Sunset on a Day not forgotten

[Webmaster 20]

Subject: Sunset on a Day not forgotten

Date: Sat, Dec 6, 1997 10:24 PM

From: Cdr BluRox

Message-id:

 

 

The following log is a compiled work of Cdr Blurox, Doc AnnS and Ens Veydra::

 

::He stood looking over the body of the dead thing...it looked like a man, but also like one of those Borg things they had heard stories about.  Part man- part machine....but now, it looked totally dead.  Creeping up, he prodded the body once, then twice with the curved end of his bow, trying to see if it were pretending to be dead.  It didn't move, and Ravel didn't know what he should do now.  Instinct told him to run, but Ravel was deep in shock,

this being the first time he had killed a person, or thing, or whatever it was.  Whatever it was, it was bigger than the brace of rabbits he had been after.  Which is why he didn’t even notice the black and yellow uniformed people leading him away::

 

::Ensign Veydra arrived to answer Day’s call for reinforcements, yet when she got there, all she saw was Day lying on the ground, with an arrow through his head, and a young boy standing above him holding an ash bow in his hand, and a small quiver with 2 arrows in it slung across his back. Quickly putting two and two together, Veydra grabbed the boy by the arm, as Durroh and the others saw to Day.::

 

"Don't even think about leaving kid." :: Veydra tightened her grip on his arm as the frightened boy tried to pull away.  She remembered all too well how lethally cunning Bajoran children had come to be during the war. And more so how dangerous it was to underestimate a Cardassian child no matter how young.   Though the circumstances were completely different here, she had no intention of taking the chance that the children were too. ::

 

+Commander Blurox+ "We have a man down..Northeast Quad...security squad moving in now.  We have the assailant in custody but I recommend restricting all engineering and medical personnel movement until a thorough search can be completed for accomplices."

 

::Blu turned to exchange looks with Ann, and quickly reached up to her combadge.::  +Veydra+  "Acknowledged...Relay to all security teams... Priority One Security Alert, Northeast Quadrant of the compound. All other Quadrants keep your eyes open...Trek....I want a report as soon as possible."

 

+Commander Blurox+  "It’s Day sir...we’re bringing him into camp...He’s wounded and appears to be dead...we’ll be there in approximately 2 minutes."  ::Veydra bent still holding the boy tightly and felt for a pulse glaring up at him when she did not feel one.::

 

+Veydra+  "Acknowledged, bring him to the main complex, medical will be waiting...Report on current northeast perimeter."

 

+Commander+  "Aye sir,  Perimeter defenses deployed to alert status.  Veydra out.”

 

:: She turned to the boy again and leaned menacingly into his face.::  "Alright kid,  where are the others?!"  ::She demanded but the boy only shook trembling in terror and unable to answer.:::

 

::It was not her customary approach to children however the fact that he had more than likely just murdered her superior officer brought up the conflict between her Bajoran temper and her Academy training.::

 

::Back at the field hospital, Blu turned to Ann:: “Seems we may have been correct in assuming that this could turn hostile down here.  But I had hoped we would have more time to get work done before word got out that we had technology and supplies here.”  ::Blu shook her head, ears pinioned back, and her tail flicking in irritation:: “ Ann, do what you can to save Day, I’ve got to go find out what’s up with his attacker, and I need to get

Veydra to send more of the other security teams to watch out over the engineering teams. I’ll be back shortly, to see what you’ve got. Call me if you need me.”

 

::With that, the lithe Caitian turned and bounded down the grassy slope toward the rapidly approaching security team.  Upon reaching them, she skidded to a stop, and looked as the others shook their heads, as they continued up the field toward the makeshift hospital, carrying Day's body.  Turning, she found herself facing what appeared to be a humanoid child, perhaps around ten years old::

 

“Now, what do we have here?" ::leveling her gaze on the child, and the weapon now held by Veydra who continued to scowl down at him fighting the urge to pound the information out of him.  Noting the look on Veydra's face, she nodded to her to  continue to restrain him, and to follow her back to camp.:: "Bring him."

