Aftermath - Part IV

Posted on Sunday, 26 July 2020 - 4:43pm by Commander Soral & Lieutenant Alex Kingsley

Mission: Operation: Jabberwocky
Location: Earth, Australia
Timeline: 2393 - MD07

{ON:}

"... explain it, but I've ran the scan three times," Dr Innis sighed as he touched a control to shift the image on the monitor, "even with double the dosage, there is still activity. Very slight but all the same. And before you ask, no, I cannot explain how it is possible. Another 5 cc's and there would probably be no brain activity left at all."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on, Sara Kingsley glanced over her shoulder. It would have been easier to have killed her mother before she gave birth, she thought inwardly as she sighed. Another 5cc's. It would be so simple. And it would be just the word of a few people against no actual scientific proof. It was so very deliciously tempting. Vengeance for all those gymnastic competitions she had sat through to remain in Alex and Laura's good graces. For the birthday parties. Family dinners. Those were the worst.

"Prepare the hypo," she ordered. At Innis' horrified expression her gaze fixed on him, her eyes narrowing. "Now. If you ever plan to work anywhere again. I seem to recall your record is less than stellar Doctor. And it is hardly the first time a patient has died on your watch, is it?"

He puffed up as if about to either argue or explode before he shuffled away, disappearing into the adjacent room. Sara sighed, "you really cannot get the help these days, Alex."

She rolled her eyes in exasperation as the intercomm came to life, "Doctor Kingsley, you wanted to be informed if we noticed anything unsual? We just lost all power to our security systems and -"

Midsentence the voice of whoever it was abruptly cut off. Sara's eyes narrowed. It had not taken them long at all. As Innis reappeared she walked to him, taking hold of his arm, "no time. We have visitors. Time to go."

Touching the bracelet on her wrist she heard the doors behind them open as the transporter took hold.

Mac, Soral, Hades, Haru, Liviana and a few of Hades' body guards burst through the door just as the transporter was starting. "Liviana!" He yelled.

The woman was already in motion barrelling towards Sara hoping the transport was delayed.

Sara's eyes widened in fear, seeing the woman charging towards them with a singular determination in her eyes. And for a moment her heart seemed to miss a beat, so certain was she that the woman would be too fast and her escape would be denied. Yet just as the woman reached her, there was nothing but thin air for Liviana to grasp.

Liviana let out a frustrated yell. "Damn!"

Anger blazed in Soral. He rushed to Alex. Hades was already there. It was Mac and Haru who had to hold him back to let Hades work. Minutes ticked by. He lost count of how many hypos Hades had administered. When he finally gave a nod and they released him. Soral ran to her taking her hands in his. "Alexandra! Open your eyes for me."

"Soral...?" she breathed, her hands grasping his as she fought against the urge to sleep to finally open her eyes. Her confusion was evident at seeing an unfamiliar room, and so many people but she silenced her questions as she studied him, tears stinging at her eyes as she realised she could see him, she could touch him but that familiar feeling through their bond seemed like a distant echo compared to what she normally felt. She shivered from the cold air circulating in the room, gripping his hand tighter she studied him, offering the best smile she could muster. "You call this resting?"

Hades added another blanket to her. "The....drug they gave her has caused some damage. Let's get her to the main ICU."

Soral swung her into his arms. He looked at Liviana. "Find her."

The woman gave a nod. She was out as quickly as a shadow.

In a mere twenty minutes the had her settled in a private ICU room. Haru and Mac stood guard outside. Hades was inside monitoring and scanning. Soral hadn't moved from her side. He held her hand the whole time. Laura had been notified. The muteness of the bond had him scared more then anything.

"Are you okay?" Alex whispered as she touched the side of Soral's face. "I couldn't feel you, I was so scared you were hurt... I don't even know what happened -"

His eyes misted over as he held her hand to his face. "I'm alright now that you are safe. I've called Laura she and Severine should be here soon." He paused. "Do you remember how you got here?"

She frowned, “I remember sitting in the garden with Sara and my mother. And a really annoying headache... and then speaking with you? You were up and I went to check on you. It’s a little fuzzy after that. My mum talking about making cookies. Chocolate ones. Sara left but I stayed out in the garden to let mum work in peace... and hearing a noise... and that’s it.”

“And perfume. The noise - I smelt perfume too. The kind Sara wears.”

"I thought I lost you." He kissed her forehead. Just then Liviana came back in.

