[G] LtCmdr Rahman: Reach Out (Shuttle, Away Team)

[Rich]

((Gateway Chamber, Nygel II))

::Roshanara and Lieutenant DeVeau were frantacally trying to reactivate the Gateway as the Orion captain and Commander Ross wrestled nearby, pummeling each other with their fists.::

DeVeau: One...two...three... something's gone. 

Rahman: What do see missing?

::Roshanara looked as well, but the sounds of the scuffle behind the two officers was making it hard for her to concentrate. From the wince-inducing sounds of cracked human cartilage and bone, it seemed the Orion was quickly gaining the upper hand.::

::Fortunately, DeVeau was already elbow deep into the open panel, looking for whatever she saw was absent. She soon held up a capsule, much like the ones already secured in some sort of circuit.::

DeVeau: Oh.  There it is. 

::She held it out to the engineer.::

DeVeau: You'd better do it.  I'm liable to make this thing explode.

::But Roshanara didn't hear her. Her eyes were closed and her head turned downwards. With each blow dealt by the Orion, she winced herself. She could feel the pure hate emanating from the man and conversely Commander Ross's desperation as he struggled to survive to rescue his fellow officers.::

DeVeau: RESPONSE

Rahman: ...I'm sorry... I...

::She tried to focus again on the contents of the panel. The capsules... yes... the colored capsules lay in front of her, but they were fuzzy now... her whole vision was getting fuzzy. Focus- ::

::Back in the struggle, the Orion grappled Commander Ross and slammed him into the ground.::

Pasht-Nos: Typical Starfleet arrogance. You think your technology and resources make you superior, but in the end, you're just a pathetic weakling hiding in a fancy uniform.

Ross: RESPONSE

::The Orion bellowed with laughter as he dealt another strike to Ross, who was now pinned down underneath him.::

Pasht-Nos: Don't worry. I won't kill you yet, commander. I'm going to make you watch as I kill the rest of your team first. I'll make you watch and see how you've failed them.

Ross: RESPONSE

::By this point, Roshanara herself was shaking. She could tell DeVeau was trying to tell her something, but it just sounded like an incoherent mess.::

DeVeau: RESPONSE

::She held up her right hand to her forehead and shouted.::

Rahman: Lieutenant, just do it already! That's an order!

DeVeau: RESPONSE

::What happened next was a blur. Whether DeVeau had placed the capsule in the machine or not, Roshanara wasn't sure, but either way, a sudden low whine rumbled out before rising rapidly into an ear-piercing shriek. A wave of energy propelled outwards from the sphere with enough force to knock Roshanara and DeVeau backwards. The Kriosian fell on her side and could see that the two doctors were now tending to Commander Ross. The Orion was lying face down in the ground, motionless.::

::There was a sudden rush of air that flew through the chamber now, spiraling around the Gateway. Roshanara turned her head to see that the mass of the sphere had disappeared, replaced by a circular "window" into space itself. Soon, the image of the distant stars was replaced by vistas of other worlds. The destinations appeared to flicker while they were displayed, a clear sign that something was wrong with the Gateway itself, yet Roshanara was still enthralled by the sight. The paralysis she had felt earlier was gone now, replaced by pure awe. Here was a true technological marvel, practically divine in nature, and she could feel tears forming as she continued to gaze upon it.::

::Meanwhile, the doctors had joined them, and Doctor Saveron attended to DeVeau first.::

Saveron: I will provide treatment where possible, however it would be preferable to... ::coughs up a bit of blood:: ... to return us all to the Mercury as rapidly as possible.

DeVeau: RESPONSE

Saveron: The ship has proven uncontactable. Permit me to splint your arm.

DeVeau: RESPONSE

Ross/T'Vai: RESPONSES

(OOC: Backsim as needed.)

::As one of the doctors tended to Roshanara looked back at the ancient Iconian wonder.::

Rahman: What about the Gateway, commander?

Ross: RESPONSE

::She turned back to address Ross, when she noticed immediately that the body of the Orion wasn't there anymore. Which meant-::

Pasht-Nos: Yes, what about the Gateway?

::They all turned to see the recovered Orion standing now with the rifle pointed again at them.::

Ross: RESPONSE

Pasht-Nos: I changed my mind, commander, about killing your team. ::A sadistic smile crept across his face as he aimed the weapon squarely at Ross.:: I'll start with you.

::He pulled the trigger.::

::And nothing happened. The man looked down briefly, confused.::

Anyone: RESPONSE

::But before the Orion could resort to another option, a high-pitched snarl echoed off the chamber's walls from above. Roshanara looked up to see two large figures perched off of the support arches high above. Similar in form to the alien corpse that still lay nearby, they dived together and crashed into the Orion.::

::The three bodies were entangled now as the Orion roared with fury, struggling to fight off the creatures. Roshanara barely made it out of the way as they tumbled towards the away team and then through the Gateway itself. When they did, the ancient machine sent out another wave of energy, knocking the away team down. Roshanara looked back up at the Gateway to see the destination vistas flickering even more erratically than before as the ground began trembling again. Rocks from above began trickling down the sides of the chamber walls as they started to crack and crumble.::

Rahman: Oh, dear...

Anyone: RESPONSE

::It was then that the away team unexpectedly received a call from Captain Kells. Had the Mercury returned?::

Kells: =/\= Kells to Ross and away team. =/\=

Ross: =/\= RESPONSE =/\= 

Kells: =/\= We've just arrived on the planet's surface in the Walter Schirra. How can we assist? =/\=

Rahman: =/\= Captain, we need an emergency beam out now to the surface! =/\=

Ross et al.: =/\= RESPONSE =/\= 

Kells/Sahriv/Shryker: =/\= RESPONSE =/\=

::Roshanara realized then that she and DeVeau still were without their combadges. She quickly yelled out to the science officer.::

Rahman: Lieutenant, grab onto someone!

DeVeau: RESPONSE

::For Roshanara, that someone was Commander Ross, and so right before the transporter beam took them away, she brushed aside her usual aversion to physical touch and embraced the man in a hug. The next thing the away team all saw once they were on the surface was the ground several hundred meters away collapsing in on itself, destroying the chamber from which they had just escaped.::

TAG! TBC...

Lt. Commander Roshanara Rahman

Chief Engineer and Second Officer, USS Mercury