Maybe...Just Maybe

[DrDMatthews 0]

Deb Matthews rubbed her temples. She had a pounding headache and she'd certainly earned it. The day started off badly enough with the Captain ordering the 'saboteur' transferred to the brig. The CMO felt no sympathy for the man but she did have an ethical responsibility to him as a patient. He was badly injured and required prolonged medical treatment. Moving him to the brig was practically a death sentence.

 

She'd taken her case directly to the Captain fully expecting a battle royal. Much to her surprise, he'd invited her into his Ready Room where he'd actually listened to what she had to say. Michaels agreed to allow the 'saboteur' to return to Sickbay but only after the Chief Engineer personally inspected and guaranteed the veracity of the medical unit's security software and hardware. The CMO left the Ready Room feeling like she'd scored a small victory, in spite of the Captain's arrogant remark about her publicly questioning his authority.

 

Debbie never challenged the Captain's authority but she did make it clear she disagreed with his decision to move the prisoner. For a moment, she was tempted to press the issue but quickly decided not to. She would wage that battle another day. For now, she would be content with garnering permission to transfer the critically injured saboteur back to Sickbay. Her victory was short lived.

 

Within two minutes after leaving the Ready Room, the Captain crawled onto the bridge, a knife wedged into his abdomen. He was incoherent....rattling on about a saboteur and arresting someone. And the only name he mentioned was Deb's. In the blink of an eye, she was the prime suspect in the stabbing of Fred Michaels.

 

Four hours later, while on life support in Sickbay, an unknown assailant burst into the medical facility and murdered the Captain along with the still unidentified saboteur. He also managed to wound Merina and Jontiles Shamor among others.

 

Minutes later, Lieutenant Wimbley Murray shot the XO at point blank range. By the grace of God, Aidan survived. But a short time later, Murray vented the cargo bay killing himself and nineteen others. By the time her husband was out of surgery, Deb was suffering from an acute case of paranoia and she wasn't alone. The Reaent was at full stop and on red alert. All personnel who were not on duty were required to remain in their quarters. The CMO issued orders that her staff was not to leave Sickbay or their quarters unescorted. It simply wasn't safe to move about the ship alone.

 

None of it made any sense. It was as though the ship had been possessed by something so evil Deb was unable to comprehend it. But as strange as the last several hours had been, this latest development was even more bizarre.

 

Maybe....just maybe....the Captain was alive.

 

 

 

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