[[BACKSIM]] Lt JG Tess Evinrude - Internal Monologue

[Tess Evinrude]

((Posterior Dorsal Corridor, Cosmozoan))

((OOC: This is a no-tags scene, backsimming to the end of Act II to better link our team's scene with current events. I took the liberty of assuming that the other teams were able to share their data, and I'm introducing the idea that perhaps the source of some of Narhelion's internal necrosis is tied to her "waste material and heat removal system"...a.k.a. space whale gas.))

Tucker's voice (flashback): We’ve lost Doctor Beck.

The words rang in Evinrude's ears as he and Tucker plodded along, searching for the source of the engineer's readings.

Now that they had something to do, a task to focus their energy on, he was able to tune into some of his other senses. The one currently nagging at him was his sense of smell. This long, snaking hallway exuded an earthy mineral scent, with undertones of damp decay and fermenting fruit.

oO Definitely some kind of post-digestive pathway. Oo

To keep his mind off of the loss of his friend, Tess tried theorizing about the entity that surrounded them, using scan data to inform his thinking. The other team had been able to share some of their data in the bursts that transmitted their brief comm call, and Evinrude was synthesizing that information with 

oO So that venting of atmosphere from this passage immediately followed the energy buildup reported by the other teams. Interesting. Oo

Data was incomplete, but there were snippets in their shared package about crystalline technology, and an explosion.

oO Tholians. Oo

He wished he could openly communicate with the others, share resources, information, and...grief.

Evinrude's voice (flashback): Beck! Can you hear us? ::Tess frantically rotated comm channels and tried again.:: Quentin!

An intrusive memory, recalled with perfect replication, resounded in Evinrude's mind. He gritted his teeth, took a breath.

oO Focus. If the Tholians are here, then the heat's just been turned up. Oo

Speaking of heat, the tunnel they were navigating was getting warmer. Tucker pointed out that the increase in temperature seemed to coincide with an increase in overall energy signature. It was as if this leviathan were becoming more active, and the waste management system also served as a heat sink.

oO Why hasn't it expelled this heat? Is something wrong with the venting system? Oo

Evinrude sighed. He'd been mostly silent as he followed Commander Tucker on their winding journey through gargantuan intestines, chasing down the energy signature that the engineer had latched onto. But this realization was worth vocalizing.

Evinrude: Commander. I've been thinking.

Tucker turned to him as they walked.

Evinrude: If this, ah, corridor loses atmo again, I don't have a suit. Which...is a bridge we can cross when we get to it. But the energy and thermal readings around us are much higher than last time, and we haven't experienced another venting event.

He'd have to think of a better term. "Venting event" sounded ridiculous.

Evinrude: Do you think there's something damaged back here? The necrosis that scans have been picking up could be affecting--

A voice reverberated throughout the damp corridor. It came from nowhere and everywhere, as if the sound were emanating from the fleshy walls themselves.

Cosmozoan: Aggressor. Crystal Aggressor sting Narhelion. Narhelion, eradicate angry crystal.

Marty and Tess were stunned into silence, but then the operations officer's mind began to race with analysis.

oO Aggressor was accusatory, but then...Crystal Aggressor? Tholians! This entity was "stung" by them. And what's Narhelion? Is that its name? Oo

Again, the deep voice reverberated around them. It was vaguely feminine - or at least exhibited audiological traits he associated with feminine humanoids. Tess reminded himself that his own experience with humans and similar, familiar species did not necessarily translate to a giant spacefaring leviathan.

oO Focus on the objective facts. The voice sounds...capable of emotion. It must be accustomed to communicating with sentient beings, or at least learns quickly. Oo

Narhelion: Vocal communication. Inadequate. Narhelion, not used to. Narhelion, release. Narhelion only sought mind link. Intruder removable dermis prevent.

oO Intruder. Is that us? Oo

Had to be. They were, after all, performing an incredibly invasive exploration.

oO Inadequate vocal communication... Oo

That idea lent itself to his second theory, that this "Narhelion" was a fast learner, and perhaps unaccustomed to communicating with spoken language.

oO Removable dermis. Removable...dermis? Oo

What could that mean?

Evinrude's voice (flashback): Dammit Marty, he's in there! :: Hands shaking, Tess brought the medical wand to bear, adding its unique sensor package to his tricorder readings. Quentin, meanwhile, clad in rippling black, began to shuffle towards him.::

Tucker's voice (flashback): This is messed up, is he in there or not?

Evinrude's voice (flashback): Quentin, stop moving! Get---back away!

oO The EV suit! Our suits are a sort of "removable dermis!" Oo

If their suits impeded Narhelion's communication, then perhaps it only sought to remove the suits?

Evinrude: Sir! ::Tess said, breaking the silence after Narhelion's communication ended.:: Beck might be alive!

[End Scene for Evinrude]

--

Lieutenant J.G. Tess Evinrude

[he/him]

Operations Officer

USS Ronin

R240111TE1