Exogenesis, Endgame

Posted on Thu Jul 13th, 2023 @ 8:29am by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis Dr & Lieutenant Commander Callie Raven-Grayson

Mission: Writing the Q Cards
Location: USS Washington
Timeline: Current

Linds came back to consciousness taking a huge gulp of air. The hands had gone from her throat although it felt as though she had taken a pummeling. She tried to sit but was unable to “Amethyst?” She whispered hoarsely.

"Is being restrained until we can work out exactly what is going on." Julia advised cautiously as she continued to monitor Linds' vital - which were thankfully moving back into the green zone.

"Actually, the admiral has sedated her" Joe said as he approached Julia and Linds. "I would like to know what caused that outburst. She felt like she had far more strength than I would have expected."

"Might this be some sort of side effect from the medical treatment or a symptom of the disease?" Janeway questioned.

Linds sat up resting on her shoulders. “No Admiral the disease is cured.” She said her voice gravelly. “Until I get to fully check Amethysts RNA I can only surmise it is a side effect. Perhaps an enhancement from the Kilrathi, increased strength.” She lay back down. “What do you think Sam?” She asked.

Janet was taking it all in, She wished she had Callie’s senses to be able to sense what was going on with Amethyst.

Julia checked her readings again, drilling down further into the genetic code. "I think it's a side effect as you suggested, but it's a bit of a doozy though" she commented. "There may be more we have yet to become aware of."

"Fascinating side effect. You wouldn't expect a genetic alteration of the RNA to alter human DNA in such a fashion that the human took on characteristics of the other species. Maybe if they were mated to form a child, but nothing like this" Janeway commented. "This may be worthy of the Daystrom Prize in genetics."

Linds swung her legs off the biobed and stood wobbling. “This is my fault Sir, Admiral. I undertook this quickly without adequate research but I think it is too early to jump to conclusions. I will need to take samples of Amethyst’s blood and examine it. See what has changed, it’s my fault not Shon’s…” she stopped speaking wishing she could take the last few seconds back. Linds looked at Joe, Janet and Julia in quick succession. “I’m sorry I am a little confused so I should sit down and have some water let my brain catch up to my mouth.”

"Understandable" Joe said, hoping to insulate Linds from the small gaffe she had made. "Let Julia give you a proper once over." Joe looked over at Janeway, "I suspect the only people that make worse patients than captains are doctors."

"You are probably right" Janeway said with a smile.

Linds breathed an inward sigh of relief as she sipped the water a nurse brought her. She was already planning to return to Amethyst, wake her and see what was going on. She could still contain her with a bio forcefield but needed to talk to her. She waited until Joe and Janeway’s backs were turned and she moved slowly, for she was still a little dizzy, over to Amethyst’s biobed. Setting a hypo of reversal agent she selected the lightest forcefield and erected it around the bed. Depressing the hypo into Amethysts carotid artery she waited for her to wake.

"Oi! What are you doing?" Julia exclaimed, her Australian accent sticking out like the proverbial canine balls. "I had to resus you not five minutes ago! Get your ass back in bed"

Joe turned around as glared at Linds. "You really must be the worst patient ever. I applaud your dedication, but I said you needed to let Julia give you a once over first. Last time I checked, these pips make me the captain. Do I need Julia to give you a medical order you'll follow?" he asked, a wry grin on his face as he took stock that they were essentially cosplaying, though only they were aware of it.

Linds knew she had been caught out but she persevered. “Captain we need to know as soon as possible what, if any side effects are so we can begin to mass produce the vaccine for the Colony. See, she is waking now, let’s just wait a minute, don’t you think so Admiral?” She knew she was pushing it involving Janeway but she had to get it done before she collapsed. She was indeed now feeling very unwell, her breathing becoming labored once again.

"While I certainly understand your urgency, I think the captain is correct. You need to allow the doctor to look you over. It is obvious you require some medical assistance" Janeway replied.

"Look Linds, we'll get the sample for you to analyze, but you need to let Julia look you over, treat you for your injuries" Joe added.

Linds shrugged knowing they were right. “Alright I do need medical intervention but the sample must be inserted in the left hand side of the sampler. I will programme it now.” She walked slowly up and sat down trying to work out what she needed to do although her vision seemed to be spotting and her brain had turned to mush. She managed to enter the program she wanted before all went black and she silently slipped off the chair.