 

::Ann waited impatiently at the entrance of the field hospital.  The extent of the incoming patient's injuries hadn't been revealed.  She was forced to assume the worst considering the perfunctory remark that he might be "dead."  She refused to accept that possibility.  Especially where this patient was concerned. ::

 

::Joshua Day had spent more than his fair share of time in her Sick bay.  Was it only a few short months ago he'd been so badly injured?  It hardly seemed possible that so much time had elapsed since the medical team had worked feverishly to save his life. ::

 

::The mangled body delivered to them all those months ago had been painstakingly rebuilt.  The ragged flesh, crushed bones and damaged organs were replaced by the latest in cybernetic technology.  It had taken months of excruciating work but they had succeeded.  Joshua Day survived and, more importantly, functioned perfectly. ::

 

::The doctors had tried their best to give Day the appearance of a "normal" person.  Ann was quite pleased with their efforts, considering the extent of the injuries involved.  For the most part, the Lieutenant Commander looked like any other member of his species.  There had been a great deal of concern about his emotional state as well.  He was now half machine and that fact couldn't help but impact his self image.  To his credit, he adapted quite

well.   All in all, Ann considered his recovery a truly great success. ::

 

::She watched in chilled silence as Errrika raced across the compound toward the incoming team.  The officer carrying Day stopped for only a moment before continuing his steady jog toward the hospital.  Ann was vaguely aware of additional personnel joining her at the entrance as the burly ensign approached.  As he came closer, the projectile protruding through Day's skull grew increasingly visible.  A terrible realization struck the CMO.  There would

be no happy ending to this story. She momentarily closed her eyes to the horrific sight while attempting to calm her queasiness.:::

 

:::They didn't wait for Durroh to step inside the small facility.  Ann and two others met him several meters from the door.  The medical assistants stood aside as she dutifully scanned the lifeless body still draped across the ensign's powerful arms. But there was no need for a tricorder.  They knew.....they all knew.....Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Day was dead....killed in the line of duty on Stardate 9712.01 on a Class M world called Moab IV.....a long way

from home. :::

 

::Blu lead the team over toward a small prefab building that was just about completed,  where they could talk without everyone watching the nervous child. She didn’t know if he’d bolt, or collapse if she had Veydra let him go outside.::

“Alright, I believe that Ens Veydra and I can handle this from here, the rest of you resume your patrols. And keep your eyes open....no more arrows.”  ::Waiting as the others left, she grabbed a box, and slid it over to the boy,  motioning for him to sit.  “Alright young man...I want some answers, and I want them now.”

 

::She watched the boy trembling, and realized he had probably never seen a Caitian before, and was probably more frightened then ever::  “Don’t worry boy, I won’t hurt you. But I do require you to answer some questions now. First, are you alone, and did you attack my officer?”

 

‘Da Coneys.  ‘das what I be upta. Twas huntin a fat pair of coney’s ta put in da pot, with some roots, and I saw something move...I just fired at it.  I...I...I....didn’t..I mean...”

 

“Take a breath boy, and relax...I told you we would not hurt you...please continue." ::She watched the bedraggled youth try to calm himself enough to speak. He looked not to be in too good a shape himself.::

 

“Well, when I see a missed da coneys...and that, that...man..thing..whatever it was, reach for it’s shootin rod, I knew I was done fer. Too many folks takin out da others just for a pair of coney’s ..so when I saw him go for his thing, I just let a fletch fly, to distract him, so I could get away....I didna mean ta killem. Please dona kill me. Please...!"

 

“Where are your parents? Are they nearby” ::Blu asked him::

 

“Na, Ma got killed in the big shaker about a month back, and Da..well, he got killed by some of dem badduns up in the hills, while he was out lookin fer coneys. I takes care a meself now. I’m quicker than most of the badduns.”

