S6 E6 - What's in it for Me?

[Alexander Wu]

Desperately , she tapped into her empathic abilities and reached out, giving him a lifeline to hold onto. She wasn't sure how, but it seemed to be working, He seemed to be breathing a bit easier, maybe feeling a bit less pain. That was something, at least.  If she could, she'd keep it going as long as she was physically capable. She had to .

With his left hand, he put his fingertips along the back of the lower neck, one point being a pressure point of sorts. He then put his fingertips in the style of a mind meld, a clawed hand touching different points on the face - had he done the nerve block nicknamed "the Vulcan Death Grip," he would've used both hands on the face - and began chanting. A moment later, Lieutenant Wu was under.

[Calindra's Dream - Crew Quarters]

Laying motionless in his bunk, Alex was already slipping into unconsciousness when Alhanjhu began the mind meld. Almost immediately, his breathing effort eased into a more rhythmic pattern, though still laboured and shallow.

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Coming to, Alex's first thoughts were towards the pleasant weight and warmth against his one side, while the rest of him literally felt like it had been in the ship's morgue. He next contemplated the splitting headache currently holding his brain hostage. Opening his eyes, Alex quickly decided it was a bad idea as the light increased his discomfort tenfold, enough to chase the remnants of a very pleasant dream away. Squeezing them shut, he turned his head slightly as a few blonde strands of Ardy's stray hair tickled his-

Oh merde.
----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Sitting up, his mortification quickly overshadowed the complaining stabs of pain to his head, Alex stared back at Jaeger momentarily before his attention flickered downwards. Osti de tabarnak de calice. Flushing, he averted his eyes, silently picking up a discarded red tunic and holding it out for her. "I think...there's going to be a lot of, this never happened-"

No. Something was wrong. The blonde woman covering herself appeared familiar; young, lithe, and ravishing in a postcoital glow. But despite their similarities, she wasn't Ardyn. "This never happened." Alex repeated in confusion, startling when he heard his own voice. Only it wasn't his voice. It was deeper somehow, spoken with an alien tongue.

Hastening to a nearby bulkhead display, Alex caught sight of his reflection in the darkened screen. Someone else stared back at him, a stranger with angular eyebrows, pointed ears, and a chiseled bearded jaw. He stumbled backwards in shock, tripping over something unseen, falling backwards unchecked, striking his head and-
----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Coming to, Alex's first thoughts were towards the pleasant weight and warmth against his one side, while the rest of him literally felt like it had been in the ship's morgue. He next contemplated the splitting headache currently holding his brain hostage. Opening his eyes, Alex quickly decided it was a bad idea as the light increased his discomfort tenfold, enough to chase the remnants of a very pleasant dream away. Squeezing them shut, he turned his head slightly as a few blonde strands of Ardy's stray hair tickled his-

Oh merde.
----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Sitting up, his mortification quickly overshadowed the complaining stabs of pain to his head, Alex stared back at Jaeger momentarily before his attention flickered upwards. Throughout Engineering, he could see the shadows of others in similar, but yet very different, predicaments. One crewman stood by himself in plain sight, a strapping young Romulan scantily clothed like most, but something about him was different. Maybe it was the cut of his pants, or the feral leer in his eyes as he stared down at them. A tickling sensation began in the back of his mind, persistently becoming stronger and stronger, like a memory struggling to break free. A name formed on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't quite say it, no matter how hard he tried.

Instead, the figure came closer, motioning for Alex to turn his attention back to the woman next to him. She was saying something, repeating a single word softly, with an ethereal intimacy which soothed his troubled thoughts. His tension melted away like a mist in morning sun when he laid back down next to Ardyn, closing his eyes and caressing her hair with delicate tenderness. Her gentle lips brushed against his as Alex felt himself drift off again.

Imzadi. Imzadi. Imzadi.

----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

[Ardyn Jaeger - Wu]

[Calindra's Dream - Crew Quarters]

Laying motionless in his bunk, Alex was already slipping into unconsciousness when Alhanjhu began the mind meld. Almost immediately, his breathing effort eased into a more rhythmic pattern, though still laboured and shallow.

