Wish I Knew....

[DrDMatthews 0]

A joint log by Commander Ridire and Dr. Matthews

 

She sat on a stool beside the lone biobed, her slender fingers gently caressing her husband's hand. It was dark. She had turned off the work light a short time ago. For several minutes, she watched in somber silence as the rhythmic glow of the monitors cast faint shadows across the floor of the small training room. She finally closed her eyes and rested her head on Aidan's shoulder, thanking God he'd survived. For many others, she offered a different type of prayer.

 

It had been a little over eight hours since the Captain was stabbed.....four hours since he was killed during a brazen attack on Sickbay by an unknown assailant....four hours since Commander Ridire was shot at point blank range by First Lieutenant Murray....one of their own......a security officer who was manning the tactical station on the bridge. A few minutes later, Murray wounded the CSCI but fortunately, Brian's injury was relatively minor. Aidan came out of surgery exactly sixty-seven minutes ago and during those sixty-seven minutes, another twenty members of the crew had been killed. Deb wondered how so much could have gone so wrong in such a short period of time.

 

Lieutenant Murray was among the casualties. The details remained unclear but it appeared Mr. Murray committed suicide. He hunkered down in the cargo bay after shooting Ridire and Smith. The preliminary report indicated he was able initiate an emergency venting of the cargo bay while overriding the warning protocols. He and nineteen others lost their lives.

 

Among the dead were Kat Schawnsee and Jontiles Shamor. Kat was the ship's Chief of Security and newly married to John Angeliz, a pilot attached to the Reaent's fighter wing. Lieutenant Angeliz was also lost when the cargo bay doors opened without warning.

 

Deb had known Shamor for longer than she cared to think about. The Zemun had cheated death for centuries. If he had to die, it should have been in a glorious battle....not like this....not sucked out into space by a coward who chose death rather than face the consequences of his actions.

 

Those actions still puzzled Debbie. Murray was a long time member of the crew....an exemplary officer. There were nothing but positive remarks in his personnel file....not a single disciplinary action of any kind. Yet, he attempted to murder the XO and he did so in front of numerous witnesses. Was he also involved with the Captain's death? If so, did he act alone or were there other conspirators aboard masquerading as crewmen?

 

Deb tended to believe there were others involved. But whether or not they were actually members of the crew remained to be seen. One way or the other, she seriously regretted she wouldn't be able to have a nice, quiet chat with Mr. Wimbley Murray.

 

The events of the last few hours had badly shaken the crew. To add insult to injury, Deb heard disturbing rumors about an altercation on the bridge between Lieutenant Commanders Smith and Scherer. And if she'd heard about it, she could guarantee ninety percent of the crew were aware of it as well.

 

Deb wasn't sure what happened. The grapevine was notorious for turning mole hills into mountains. But if Aaron had actually pulled a phaser on Brian and threatened to shoot him..... the idea was so outrageous she refused to believe it. At the same time, she fully intended to ask a few more questions and if it was true, she wouldn't hesitate to ream both of them.

 

There was another, more personal concern. How would she tell Aidan about all that had happened since he was hospitalized? And when should she tell him? Should they give him a couple of days to recuperate or was it necessary to brief him immediately? She was quietly debating those questions when she felt his fingers tighten around hers.

 

Deb lifted her head and smiled. Aidan's eyes were still closed but she could tell he was coming around. She leaned closer and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Aidan," she whispered softly. "You're fine...or you will be in a few days." She really didn't expect him to respond. But she knew he could probably hear her and she wanted to reassure him that he would be okay. She was pleasantly surprised when he actually opened his eyes and turned his head slightly to look at her.

 

Aidan felt incredibly groggy as he opened his eyes and more then a little out of it. It's seeing Deb there next to him that starts chasing away the fog. Slowly he leans up on his side, intending to bring his free hand up to brush against her face. His strength falters and he settles back against the biobed with a tired groan. He squeezes her hand again and murmurs, "Right angel to wake up to...but very wrong bed."

 

"Be still," whispered Debbie, reaching over to straighten his blanket. "If you behave yourself, you might find your way into the 'right' bed in a couple of days. But if you're naughty, you'll be stuck in this one for a while."

 

He sighs, "It's easier to be still, love, if I was in the bed I'm most comfortable with and not have to worry about rolling off accidentally. You do have to admit these biobeds of yours are not exactly on the expansive side. And frankly...I really want your touch right now. But very well, doctor's orders." He sighs again and closes his eyes. He lays there quietly for a few minutes as his mind inexorably starts recalling everything that's happened. He glances at Deb and asks "How dark is the nightmare?"

 

The question took her by surprise. She'd expected him to ask but not this soon. He'd been out of surgery for just over an hour. It was much too early for him to start worrying about the ship. Besides, she had yet to figure out exactly how much she should tell him.

 

Deb tried her best to maintain a placid expression while she decided how to answer Aidan's question. She wanted to assure him everything was okay....but things weren't okay....not even close. To suggest otherwise would be a lie. Perhaps, at this point in time, it was best if she was less than honest with him.

