Literary Challenge 59 - Wrath of Betazed
---
The sheet was pulled and Kathryn grimaced at the sight. She turned from the deceased Jem'Hadar to another table where a Betazoid female lay. Between the two, hers was uncovered first. Kathryn looked at the doctor. "You believe these deaths are linked?"
The Bolian nodded as he covered the Jem'Hadar, then turned to the Betazoid to cover her up. "They are the only fatalities to have occurred within three weeks and they both expired within one hour of each other".
Kathryn turned to her Medical Officer standing near her. Romas Verthir was stroking his pointed beard in thought and nodded to his Captain.
Returning to the doctor, Kathryn said, "May I please have your analysis for my team to investigate?"
Doctor Tazan handed over a PADD. "Of course, that's why we called you. These injuries are not like anything I've seen. The station director is hoping to find resolution quickly because he's afraid of hysteria breaking out, much less have a murderer loose on the station."
Kathryn smiled slightly. "I understand. The resources of the Solaris are at your disposal."
Tazan bowed slightly. Kathryn and Romas returned the gesture and walked out of the morgue.
In the hallway, they looked up and down the corridor. Not seeing anyone, Romas spoke first. "I have my suspicions that this is not a random occurrence."
They started walking toward the director's office. Without looking to her Betazoid Lieutenant, Kathryn asked, "Care to elaborate?"
"There is no doubt both were killed deliberately. I'll need to review the data before I can say more. But I can sense the doctor feels he should be able to solve the problem. I sense reluctance to be working with us."
They stopped at the turbolift. "Head back to the ship, I'll see the Director about his concerns. Hopefully the presence of the Solaris will allay further fears."
---
On board Solaris
Romas scanned the information from the station doctor's PADD on a large viewscreen in his office. Looking at images of the deceased Jem'Hadar's skull, he noticed several fractures along the cranium. Highlighting the cracks, Romas noted they were radiating from the temporal lobe. Switching to the Betazoid, her skull showed the same radial fractures.
Shifting images from the bones to the organs, he read the doctor's notes that the Betazoid's vocal cords were traumatized. This suggested she screamed for a prolonged period shortly before or during her death. Both victims brains were half liquefied.
"Oh, no." Romas pushed aside his assumption with hope as he said aloud, "Computer, reference medical records declaring radial fractures to cranium and ... cross reference reported Jem'Hadar non-combat injuries."
There was a brief moment of silence before the ships computer chirped aloud, "there are no public records available."
Romas' eyebrows furrowed. "Refine search, open parameters to include Betazoid race."
The computer returned the same results and Romas decided to sit down. Realization of a dark truth crept into his mind. "No public records" He stared at the medical notes a few minutes longer while twisting his memories and medical training. Reluctantly he stated, "Computer, refine search, open parameters to combat-related injuries."
The ship computer beeped and the female voice gently stated, "there are four-thousand eighty three records available."
Romas sat up straight. A small strand of fear crept into his thoughts. "Is there a time frame these records were generated?"
"Stardates 51249.11 to 53803.07."
"Provide figures localized to within the Beta Quadrant." Fear turned to dread from the response.
"Three thousand eight hundred ninety seven."
Romas felt warm under his uniform coat. He continued on his hunch. "How many of those were localized on Betazed?"
"Three thousand one hundred forty seven."
---
"Yes, Captain, assassination." Romas sat across from Captain Beringer in her ready room. The station doctor's PADD rested between them. He was very calm with his hands clasped together on the table.
Kathryn wore a deep frown as she slumped back into her chair. "This is the first case of it's kind since 2376? Do you know why?"
"I believe a radical faction of patriots from The War have returned. Living weapons whose empathic abilities became heightened, strengthened and ultimately utterly destructive. The psychic energy would be a shockwave felling tens of Jem'Hadar at the cost of the patriot's life. I believe this is what's happened on the station."
"Why weren't anyone else affected by the psychic shockwave?"
Romas spread his hands open. "It's not meant to be used in a large area. According to the report, the Jem'Hadar was on security patrol in the shuttle bay. Very open and very empty at the time of death. The attacker had enough life to crawl away from the scene and died in a nearby hallway."
Kathryn nodded. "Did these ... patriots ... work alone?"
"No. But I can't say there is continued danger anymore because there was only one Jem'Hadar on the station. The only traditional target is dead."
Kathryn leaned forward. "But if free Jem'Hadar continue to join the Federation, then are we witness to a new resurgence of revenge killings?
"I'm unsure, Captain. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait and see."
Kathryn sighed. "These assassins, this faction, did they have a name?"
"The Morituri". Romas looked down as if ashamed.