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Coming to, Alex's first thoughts were towards the pleasant weight and warmth against his one side, while the rest of him literally felt like it had been in the ship's morgue. He next contemplated the splitting headache currently holding his brain hostage. Opening his eyes, Alex quickly decided it was a bad idea as the light increased his discomfort tenfold, enough to chase the remnants of a very pleasant dream away. Squeezing them shut, he turned his head slightly as a few blonde strands of Ardy's stray hair tickled his-

Oh merde.
----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Sitting up, his mortification quickly overshadowed the complaining stabs of pain to his head, Alex stared back at Jaeger momentarily before his attention flickered downwards. Osti de tabarnak de calice. Flushing, he averted his eyes, silently picking up a discarded red tunic and holding it out for her. "I think...there's going to be a lot of, this never happened-"

No. Something was wrong. The blonde woman covering herself appeared familiar; young, lithe, and ravishing in a postcoital glow. But despite their similarities, she wasn't Ardyn. "This never happened." Alex repeated in confusion, startling when he heard his own voice. Only it wasn't his voice. It was deeper somehow, spoken with an alien tongue.

Hastening to a nearby bulkhead display, Alex caught sight of his reflection in the darkened screen. Someone else stared back at him, a stranger with angular eyebrows, pointed ears, and a chiseled bearded jaw. He stumbled backwards in shock, tripping over something unseen, falling backwards unchecked, striking his head and-
----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Coming to, Alex's first thoughts were towards the pleasant weight and warmth against his one side, while the rest of him literally felt like it had been in the ship's morgue. He next contemplated the splitting headache currently holding his brain hostage. Opening his eyes, Alex quickly decided it was a bad idea as the light increased his discomfort tenfold, enough to chase the remnants of a very pleasant dream away. Squeezing them shut, he turned his head slightly as a few blonde strands of Ardy's stray hair tickled his-

Oh merde.
----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

----------------
Sitting up, his mortification quickly overshadowed the complaining stabs of pain to his head, Alex stared back at Jaeger momentarily before his attention flickered upwards. Throughout Engineering, he could see the shadows of others in similar, but yet very different, predicaments. One crewman stood by himself in plain sight, a strapping young Romulan scantily clothed like most, but something about him was different. Maybe it was the cut of his pants, or the feral leer in his eyes as he stared down at them. A tickling sensation began in the back of his mind, persistently becoming stronger and stronger, like a memory struggling to break free. A name formed on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't quite say it, no matter how hard he tried.

Instead, the figure came closer, motioning for Alex to turn his attention back to the woman next to him. She was saying something, repeating a single word softly, with an ethereal intimacy which soothed his troubled thoughts. His tension melted away like a mist in morning sun when he laid back down next to Ardyn, closing his eyes and caressing her hair with delicate tenderness. Her gentle lips brushed against his as Alex felt himself drift off again.

Imzadi. Imzadi. Imzadi.

----------------

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

[Calindra's Dream]

Ardy heard the call from the Sun Tzu. and gave a sigh of relief. Help was on its' way.  Even with them coming , they still had to stabilize them while they waited for them to come.  "Let's do it Alhanjhu. the sooner we can get him stabilized while we wait, the better. " she said.

Watching Alhanjhu began the mind melding process, Ardy could tell that it was working. Alex's breathing became more even.  She got slight glimpses of what he was thinking.  Strange dreams.  A somewhat... private memory of when they first... She  flushed just a bit, remembering the somewhat embarrasing moment that kickstarted their relationship  [color=firebrick.] Hang in there, Imzadi.  They're almost here.[/color] she said to Alex, not sure if he could hear her or not.   She could already see the sensors picking up on the bigger ship.  Looks like they're here, Boss."

[Ian Galloway]

[Calindra's Dream]

Ardy heard the call from the Sun Tzu. and gave a sigh of relief. Help was on its' way.  Even with them coming , they still had to stabilize them while they waited for them to come.  "Let's do it Alhanjhu. the sooner we can get him stabilized while we wait, the better. " she said.

