Ensign Spelvan - We Found Her

[Tara Miner]

((Research and Development Wing, Gibaria Outpost))

The team had made their way to the server room, which has been covered in the red mold. It had parted to let them pass, but through the course of their investigation they had encountered a doorway blocked with the plant material.

Spelvan: The power plant team seems to be poised to reboot systems on their end, so perhaps we should avoid accessing any consoles until they are completed. 

Valek: I concur with Ensign Spelvan. While the system is being restored, we might investigate the adjacent room, if the flora permits entry.

Reynolds: It seems intent on doing the exact opposite.

Spelvan: I suppose it remains to be seen.

The security officer moved ahead of them, shining the light from his phaser rifle into the room. It showed more of the same - until it didn’t.

There was a humanoid shape seated on the ground, their back leaning against one of the towers. Vulcans were, of course, trained to ignore "gut feelings," but Spelvan nonetheless did not have a positive emotion about it.

The figure did not appear to be in distress, but at the same time they were unresponsive. Certainly any typical humanoid, even one that was sleeping, would react to light. But this one did not. Without their ability to scan, their ability to ascertain the true health and status of the individual was frustratingly limited.

Valek: Admiral, Ensign, I detect a single life form within the room. It is seated and breathing at a reduced rate. No other movement is evident.

Spelvan: This is... suspicious.

Valek: Admiral, Ensign, I recommend non-electronic entry and direct evaluation of the life form’s condition. Visual inspection indicates no flora infestation on the subject. Orders Admiral?

Spelvan reflexively shook his head. From the prospective of a doctor, his patient (as it were) was relatively safe. He could see that they were breathing - no visible injuries, though of course one could never rule out internal bleeding. No flora infestation, as Valek had pointed out - but again, they couldn't determine the infection by sight necessarily.

The Admiral was also evaluating the situation. The white-haired Vulcan was impressed at her emotional control, which at times surpassed his own. But she, too, seemed to be apprehensive of their newest discovery.

Reynolds: I don't think this slime mould wants us going in there. Or it wants us to think it doesn't want us going in there.

Spelvan: I do not like it.

Valek: Response

Spelvan was reminded of the Borg - the adaptability of that species to weapons charges. If this flora took over the scientists and operated in a connected, hive-mind-like manner then it was only logical that it had learned something about the Starfleet officers it had interacted with. 

And if it had learned anything, it had certainly learned that members of Starfleet were compassionate and would do their best to save anyone they detected was in distress.

Reynolds: Does anyone else feel like this is the same situation in different clothing? It feels like someone trying to iterate a more successful trap.

Spelvan: Agreed. I have determined that medically, the patient will survive without further evaluation. We should investigate the rest of this room in the meantime.

Valek/Reynolds: Response

Of course, if it turned out the person was not okay and died because of their lack of intervention, the doctor would never forgive himself. Spelvan tried his best to put the thought out of his mind as they all traversed onward through the room.

The group came upon an open doorway with a clear window showing inside. The equipment inside seemed more typical of modern scientific instruments than the rest of the area, and Spelvan wondered if this server room had served a different purpose in the past - it would explain the window at least. 

Inside stood a figure wearing a lab coat sitting at a console, working in a frantic manner. The mold was bunched up on the floor in front of the doorway. The doctor reached out a tentative hand and touched an invisible force field. Smart - but it wouldn't protect the individual inside if the power system failed.

Spelvan: ::He cleared his throat,:: Greetings, I am Ensign Spelvan, and these are my colleagues Admiral Reynolds and Ensign Valek. We are Starfleet officers, here to assist.

Valek/Reynolds/Unknown Figure: Response

Spelvan barely repressed a sigh of relief as the figure turned around, now facing them. It was a Kobliad woman and on her chest was an ID badge not dissimilar to the one Dr. Throka wore. It read "Dr. Var Gamoya, Head Scientist."

At last. There was a non-zero chance that this wasn't truly Gamoya, but considering they had found her holed up behind a force field, the doctor found it unlikely.

Spelvan: We have much to discuss, but first we must inform you that some of our associates are attempting to restart the power source for the facility. You should cease using the console immediately.

Valek/Reynolds/Gamoya: Response

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Ensign Spelvan

Medical Officer

USS-Gorkon

G240208S11