Retreat

Posted on Fri Oct 25th, 2024 @ 2:44pm by Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale & Lieutenant Commander Awal Kronnelti & Lieutenant Tracey Walker Jr & Lieutenant Betaras K'ner

Mission: Deep freeze
Location: Cryopod station
Timeline: Present

on:
{Cyropod Bay A-3}

Mira's eyes darted around to make sure Kolar was safe. He was tucked between Zi-Mia and Chin. "What are they?" Mira whispered to Kevin. She held Ashla protectively to her. They needed weapons, but she didn't know how to fight these things if they could even be fought.

"Automated defenses," Kevin suggested.

Running was a good idea, but right now, she was too weak to run. "Retreat!"

Walker and some of the others that accompanied him were returning fire as best they could from behind cover. The robots fired indiscriminately, destroying equipment in the cryopod bay without concern in their efforts to hit their quarry. Kevin had the distinct impression that these robot were not intended for use in this manner and weren't programmed to avoid damaging equipment.

"How do we get out of here?" Kevin shouted to Trace.

"That door they came though is our best option," Trace shouted back but taking a shot. "The other way leads to the reclamation center."

Kevin looked around the edge of the cryopod unit he and Mira were hiding behind. The three robots had taken up a line if front of the doorway shooting in all directions but he might be able to come in at them from the flank. "Cover me," he ordered Trace.

Trace nodded and directed more phaser fire at the robots. Kevin grabbed Mira by the hand a pulled her with him as he circled around to the right followed by Zimia and Chin carrying the children.

Mira was stumbling as they moved. Why is she so weak, Kevin wondered. He had been uncoordinated immediately after being removed from the cryopod but had quickly recovered, as had the others. Only Mira seem physically restricted. He wished that K'ner were here.

The covering from from Walker and the other armed crewmembers was enough to draw the attention of the robots away from Kevin as his group as they circled around the room.

Kevin decided that Mira would not be able to make the distance from the last cryopod unit to the door, so he lifted her onto his shoulder in a fireman's carry. "Now!" the shouted to Zimia and Chin.

The group began running for the door opening. The robot closest to them turned towards them. Kevin, without thinking much about it, lowered his shoulders and struck the robot high on its chassis.

Pain shot through the shoulder opposite from Mira and he almost lost his grip on her. He wished that he had thrusterball shoulder pads to absorb the impact and knew that he was going to be very sore in the morning. The robot teetered on two of its four wheels momentarily then toppled to the ground, firing wildly into the air.

Zimia and Chin escaped out the doorway. Kevin scrambled to his feet careful to avoid the downed robot's weapons and followed the two ensigns, adjusting Mira on his shoulder as he moved.

Awal was just behind Kevin and Mira, he took two or three shots but he kept going. Not wanting these robots to pursue he ripped their arms off the body.

Anger, rage and a thirst for blood is what is keeping Kronnelti going.

Mira winced in pain as her stomach was pressed into KeVin's shoulder, but she breathed through the discomfort. Lifting her head, she could see Chin and Zi-Mia keeping up with them. Her children were safe in their arms, but they should be in her arms. Hadn't she trained for that. She remembered running for hours with Kolar.

Mira tried to wiggle her toes, nothing. Her legs just didn't want to respond. In fact, it would seem around her hips, and below, she had not gotten the feeling back yet.

She fought the panic, trying to overtake her. It would seem that some of her odd and dangerous dreams were true. Maybe it's more true than she was willing to deal with right now. Like the horrible desert world. She closed her eye. Nope, I'm not going to deal with that right now. Getting out was all she could deal with at the moment. Her brother was in one of his rages, but as he fought, he kept his wife and child with him, and he stayed with the group.

She nodded as least his mind was clear enough to know they had to stick together. The woman who helped her deliver Ashla was with them.

Chin yelled, "To the right commander."

Mira frowned. Why wasn't he calling KeVin my lord or jarl? And why the hell was everyone calling her captain?

Marcus slid in to cover next to Trace. "You were right, your crew has recovered and given back to the Masters quicker than I've seen any group, including my own."

Lance slid in to cover next to them. "How do we get to the ship?" He asked.

Trace grimaced. "I've been out of the Matrix for three weeks, we haven't found where the Norris is docked. Otherwise I would have already secured it."

Kevin glanced at Mira and his children, and nodded. "Not an issue. Chin found the ship's location. Follow me." he said, sliding out of cover and running.

With more gunfire exchanged and minimal losses, they retreated to The Liberated's fallback stronghold. It was likely they would have a few hours unmolested to come up with a plan. He noticed K'ner working her way through the injured, along with some of her squad.

Awal hugged Dianna and Venus, are you two ok? Are you two hurt?

Yes replied Dianna we're ok and we're fine.

