Posted by Lieutenant Issac Forgrave (Chief of Security) in Main Sim [Sickbay]: The Price of Existence

Posted by Kvasir (Story Teller) in Main Sim [Sickbay]: The Price of Existence

Posted by Lieutenant Jericho Semenza (Chief Medical Officer) in Main Sim [Sickbay]: The Price of Existence
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻

—[SNIP]—

Fayth listened. Sharah knew the motes were intelligent, that they were individuals, or they had been. That was the thing with individuals though, they could be good or bad. They had no way of knowing which was which, so they had no right to let them die, but that didn’t mean they had to let them run about the ship freely. She couldn’t disagree with Jones about protecting the ship, and Cmdr Kohr’s anger had bee enough to physically be felt…”Yes we need to protect the ship, but it’s not our place to play God and decide who lives or who dies. And he might be the source of these motes, but I would ask you both to notice, that the worse he gets the more that come out of his head. Maybe he has a way of naturally containing them. For the safety of the ship we have to do something so we don’t let these things loose. So far, force fields and bulkheads aren’t stopping them.” Fayth paused to consider, “They might be dangerous to us, but that doesn’t mean they are to him,” she said pointing at Hab’rabi. “But for his species it might beneficial or even a necessary symbiotic relationship. What is beneficial to one species is not always safe for another. So if he is the source, if he controls them, we have to do something.”

“Dr. Semenza should we prep for surgery?”

Fayth, med

Semenza glanced again at Hab’rabi. “If we get him better, he may be aware to get the motes to stop doing whatever it is they’re doing without hurting them.” He knew the ship had to be protected, but he really thought this was the way to do it. What if the motes went on a rampage if Hab’rabi died? He nodded to Fayth and Jones. “Prep him.”

~ Lt Semenza, CMO

While not normally a difficult procedure, Lord Hab’rabi’s neural clusters were more densely-packed than most species and required greater care to repair. Whether by sheer luck or some unspoken understanding, the five motes drifting lazily around their master’s head did not interfere with the surgery. In many cases they provided a kind of boon by shedding their eldritch light in some of the harder angles a time or two. The team learned a great deal about the valhrni cerebral anatomy, though the interworking of several nerve bundles and nodes defied conventional understanding—parts of Hab’rabi’s mind seemed almost too perfect in structure, as if evolution had been nudged in a given direction by some unforeseen force.

The greatest understanding came in discovering why Ensign Sacco’s phaser had such a destructive effect on Lord Hab’rabi’s brain: while his musculoskeletal system seemed very hearty and resistant to impact and damage, the ability to disperse energy seemed diminished nearest his crown. This was congruent with the crew’s observation of the motes moving in and out of his skull through that area; Hab’rabi’s body—and potentially all other hab—had adapted to this particular type of symbiotic relationship with the remnants. This fact, however, nudged the speculation of Ensign Sacco’s motives from the realm of luck and firmly into that of intent.

Sacco had known exactly where to fire, but how? And why?
—Jas—

Mike was quite simply guessing when it came to simply prepping Hab’rabi. Be nice to the motes yet prep Hab’rabi for brain surgery? Mike sanitized everything as best he could and arranged any and all instruments, he thought that Doctor Semenza might need. Mike himself had not even thought of operating on anyone yet. All Mike could think of to prep Hab’rabi any further was to administer as low a dose of anesthetic as he thought was possible to be effective and then to notify a nurse to let Semenza know that his patient was ready.

Ensign Mike Jones MD

=/\=Rende to Attention all Senior staff. A recording of a communique with the alien colony ship has been recorded and sent to each of you for immediate viewing. Rende Out.=/\=

● Alien Ship Conversation

Rende, CO

Semenza had Jones assist with the surgery. Emergency or no, better not to miss an opportunity to learn. The surgery was not overly difficult, though the strange biology of Hab’rabi was no help. The fact that the motes seemed to be trying to help, shedding light on the angles with the worst lighting, Semenza felt proved his point. He’d have some interesting notes to write later on. The cause for the extensive phaser damage was clear, but the why and the how on Sacco’s part? Those were questions for somebody else to answer, Semenza’s report would provide all the necessary information. Semenza’s job was trying to help everyone involved live to tell about it.

~Lt Semenza, CMO

For his part Mike was more than happy to assist. He was not even sure what species Hab’rabi was let alone how his mind operated. And after all it was this sort of thing, he had joined Star Fleet for. To learn alien physiology and add it to his knowledge base was not something that could be done in other places like it could be in the fleet. Even with the opportunity to learn Mike was concerned with the Motes. They were starting to show a distinct difference. Some seeming to want to help while others seemed to have a completely different agenda.

Ensign Mike Jones. MD

Forgrave entered the sickbay; immediately looking around to see what he could see, eyes landing on Hab’rabi - who was not in a state to answer questions at the moment. For that matter, neither did anyone out of the knot of people surrounding the occupied bed. He didn’t want to wait, but Issac could be patient; Hab’rabi wasn’t going anywhere; so long as he could tell. And time would give him room to think over the conversation the captain had with the alien ship - he had skimmed the video as he headed to the sickbay, and some points had stuck out in his mind.

Peter walked in after the Security chief, a rather impressive scowl on his usually passive face. He’d been mulling over the information gathered from the conversation with the ship in the short trip from deck 34 to the Sickbay.

