Lt. Cmdr. Ian O'Connor- The Patience of a Teenager
rob mahardy
((The Creche within The Lid on Moon Sigma, Ross-580 Gas Giant A))
Smiling widely, Ian placed the holographic emitter near the playpen area and began tapping on his tricorder.
O’Connor: Activate Emergency Holographic Beck-o-Nanny
A holographic figure flickered into existence. Renaie wondered if it was another one of Beck's holograms, as it looked a lot like him.
EBN: I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you. ::a beat:: Hello, Neighbor. How can I be a neighbor for you today?
Wren: Hello!
Renaie simply waved awkwardly.
T’Fearne: ::wincing:: I’m not sure of the quality of those programs—and they are disturbing! We should get the transport enhancers out and see if we can get these babies—-base personnel to the Ronin sickbay, out of harm's way.
Wren: ::Shaking her head to clear it:: We can definitely set up a staggered transport to the Ronin, and leave the Tholian in the hands of the hologram. It shouldn’t be able to hurt him
EBN: Let's put a pin in that for a moment, friends - the more information you give me, the more I can understand what kind of neighbor you really need. So let's make the most of this beautiful day - since we're together, we might as well say…
Shortrith: ::unsure:: Lets go?
Safe to say, the EBN wasn't totally happy with their response.
O’Connor: No comms anyway. We need to make do with what we got. ::gestures at hologram::
Ian could tell no one was thrilled with this but it would do for now.
T’Fearne: Shall we go find the rest before they or we turn into babies?
EBN: Go. I've got this one taken care of for now.
Shortrith: ::genuinely:: Thank you.
O’Connor: Yeah, hold down the fort, so to speak.
((Back in Corridor inside The Lid, Moon Sigma in orbit of Gas Giant A, Ross 580 System))
As they headed out back into the corridor Ian noticed the doctor give Wren a reassuring look and pat. He wished he could reassure them all better but he wasn’t sure how it would come across fro his 16 year old appearance. Then he glanced at T’Fearne and her even younger visage. Despite that she was still her and professionally checked the hallway as they stepped in.
T’Fearne: Clear… carefully. :: gesturing for Ian to go first::
The corridors were silent for a few moments until the group stopped, with both Wren and T'Fearne looking like something was wrong.
T’Fearne: Hold on there is someone ahead. ::glancing toward Wren:: Ensign, are you sensing them too?
Wren:.... Actually I’m pretty sure that’s all I can see right now….. And feel. ::feeling her way to the wall:: Give me a second.
Shortrith: I'm gonna hold your arm and guide you, if you don't mind.
O’Connor: Just be careful.
He glanced at T’Fearne and drew up his phaser to a more ready position while slowly advancing.
((Reactor Room, The Lid, Moon Sigma in orbit of Gas Giant A, Ross 580 System))
At the doorway Ian peaked in but with a lot of back lighting it was difficult to see.
The room was at least a few levels tall, with the curved roof having a burst hole in the centre from the radiation.
Ian didn’t see anyone and lifeform readings were obscured by the radiation, so he almost jumped when a voice pierced the silence, hostile and suspicious.
Rurat'dari: Who are you?
It was difficult to see from this angle but the silhouette seemed to be that of a Jem’Hadar.
T’Fearne: Starfleet, Search and Rescue from the USS Ronin.
O’Connor: We ::voice cracks:: We’re here to help
The voice that responded was tense and hostile
Rurat'dari: What are you doing here?
T’Fearne: ::simply:: People are still alive here.
Wren: ::still not looking:: We’re trying to evacuate any survivors we can find.
Shortrith: We're trying to save who we can.
O’Connor: We just want to help. We need to get everyone out of here.
As he was speaking a tremor shook the building.
O’Connor: It’s obviously not safe. C'mon,, let's get you away from her.
Rurat'dari: Why? What's the point?
T’Fearne: ::gently:: You don’t have to handle this alone.
Wren: ::still apart from the group:: This room is mostly clear from the radiation thanks to that containment field. It’s in good shape too. If I had to guess, they used all the remaining energy to form the field, but it won’t last forever. I’d say we have about two hours until it ruptures.
Shortrith: If we evacuate who we can, we can save as many as possible.
Rurat'dari: ::sternly:: I'm staying here.
Ian's stance shifts, obviously starting to get annoyed.
O’Connor: Don’t be crazy. You heard her, we’ve maybe…maybe…got a couple hours.
T’Fearne: Response
Wren: It’s a bit of a stretch, but that looks like the core at the bottom of the pit. If it’s stable, we might be able to warp it directly into a star. It’ll ignite, and burn up.
Shortrith: What impact will that have on the sector? ::To Rurat'dari:: We're here to help. Two of your colleagues have already likely passed on.
Rurat'dari: So what? The investors don't care.
O’Connor: Maybe they don’t …but we do. No one else needs to die here.
T’Fearne: Response
Shortrith: The radiation levels are way too high to be safe - what are you even trying to do here?
Rurat'dari: We're… experimenting.
Ian looked at her as harshly as an awkward teen can.
O’Connor: Yeah, well, ::gestures at the hole in the roof and the pit in the floor:: good job.
T’Fearne: Response
Renaie paused. How were they going to tell her that she was likely going to have negative effects of the Sencha waves?
Shortrith: You have to leave. You're going to die if you stay here.
Rurat'dari: No. I'm not leaving. I'm making too much progress.
O’Connor: Oh, for the love of::sighs, catching himself:: C'mon. Experiments over.
Wren/T’Fearne: Response
Shortrith: Are your supervisors the Lattice Alliance?
She raised her eyebrows, growing more hostile.
Rurat'dari: What does it matter to you?
O’Connor: ::glares:: I like to know what we’re dealing with and also it may help us to contain the mess you’ve unleashed.
Wren/T’Fearne: Response
Shortrith: Let's just say we were almost attacked by some Tholians.
Rurat'dari: Can neither confirm nor deny.
Ian bit at his upper lip and adjusted his grip on his phaser.
O’Connor: Cute.
Wren/T’Fearne: Response
Rurat'dari: Look, if it matters to you that much, just leave. I don't care whether I'm going to die, I've come this far. I'm finishing this project.
Ian limped farther into the room more and shifted to the side, now being able to see the technician better. One side of her arm looked...wrong.
O’Connor: I’m thinking that it’s quite the opposite. This project is finishing you.
He waved his free hand in the direction of Rurat’dari’s arm.
Shortrith/Wren/T’Fearne:Response
'dari glanced at her arm, noticing some swelling and infections.
Rurat'dari: So what? It'll go away eventually.
Ian rolled his eyes.
O’Connor: So will life.
Shortrith/Wren/T’Fearne: Response
Her face solidified into a stony expression.
Rurat'dari: No. This is too fascinating to leave.
O’Connor: I don’t know if fascinating is the word I’d use. I doubt your de-aged or dead colleagues would think it's fascinating.
Shortrith/Wren/T’Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
O’Connor: Look, we don’t have time for this. There are others we still need to try to help and I can’t let you stay here and continue your “fascinating experiment” My patience has reached its limit here. :: levels his phaser:: Preferably, you can come willingly…or if you want to be difficult…I can stun you and drag your unconscious form along with us.
Shortrith/Wren/T’Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
O’Connor: Yeah, okay I get it…the hard way then.
He fired his phaser…
… nothing happened.
O’Connor: What the… ::Smacks side of phaser and tries again::
Still nothing.
Shortrith/Wren/T’Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
He frowned at his phaser and shook it trying to fire yet again.
O’Connor: Radiation or maybe the containment field must be…
He cut his words short as he saw two fully adult Tholians enter the chamber from a crumbling side passageway.
Shortrith/Wren/T’Fearne/Rurat'dari: Response
TBC/Tags
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Lieutenant Commander Ian O’Connor
HCO
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240009IO4