This Brain's Not Big Enough for Both of Us!
Posted on Monday 28 January 2019 @ 10:40 by Captain Melody Jones & Commander Caroline Miller & Lieutenant Colonel Kachiko Bayushi & Lieutenant Michael Ki MD & Lieutenant Marbim Rejal & Captain John "Apollo" Barstow, M.D.
Mission:
The New Collective
Location: Brig
Timeline: Following "The Search for Red O'Hara
3656 words - 7.3 OF Standard Post Measure
O'Hara was laying serenely on the floor of the brig. After she had been stunned, she had promptly been deposited in the least lavish accommodations on the ship. Now the Senior Staff stood clustered around the entrance, looking in on her and waiting for her to come around.
Kachiko looked up at Barstow and Jones, "Captain, Commander. It's my professional opinion that the Lieutenant's data port has been compromised and remains a liability and breach of ship and Federation Security. We may need to have it removed entirely. I hate to be the one to bring it up, knowing how much it means to her, but we may not have a choice."
Ki looked at O'Hara as she lay on the floor. The only thought that he had was how the mighty had fallen. The Colonel was on the right track in his opinion, but he dared not speak up in that matter. He turned to Barstow. "Captain we are doing the Lieutenant a disservice by keeping her here. She needs to be in Sick Bay so we can figure out what is going on with her head. She would also need to be there if that data port is to be removed. With your permission I would like to have her transported there immidiately. We can place her behind a security field to prevent another escape." His speech was impassioned, he truly felt for the woman. She would not listen to anyone and would sacrifice all.
"While it's not up to me, I concur, though we're going to have to have the Lieutenant's assent to the removal," as a former Security Section Chief, the Marine was rather familiar with the law and Starfleet regulations. "We owe her that much. I was able to ascertain that there was another inside her, utilizing the bio-neural computer interface in her head. It had complete control when the Commander and I subdued her though she was pushing back in her head."
While they were speaking, the force field crackled into action behind them, apparently O'Hara's body had woken up, and was currently probing the egress from the brig with her left hand... She was holding the hand against the against the energy barrier, crackles of energy earthing themselves against her palm and fingers. Anyone humanoid would have no longer been able to stand the discomfort.
When it was sure it had everyone's attention, the Thing spoke. It was O'Hara's voice, but not O'Hara's accent. This was clearly not the Chief Engineer.
"Release me, Meat, and I will promise you a swift death. Fail to comply, and one by one, you will meet your demise with agony. I will break each and every one of you. You can't hold me forever."
"Oh do be quiet!" Melody snapped back. She then turned to the Captain "Sir, I recommend that the Lieutenant is treated here." She glanced at Ki "The Doctor has just stated she is a security risk and I cannot believe that he wants to run the risk of letting her loose again by moving her. What ever is controlling the Lieutenant has access to all of her knowledge judging by how it was able to cripple the internal sensors and almost killed everyone onboard stating with me! I must recommend that we change all command codes as they are clearly compromised, temporarily revoke Lieutenant O'Hara's clearance and post extra security both inside and outside the brig until we are certain what ever is in her head has been removed."
"I'm sorry I am in agreement with Commander Jones," Caroline stated. "IF the dataport needs removing then yes sickbay. But if," Caroline said calmly. She walked out among the larger men and stood directly opposite where O'Hara was behind the force field eyes completely fixed on hers.
"Who are you?" She asked. "You cannot possess that body forever. A way will be found to drive you out. And you will need rest and food to keep existing in there until that happens. Throwing threats around is not going to achieve anything. So who are you and why do you want to kill us?"
O'Hara's eyes stared back unblinkingly. "I am a Puppet Master. This naive, willful little puppet handed me her strings." The voice carried a malevolent tone. O'Hara's mouth curled itself into a self-satisfied and evil grin. "In turn, I have pulled all of yours. In her hubris, she thought she could overcome me in my own domain. You will all pay the price for her arrogance." O'Hara's hand shot up again and came into contact with the force field. "...But none will pay as dearly as she. She goes to her death knowing that she was the instrument of this ship's demise. She dies feeling the pain I inflict upon her. She dies with every last living being on this ship as a black mark against her soul. She dies knowing you all die because of her. She dies knowing that she was too weak to stop me. "
No! O'Hara screamed in her mind. It's me! I'm th' one ya wan'! KILL ME YA FECKIN' COWARD! KILL ME!
