The Captain Was Dead

[DrDMatthews 0]

Jontiles Shamor had something of a reputation and it wasn't for his geniality. He was quite capable of behaving in a polite and respectful manner. But the ancient, double hearted Zemun wasn't one to mince words. He was known for his bluntness. And blunt pretty much described how he was talking as Deb Matthews attempted to treat the security officer's wounds. Shamor was furious and he didn't care who knew it. Any other time, Deb would have insisted he keep it down. But today, she was grateful for his grumbling. His grousing helped keep her focused on what she was supposed to be doing.

 

Her thoughts kept drifting back to the bizarre events of the past few hours. She'd worked on starships since graduating from the Academy....and for most of that time, she'd been assigned to this particular ship. Since joining the Reaent, she had witnessed and actively participated in so many hair raising episodes, she had lost count of them. But nothing this bizarre had ever happened before....this bizarre or tragic.

 

The Captain was dead.

 

Jontiles' injuries were relatively minor. But it took Deb twice as long as it should have to treat them. Along with his grumbling, Deb was aware of another sound close by. Merina had also been wounded in the phaser battle that killed the Captain and the saboteur. She was sitting on a near by biobed while Simon worked on her shoulder. The steady thump, thump, thump of Merina's lithe tail beating against the side of the bed warned one and all the Caitian was anything but pleased. Deb cast a quick glance in her direction. The felinoid's eyes were narrowed to mere slits. She looked like a hunter waiting patiently for her prey. Deb could identify with those feelings. It was all she could do to keep from screaming. She wanted someone held accountable...she wanted justice.

 

The Captain was dead.

 

The ship was on red alert. That meant Sickbay was on Alpha/Bravo....two shifts, twelve hours each. Most of the staff assigned to the Alpha shift were already present and accounted for. Deb insisted a few of the security personnel sent to Sickbay during the fire fight escort the remainder of the staff to the medical facility. She didn't want any of her people wandering around the ship alone.

 

The Captain was dead.

 

Deb couldn't help feeling a little paranoid. She'd been implicated in the CO's stabbing. If it hadn't been for the attack on Sickbay, she might still be under suspicion. Did the assailant target the senior staff? Did he or she hope to eliminate both the CO and the CMO at the same time? If they were targeting the command staff, who would be next? She hoped Aidan would be cautious. At least on the bridge, he was surrounded by trustworthy officers.

 

Shamor continued grumbling as Deb walked away. Simon had finished up with Merina but the Caitian physician was still sitting on the biobed, her tail still swishing wildly. Deb wanted to say something to her.... something to ease her frustration and assure her everything would be okay. But she wasn't sure everything would be okay.

 

The Captain was dead.