Star Trek: Chimera 2203 - Episode Two: "The Howl Of Rage, Part 1"

[Orbing Master]

Written by Alex Matthews
Created by Jonathan Crosby-Bromley and Alex Matthews
Based on 'Star Trek' created by Gene Roddenberry

"I long for the raised voice, the howl of rage or love."
~ Leslie Fiedler

Produced by Sojournerverse Productions

STARRING

Matt Damon as CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER APRIL
Rose Leslie as COMMANDER MAYA KENT
Christina Chang as DR. PATRICIA SONG
Ed Skrein as COMMANDER WARREN MACKENZIE
Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis as LT. EDWARD HEMMINGWAY
Jack Hunter as LT. TIMOTHY DI MARCO
Lesley-Ann Brandt as COMMANDER ANNIKA BARD
Natalie Dormer as LT. COMMANDER SIRANNA

GUEST STARRING

Gwendoline Christie as LT. FREIDA RASMUSSEN
Devan Chandler Long as SECURITY CHIEF HANK ANDERSON
Sanaa Latham as DR. OLIVIA KENDRICK
TBA as ASSISTANT DIRECTOR VERAN LERAK
John Hoyt as CADET PHILLIP BOYCE

===============================================

It was the stench that hit him first.

As the transporter released him, Christopher April took a few moments to make a concentrated effort to breathe through his mouth, not his nose. As his stomach settled down and he grew accustomed to the lingering scent of death all around him, he finally took in the grisly sight around him.

He made his way over to where Maya Kent and Patricia Song were standing, at the entrance to the 'town hall'. It had taken more than its fair share of damage, gaping holes in its primitive fabric exterior, the wooden framework inside cracked and broken. This whole situation was growing more and more out of hand, and he wanted answers. Now. "Give me a report, XO."

Kent nodded briskly, standing at parade rest, leaving Song to continue consulting with her hand-held scanner, "We've recovered 27 bodies. All Hill People."

She paused as a strawberry-blonde cadet called for Song, who gave them a brief apologetic look before heading away. "Whatever happened here, happened fast. Just like the attack on the outpost."

"Any kind of connection between the two?" April looked around again as he asked, trying to ignore the shiver that ran down his spine as he watched the cadets moving bodies onto the waiting transport shuttle.

Kent's professional mien wavered, "Forensics scans show that whatever happened here occurred at least a day before the outpost was attacked." She shrugged, "There could be some kind of link, but we don't know enough yet, sir."

April pursed his lips with annoyance, "Too much has happened all at once for this not to be connected, Maya." He tried and failed to keep the exasperation he felt out of his voice as he spoke.

His communicator beeped, letting him know he had an incoming signal. He pulled it from his field jacket pocket, flipping it open, "April. Go."

Hemmingway's voice filtered through the unit's speaker, [The ship bringing the liaison from the Rigellian government has just entered orbit, Captain. They'll be sending a shuttle down to meet you in ten minutes.]

Something on the communications officer's voice got April's attention, "Is something wrong, Lieutenant?"

The young lieutenant answered in a flustered rush, [Sir, they're not alone. Apparently, they've been joined by a special attache from the Federation consulate.]

April couldn't help but grimace. Great, another bureaucrat intent on sticking their nose in. He remembered what Admiral Hannah had said, about how important Federation interests currently were within the Rigel system. "Very well, I'll be heading to the beam-down site as soon as--"

"Captain, Commander!" The urgency of Song's tone got April's attention, as both he and Kent looked over to see her stood with the cadet, waving them both over, "Come take a look at this."

"Stand by, Hannock," April spoke as he walked with Kent, "We might have a development here. April out." He closed the comm unit before Hemmingway could reply, and felt a shiver of anticipation at maybe finally getting some answers.

Song was kneeling down next to a pair of bodies that had yet to be bagged and tagged. The cadet offered her his scanner, which she studied as April and Kent got in ear-shot, "You double-checked this, Mr Boyce?"

