Lt. Commander Ross - Bad Mom Goose

[Hannah S]

((Main Office, Ivory Tower, StarBase 118))

It didn't feel right to drag his Commanding Officer around like a toddler, but did he have any chance? Gogi had shut up, neither protesting nor following Ross' lead, which he took as a win - for now. Still, one member of his team was gone without trace - and gazing around in the corridor did neither summon Sael nor Bryce. Their silence worried him. Why had Bryce stopped shouting...? 

Currently there was only one man who could give him an answer. Ross turned around to Ifra.

Ross: What's the chancellor like? Would he hurt a young woman without reason?

Ifra’s nostrils flared. Ross had no concept of Ameoneian facial expressions, but he didn't seem pleased with the question.

Ifra: I know he’s made a poor first impression, but I promise you that Athemir is a man of good conscience. We… he seems to have forgotten a great deal, but despite his fear, he would not hurt anyone without cause. I’ve known him now for over twenty years - he can be distrustful and stubborn as hell, but he is not… he can be reasoned with. I wouldn’t be standing here if that wasn’t true.

What other chance did Ross have than believing him? This assessment was all they had. So he nodded, trying to trust the pinch of relief inside his chest for now. 

Ross: We don't know who of us is gonna be hit next by this... regress. We need to work together in this, alright? ::he locked eyes with Ifra:: We both want the same. Get our people back unhurt. And it looks like we are the only ones we can count on right now.

Ifra nodded sharply.

Ifra: You’ll get no disagreement from me, Commander. 

Ross: Good.

Ross had never been a military man. He came from a world of drinks and shouting, or silence and isolation - for the longest time the stiff Starfleet protocol had seemed strange and alienating to him. But right now, when he exchanged a determined nod with Ifra, it was a concept uniting worlds. A few hundred years of isolation could be bridged bridged if both of them worked for the same goal: if they agreed to become a team. 

Ifra looked at Fairhug next. But Gogi’s gaze seemed to have turned inwards - he looked oddly lost in the dimly lit corridor. Ross hesitated for another second - then he patted Fairhug's back and pulled him with him, signalling Ifra that they would have to continue on their own terms. In that way they were similar - both their leaders had disappeared, although one of them was still standing next to them.

Ifra: Right. ::clapping his hands together once:: Then let’s stop standing in this hallway like lost kedans and get started.

The Ameoneian didn't waste more time and turned around, striding back towards the central hall. Ross lingered for another heartbeat - his gaze snapped back towards Gogi who stared at one of the walls as if he was in deep thought, pondering about nameless things. There were only seconds - and Ross made a call he hopefully wouldn't regret. 

Ross: ::softly:: Come on, pal. 

It was only a short slip of the hand - a distracting gesture, pulling Gogi with him, padding his back so he wouldn't notice - and with a swift movement, Ross picked the pips of his Captain's collar. 

It would be more safe, right? Who knew what would happen to Gogi if he realised he was the king of this madhouse? 

Ross threw one last gaze back into the dark, thinking about Bryce - oO Please, be safe. Oo 

When they stepped back into the hall, Ifra had started to talk to the rest of his group. 

Ifra: My friends! As you’ve seen, we are experiencing some kind of unexplained event that robs us of our memories. The Chancellor has been affected, as have many Starfleet personnel. We do not know if more of us will experience symptoms, but we cannot afford to wait around and find out. Those of you who are already symptomatic will stay here for evaluation. Those of you who are not: we will be forming search parties to find the Chancellor and the counselor. At least one Ameoneian and one Starfleet officer in each. That is… if you don’t object, Commander.

He turned to Ross with an expression that he took as guilt - but to be honest, he was glad that Ifra took charge of the situation. His own head was still spinning - and the Ameoneian's plan sounded solid. So he nodded.

Ross: No objection. ::turning around towards a crewman rushing past:: Hey! Do you still have your memories, Sir?  

While he assigned the confused man to get hold of more officers, Ifra turned back to his people. 

Ifra: The Chancellor is confused, but you know him. He is not unreasonable. We must do anything we can to get both Sael and Ensign Dylan back unharmed. ::to Ross:: Do you still have access to a map of this section of the station? Sergeant Larell ::he pointed out an Ameoneian woman in armor:: can assist with creating a search grid while we attempt to get to the bottom of this blackout?

Ross: Sounds good. You can have my PADD. 

He handed it over to the Ameoneian. By now, enough officers had assembled to form a peer system - people got together and started talking. It would have been almost heartwarming, if they weren't dealing with a hostage situation. 

Ifra: Do you know if this incident is isolated to the tower? When was the last time you were able to contact someone elsewhere on the station?

Ross: I'm afraid it is not. Shortly after your arrival, there were reports from Sickbay about similar incidents. Ops and Security are unreachable. It seems the whole station is drowning in Chaos. 

Ifra: ? 

Ross: ::turning to the groups of officers:: One of our Officers, Counsellor Bryce, has been taken hostage by the Ameoneian Chancellor. Both of them have been influenced by the memory loss. It is very important not to escalate the situation further. We are working together in this - we want both of them unharmed.  ::he took a deep breath:: Seargant Larell will take the lead. I want the whole tower searched. 

He exchanged a glance with Ifra - then the group around them dispersed into different directions, as Seargant Larell pointing the teams to different grids.

Ifra: ? 

Ross: We need to figure out wh...- 

That's when he noticed. 

Ross' eyes widened in shock as his gaze snapped around them - teams of Ameoneians and Starfleet officers shuffled past them, there was the crewman he had just talked to, there was Larell, there was Ifra....

...but someone was missing.

His bloodstream ran cold. Ross rushed around himself, desperately scanning the room - 

Ross: Where's the Captain?! 

Ifra: ? 

Ross: He was right behind me when we came ba-... 

Or was he? Ross gasped and rushed back to the doors that were still half open, ripped apart by Ameoneian strength - 

Ross: Captain?! - Fairhug? Where... Gogi!! 

His shouts were useless - he felt close to blacking out when he buried his hands in his hair and turned back to Ifra.

Ross: He's gone.

Wandering aimlessly around the station, without orientation, without memory - without his rank. 

Ifra: ? 

***

Lt. Commander Evan Ross
Intelligence Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240009ER2