Lt JG Imril - Laying Down, But Not Out
Chris Taylor
((Intensive Care Unit - Primary Sickbay - Deck 07 - USS Artemis-A))
In the past few years, Imril had been assimilated by a techno-organic virus courtesy of the Borg and rogue Changelings, had their hypothalamus mutated in a Boraxian healing rite, and had their entire genome tossed in a blender by a Callisian transporter a side-effect of which was having their brain unwillingly inserted into yet another telepathic hive mind. Odds were growing ever higher that they were going to someday become the next Gary Mitchell or die horribly of a hideous disorder that would be named after them.
The results of this day would, hopefully, see either of those fates batted away for the foreseeable future. Or at least the next mission.
Off to one side of Sickbay, near their examination bed but far enough away to be out of the paths of any of the medical staff, sat the wheelchair which Imril had been moved into the chamber on. Their legs had become, were becoming, something… other. Something between the legs that they had known their whole life and the digitigrade limbs possessed by both the altered Callisians and the grey-furred Caitian who was currency speaking with one of the Atermis medical staff.
Meyers: Yes? I’m sorry, what are you doing in here? You need clearance to be allowed in the ICU at this time. Please leave.
The stranger, a Caitian woman, seemed entirely unconcerned with Yesfir’s understandably zealous attempt at maintaining the integrity of this investigation.
Lorana: No need to declare an intruder alert. I think you'll find my paddwork all above board. I'm Luxa Lorana, I've been asked to offer some consultation :: looks to the patients :: Are these the worst affected?
The pharmacist checked the PADDwork before conceding any error.
Meyers: They are. Commander Munro’s Away Team went through the Callisian Transporter Network twice, which has prompted an accelerated mutation compared to the other team. The worst affected are the Commander, Lt. Commander Silveira, Lieutenant Imril, Ensign Jaran and Ensign Breys, though their mutations manifest in different ways.
Imril subconsciously wriggled their toes, which were on full display to all present. If toes they could still be called. They were in about the same condition as the Commander’s fingers. The palms of their feet no longer matched in size, nor did the location of their ankles or knees. This uneven race of their joints to a new configuration made it impossible to walk without falling over.
It would have been fascinating to watch this progression, if it wasn’t happening to them.
Aside from that motion, they did not interrupt. As eager to glean any new information for themself as they were to let the visiting expert absorb as much as possible without distraction.
Lorana: The genetic abnormalities seem to be progressing at an aggressive rate.
Yesfir nodded in agreement, just as the door opened behind her. Far more familiar faces arrived from it.
Lorana: Doctor Jaran :: nods :: and Doctor Bancroft, it's nice to meet you again.
Jaran/Bancroft: Response
Lorana: The Captain asked me to assist. For the last year I've been developing treatment for rare genetic disorders or abnormalities brought on by exposure to high levels of radiation. Which has had a certain degree of success. We were hoping that the treatment may be adapted for use with these patients :: pause :: Doctor Jaran? I was under the impression that you'd be on one of the biobeds yourself?
Imril, though, was quite pleased to see the Bajoran healer still in condition to be a healer. Roy, too.
Imril: I’m happy for any help I can get. I might also be a little bit jealous of you two still being able to stand upright.
Jaran/Bancroft: Response
Yesfir crossed her arms as her toes started tapping at the floor.
Meyers: Apologies for cutting this short ::she wasn’t sorry at all:: but we must get to work. The mutations aren’t slowing down, and I don’t believe the Captain is in the market for a new First Officer yet.
Jaran/Bancroft/Lorana: Response
Meyers: Thus far, we’ve been able to establish a general progression of the mutations. The telepathic link bonding the Callisian Mutants together is the first thing to develop, based on the After-Action Reports submitted by the patients. While it is no true hivemind, it seems to have been a way to share strategy, sensations and knowledge across short distances with a smaller pack.
She looked between Ensign Jaran and Lieutenant Imril for confirmation.
Imril: As I understand it from the after-action reports, the majority of the Callisians had mentally degraded to primal states. Which may mean that, individually, they could only communicate basic sensations and such across the link. The one that spoke through Vitor may have been capable of more.
Jaran/Bancroft/Lorana: Response
Meyers: The current hypothesis is that the progression of the remaining mutations - the callouses, the bone deformations and the accelerated follicle growths - is hastened by continued use of the link. Observations made by Captain MacKenzie of both Commander Munro and Ensign Breys are that they seemed affected by the link in a way that was very disruptive to their normal functioning, while Lieutenant K’Wara made no such indication of your performance during the Ship repairs, Lieutenant Imril.
Imril couldn’t help but smile with a teensy tiny bit of pride.
Imril: I’m a stubborn cuss.
Jaran/Bancroft/Lorana: Response
Imril: But it did, and does, take effort to isolate my mind as much as I’ve been able to. Has anyone considered bringing a trained telepath in to sever the mental link? Or dosing one or more of us with some kind of chemical psionic suppressant?
If the present hypothesis was that the link itself was accelerating the changes, then the obvious way to test that premise was to systematically interfere with the link.
Jaran/Bancroft/Lorana/Meyers: Response
Imril: The only other thing I can think of that might be a factor, in my case, would be the Boraxian ritual and what it did to a particular part of my brain. Doctor Jaran could fill the rest of you in on that.
If there was an answer to be found in the effect of those Yurum stones, Imril saw no reason not to share for the benefit of the whole.
Jaran/Bancroft/Lorana/Meyers: Response
TAGS/ TBC
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Lieutenant JG Imril
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240110I12