaked into the metal, blooming into a dull orange halo of heat.

 

Meris followed suit. They aimed at the indicated spot and squeezed the trigger.

 

Meris: =/\= One... Two... Three... Four. =/\=

 

Imril signaled for Meris to stop but kept their own beam a fraction longer before shifting to a new target midway between the clamp and ceiling.

 

Again, Meris settled into their unusual stance. They leveled the phaser with their dominant hand and fired, non-dominant hand raise behind their head.

 

oO En garde! Oo

 

Meris: =/\= One... Two... Three... Four... Five. =/\=

 

Imril directed fire onto another section of the clamp mechanism. This time Meris held longer, almost half a second past Imril’s shot. At last, the Bactrican pointed to the highest part of the clamp core they could both see, and they fired together before calling an end.

 

Meris stepped back and checked their phaser’s charge and power setting. By habit, they dropped it to the lowest setting and holstered the weapon.

 

Meris: =/\= Did it work? =/\=

 

They need not have asked. A loud KERKUNK thundered through the chamber, and a shudder rocked the room. Meris grabbed a console to steady themself. A chorus of softer rattles followed as hydraulics and support systems reset. The clamp still held the core assembly, but now it could release.

 

Meris glanced to Imril. The Bactrican studied the tricorder, then looked up with a thumbs-up.

 

The corner of Meris’ mouth twitched with satisfaction. They had done their part.

 

Imril signaled for them to move. Meris sprinted toward the blast door without hesitation. They slipped under the partially open barrier, Imril close behind (**).

 

In the observation alcove, Meris activated the blast door controls. It sealed quickly. They moved to the core ejection panel, tapped in the commands, and pressed the release. Through the transparent aluminum, popping noises echoed. Then came a rushing sound as the darkened core dropped through the decks below. In two seconds it was gone, jettisoned into space.

 

Meris turned to Imril and gripped his shoulders.

 

Meris: ::proudly:: =/\= Good work. =/\=

 

Imril: Response.

 

The red alert vanished. Consoles, bulkheads, and smoke dissolved into memory. Yellow grid lines replaced the engineering chamber. Even the radiation garment they'd been wearing melted away. They were back in the holodeck.

 

Meris knelt, hands on knees, and drew in a steadying breath.

 

Tho’Bi: How did we do?

 

Meris: ::straightening:: I hope we did well.

 

Bancroft/Storm/Bergman/Imril/Cole: Response.

 

Tho'Bi: ::to Cole:: Hey, Roomie. I think I died. ::beat:: How'd you do?

 

Cole: Response.

 

Meris: oO So that is how Cole and Tho’Bi know one another. They are roommates. Oo

 

Meris approached Bancroft.

 

Meris: ::to Bancroft:: It pleases me that your burrowing fen worm has lived to see another day.

 

Bancroft: Response.

 

---

Ensign Meris

Helm Officer

USS Artemis-A

A240207M14