From the Dead....

Posted on Wed Feb 19th, 2020 @ 7:35pm by Commander Hades,MD & Lieutenant Commander Ariana Monroe-Wayne & Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD

2,404 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 104 - A Glimmer of Hope...
Location: USS Mercy, out in space (on the way)
Timeline: MD1 - 1130hrs

{ON}

Hades was in his ready room getting .... well ready. They were on their way and he'd left Ariana on the bridge. He sat reading the reports knowing that he, like a coward, was avoiding Carolyn.

Out on the bridge Ensign Peter Geli looked at his screen. "Lieutenant Monroe I'm picking up a Starfleet ship on an intercept curse with us. It's hailing us. The USS Heart.

"Interesting" She tapped the comms. "Commander Hades to the bridge."

Hades sighed. He placed the padd he'd been reading down and headed out.

As Hades walked out onto the bridge she updated him. "It seems the USS Heart is on an intercept course Sir. They're hailing us." She nodded to Ensign Geli. "Put them onscreen Ensign."

"On Screen." The ensign repeated as his hands flew over the controls. The image shifted into the smiling face of a Bolian man. "Commander Hades. I greet you and your crew."

Hades took the center chair. "Hello Captain Eldar. Good to see you again but I must admit a certain curiosity."

The blue Bolian smiled showing rows of white teeth.

"I understand you are a little short staffed. We were on our way to deliver some cargo to Pellas Prime. I have 15 nurses and doctors ready to assist the war effort."

Hades' brow rose. "Very much appreciated."

The Bolian smiled, "It wasn't me. It was my ACMO. He insisted on helping."

"My compliments to him then."

"See you soon!" The image winked out.

Hades looked at Ariana. "Well that was a surprise."

"Quite" Ariana nodded. "But a welcome one nonetheless. We might need the extra hands."

He sighed, "Alright. How long until we are in range?"

Ariana checked the readouts they had. "Ten minutes!" She smiled warmly.

"Excellent." He tapped his com badge. "Hades to Corrigan. Meet me in Transporter room two."

In Sickbay, Carolyn frowned, noting the equally quizzical look from Nurse Ashleigh. "I'll be back soon," she promised as she acknowledged his order. Why would he need her in the transporter room? He didn't sound like it was a medical emergency so she made the call not to go armed with a med kit. The fact that he had called on her at all surprised her.

It only took a few minutes to reach the transporter room and he was already there as she entered. "Are we having company?" she asked.

"Fifteen nurses and doctors. Complements of the USS Heart ACMO."

"Oh..." Carolyn replied as she stopped just shy of the transporter console. The only sound was from the ensign on duty as he awaiting the signal to begin transport. It was uncomfortable. She hated it. "I'm sure we will probably need all the help we can get."

Hades regarded her. "We'll have some time this trip to speak you know." They'd not spoken since she'd gotten back...at least not in anything more then a few passing words that were work related.

The Transporter ensign signaled. "We're ready sir. First load five nurses and some extra equipment."

Hades straightened. "You'd better greet them. You're the CMO."

"Energize," he said.

As the ensign initiated the transfer, Carolyn took a step closer to the transporter platform, watching as eventually the once empty space now looked overcrowded. A tall woman, her skin displaying distinctive Trill spots, stepped down and offered a friendly smile, "Lieutenant Iesha Vardes, Head nurse."

"Doctor Corrigan, CMO," Carolyn replied, "welcome aboard. We weren't expecting you but we are grateful for any additional help we can get."

"Our medical staff were more than willing to volunteer," Vardes assured her. "I don't expect the names to quite sink in all at once but these are some of our other nursing staff, all very capable and able to cope in a crisis. We have T'Kare, Miller, Stephenson and Vasquez."

All of the newcomers nodded in turn. Vardes glanced at Hades, "and you must be the infamous Doctor Hades. I have heard much about you, sir but I like to make my own impressions. Now, where would you like these supplies?"

Carolyn glanced at Hades, wondering what that little comment was about. "Oh, the cargo bay but just set them aside and we can see that they get there."

