MSNPC PO2C Dominika Ślimak - Walk in Shadows [Part 2]
Teayl Thorn
((Science Lab 3 / Bio-Decontamination, Deck 08, USS Compass Rose))
Together, they led them back up to deck eight. Dom fixed her eyes on the ceiling of the turbolift, refusing to let her gaze drift down to the streaks of blood and the misshapen lumps that had once been shipmates. Her stomach knotted, and she fought the urge to gag or cry inside her new EV suit. Both PO2Cs had suited up again, necessary precautions against explosive decompression, neural gas, or the worrisome possibility that their plague-preventative wasn’t as permanent as they hoped.
The doors to lab 3 were partially open, the way they had left them when they pried the doors open with the power all out. Inside the lab, the Rose’s decon chamber stood, the door also open, and the damage to both sides of the door was evident.
Corzy: I’m glad we can’t smell it again. You can’t imagine.
T'Fearne: Damage was done to the controls that allowed it to lock. Sabotage perhaps?
Dom swallowed hard, guilt spiking in her chest. Her eyes flicked to Corzy again for reassurance. Now was probably the time to tell the truth.
Roop/Winters: Response
Kel: Thankfully the computer is still functional. I'm looking at the logs now.
Ślimak: ::her gloved hands twisted together, eyes darting to the floor:: There is… There is something I need to… I…
Corzy interrupted, maybe trying to cover for her.
Corzy: There were three of them. ::looking to Dominika and moving closer to her:: A big security crewman, and the half-Klingon tactical officer?
Throat tightening. Dom gave a single, solemn nod. That much was true. They had tried to batter their way in.
Ślimak: Two of our security officers, and an ops ensign… they tried to break in while the treatment was running. I couldn’t stop them. I didn’t know what to do.
Corzy: Yes! Korm, Korge, something. And that little supply ferret Mandruso. Sally Mandruso. Ensign. They were consumed with homicidal ideation. Cruely so.
Dom began trembling at the memory. Lieutenants Korg and Walsh hammering their fists against the observation window, screaming through the view strip. Mandruso’s crazed eyes as she clawed at the console, fingers flying in fevered desperation to override safety locks and flood the chamber with plague.
Ślimak: Yes… but that doesn’t change what I did! ::voice cracked, pitching upward:: I panicked. I lied to them! I told them over the comm that it was the Gorn who were coming to get them. If they didn't run, they would be full of eggs! ::sniffling, fresh tears starting to well up:: They…they ran off saying something about “Kobayashi Maru” and ‘no win scenarios’.
Tears welled up, spilling as her shoulders shook.
Ślimak: Then… then I broke the chamber. ::pointing to the melted scoring on the internal doorframe, breath hitched:: That was me. That’s all I seem to do. Break things…
Corzy/Roop/Winters: Response
As others try to comfort her, the Ronin officer who seemed to be in charge, the Andorian commander, opened a comm. Dominika hiccuped, trying to pull herself together.
Kel: =/\= Kel to Sickbay and Syrex. Beck I have something. =/\=
Syrex: =/\= My Team is listening eagerly, Commander =/\=
Nemes/Avae: =/\= Response =/\=
The Commander smashed his fist into the bulkhead. The metallic thud echoed, startling Dom into a nervous step back, wide-eyed.
It seemed like the Ronin crew was also in trouble in some way. She wondered solemnly if the infection had already spread to them. If their captain and CMO were taking off and acting irrationally. She shot a fearful look toward Corzy, unsure if their rescuers were unravelling too. This was how it had begun for the Rose.
Ślimak: ::mouthing quietly to Corzy, pointing subtly at Kel:: What if they’re already infected? What if this is how it starts again?
Corzy/Roop/Winters: Response
Kel: ::annoyed:: =/\= Alright. I've got some news. I have two crewmen here on the Rose who have not been affected. It seems the Rose's CMO found a way to provide immunity. Using plant based systemic silencing. =/\=
Syrex: =/\= Intriguing, what’s the mechanism of action they used? =/\=
Nemes/Avae: =/\= Response =/\=
Kel: =/\= So when plants encounter a virus they make short RNA segments to bind up the viral RNA. Basically the virus never gets off the ground. =/\=
Syrex: =/\= Like it was tied up, unable to move it’s hands? =/\=
Nemes/Avae: =/\= Response =/\=
Kel: =/\= Exactly. These crewmen have trace amounts of virus in their system, but it can't replicate or cause illness. =/\=
Syrex: =/\= Is there a way we can use this on actively infected crew? =/\=
Nemes/Avae: =/\= Response =/\=
All the silent-plants-RNA stuff went right over her head, but she had managed to compose herself. If they asked her to stay aboard and help, she would. If they asked her to beam across, she would. Terror or not, she would do what was needed.
Corzy/Roop/Winters: Response
Ślimak: ::tentative, voice small but steady:: So… we’re immune now? Could… could you use us, or the chamber, to help the others? To stop this?
Kel: =/\= It's not a cure, but we might be able to offer protection to the Ronin Crew while we work. =/\=
Syrex: =/\= Thank you Commander, I eagerly await that transmission, Syrex out =/\=
The commline closed,
Nemes/Avae: =/\= Response =/\=
Corzy/Roop/Winters: Response
Ślimak: ::softly:: Agreed. Tell us what to do. How can we help?
[Tags / TBC]
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PO2C Dominika Ślimak
Engineering Technician
USS Compass Rose
Simmed by
Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14