LtCmdr Connor Dewitt - Smell
Tim
((Brief Timeskip. Alpha Trionus II Prison, Corridor Between Junctions))
The corridor around Junction Theta-3 felt even tighter with that flickering light above them, casting occasional shadows that made Connor's skin itch. He glanced toward the corridor where something had shifted earlier. Whether it was a trick of the light or something more worrying, he wasn’t about to assume they were alone.
C. Dewitt: Where does that corridor lead? Any sensitive areas?
Stros: If I remember correctly, that is the waste disposal for one of the cell blocks. I do not believe it is in service at the moment. ::Tilting head slightly:: Do the Tholian or Sheliak produce waste?
He didn’t take his eyes off the darkened passage as his brain returned to the waste disposal aboard the Khitomer. That was a less grim story.
Zerva: ::shrugs:: You got me. On those simulations we did on the Holodeck with the Lattice Alliance, we didn’t account for the possibility of bathroom breaks or what that would detail. ::shutters::
onnor pressed his lips together to suppress a reaction to the image that surfaced. Waste logistics for crystalline or gelatinous lifeforms were not exactly in his wheelhouse. And he was not planning on adding it soon.
C. Dewitt: ::dryly:: I’d rather not find out firsthand. Let’s assume they do and just hope no one has to deal with it.
Stros: If the waste disposal unit is not in service, It may make for a rather convenient hiding place for someone who isn’t supposed to be roaming free.
Zerva: As long as they don’t mind the smell. Can Tholians smell like we do? Do their crystalline form inside that shell of theirs, protect them from that? I recall, sometime around the events of Frontier Day, some members of the engineering team found some Latium in our waste disposal unit aboard the Khitomer. ::looks over at Connor:: Where did that Latium disappear to anyways? ::mutters:: Never did figure out how it got in there.
So there it was. Zerva remembered it, too.
C. Dewitt: ::half-grinning, still focused on the junction:: I filed it under "unsolved mysteries"—right between the missing plasma injectors and who keeps reprogramming the replicator dessert menu.
His attempt to ease the tension did not really convince himself.
Stros: I do not want to raise concern, but we may want to move quickly to avoid any unwanted guests. ::Looking towards Dewitt:: Once we have these nodes sorted out, internal sensors in this area may be able to detect anything…out of place.
Connor gave a nod at that. Finally, a plan that addressed the creeping unease he was not able to shake. He crouched back down beside the wires, double-checking the alignment on the primary surge coupler.
Zerva: ::nods:: No arguments from me. ::eyes the wires:: Looks like we’ve got about half of them sorted. ::points:: What’s that green one do?
C. Dewitt: ::smirking slightly:: Depends. Do you like having lights?
Stros: Response
Zerva: Hey, I’m not the one causing the lights to blink.
C. Dewitt: Let’s try to keep it that way.
Stros: Response
((Brief Timeskip. Alpha Trionus II Prison, Corridor Between Junctions))
They moved on after resealing the access panel, and Connor could feel the strain easing in his shoulders as the lights stabilized overhead. At least this part of the system was running cleaner than before. He walked beside the others, his eyes drifting again toward the grimy, rusted door at the far end of the waste disposal corridor. Something about it still didn’t sit right.
Zerva: I feel better already now that we’re done with this one. Do you think we should investigate that door or move on? I can’t tell if it’s been opened or not at this distance. Cause I can already smell from here it’s not one I’m actively wanting to open. But for security reasons, I’m willing to do my part.
C. Dewitt: Let’s not take any chances. We’ll check it—just sweep it, quick. I’d rather be sure than regret it.
Stros: Response
Zerva: Not a bad idea. What about those internal sensors? Is it picking something up?
Connor tapped back into his tricorder, syncing its readout to the Khitomer's limited uplink they'd temporarily routed through the prison network.
C. Dewitt: Running a scan now… let’s see if that system’s paying off yet.
Stros: Response
Connor stepped over to the nearest bulkhead, backlit by the newly stabilized corridor lighting. His tricorder was already synced to the auxiliary uplink they had piggybacked through the patched security junction. It was not a full integration with the Khitomer’s systems, but it was enough for localized readings.
He flicked his thumb across the controls, adjusting the parameters to focus on the corridor leading to the waste disposal hatch. The soft whirring of the device pulsed against his hand as it swept its arc toward the sealed door. A second later, a faint line appeared on the display.
C. Dewitt: ::grimly:: There’s something… heat signature, faint. Not environmental. Could be biological. ::pause:: What is the body temperature of Tholians or Sheliak?
The signal was small. Connor thought it was too small to be a Sheliak or Tholian. Not moving either. But it was there, tucked up against the edge of the corridor wall behind that hatch.
He turned the screen toward the others, his voice low.
C. Dewitt: See that? Could be someone hiding. Or something left behind. Either way, we’re checking it out. Phasers on stun. Eyes sharp.
Stros/Zerva: Response
He snapped the tricorder shut and nodded toward the sealed hatch.
C. Dewitt: Lieutenant, you take point. Commander Stros, report our findings and bring up the rear.
Stros/Zerva: Response
With quiet focus as the trio moved down the corridor. Each step echoed off the duranium walls, the air growing noticeably heavier the closer they got to the waste disposal unit. The staleness of the air carried the scent of rust and recycled decay.
He raised the tricorder one last time, confirming the heat signature was still present, unmoving. Tucking the device back into his belt, he drew a slow breath and nodded silently to Zerva and Stros.
Connor brought his hand to the manual override panel next to the hatch. The control pad was corroded, sticky to the touch. He tapped a diagnostic code into the ancient interface, overriding the lock with a firm press.
C. Dewitt: ::low voice:: Be ready.
Stros/Zerva: Response
LtCmdr Connor Dewitt
Chief Engineer & Second Officer
USS Khitomer
A239901CD3