"Bloody doctors are the worst patients!" Julia exclaimed as she and a nurse retrieved Linds and deposited her on a biobed. She engaged the biobeds scanning functioned and had the readings displayed on a nearby monitor. "Her sats are low, her body hasn't recovered from the lack of oxygen yet. Beginning oxygen therapy and administering a low dose sedative" Julia ensured that Linds was on the improve before joining Janeway at the sampler.

Joe assisted Janeway in getting the sample from Amethyst as Julia worked on Linds. "Hope we got this right" Joe commented.

"I take it you don't come from the sciences" Janeway commented.

"I enjoy science, but I have always been a tactical officer in my heart" Joe replied. "Been a long time since I was in a gold uniform though. Seems I was always destined to wear red."

"Everyone has a story regarding the journey to that red uniform and the fourth pip" Janeway mused. She walked over to the scanner with the sample and Julia joined her.

Amethyst slowly started to stir only this time she awoke more calmly than the last time. Though the feelings of anger were still there. “Captain?...Sam?...is Linds alright?”

"She will be fine. Julia is looking her over" Joe replied. "You seem calmer now. How are you feeling?"

Amethyst looked at Julia. “Angry, frustrated, but I don’t know why!” She paused. “What’s happening to me?”

"They are trying to figure it out" Joe said calmly. "Linds believes she has cured the Kilrathi fever, which would be good news; however, the admiral has hypothesized that the cure may have had an unforeseen side effect, which is what they are trying to determine at this point. Until they figure this out, you are being restrained to the bed, for everyone's sake, including your own."

Amethyst nodded. “Yes Sir” She gave Linds a worried look. “I’m sorry Linds, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

"Nothing we couldn't fix, although I'm sure it's something that she wouldn't want repeated" Julia replied from the other side of Sickbay where she and Janeway were running tests on a blood sample they had retrieved from Amethyst to test for side effects from the vaccine. "I think it goes without saying we can't release this vaccine until we can rule out any funny business with side effects and mutations" she declared.

Joe walked over to Q, "Have you had your fun? Might you return things to normal around here?"

Q smiled. "Soon enough."

"You've done enough Q, a man has died and we almost lost Amethyst. No more of your games" despite being quietly spoken, the words were laced with venom. Julia glared at the omnipotent being with distain.

Q looked at Julia, "You still haven't learned your lesson. You are blaming me for something that isn't my fault at all, and would have happened regardless of my actions or me being here or not. You simply are incapable of accepting fate or your own limitations."

Joe attempted to ease the tension, "Now, we shouldn't say anything we might regret."

“Agreed” Janet nodded. “Let’s just keep calm.”

Linds slid off the biobed feeling much better and she looked at Q. “You have us all wrong Q, you should have learned from all the dealings you have had with us is that we are at our best when things are worst. We are not bound by our limitations we exceed them.” She turned to Janeway and Julia. “I know what to do to make the vaccine effective without side effects.”

"That sounds wonderful doctor" Janeway replied.

Joe walked over to Julia and Linds, "I believe you have everything well in hand here. I don't feel you need me here with the admiral already firmly entrenched, so I'd like to get back to the bridge. Any chance I can leave sickbay, perhaps ending the quarantine?"

“I would say yes, we have the vaccine but I still have to take the kinks out but I am pretty sure I can do it.” Linds looked at her boss. “But it’s up to Doctor Howard?”

Julia looked from Linds to Joe to Q and back again. "I think we have the disease under control, that is unless Q interferes again." She kept her tone as civil as possible.

Linds nodded at Julia. “Admiral, I would appreciate your help?” Linds asked Janeway as she moved towards the lab. she turned to Q, “and YOU” she enunciated whilst poking him in the chest with her index finger, “Help or leave us alone.”

Q rose his hands in a mocking fashion, "I've done nothing." He gave a devilish smile and disappeared in a flash.

Janeway shook her head dismissively. Looking to Linds, "I understand how frustrating Q can make you, but I've learned that you can do better with him with a firm yet soft touch than the tough love stance. Remember, he is omnipotent, and that brings with it an arrogance. I would think that as a Vulcan you would understand that."

Joe, being given the go ahead quietly took his leave, returning to the bridge.

"Soft yet firm touch eh? Too bad there's no reciprocation there" Julia grumbled as she finished up working with Amethyst and released her from the biobed.

Amethyst slowly moved to sit up, offering a calmer more relaxed nod of her head.

“If you need to talk..” Janet looked towards Amethyst. “You know where to find me.” With that she nodded and headed for the Counsellor’s office.