Watching Alhanjhu began the mind melding process, Ardy could tell that it was working. Alex's breathing became more even.  She got slight glimpses of what he was thinking.  Strange dreams.  A somewhat... private memory of when they first... She  flushed just a bit, remembering the somewhat embarrasing moment that kickstarted their relationship  Hang in there, Imzadi.  They're almost here. she said to Alex, not sure if he could hear her or not.  She could already see the sensors picking up on the bigger ship.  Looks like they're here, Boss."

[Crew Quarters - SS Calindra's Dream]

As Alhanjhu labored to establish the link with Wu, the two of them, as well as the rest of the away team felt annular confinement beams enveloping them as the Sun Tzu's transporter locked on to them. Seconds later, they were all on biobeds in one of the most advanced sickbays they had ever seen.

Over all protests each member of the away team was examined and triaged. Calindra and Alex were immediately wisked to surgery. Malik, was being treated for his injuries when a Captain joined him bedside.

"Commander Grippen, pleased to meet you even though this isn't the best of times. I'm Captain Sam Lavelle, we've tractored your ship into our shuttlebay and have gone to warp. We aren't using Slipstream so the doctors have time to work on your wounded, we will reach Starbase 153 in six hours.

"Your prisoner is in our brig and your engineer has given us the data you captured from the smugglers. Good God Commander, do you have any idea what you have stumbled upon? The whole Sector is on high alert, this whole thing is so hot it's incandescent.

"You and the members of your team not in surgery have until we reach 153 to have your reports ready to brief Admiral Gillespie. You will have full use of our replicators and the briefing room on deck 6 to work.

"I can tell you've been through hell, so I also suggest you get some rack time before we arrive, because you will all be hopping once we arrive. You've done good work Commander, but it looks like there is a lot more work to be done."

Lavelle nodded to the doctor treating Malik and added as he exited.

"Take care of him Doctor, because he's going to have to be in top form to face the Admiral."

[Azsayak]

Azsayak had remained in the sickbay as she watched the medical staff do all it could to save the arm of Kesley. She would then watch as Lira headed out of the sickbay once the operation to save and stablize Kesley was finished.  Azsayak would also lumber out of the sickbay. Her uniform still charred and her back scales as well. She would watch lira go off to her room. Pausing as she want to reach out and speak to the Science officer.  She didnt deserve any of the blame, the explosion had made no sense. There was no reason for the overload to of happened.  Perhaps the shuttle was just old and showing its age. Perhaps it was an act of sabotage. Or perhaps Azsayak had made a mistake herself.

Whatever had happened would be found out soon. As the challenger had to go to warp to escape with the informantion and once again head back to starbase 153.  Azsayak would head to her own quarters and wait for what was to come next.  Send a private Message to Lira . [ Your plan was Good Lira. We are all alive ]

[Malik Grippen]

[USS Sun Tzu, Sickbay]

Just as Malik was settling in for what would be a hellish 29 hours, the cavalry arrived in the form of Starfleet's most advanced ship.

They had all been transported directly to the Sun Tzu's sickbay, and what a sickbay it was boasting the latest in medical technology. It really put into perspective just how old the frame of the Challenger was.

Calindra and Wu were now receiving the best possible care and their chances of survival had increased dramatically. Malik held onto Calindra's sheathed Katana. She would want to have it back as soon as she awoke. The blade had more than earned its hefty price.

Then the ship's captain arrived and briefed him. The name rang a vague bell from somewhere Malik couldn't recall. In any case, the captain didn't hang around for follow up questions or small talk.

"Understood, Captain." Was all Malik could get out before Lavelle left.

With everything taken care of, Malik could afford to relax a little. The intel had been secured, the prisoner handed over, the away team was safe and sound. Now Malik had a briefing to prepare for the Admiral on their findings on Bathàn.

"Doctor, wake me up in 4 hours..."

Malik closed his eyes and allowed the exhaustion of the away mission to wash over him.

[Alhanjhu]

[Crew Quarters - SS Calindra's Dream]

As Alhanjhu labored to establish the link with Wu, the two of them, as well as the rest of the away team felt annular confinement beams enveloping them as the Sun Tzu's transporter locked on to them. Seconds later, they were all on biobeds in one of the most advanced sickbays they had ever seen.

Over all protests each member of the away team was examined and triaged. Calindra and Alex were immediately wisked to surgery. Malik, was being treated for his injuries when a Captain joined him bedside.

"Commander Grippen, pleased to meet you even though this isn't the best of times. I'm Captain Sam Lavelle, we've tractored your ship into our shuttlebay and have gone to warp. We aren't using Slipstream so the doctors have time to work on your wounded, we will reach Starbase 153 in six hours.

"Your prisoner is in our brig and your engineer has given us the data you captured from the smugglers. Good God Commander, do you have any idea what you have stumbled upon? The whole Sector is on high alert, this whole thing is so hot it's incandescent.

"You and the members of your team not in surgery have until we reach 153 to have your reports ready to brief Admiral Gillespie. You will have full use of our replicators and the briefing room on deck 6 to work.

"I can tell you've been through hell, so I also suggest you get some rack time before we arrive, because you will all be hopping once we arrive. You've done good work Commander, but it looks like there is a lot more work to be done."

Lavelle nodded to the doctor treating Malik and added as he exited.

"Take care of him Doctor, because he's going to have to be in top form to face the Admiral."

[USS Sun Tzu, Sickbay]

Just as Malik was settling in for what would be a hellish 29 hours, the cavalry arrived in the form of Starfleet's most advanced ship.

They had all been transported directly to the Sun Tzu's sickbay, and what a sickbay it was boasting the latest in medical technology. It really put into perspective just how old the frame of the Challenger was.

Calindra and Wu were now receiving the best possible care and their chances of survival had increased dramatically. Malik held onto Calindra's sheathed Katana. She would want to have it back as soon as she awoke. The blade had more than earned its hefty price.

Then the ship's captain arrived and briefed him. The name rang a vague bell from somewhere Malik couldn't recall. In any case, the captain didn't hang around for follow up questions or small talk.

"Understood, Captain." Was all Malik could get out before Lavelle left.

With everything taken care of, Malik could afford to relax a little. The intel had been secured, the prisoner handed over, the away team was safe and sound. Now Malik had a briefing to prepare for the Admiral on their findings on Bathàn.

"Doctor, wake me up in 4 hours..."

Malik closed his eyes and allowed the exhaustion of the away mission to wash over him.

[Ensign Alhanjhu Jei'Jendak | Cockpit >- Sickbay | Calindra's Dream >- USS Sun Tzu ]

Alhanjhu instantly escorted Malik, Wu and Cali - especially Cali - to Sickbay, Security officer as he was - officially. He only separated from his fellows in escort when the patients were proceeding in treatment. He took the time to take a sonic shower in some spare quarters and to change into a fresh uniform. After that, he proceed with his report for his debrief.

It was a short report - inasmuch as that he'd expect that his report would be shorter than the rest of the officers. He mentioned his part, in his idea in using salvage, based on memories of his own, memories of salvagers back on Andgarr. He wasn't involved much, but when he and Neva were called in to help, that was when things got interesting.

After his report finished, feeling assured they were in safe hands, he took off his uniform, made feel like he was back on Andgarr with his briefs, and collapsed on the bed. He slept and slept. And Cali was in his dreams. So clear was she was in his dreams it felt less like dreams of romance than it felt more like his mind was linked with hers, and inadvertently at that, given Romulans didn't know how to utilize the telepathic abilities inherent in Vulcans.

[Calindra Hejaran]

[Calindra - Between Life & Death]

In the sterile, bright lights of Starfleet Medical, the frantic scene of surgeons working to save Calindra and Wu unfolded, their vitals precariously unstable. Yet, in the depths of her subconscious, Calindra found herself adrift in another reality—a strange, vivid dream that interwove itself with the physical pain and the fight for her life.

"NAISHIIIIiiii HAPAHHHHHhh...!!!"

Calindra's body trembled violently on the biobed as a surge of pain shot through her abdomen. Her head arched back, and her face twisted in agony as a cortical stimulator activated, sending controlled neural pulses to stabilize her faltering mind. The medical team didn't stop; they worked tirelessly to repair the damage done by the Romulan blade.