He walked up to the door, his anger growing but he just stands there

Chin had said that the Norris was two decks down. He looked to the right and saw what he thought was a ladder. He told Chin and Zimia to sit tight as he took Mira in that direction.

It was a ladder. He moved Mira to his and she clung tightly to his shoulders and neck. He waved for Chin and Zimia to follow him, then began to climb down the ladder.

It was a bit of a challenge fitting both he and Mira down the shaft designed for one but at least they were going in the direction that gravity was pulling them.

Upon reaching the bottom of the ladder he found long corridor branching out in multiple directions. "Which way now?" he asked.

Chin looked several ways reconstructing the station's layout in his mind. Then he pointed down one long corridor.

"Are you sure?" Kevin asked, "We may not get another chance at this."

"More certain than not," Chin replied. Kevin nodded. It would have to be enough. He send Chin ahead with Zimia and the children. Then he shouted up to K'ner to talk Trace and Awal to break contact and follow.

"ON IT!" He heard her voice above.

Kevin rubbed his hand up and down her bare leg.. "How are you feeling kitten?"

Mira bit her lip. "weak. weaker then I have ever felt in my life. Why can't we just go back to Faereyjar KeVin?"

"Where?" he asked.

Zimia frowned and stopped walking and turned back to Mira, “What year is it?"

Mira rolled her eyes at the stupid question "1100 AD"

What the Void, Kevin thought. Mira clearly was suffering from some hallucinations from their imprisonment.

Zimia shook her head. "Can you stand?"

Mira shook her head no. "I can't feel my feet." she had looked down before to see if they were there.

Zimia nodded. "Can I see your back?"

At first, Mira almost told her no, but she nodded her consent.

Zimia cold hand ran down her neck and back.

"You have two implantations, one behind your neck and one lower down your back by your hips." Zimia told her, "Are you in contact with your Symbiont?."

"My what?" Mira shook her head. " Just get a knife and cut it out." Mira told her firmly. If someone put something in her, she wanted it out, and now.

That midwife K'ner had joined them, looking at her. "Not until I understand what it does and what removing it will do to you."

Mira frowned but waited for KeVin to make that call. Vaytoc and spike was aide down

"You heard the doctor," Kevin said, "First we get you back to the Norris."

The group came to a doorway and Chin announced, "Chuck Norris should just be on the other side."

Kevin gently placed Mira on the deck and examined the door. It didn’t look like a blast door or atmospheric hatch. If Chin couldn't override the door he might be able to open it with brute strength. He told Chin to try to open the door while he looked for something to give him leverage.

Mira uses her arms to pull herself to lean her back against the wall. K'ner squatted down to look into Mira's eye. "What do you remember?"

Mira frowned. "You mean about my life?"

K'ner nodded.

"I grew up on Faereyjar. I married KeVin after he became Jarl, and we have two beautiful children. You helped me deliver Ashla just a few days ago."

Walker knelt down. "I remember Faereyjar."

Mira's eyes widened "But.....but you died..." Mira worried eyes darted to K'ner. "Am I dead too? this doesn't look like Valhalla."

Walker frowned, "Perhaps the way we took her out of the cryopod?"

K'ner frowned. "Mira what is your Symbiont telling you?"

"I don't know who that is," Mira told her, feeling really scared now.

"Mira, remember all those scary dreams you were having? The one about life in space?" Zimia asked her.

Mira narrowed her eyes, "Of the ship that's sails in the dark sky with the stars?" At Zimia's nodded Mira frowned "You said they were all bad dreams."

"Not the one about us living on a ship in the sky. That one is true but all the others ones aren't true. Only they all happen in our brain while we slept in the cryopods."

Mira raised an eyebrow "And my two children are just dreams too?"

Zimia shook her head, "No, they are real."

"But I had my children on Faereyjar. Ashla was born in the middle of battle," Mira shook her head

K'ner cocked her head to the side regarding Mira. "My guess is the implant on the back of your neck is blocking memories from you, and from the Symbiont as well. The one on your lower back was probably there to make it easier to control you. Knowing you," K'ner smiled, "You probably got away too many times."

Mira wasn't sure what she meant completely but she did liked the idea of her giving their captors trouble. Mira turned to Zimia "The water world? England? The...desert world." she shivered that place had been horrible "Being tortured in the mines? All that I dreamt you said was just bad dreams."

Zimia frowned, "And Faereyjar"

Mira raised an eyebrow, "Then how do you explain the baby?"

Programmed said Awal, they tried wiping my memories but failed. I remember everything that has happened.

Chin succeeded in opening the door exposing an exterior hatch of Federation design. It was open. Kevin stepped inside and recognized the port side torpedo magazine on the Chuck Norris. He turned back and ordered everyone inside.

He returned to pick up Mira, cradling her more comfortably in is arms this time and carried her through the hatch. He hoped that the tubrolifts were still operational. Getting Mira up the ladder to Deck 2 where the sick bay was at would be.

