Shadow Games

Posted on Sun Oct 2nd, 2022 @ 3:06pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis Dr & Ensign T'Plana-hath & Lieutenant Seth Travis

Mission: Time Bandits
Location: Romulan Vessel D'Deridex

Shon, Lodzhal, and Seth materialized with a Romulan centurion as a group of centurions stood away from the transporter with disruptors raised and aimed. Tomalak grinned, "At last we have our other guests, and they appear to be in the midst of a very unconventional mind meld. This is almost too perfect."

Lodzhal felt the minutest sensation and disturbance in the mind meld, the Duv katra began to coil away from the Vre'katra and again tried to reassert herself over Shon. Lodzhal tried hard to reassert her mind in the meld but was unable. Fatigued she began the process of removing herself from the meld, she would have stern words for those whom had interrupted the mind meld. She mentally commanded Seth, the bond-mate of Shon to disengage from the meld We will have to try again later, we have lost the initiative and the meld is breaking. With that she began to recite “ Nash-veh lodzhal, nash-veh lodzhal, nash-veh lodzhal {I am Lodzhal, I am Lodzhal, I am Lodzhal}” and she was back in her own mind. She instantly sensed and knew she was not in the sickbay of the USS Washington.

Shon felt confused Seth had gone as had the scenes of the city. The rage that had been seeping from her Katra began to reassert itself. Tu'ash ish-veh kashek nem-tor ra du aitlun stau eifa vi curse du (take this and do as you will, kill those who oppose us) kept repeating again and again through her mind. She felt the tear as Seth broke apart from her mind and she awoke. She knew she was no longer in sickbay or even on the ship. She sat up and looked into Romulan faces standing in front of her and was confused for a moment until she remembered. “Seth?” she whispered. Her voice sounded like dried leaves crushed and blowing in the breeze. “Where are we?”

“Aeek'h'i 'hh ehdhihss hvaedroalh kjumnaihsou? {What is the meaning of this?} Raed'aeusnnta'jhiy hwiiy faihra taome ih'sanhae an grukhai ujudhueiusmm'ukssdh hwiiy env, interfering swai a gemaen meld? {Do you realize how dangerous an act that you did, interfering with a mind meld?}” asked Lodzhal in Romulan, as she quickly grabbed the Vre'katra from Shon's chest and stood up defiantly looking at the Romulans.

Seth blinked in confusion as one moment they were on the Washington, the next it appeared on a Romulan ship. He looked at Shon and then to Lodzhal. "Are you both alright?" He asked, ignoring the Romulans.

"You are guests on my ship" Tomalak said diplomatically. "I apologize for the transport at an inopportune time, but it couldn't be helped. Sadly your captain has caused far more unnecessary trouble. Now that we have you here though, we can leave your ship and crewmates and move on with our quest. You will find that your treatment here will be amicable." He looked at Seth, "You however are not necessary. Take him to the detention cells, and take the two Vulcans to quarters."

Seth didn't put up a fight. it wouldn't help Shon. All he said was, "So much for Romulan diplomacy."

Shon jumped up and moved towards the Romulans managing to down one of the surprised guards before they could react. “My husband stays with me or I with him” she snarled.

The Romulans fired, stunning Shon. "I'm afraid that while you may be guests, I am aware of your desire to not be here. Please inform her of such when she comes to" Tomalak said flatly. "Now, off you go to you lodgings."

The centurions led the trio away, eventually separating Seth from the others as they were taken to different locations. Seth was taken to the brig, Shon and Lodzhal were taken to quarters which where quite spartan. Guards remained outside and everyone was now in a sort of solitary confinement.

Shon woke from yet another stun and found herself getting really tired of it. She looked at Lodzhal who seemed to be meditating. A burning rage began to build inside her something that she was getting used to but was not really her. She had fought so long against the Katra inside that seemed to be shredding her soul and was beginning to be subsumed by it. She walked over to the door and tried to open it by pressing the button. It did not work of course so she tried to pull them apart. She began to scream as she beat the doors.

Kal-tor nash-veh si' du Rihansu kre'nath nash-veh aitlun tor gla-tor Seth! (let me out you Romulan bastards I want to see Seth!)

She looked around for a weapon and found the top of a seat which she ripped off and tried to work between the doors. Finally it began to work as it became more inserted until she had gained an inch. She knew there must be guards on the other side of the door and swore she would not be stunned again. For a moment she remembered the children she carried, then the Katra once again overtook her and she threw herself once again into her work as her nails began to bleed. Then the material split and cut deep into her arm peeling skin and muscle away. She looked down with a practiced eye as she saw the anatomy of her wrist, blood began to well and then spurt and she knew that she had lacerated her radial artery. “Seth, Seth, Seth” she continued to shout until she slipped to the floor.

The door opened and the centurions stood with disruptors raised. Seeing Shon bleeding one of the centurions hit the comm panel and called for immediate medical assistance. The other centurion tore part of Shon's uniform to use as a bandage. A doctor and several others quickly arrived and quickly began to treat Shon's injury. Once the bleeding was stopped the doctor informed the guards that she was going to need to be taken to the medical quarters for additional treatment. The lead guard was reluctant, but finally agreed to it, having a group of guards escort Shon with the doctor, while Lodzhal was moved next door with T'Plana.

Lodzhal came out of her meditative trance when the Romulans grabbed her. She stood compliant with them I will strike when I reach T'Plana-hath. If I am correct she is carrying a very violent katra, one that despises Romulans. I believe this will become a blood bath for the Romulans, hindered as they are in not harming us.
T'Plana-hath stood meditating next to the door that led into the corridor, she was sure there would be guards on the other side. Once the door opened, she would grab the first Romulan to enter and begin her attack sequence. There would be no mercy for them as she only had the one chance to get herself free. She also was very confident that the Romulans had strict orders not to harm her, thus she had an advantage. The Romulans were foolish to think she would not kill them because she was a Vulcan.

In the detention area, Seth was in solitary as a pair of guards stood watch. The guards began to speak between themselves and offer smug looks towards Seth. Finally, one of the centurions spoke to Seth, "Your mate has injured herself in a futile attempt to escape. She apparently wished to be with you. Perhaps you will make a better hostage than anticipated human."

Seth made no comment to the Romulans but his heart lurched at hearing the news about Shon. He wished he was with her, to keep her calm and settled and perhaps figure out a way to escape then he thought escape to where? The Washington crew was locked in a battle for control of the ship and with his luck, he and Shon and the others if they escaped and beamed back, they would beam back onto the Washington and the Romulans. He needed to think this out.

Shon opened her eyes slowly. She could feel the thrum of different engines through her back. She could feel she was on some sort of medical bed and thanked Surak her plan had worked. Now she was in a place where escape was probably possible, the Romulan sickbay. She closed her eyes again quickly as someone came over, moved her arm, adjusted something and left. On opening them again she noted the lights were dimmer than the sickbay on the Washington. Two guards appeared to be standing at the bottom of her bed disruptors at their hips and they were facing away from her. She laughed inwardly, what was the point of that? She thought. Her arm hurt interminably and, as she moved her fingers sent shockwaves of pain up her arm. She moaned to see what would happen and heard footsteps return. For the first time she was glad she had learned Romulan. Whoever it was was talking about their mission and the place they were heading to. She moaned again and she felt a rush of something enter her system and then the pain lessened and she slept.

The Romulan doctor checked Shon and ran a few scans. He remained silent, giving away nothing. As Shon fell asleep he walked away, telling the guards to look sharp and pay close attention to her.

A little while later she woke again the first thing she heard were the same two Romulans that she had heard before.

“Hveolhaonn don’t i'mae siaeqh ehdhihss daise'khre'riov eieuk'h'utnndh aeulleakjs'hnvaeh'n flaeon iudaiht here hrrau'khir idhaeiiiaekssrai’s obviously asleep.” (I don’t know why we have to babysit, she’s obviously asleep)

The harsh guttural almost Vulcan sound grated on her ears. Shon felt much better as she slowly raised herself up on her elbows. She noted a couple of other inmates who seemed to be sleeping and a doctor at the far end of the bay seemingly engrossed in something on his screen, the green flicker highlighting his sallow skin and dark eyes. She swung off the bed silently and padded towards the two guards. Using her left hand she downed the first one with a nerve pinch grabbing his disruptor. As the second one turned, shock in his eyes she shot him at point blank range hoping that his weapon had been set to stun. She bent down and quickly checked his pulse thankful that she had not killed. Putting the other disruptor in her belt she looked around. Unfortunately she knew she would also have to deal with the doctor so he would be unable to sound the alarm, at least for a while. She moved a little closer and he looked up surprise in his eyes. “Keep your hands away from anything,” she said in Romulan. “Where is your brig?” She whispered.

“Two decks down aft.” He replied immediately.

She nodded, “sorry” she said as she stunned him. She undressed him as quickly as she could with her injured arm and dressed in his clothes. Being a little thoughtful she covered him with a blanket and left.

Tomalak sat on the bridge, the viewscreen active, Sela sitting on the Washington bridge. "You have done well Commander. We will begin bringing you all back immediately. Leave the surprise for the Federation and prepare to return."

"It will be done" Sela replied.

Tomalak looked to the navigation officer, "Set course for Holnak, maximum speed and prepare to engage as soon as transport is complete."

"Yes sir" he replied.

Shon felt the slight change in the engines and, at the same time the Duv katra re asserted itself. She felt the blackness washing over her but was unable to prevent it. Immediately she changed the setting of her disruptor to kill, straightened up and began to walk down the corridor. Unfortunately not wearing boots would give her away immediately if anyone looked down at her feet. Then a stroke of luck happened. A hatch was open at the far end of the corridor and, on approaching Shon noted there was someone working inside. It looked a little like a Jeffries tube so she climbed in closing the door behind her. The tube was tight but the opening wider and also contained a ladder on which the Romulan was working. By the time he noticed her she was on him her disruptor under his chin. “Which way to the brig?” She asked.

The young Romulan engineer looked into her eyes and saw..…nothing, just a darkness which, he realized if he continued to look would also consume him. He swallowed and looked away, “take this ladder until you come to a blue hatch, then turn right, it’s a long way but eventually the dead end will bring you out by the brig…please….don’t kill me!” he whispered.

She smiled an empty smile and caressed his face with the tip of the disruptor. “What a wonderful idea” she said, “however the discharge of the weapon would, I am sure be noted and we do not want anyone to know we are here.” She pinched his vagus nerve and he fell from the ladder. She continued to climb but found she had begun to tire and the pain in her leg began to reassert itself. She rested, then carried on until she reached the opening he had told her about. She turned into it noting the blue hatch but the pain in her hand combined with her increasing weakness forced her to rest. She growled in frustration the Duv Katra urging her on but her body screaming out its refusal.

The Romulan guards entered the medical ward and saw the guards and doctor unconscious. They drew disruptors and looked around, before contacting the bridge, "Admiral, the prisoner has escaped the medical ward."

Tomalak had a look of anger come over him. "I want full security measures. Double security on all of the other Vulcans, increase security on all critical areas, have security scourer the ship for her and capture her, and increase security around the detention ward. If she shows up there and refuses to surrender, kill the human." Tomalak stood, "I'm going to speak with the mystic."

In the transporter room, Sela transported in with several others from the Washington. She saw the flashing lights, "What is going on?"

"One of the Vulcans is loose on the ship. The Admiral has ordered increased security to find her."

Sela drew her disruptor. "I warned them this could happen. I'll locate her." She looked at the others with her, "Come with me."

The Romulan guards had just arrived at the doors to T'Plana-hath's room when security conditions changed, just as the door opened a hand flashed out grabbing one Romulan by the neck, there was a loud snap. Lodzhal took that moment to drop and sweep her leg in a round house kick, dropping both the guards that had escorted her to the floor. The only guard standing was getting ready to fire when he heard the guards fall, he made the mistake of turning to see what was happening, and a fist slammed the back of his neck, breaking it. The two Romulans on the ground were trying to gather their disruptors and stand as Lodzhal struck one in an open hand strike to his head, then there was a disruptor blast dropping the other Romulan. Lodzhal turned to see T'Plana holding a disrupter and shooting the remainder Romulans.