But to Calindra, the scene in the medbay never happened, she was... elsewhere.

She was at an oasis, deep within a barren desert. A dry, cracked expanse of sand and stone stretched as far as the eye could see, except for this tiny refuge. The air shimmered with heat, and the sky above was dominated by dark, swirling storm clouds, crackling with energy. The oasis was struggling—its water was shallow, almost gone, and the surrounding vegetation wilted under the oppressive heat.

Nearby stood a man, his features indistinct but familiar. He gestured to their surroundings with open arms, repeating the same phrase with an intensity that resonated in her chest. "Naishi hapa."

Calindra's head tilted as she tried to process the words, her mind struggling to hold onto their meaning. The dream felt too real—too tangible—and the man's voice cut through the fog like a sharp blade. He pointed first to his head, then to hers.

"Tunaishi hapa," he continued, his voice firm but not unkind. He motioned between them, linking their shared existence to this place. "Sisi wote," he added, suddenly clasping her hand tightly. The touch grounded her, and the pressure of his grasp made her realize this was no ordinary dream.

Her voice was hoarse, trembling, as she replied, "We must work together..." Her gaze turned to the horizon, where the ominous storm clouds loomed larger, threatening to consume the fragile safety of the oasis. "If we are to survive, we can't stay here. We have to move."

The man shook his head slowly, his expression filled with both sorrow and determination. He pointed again to the oasis, then to her, emphasizing his words. "Tunaishi hapa sasa."

The desert around her seemed alive, its dangers tangible. Calindra had spent enough time with the nomadic tribes near Hejaran Keep to understand the deep symbolic significance of an oasis to these tribes—it represented shelter, hope, and the delicate balance of life in an otherwise merciless environment. But this place, this shared dream, was fragile. It felt as though it mirrored her own precarious condition, teetering between survival and oblivion.

Back in the medical bay, her body spasmed again, and the lead surgeon cursed under his breath. "She's crashing!"

"Push another dose of inaprovaline!" a nurse shouted, her hands trembling as she adjusted the bioscanner.

Blood continued to seep from the wound, even as the regenerative tools worked to mend the torn tissue. Her vitals danced precariously on the edge, and the medical staff fought desperately to keep her tethered to life.

In the dream, Calindra felt the man's grip on her hand tighten. She looked into his eyes—so familiar yet alien—and saw something reflected there: hope, fear, and a desperate determination.

"Naishi hapa," he repeated one last time, his voice echoing in the stillness. Then, he pointed to the storm, his face grim.

Her eyes widened as she saw the storm advance. It was relentless, unstoppable. Beyond the oasis was death, but within its fragile bounds, survival demanded unity and strength.

Her vision blurred, the dream beginning to unravel. Calindra clutched at the man's hand, her voice breaking. "I... I'm not ready..."

Her body fell limp on the biobed, the vitals flatlining for a terrifying second before spiking again. The cortical stimulator fired another pulse, jolting her mind back into sync with her body.

"She's stabilizing," the lead surgeon muttered, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "But it's going to be close."

The storm clouds in her mind began to dissipate, but the weight of the man's words lingered. Somewhere, deep in her consciousness, she felt the tenuous thread of survival pulling her back. She wasn't ready to let go—not yet.

[Neva Cordon]

[Crew Quarters - SS Calindra's Dream]

As Alhanjhu labored to establish the link with Wu, the two of them, as well as the rest of the away team felt annular confinement beams enveloping them as the Sun Tzu's transporter locked on to them. Seconds later, they were all on biobeds in one of the most advanced sickbays they had ever seen.

Over all protests each member of the away team was examined and triaged. Calindra and Alex were immediately wisked to surgery. Malik, was being treated for his injuries when a Captain joined him bedside.

"Commander Grippen, pleased to meet you even though this isn't the best of times. I'm Captain Sam Lavelle, we've tractored your ship into our shuttlebay and have gone to warp. We aren't using Slipstream so the doctors have time to work on your wounded, we will reach Starbase 153 in six hours.

