#39 Requiem for the Pied Piper

Posted on Sun Mar 5th, 2023 @ 9:30pm by Major Jackson "JJ" Barnes {Meji} & Lieutenant JG Ainkara "Kara" {Meji} & Lieutenant Commander Kristian Long & Lieutenant Tara Herculoid PhD & Rear Admiral Paul Sanderson

Mission: Vanished
Location: starbase
Timeline: current

ON:

After leaving Chief Barnes to hunt down the insectoid alone, Ainkara made her way to the Starbase 154 medical bay, children in tow. They arrived, all seven of those now gathered, and came to stand inside the main area full of biobeds. Ainkara's head was on a swivel as she looked around for Doctor Long, impatient to go gather a few more marines and head back down to assist JJ Barnes with his pursuit.

Kristian seeing Ainkara walk in with several children walked over to meet her, "I heard there were children found hiding. Kneeling down to be more eye level "I'm Doctor Long, my friends call me Kris,"she said gently.

The little girl, who looked to be around 10 or 11, just gave a nod as she looked around nervously.

Ainkara spoke up, placing a hand gently on the eldest boy's shoulder. "Doctor Long, this is Jensen Larson. He is the one responsible for hiding the young ones from the insectoids, and keeping them out of their clutches. His efforts were half successful as he says another four have been taken as of last night. Warrant Barnes is currently tracking down one of the insectoids that Mister Larson says he clipped with a phaser bolt." She removed her hand from the young man's shoulder.

Jensen gave a nod and a nervous half grin. "I, uhhh...hi, Doctor, or Kris, or whatever."

Kristian stood and looked at the boy "Jensen your pretty brave hiding the rest of the children. Please call me Kris and your safe in here." Tapping her com-badge "Admiral the children are here in sick bay," Tapping it again "Tara please join me in sick bay and bring your field kit." turning back to the children "The admiral gas a boy who is about three or four and Tara is my cousin, she's a scientist and a diplomatic officer and has an ear to pick up new languages. You'll like both of them. Are any of you hurt or hungry? Those bugs come in here I'll deal with them."

Jensen Larson quirked an eyebrow as he listened to the Doctor, glancing over at Ainkara who simply gave him a stoic look. He was trying to decide if the medical officer was sincere about dealing with things, or just blowing smoke. How some guy's kids had anything to do with him, or his friends, did not resonate, and to assume he would like any of them just because she said so was an assumption of arrogance. "None of us are hurt, and we had ration packs to eat. But, they might want something other than that. I'm fine." Again he looked at Ainkara, who gave him a simple nod, his eyes going back to the Doctor.

About that time Paul walked in followed by Tara "This is the admiral and she's my cousin," Kristian said introducing Jensen to Paul and to Tara. Kristian filled both Paul and Tara in on what she knew regarding the children

"Your a very brave young man," Paul said "How long have you been hiding?"

"Glenda, will you please see to it they get something to eat," Kristiian said handing her nurse a phaser "Keep it on heavy stun, do not let anything get to these children."

Glenda nodded "Come with me, there is a good replicator in the doctor's office and you can have anything you want to eat."

Even ice cream?" one little girl asked

"Even ice cream," Glenda said leading them back into the CMO's office.

"Can we keep my friends where I can see them," Jensen asked. "We don't trust adults right now, and taking them to another room, out of sight, will just make it worse." He looked at the tall man. "I will answer your question, Admiral, when I know my friends are safe, and I can see them as they are being seen to."

Ainkara could understand that since she and her fellow Voran had been separated many times while trying to protect one another. "Mister Larson has expressed how the adults had been acting strangely before they all disappeared, and were speaking to the 'bug people', as he calls them." She then looked to Paul. "Admiral Sanderson, permission to take two marines and go back down to aid Chief Barnes. He is tracking a wounded insectoid alone."

"Permission granted Ainkara," Paul said

Kristian placed her hand on the boy's shoulder "Come with me to where you can see your friends." They walked off a short distance to the window in the CMO's office "There they're safe."

"Jensen did the bug people say anything that you could understand?" Tara asked.

After Kris led the young man to the window, he sidestepped and opened the door to the office, one which he had been to several times while living on 154. He locked the door open so he could hear what was being said within. As Herculoid asked her question he looked over at her. "No. They speak in chitters and a garbled sound. From what I saw all the adults who spoke with them could understand them fine. I searched and searched when I could for any reference to their tongue in our databanks since the Universal Translator is not a classified system. There was nothing there. All I could think is that they had somehow hypnotized our parents and made them understand them somehow."

"Lieutenant you have a minor in communications, see if you can pick up anything," Paul said "We need to know what is going on here and why the ant beings boarded the station and those three ships. In the meantime too take a sample of the dirt they left behind and see what you can make of it,"

"Understood admiral," Tara said as she removed her staff from the pocket of her uniform and extended it to it's full length and then collapsed it again and handed it to Jensen "On my planet this is given to a warrior who is very brave. I'd like to give it to you." Tara showed him how to extend it and how to collapse it "You can attack the bugs with it."