Before I've completed my masterpiece? I so do want you to be there for it's unveiling. You were, after all, my muse. The voice laughed deeply. Truth be told, I didn't actually need you. You were just a bit of theater, really. A diversion for the cascade virus I embedded in the shuttle logs. When they were uploaded to the main computer, they spread and and are lying dormant and undetectable throughout every system on the ship... With the press of a button, I can initiate a cascade failure in your warp core's power matrix.
When th' matter/anti-matter containment field fails...
Boom. The voice said with finality.
NO! I'll na allow it!
The Puppet Master had finished his monolouge, and stared at Caroline for a few long tense moments through O'Hara's eyes. Then there was a scream. O'Hara fell to her knees, howling and clutching her head.
There was a knot forming in Melody's stomach "Captain, she's stalling us" she whispered to Barstow. "With your permission I'd like to run a complete diagnostic of all systems. She's talking like shes won already."
John just listened as he watched the engineering chief, "the data port is tied directly into her nervous system, as much as I agree, I don't think it's an option," he replied with a sigh then nodded an affirmative to Melody, "take Rojal with you," he said and ran his hand over the stubble of his 5 o'clock shadow before letting his hand fall to his side, "any and all telepathic communication is to be stopped now as well, and I will not repeat that order," he said firmly and looked around the room, "she stays and is treated here....scan for erroneous subspace frequencies on the low end of the spectrum, even if you think it's background noise, flag it."
Melody acknowledge the order "Aye Sir, I'll be in engineering." Melody started to make her way out at the same time pressing her comm badge "Jones to Rejal, I need you to meet me in engineering immediately!"
"Commander, I'm already in Main Engineering, with Lieutenant Karki and several marines, how can we help you?"
Melody hesitated “I’m not sure I want to discuss it over the comm. I’ll be there shortly, get all hand on deck. Jones out.”
Michael gave the Captain the most baleful of looks and he could not help but have some edge in his voice when he spoke. "Sir! This woman needs intensive surgery, and counseling neither of which can be done here. The security of this vessel can be maintained from Sick Bay. Hell, she should not have been brought here to begin with. I cannot believe that a man of medicine such as yourself would order this to occur in the Brig. That is a danger to the patient, and I took an oath to do no harm. I am going to reissue my request to transfer MY patient to Sick Bay. Should you not adhere to this request I will have to make the request an order. Captain, may I transport this patient to Sick Bay?" Michael stood nose to nose with the Captain. O'Hara was his patient and he took an oath to first do no harm.
"May I suggest unconsciously" Caroline stated, "as a precaution for the surgery. If the CMO deems it necessary, then we should take every precaution and yes treat her in sickbay." Caroline issued her support behind Ki.
Apollo drummed his fingers on his hip, "can you keep her unconscious this time?" he asked.
Caroline shot a look to Ki still rather up close and personal with the CO and tried to defuse the situation somewhat. From what she had seen of him so far, she hadn't expected him to be rattled enough to get into the CO's personal space. Luckily Barstow seemed to be taking it in his stride.
"There were plenty of things that can be tried. Doctor, shall we take a moment outside perhaps to confer on a course of action?" It made sense to also take the precaution not to let the entity currently possessing O'hara have an idea of what they were going to do also.
As he saw that the Captain was willing to let him take her to Sick Bay, Michael took a step back. "Yessir we will keep her under sedation and if I need to in stasis until I can get the exact plan of action figured out..." His voice trailed off as Caroline chimed in. Although Michael was still rather angry at the Captain for even making that suggestion, he decided to follow the Counselor's advice. "Yes quite right Counselor. When we step back in we can initiate the transport."
Caroline raised an arm and indicated the door and he go first. When they got outside she stated calmly, "You need to calm down doctor. The Captain is only doing what he deems best in the situation. Whereas it would have been exponentially more difficult, we could of treated her in the brig. Going nose to nose with him, in front of his senior staff may not have been the right strategy."