Kolar was jumping up and down shouting, "We're home! We're home, mama! Now the bad bads never get us again!"

"Zimia, get the children to our quarters," Kevin ordered, "Doctor K'ner, I will take Mira to the sick bay."

K'ner waved him on with a nod and turned back to the incoming personnel, mostly the crew but with some new faces mixed in. She directed some of her squad as the numbers dwindled and the targets of opportunity reached relative safety. There was apparently a limit to the actual 'bots available to deter them, and those were mostly inoperable now due to the damage inflicted by vengeful victims.

With a last command she broke off, scrambling forward and up a side passage to get ahead of the throng, then splitting off and up so she could reach the team barracks. She made short work with her gear and immediately felt more at ease. This would make getting around easier as well. Medical was next...


{ Sickbay, USS Chuck Norris }

K'ner let Billingsly direct traffic as she conducted a quick triage. Her initial survey ended with her at the Captain's side with the XO looking on. "Sir, you may find yourself more useful on the bridge. I don't think they're gonna let us just leave. This is going to take me a while before I can safely deal with what they've done to her."

K'ner waited until the XO had mulled that over and come to a decision. Once he'd reluctantly left, K'ner got Mira's attention. "I know this must all be confusing. The conditioning you're under was quite thorough, and happened many times so it's even more convoluted. You are revered upon this ship... YOUR ship. You are our Captain, the leader of our fates."

K'ner paused as her eyes widened but hopefully her resolve strengthened. "You are quite hard-headed, stubborn even," she said with a slight smile. "But... you are open-minded and fair. Your crew is loyal to a fault and will be looking to you for direction. Many are like you are now, confused and with either no memory or mixed memories of what is and what seemingly was."

As she continued her ministrations, K'ner kept up a quiet dialogue to both keep Mira distracted, but trying to inform her and build up to the point she was trying to make. A decision of great import for the CO.

"Before you go down a dark road, or many roads, yes, you are all but betrothed to the XO, the genetic father of your child... children. You, no doubt, witnessed his commitment in the last hour if nothing else. Kolar will, again no doubt, be jumping all over right now, driving Zimia nuts wanting to see you. But you have some things to work out."

K'ner stopped what she was doing, both to wait on scan results and to get the CO to focus on what she was saying. "Those creatures that took us, put us through simulated lives. Created a virtual environment where we could be active and exist and have conflict, apparently as a form of a power source, but I also surmise that they had other benefits from it as well. This is where we've gotten away from, and hopefully, where we'll remain apart from. Your command staff will be dealing with that right now but they will need you, if you are willing."

She let that sink in a bit, wishing there was more time but feeling like they were running out of said resource. "You have given them an extended run of resistance, which required further methods than the rest. I would rather take my time, bring you back to our reality in stages, closely examine the impact to your body, and your psyche... but... we're at a crossroads and I need a decision from you. When I remove these restraints, you might just remember everything you should, or, just as likely, what you will experience will be a flood of memories, of emotions, of rage and depression and love and all the things that are in there."

K'ner points are her head, and her body. "You will have to tell me if you're ready for that. I can't tell you. You can rally your crew, and the newcomers, and take back control of your life. Or I can tend your ailments, and give you time to get a grip. Get used to being in control again before responsibility is thrust upon you."

"This decision I must leave to you. There is no wrong answer, it is the answer that is right for you. Think about it while I see to Bargonale here and I'll be right back." K'ner left Mira to consider her choices, having only stepped one biobed away to give her some room.

Mira frowned as the doctor walked away. Why did she send KeVin away if decisions were to be made? She needed him right now. Mira ran her fingers over the table or they had called it something else here. What was it called a biobed? It felt real to her but so had everything else. What else had the DocTor said they needed to fight the creatures that trapped them here. The evil ones. They were the enemy and a battle was going on for freedom. She understood that. Her people needed her to fight but she couldn't fight like this....She tried moving her toes. Then frowned as nothing happened.

The things in her back was making her weak.... They had to go. She had to fight. To protect what was hers. That's all that matters right now. "remove them" Mira told the DocTor.

K’ner stepped back over and gave her the stern look, just to confirm her resolve. Then K’ner smiled… “Yes, my Captain.”

…While she prepped, K’ner shot a message off to the XO advising him of the procedure and estimated duration. She was sure he had plenty to keep his hands full, but she also knew this could prove a distraction if she didn’t assure him things were well in hand so he could do his thing unfettered.

:off

Lieutenant Tracey Walker
Chief Engineer
USS Chuck Norris

&

Lieutenant Commander Awal Kronnelti
Chief of security and tactical
USS Chuck Norris

&

Lt Betaras K'ner
Hazard Team Combat Medic TL-B / CMO
USS Chuck Norris

&

Captain Mira Rodale
CO USS Chuck Norris

&

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris