Lieutenant Luxa Lorana - Oh Discordia!
Luxa Lorana
[[Computer Core Tank’s Chamber, 50th level, Lattice Alliance Unknown Structure]]
It was a grim discovery. A symbiont forced to live for decades in a cage, apart from its host and exploited for its knowledge. Luxa watched as it floated around them, aware of their presence in it’s chamber.
oO when was the last time it had seen another living creature? Oo
The holograms, a cruel gimmick. The form of this symbiont former friend. Or perhaps it had created them for some kind of familiar presence.
The Trill doctor had read the scrolling text in her home language back to them.
Lorana: It wants to be free? Return to Trill.
Syrex: It seems that way, the loneliness it felt must have been excruciating. I would be surprised if it didn’t want to return to our homeworld. It likely knows what we need to know.
Alieth: We should rescue them, they are a Federation citizen, after all :: She made a pregnant pause before resuming:: I am concerned about their mental state, though. So many years of captivity can break most people.
Luxa nodded enthusiastically, knowing that she could never leave here without this poor soul, she couldn't condemn it to any more suffering. Yet, it may not be as easy as they thought.
The petite commander had pulled out the PADD strapped to her leg, and connected it to the Core, making a rough copy of all the available raw data.
Luxa began the transfer protocols and watched as the screen flashed in recognition. Then she turned her attention back to the symbiont.
Lorana: Is it possible to move them?
She had directed the question to the two medically trained in the group. Syrex, being a Trill would undoubtedly be more familiar with the physiology of the symbiont yet she knew that Alieth was once a doctor herself.
She was grateful for both of them at this moment.
Syrex: I am sure I can look after it, if we beam it some of the fluid back to the Rhine, I can keep it in a tank until we can hand it over to the appropriate authorities.
The Vulcan nodded and looked around her.
Alieth: We can create a small container with the wall panels to catch some of the liquid in the pool, just enough to survive in the Rhine long enough until we replicate something more suitable. :: raising a hand:: but that will likely activate the defence protocols, and no doubt we will need to get out of the star system as soon as possible. :: glancing at her own PADD before checking on Lorana:: Do we have all the relevant information we need?
Luxa looked to the terminal.
Lorana: We still have several minutes left.
Syrex: Response
Alieth: Ok, I will leave this downloading until the last possible moment, when you finish your download, Miss Lorana, we will begin the process. :: Pressing her combadge:: =/\= Lieutenant Raedai, can you lock our signals and beam us up as soon as we give you the signal? We are going to do something that will set off the alarms. =/\=
Raedai: =/\= I've been listening, Commander. You are locked and I heard we are taking something else with us. I'm isolating and preparing one of the computer cores for data. I remain on standby. =/\=
Alieth appeared to have other concerns as she focused on the young doctor. Luxa was not prepared for the words that would come out of her mouth.
Alieth: Ensign Syrex, are you sure you can keep this symbiote alive by any means in your hands until we can get it to the Ronin? Even if that means you host it if there is no other alternative?
Luxa’s amber eyes widened within her suit as she looked from Alieth’s steely and determined gaze to the ensign, on her first away mission and now … facing the potential of becoming joined.
Not only that, the health and mental state of the symbiont was uncertain and how this could affect Syrex was largely unknown. Luxa furrowed her brow, she didn’t like it at all. Any of it, this was too much of a risk.
Lorana: Only as a last resort and even at that. It’s your body and your … identity. A joining is not to be taken lightly Ensign and if you don’t or can’t do it, then you won’t have too.
Syrex: Response
Alieth:Very well, we will do our best to ensure that this is not necessary.
Luxa then turned to the terminal, and pulled several files and added encryptions.
Alieth: Lorana, you and I will cut two panels and weld them into a hemisphere to hold the liquid from the pool. Ensign Syrex, capture the symbiote as soon as possible to deposit it in the container. :: Activating the helmet's inner communicator with her cheek:: =/\= Lieutenant, have you got us locked? =/\=
Raedai: =/\= They have been all along, secure a marker for the new guest. You are deep in the complex. =/\=
Luxa began to follow the instructions. She moved closer to the panelling nearest to them, and began to adjust the settings on her phaser. Her body stiffened at this new movement in the suit, she was reminded of how she gracefully entered the suit and now that she wanted to move quickly and with precision it inhibited her movements. She wondered if this was what it was to be humanoid. Clumsy and cumbersome.