 

“ Tell me more about these ‘bad ones’?” ::Blu prompted::

 

:: A rapping on the door panel gave warning that someone was entering. Blu turned to see Ann standing in the makeshift doorway.::

 

::Ann hadn't even bothered to put her tricorder in her pocket before crossing the small compound to the half finished building she'd seen Blurox and the others enter.  She was vaguely aware of what appeared to be a native boy firmly in the grip of Ens. Veydra.  She wondered if he was the owner of the lethal arrow now embedded in Day's skull.  ::

 

::For a moment, the CMO stood quietly at the door listening to the interrogation.  The native was a boy.....nothing more than a boy.  He appeared malnourished to her trained eye.  His body was covered with abrasions and there was evidence of more serious wounds.  Some had healed, others had not.  One deep gash on the young boy's right calf, was badly infected.:::

 

::Ann tapped lightly on the door frame and stepped inside,  unconsciously activating her tricorder.  She made eye contact with the First Officer and immediately knew she didn't have to break the news to her about Day.  Errrika must have surmised the Lieutenant Commander was lost when she'd first seen him in Durroh arms.  ::::

 

::Veydra snapped to attention briefly making eye contact with Ann but quickly bowed her head when she realized the Doctor was not here to deliver any good news.  She returned her attention to the boy squeezing more firmly on his arm desperately trying to maintain her composure.  Had this been Bajor and had this been a Cardassian child he would already be dead and the hills would be crawling with angry Bajora seeking retribution.  A sad decline for so

spiritual a people but a sad fact of life during her participation in the war.::

 

::"Commander Day's body has been returned to the ship," offered Ann while casually turning her tricorder toward the nervously fidgeting boy.  "We'll perform an autopsy when time permits, but the cause of death is fairly obvious."

 

"Rrrew...forward the results to Commander Darr once you have them. I'm sure he'd prefer to have all of your findings for his reports on this matter. And I will need them as well, to file the reports with Spacefleet, and to inform his family or next of kin."

:: Blu quietly turned her head, looking towards the door for a moment.::

 

:: There was a long silence during which the only sound heard was the quiet humming of the medical tricorder.  Ann frowned slightly as the instrument recorded the child's vital signs and the ominous fever his filthy body hid so well. ::

 

"Are you hungry?" the Doctor asked him casually.

 

::Their guest opened his mouth to speak but no words were forthcoming.  Instead, he simply nodded, his eyes wide with freight.   Ann found it difficult to harbor ill feelings toward the boy who'd taken the life of one of her comrades.  He was so young and alone and, whether or not he wanted to admit it, quite ill.  He wouldn't be faster than the "bad ones" for much longer.  In a matter of days, he'd probably be dead.  She smiled sadly and glanced at

Blurox. ::

 

" I know what you're going to ask...." ::frowning at Ann, then turning to Veydra:: "See that proper security is assigned to the boy while he is under medical's care."  

 

:: Veydra had seen federation kindness displayed toward an enemy before but that did not stop the brief twinge of nausea and disbelief she felt.  They were actually planning to treat this little murderer as more than what he was.  After several minutes of silent reflection she relinquished her grip realizing that they were right.  He was just a child and this was not Bajor.  He required medical attention and in all likelihood had not

killed Day deliberately.  She promptly admonished herself for her heartlessness and decided to add it to her evening meditation.  She saluted the doctor and stood well back from the boy allowing her to get a closer look at him.

 

"He may not look like it, but this is a sick kid," Ann stated quietly.  "It appears  we have our first patient."  

 

::Ann smiled reassuringly at the boy.::  "Let me get some nourishment into him and find the cause of this fever," she continued.  "Then he may feel up to telling you about those "bad ones."

 

::As they all started towards the door, the security officer remanding the boy to the doctor, Blu turned to Veydra:: "One more thing...I don't like the Engineering team down at the filtering plant with only Gamma team, contact Commander Darr for me, and let him know, that I"d like to have him take his team down there to assist. I've got to go contact the Vice Admiral about this....I may be the one wishing I was down at the sewage plant."  

::With that, Blu walked away from them::