Chapter III: Reunited

Moira sighs in relief and heads to the console.

Sorry, Lloyd We dunnae have that luxury. Our doctors can put a ripped throat back tagether. Zephyr’s dead fer sure if we don’t go back. And honestly? So’re we.

She speaks to Darcy hopefully via the data pad.

Shields are down, Darcy. What’ll we do about Zephyr? Is killin’ a slug gonna hurt Cassano’s talk?

Cass sighs. "Are you suggesting that for the proposal to be worth considering, I have to personally be willing to offer my own body? I'm telling you that there are individuals who willingly enter into such an arrangement with another symbiotic species. This is a fact that can be easily verified. I don't understand why you are suggesting that the possibility of finding another such arrangement is contingent on my personally volunteering for it."

Cass puts up her hands in a calm down gesture. "Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, captain. My people are in control of the bridge, and all they want is to come back to my ship. That's the only reason the shields are down. They want to come home.

"Please note that I haven't powered up our weapons systems yet. My intentions are exactly as I've stated all along. I want to find peace with your people. I wouldn't risk losing my people on your ship, and the ones on this ship, by pulling a fast one at this point. All I want is to bring my people on board the Potential."

"Thank you. But there is a sort of gray area issue here. One of my people has been implanted with one of yours. And while he seems to be under your person's influence, we are aware that he is well within the window where the arrangement is not yet permanent. He was one of the people that I sent into your ambush - the one where we thought we were helping strangers in need."

Cass takes a deep breath. "If we agree to return your person to you unharmed, can we have my crew member back? Your misgivings aside, my earlier suggestion was sincere. I think we could pursue a voluntary symbiotic arrangement for you down the road, but only if there is some evidence to suggest that you're willing to make compromises. This would be a tremendous gesture toward demonstrating that."

Now Cass hesitates. She had hoped to recover Zephyr and separate him from the parasite on board the Potential. But if the procedure is as dangerous as Nameless Captain suggests, it might be best to leave it to the obvious experts. She nods.

"All right, that is acceptable. I will go ahead and beam over just my, uh, unjoined people now. We will leave the crew member known as Zephyr Borealis for you to separate from your individual, with the understanding that you will return him to us once the procedure is complete. I would like to suggest that you allow my chief medical officer to observe the procedure remotely. If things get tricky, he could offer suggestions from his knowledge of human physiology."

She pauses again before saying, "Thank you for this gesture. I realize that this represents a huge concession on your part. And I feel strange not having a name by which to address you. If possible, I'd appreciate it if you could teach me to say your name."

"Cassano to Verdun Spacefleet members. We are preparing to transport all of you who have not been implanted with a... symbiote to the Potential. Lt. Comm. Borealis will be undergoing a procedure to remove the symbiote from his body separately. Please have all other Spacefleet personnel stand close together on the bridge, well away from Lt. Comm. Borealis so that we can ensure that we take only the people I am authorized to remove.

"I realize this isn't what you were expecting, but please understand that if we don't abide by these terms, you will not survive the consequences, and the Potential probably won't, either. Please acknowledge."

Moira acknowledges.

Commander, at this point, we all just want ta go home, ah think. Blazes. If there’s still somehow a way outta this that doesn’t require killin’ a slew a’ folks, Ah’m impressed. We *won’t* tie up Zephyr in that case. An’ as far as ah know, most other slugs should just be stunned.

She’s not entirely convinced, but as she told Alex. If something didn’t happen soon, they were dead. And Zephyr was quickly becoming a loss, so heck. If the slugs can save him, awesome. If not, he was gone anyway.

As a precaution, she asks Alex and Lorq to help her drag all of the slugs (including zephyr) down the hall so the bridge is totally clear, then they huddle up.

Take us home.

Cass acknowledges Moira's communication and says, "Cassano to temporary medbay. We're beaming the crew members from the Verdun directly to you. Expect some injuries. We have no reason to believe any of them are infected, but check them for it anyway."

She disconnects and then hails the transporter room. "There's a cluster of humanoids in a corner of the Verdun's bridge. Beam all of them to the temporary medbay in the cargo bay."

To Darcy, she says, "You have the conn. I'll be in the temporary medbay."

Anyone coming down the hall to the medbay can hear Moira complaining loudly. She's bleeding from her face, and has a wicked gash in her right shoulder, but she seems unfazed.

Come, now! Git yer hands offa me, ah'm not tha priority. Miss Kendall needs ta get her arm checked, see if it's set right. An' These are officers from tha Verdun. Blood ain't tha only trauma, an' ah'll thank yeh ta see ta them, first.

She sees Cassano, and for once, her face betrays exhaustion.

Cap'n.

Cass is taken aback by Moira's slip, which marks the first time anyone has mistakenly used "captain" to address her. Taking in both the exhaustion and cuts on the engineer's face and the substantial carnage to her shoulder, Cass steps in close and says, "Stop terrorizing the med staff, you old space hag, and let them do their jobs. There's enough treatment to go around." Her tone is gentler than her words, and she puts a hand on Moira's uninjured arm. "Care to introduce me to the new kids?"

The arm is set right. I am very good at my job.
Lorq's tone is one of injured reproach. He jumps right in helping the wounded and doing what he can to help.

He introduces himself to anyone he doesn't know.

I am Lorq, a doctor, how can I help?

"Dr. Lorq, I'm Commander Cassano," Cass says, extending a hand to him. "Welcome to the Potential. I'm sure the med staff will be thrilled to have another doctor to lend a hand with all our casualties just as soon as they've had a chance to check you out."

Moira is a little embarrassed by the slip, too, but she doesn't mind, really. She smiles at the "space hag" comment.

Momentarily.

Lorq, yer a doctor? An' what casualties? How many? Where's Marbo? An' - feck. That's Lieutenant Commander Alex Lloyd. An' -

She sighs, slumping her shoulders, and wincing when she moves the bite.

Commander, ah'm gonna get this taken care of. Let me know what yeh need when yeh need it.

Nice to meet all of you, I wish it was under better circumstances. I have no injuries, there is a broken arm, a bite, and what looks like some electrical burns

"Now you're talking. Just relax and let them fix you up. You've earned a little downtime."
"Doctor, what ship did you serve on? And how long were you help captive by the pirates?"