Hades raised an eyebrow not quite knowing how to take that comment. "Please head over to sickbay," he said. "You know the way." The Heart was the same class ship as the Mercy. "We're grateful for your help Vardes."

Ensign Chalmers jumped in. "We have five doctors ready next."

As the nurses left dropping their medi supplies on the floor Hades gave the call to Energize.

The nurses had barely cleared out before the next group beamed in, five medics. Once more they went through the introductions, Carolyn inwardly grateful for once that her memory was so good otherwise she'd be investing in some name tags. In contrast to the nurses, they seemed a little more reserved but upon learning three of them were surgeons that made more sense to her.

One, Patrick, was the exception, his handshake so enthusiastic it made her shoulder ache and a smile she suspected never left his face. She was sure the others probably hated him. A lot. But she liked it, the room seeming so quiet after he had departed for sickbay. "At least we'll always know where he is," she commented to Hades as the prepared for round 3.

"Four ready for transport," the ensign piped up.

"Four?" Carolyn repeated, glancing at Hades as the sound of the transporter filled the room. True enough, only four individuals now stood on the platform.

"Doctor Russel, Chief Surgeon," a tall human announced as he stepped down, towering over everyone else in the room. "This here is Doctor Malik, and two of our surgical nurses, Rhian and Cooper."

After a few minutes the new arrivals were following their colleagues out. "Maybe someone decided not to come aboard?" Carolyn suggested when they had some privacy.

Ariana was waiting on the bridge wondering how the transfers were going. "Bridge to transporter room, what's the status on our new arrivals?"

Hades tapped his com badge. "Standby." He looked at the Transporter chief "Anything?"

"Yes sir. The ACMO of the heart is signaling ready. They just had to get some medications and equipment loaded and a... gift for Doctor Corrigan."

Hades tapped his com badge. "Hades to bridge. We're bringing the last on now. Once he's aboard signal the Captain of the Heart and get us back on course."

Ariana nodded even though he couldn't see her "Understood Sir"

Hades raised an eyebrow. "You know the ACMO?"

Carolyn shook her head, "not that I know of. Do you?"

He shrugged. "Not sure."

The transporter shimmered. When the light crystals faded a pile of equipment was there and a figure clothed in long robes stood there. The figure had materialized with his back to the group and had hood on. The robes...there was something Familiar about them. They were black as night almost as if it were less a robe and more a cape. A wave of something washed over Hades.

He stepped up. "You are the ACMO."

The figure removed the hold and from behind one could see his short hair and pointed ears that stuck out just a little more then Vulcan ears. They were sculpted and more ridge filled. The figure turned.

Indeed he had on a cape and an outfit of pre black. His shiny silver combadge the only colour. His face was Romulan although the ridges on his forehead less pronounced indicating a different heritage. He folded his hands in a prayer like motion and then opened them in a gesturer of palms opened up. "Jolan'tru." He said with a slight bow. "I am the Assistant CMO of the heart. I am Fal."

Hades stepped back as if a ghost had just entered his ship.

Carolyn frowned at Hades, confused. "Welcome aboard, Doctor Fal," she interjected. "And thank you for volunteering some of your staff, appreciated."

On the bridge Ariana reacted to what Hades was feeling, the downside of only adjusting her inhibitor to low levels. It felt like someone had just 'walked over her grave' as the saying went, and she shivered in response. She sat in the centre seat and tapped the comms again. "Monroe to Hades, is everything alright down there?"

Fal gestured with his hand.

"Fine." Hades said still frozen.

Fal stepped off the transporter pad and walked over to Carolyn. "You are Corrigan. It is good to finally meet you in person. I apologize for my outfit. Today was the anniversary of the death of my twin sister and mother. They were Qowat Milat and I was marking the anniversary."

"My condolences," Carolyn offered. She wasn't entirely sure by his reference to finally meeting her in person but didn't press the matter. As for his attire, she could relate. She would be wearing a lot of black if it wasn't for her uniform. "And no apologies needed. Doctor Hades is in command of the Mercy, but is also CMO aboard SB400."