Soral turned to her.

"I have a lead on Sara Kingsley. She is planning to leave the planet. What do you wish done?"

Anger lit his eyes. It rolled off him in waves. "Bring her back here. Bring her to me."

Liviana gave a nod and slipped out hoping she could catch the woman before she slipped away.

Alex frowned, knowing Soral well enough to read the tension in his body. “Soral...” her worry for him surpassed how she felt. “Please. You are still healing. Dr Hades tell him please...”

Hades looked at Soral. "He'll be fine. I would do the same in his shoes." He sighed. "Listen I need to get some blood samples to the lab. You need to sleep now." he gave her an encouraging smile just as the door opened and Laura breezed in.

“Oh Alex!” Laura cried as she shoved a tub full of cookies into Soral’s hands so she could round the bed and throw her arms around her daughter. After a long time she drew back, “Don’t ever scare us like that again!”

“Sorry,” Alex apologised with a tired smile.

“Good. In that case, I brought cookies,” Laura smiled as she fused with the blankets. “How are you feeling? What about Sara?”

Soral's jaw worked. "Liviana is going after her." He looked at Laura. "Why would she go after Alex?"

“You are sure it was her? She is family to us, a rock when Andrew died. And she’s never shown any malice towards Alex...” there was an undertone hinting at things unsaid. At her sometimes nagging doubt which had no basis in fact. She glanced down and, seeing that her daughter had fallen asleep, she gestured for Soral to follow her outside so they did not wake her.

“I should explain that the day I met Sara Kingsley was two days before we were given custody of Alex. She appeared on our doorstep one night and of course we welcomed her. She was alone on Mars, her mother worked somewhere far off and so she seemed to quickly become part of the furniture. She was never far away. And she doted on Alex, always offering to help care for her but... I cannot explain it... my instincts perhaps. But I always felt that at times she was too eager, too desperate. Andrew thought I was being crazy and I guess I stopped listening to that nagging doubt.”

Laura sighed. “This is my fault. She called me out of the blue last night when the kitchen was still a mess and I confided in her. Why?! And then she did this? What a fool I am... Tell me. What did the doctor say?”

Soral placed a hand on her shoulder. "It is not your fault. I will find and deal with Sara. I have contacted the Vulcan authorities too. As my wife she is a citizen of Vulcan. The ambassador will see me later today." He paused and looked back towards the room. "The doctor is uncertain. There was some neural damage that could be temporary but the telepathic bond Alex and I have has been muted. The doctor is uncertain if it will clear or if it will destroy the bond. The drug she was given...any more of it and it would have killed her."

Laura listened in horror, her hand on her chest. “My baby... And you? Alex told me a little of how the bond worked between you both... she said it could harm you if something happened to her.”

He shook his head. "I wish I had more information. Hades is working to figure things out. There is a Vulcan monastery here and I will consult with their telepathic healer. She is correct though. if something would happen to her it would harm me and vice versa."

"Soral," Laura began, taking his arm and guiding him further from the door. "I see your worry. I share it. But I also know my girl. She will be okay, and bond or not, I know it will not change how she feels about you. I also know she will be worrying more about you than herself right now. It is her biggest fear. That somehow your bond hurts you.

I may not be a Starfleet officer but I know this. Sara took a very big risk even trying this. Which makes me think she is afraid. Of exactly what I do not know. Hardly of Alex, she would never hurt a fly. But I can only assume she did what she did because of what happened yesterday. It is the only explanation I can think of. Why else would she act now? I suppose she can tell us when we find her... for now, tell me what I can do. For both of you."

"Our bond will never hurt me. Alexandra is my strength and all that is good with me." He sighed. "For now just be there for her. You are her source of strength. Alexandra does not often say it but she loves both you and your husband and she has such fond memories of you both. They give her strength." He looked in the waiting area where Severine sat. "I almost forgot about Severine. I should speak with her."

Laura nodded, smiling, "yes, you should. She has an old soul, that girl. But she is still a little girl for all of that. I think she would very much appreciate your company and reassurance. I will go and sit with Alex."

He gave a nod. "Thank you mother." He kissed the top of her head.

Laura watched as he headed in Severine's direction before slipping back into Alex's room. Trying to be as silent as possible she slipped into the nearby chair and gave up trying to understand what the different monitors were actually telling them. None of them were making a lot of noise which she took to be a good sign.

{OFF}