Ainkara had left, gathering both Scabbia and Jacobs to go look for Barnes.

Jensen's face twisted into an angry countenance. "A stick? You want me to go after giant ants with a stick? They are covered in a hard carapace, armor like a beetle. Yeah, I'm only thirteen but I have seen footage of, and read about, beetles on Earth and other planets. You take their chitin and carapace and times it to the level of a man and they are wearing a natural plate mail. That, and you keep treating me like a child. Like handing me some present and telling me how brave I am is going to take away my guilt. I know how brave I am but it didn't help, did it? Four of my friends were kidnapped!" Without warning he grabbed the edges of a nurses stand for placing meds and devices on and flung it as best he could across the medical bay, the trays and items clattering and clanging about.

"It's not a stick," Kristian said "That's what we call a staff on our home planet, I have one, you'd be surprised once you learn to use it how it comes in handy to defend yourself."

Tara picked up the staff and returned it to her pocket "I'm sorry Jensen it was meant to be a gift from one warrior to another. I'm sorry if my gift offended you. Admiral I'll take a look at the logs and run tests on the dirt and hopefully I can pick up the language." Tara started to leave only to turn back "On my planet we join the military at thirteen and we're trained in how to use the staff. Please accept my apologies."

Kristian watched her cousin leave "Jensen she's right you are brave and you have nothing to be guilty about. The fact that you were able to hide from those bugs and keep you and your friends safe took great courage."

"Jensen how did you know to hide out where you did?" Paul asked "You said the adults became lovey dovey to the bugs what do you mean? I'm also wondering if you'd feel better beaming over to the Amandora and getting some rest. The commodore can put an anti beaming shield in place so no one can beam over. Doctor I didn't know you carried one too."

"All Amazons have one, once we've completed our training,"Kristian said "The fact she wanted to gift hers was an honor."

"I'm not beaming anywhere," stated Jensen. "This is my home and I will stand my ground here. Like my father taught me to do." Looking at Paul Jensen went on. "They became, I don't know...delirious. They didn't get angry, they were all soft talk and schmoozing in their speech and body language. They kept trying over and over to get us to go with them to wherever it was they wanted us to go. It was like they knew that we had figured something out and were trying to get us to go without force. I shot one of those things. How bad it was hit, I don't know. But, it ran off quick and disappeared." Even though his tone was still angry tears began to run down his cheeks. "I'm sorry I lost it, but dammit! It seems you're more worried about your own bullshit than my friends and family!" Stomping away Jensen leaned back on a wall and slid down to his butt, hugging his knees as he began to sob and hide his face from the shame of it all.

Paul walked over and took a seat on the floor next to the boy "Let me tell you something, there is a Galaxy Class Star ship orbiting the base, the commodore has two fighters out searching and scanning that solar system, we have crews on all three of those ships that are in dock and I came out of retirement to take command of this base until the personal is all found. We're doing everything in our power to find your families, and everyone else and Doctor Long will do everything in her power to protect you and your friends," Paul reached up and pulled down a box of tissues and handed them to Jensen "Those friends of yours are looking up to you. Let her help you, and you need to pick up the meds you threw all over the floor. I understand your scared and worried about your families but you have to trust us and help us."

Jensen took the box of tissues and began to blow his nose, careful to ball them up and keep them gathered so he could dispose of them. "It won't make any difference. If those things want on board this Galaxy class you speak of, they'll get there. It's only a matter of time, and once they figure out a way, they won't stop." He looked directly into Paul's eyes. "Commodore Cloud did all he could and yet..." he raised his hands palms up, to show that Cloud was nowhere to be seen. Abducted like everyone else. Getting up with a huff he went to a small waste bin and took it up, tossing his soiled tissues into it, then picking up the meds and doing the same with them. He forcefully set the bin on a table. "Happy?" After that he went over to a biobed and hopped up to sit on it side saddle with an angle to be able to watch over his friends.

Paul got up and started to go to the boy only to see Kristian shake her head. Paul nodded and remained where he was.

Kristian walked over, and took a seat next to him, placed her arm around his shoulders and pulled him into an embrace "You have every right to be upset and not trust anyone. I get it, I get it your scared. If my cousin can find a way to communicate with them she will. She speaks many different languages and has a way to pick up more. If anyone can find a way to communicate with them she will. We will find out what they want. Is there anything you can tell me that will help? Let me take care of your friends and you get some sleep. I promise I won't let anyone or anything harm you or your friends and we will find the answers we need to find your parents. Will you permit me to give you something so you can sleep? Your running on adrenaline and that's the only think keeping you going your going to collapse from this if you don't get some rest. Sick bay is the safest place on any base or any ship and I'm sure you know that. I'm asking you to trust me, my friends and the rest of my shipmates that are here. You've met Barnes and he trusts me."

