Crossing Over

Posted on Oct 27, 2017 @ 12:40am by Captain Michael Turlogh Kane

Mission: Fear Itself

"CROSSING OVER"

(Continued from "First Blood")
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Captain's log, supplemental - Doctor Andersson's death has thrown the ship into shock. We have nothing in us now but to find and catch whoever is responsible for her murder, and I will stop at nothing to accomplish that goal.

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Location: USS Phoenix, docked at Starbase 56
Stardate: [2.17]1026.2040
Scene: Primary sickbay - deck 12, saucer section


Michael Turlogh Kane and Aerdan Jos sat in Aerdan's office in silence. Both of them were looking at the floor, at the wall, at the desktop computer screen - anything to avoid looking into each other's eyes. Kane didn't know what to say, and he suspected that Aerdan felt the same.

There was much to be done. Sofia's body had been moved to the morgue and interred there, and Aerdan had conducted a complete scan of the body, the result of which were correlating in the main computer. Admiral Stiles had been notified of the quarantine and intruder alert, but still wanted to talk to Kane, and he knew he couldn't put her off forever. But the first, and most obvious fact, was that there was a murderer aboard the starship Phoenix, someone who had taken the life of a young woman in her prime. Kane felt a silent, cold fury at whoever had done the deed, and made a silent vow to himself that the perpetrator would not escape the ship.

Aerdan's desktop terminal chirruped as the results of the analysis came in, but the Andorian doctor didn't immediately look at the screen. Aerdan's antennae were slowly curling up and down on his head, something that indicated that he was deep in thought, and Kane didn't want to derail that train. The two of them - Aerdan and Kane -went back a very long way, all the way back to when the Phoenix was hijacked and launched to escape the murderous machinations of Richard Edgerton. It seemed so long ago now, like another life.

The computer chirped again, and Kane's eyes flickered toward it. He desperately wanted to see what the data was, to take whatever leads it presented and begin the hunt for the murderer, but Aerdan didn't immediately move, and Kane refused to break the stillness.

On the third chirp, Aerdan's antennae stayed vertical and he let out a deep sigh. He was still looking at the wall. "It wasn't thaleron."

"Doctor?"

"It wasn't thaleron, Captain Kane. The tricorder picked it up, and the computer will confirm its presence, but thaleron couldn't have been what killed her."

Kane leaned forward in his seat. "How do you know?"

Aerdan reached out with a cold blue hand and turned the desktop screen to face them. Kane looked it over. Aerdan was right - the computer scans indicated thaleron burns on Sofia's neck, but there was more. That was not the only data picked up by the biobed scan.

"Thaleron exists in the tertiary EM band," said Aerdan flatly. "The isotope can expand without limit when released into a biogenic environment. If Sofia really had been exposed to pure thaleron, her body would have been reduced to ashes, along with every organic cell on the Phoenix. We wouldn't be here having this conversation."

Kane thought about it for a moment, and realised that Aerdan was correct. Sofia's body was intact, not a heap of ionised powder. The thaleron that was present in the Aegis satellites was a refined, artificial form of thaleron that was designed to be self-limiting. The computer had not detected that particular form of the deadly element here. "But there were thaleron burns on her neck, Doctor, were there not?"

Aerdan turned and looked at Kane dead in the eye. "I know that. I cannot explain that fact at this time."

"Why would there be thaleron burns on her neck if thaleron was not present in the immediate environment?" said Kane. "How could such a thing be possible?"

"That, Captain," said Aerdan, "is an important question."

Kane touched the desktop monitor, scrolling down through the report. "There's more here. The computer confirms an enormous amount of neurotransmitters present in Sofia's lymphatic system. Adrenaline, dopamine - Aerdan, what does this mean?"

Aerdan turned in his chair to look at the data. "Your body uses those chemicals to transmit signals around the body. Specifically, they are the neurochemicals released when the body is exposed to a fight-or-flight situation."

"But the levels in Doctor Andersson's body are over four hundred per cent above the norm."

"Right. That's the cause of death, Captain, the real cause. Whatever Sofia Andersson was exposed to in her final moments, it was stressful enough to release enormous amounts of these hormones into her body, which overloaded her senses and caused a cardiac arrest."

"Not a thaleron burn."

"Not thaleron. And there's more, Captain." Aerdan keyed the controls, interfacing with the medical records of Starbase 56. He selected the most recent autopsy reports and opened them. "The chief medical officer on the Starbase who conducted post-mortem examinations on both Budo Pumbular and Ezra Greer made the same determinations. Massive amounts of neurotransmitters in their systems in the moments before death, hidden behind the more obvious wounds."

Kane leaned back in his seat. "The same MO in all three murders."

