The Coma

Posted on 06 Nov 2023 @ 6:10am by Captain Mazal Falk & Lieutenant Leland Hawksley & Ensign C'Tirr K'Ruuras & 2nd Lieutenant Cassandra Mathews

1,881 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: General Sim Postings
Location: Medbay
Timeline: During current mission

-On-

C'tirr opened his eyes and looked about himself. He laid upon a medbay bed, Yet the medbay around him wasn't like the medbay on the Tomcat. He perked his ears around but found the area to be silent as a tomb and his silent sniffs caught the familiar yet subtly different smells of the medical staff. The scent was an hour or so old by the slight settling of the scent particles he surmised. He carefully removed the monitor connections from his chest and head.

He glanced around, taking in the almost primitive-looking equipment around him. It almost looked like the Borg had tried to assimilate the Tomcat's medical bay. He slid off the bed onto silent feet and threw on the folded uniform next to him. After dressing, he noticed that it was like Cass's uniform but different color scheme. oO Mystery after mystery.Oo He thought to himself as he moved cautiously to the door to the main corridor.

The door slid open and C'tirr stepped out into the corridor. The first thing he noticed was the ship was darker than he remembered it being.

As he emerged from the room lost in his musings an angry-looking Cassandra came stomping through the hall. Her uniform was indeed a set of dark marine greens with a medical badge strapped tightly over her left arm. She looked him up and down as if sizing him up. "And dare say just where the hell do you think you are going?" She asked the politeness of the question did not match the fire behind her blue eyes. Her usual short black hair was long and braided. There were scars cut across her face, as though a set of claws had raked across it. One scar cut right through her right cheek across her mouth misshapen it so that one side seemed to always frown. The nose was obviously rebuilt at some time. She stood there watching him stare at her, her toe tapping impatiently. "Could you please." The please was strained a little, "Go sit back down and let me check you over." It wasn't a request really. She all but spun him back around and pushed him back in towards the bed he had just so recently vacated. She went to a cabinet and took out the tools to check him over. "Hawksley and Falk will be happy to hear you are awake. They both came asking about you." She said as she turned around with the scanner and also a few older things like a stethoscope and a manual blood pressure cuff. "You know the drill. over shirt off and give up an arm. I don't trust these scanners until engineering has had a chance to check them for tampering. Especially after those bastards attacked us the way they did. How are you feeling? You look a little ... off." She asked as she waited for him to get situated.

C'tirr, confused followed the directions and was herded back into medical. He complied with her directions and removed the uniform top to bare his chest. There were numerous scars showing through his black fur and even some spots where there was no fur left but old and new scar tissue. " I'm fine but where am I and why am I in a marine uniform?" He asked as he watched her work.

Cassandra's blue eyes narrowed slightly as she read the medical data padd in her hand. She gave it an irritated shake then sat it down with a huff of utter disgust. "Dark ages, that's what this is like." She shook her head as she pulled out a little pen light from her chest pocket, Then finally seeing C'Tirr was serious with his question she asked him. "Why do you think it's odd for you to be in a Marine uniform?" She shined the light into his cat eyes measuring the dilation and looking for the tell-tell signs of a concussion. "Follow my finger please." She moved it as he spoke measuring his response and listening carefully for any irregular speech like slurring. He seemed okay so far aside from this odd confusion that had claimed him.

C'tirr's eyes dilated to bare slits as the light hit them then returned to normal quickly. "I swear I was a security officer serving on the Tomcat. It was better looking than this place though." He said as his eyes easily followed Cassandra's finger. "What happened? Was I injured and why I am in this medbay?" He glanced around then back to Cassandra, his speech clear and crisp though a little scratchy as if he hadn't had a drink in a while.

Mazal came striding in, a black beret tucked into the shoulder strap of her black flak vest. Her pants were black and grey camoflage patterned, her shirt long sleeved with the same camoflage pattern, except for the body part of it solid black. "What his situation, Matthews." her voice gruff, and gravelly. Her hair was cut short, just to the jawline at the moment it looked rather awry.