The cadet - Boyce - nodded grimly, "Triple-checked it before I called you over, Doctor."

Song stood up carefully, turning to face them, but April's eyes were drawn away from her to the two bodies. Both were covered in vicious cuts and scrapes - they had gone down fighting if their wounds were any indication. A large, wicked-looking dagger was sticking out of the chest of one of them. April swallowed back the bile in his throat at the sight. "You have something to report, Doctor?"

Song hesitated, and April saw a glimmer of nervousness in her eyes before she spoke, "Mr Boyce was running a scan for me to confirm a theory - a rather disturbing theory."

Kent grimaced, "I'm not sure I like the sound of that."

April couldn’t agree more with his X.O., “What kind of theory?”

“I’ve only done a cursory analysis with the equipment I have to hand, sir,” Boyce stated, looking almost panicked, “but repeated scans all show--”

“Calm down, Cadet,” April adopted his most reassuring tone, as Song came to his defence, “I’ve confirmed it myself, Captain.”

She pointed to the dagger - specifically the hilt of it. “Cadet Boyce was able to isolate some skin cells.”

“Meaning we’ll be able to I.D. the killer by their D.N.A.?”

Song looked perturbed, “That’s just it, Commander.” She gestured towards the other body that lay in front of them, “According to the scans, the D.N.A. belongs to this individual right here.”

April looked down at the bodies again. These two had fought to the death? What the hell had gone on here?

“That’s not the most disturbing thing, either, Captain,” Song continued. She gently teased away tattered remains of clothing that covered the alleged killer, exposing for them all to see a large wound in his neck.

Kent leaned in a little closer, more so than April would have, “Is that some kind of bite mark, Patricia?”

Song nodded gravely, “Good spot, Commander, that’s exactly what it is.” She worked her scanner, grimacing again, “and my dental analysis confirms it. The bite radius is a perfect match for the fellow with the dagger lodged into his sternum.”

April’s head swam a little, “What are you telling me, Patricia?”

“My people have been finding evidence like this all through the encampment, Captain,” Song answered, her voice rising just a little, a hint of barely controlled fear, “This wasn’t an attack by outside forces.”

“They did this to themselves.”

* * *

 

[admiralelm11]

You certainly have a mystery on your hands. Where's Sherlock Holmes when you need him? Dead... dead, buried, and fictional.

 

[Orbing Master]

Maya Kent stood back from the devastation around her trying to survey it with a clinical eye that would have made her Academy instructors in the required first-year comparative biology revise the near-failing grade she‘d received back then.

The broken bodies of over two dozen Hill People had been placed in body bags and were being moved with great care and respect to a staging area set up by Annika Bard’s cadets and several members of the Hannock crew. There, they would be loaded into the waiting transport and taken to a suitable holding area at the Training Facility to undergo a detailed medical examination. That was the priority since scans showed a large electrical storm was heading their way and would hit far too soon.

As she took it all in, Kent saw a couple of the cadets on loan to the search effort stood to one side. The female Andorian was gently stroking the back of the male human as he doubled over and retched loudly. The Hannock X.O. felt for the young man having herself come close to losing what little food she’d managed to force down today several times in the last few hours, but in their line of work, sometimes you were going to come across sights like this. More's the pity.

As the cadet cleaned himself up, Kent took notice of how eerily silent the encampment was. No one said a word. They just went about their tasks with utter silence and focus. They're probably trying not to think about what they were doing in too great a detail, she supposed.

Bard herself was mucking in, leading by example, as she carefully eased the last of the bodies into place. She looked over and offered a curt nod. All done.

Still, even given all of these, and the rigorous testing that all members of the Hannock’s meagre science and medical teams were doing of the area, Kent was glad to be here, lending whatever help she could.

It sure as hell beat what the captain was stuck doing…

* * *

Being a starship commander took a great degree of patience at times. Chris April knew this for a fact, having spent the better part of the last thirty years in one command role or another. Especially when it came to matters of the dreaded matters of ‘politics’ and ‘bureaucracy’.