Aerdan grimly set his jaw. "And the murderer is still aboard this ship." He stood up. "If that's all, Captain, I still have a patient to attend to."

Kane nodded, remembering Cantor Von was due for a precautionary examination following his incident in Engineering. "Of course, Doctor." He disliked the formal language between the two of them - Aerdan Jos used to be his ExO, and they had spent many hours in the ready room working together. Now, though, Aerdan did not seem his usual affable self - understandable enough in the circumstances, but it seemed that a dark cloud had settled over the Andorian since his grisly discovery.

Kane got up and left him to it. There was much to be done.

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Scene: Primary Science Centre - deck 8, saucer section


Four decks above, Ellie Kalani was standing with Malin-Argo and Arak Schad, crowded around one of the workstations in the science centre. Human, Grazerite, and Aamazzarite, all assembled to try to solve the mystery of the quantum distortion field that had inexplicably appeared in Engineering earlier - a phenomenon that had caused structural damage through the ship and had prompted a red alert emergency on the bridge.

With the ship quarantined, Ellie couldn't get back to the Starbase. Not that she wanted to right now - it was nice to seeing somewhere new for a change, and anyway, she was pretty sure she had a place to stay if she needed one. Not that she could ask these two about it - Malin-Argo was all professionalism, and Arak was just too darn nice. She wasn't sure if the diminutive Aamazzarite would be able to keep a secret, but he was a pleasant enough sort to be around. Also, they had work to do. The death of the young woman in sickbay had galvanised everyone into a kind of communal cameraderie.

Malin-Argo had taken the lead, outlining the problem to Arak, who had called up internal sensor records for the timestamp in question. There was a visual record of the field's sudden formation from an internal camera, and the three of them watched carefully on the screen as the distortion field suddenly and silently exploded into existence, seemingly out of thin air, throwing Chaucer and Cantor Von, the two nearest officers, to the ground.

When the playback had concluded, Malin-Argo folded his arms in a Human-like fashion and stroked his downy chin. "Seemingly spontaneous formation."

"Ex nihilo," murmured Ellie. At the quizzical looks from the other two, she corrected herself. "An old Terran language. It means 'out of nothing'."

"Impossible!" rumbled Malin-Argo. "Nothing comes from nothing. There must have been a trigger event for this field to manifest."

Ellie didn't want to argue with the Grazerite. In an infinite universe, there was no such thing as impossible. Some things came from nothing, she knew, but in this case, he was right. Quantum fields were energy forms normally found in the hidden depths of dark matter nebulae, but there was no such cosmic phenomenon present around Starbase 56. She clicked her fingers. "All quantum fields have a specific phase variance, do they not?"

Arak looked at her sidelong. "Usually."

Malin-Argo waved his hand at her. "We cannot replicate the conditions for a repeat of the phenomenon, even if we did measure the phase variance. But perhaps - "

Ellie watched the Grazerite's brow furrow like a ploughed field, waiting for the penny to drop.

"If we measured the phase variance of the distortion field, we could measure it against specific locations around the Engineering decks, and thus narrow down our search!" Malin-Argo shrugged his huge shoulders. "Thank you, Commander Kalani. Make it so, Ensign."

Arak sat down at the station and began manipulating the controls. "This may take a few moments," he said.

[[Kane to Kalani.]] The captain's voice cut into their conversation.

Ellie touched the communicator on her breast. "Kalani here. Go ahead, Captain."

[[Commander, I'm about to contact Admiral Stiles. I thought it might be a good idea if you were with me when I do so. Please report to my ready room.]]

Ellie wanted to protest, now that the three of them had a purpose, but there was a tone in Kane's voice that brooked no delaying. "On my way, Captain."

She nodded to both Malin-Argo and Arak Schad, and exited the laboratory, heading for the nearest turbolift.

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Scene: Brig - deck 40, drive section


Jake Crichton and Jasmine Yu looked across the brig, into the cell where Virgo Silsby was languishing. Silsby was lying on the bunk, trying to doze, but his blue eyes could not seem to rest. Jake realised that Silsby was probably worried down about his own situation - although not accused of anything right now, Silsby was the last person on the ship to see Sofia Andersson alive, and thus was a person of interest in the case. Now, Jasmine Yu was about to interrogate one of her own staff in an attempt to find out if Silsby saw, did, or even felt anything during his time in sickbay.

"I'm ready, Commander," said Jasmine. She had clipped a tricorder to her waist, to record both Silsby's testimony and his bio-readings in case he should attempt to tell a lie. "Any last instructions?"