"Your prisoner is in our brig and your engineer has given us the data you captured from the smugglers. Good God Commander, do you have any idea what you have stumbled upon? The whole Sector is on high alert, this whole thing is so hot it's incandescent.

"You and the members of your team not in surgery have until we reach 153 to have your reports ready to brief Admiral Gillespie. You will have full use of our replicators and the briefing room on deck 6 to work.

"I can tell you've been through hell, so I also suggest you get some rack time before we arrive, because you will all be hopping once we arrive. You've done good work Commander, but it looks like there is a lot more work to be done."

Lavelle nodded to the doctor treating Malik and added as he exited.

"Take care of him Doctor, because he's going to have to be in top form to face the Admiral."

[ACEO Lt.Neva Cordon|USS Sun Tsu|Deck 6 Briefing Room]

After getting cleared in Sickbay, Neva made for the Briefing Room straight away. She began working on her report as she walked in the door.

Neva admitted to herself that she'd been annoyed with their rescue, being near the "Good Part" of her book. Any attempts her Romulan prisoner had made to goad or converse with her had fallen on deaf ears, or so he thought. Neva had decided he deserved nothing from her, even when he called  "her" ship names. His buddies had severely injured Cali and Alex, so The Silent Treatment seemed the best weapon.

Neva had to stop her work and laugh. He'd intently watched what showed on the screen of her console, thinking she had been sloppy and shown Starfleet Secrets. In actuality, it was  a schematic of her disruptor, a trigonometry problem, and finally her favorite curses in Klingon, Bajoran, and Earth Greek. On her PADD, however, she was reading her guilty pleasure-a "trashy romance novel."

Neva wiped a hand down her face to try and stop laughing more. When she'd transferred the Prisoner to the Sun Tsu's Security detail, she bid him goodbye and to enjoy his stay on the new ship in a sing-song voice, an amiable smile on her face and a wave that was her middle finger. The evil look he gave her was priceless!

Clearing her throat loudly, she managed to stop the giggle fit enough to get back to work.

Stardate 80082.19 Lt. Nevanthi Cordon reporting aboard the USS Sun Tsu. In my capacity as Aya Talos aboard Calindra's Dream, I aided in the exposure of the Romulan Tal Shiar Underground influence on the planet Bathân. Myself and Ensign Alhanjhu Jei'Jendak were initially tasked with negotiating a deal for some metal scrap. While the price was lower than hoped, I do give a good deal of credit to the Ensign for his flair in both negotiating and spinning a convincing cover story.

"Computer, pause report."

Neva rubbed her temples, trying to ease the tension. It all seemed like a whirlwind, hours being days and all that. She was honestly glad it was over. Now to get back to Challenger and Tora...

A slight smile traced Neva's lips at the thought of her own Imzadi. Oh how she missed her! Shaking her head and sighing, Neva tried to get her head right again.

'Gotta finish this!' Neva chided herself silently.

Taking some slow cleansing breaths, the young Engineer looked to the console before her.

"Computer, resume report."

[Ardyn Jaeger - Wu]

[USS Sun Tzu]

[Outside medbay]

They really didn't have to scan her. Asides from maybe a couple tiny glass  cuts, she was fine, obviously.  She didn't need stuffy overbearing medics poking her five ways to Sunday when all she was worried about was Alex.

She'd do the debriefing while waiting if she had to. Not like she was doing all that much.  She'd rather touch a red hot poker than do paperwork, but orders were orders. and SOMEONE had to explain what happened.

"Lieutenant Ardyn Jaeger-Wu,  After-action log:  stardate.... " She paused. There was a lot to say over the events of the past mission, and where to start? Suddenly, she saw one of the doctors come out of the room

"Good news, He's out of surgery and doing well.

[Ian Galloway]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

After a 12 hour run at her emergency speed, Challenger dropped out of warp and docked with Starbase 153, arriving an hour after the sleek new Sun Tzu. As soon as the docking clamps locked on, Ian beamed directly to Admiral Gillespie's office, there he found Captain LaVelle of the Sun Tzu along with the away team, less Alex and Calindra who were still in sickbay for a briefing he was not looking forward to attending....

To Be Continued...