Shon carried on as best she could whilst her remaining strength began to fail. She could hardly remember that Lodzhal had told her that the strength she had given her would diminish. Yet the dark Katra pushed her on. The dark glaze around her eyes and in her brain separated what was right and good, in essence the Shoniara that she was and locked it away. Imposing another version that glorified danger and selfishness above all else, a version that had no compunction to kill to get what it wanted, a version that wanted to subsume her real personality forever.

She reached the hatch that the engineer had told he led to the brig her plan to release Seth and then make her way to the bridge, take hostages and contact the Washington. She hoped that the other Vulcans on board had the same idea. She felt Seth, his thoughts conflicted and the worry that emanated from him. She tried to clear her mind and call to him ‘I’m here my love, are there many around you?’.

In the brig, Seth heard Shon's voice in his head. He kept his face blank as to not alert his guards. *Shon? Where are you my love? There is one guard outside my cell and one at the entrance to the brig.* He replied.

*I an in a service tube but I am not sure where in the brig it comes out can you see the hatch?*

Additional guards entered the detention area, followed by Commander Sela the rest of her entourage. Sela looked at Seth, "I suspect your mate is close by. She will come for you in a vain attempt to rescue you. When she does, I plan to give her a choice, to surrender, or to watch you die. We'll see how dedicated to you she is."

Seth didn't immediately answer Sela. he was talking to Shon telepathically. *Shon I see a hatch at the entrance to the brig but don't come for me. There are more guards here and a Romulan commander. Please love, don't come.* To Sela, he smiled, "Kill me now. Shon won't give in to you."

Sela smiled, "I am tempted to do so. I have no love for humans. If we didn't require your Vulcan mate, I'd happily kill her as well."

Even under the influence of the dark Katra Shon knew she could never sacrifice Seth. *I will return for you my love, sit tight. She began to back quietly the way she came until she found herself in the junction where she had turned. She began to climb the ladder upwards hoping to find somebody else to find out where engineering was. If she could disable the ship then the Washington would have a better chance of finding them. She felt her leg weaken and began to miss her motor-assist bands. She almost swore out loud and stopped as she heard the sounds of someone talking. It appeared to be coming from the top of the tube so she began to move slowly towards it.

T'Plana-hath finished ensuring the Romulans who had been their guards were completely incapacitated, two being killed out right by her. She and Lodzhal then dragged them into her 'quarters' and she used the disruptor to seal the door shut. Lodzhal looked at her "Tor du ma wuh duv katra ne' tash? {Do you have the Shadow Katra under control?}" she asked. "Na' i' t'nash-veh kashek heh katra nam-tor t'nash-veh {For now my mind and katra are mine.}" T'Plana replied back in Vulcan. "We need to move now, look for one of their 'Jefferies Tubes' and make our way to the computer core." stated T'Plana-hath as she handed a disruptor to Lodzhal. "They are set to heavy stun, though I must admit part of me would prefer them set to kill." With that the two set off looking for a 'Jefferies Tube'. "Ish-veh nam-tor rom tor gla-tor du lo'uk ezyet. Tor du fai-tor po wuh Rihansu aitlun etek? {It is good to see you great aunt. Do you know why the Romulans want us?}". asked T'plana. As they neared what appeared an access panel.

Tomalak continued down the corridor with his quartet of security with him as the ship jumped to warp. Tomalak knew they were now underway to their destination, and at the speed he had instructed they would only be at warp for seven hours before they arrived. All that was needed now was to get the Vulcans back under control. Arriving at the quarters he saw that the guards weren't present. He ordered his guards to pull their weapons before attempting to open the door, finding it sealed. He went to the comm panel and sent a message ship wide, "All of the Vulcans are wandering the ship. I want them found, alive."