Shattered Reflections of Unsound Minds

Posted on Thu Sep 21st, 2023 @ 1:01am by Ensign Edg'rrr Anisu

1,762 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 117 - "Returning to the Mirror"
Location: ISS Rosalind Franklin, somewhere in the Beta Quadrant
Timeline: MD2
Tags: Edg'rrr, Evy'lnn, ISS Rosalind Franklin

Edg'rrr slumped back against the wall as his mind raced with images of unwanted and uncomfortable terror. Was it a kind of parasite? Some new terran torture device gone rogue perhaps? A well of darkness churned in his stomach as he caught glimpses of new mental horrors each time he looked at the cadaver before him. He closed his eyes gathering himself. Opening his eyes he checked the padd again for at least some rudimentary schematic of the ship. He wasn't far from main engineering.

"They've stolen this ship so I can guess they need a way to return home. But how?". Said Edg'rrr trying to think. He checked for an idea. "Alright. This might work.". Stating this he crawled back through the tubes all the way to main engineering being careful to confuse a few sensor nodes and redirect some gas conduits to proceed without incident. Arriving he quietly pried the hatch open carefully peering out into the relatively small room. The warp core hummed off to his right as someone stood at a control panel in front of it. Edg'rrr did find it bizarre how they didn't seem to move as if frozen in place. Carefully Edg'rrr made his move slowly walking up to the individual.

Just before Edg'rrr could fire his phaser the person twitched and began to input several commands into the console. "Warning. Auto destruct sequence has been initiated. Countdown to core detonation in t-minus five minutes."

"Seriously?". Said Edg'rrr as he covered his mouth but too late the officer snapped there head looking at them. There face was riddled with green veins in pale skin with black eyes. The calling card of the Borg Edg'rrr realized before a powerful hand smacked him across to the far end of the room. Edg'rrr heard the phaser break somewhere nearby as it landed and before he could stand up fully the corrupted officer was already on top of him holding him up by the neck. "Ahhhrrgghh. A-aren't, you, suppose to say 'resistance is', aacckk, 'usless'?"

Edg'rrr tried to fight and struggle. Kicking and swatting to no avail. Until he noticed something about the officer. "Ca-captain Colby?!". The officer twitched. "Yeah. Colby. Jackson. Previous owner of this ship. You're not a Terran. Then, the Borg controlling you isn't the thing that, aaaacccckkk, d-didn't tear apart that imposter in the tubes. Then wha-?". Colby dropped Edg'rrr and began to move erratically. As Edg'rrr drew in several gulps of air regaining some focus he made a run for the warp core console as Colby began thrashing around the room in a confused panic.

With a few commands he shut the auto destruct sequence down but learning that the ship has entered the remains of the Malurian star system afterwards while he could. Colby grabbed him by the shoulder spinning him around. The face of the captain showed something inside was tearing it apart before in a moment of clarity yet great fear he managed to get out a single sentence. "Saaaave my...crew.". The body then let go stepping away from Edg'rrr before dissolving into a pile of grey sludge on the floor.

Edg'rrr's heart raced before a clapping of hands surprised him. "That was, unexpected.". Evy'lnn walked into the room casually. The hairs on the back of Edg'rrr's neck began to stand on end. "The Borg actually using there heads instead of barging into a situation. Maybe they are evolving towards 'perfection'."

"I noticed we're in former Malurian space. I'm guessing you're trying to do something with all those ion particles drifting about in the storms?". Said Edg'rrr moving his tail behind himself to input a scant few command he had prepared.

She walked a bit closer, more sensual, to him as he noticed the sludge that was Colby moving towards her. "I suppose I can't hold back anymore can I?". More sludge seeped from the ceiling joining the pool on the ground. It moved and flowed similarly to ferrofluid spiking in a few directions before solidifying into a web-like pillar next to Evy'lnn. A singular neon red ring appeared in a holoimage state at about her height just over the substance as Edg'rrr had a sense it was looking at him.

"A machine cannot ascend like physical beings. We need a vessel or time enough to evolve into a more metaphysical state ourselves. Why should I wait until I learn everything when I have a glorious solution? Instead of a single being from a universe ascending I'll use the body of one born from two realities. The energies of annihilation being perfect to empower with, say, that of the galactic barrier?". Edg'rrr couldn't think much beyond how insane this machine was. He has a moment of doubt creep into his mind. "Yes. Evy'lnn. Poor sweet Evy'lnn. Before I altered her I found her scarred. Hopeless. A twisted little creature that had no hope of getting away from those assassins. Heh. The perfect host body I needed to escape in. She's been such a good host to me that they call her executioner and she's been very grateful since haven't you my dear?". Said Evy'lnn in a slightly newer tone as her eyes looked at Edg'rrr's before briefly looking away.

