Ensign Alyndra Syrex - For all of your tomorrows

[Alyndra Syrex]

OOC – Yes I know! I just moved so my signature isn’t set up on my laptop yet, here you go!

 

((Medical Lab 1 - Sickbay Complex - Deck 7 - USS Excalibur-A))

 

Syrex: The symbiont is stable, we’re watching you :: Continues stroking hand:: you’ll be alright.

Lorana: Crewman please continue if you can.

Vylax: Ok, here I go…

 

Vylax's eyes slowly closed as the shuddering throughout her body subsided. Her tense expression softened, and a deep sigh escaped her lips moments later. Bright electrical pulses radiated from the pool, indicating a clear exchange occurring between the symbiont and the crewman.

 

Syrex: Isoboramine levels are high, Vylax, how do you feel?

Vylax: We are both fine.

Lorana: Salix? Ensign keep an eye on the neural pathways for all of them.

Syrex: Already on it, Lieutenant.

Vylax raised her hands and stared at them as if they were not her own, examining them intimately. After a moment, she snapped her head towards Alyndra and Lt Lorana. A large, disturbing, spine-shivering smile came across the face of the Vulcanoid, turning into a manic uncharacteristic laugh.

Salix: :: laughs manically :: I am Salix! :: her hands raised and touched her face and then ran down her body :: We are Salix. 

Luxa could hear the inflections, the turbulence in the voice and the notes of sadness. And madness. Her pitch was odd and uneven as if the symbiont was trying to learn how to speak once more. After decades of silence, potentially no contact. 

 

This was very bizarre, usually during this exchange, a vision- a hallucination of the symbiont’s hosts can be seen by the joined trill, this was an exception to the rule. Either the will of Salix was so unbearably strong that Vylax had no chance but to yield, or… Her Vulcan physiology interfered with the normal passage of signals in the pool. Alyndra needed to know Vylax was safe. She began to run every test she could think of.

Lorana: Ensign give me a status? I don't want Vylax compromised. Any sign of degradation we will end this. 

 

Syrex: Increase in Glutamate levels, Isoboramine levels have stabilised, decrease in baseline dopamine, nothing concerning, but there’s certainly a mental strain for both of them. 

 

Lorana: Salix do you know where you are? 

 

Salix: I'm here. 

Vylax's head looked down into the pool and then she turned to the Caitlan Science Officer. 

Vylax: Please … sir… I don't … 

 

Lorana: Doctor how's she doing? 

Syrex: Glutamate levels still rising, heartbeat is becoming irregular, and axon potentials are firing off. Their condition is deteriorating, we need to stop as soon you have what you need.

 

Salix: Stop resisting me! Stop it! 

Vylax snapped her head to either side as if fighting with her own body. 

Salix: :: rambling :: In the days … in the hours … in the dark we count down to 3578. That's the number. The key. :: Looks directly to Luxa :: Where is Sencha?!? 

It seemed to Alyndra that the mere mention of Sencha flipped a switch in Lt Lorana. She seemed ready to end this whole thing, yet at the mention of Sencha, she couldn't resist pushing a little further. Alyndra dispensed a hypospray containing a glutamate inhibitor into Vylax, hoping that would buy them some more time. It seemed to mellow Salix a little, at least for now. 

Lorana: You remember Sencha? 

 

Syrex: Glutamate level lowering, adding pH buffer to compensate ::Hyposprays again::

 

Salix: :: nods :: I need to speak with her. You don't understand, she doesn't know. No one knows. 

 

Lorana: Sencha's symbiont Niac, do you remember them? 

Salix: :: smiles slyly :: I want Sencha. I need to speak to her. I will only speak with her. :: sing song :: She doesn't know. 

 

Alyndra looked over at Vylax, who was portraying Salix’s thoughts. Seeing a Vulcan say these things was unusual, especially in this tone. Alyndra considered the long-term consequences for this on Vylax. Counselling would almost certainly be needed.

Lorana: =/\= Lorana to Alieth. We've established contact with the Salix symbiont. =/\=

Syrex: =/\= Both Crewman Vylax and Salix also seem to be stable =/\=

 

Alieth: =/\=Understood officers, those are good news.=/\=

 

Lorana: =/\= The symbiont is displaying signs of … confusion and I'm not sure of their intentions. They are looking for Sencha and have indicated that they will only communicate with her. =/\=

 

Alieth: =/\= Will they only talk to Sencha? Will they talk to Niac? =/\=

 

Lorana: =/\= I believe they will. But I'm not sure. The Crewman who volunteered cannot tolerate much more, we may have to engage with the Guardians for something more … stable.=/\=

Vylax face changed from a wide smile to a state of sorrow. Then she laughed and burst into song, as if she had a change in emotion for each of the 60 seconds in a minute.

 

Syrex: =/\= Even a guardian’s influence can only do so much ::Looking towards Vylax::, we may need more help from Trill itself =/\=

Alieth: =/\= Keep trying though, and stay in touch, Alieth out.=/\=

 

Luxa turned her attention to Alyndra. 

Lorana: How is she doing? 

 

Syrex: Let’s just say as soon as you have what you need, we should stop.

 

Lorana: Let's end this. We cannot risk further mental strain to Vylax :: Luxa nodded towards the ensign :: Thank you Ensign. 

 

 

Alyndra nodded back towards the lieutenant as the Caitlan began to disconnect the ERM device. She can see the tension fall from the crewman's body. 

As she slumped forward, together the two officers helped Vylax out of the pool, just as they’d helped her in. 

Syrex: "Her erratic heartbeat may be due to fluctuating glutamate levels. Could you arrange regular check-ups for Crewman Vylax until the ship's CMO is satisfied? Also, please evaluate the crewman's electrolytes, especially calcium, as their sarcomeres may have been damaged from neurotransmitter influx and muscle strain."

 

A member of the medical team nods, logging something into their PADD. 

 

Lorana: Vylax?

 

The woman looked up to them and nodded. 

Vylax: I'm back. It's all me. I ... It's insane :: the officer twitched slightly:: I ... Can't do that again. 

 

oO I’m glad they seem conscious and coherent Oo

Lorana: You won't have too. 

Syrex: Agreed, you did well crewman, please rest now, you’ve earned it. 

 

 

Alyndra could feel Lt Lorana placed one of her paws onto Vylax’s shoulder, looking over the crewman’s shoulder, the lieutenant was looking back at her. She gave off a look, Alyndra couldn’t tell what it meant, but at the same time, it meant the world.

 

She realized that there was still much to be done. She had a strong feeling that her encounters with Salix and perhaps even Vylax were far from over. This moment marked the start of something new, her life on the USS Ronin had only just begun, and despite the chaos, and the destruction, the future looked bright. Something came from today; it would give others their tomorrow.

End Act Three/Mission for Alyndra Syrex. 

 

Ensign Alyndra Syrex

Medical Officer

USS Ronin (NCC-34523)

R240107AS3