"Physically he seems to be alright. The medical scanners are not working reliably enough to be useful. But so far from the exam I have done he seems to have a concussion and some memory issues. He seems to believe he is a Security officer believe it or not. Still, no lumps, bumps, or abrasions, Though this could be a direct result of his needing to fast while the replicators have been down. Caitans don't do very well without Protine. It could be the onset of a mental breakdown if we can't find a way to increase his rations somehow, wouldn't hurt to increase the other Caitan's rations as well before they try to eat us. No offense meant.." Cassandra said glancing at C'Tirr briefly before looking up at Falk with worried eyes. "Hawksley mentioned something about a possible power supply on that last station near the rift. The controlled burn should get us there. I have faith in that plan. I can donate my portion of the rations to the ensign here in the meantime. I am trained for such situations and we need C'Tirr if we are to infiltrate the station. It's worth the risk. If we are successful we can save the ship and the rest of the crew." There was the impression that C'Tirr had just witnessed something of a respectful argument. "The doctor isn't going to make it. I am down to four nurses. If they find us and attack us on their terms I do not have the supplies to save very many others. We need that power supply." There was a pleading in Mathews voice.

Hawksley was walking down the corridors of the Tomcat. He nodded to passing officers in their uniforms. Their faces and their scars show grit, tenacity, and duty. The ship was being held together by myriads of makeshift Engineering miracles and some unsafe practices. He had lost too many fellow officers onboard.

Leland was quietly informed when C’Tirr had awoken in Sick Bay.

Hawksley entered behind Falk. He stood a bit taller and was in the same BDUs as Falk. They looked to be from a similar Marine or Tactical unit. There were gold pins of a hawk on Leland and Falk.

“He has awakened.” Was the only thing Leland needed to say to Falk. His eyes laser-like focused on Caitian’s lucidity.

Cassandra gave the Caitian a pat on the shoulder. Having no other task she took her leave so the officers could take over from here. She had to go check on the rest of the wounded. Carefully she eased out of the room to let them all talk.

Mazal called out after Cassandra. "Thank you, for what you are doing. Just keep an eye out on things" she replied. It was always best to keep on the good side of those in medical. "Now then anything to report that you may have memory of? The others from the other side of the mirror?"

Hawksley was fascinated by the alternate universe. He turned to Mazal and then to C’Tirr. He was resting, and they didn’t want to ask too many questions, just yet. C’Tirr might reveal more information himself without asking him.

“We didn’t pick up any sub-micron and macrophasic particle bursts. How did you arrive?” Leland asked C’Tirr, his eyes searching for Caitian’s level of comfort, lucidity, and cognitive abilities after such a transition.

"What if any sort of information did you find out? Any pertinent clues as to what the other side was planning?" Mazal asked, wanting to find out as much as possible. Mazal looking at both C'tirr and Leland.

Leland turned from Mazal to C'Tirr, expecting his response. Clearly there was a cross over. Most incidents occured with relatively shot periods of disphoria. Perhaps the Caitian physiology was affected worse in a temporal exchange.

Mazal took a better look at C'Tirr "it looks like he is needing a bit more sleep. " she looked those that were there medical wise. "Let me know when he comes back to a bit more alertness. We need everyone up to par. I will be in my office to go over any other battle plans. In the mean time I will see you later" with that Mazal left medical. She was worried about the Caitian Marine, however work was piling up. "Hawksley, I believe you'll be needed as well. C'Tirr you will know where you can find me, just get better." then she walked away.

Cassandra was just outside waiting. She put a finger to her lips and motions for Falk to follow her further down the hall away from the room. Once a good distance away she whispered. "That's not my brother." It was an almost angry hiss. "I don't know how to explain it but that person in there is an imposter."

Mazal frowned at this "This isn't good. I suggest that we post guards to keep watch." she stated when Hawksley caught up with them. "For right now, we'll keep our silence and wait for whatever reason this is happening."

Hawksley listened and then nodded in agreement to his Captain. "Acknowledged." Turning away he opened coms with Security, calling in double security.

With the security being called and them positioning in wait. Mazal took a look at both Leland and Cassandra. "Okay they'll keep an eye on him which is needed. For now we need to get back to work."

Leland couldn't help but think what they had stumbled over. A mirror C'Tirr, a Caitian. What could they do with this?

Cassandra nodded obediently. " If need be I can attempt to get close to home m and find out his agenda if you desire." She asked of her superior offices. She had to admit to a certain amount of curiosity about the situation now that her temper was waning.

Leland eyed the Captain. He then eyed back to Matthews. He didn't have to say anything but the nod was his reply. If the Captain wanted something different she would order.


Mazal Falk
Mirror Brevet Captain
USS Tomcat

&

Leland Hawksley
Mirror Brevet XO
USS Tomcat

&

Cassandra Mathews
Mirror chief medical officer
USS Tomcat

 

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