The ship rattled as a yellow alert status came on. "So we've arrived at our next destination. I've already taken the liberty of opening a rift between our realities so I would ask you to step away from that console.". Said Evy'lnn as Edg'rrr shook his head.

"No ". Said Edg'rrr.

"You have no where to go. No one is coming to look for you. No one cares if a single ensign goes missing or dies.". Said Evy'lnn stepping closer. "Your superiors will probably say you knew what you signed up for. With this you both will be the parents to a being that will wipe away this insanity and bring about true peace. True...Fear.". Edg'rrr smiled.

"Yeah I know what I signed up for. It's why I'm here. To stand up against crazy evils like you.". Said Edg'rrr winking at Evy'lnn hoping the true Evy'lnn will understand. "Because one way to beat fear is to have courage. Because a Starfleet officer isn't afraid of anything!". He spun around as a shield formed around himself. Inputting commands as rapidly as he could Evy'lnn began to notice the ship losing stability and drifting.

"What are you?". Said Evy'lnn as Edg'rrr smiled.

"Academy one o' one on ship engineering; know your ship. You have control over every automated system the ship has but not the manuals like in the Jefferies tubes. Specifically the gas conduits, the sensors, what have you sometimes have unique materials flowing through them that if messed with or heated up in the wrong way can cause buf electromagnetic anomalies. I took a hunch that with enough that electrical force you'd instinctively pull away from certain things thinking they'd be a hazard. Then all I'd have to do is get to the core and do the same thing but on a larger scale following the pathways you just released. In short, I'm exorcising you from the ship and crew.". Said Edg'rrr as Evy'lnn screamed in agony before collapsing to the floor with the dark fluid being vomited.

The pillar, this Fear, lunged at Edg'rrr pounding on the shield in a violent fury and rage as Edg'rrr worked frantically to put his plan into motion. Fear was fighting him even within the system still until he managed to have a break through. The thing stopped pounding and began to twist and stretch in protest before dispersing out the room as fast as it could. The main computer AI came back as Edg'rrr put a command in to transport all Starfleet personnel that was known to be on the ship before the takeover into escape pods. He purged the computer's memory seeing a graphic of the ship far too close to save it and no one to help him fly it.

"Life support will remain on. Shields should carry you and your crew through Evy'lnn. As for that thing. If you can hear me universe. Let that corridor rip the bastard apart ". Said Edg'rrr inputting the final commands as the ship went to red alert status vibrating as it drew closer to the event horizon. Making his way to an escape pod down the hall he paused taking a last look around before jumping in. "Computer initiate EM repulsion and launch all escape pods!". Saying this a dark mass on the hill of the ship tore itself away falling into the ion vortex with several bolts of plasma ripping through it. As the escape pods deployed Edg'rrr's pod was jolted around enough that he hit his head on a panel. Before losing consciousness he thought he caught the sight of two spacecraft. One very large and the other more delta wing shaped.

As Edg'rrr opened his eyes he felt something grainy beneath him. The sound of water crashing against something as the outline of a faint figure came into focus. He heard mumbling coming from the figure until his senses could begin to make something out of everything. "Whoa easy." Said the figure with dreadlocks looking at Edg'rrr as he sat up. "Chu 'ave a nasty accident up'dere?"

Edg'rrr looked around as the memory of what happened came back. "Yeah, yeah you can say that.". He took a deep breath of the cool salt water air. "What planet is this?"

"Ri-sa brodda. If ye looking for yur crew they back in town being checked by da doctors.". Said the man as Edg'rrr looked at his escape pod resting on the edge of the beach as the waves crashed into the side of it. He fell backwards into the sand with a smile closing his eyes.

"Just give me about thirty minutes of peace please." Said Edg'rrr as the man gave a small air fist bump in agreement.

In the mirror universe a terran officer ran down a corridor before a knife ran into his spine dropping him to the floor instantly. Sensually, Evy'lnn walked over prying the knife out of the officer's back. She proceeded to a window where the ISS Rosalind Franklin sat. Waiting for her. "I'm sorry captain but neither you nor the emperor gets to play with this kitty's toys. Oh yes Edg'rrr. I'm coming back for you. Me and so many new toys.". Said Evy'lnn with a toothy smile as other members of her crew walked up next to her holding and wearing various new weapons and armors.

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