She regretting mentioning him, seeing as how he didn't seem to have recovered from whatever was troubling him. If she were closer, she'd have nudged him in the ribs or maybe a little kick … something to get him to snap out of whatever was going on.

Fal gave a nod. "Thank you my dear. You have an anniversary yourself you are marking. It was also about...a month ago today that Richard died. My condolences to you as well. I too loved him very much. I grieve with thee." Fal ignored Hades. "In fact Richard contacted me twice. Once before you left for Eribus. I came to see him to take a gift he wanted to give you when he returned. Then on your wedding day to give your gift a name."

It felt like a punch to the stomach, swiftly followed by someone just twisting a knife. Yet it was beyond any physical pain you could just heal in the blink of an eye. "I don't understand..." she breathed, all colour draining from her face.

Fal turned to the pile of equipment on the transporter pad. "Rainbow."

There was a yelp and then out bound a small fluffy chocolate brown poodle. Fal raised a hand and it sat. "This is Rainbow. Richard bought her for you. He wished her a gift. I picked her up from the station before you left." He bent down and picked her up holding the tiny animal towards Carolyn.

She knew she should say something but she was caught so completely off guard. After a moment of hesitation she reached out, taking the tiny puppy which weighed next to nothing. Rainbow. Just like... no. She couldn't. She sent a pleading look in Hades' direction but he still seemed in his little bubble.

"I still don't understand," she admitted as the tiny ball of fluff tried to lick her face. "How did you know... know him?"

"A long story. There is time. Come let us leave Rainbow in your quarters." His blue eyes held so much emotion. "Then you can show me your sickbay. It is best to let the pain of the day wash away. Suffice it to say that both my family and yours is dead due to a misplaced loyalty to some idiot." The guided Carolyn towards the door, stopped and then turned. "Well... don't just stand there like some idiot. Go work." He guided Carolyn out gently.

Carolyn glanced back over her shoulder at Hades, so many questions beginning to run through her mind before the door closed and she lost sight of him.

Hades' body shook. The revelation that Fal was alive... On shaky legs he headed to the bridge and walked directly to his ready room.

Ariana watched Hades go she found feel the emotion coming off him in waves. She looked to Lieutenant Chalmers who was manning Ops. "Chalmers, convey our thanks and get us back underway, I'll be in the Ready Room if you need me." With that she headed over to Hades ready room, she pressed the chime but didn't bother for an invite to enter. "Commander, what happened?"

"Nothing. We have new staff." He said taking a moment to try and sound like himself.

"Don't give me the brush off Hades!" She stood looking at him. "Besides the fact that you're Commanding a starship, I know what you felt because I felt it too! I'm still feeling it!" She gave him an understanding look. "After everything you've done for me, and what I now know about you, you still don't trust me?"

He looked at her. "Trust has multiple layers. I will... recover." He said it more to convince himself.

"Trying to convince yourself of that?" Ariana stood looking at him. "Did they tell you what happened to me while I was away?" She took a seat infront of his desk. "I spent the better part of almost three weeks completely round the twist!! As much as it was..." She grinned, "strangely liberating! I'm glad I had Carolyn and the others to pull me out of it. I'm not the same Ariana who went away, I'm the one who owes you my life. You can trust me, no matter what!"

He looked at her. "Right now I just need everyone doing their job." He looked at her. "Find Nivar. Tel him to keep an eye on the Heart's ACMO."

Ariana looked at Hades curiously before nodding. "Yes Sir" She stood ready to leave. "Hades, I'm not letting go of this. Once all this is over we're going to talk."

Suddenly he felt as if his world was crumbling. That Fal was angry was an understatement. Would he bring all of Hades' doings to an end? That had him worried. He wasn't ready yet. "Fine." He said. He'd deal with that once I happened.

Ariana nodded. She wanted to hug him and show him some emotional support but she didn't think he'd like it one little bit. As she reached the door she paused. "Hades, no matter what I'll always be there." With that she headed out onto the bridge and went to find Nivar.

Hades sighed. He had to clear his mind. There was a mission ahead. He was being counted on. He took another moment and then headed back to the bridge.

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