Ensign Ras El'Heem - It never goes according to plan Pt. 2

[Ras El'Heem]

((Corridor somewhere in Deep Space 33))

oO No, they’ll make it back. Oo

 

Jacin: Response

 

Ras placed his back against the wall and slid down next to the Caitian as he listened to the padding of their escort’s boots disappear. His chest throbbed where it had been burned earlier. Superficial sure but the pain grounded him in reality. His hand absentmindedly rubbed his raw skin. He looked at the Lt. who leaned on the wall facing the direction where the Tholians laid in wait.

 

The air hung thick with anticipation. Ras cradled his head as he tried to listen and piece together what was going on ahead. It was deadly silent for far too long.

 

oO I thought it was only 40 meters up. Oo

 

As he worried over the safety of the team, he heard a stirring beside him. He dropped his hands and looked over as the Caitian shifted on the ground.

 

oO Oh no, oh god no. Oo

 

She was waking up. Sometimes the pain was too much and could override the sedative momentarily. Ras pushed himself up into a squatting position, looming over the woman. Just as he saw her face scrunch in pain, he lunged to cover her mouth as he knew what was coming. It wasn’t quick enough. A high-pitched scream eked out for just a second before his hand reached her. It echoed and bounced through the halls around them. Ras looked up at Jacin who was staring right at him with an expression of dread. The sound of the Tholians patrolling ahead changed. He could tell they were now facing their direction. A shout from one of them signaled their approach. The damage had been done; the forward team’s element of surprise was compromised.

 

Bobbart: Throw it now!

 

Phaser fire erupted and lights flashed around the bend. Ras struggled to hold the Caitian down as they squirmed in pain. An explosion. Then more phaser fire.

 

El’Heem: :;Whispering urgently.:: Get another sedative!

 

Jacin: Response

 

He watched as the Lt. ran to the pile of supplies that were left behind by Ensign Matthews. He tried to focus on the sounds of the assault. The cry of Bobbart screaming in pain. Yelling in response from one of the others. Angry Tholian Gibberish. The tide of battle couldn’t be determined. Ras hoped against hope there was only a small detachment, and the 4 of them could handle themselves. Jacin returned to his side and frantically applied the hypo needle to the woman. He stared in her tear-kissed eyes as he watched her consciousness slip from her and return to a painless slumber. He slid his hand off her face slowly and breathed laboriously. He let his hands fall to his side as he crouched over her.

 

Then it went silent again. The phaser fire no longer illuminated up ahead. Ras raised his head looking into the darkness. The occasional red flash from the emergency lights barely illuminating everything in the area. The silence pushed Ras to the brink of panic. Then soft padding could be heard. It was a strange cadence though. Ras rose to his feet, ready for anything to come around that corner.

 

Jonesy: DOC! It’s her leg.

 

The marine came around the corner with Bobbart’s arm wrapped around his shoulders. She was limping and her leg was dripping blood. Bobbart groaned in pain with every step she took.

 

El’Heem: Give ‘er here.

 

Ras ran to them and took Bobbart from Jonesy. As he did, he looked over his shoulder back down the hallway. There was nobody else coming behind them. He braced her as she sat down next to the stretcher.

 

El’Heem: ::Panicked.:: Where’s Hobart and Matthews?

 

Jacin: Response

 

Bobbart: Th…they’re still down there.

 

El’Heem: Lieutenant. I gotta go see if they’re okay. Stay here, get a tourniquet on that leg.

 

With the marine in the hands of Lt. Jacin, Ras took off running into the darkness. His breathing was no longer steady. The only thing he could hear as he ran were his boots against the ground.

 

oO Where are you? Oo

 

Up ahead the hallway split into two ways, but it was hard to make out anything else. He slowed and approached the junction. The smell of charged plasma in the air. Ras stopped just short of being able to see down either direction.

 

El’Heem: Commander…? Matthews…?

 

Matthews / Hobart: Response

 

Tags/TBC

 

Ensign Ras El’Heem

Junior Medical Officer

USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)

K240106RE3