When Michael stepped outside he composed himself as best as he could. "He is a man of medicine first, and a Captain second or so he told me when I took the job. As a man of medicine that order should have never been given. While I appreciate the advice, we can discuss this later. Right now we need to figure out a plan of action for O'Hara. It is my belief that this consciousness or presence is Borg in nature as such it must have a connection to get implant. I believe we should simply replace the implant. Thoughts?"
"Two," Caroline stated flatly. "We won't be discussing it further as there is no reason too. Regardless to any discussion you have had with the Captain as to whatever sort of man he is. He is the Captain and what he orders goes. Its not for you to question his authority unless you truly believe that medically he is not sound and that you have grounds to relieve him. And in front of the rest of the senior team. That was badly done Doctor Ki. That's not advice, its fact. What you did was not only question him but try to assert yourself in a display of unnecessary machismo.
Two, you have no evidence that what is possessing O'Hara is the borg and I disagree with your proviso that it is. This "puppet master" as it refers to itself does not speak or act like a borg in any way. A borg severed from the collective is confused, frightened, not used to individual thoughts and decisions. If the whole collective or a smaller group of it were in her head the voices would be driving her very insane. This is one presence. That is hell bent on specifically destroying a starship. However I agree that implant needs to come out however regardless. She should not be walking around with a piece of kit that is not standard for all engineers. Our understanding of how that properly works and the long term effects of it on the human body is not good enough to deem it properly safe and I am not convinced allowing another implant unless it serves a proper medical purpose is necessary," she finished.
Michael visibly softened in demeanor. "Counsellor... Caroline. That was not machismo it was me doing my duty as requested by the Captain. I have orders to as he put it keep him in check. These orders you were unaware of. That said you are correct I lost my own temper in front of everyone and it should never have happened. For that i apologize.
In regards to the Borg your statements hold true in most cases. However, there are Borg that have been given individuality and seek to form mini collectives. This could be that, but I do not have any evidence to support that theory save a hunch, a gut feeling. If it's the Borg or not either way the key is that implant at least there we agree. It must be removed, I would ask your assistance there..." His voice trailed off as he paused for a moment and considered his next words carefully. "Thank you for bringing back to myself. I need that from time to time." The last words he spoke while looking her in the eyes, it was a look of supplication.
Caroline relaxed, her own face softening. She had misjudged him. She was big enough to recognise when she did that. "You can always rely on me to do that. I'm sorry. I misjudged things.
Yes I will assist. Lets figure out how to knock her out. Perhaps while shes under we can do a quick personality transplant. Soften down some of the hard edges," she smiled and raised her eyebrows up and down a couple of times so he knew without doubt she was kidding.
"I'd think the best way is piping gas through the environmental controls. No point endangering someone going in and pressing a hypo to her neck," she suggested back to business.
Michael nodded in agreement "Quite so." He motioned for the door and the two medical officers walked back into Brig unified once more.
Meanwhile, in Stephanie's head, the image of the glowing outline of a woman coalesced and a sweet, calm voice was directed at the redhead's passenger, "Why hello there. I hope that you didn't think that you were actually going to accomplish anything with this escapade?"
Is that you, Colonel? Or is it commander? These hierarchical structuring you have are so inefficient. I know you. I know the O'Hara thing has a fondness for you. I suggest you vacate the premises, unless you would like to meet your end sooner than your shipmates.
'~Who I am is none of your business,~' came the response.'~What matters is that if you do not vacate Miss O'Hara, I may be forced to brain kill you. Your pathetic kind is also inable to function or even survive without the humanoid brain.~'
The willfulness of the females of your species has offered me no end of entertainment. There was no body associated with the voice. It was sound coming from all around her. The O'Hara thing as excellent hearing. I believe the man in charge of this vessel gave you a direct order to cease telepathic contact.
'~You think that because you're in her head, I would have to kill her to evict you. But you made the mistake of integrating with her cybernetics and her mind,~' the voice sounded like she was smiling devilishly. '~I wonder if I could plant a psychic bomb in your brain and reduce your entire region into corpses?~'
The Voice laughed hearitily. My control over this meat is entirely technological. Anything you attempt to do to me will only hurt your precious Engineer. You have no power here.