But that still didn’t mean he’d gotten used to so much of his time being taken up by those two devil-spawned subjects.
Growing restless as he waited for the executive shuttlecraft carrying Lerak’s liaison and the attaché from the Federation Consulate on Rigel V to come to rest on the landing pad outside the Security Training Facility, April mentally reviewed the facts.

Not that he actually knew all that much about whatever the hell was going on.

All they did know was the detailed forensic analysis that Commander Bard and her team had started to conduct at the encampment confirmed Pat Song’s initial findings. There had been no attacking force involved in the bloodbath - the Hill People had, for whatever reason, turned on each other brutally and mercilessly. Song planned on performing detailed autopsies on every body to make sure that the reason for this behaviour was the effect of some outside agent.

Finally, the post-flight checks apparently completed, the main hatch to the small shuttle cycled open, and April, flanked by Chief Anderson and one of Bard’s facility staff, stepped forward--

-- only for April to feel his annoyance melt away as a stunningly attractive dark-skinned human woman stepped out and elegantly climbed down the steps. He barely paid any attention to the tall Vulcan male in the traditional diplomatic civilian wear of his people followed a few seconds later.

Her voice had an almost musical lilt to it, as she stepped forward with a hand extended towards him, “Captain April, I’m Administrator Olivia Kendrick, representing the Governing Board on behalf of Assistant Director Lerak.”

He took her hand, responding to the confident, unafraid squeeze she gave his in kind, “Pleasure to meet you, Administrator,” he replied smoothly, briefly taking a moment to introduce his subordinates.

Kendrick nodded, offering each man a friendly smile, “Likewise, I just wish it was under less dire circumstances.” She turned to look back at her own companion, “This is the attaché assigned by your consulate.”

The Vulcan stepped forward, raising one hand and offering the usual split-fingered salute of his people. April nodded, knowing better to offer his hand in welcome, not to mention attempting the greeting himself - the last time he tried, he ended up pulling a tendon.

It may have been his imagination, April hadn’t worked with many Vulcans in the past, but he could have sworn he saw a faint glimmer of disdain in the way the Vulcan regarded him, “Good afternoon, Mr..?”

The attaché slowly arched an eyebrow, making a somewhat deliberate pause (as least that was how it seemed to April) before replying;

“Sarek.”

* * *

 

[Orbing Master]

Warren Mackenzie knew who he was. He was the 23rd century equivalent of a ‘grease monkey’, and it was a personal identity he celebrated. He was better with machines than he was with people, that was just how things were with him.
He didn’t really do ‘dead bodies’, either.

But the entire crew of the Hannock had gone above and beyond after hearing about what had happened to both the Cultural Observation Outpost and the Hill People encampment. He had worked non-stop since beaming down to the small underground bunker, managing a few minor electrical miracles by getting the geothermal generators up and running.

It hadn’t really improved the view inside, as medics and other non-essential Hannock crew went about the grim task of cleaning up the mess. At least as much as they could while the forensic examination continued. He’d chipped in, but had needed to call it a day and get some fresh air.

Determined to enjoy however long he was going to have breathing in non-recycled air, Mackenzie headed into the outpost’s mess hall. This area had been practically untouched by the attack, aside from a few upturned tables and some spilt coffee. It had been ruled as a safe space for the landing party members to collect themselves, with nothing in the way of evidence about the attack present.

Pouring himself a coffee, Mackenzie took in the grand view of mountains from the mess-hall balcony that sat over the bluff that the observation outpost was built on and over. It was a breath-taking view, and he saw he wasn't the only member of the Hannock crew who had come to enjoy it. He gently sauntered over to join Maya Kent, "Needed a break too?"

She offered him a tired smile, "Not exactly enjoying being arm-deep in corpses," she replied, before yawning widely. She covered her mouth with embarrassment, much to his amusement.