Syrex: Response
Luxa welcomed the presence of her friend and mentor beside her. Just another adventure for them. Then her eyes flicked to the tank, it’s sole occupant seemed to float inertly, and she wondered if Roda and Sencha had stood side-by-side on their own adventures … only for the Lattice Alliance to rob them of their discovery and perhaps even their lives.
Alieth: On my mark: one, two, three... NOW!
They activated their phasers and began to detach both of the panels from the wall. Luxa tried to work in tandem with the Vulcan, except for once her Caitian body encumbered her. She couldn’t match the strength or dexterity of the Vulcan.
She wheezed in the suit as she struggled to hold her arm steady. Alieth began pulling at the panelling as she cut into it.
Luxa longed for her claws as the big and clumsy hands of the suit that covered her paws done nothing but slow her down more as she yanked the panelling off.
The circuits that seemed to run through it sizzled and let off small purple flares as she pulled each side of the wall apart. Halfway through the cutting process (and when she expected Lorana to be at a similar point) the entire room lit up a dark purple colour and a low, grim alarm began to rumble through the room.
Lorana: :: yanked at the panelling :: Eugh … :: as it comes free :: … Let's hurry!
Luxa was forced to remember her engineering training as she recalibrated the phaser. She was almost embarrassed at the lack of precision and skill they welded the panels together, and then the two scientists hastily filled the tank with fluid from the pool around them.
She looked up to the Trill who stood in wait.
Lorana: It’s your turn!
Syrex/Alieth: Response
((OOC- I’ve left this part open for Syrex to detail how she might navigate the transporting))
The doctor played her part and no sooner than the symbiont had been transplanted into it’s new home they heard the noise of the transporter and then found themselves back on the Rhine, along with their Romulan crew mate.
The ship rocked violently. Luxa didn’t waste much time in removing her suit, her feline body glided out of its imprisonment and almost soared into the pilot’s chair.
Raedai: They shoot at us with disruptors. Who said this place was abandoned?
The Romulan returned fire as Luxa activated the thrusters and prepared for warp.
Alieth/Syrex: response
Raedai: Lieutenant Lorana, stay on this course. :: He pointed for a moment to some coordinates on the pilot's station screen.:: The probes are waiting for us, they will generate false signals from the runaboat, we will become 7 ships, they can't chase them all. They will be activated as soon as we cross the cloaking field.
Lorana: :: smiled and nodded :: Raedai you are becoming one of my favourite persons.
Luxa followed the coordinates, she had to manoeuvre to avoid several disruptor shots towards them. The runabout swayed violently as she turned.
Lorana: You might want to hold on!
Alieth/Syrex: response
They took several more hits from the complex, the consoles flickered and the a system overloaded, causing sparks to fly and pieces of the ship to burn like rocks.
Luxa hated fire and let out a small hiss towards it, more from instinct than any practical means of improving their situation.
Raedai: reaching the edge of the camouflage field.... Now. Activating probes 1 to 6... Warp core ready.
Lorana: Ready, Lieutenant. On your mark Commander.
According to the sensors converging from their position, 6 Rhines appeared, each going in one direction.
Alieth/Syrex: response
Raedai: Out of the other cloaking field come several ships, heading for... probe 2... probe 4, probe 1... and us. It's a Tholian ship.
It wasn’t one of the leviathans, a slight relief that was quickly replaced with the realisation that the Rhine was also no match for this ship either.
It let off a volley of torpedoes, that flashed towards the runabout just as the ship went into warp with a violent jolt and she was thrown forwards and then backwards. Her body screamed in pain and shock at the sudden and violent movement.
Lorana: Warp field destabilising … :: the ship rocked again, much more aggressively :: I can’t keep us in warp any longer, the ship might pull apart!
Alieth/Syrex: response
Tags/ End Act 2 for Luxa Lorana
((OOC - this can resume in Act 3 and for hopefully the Rhine’s rescue??))
