Ensign Astrid Auricsdóttir - Smoke and Pineapples
Alana Larson
((Inside the Warehouse - Lower vIq'mItlh City))
Auricsdóttir: The security system just registered the door opening. The same door we used. We may have company, or one of the Klingons may have woken up.
Neathler: Or another shuttle landed.
Splevan: Neither option is ideal.
Neathler: We should greet them as fast as possible, without them discovering the other Klingons.
Spelvan: Perhaps we can get them to leave quickly somehow as well.
Neathler: I suggest we all go together and close this door.
Tahna: Let’s try to keep this peaceful.
A peaceful conclusion would be a nice change of pace for the group. And if something went wrong it would be better for them to be all together.
Auricsdóttir: That would be ideal.
They met a lone Klingon that had his hand pressed to his stomach. The last time she had held her stomach like that was when she had had a nasty case of Levodian Flu. He smiled as he greeted them.
Kra’Neth: Hello.
Tahna: Hello, can we help you?
Auricsdóttir: Hello.
Spelvan: ::he lifted his hand and lowered it, remembering just in time that this was not a place to do the Vulcan salute:: Greetings. You appear to be wounded. May I examine you? I am a medical professional.
Kra’Neth: This? ::He briefly removed his hands from his abdomen and then placed them back.:: It is merely a scratch.
All of the group's tricorders beeped, instinctively Astrid pressed a button on hers silencing any future notifications for the time being.
Spelvan: ::in a whispered tone to the other officers:: We have additional information from the ship.
Auricsdóttir: Merely a scratch?
Spelvan: We... apologize for the mess. We mean no harm.
Kra’Neth: All I can say is that I will not help clean up. Whatever your business is here, it is none of mine. Although I am rather surprised that Kortag did not join in all this fun.
The Klingon before them certainly had differing views on several things from her. First their self diagnosis, and now their definition of fun. Though she may have misinterpreted his tone about the fun.
Auricsdóttir: Fun?
Neathler: Kortag? They had to leave on urgent business.
Auricsdóttir: You just missed them.
Spelvan: ::to Neathler:: Do we know what kind of business?
Kra’Neth: She didn’t leave a message for me? That is very unlikely from her.
Spelvan: Perhaps it was very urgent business.
Tahna: Perhaps you should ask her about it next time you see her.
Auricsdóttir: Perhaps she meant to leave you a note.
There was a noise somewhere to the back of the warehouse. It seemed that the others had also heard it.
Kra’Neth: What was that?
Tahna: I didn’t hear anything.
Auricsdóttir: Stray targ perhaps?
Spelvan: I will do another scan.
Tahna: Are you sure that’s just a scratch?
The Klingon did not answer. That didn't stop Spelvan from consulting his tricorder.
Spelvan: I am picking up movement and life-signs in the unmarked room. They could be engaging in an altercation of some kind. ::he looked expectantly at Tahna and Neathler:: I would like to stay here with our new friend for the time being.
Tahna: Was there something we can help you with?
Kra’Neth: Are you sure Kortag left? It is very unlike her to leave knowing a... ::He paused here, looking at all of them before he continued.:: friend will arrive.
Auricsdóttir: Quite certain, yes.
Spelvan: Are you certain that you do not require medical attention? What is your name, and what brings you here? Can we assist you in any way?
Kra'Neth: If Kortag did not leave any instructions for you, then I doubt you will be able to help me. The name is Kra’Neth, trader at your service.
She suspected that Kra’neth traded in more than just fruits and vegetables, though that was yet to be seen. It was entirely possible they were nothing more than a produce merchant.
Spelvan: If I may be excused. I should ensure that the employees here are getting their much-needed rest.
Tahna: Of course. It’s been a tiring day.
Neathler: Holler if you need any help.
Auricsdóttir: Perhaps you would also like to rest.
Tahna: Since you don’t need medical attention, if you’d like to wait outside we’ll have the goods brought out. ::She smiled.:: No reason for you to load stuff yourself.
Kra’Neth: Ah, but I do need medical attention, though not from four strangers whom I have never seen here before.
Spelvan: That is perfectly understandable.
Auricsdóttir: Maybe you —
A booming noise interrupted her, her eyes widened a bit in surprise. An explosion was not something she had expected. There was a faint smell of smoke now, it would have been lost in the smog outside the warehouse but it was noticeable here.
Tahna: Wait outside, we’ll handle this.
Spelvan: I will follow you momentarily.
Auricsdóttir: This should not take long.
A moment later, Tahna and Astrid appeared... followed by Kra'Neth, who seemed distraught at seeing the unconscious Klingon woman Spelvan was standing nearby.
Kra’Neth: Kortag! What have you done to her?
Neathler: She was tired and needed some sleep?
Spelvan: My colleague is correct.
Tahna: She hasn’t been harmed.
Auricsdóttir: Response
Gone was the Klingon’s friendly demeanor, though Meru would be surprised if that hadn’t been an act all along. He was reaching for something, but as soon as he did, Commander Neathler had her phaser trained on him.
Neathler: We mean you no harm, you can still walk out and pretend you haven’t seen a thing.
Kra’Neth: And let you assault my people? I don’t think so!
Tahna: They’re uninjured. We’re with Starfleet.
Well, she wasn’t sure about the one that had initially attacked Neathler and Spelvan, but otherwise they were merely stunned. Even that woman wasn’t hurt seriously. They’d all wake up, perhaps extra groggy, and go on with their lives. But the newest arrival didn’t want to hear it—and, to be fair, why should he trust them?
Auricsdóttir: They are no threat anymore.
Spelvan: I extend apologies.
The Klingon rushed them, and Neathler stunned him. He’d had something in his hand, but Meru didn’t get a good look at it before he fell to the floor, collapsed at the feet of the Klingon he’d called Kortag. The Security Chief knelt next to him and called the doctor over.
Neathler: Can you see to his injury?
While Neathler restrained him using makeshift ties from scraps of his own clothing, Spelvan saw to his injuries. Meru wondered how extensive they were, and what had caused them.
Neathler: Did you find an entrance to that backroom? I didn't see any other door earlier when I walked around the warehouse.
Tahna: I thought I spotted one when we were running earlier, in the back.
Astrid frowned, she did not recall seeing a door in the back, though she had been focused on other things at the time.
Auricsdóttir: I must have missed that.
Spelvan: I have not.
The doctor changed the subject to that of the device the Klingon had been holding.
Spelvan: Is it possible that the device could open a hidden door? Or does it have another purpose?
It was not anything she was immediately familiar with, it looked like a myriad of other small devices she had seen. It could range wildly in its intended purpose.
Auricsdóttir: That is a good question.
Neathler: Response
Tahna: How is our new friend?
Spelvan stood.
Spelvan: My recommendation is that Kra'Neth should be transported to Sickbay as soon as possible. His injuries are more severe than I originally calculated, and a secure location may be the best location to discover his involvement, if any, to our current investigation.
Commander Tahna frowned before glancing at her.
Tahna: Have him transported up, and let the Gorkon know his situation. We have no idea if he’s involved in the drugs, or to what extent.
Auricsdóttir: Understood.
She turned towards Kra’neth.
Auricsdóttir: =/\= Astrid to the Gorkon. We have one Klingon to beam up, they have some injuries to be treated. We do not know how he came by his wounds or if he is involved in any way with our mission. =/\=
There was a short pause before Kra’neth was engulfed in a transporter beam and disappeared.
Neathler / Spelvan: Response
Tahna: A key, maybe?
With the way today had been going she was certain that more trouble was waiting for them on the other side of that door. The smoke trickling out the door only served to strengthen her convictions.
Auricsdóttir: We have no idea what might await us on the other side.
Neathler / Spelvan: Response
The door opened letting in more of the black smoke. It had a sharp chemical smell mixed with what reminded her of grilled pineapples. She pulled the collar of her jacket up covering her nose and mouth, for whatever little protection it offered. As the visibility increased she could make out lots of equipment whose specfic purpose she could only guess at.
Tahna: We’re Starfleet, we mean you no harm. We can help anyone who’s injured.
Neathler / Spelvan: Response
As she moved deeper into the room, she lost her footing as some loose debris slid under her feet. Stumbling she managed to catch herself though in the process of steadying herself she put her hand through the remains of some sort of fruit. A sickly sweet smell from the now mushed fruit mixed with the chemical-y and roasted fruit smell already in the air. It was enough to make her gag.
Auricsdóttir: :: Half a dozen impolite words came to mind, all that came out was a flat. :: Great.
She shook her hand, getting rid of the worst of the sticky pulp that clung to it still, before wiping her hand on her jacket.
Tahna / Neathler / Spelvan: Response
Moving further into the room she came across a terminal connected some kind of device she did not recognize. She cleared some of the debris away from the screen, to see what she could make out. Dust and dirt stuck to her hand where the sticky fruit juice was drying, making her skin prickle. The screen was blank, just a white glow with some black flickering across it. From the other side of the lab bench she heard a cough. Going around to the other side she found a Klingon sitting against the bench staring off into the distance.
Auricsdóttir: Are you okay, do you need help?
There was no response at all from the Klingon, he did not even seem to notice her presence. The only movement was his breathing and the occasional cough.
Auricsdóttir: I have a Klingon here who is pretty out of it.
Tahna / Neathler / Spelvan: Response