He shook his head, mock-shuddering, "Yeah, it’s why I like to stick with machines."

They stood in companionable silence for a moment, until he finally asked the question that had been on his lips since he walked in, “You doing okay?“

"We're out here to explore, in theory," Kent continued, not meeting his gaze, her blue eyes unfocused as she looked outwards, "even if our missions are a little more straightforward compared to other ships."

Mackenzie understood her point, "Dealing with dead bodies and figuring out what happened, it isn't really our line of work."

She turned to him so abruptly, Mackenzie almost dropped his coffee. She stared at him with such an intensity it almost unnerved him, “But that doesn’t matter, Mac! Someone has to speak for these people, not just the outpost crew, but all those Hill People.” She pulled back, having realized how fiercely she was coming across. She continued, calmer now, “For whatever reason, fate or whatever, we’re the ones who picked up that distress call, so it’s up to us to be the ones who find answers.”

He saw the quiver of doubt and uncertainty that washed over her delicate features, “What?”

She looked away, “I-- I just don’t know if I can do it.”

“Hey,” he reached out, softly taking hold of her chin, and pulling her around to look at him as he continued, “I know you very well, Maya Kent, even if I do say so myself.” He offered a lop-sided grin, “If anyone can figure this out and find out who the bad guys are, it’s you.”

She put her hand on his, stroking his fingers. Their eyes lingered on each other for several very long moments. Mackenzie thought he saw something deep in hers that he hadn’t seen in several years…

The sound of someone clearing their throat briskly and loudly interrupted the moment the two of them were sharing. Maya pulled away, as Mackenzie instinctively released her chin. Both of them turned around to see Commander Annika Bard, hands clasped behind her back, giving them a curious look, “Sorry. Was I interrupting something?”

Mackenzie felt a warm flush in his cheeks. He sipped his coffee to cover his face as Maya shook her head, slipping back into ‘professional’ mode, “No, not at all. What’s up?”

“We’re all loaded up in the shuttle,” Bard informed them, “Ready to head back to the Training Facility. You two want a lift or do you need to stay here any longer?”

“I think Commander Mackenzie is done,” Kent replied, “But I’ll stay and supervise the forensics teams in their final few sweeps.”

“You sure?” Mackenzie found himself asking before he could stop himself. When would he learn to bite his god-damn tongue?! He swallowed at the stink eye Maya gave him, and ignored Bard’s small smile, as he quickly continued, “No disrespect, Commander, but you’ve been going at this for almost 24 hours straight.”

“I can handle a day without sleep, Mr Mackenzie,” she replied coolly and pointedly, “if it helps get some answers about what happened here.”

Whatever moment they’d had, it was well and truly over. Mackenzie simply nodded, “Of course, Commander.” He stood a little straighter, “With your permission then?”

Kent nodded. Mackenzie turned on his heel, leaving the rest of his coffee unfinished on the countertop.

He really was better with machines, than people…

* * *

April had to admit, when he’d pictured a ‘liaison’ being sent by the Rigellian government to oversee their investigation, he’d had a particular picture in his mind. A bureaucrat, more interested in crossing every ‘t’, dotting every ‘i’, then getting to the truth of what really happened. Someone interested in only covering their ass.

Olivia Kendrick was anything but.

“So,” she finished, sitting across from both April and Sarek at the triangular table in the conference room the three of them had adjourned to, “any and all help will be provided by my government.”

Sarek, his fingers interlaced in front of him on the table, simply nodded, “The Federation will be grateful for that assistance, Dr Kendrick.”

Kendrick shuddered. She’d been shocked by the graphic images that April had shown the two of them, from both the observation outpost and the Hill People encampment, “The Hill People have never been violent. Ever. It’s not their way. For something like this to happen..?” She shook herself, putting on as much of an air of professionalism as she could muster, “It’s truly horrifying.”