In particular, assuming that the xenos AI wasn’t lying… ‘Hab’ appeared to be a title, not just a name. A title that was associated with control of the… Remnants, they had been called. But it seemed that Hab’rabi… (or was that just Rabi?) was not the only one who could potentially control, or maybe ‘direct’ was a better word - the remnants. But what was a ‘Yur’? It had sounded more like a thing than a title, but it was all conjecture in the end. Issac shook his head at nothing, and leaned his back against the wall. Damned other shoe will drop more ‘n soon enough, I reckon.

-Forgrave, CoS

Hab’rabi’s vital signs climbed slowly but steadily once the surgery was complete and cleaned up. The motes bobbed and danced around his brow much as they had always done, wayward pinpricks of light watching over their slumbering lord. While his eyes did not move behind his lids as other humanoids did when they slept, his delta wave activity spiked and several regions of his brain became more active than before. The computer chirped as it noted the rise in electrostatic activity, but did not sound any alerts; it seemed to remain contained in the deepest parts of Hab’rabi’s mind.

A spike in alpha waves and the subtle shift in his breathing pattern announced the alien’s return to consciousness, and his eyes opened slowly. Hab’rabi surveyed the room without moving his head, then stared patiently at the ceiling. Taking a deep, slow breath the lord’s pupils dilated and the motes dipped lower and vanished soundlessly beneath his skin. Hab’rabi’s breath hushed between pursed lips, and his neural activity surged briefly. Another breath left him, this time more a resigned sigh.

“I see,” he murmured thoughtfully, though somehow not addressing anyone present. “Very well.”

Hab’rabi’s eyes moved to Semenza, then to Jones. His words were measured, cool, and exact. “You have my gratitude, and the gratitude of my race, for preserving my life.”

“Am I permitted to rise,” he asked Forgrave carefully. “Or shall I remain prone? I am unclear as to how your species prefers their prisoners.”
—Jas—

Issac shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t much matter ta me; though I’m curious as ta why ya’d describe yourself as a prisoner. But so long as ya ain’t plannin’ on sprinting outta here or causing any mischief… Well, make yourself comfortable.”

This was the first time Mike noticed the Lieutenant leaning against the wall on the other side of the room acting for all the world as if he
had been observing a sporting event. He then turned to Hab’rabi with a frown on his face and asked as he watched the man’s vitals on the display, “Is there some reason you should be a prisoner sir?”

Ensign Mike Jones MD

“It was our pleasure, but gratitude isn’t needed. It’s our job as doctors to do so,” Semenza responded to Hab’rabi. He was glad to see the surgery was a success, apparently a great success if he was already awake. He watched the patient’s vitals carefully and shook his head. “Prisoner or no, I think you should rest longer,” he said, glancing back at the CoS.

~ Lt Semenza, CMO

Issac nodded back respectfully; after all, it was Lt Semenza’s medbay; not his - and he had no desire to get on any medic’s bad side.

Hab’rabi nodded, a simple and noble gesture. The barest tilting of the head in acknowledgement, or perhaps surrender. Ashen eyes fixed on the ceiling, and his breathing steadied. The alien placed his hands on his chest, laced his fingers together. For all that had happened to him since encountering the Viking, Hab’rabi seemed a man at peace with his situation.

“My kind possesses a given level of telepathic ability,” he said slowly, an elder explaining something to a child. His tone was not condescending or patronizing, merely patient. “Your people are disquieted, your captain displeased. Their thoughts cry out for justice and understanding, chaotic and anxious. Well-disciplined and content in their work—a testament to the training you receive, doubtless—but there exists a given unease with our presence. This is to be expected, I suppose, given what has transpired.”

It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but Issac’s eyes narrowed at the mention of telepathic ability.

Peter’s face released the frown a the mention of Hab’rabi’s telepathic abilities, he immediately began a mental exercise to calm his emotions, it wouldn’t hide his current state but it might assisst in covering his emotions later on. He took his place on the opposite side of Forgrave, crossing tree trunk arms together and watching the alien carefully.

Hab’rabi’s gaze swung ponderously to Jones. “This is a medical facility, yes? Where to tend to the weak and the infirm? Not much use for weapons and guards in such a place, no. Untrained in the healing arts, they are as likely to do as much harm as good to those abed. Even the presence of your Praetor—” he lifted a finger long enough to indicate Forgrave “—suggests that I am not free to move as I please. I sense a great curiosity swelling within him, yet I’m afraid I am to disappoint. It is not my intent or my desire, merely my constraint.”

“You may pose your queries at your convenience, Praetor.” The alien turned his full attention to the security chief. “However, much as you are sworn to protect your crew, I must consider the fate of my people and my species first and foremost. You will not glean from me that which would doom them, and I would thank you to consider that ere your thought leaves your lips.”
—Jas—

Forgrave nodded slowly; taking in Hab’Rabi’s words before meandering over to the sickbed. He took in the prone man; eyes showing a mix of concern and suspicion. “I can appreciate yer position; and I wouldn’t ask ya ta betray yer ship or crew. Matter of fact, I think it’s safe ta say that as a whole, we’d like to help you if at all possible. I certainly don’t wish you or your folk ill. But it’d seem good intentions ain’t enough ta prevent… well, what all’s happened so far. So, on that note.... let’s start simple. The uh… Remnants floating around the ship; they seem ta be affecting some of the crew - that your doing? If so, what’s the purpose?”

“Secondly, what happened in the conference room between yourself and NE Sacco? Not just the mechanics of it; we got video spelling that out. But I don’t think Sacco was just airing his grievances neither.”

-Forgrave, CoS

Peter focused all of his attention on the Alien as Forgrave asked his questions.

CIO