Ehths - Good morning Octavia Butler!
Jania Nis
(( Corridors, Deck 5, USS Octavia E. Butler ))
Ehths had to accept they were not coming for him. The time of arrival had passed; he was alone now. But Dius wouldn’t have abandoned him--not just for sentimental reasons but because of what the reeve knew about Zet Prime’s security operations. And … and Ehths -knew- Dius cared for him, more than he cared for his own family even. He’d always returned in the past, so if he was not here yet, factors outside of his control were causing his delay.
That meant Ehths was still under orders. Until he knew for sure his director was dead, he was under orders. The orders were absurd. “If I’m late, take the ship,” Dius had said in the terrible rasping voice he'd developed after his botched rehusking. Ehths could never accomplish that alone.
But he could try. And he could cause some chaos before they stopped him.
Zet hands were more claw-like than human hands, and their three long fingers ended in hooking nails that could rend and rip flesh if needed. In this case, though, he didn’t need them for that. After lifting the carpet, he slipped one of his fingernails between a plate in the floor and pulled, pain shooting through his hand. The whole time, he knew screaming would give him away. Although his nail broke and his finger weeped blood, he pried up the plate, then slipped down under the floor.
Barely a minute later, he heard the sound of Starfleet stomping around above him.
Lohkina: He's not in there.
As he hurried away lest they realize how he escaped, he fumbled with the small communicator on his waist. If his virus had worked, he would be able to tap into and hear all shipboard communications.
Lohkina's comm badge chirped, and she tapped it without thinking.
Ehths: =/\= Forgive me, I’ve excused myself. =/\=
He wasn’t sure who he was speaking to, but it should be someone in the room he just left.
Lohkina: =/\= Ehths, I presume? (beat) Where have you run off to? =/\=
Ehths: =/\= Oh, here, there. If I wanted you to know where I was, I wouldn't have left. =/\=
Lohkina: =/\= No, I suppose not. But I will find you. =/\=
Ehths: =/\= Maybe, but not in time. =/\=
He continued to travel deeper beneath the ship, wriggling, slinking, even bending his arms and legs in ways most humanoids could not to slip beneath piping and past wires and bags of glowing biogel. He had to admit he had no idea where he was going, but it was hopefully far enough away from the ones following him.
Lohkina: Response
Ehths: I control all communications on this ship now. Just listen.
He glanced down at the small sphere and tapped it with the points of his fingers, avoiding the mangled one. A single great buzz sounded throughout the entire Octavia E. Butler, followed suddenly by a short message.
Computer: =/\= Hey this is your broodmate Krr’Wev and I’m here to tell you about the GREATEST ZET HERO OF ALL TIME, you all know him, you all love him, but how well DO YOU REALLY KNOW Executive Nik‘ulama’pao’en’bei’yie’Bahb?!. =/\=
That was plenty for now. He switched off the announcements, allowing quiet to descend on the ship.
Lohkina: ResponseO240108JN2