Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in [AE] - Nursery

Posted by Gamemaster Narwhal the nefarious (GMT) in [AE] - Nursery

Posted by Lieutenant Cara Esmé O’Farrell (Counselor / Education Specialist) in [AE] - Nursery
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The ships proximity alarm sounded as a huge wave of an unknown energy surged towards the Atlantis.

Babies cried out in confusion as the wave approached, and caregivers hurried to soothe them, toddlers poked and prodded asking question about things they didn’t even understand. As the wave slammed into the ship, the nursery shook with the force of the impact. Mobiles swayed precariously above cribs, and toys scattered across the floor. Caregivers clung to the cribs, doing their best to shield the infants from harm amidst the chaos.

Narwhal the nefarious
GMT
USS Atlantis

Cara had been in the main arboretum with Hall and Oats (the red and black paired targs that Lord Noggra had gifted Gravel and her with when they married) giving them some much needed exercise. It was also imperative that they get used to seeing people around the ship and interacting with them. She decided to do a walk of the family quarters because those areas were a bit more chaotic in their activities than the rest of the ship. Royo was somewhere about, her ever faithful shadow.

That had been touch and go for a bit. The first time Royo had joined her when she had the targs with her, they thought Royo was stalking her or something. She’d had to go all the way down to the security office with them. Cara managed to stop them from hurting Royo, but she didn’t know all the commands yet, and she didn’t want to give them the wrong one.

They were walking along deck 15 when the ship suddenly pitched and shook. Cara was thrown off her feet into a bulkhead and then flung across the corridor. She landed on something hard, and judging by the squeal it was Hall or Oats. She rolled again as the ship continued to be shaken like a rag doll. When it stopped she opened her eyes to pitch blackness. There were some sparks, but no emergency lights. The ship was silent, eerily so. She did a very quick mental inventory. She felt banged around, but not too bad. She didn’t think she’d landed on any targ spikes. “Hall. Oats.” She heard the clop of eight hooved feet move toward her and then porcine noses snuffling over her. She reached out in the dark and patted them both reassuringly. “Good boys.” She let them check her out and then went to sit and cursed as sharp pain raidiated from her hip down her leg and up into her ribs.

“Lt? Cara?” Royo’s voice came from the dark. “It’s alright Royo. I think I bruised the bone in my hip, maybe fractured it. I’ll live. What about ya?” She heard him grunt as he stood. “I was in a cross section, more room to be tossed around. Just a bit winded.” She heard the pop of a panel and then there was light. Royo had retrieved a flashlight from an emergency supply locker. He moved toward her, and helped her stand. The pain was pretty bad, but she’d live. “We’ve got to check the corridor. Power seems to be totally out.”

“Emergency family shelters. We need to move people there. There will be medical supplies, emergency generators, and food.” Cara went to step and Royo had to catch her. “I don’t think you’ll be helping much, counselor.” Then they heard the wailing. “The nursery. Come on Royo, I’ll make it that far.” They made their way the short distance, with a lot of help from the security officer. Hey was able to force the door open. They stepped in and Cara looked at the targs, “Qam.” She pointed at the children and teachers, “Jup’a,” then she pointed to the side of the door, “Ba!” Hall and Oats moved to the door and sat obediently. Cara scanned the room in its dim lighting, “Ms Pullam?” she called out to the lead teacher.

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

“Oh, Counsellor, it’s good to hear your voice,” responded Ms. Pullam, relief evident in her tone, as she emerged from the nursery with two children in tow, one clutching each of her hands. “What happened?” she asked, her concern palpable. “We have some bruises here, but fortunately, the Captain’s suggestion to have the nursery separately reinforced was one well taken.”

Gamemaster Narwhal the nefarious
GMT
USS Atlantis

“No idea. Power is out, comms down. Somethin’ shook us like a rag doll.” Royo righted a chair and helped Cara sit in it. “Ya have an emergency supply lockers. Let’s get the med kits out. We’ll take care of the bruises. Are least ya have back up power.”

“We need to look at your leg too, Counselor,” Royo said.

“I will, but the children first.” She turned to Royo. “Go check the corridors. Help anyone ya find. Check the emergency civilian shelters.”

Royo nodded and left. Cara looked at the children. “Then how about a story?”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

The children’s faces lit up with relief as they saw Lieutenant O’Farrel approach, though traces of shock and anxiety still lingered in their expressions. However, one by one, they began to nod, a silent acknowledgment of the comfort and reassurance her presence brought them.

Gamemaster Narwhal the nefarious
GMT
USS Atlantis

Ms Pullam took out their emergency med kits and Cara was grateful she had basic medic training. The other teachers kept the kids entertained while Cara checked them over for anything more serious than bruises, and healed the worst of them. (OOC: Does she find anything other than bruises?)

Her own hip was killing her, and she was starting to feel the bruises and sore muscles from where she’d got thrown around. She’d have to check herself later. Cara looked across the room and the books showing on the shelf and spied one and grinned. She got up to retrieve it, took a step and gritted her teeth. Instead she sat down and asked one of the children to get it for her. That worked much better, as it got them all excited for a story, and was quite a point of importance to get the book for the counselor.

“Alright, if everyone is ready, come sit and I’m going ta read you one of my favorite stories. It’s also a really old story.”

Lt. O’Farrell, counselor

The children’s faces lit up with relief as they saw Lieutenant O’Farrel approach, though traces of shock and anxiety still lingered in their expressions. However, one by one, they began to nod, a silent acknowledgment of the comfort and reassurance her presence brought them.

Ms. Pullam took out their emergency med kits, and Cara was grateful she had basic medic training. The other teachers kept the kids entertained while Cara checked them over for anything more serious than bruises and healed the worst of them.

As Cara settled back into her seat and announced the story time, excitement bubbled among the children. They eagerly gathered around, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. When one of them was asked to fetch the book, they eagerly volunteered, eager to be helpful and curious about the tale Cara would share.

“Alright, if everyone’s ready, come sit, and I’ll read you one of my favorite stories,” Cara announced, her voice warm and inviting. “It’s also a really old story.”

The children nestled closer, their faces aglow with anticipation as Cara began to read. With each word, their imaginations ignited, transporting them away from the chaos of the shuttle bay to a world of adventure and wonder. And as they listened, the flicker of emergency lights above and the gentle flow of fresh air into the room served as reminders that even in the darkest moments, there was still a glimmer of hope.

Gamemaster Narwhal the nefarious
GMT
USS Atlantis