“Indeed,” Sarek commented, “This incident is most disturbing. Not just in regard to the loss of life, but the events that led to it.”

He stood, a clear signal that the meeting was coming to a close, “However until we received the medical reports, I believe it would be best to allow Captain April and his crew to get back to their investigation.”

Kendrick nodded in agreement as she stood. April followed suit, “Given the cramped conditions of the Hannock, Commander Bard has agreed that the two of you can stay in guest quarters here at the Training Facility.”

“That will be agreeable,” Sarek commented smoothly. April gestured, and the member of the facility staff standing ready at the conference room door, stepped forward, “Ensign Hargrove will escort you, Mr Sarek.”

He watched as Sarek headed out without another word. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Sarek really didn’t want to be here. He didn’t know if it was the actual assignment or being stuck in close proximity to so many humans. Still, the guy was pursuing a diplomatic career, he was gonna be stuck in close quarters with people he didn’t like a lot of the time.
Still, time to focus on something (or someone, anyway) more pleasant. He looked back at Kendrick, as she gathered her data-slates back into her carry-case. She looked up and caught him staring, offering him a knowing smile, “Let me guess, Captain. You weren‘t expecting a human to step out of that shuttle?”

“You could say that, Dr Kendrick,” he admitted, feeling a little foolish she’d read him so easily. She‘d obviously dealt with that expectation before, “I mean, I was told only that a liaison to the Governing Board was being sent.”

She laughed, and April was surprised by how much he liked the sound of it, “Yeah, that sounds like a move Veran--” She faltered, looking a little embarrassed. Veran, huh? First name terms with the boss? “I mean, Assistant Director Lerak - would pull.”

“So how did you end up working for the Commission, Dr Kendrick?” He found that he was genuinely curious to hear her answer, “I mean, did you come to Rigel V for the job?”

She shook her head, “I was born on Rigel. I may be human, but I’m Rigellian at heart. I’ve spent my entire life in the system.” She grinned, “It’s not as boring as it sounds, there’s plenty of trouble to get into if you know where to look.”
April returned her grin with one of his own, “I’ve heard stories.”

She gave him a dubious look, “You may have heard them, but I’ve lived them.” Was it his imagination, or was there a twinkle of teasing in her eyes, “Maybe I can tell you some over a coffee?”

April nodded. He very much wanted to hear those stories, maybe return the favour with a few of his own from his own misspent youth. He led her out of the conference room and towards the Mess Hall.

As he did though, a horrible nagging suspicion began to percolate in the back of his mind. Is this why Lerak sent you? Was she deliberately turning on the charm to win him over? Or was he just being overly cautious because of his misgivings about the Jelna endomale? Whatever the answer, he knew he would only find it by letting it continue…

* * *

 

[admiralelm11]

Keep it up. This is getting interesting.

 

[Orbing Master]

Starfleet uniforms had changed a lot over the past 50 years. Originally, they started life out as a jumpsuit, with plenty of pockets, the same for all line officers and crew in the service, differentiated only by the rank insignia, the colour identifying the person’s division of service and their assignment patch.

They still kept all of those things, even in their current incarnation as a more form-fitting two-piece, even if department colours were different or the patch was moved.

But as Annika Bard admired the view of Warren Mackenzie’s finely-shaped ass, she felt very grateful for how tight-fitting the current uniform trousers were.

As she pretended to be viewing the PADD Boyce had given her, she continued to take in the delicious sight of Mackenzie’s rear. The Hannock’s chief engineer was setting up some final pieces of delicate equipment he’d had beamed down from the small ship’s sickbay lab. Although Dr Song was taking advantages of the Training Facility’s own larger lab space, she had wanted a few of her own instruments and gadgets to hand to run comparative analyses.

The lab itself was state-of-the-art, if hardly ever used. The Training Facility was a catch-all garrison, with enough in it to provide trainees with the full range of equipment to conduct any and all training a security officer might need. That included forensic studies, as well as the trainees' physicals since it was attached directly to the Facility’s own well-equipped infirmary.

But now, the main examination room was being converted into an ad-hoc autopsy suite, under Dr Song’s supervision. Several new gurneys had been set up to hold the bodies that the Hannock’s medical officer would work on. The rest would be taken with the greatest respect to the largest of the Facility’s cargo holds, with environmental settings adjusted accordingly.

Mackenzie stood up straight, brushing himself down, which brought Bard’s attention back to the here and now. With Boyce in tow, she headed over to where the engineer and Song were double-checking the last couple of optical data pulse connections between the mobile bio-computer and the Facility’s own central processors, “Everything all set?”

Mackenzie nodded, absently wiping at some grease he’d gotten on one cheek, “Good to go, Commander.” He grinned, “Impressive set-up you’ve got here.”

“We like to call it home,” she quipped, offering him her best devilish smile, enjoying how much it caught him off guard.
Song seemed oblivious, “Commander, I know we’ve kind of taken over, but I’d also like to request to relocate my patients on the Hannock to your infirmary.” She offered an apologetic look, “Your facility is more spacious than my sickbay, and the partitions between each recovery bed would at least give them a little privacy.”

Bard nodded. It was a decent enough request, and she knew just how cramped those Ganges-class ships could be from her own time on a few during her early career. “No problem, Dr Song,” she said. She gestured at Boyce, who stood at parade rest next to her, “Cadet Boyce here will see to it. He’ll also be acting as your assistant during the autopsies as well as my liaison.”

“Looking forward to working with you, Dr Song,” Boyce added, a touch too eagerly, but Bard couldn’t blame him. This wasn’t exactly what he’d expected when he’d signed up for the training program, but it was a great learning experience. At least he didn’t come out and say it, Bard considering thankfully. It always paid to be respectful of these kinds of situations.

Song offered a curt nod, along with a brief pursing of her lips before replying, “Very well then, Cadet.“ She looked like she was sucking on a lemon, “Please contact the Hannock and arrange the transfer.”

Boyce, his excitement waning a smidge, nodded and headed off, as Song offered Bard a curt nod of her own before making her way into the infirmary proper across the hall. Bard watched her go, before looking at Mackenzie, “What’s her problem?”

Mackenzie laughed, a smile spreading across his handsome face, “She’s a great doctor, but she hates having to hold anyone’s hand in medical matters.” He shrugged, “She’s okay once you get to know here, though.”

Bard nodded, before openly giving Mackenzie the once-over. Damn, he was cute. He eyed her uneasily. “So,” she drawled, enjoying playing with her prey, “you’re the famous ‘Mac’, huh?”

“Excuse me, Commander?” he replied, somewhat unnerved. Bard couldn’t help but laugh at his expression.

“Easy, Warren,” she said, “I’m just enjoying meeting the man who had his pick of assignments, but still ended up on the ship that his Academy girlfriend was serving on as X.O.”

Mackenzie paled visibly, which Bard had to admit she enjoyed seeing. She wasn‘t trying to be nasty, per se, but she knew of the history between him and Kent, albeit only through what Kent had told her over the years. The one she let get away to pursue her career, huh? I wonder how many strings he pulled to get the Hannock chief engineer gig?

“So, uh,” he stammered finally, “You know Maya-- I mean, Commander Kent?”

Bard nodded slowly, “For quite a few years. Not as many as you, though.” She stuck the tip of her tongue between her teeth, teasingly. She knew she couldn’t keep tormenting the poor schlub for much longer - hell, Maya was probably going to read her the riot act for even this little bit of teasing she was having. Still, it was fun.

But her humour evaporated in an instant as Boyce walked in solemnly, “Commander? We’re ready to bring in the first.”

Bard gave him a nod of confirmation and silently watched as Boyce ushered in a cadre of cadets and trainees as they solemnly and quietly used anti-grav gurneys to bring in the first of the bodies to be examined.