 

At the same time, she knew the Reaent was in serious trouble. Even hospitalized, Aidan was a valuable asset. With the Captain dead, they needed his expertise more than ever. That would be especially true if there was any accuracy to the rumors she heard about Smith and Scherer.

 

"Murray is dead," she replied, having decided to share a few of the details with him. "It was an apparent suicide." She hesitated before saying more, hoping Aidan would be content with that tidbit of information.

 

He studies her expression as she informs him of Murray's death. Part of him regrets the traitor's suicide. It would have been so much more satisfying to have captured him, found out who all was involved and then court martial him. But then on the other hand...death was what Murray deserved.

 

He frowns slightly and asks, "So what aren't you telling me? And please don't try and deny it, I know you too well by now. Last thing I recall really was you informing me about the Captain..."

 

Swallowing hard, Deb tightened her grip on Aidan's hand. "Lieutenant Murray made his last stand in the cargo bay," she began slowly, choosing her words carefully. Her eyes momentarily darted around the room as she considered what to say next. "Somehow, he managed to activate an emergency vent. He overrode the safety protocols." She wondered if he would figure out where she was going with this.

 

Aidan continued staring at her, waiting for a full explanation. "The bay doors opened without warning," she whispered. "A total of twenty souls were lost....including Jontiles Shamor, Kat Schawnsee and her new husband, John Angeliz."

 

Aidan blinks and goes as pale as a ghost. He closes his eyes against the sudden tears as he mutters some choice Irish phrases under his breath. A single solitary tear is all he allows to fall before he recovers enough of his control to trust that he's not going to break down and cry. He squeezes her hand tightly for some added reassurance. In a choked voice he asks, "Who's in charge currently since I'm down here? If you're here it would be Smith or Scherer since you haven't said that anything has happened to them." His frown darkens as he adds "And there is one thing we need to take care of immediately."

 

Deb watched her husband closely as he processed the information, allowing a few of her own tears to fall. His vitals remained stable but he was obviously upset. She couldn't blame him. The past few hours had produced one disaster after another.

 

"Brian Smith has the con," she said quickly. She opted not to mention the run in between Smith and Scherer. She wanted to talk to both of them before breaching that subject with the Aidan.

 

She laced her fingers through his and leaned a bit closer. "What is it you want taken care of?"

 

He sighs quietly and murmurs, "Nothing that either one of us are going to like but it needs to be done. With the Captain's death and with me here, the ship is rather like a...oh what's the Yank phrase....a chicken with it's head cut off, I think. As far as the computer knows, the Captain is still the Commanding officer of this ship. That needs to be changed....the command codes need to be changed and an acting First Officer needs to be decided on. And then we need to decide what to do next. And also...I need to get in contact with Starfleet Security as soon as possible."

 

She drew a deep breath, still trying to wrap her brain around the fact Fred Michaels was dead. "I'll record the log entry," murmured Deb, It was up to her, as the CMO, to enter the Captain's death certificate into the official log. She'd already prepared it but had not yet posted it. Once the computer authenticated the entry, it would automatically assign command to Aidan. He, in turn, could appoint an acting XO and they would each enter their new command codes.

 

Deb looked at her wounded husband and then briefly checked the monitors carefully documenting his vital signs. She knew it was essential Aidan and Brian Smith meet to discuss how to proceed.The Reaent was in serious trouble. Although Brian was extremely bright, he was also very inexperienced. And Deb was concerned he had yet to earn the crew's trust. At the same time, Aidan was just beginning the long road to recovery from a very serious injury. As badly as he wanted to resume his duties, he needed to spend a few days recuperating.

 

"I'll arrange for Brian to come down here in a couple of hours," she continued haltingly. "But he won't be able to stay for long.

 

He watches her for a second then says, "And there is one last thing, though you're not going to like this one either. I want an examination done of the Captain's body to make sure it really is the Captain. This whole mess started after the away mission to Organia. You mentioned once to me that he had some disease that you were treating him for...I want him checked for that."

 

"Denton's Syndrome," mumbled Deb, recalling the chronic disease the CO had battled for over three years. "He had Denton's Syndrome." She shook her head as a horrific vision flashed before her eyes....the image of the Captain laying dead on the biobed.....half of his head blown away by the still unknown assailant.

 

"Someone else will have to do the autopsy," she said, the words nearly choking her. "There are still some who think I may have stabbed him. I don't want anyone questioning the final autopsy report. I'll be sure they test for Denton's." She paused for a moment, feeling her self control slip just a bit. As awful as she felt about the Captain's death, she was grateful it wasn't Aidan who'd been killed.

 

"Someone else will have to do the autopsy," she said, the words nearly choking her. "There are still some who think I may have stabbed him. I don't want anyone questioning the final autopsy report. I'll be sure they test for Denton's." She paused for a moment, feeling her self control slip just a bit. As awful as she felt about the Captain's death, she was grateful it wasn't Aidan who'd been killed.

 

He watches her quietly for a few seconds before reaching up and drawing her head down onto his shoulder. He murmurs quietly, "We'll get through this nightmare, love. Just wish I knew what the bloody devil is going on."