LtJG Hiro Jones - Where's the safety setting on a wrench?
notyourfrog
((Deck 5, Outside Upper Computer Core Containment – USS Artemis))
The charges were set, and the four would-be pirates were ready to move on. Leaving the containment room Dakora first, followed by Hiro and Kliss'lai with Osuna bringing up the rear. Hiro kept an eye on the tricorder showing the regular progress of the Artemis response team toward their location. They didn't have much time left, and he could tell from the tension in the air the other three were aware of this.
Dakora: They’re gonna be on us soon.
Osuna: ::Turning to face the others:: Yep.
Jones: About ready? We should keep moving.
Dakora: Once we step through that door, I’m starting the 30-second countdown so don’t lollygag.
oO Here we go. Oo
He started counting in his head as they walked, but didn't get much farther than "Fourteen," as the definitive punctuation of phaser fire ended the thought process. They each let their training take over, Dakora and Kliss'lai taking positions that gave them (somewhat) defensible positions from which to return fire. Hiro felt himself being pulled backward behind a support beam opposite Dakora. He almost dropped to a crouch in order to deliver a nasty uppercut to his assailant, but the boxer in him gave way when he saw Osuna's face.
Dakora: Sket! ::He slid behind the meager cover of a corridor rib.:: Contact front!
Hiro lifted the bluezer still clutched in his right hand and shot blindlly down the corridor. From his location he couldn't see the assailants, but if they thought themselves at risk of getting shot, they were less likely to close the distance.
Osuna: ::To Jones:: Pass me that extra phaser, Doctor?
Jones: Both hands are full, sir. You wanna grab it off my belt?
What happened next would absolutely be a story worth retelling over drinks when this was all over: Osuna snatched the spare phaser from Hiro's holster, and proceeded to discharge the weapons like some kind of 20th Century film mobster. In the retelling, Hiro would most likely embellish the scene by adding that Osuna yelled, "Yeah, you like that? Come get some!" or some other bravado-dripping, testosterone-overloaded, action hero line.
Dakora: Brace!
Counting. He'd been counting before. Somehow Dakora had been able to continue his own mental chronometer going despite the chaos. The "blast" was emphasized by the ship giving a jolt and lighting switching over to emergency systems.
Dakora: Push up!
They started moving, Dakora and Kliss'lai taking point. Hiro kept firing into the space ahead.
Osuna: Time to move, Doc. ::To Dakora:: Where to?
Dakora didn't respond immediately.
Jones: Out of the hallway would be a good idea. Somewhere with multiple exits?
The phaser fire never let up. Hiro was honestly kind of amazed nobody'd actually hit anything yet.
Kliss'lai: Zztan! ::She cursed:: I’m hit.
oO Way to jinx it, Hiro. Oo
Dakora: We’ll get to you Kliss, just hang on. ::His body began to drift away from the floor.:: Whoaa!
The artificial gravity on the Artemis had been disabled by their attack? Cool! That was certainly disruptive. The Doctor-y part of Hiro's brain also realized it presented an opportunity for helping Kliss. As an "injured" crewmember, she wasn't supposed to move under her own power until cleared by medical. Less gravity meant she'd be easier to move to a safe treatment location. If only they had one of those...
Hiro had to holster his tricorder for the moment in order to free up that hand to keep him from floating off.
Jones: Now's our chance. ::nodding at Dakora, who was floating near a service hatch.:: Looks promising.
Osuna grabbed Dakora's hand, Hiro took the other after stowing his weapon, and grabbed Kliss'lai. It looked like the response team was looking for their own cover. The narrow window of opportunity was closing fast.
Osuna: I love this job.
They used the equal and opposite reaction of the phaser fire to propel them toward Dakora's position.
Dakora: Let’s go! Through here!
Osuna looked like a swimmer as he tucked, spun, and pushed off. If Hiro wasn't currently being shot at he would have admired the artistic efficiency more.
Osuna: I’ll take point. ::To Jones:: Doc, once we’re in, see if you can get Kliss’lai back on her… Umm..
He paused a beat, causing the slightest of smiles to creep onto Hiro's face.
Osuna: You know.
Jones: Yep. I'm tracking. Let's go.
Osuna entered the tube first. Hiro came next, covered by Dakora's phaser fire. Once Hiro was well inside, the Commander all but launched the Andorian officer into the tube. Hiro caught her as best he could, pulling her deeper in and freeing up room for Dakora to enter.
Scooting backward while pulling Kliss'lai along gave Hiro a view of Dakora's head then torso entering the service tube. As he made to pull his legs in behind him, he yelled out:
Dakora: Damn it. I’m hit too!
The hatch shut behind them, locking into place. They had probably about 3 extra minutes while the response team got there and overrode the latches. Hiro already had his scanner out and was triaging Kliss' "injuries." According to the device, the pulse that hit her was registered as some muscle and nerve damage along with 2nd and 3rd degree burns to her left shoulder. Not too bad, all in all, but it would take a couple minutes to get her green again.
Osuna: Crap. ::Looking ahead:: Jones, we need to know the extent of both their injuries… Can they press on, or do we need to stop?
Jones: Kliss can move since we've got less gravity, and it looked to me like Dakora was hit in the leg - again, he'll be slow, but he can move.
Dakora: Response?
Kliss’lai: If you need to leave me behind, Sirs, I can hold them off for–
Hiro was about to overrule that kind of talk, but Osuna beat him to it.
Osuna: Forget about that. ::To Jones:: See if you can treat her first. ::To Talos:: Commander, think you can walk it off? ::Shaking his head:: Metaphorically speaking?
Dakora: Response
Hiro started administering the "treatment." It was strange seeing a timer instead of vitals on the little screen, but there was a 0% chance of error. Just 20 more seconds, and Kliss'lai's badge would be green.
...10...
Osuna: What the hell? Is someone else in here with us?
Dakora: Response
Renir: Response?
The good news: Kliss'lai's badge blinked from yellow to green. Hiro gave her a small wink as a nonverbal, "I hereby declare you fit for duty."
The bad news: There was a telltale clanking of someone approaching down the tube. Hiro shifted places with the now able-bodied Andorian, and began scanning Dakora. He hoped (though somewhat doubtfully) there would be enough time to get him green too before their situation got heated again.
Osuna: ::Calling out:: You should know that there are four of us and we’re armed! If you want to stay ‘in the green’, recommend you clear out of the way… Whoever you are.
There was a momentary pause in the noise, as though whoever was responsible for making it was gathering themself for ... something.
The something was apparently a wrench. The assailant came out of the shadow swinging a spanner straight at Osuna. It connected with the side of his head. The scan of Dakora's leg now forgotten, Hiro curled his legs under him, ready to push off the wall if there was any hope of helping. The problem now was Kliss'lai was between him and Osuna and the attacker with non-sanctioned weaponry.
Renir: Response?
Osuna: ::In pain:: Hey! What the hell do you think–
The wrench swung again, but this time, Osuna was a little more prepared. By curling up, he managed to avoid another headshot, but at the expense of his ribs. Hiro could hear the crack even from his position. That would be a problem.
Osuna: That is not a simulated weapon, you @#$%ing idiot!
Kliss'lai: Hey, psycho! Drop the wrench, or I drop you!
Jones: Just shoot her! I can't get a shot!
Dakora/Renir: Responses
Kliss'lai took aim and fired. In the gloom, Hiro could see the green light of the newcomer's badge go red. And yet ... she didn't stop. He could see the wrench pulled back for another attack in helpless horror. They had to do something. Now.
Dakora/Renir/Osuna: Response
Tag/TBC
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