Reflections Shattered

Posted on Wed Jul 16th, 2025 @ 11:03pm by Lieutenant Ayana Hillis & Lieutenant Aidan O'Connor & Lieutenant Ánderijá "Rija" Rautajärvi & Lieutenant JG James Phoenix

1,283 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Wounds From the Mirror
Location: USS Washington

The security team under the command of Lt Granger had made preparations while Aidan and the other engineers had gone to get phasers from the weapons locker. She didn't necessarily want the engineers in this fight, but Aidan outranked her, and honestly, not knowing how many enemies they would be facing, the more people they had with phasers on their side the better.

As they prepared to enter Engineering, Lt Hillis arrived with Phoenix. "What's going on here?" questioned Ayana.

"We arrived and the intruders had already laid claim to Engineering. Lt O'Connor had evacuated most of the engineering staff, but we definitely have hostages. We are about to assault in."

"I suppose options are limited here. Alright, everyone make sure your weapons are set on stun. Make sure you know what you are shooting at. See a target, hit the target. A lot of things in there don't take kindly to phaser fire" Ayana noted.

Phoenix checked his phaser pistol and rifle. All clear. He looked to the others. "For those of you who haven't heard this, if you get separated and come across someone who appears to be friendly, say "flash." If they respond with "thunder" they are likely friendly. Not everyone will know this, so you may have to resort to other measures of proper identification, which won't hurt even if you use the password" he added. Most of the security squad assembled had already heard, but most of the engineers hadn't.

James turned to Ayana. "SWAT Protocol ma'am?"

Ayana nodded.

"I'm of the mind that you stun them all. I can sort out who are my people after we have control of Engineering again" Aidan stated emphatically.

"That seems to be a viable option. Heavy stun everyone" Ayana agreed.

A young engineer barreled down the corridor toward the assembled security tram, boots slipping slightly. Sweat trickled from beneath his hairline, smearing across the side of his cheek where a shallow cut leaked bright crimson along his jaw. His wide eyes fixed on Ayana first, then darted to Aidan and Granger.

"Lieutenants," he stammered, voice at a pitch, "I--I just came from Deck Fifteen, through the secondary computer core access corridor--"

"Take a breath lad" Aidan said as he attempted to calm one of his young engineers. "Don't tell me these intruders have gotten down there as well."

He sucked in a sharp inhale, held a bit too long, then forced the rest out in a rush.

"They were--they were six, at least. From the other universe. They had two hostages--looked like Cash Cullers and someone else. They're holding them in the secondary computer core anteroom. I think it might be Rautajärvi."

Aidan looked at Ayana, "I got to save my lads."

"I understand" Ayana noted. "Phoenix, go with O'Connor to clear up that mess. Take Granger, Potter, and Weasley with you. I'll handle things here in Engineering."

"Aye ma'am" Phoenix turned to the golden trio, who had been in earshot. "We'll do a tactical diamond around Lieutenant O'Connor. I'll take point. Granger, take his six. Potter, Weasley, I want you two to take to his side" he turned to Aidan and Ayana. "If that will suffice sirs?"

Ayana nodded in the affirmative. Aidan checked his phaser, "Let's go. First pint is on me after this is sorted." Ayana watched as Phoenix led his team away, and she signaled those remaining to prepare to breach.

"Second is on me" he quipped quietly to Aidan before falling silent. He maintained his focus in front, ready for anything. He trusted that his team behind him were paying attention to their surroundings on their respective sides.


* * *

The weight of his body dragged hard at his shoulders, jointing howling in protest. Rija hung from the ceiling, arms bound overhead and slick with his own sweat. The metal bit into his wrists with every tiny movement. His knees barely scraped the floor--enough to keep him conscious but not enough to bring any relief.

Blood matted one side of his face, dried stiff at his brow where a cut had sealed itself poorly. His left eye was nearly swollen-shut, and with each breath, the right half of his chest refused to move. A hollow ache puled beneath his ribs, driving outward from sharp and deep. The air still tasted like copper.

Cash Cullers sat crumpled against the opposite bulkhead, one hand gone.

The stump of his wrist was bound in a hastily-applied tourniquet made from someone's uniform sash, blood still darkening at the edges. His skin had gone grey, eyes fluttering open and closed like giant moth wings. His booted feet knocked gently against the floor with each tremor of pain that shot through him.

There was a line of blood that led from the center console to where he was now slumped. Another line, brighter--streaked across the nearby panel where it had splashed.

One of the mirror intruders picked up Cash's severed hand, holding it at the wrist like it was a joke prop. He made a crack about southpaws being unlucky.

Clemmie turned and looked at him. Just looked.

He wilted under her gaze, dropping the hand back on the console.

Rija's body had gone cold down the left side. Air was coming in and it felt wet inside his chest. He couldn't help but feel his fingers and toes going numb and tingly.

Tension pneumothorax. They were the classic signs. He remembered them from his first aid classes at the Academy.

He blinked and tried to focus, but it was Cash he saw first.

"Hey," he called to Cullers. "You still breathing, you stubborn son of a bitch?"

Cash didn't answer. His eyes moved once but he continued writhe slowly on the deck.

"Don't you pass out," Rija hissed. "Don't give them the satisfaction. You sleep when I say you can sleep, you one-handed bastard."

For a moment, Rija thought he saw a faint smile but it quickly resolved into a twitch of pain.

Clemmie's boots clicked as she crossed the room, reaching Rija's side. She reached for his face, her fingers cold against his hot cheeks, and squeezed--forcing his jaw tight and his lips drawn. Her voice remained in that honeyed calm.

"You can stop this. Give me the override codes and we walk out of here. You and he can have quick deaths. Promise."

Rija stared past her, seeing Cash slumped again.

"I know what you're thinking," she added, her voice tightening. "You think I won't do it again."

He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. His expression was its own kind of resistance.

Clemmie remained staring into Rija's glacier-coloured eyes. Her voice tightened as she softly added, "Take the other one."

The two guards obeyed without hesitation. Cash was dragged across the console again, fresh blood smearing the already-stained surface like a grotesque painting. He moaned from semi-consciousness.

Rija thrashed but could only swing slightly. The lights above him spun.

"You don't have to do this," he wheezed. "You already made your point."

Clemmie leaned into his face, her expression unreadable.

"I know," she said sweetly. "But you made me wait."

*****

Ayana looked at the people she had remaining. "Alright, staggered columns, pairs. Black, you'll be my buddy. Swan, you pair with Cullen." She looked back at the engineers, "You lot give us one minute and then you come in. Shoot whomever you need to and get everything back online once we secure the area. Understood?"

Everyone nodded in the affirmative. "Alright, let's move. Swan, you and Cullen will go left, Black, you and I will handle right. And remember, if you fire, hit what you are firing at. Most things in her don't like particle weapons."


TBC

 

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