Jake shook his head. He knew, and he knew that Jasmine knew, that Silsby more than likely had nothing to do with whatever happened in sickbay, but procedure required that he be interviewed. "The Captain doesn't want any corners cut," he said. "Make sure you're thorough. Silsby's not one of us, but I hope he understands."

Jasmine nodded, and gestured to Ensign Herber. "Lower the forcefield."

The blue field fizzed and disappeared. Virgo Silsby sat up on his bunk, and Jasmine stepped over the threshold.

Jake hoped that the other Limbo officers understood what was happening. The last thing they needed now was a breakdown in discipline. "Carry on, Lieutenant. Commander Malin-Argo and Ensign Schad are working on analysing the distortion field. I'll be checking on them if you need me."

He turned away and made for the nearest turbolift.

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Scene: Primary Science Centre - deck 8, saucer section


With Ellie gone, Malin-Argo and Arak got to work. The Aamazzarite carefully loaded a sensor software packet and ran it through the footage of the field's formation. Playing it back slowly, they watched it again - Chaucer and Cantor Von working in Engineering.

"They are scanning that artifact that Commander Kalani brought aboard the ship," remarked Arak calmly. "A Terran toy called a music box."

Malin-Argo was rubbing his big, meaty hands together. "Yes. Do we have access to their findings?"

Arak checked. "No. Observe - the field is about to form."

On the screen, there was a flash - that was all. No distortion of the air, no shimmering effect, no wild light show, nothing like that. A sudden explosive flash, and Von was on the ground and Chaucer was turning to attend to the Betazoid, his work abandoned.

"I see nothing untoward," grated Malin-Argo. "Nothing in their immediate environment seems to have triggered the formation of the field." He gesture to the screen. "What is the phase variance of the field?"

Arak checked. "We are working from a secondary source, so the margin of error is wider than if we had active data. Sensors indicate variance at one-point-seven-eight per cent." The Aamazzarite paused in puzzlement. "That is quite high, is it not? Most phase variances are under one per cent. Not even inter-dimensional fields do not top one per cent variance."

"But they could," grated Malin-Argo. "Theoretically. Am I correct?"

"Yes." Arak turned to the Grazerite. "Commander, is it possible that we are looking at an inter-dimensional field, one that manifests as a quantum distortion?"

Malin-Argo paused. It was not a good pause - the moment's silence he took was pregnant with worry. When he spoke, it was in a fearful whisper. "If you are correct, Ensign, then a phase variance of that magnitude indicates - " he tried to find the words.

"A portal between dimensions?" suggested Arak.

"Yes." Malin-Argo stopped rubbing, and now ground his hands together. There was a note of fearful surprise in his abyssal voice. "Two wildly different planes of existence - this one, and... and somewhere else. Replay the footage, slower. As slow as you can."

Arak complied, and they began to watch it again. This time around, they both saw something different. The instant before the flash, Cantor Von's knees began to buckle as he sagged and collapsed onto the deckplate. Then there was the flash of the portal opening, then Chaucer turned away from his work to help the Betazoid.

"You see there?" gestured Malin-Argo. "Lieutenant Von's collapse is almost coincidental with the opening of the portal."

"He mentioned that the box was radiating a powerful psionic field," said Arak. "Are the two - the box and the portal - connected in some way?"

Malin-Argo drew himself up to his full height. When he made fists, the corded muscles of his arms flexed and drew his uniform sleeves tightly across his arms. "I am going to Engineering to get that box. Remain here and continue your analysis of the sensors."

"Understood." Arak watched the Grazerite lumber towards the door. "Commander?"

Malin-Argo stopped and turned around. "Yes?"

The diminutive Aamazzarite looked apologetic. "Be careful, Commander. There is something strange about this incident. With most of the ship's complement on the Starbase, most of the decks will be empty. If something should happen - "

Malin-Argo didn't blink. "Acknowledged, Ensign."

Then he was gone. Arak silently wished him well, and turned back to his work.

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Scene: Turbolift


Ellie Kalani stood alone in the turbolift as it moved up through the ship. There was no sound, save for the humming of the lift as it sped through the decks. She breathed in and out, and clasped her hands together.

She didn't know why, but she began to feel nervous, and wished the turbolift would hurry up.

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Scene: Another turbolift


Malin-Argo stood alone in the turbolift as it moved downward through the ship. The only sound was of the humming of the lift as it sped through the decks, and the steady, deep breathing of the Grazerite's barrel chest.

Engineering was forty-four decks below the science centre. He was going to be alone in this turbolift for quite some time.

The Grazerite licked suddenly dry lips, remembering what he had seen on the computer screen. A sense of foreboding settled on his great heart.

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Scene: Another turbolift


Jake Crichton stood alone in the turbolift as it moved upward through the ship. The only sound he could hear was the humming of the lift climbing through the decks.