---
The sheet was pulled and Kathryn grimaced at the sight. She turned from the deceased Jem'Hadar to another table where a Betazoid female lay. Between the two, hers was uncovered first. Kathryn looked at the doctor. "You believe these deaths are linked?"
The Bolian nodded as he covered the Jem'Hadar, then turned to the Betazoid to cover her up. "They are the only fatalities to have occurred within three weeks and they both expired within one hour of each other".
Kathryn turned to her Medical Officer standing near her. Romas Verthir was stroking his pointed beard in thought and nodded to his Captain.
Returning to the doctor, Kathryn said, "May I please have your analysis for my team to investigate?"
Doctor Tazan handed over a PADD. "Of course, that's why we called you. These injuries are not like anything I've seen. The station director is hoping to find resolution quickly because he's afraid of hysteria breaking out, much less have a murderer loose on the station."
Kathryn smiled slightly. "I understand. The resources of the Solaris are at your disposal."
Tazan bowed slightly. Kathryn and Romas returned the gesture and walked out of the morgue.
In the hallway, they looked up and down the corridor. Not seeing anyone, Romas spoke first. "I have my suspicions that this is not a random occurrence."
They started walking toward the director's office. Without looking to her Betazoid Lieutenant, Kathryn asked, "Care to elaborate?"
"There is no doubt both were killed deliberately. I'll need to review the data before I can say more. But I can sense the doctor feels he should be able to solve the problem. I sense reluctance to be working with us."
They stopped at the turbolift. "Head back to the ship, I'll see the Director about his concerns. Hopefully the presence of the Solaris will allay further fears."
---
On board Solaris
Romas scanned the information from the station doctor's PADD on a large viewscreen in his office. Looking at images of the deceased Jem'Hadar's skull, he noticed several fractures along the cranium. Highlighting the cracks, Romas noted they were radiating from the temporal lobe. Switching to the Betazoid, her skull showed the same radial fractures.
Shifting images from the bones to the organs, he read the doctor's notes that the Betazoid's vocal cords were traumatized. This suggested she screamed for a prolonged period shortly before or during her death. Both victims brains were half liquefied.
"Oh, no." Romas pushed aside his assumption with hope as he said aloud, "Computer, reference medical records declaring radial fractures to cranium and ... cross reference reported Jem'Hadar non-combat injuries."
There was a brief moment of silence before the ships computer chirped aloud, "there are no public records available."
Romas' eyebrows furrowed. "Refine search, open parameters to include Betazoid race."
The computer returned the same results and Romas decided to sit down. Realization of a dark truth crept into his mind. "No public records" He stared at the medical notes a few minutes longer while twisting his memories and medical training. Reluctantly he stated, "Computer, refine search, open parameters to combat-related injuries."
The ship computer beeped and the female voice gently stated, "there are four-thousand eighty three records available."
Romas sat up straight. A small strand of fear crept into his thoughts. "Is there a time frame these records were generated?"
"Stardates 51249.11 to 53803.07."
"Provide figures localized to within the Beta Quadrant." Fear turned to dread from the response.
"Three thousand eight hundred ninety seven."
Romas felt warm under his uniform coat. He continued on his hunch. "How many of those were localized on Betazed?"
"Three thousand one hundred forty seven."
---
"Yes, Captain, assassination." Romas sat across from Captain Beringer in her ready room. The station doctor's PADD rested between them. He was very calm with his hands clasped together on the table.
Kathryn wore a deep frown as she slumped back into her chair. "This is the first case of it's kind since 2376? Do you know why?"
"I believe a radical faction of patriots from The War have returned. Living weapons whose empathic abilities became heightened, strengthened and ultimately utterly destructive. The psychic energy would be a shockwave felling tens of Jem'Hadar at the cost of the patriot's life. I believe this is what's happened on the station."
"Why weren't anyone else affected by the psychic shockwave?"
Romas spread his hands open. "It's not meant to be used in a large area. According to the report, the Jem'Hadar was on security patrol in the shuttle bay. Very open and very empty at the time of death. The attacker had enough life to crawl away from the scene and died in a nearby hallway."
Kathryn nodded. "Did these ... patriots ... work alone?"
"No. But I can't say there is continued danger anymore because there was only one Jem'Hadar on the station. The only traditional target is dead."
Kathryn leaned forward. "But if free Jem'Hadar continue to join the Federation, then are we witness to a new resurgence of revenge killings?
"I'm unsure, Captain. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait and see."
Kathryn sighed. "These assassins, this faction, did they have a name?"
"The Morituri". Romas looked down as if ashamed.
---
Cast:
No comments:
Post a Comment