Jensen looked at Kris. "I'll sleep right here, but no drugs. And, the only place we were safe was our hiding place, our camp. Those things got in everywhere else. They don't like it cold, so we hid in the cold."

"I can order the computer to lower the temperature in here," Kristian said getting to her feet and walking to a closet and returned with several blankets "Computer lower temperature in sick bay by twenty degrees. Now lay back close your eyes and sleep. Glenda bring the rest of the children out here. They need to get some sleep and it's going to get colder in here. Make sure they're covered."

Jensen, despite being exhausted and in a state of shock, watched until those he had come in with were all around him on biobeds, tucked into their blankets and the beds warmers turned on. Once they all fell asleep, then and only then, did he lay down himself and his eyes closed and he too fell asleep.

Paul walked over and gave Long a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder "You have a way with him."

"He's scared and I get it," Kristian said checking on the children "They'll sleep for hours." Tapping her com-badge she filled Barnes and Ainkara and Tara in on what she'd learned about the cold and the Ant beings. "Now all we need is one of them to show up and Tara find a way to communicate with them. I'm putting an anti beam around the kids so they won't go anywhere."

Barnes, the channel still open, and in a safe place with three walls at his back, spoke back. "Doc, I might be able to help with that. Admiral, I know you probably have people coming down to help so I'll head back to the lift foyer and meet them. Whatever this thing is it does bleed. At least, I think it's blood of some kind. My tricorder doesn't recognize it but does say it's organic. So, it is wounded. I have yet to determine where it went to since the drops of goo have ceased."

"The only thing we've seen and learned is they beam out somehow and leave a pile of dust and dirt behind," Paul said "And yes I have people coming to assist. Grab a sample of it so sciences can look it over."

"Right now Jack they're all sleeping and will for hours they're exhausted," Kristian said.

Even though they could not see him do so, jack nodded at what Kris said. "Yeah, that figures. Jensen was a bit edgy while we spoke, and then he broke down and cried all over my shirt. But, the kid's tough, and he followed orders. He saved the others despite what he thinks. When we're done down here I'll make sure to come up and talk to him. Anyway, I've had my weapon on stun the whole time so if I see this thing I will put it down if stun will work on it. I haven't seen any dust piles or areas of dust so I don't think it got away. It's like, I don't know, it was wounded so the others left it behind."

"He was edgy with us too," Kristian said as she filled him in on what Tara had tried to give him as gift and his reaction to it. "He lost it with the admiral too, he's tough but also one scared kid. I'll keep them safe but that thing if it's wounded is dangerous now more than ever."

Tara walked in just in time to hear the conversation "I might have a way to communicate with it if what I've learned is right. Also the dust and dirt it leaves is found very deep inside of planets."

While they had been talking Barnes had made it back to the lift foyer, and soon enough Ainkara and the others stepped out, weapons at the ready. Ainkara was armed only with her saber and the pistol she had was holstered. "Weapons on stun, marines. We take this critter alive..."

As he finished his sentence Ainkara stepped in and hugged Barnes tightly, squeezing him with care before stepping back. "I am relieved you are well."

"I, uhh, yeah. Me too." Jack didn't miss the other marines trying not to snicker as they changed their weapons to stun. How embarrassing, he thought. But, the hug still left him wondering and a bit...interested? Was that the right word? "Doc, Admiral, the party has arrived. We'll find this critter and bring it back alive." He looked at his marines with a stern eye. "You got that, marines?"

Both sounded off with "Aye, Sir."

Ainkara spoke up so the channel could hear. "My feelings tell me these beings aren't normally malevolent. Something has them worked up. I feel anxiety and a touch of fear in the air, but no hatred. Perhaps an outside force is influencing their behavior."

"Then find it so we can talk to it," Paul said "If Herculoid has indeed found a way to communicate then perhaps we can find out what is wrong and how we can help."

"Maybe I can treat it as well," Kristian spoke up.

"Alright," said Barnes. "We got a purpose. Once we bag this thing we'll bring it back for..." He was trying to find the right word for it.

Ainkara gave a crooked grin while looking him in the eye, finishing his thought with the proper wording she could come up with. "An interview," she said. "We'll be as gentle as we can be, but the being may fight for its life thinking we mean to kill it. We must be cautious."

"I always am," stated Barnes. Then, speaking to those on the squawk box. "Admiral, Doc, Herc, we'll get back to you when we have something."

"Be careful, I answer to the same commodore you do," Paul reminded them.

Jack gave a nod. "Signing off for now. We'll call to check in every hour. Barnes, out." He closed his flip top comm and put it in its pouch. Every time he looked in Ainkara's eyes he swore he was seeing interest there. Reading the body language of others was a skill he had learned over the years, but with a Voran, that could be askew. However, 'eyes' were 'eyes', and he was pretty sure that she had 'eyes' for him. But, now was not the time to broach that subject, especially around snickering marines.

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