He drummed his fingers against the wall. There was something odd about Sofia's death, something that tugged on a memory string. He felt like he'd seen so many of his shipmates die in the past few years, engaged on the crusade against Edgerton, that they all started to blur into one another, like he couldn't tell where one dead friend ended and the other began. Names and faces all merged together in his mind's eye, and he tried to focus.

It wasn't easy. Jake touched himself on the throat and rubbed it gingerly, like an invisible hand was slowly choking the life out of him.

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Scene: Primary science centre - deck 8, saucer section


The hour grew late and Arak Schad remained at his post. There was something unsettling about the size and emptiness of the Phoenix, made worse by the fact that almost all of the science department was enjoying shore leave on the Starbase. In the great silence that lingered, broken only by the tapping of his fingers on the controls, it was easy to let one's imagination run away with itself.

Could something have come board the Phoenix through that portal? Could it be from a dimension so wildy different from this one that the mere breath of it caused Cantor Von to collapse in convulsions? A phase variance that large meant that the laws of physics of this universe would have meant nothing on the other side of the portal. It would be a place of pure chaos, something so alien that the mere sight of it might drive someone from this universe completely insane. And as for the creatures that might live there, why, they would also be creatures that might drive someone mad, or terrify them enough to stop their heart.

The darkness gathered itself up around him, and Arak felt a chill run down his backbone.

Was it possible that something had crossed over? Something that had squirmed inside the minds of Budo Pumbular and Ezra Greer, something that had been in sickbay last night with Sofia Andersson? Something from the darkness behind the stars, something that had been waiting for them to get this far from home and hearth and the lights of civilisation?

The shadows lengthened.

Arak looked around and realised he was all alone.

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Scene: Bridge - deck 1, saucer section


Ellie Kalani breathed a sigh of relief as the turbolift doors opened. She stepped out onto the bridge, smiling a hello at the android in the centre seat.

The ready room door opened, and Kane was there, and everything was alright.

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Scene: Main Engineering - deck 36, drive section


Malin-Argo stepped out into the main Engineering deck, his heavy footfalls thumping across the deckplate. He entered the warp core, seeing how slowly the ship's heart was beating, watching the violet pulses ripple up and down the intermix chamber. The light from the core cast weird shapes on the walls, played over his animalistic face and lent him a demonaic demeanour.

Malin-Argo realised there was nobody else here. He was all alone with the box, which he could see on the shelf where Chaucer had placed it. Were they so short-staffed right now that there was nobody to monitor any of the Phoenix's critical functions? Malin-Argo ground his teeth in annoyance.

He stepped past the warp core and picked up the open box, noting how the violet light made the carved figures on the inside of the box seem alive. They twisted and writhed in the gloom as the ethereal music tinkled on the cloying air, making strange shapes in that weird light, their faces contorted into masks that stared at him like they knew him, like they could see into his soul and peel back the layers to find his innermost secrets.

Malin-Argo blinked, and one of them reached out their hand to him, a leering smile on its face.

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Scene: Bridge - deck 1, saucer section


The ready room doors shut behind Ellie Kalani, and Kane took her hand and lent her his strength.

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Scene: Main Engineering - deck 36, drive section


Malin-Argo snapped the box shut with a grunt. He held it closed, exerting his will upon the thing, and the shadows fled away from him. His heart swelled, and he moved away from the warp core, heading back to the turbolift.

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Scene: Primary Science Centre - deck 8, saucer section


Jake Crichton stepped into the science centre and saw Arak Schad dead on the floor.

He stood there for a moment, stunned. The Aamazzarite was slumped in a heap, like he had fallen from his seat. There was nobody else in the room - Arak had died on his own.

Jake stepped forward, looking fearfully into the corners, but there was nothing there except the silence. He reached Arak's side, and knelt down at his side. Arak's eyes were open, but the light in them had gone out. There was no real emotion on his face, but his mouth was open in an expression resembling something akin to shocked amazement - even in his death, Arak was inscrutable. There was not a mark on his body.

Jake touched Arak's eyes, closing them gently, and realised with a start that the Aamazzarite's skin was still warm. He stood up and looked around, feeling the oppressive taint to the air.

He reached up and touched his communicator. "Security alert, deck 8 science centre. Ensign Schad is gone."

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NRPG: Another shipmate has fallen. You have a few leads now, so remember to check with Shawn if you have any theories or suggestions for whatever your character does next. Y'all better think of something!


Jerome McKee
the Soul of Captain Michael Turlogh Kane
Commanding Officer
USS PHOENIX


"He speaks an infinite deal of nothing!"
- Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Act 1, Scene 1.117

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