The Beginning of the End… (Part 4)

Posted on 14 Jan 2018 @ 11:08pm by Ensign Jon Marshall (MIA) & Cadet Senior Grade Jody Scott

1,413 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Errand of Mercy
Location: USS Redemption, Science Laboratory 1
Timeline: ED7: 0620

USS Redemption, Science Laboratory 1

In only a few short seconds Jon and the cadet were transported from the cadet’s quarters to the ensign’s secure laboratory elsewhere on board the Redemption. The laboratory was dark, owing to its secure status, requiring Jon to alert the computer and reinstate standard illumination. “Computer, maximum illumination,” he ordered, pleased when his workstation came into full view.

Squinting initially due to the abrupt change in lighting, Jon quickly moved to survey the lab for the items that he required to complete this next stage of his mission. His eyes darted from the workstation, to the storage cabinet nearby and then to the metallic case that lay abandoned on the floor plating near the far wall of the room. Letting go of the cadet and letting him slump unceremoniously to the floor, the ensign stepped towards the case, lifted it upwards and deposited it on the workstation in front of him.

As he had done so many times before, Jon depressed his thumb against the thumbprint reader in the middle of the case and then slipped his fingers over the clasps on either side to unlock the precious cargo. To his relief everything was exactly where he had left it. He outstretched his hand and curled his fingers around the metallic headband within the case and prised it free from the protective foam. With his other hand he deactivated the force field that enclosed the multiple vials of liquid, allowing him to grasp three of them to deposit in the inside pocket of his uniform tunic.

The science officer glanced briefly over his shoulder to check on the cadet and was pleased to see a familiar look of fear in Scott’s eyes. At least Jon would not need to explain what was going to happen next to the young cadet.

He slammed the case closed and then took a few strides to the other side of his lab and pulled the emergency medical kit from its bracket on the wall. Once again he unclasped the case and pulled two empty hyposprays from it: one he inserted into the same pocket at the unmarked vials, and the other he filled with a vial from the kit and continued to hold in his right hand as he approached the cadet.

“Don’t forget our agreement,” Jon said sarcastically as he leant in towards the cadet and depressed the hypospray against Scott’s neck. There was a familiar hiss that signalled the hyposprays activation. It was only a few seconds before he noticed Scott beginning to move the tips of his fingers as the neurotoxin wore off.

“You- You- F-ing bas- ard…” Scott’s words were slurred, but Jon got the gist of what he was trying to say. He watched as the cadet slowly pushed himself upright and then tried, with limited success at first, to rise to his feet. Before he managed to do so, however, Jon pulled the headband over the cadet’s head and gave him a stern ‘don’t you dare to try to remove this’ look. Scott appeared to understand, as he made no attempt to remove the band.

“PALLAS,” Jon commanded, requesting the appearance of the ship’s on board AI. He knew that it had been programmed to spy on him and now was the time to end Ashcart’s upper hand against him. Almost immediately the holo-emitters in the lab erupted to life and the image of a Roman Centurion appeared between him and Scott.

“Yes, Ensign?” The programme responded. Jon found the form that PALLAS took ridiculous and unbecoming of Starfleet. Another reason to add the list of why the status quo was required to change.

“I would like to say that I am sorry to do this to you, but,” he didn’t finished the sentence, but instead directed his voice towards the main computer. He had no sympathy for the abhorrent holographic programme. “Computer, activate programme Marshall-Theta-One-Nine.”

The change in PALLAS’ demeanour was almost instantaneous. Jon knew that the computer programme was incapable of feeling pain, but the expression on the Centurion’s face looked almost as though he had been run through with a red-hot sword. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched the undefeatable programme squirm in simulated pain.

“H-How-“ the programme asked, disbelief appearing in its simulated eyes as it slumped to the deck plating.

Jon’s voice was cold when he replied. “Ashcart thought you to be indestructible and infallible. And he was almost correct. But I didn’t need to destroy or tamper with your programme – I just needed to distract it for the next hour or so. The solution was pretty simple, actually,” he grinned now as he spoke. “I have just channelled every sensor, video-feed and computer process through your programme to make it impossible for you to direct your attention anywhere else. I don’t deny that you will overcome this in time, but by then I hope to be far away from both you and this vessel.”

The pain etched across PALLAS’ face gave way to intermittent failure in the holo-emitters and then, finally, as Jon had expected, the programme completely failed and disappeared from view altogether. His plan was slowly coming together.

“Ashcart and Rhyan will still stop you,” shouted Ensign Scott, his voice now fully restored. Marshall turned his attention back to the ensign and approached him without caution. His eyes were dark and without remorse.

“By the time Ashcart has realised what is going on, neither you nor I will be around to be worried. And as for the Vulcan,” he sneered as he spoke of Rhyan, his hatred of the first officer as obvious as the sun on a hot summer’s day, “I don’t intend on leaving this ship until I am stepping over his cold, dead body.”


The next few moments happened so quickly for the ensign that Jon was almost caught off guard. If not for his extensive training and instinct he might have not have walked away from the experience intact.

Scott, now standing on his own two feet, lunged at Jon with his right arm bent so that his elbow was fast approaching his face. Without thinking, Jon wrapped his left hand around the cadet’s right wrist and pulled the warm outright, then underneath his left armpit and depressed with such intense force that he felt the cadet’s forearm snap violently. Cursing in pain, Scott fell immediately to the deck plating and cradled his broken arm with his uninjured limb.

Again, without much thought, and careful not to damage the precious piece of equipment straddling his temples, Jon stomped his foot down on the cadet’s face. Blood and spit immediately erupted from the cadet’s mouth on to the deck plating below.

“Try that again, cadet, and I assure you that Ambassador Sutherland will not see another sunrise in Paris.” He finished his threat by kicking the cadet in the chest, thrusting him from a prone to a supine position. Jon ignored the quiet sobs now emanating from his prisoner.

“Computer,” the ensign commanded, ready to put the next phase of his plan into motion, “what is the location of Commander Rhyan?”

Without delay the computer responded, “Commander Rhyan is in science laboratory two.”

“Great,” Jon uttered, not to anyone in particular. The Vulcan was close and so was the ultimate end of Jon’s mission. After two years of failed attempts, his endgame was nearly at hand.

“Get up,” Marshall shouted, grabbing Scott by his uninjured arm and dragging him to his feet. He ignored the protestations of the cadet as he pulled him unceremoniously towards the door to the lab.

Before he keyed in the unlock code for the lab door, Marshall made one final enquiry of the computer. “Computer, is there anyone within twenty meters of this door in the corridor outside?”

“Negative,” the computer once again responded in its cool, feminine tones. Jon smiled at this response, keyed in the unlock code, and then pushed Scott out through the open door.

“We don’t have to go far, cadet,” Jon said, as he gestured towards the door almost immediately opposite them in the corridor. “You first.”

OFF: I promise I am slowly wrapping things up with my characters! Also I seem to have a problem with updating JPs - I have tried to and they don't seem to save!

 

RSS Feed