As they went about their task, and she and Mackenzie stayed a respectful distance out of the way, Bard offered a whispered prayer in her native Afrikaans before making a silent promise: Whoever did this to you, for whatever reason, I promise I will bring them to justice. You have my solemn word, as God is my witness.

This would not go unpunished. Not on her watch.

* * *

What was that old expression? 'Keep your friends close, and enemies closer'? As he walked beside Olivia Kendrick down a corridor, April found that phrase kept coming to mind.

As much as he was enjoying her company, in a way he hadn't in the years since he'd lost his darling Melinda, part of him kept coming back to the suspicion he had that on some level she was playing him. Either intentionally, or as a pawn in Lerak's game.

Still, it wasn't every day in his life as the captain of a scout ship that he got to met a beautiful woman, especially one that he found it so easy to talk to.

"I can't imagine spending so long on a starship away from home," Kendrick was saying, as they made their way to the infirmary. She's revealed during their coffee in the Mess Hall that she was also a trained physician and had experience with both Rigellian Zami and Vulcan patients, so April had contacted Song. His medical officer had graciously accepted Kendrick's offer of assistance, deferring to someone with more practical knowledge of her patient's needs.

April shrugged, offering an impish grin, "It's all I ever wanted after I grew up hearing about the missions of the Enterprise, the Endeavour and the Daedalus," he confessed.

His grin and good humour faded when she innocently asked, "Still, the Hannock must be a whole different experience compared to the Lexington?"

She must have seen how discomforted her question made him, because she immediately tried to backpedal, looking embarrassed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

He nodded curtly, hoping she got the drift he didn't really want to talk about that at this point in time. Thankfully, they were approaching the infirmary, so it seemed that it would be best to focus on the problems at hand.

As they entered the infirmary, April noted that Song and Boyce were across the way in the adjacent medical lab space, hovering over a microscope and computer display. What took April by surprise was the sight of Sarek standing near the bed where Siranna lay.

“Mr Sarek?” Kendrick queried softly, “Are you all right?"

"I am well, Dr Kendrick," he replied evenly, his eyes never leaving Siranna's still form. A quick glance at the overhead patient readouts showed she was still deeply comatose.

But there was something about the intensity in which he gazed at her that made the hair on the back of April's neck quiver.

He slowly, cautiously approached, not wanting to burst the Vulcan's bubble of personal space, "Is something wrong? Do you know her?”

It took a long moment for Sarek to finally answer. “Yes,” he answered, voice steady, betraying no emotion.

“In your terms, she is my sister-in-law.”

* * *

 

[Orbing Master]

As he watched Drs. Kendrick and Song check over her, Sarek pushed his growing concern for Siranna down into the place where he let his volatile emotions rage deep inside him. Instead, he focused on the somewhat impertinent question that Captain April had asked him.

"What do you mean, she's your sister-in-law, Mr Sarek?"

"I believe the answer was self-explanatory, Captain," he replied. He understood the captain would be curious given his revelation of who Siranna was to him. But it was not customary of Vulcans to share details of their private matters.
Still, Sarek conceded he had 'opened the door', as it were, to this line of questioning, so he decided that he should cooperate. At least for now.

"Siranna is the sister of the woman I am betrothed to," he explained, "who still resides on Vulcan."

April frowned at him. It was clear the human was doubtful. "And you just happen to be the person sent by the consulate to liaise with our investigation?"

Sarek raised an eyebrow. Did April believe there was some nefarious purpose to Sarek's own presence here? "Of course not, Captain. When your preliminary report to the Governing Board was shared with the consulate, and I discovered Siranna's name in the incident file, I volunteered to be the liaison."

He looked back at Siranna. How still she was disturbed him greatly. "Before that moment, I had no awareness that Siranna was even in the Rigel system," he admitted, "I have not seen or heard from her since she left Vulcan four years ago."

April's hard tone softened, "After the death of her husband."