'~I could potentially brain the entire Borg collective, now that I have access to your head,~' the voice laughed malevolently.'~I'm offering an opportunity to retreat, learn and adapt.~'
You think I'm a Borg? The voice laughed again, longer this time. If I knew your species was this entertaining, I would have done this years ago. You know nothing. I will tell you nothing. You will leave. Now.
The last word echoed in the air, amplfying and repeating and getting louder and more discordant until Kachiko was surrounded with a wall of deafening sound.
The discordant sound was suddenly interrupted by what sounded like a massive thunderclap and a flash of light, '~EnOUGH!~'
'~So you are what corrupted those Borg,~' the voice said much more calmly. '~This is the end of the road for you. Vacate or face erasure.~'
What is that quaint human expression? Oh yes... I believe it was 'Hit me with your best shot'. This meat has served it's purpose, and will die broken and alone. If you wish to be the one to execute her for her crimes, so be it. Let it be some small comfort to you in your final hour that the guilty were brought to justice and the being responsible for the destruction of your ship has been caught and punished.
'~Oh, you misjudge my intent, idiot,~' the voice sounded to be smirking. '~Fun fact about Stephanie O'Hara's cybernetics? Designed to power down when she's asleep or unconscious, so she can have peace at night. If there's something I have become very good at, it's rendering other humanoids unconscious without harming them.~'
'~So have a good nap... provided you're still around by the time Miss O'Hara is brought back to,~' the voice said sickly sweetly.
With that, Lieutenant O'Hara's body crumpled to the deck inside of the cell.
Kachiko sighed, "Sorry, I don't have the time to wait for other preparations. She is unconscious and should remain so for at least the next ten minutes. Let's get a move on. I need to speak to the Captain.
Caroline walked back in to hear the last comment just as the gas she had ordered outside piped into the cell with a now crumpled woman. Her eyes flashed back and forth to Bayushi and she mentally did the math.
She had disregarded a direct order from the CO. It didn't surprise her any more and Bairstow was certainly gong to want some words with the current XO. As the Captain was still in the room she felt sorry for him that such an ugly conversation was now waiting for him.
She sighed inwardly for a moment before quipping, "Ten minutes wouldn't be enough time but that should keep her unconscious so The CMO can remove the device. Permission to beam the patient directly to sickbay Captain."
Michael's jaw dropped as he stepped back into the room. If he had his druthers the XO would be locked in the brig. But that was not for him to decide and he simply did not have the time. He replicated a hypo of Melenex and administered it to O'Hara.
As he knelt next to the engineer he looked up at the Captain. "She is sedated and will remain so for at least the next two hours. With your permission we will transport her to Sick Bay. Sir..."
The CO just nodded, "do it, Colonel, you better talk fast because I'm about to throw you in there for disobeying a direct order."
"I have been working on breaking in there since Miss Jones and I first encountered her, Captain," Kachiko arched an eyebrow."I finally made it in and encountered her... 'passenger.' It's not the Borg."
"We seem to be dealing with a malevolent artificially intelligent program that is behind the corruption of the rogue Borg," Kachiko reported. She gestured to the unconscious Lieutenant, "She's been fighting him the whole time. I could sense her presence and her trying to tell me what It did to the ship, but all I could get from Stephanie O'Hara was static."
"Her cybernetics are designed power down when she's sleeping or unconscious, so it cannot do anything until she's conscious again. It also tried to harm me by running a feedback loop upon me, so I took her down so that the Doctors could get to work," Kachiko eyed the Captain. "So I was doing my job."
Apollo shook his head, "until sickbay clears you of any passengers you're to remain there, period," he said and motioned two security officers forward, "as to the rest, we'll see," he said simply and walked out, mulling over what the Marine had said.
OFF:
LTjg Stephanie O'Hara
Chief Engineer
USS Merlin
LTjg Marbim Rejal
Chief of Operations
USS Merlin
Commander Melody Jones
Second Officer / CSO
Lieutenant Colonel Bayushi Kachiko
Company Commander, USS Merlin
Commander Caroline Miller
Chief Counselor, USS Merlin
Captain John "Apollo" Barstow
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin
Task Group Commanding Officer
Task Group 47-A
Dr Michael Ki
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin
