Sachiko - "Predator"
Amanda Nordstrom
(( Science Labs, Deck 3, USS Thor ))
Sachiko was a part of the group, that much had to go without saying. Didn’t they know she was the most important officer there? The idea that they would go without her seemed ridiculous. Rising, she lowered her haunches and sat there staring at them particularly Velaan, who had been the one to bring her into the fold, only to suddenly deny that she could participate in whatever adventure they were about to enter into.
Sachiko: Mrrroooooooow.
Tito: One day someone should develop a translator for them as well.
Perhaps someday someone would. It would certainly make communicating with the two leggeds far easier.
Orlon, A.: Are ya alright there, little one? Yeesss? Or nay?
The cat craned her neck around, her blue eyes blinking at the scientist, as if assessing what the redheaded woman said.
Orlon, A.: Just a scientific inquiry ::Looking down at Sachiko:: What’s yer verdict, huh?
V. Saa: She is clearly completely affection starved.
A low rumbling emanated from deep within her throat, but that time it wasn’t a purr, but something else. Yet, it didn’t seem aimed at Aislin, but at the man who had given her the collar and badge. Once again, she craned her neck, looked at Velaan, then hissed softly. She promptly proceeded to butt her head against Ash immediately afterward.
Talyra: An insatiable little creature, it seems.
Tito: Looks like someone wants a lift. Do you want me to hold up to your PADD, Lieutenant?
Orlon.A.: Oh, does someone else want ta carry her?
V. Saa: Considering we’re going into a biology lab, I figure the scientists hands should be free in case there is anything of note to study in there.
Velaan held out his arm and Sachiko gazed at it in seeming contempt for a moment. After all, something he had said must have offended her sensibilities. In the end, however, she twisted around and delicately stepped up the arm and curled about his neck, as if she silently told him he should be grateful she graced him with her presence.
Tito: I am certain that between… ::Tito smiled at the cat:: the five of us, we can figure this out.
Orlon, A.: Ah’m sure we kin! Why dunna we head out?
V. Saa: Grab any gear you might want just in case.
Sachiko didn’t need extra gear - hers was built in. Although dogs seemingly got all the credit, a cat’s nose was incredibly sensitive. While she might not be able to detect scents from as far away, she had a keener nose that could make out distinctions that most canines overlooked. Dogs’ senses were not nearly as refined. As the red headed female stepped out, she paused, then turned.
Orlon, A.: Perhaps, someone else should lead. Ah have’na yet got me bearings.
V. Saa: Ensign Talyra and Lieutenant Tito here can led.
As Talyra took a deep breath, Sachiko’s head turned and her eyes gazed at the woman, half closed, cool and calm. Perhaps it was disdain. Or simply acknowledging that she sensed the woman felt something. Or she was simply looking in the direction of the sound.
Tito: Of course. ::turning to Talyra:: Looks like we will play the hosts.
Talyra: Certainly.
Sachiko didn’t say anything, likely because there wasn’t anything worth saying. Instead, she merely flicked one ear and waited patiently upon the man’s shoulders.
Orlon, A.: Which way to the biology labs? Apparently we have a date with some worms and mice.
Talyra stepped forward and Sachiko’s eyes followed her even as her pink tongue traced a path over her lips.
Talyra: They are to the right here, I believe.
The other male indicated the same direction as Talyra, affirming her choice. Sachiko still didn’t say anything.
Tito: That way.
The feline head lifted and her ears pricked forward even as her tongue made a second appearance. Of course, one of the humans thought she could read the little cat's mind.
Orlon, A.: Oh. That was’na a dinner invitation. Ya may have ta wait a little longer ta eat.
V. Saa: You also have no idea what they’ve eaten either.
Tito: I trust there will be no need to eat… Or be eaten…
Talyra: I am reasonably sure our lab animals are fed a proper diet appropriate to their species, unless the diet itself is the experiment.
That was not a guarantee. After all, the group had talked about mice and worms, and both were easy prey for a predator of Sachiko’s caliber. Her thoughts about the idea, or whether or not she would get a meal, however, remained in the realms of mystery. Not that they were talking about feeding her. Or maybe they were. Or maybe she was simply waiting for lunch to appear.
((Biology Labs, Deck 4, USS Thor ))
The group continued and finally officially stood before the doors to the Biology labs. From her perch, Sachiko remained watchful and alert.
V. Saa: Anyone with a tricorder want to scan before we open?
Tito: I was thinking exactly that Lieutenant Saa. ::Tito arched his eyebrow as the first results started to show:: Curious… I am really a lot of life signs, as expected, but they appear to be more than it should…
Unlike cats, humanoids didn’t usually have quite so keen a smell. The little feline, however, definitely smelled something. Her nose lifted to the air and her nostrils flared, even as a tricorder trilled its findings to the owner.
Talyra: I am not seeing any humanoid life signs. There does seem to be more smaller life signs than I would expect from here though. Many more, as Lieutenant Tito says.
Orlon A: Is the kitty goin’ ta get an extra meal after all?
The response from the cat wasn’t quite a meow, nor even a trill. It was a half trill, a rolling musical purr, but very short, only two, maybe three rolls before it stopped, as if she were answering the woman. Or perhaps she just knew there was something beyond the door.
At that point, Velaan tapped onto the control panel and the doors slid open. Immediately, Sachiko rose and stood upon his shoulders, balancing herself expertly. To them, it was dark, but to her, she could still see what lay behind. They moved inward and though Sachiko wobbled, she maintained her balance.
V. Saa: Contamination seems to be more like a containment breach. ::looks around:: Also I don't see the mice or any signs the moths ate the mice.
Tito: I am not sure what their diet consists of… ::Tito raised the tricorder around:: There appears to be more spread around the room.
Talyra: It’s possible that the gossamer mice are in a neighboring lab space.
The stomp of one of the women’s feet drew a sharp look from the cat, but she didn’t spend much time on the matter, her interest on other things.
Orlon A.: Dunna tell me that in my first week as Chief of Science Ah have - nay just a mouse - but a webspinnin’ mouse infestation ta deal with.
Carefully, Sachiko jumped down from Velaan’s shoulder and lightly landed upon the floor. One man moved inward more, as did one of the other women. The darkness couldn’t sway Sachiko, her eyes large and round as she peered through the darkness.
Tito: I think we might have another problem…
Talyra: On top of the unexpected giant moth colony?
Orlon A.: That sounds incredibly banjaxed.
The only thing Sachiko offered by way of a response was a sneeze, followed by a shake of her head that sent her ears flapping. It was brief, however, and she immediately returned to her alert state.
Tito: I am getting stronger readings from the ventilation system. It is self contained, but… We also have to check that…
Talyra: Well, they’re not the same as the spidermoths. See these marks here? I think we found out where the gossamer mice went.
Orlon A. : Where did they go?
There was only a brief pause before the woman spoke again.
Orlon A. : Ash am’na a biologist.
The humanoids were confused. Sachiko was not. She lowered her height and began to slink forward.
Talyra: The laboratories have measures in place to prevent cross-contamination, right?
Had Sachko had vocal chords that allowed her to formulate words, she might have been able to spout off some information gleaned from her years as Alora DeVeau’s cat. She did not, however, nor did she try to offer any advice. She was focused on something.
Tito/V. Saa: Responses
Lights came on, and then, they were everywhere, and Sachiko had seen them in the darkness. Suddenly, their vision was interrupted, and then most of the moths migrated upward. Not all of them, though, for Talyra shooed one away from her arm and it spiraled toward the floor. Sachiko crouched down low, then leaped up to catch it in the air.
Orlon A. : So what ye’re sayin’ is we need ta call an exterminator. Good thing we have an OPS officer amongst us.
Talyra: Is this a … normal size for these moths? Maybe they are eating the gossamer mice and feeding well, and the survivors left through the ventilation shaft.
Orlon A.: They are’na big enough ta eat the mice, are they? Mice Ah am familiar with. Ah did spend several summers in Eire. They would have to be bat-sized moths.
There was a pause, and then when the woman spoke next, a hint of concern laced her voice.
Orlon A.: Oh, please tell me that they are’na bat-sized moths.
Obviously they weren’t, at least not the ones in the room, but even if they had been, they would have been no match for Sachiko. However, her first attempt to catch one actually failed. She thought she had it, but as she came down and lifted a paw, the moth had managed to avoid capture. Not for long.
Tito/V. Saa: Responses
Talyra: ::mutters:: This is a big reason why I didn’t pick any of the specialties dealing with life.
Orlon A.: ::to herself:: Ah dunna like bats.
Whether or not Sachiko liked bats would remain, among other things, a mystery. She didn’t care about bats at that moment anyway. With her eyes still wide despite the lights, her tail swished back and forth with more eagerness, and her head tilted one way, then the other, trying to decide which month to aim for next.
Tito/V. Saa: Responses
Orlon A.: Lieutenant Tito, do you have any suggestions on how ta take care of it?
While most of the moths were out of her reach, a few remained below, skittering toward consoles or darting here and there. One aimed toward a wall, and Sachiko, bending her legs so she crept low to the ground, stalked it.
Tito/V. Saa/Talyra: Responses
Orlon, A. : And do these creatures need ta be trapped?
Moving forward, Sachiko then stopped, as if to make sure the moth couldn’t see her, for surely she blended in quite well with the cool metal sides to the consoles and the gleaming floor beneath. Yes, she very much could not be seen, but it was best to be cautious anyway.
Tito/V. Saa/Talyra: Responses
Orlon, A.: Could we use anesthezine localized ta just this room, and then we can pick up the creatures.
Crawling forward further, Sachiko watched a fluttering moth as it continued to aim toward the wall. From the trajectory, she could sense that it was going to land at a point where she could reach, if she exercised patience. Flitter, flutter, flatter, it moved, and her tail continued to move in anticipation.
Orlon.A/Talyra/Tito/V. Saa: Responses
Sachiko was on the hunt. Thus far, she had been stalking a moth for all of two minutes while the humanoids stood around and talked about what they should do to round up the escapees. Meanwhile, Sachiko’s butt rose into the air, her front half flattened against the ground. Her hind quarters wriggled from side to side, her eyes widening even more, the pupils almost completely consuming the blue. The moth continued its weaving flight, and finally, it came to the wall. Then, with a mighty push, Sachiko leaped at the smaller creature, paws extended, and landed against the wall before she very neatly pushed off and landed upon the floor. That time, she was successful, for when she lifted a paw, the moth fluttered beneath it. Lowering herself, she then picked it up in her mouth.
Orlon.A/Talyra/Tito/V. Saa: Responses
-- Sachiko Cat Operations Officer Best Officer M239008AD0