Sarek nodded curtly. It should be of little surprise to him that April and his people were aware of Siranna's unfortunate past. Still, he found he did not appreciate the idea of her personal life being 'gossip' for these humans.

That said, Sarek recognized that he was experiencing an emotional reaction to seeing Siranna again after so many years. He allowed himself a moment of indulgence before suppressing it as was required.

Even in her unconscious, unresponsive state, he was happy to see her.

* * *

With little else to do, having taken advantage of the Training Facility's bunkroom for a nap, shower and a clean uniform, Warren Mackenzie had decided to make himself useful by joining Freida Rasmussen in one of the small briefing rooms going over the daily logs and reports of the personnel assigned there.

It was monotonous, to say the least, so Mackenzie was very glad he'd brought fresh coffee with him. But even with the four cups he'd consumed, he still had to break off every now and then just to give his eyes a needed rest. How Freida kept going without stopping, reading entry after entry, stumped him - and annoyed him no end.

"This feels totally pointless," he finally groused in frustration, disappointed to see he'd already finished his latest cup of coffee. The carafe was just as empty when he went to pour another.

Frieda remained engrossed in what she was reading. The Danish blonde was one of those annoying people who could remain steadfast in their focus no matter the task, something Mackenzie knew he lacked unless it was an engineering matter. Those he could get lost in for hours, if not days. "We need a break, Frieda."

"Speak for yourself, Mac," she shot back, allowing a coy smile, but not looking up from the PADD she was currently reading. A large neatly arranged stack of ones she'd finished going over just reinforced to Mac how little he'd managed to get through of his own substantial pile.

Groaning, Mackenzie tossed his just-finished PADD down, and grudgingly picked up the next. Forcing himself to concentrate to avoid missing something crucial due to boredom or inattention, he picked up another and started reading. As he read, he felt a surge of excitement, "Whoa, I might have something."

He tapped at the PADD, connecting it to the wall-mounted screen. It pulled up what he'd just found for Frieda to see as well, "A log recording by the Chief Scientist?"

Mackenzie nodded, "Encoded for later transmission but never sent." He pointed at the time stamp on the data file, "Look at the date it was recorded," he added. "Two days before the attack on the outpost."

Frieda frowned, "Hang on a second," She picked up one of her own finished PADDs and scrolled through it, "I have her schedule here. That would have been around the time she was due to spend some time with the Hill People at that encampment."

His curiosity getting the better of him, Mackenzie tapped at the [PLAY] icon, and the video sprung up on the screen. Siranna's face filled the screen, as she spoke into her recording device, [In my brief time at the encampment, the amount of Hill People who have begun to display symptoms has tripled.]

Mackenzie was surprised by how much emotion he could actually hear in the Vulcan woman's voice. It was subtle, but it was there. She was actually worried, [I have tried to render whatever aid I can, however, my medical skills are rudimentary at best, and the Elders of the settlement have refused to allow me to use my equipment.]

Frieda scoffed in derision, "Luddites. She could have helped them!" Mackenzie shushed her as the recording continued, [Due to the agreement we negotiated before I was allowed to observe and interact with these people, I am unable to contact the outpost for any medical--]

[What are you doing?!] A new voice cut Siranna off. She looked away from the video pick-up, at something off-screen.
[I am making a private recording,] she explained coolly. [This device is one I was allowed to document my time with your--]

[No!] The other voice again, and Mackenzie could hear the heat and vitriol lacing every word it shouted, [This is all your fault! We were fine until you came here!]

The video-image jostled as Siranna stood, [Please, Elder. You are not well. I merely wish to help you.]

[Enough!] The Elder practically screamed that last word, and there was a flash of real panic in Siranna's eyes before the image jostled again, much more violently, before the screen went black. Replaced by [RECORDING ENDED].

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

[BountyTrek]

Enjoying this series so far. And now a bonus Sarek cameo.

Looking forward to them unravelling the mystery in the next part!