Stardate: 70617.0433
Title: Sunshine
Author: TC Blane
Scene: Bajor
Time: A few hours After “Proceed””
There had been much that TC Blane had seen in his life. Some good and some bad, but the destruction and death that he was witnessing on Bajor was beyond any that he had seen before. He had been witness to battlefields littered with the dead and dying, souls willingly lost for causes often beyond their comprehension.
The devastation now was of innocents, deaths for no cause other then being at the mercy of the planet. Innocents perished for no cause, no reason other then the wrong place at the wrong time.
They had saved countless lives since they had arrived on planet by bring the necessary medical supplies and help. Yet they had recovered even more that were beyond their help. Dead, drowned, buried alive under the ruins of their homes.
TC bore the weight of the images stoically, concentrating on his job, his duty. Focusing on finding and helping those he could and rendering aid and comfort to the survivors who were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
Yet not even he could ignore the hopelessness that had settled upon the away team as they carried out their work. So much death and lost inevitably begin to corrode even the strongest of souls. TC was not immune to the events around him, try as his might.
The team had come into one of the larger villages in the region. The size of the town meant nothing except greater amounts of chaos and more bodies to recover. The Away team had been going all most non-stop since arriving and was now resting near a wrecked farm house.
The group silently sat and ate some of the rations. Many had no appetite but ate anyway if only to keep up their strength for the forthcoming work. No conversation ensued between the team as their was no topic to discuss other then the one that was on everyone's mind yet no one was willing to talk about. Only the quiet wind was heard as it blew past them and around the ruins.
The sun had begun to break through the receding cloud cover and TC lamented on his last visit to the planet. He closed his eyes and tried to remember how this area looked then, green and prosperous. He allowed the warmth of the sun to beat on his face. It was rejuvenating in its own minor way.
It was then he heard the bark, it sounded far away to him at first, but it grew louder as he turned his attention to it. He sat up and looked around. It seemed to be coming from the other side of the farm. He slowly stood and pulled out his tricorder.
"TC? What is it?" Biggs asked seeing the lieutenant rise.
Blane did not answer right away as his attention was focused on the tricorder and the information that was being displayed. "A dog." He finally said at length.
He then started around the ruined farm house.
Biggs stood to follow. "A dog?" He grabbed his pack. "Hey, lieutenant, wait a second."
He caught up with TC on the far aide of the house. He found the lieutenant staring out into what was once a field of crops but was now filled with water and dead livestock. The bowl shape of the low lying field had acted like a reservoir, filling with flood water and all it carried with it.
Biggs scanned the area. "No human life signs. No one out there to rescue."
TC put his hand up to block the sunlight from his eyes as his looked out onto the newly formed pond, then pointed toward the center at a floating piece of debris.
"Not true. Out there."
Biggs followed TC's finger and saw a dog lying on a floating piece of wood. It seemed that the animal still had a leash on and was tangled. He turned to say something to TC only to see the lieutenant removing his duty coat.
"Ahh sir. Your not thinking of going out there after it are you?"
His answer came as TC tossed him his tricorder and duty jacket. "Be right back."
"It's only a dog sir, not a priority." Biggs pointed out.
TC shot a plain look back at him. "I'm not leaving it." He turned slowly back to the castaway canine. "It's a priority to me." He had to make something good out of all this.
He made his was down the angled embankment and into the still water. He found the water was only waist deep but he had to move slowly. Numerous floating objects and the unseen obstacles lying underwater presented hazards.
As he approached the dog stood up and barked at him. TC could see the leash attached to the animal collar at on end , the other stuck to something submerged under the drifting wood. As he got closer he noticed that it was a door that the dog was on.
The dog started to growl lowly as TC got with in a few feet, it's tail stuck between it's legs and shivering.
"Easy boy. I'm here to help." TC reassured the dog. "It's OK, I know your scared. I won't hurt you I promise."
After a few moments of gentle coxing the animal stopped its growling and allowed TC to scratch its head. It was some sort of collie mix from what he could tell. The dog's fur was matted with mud, grass, and other debris.
"OK boy lets see what your snagged on."
He traced the length of the leash under the water with his hands to find the source of the tangle. His fingers found the end of the leash and knew exactly what held it. He quickly withdrew his hands from the water.
Steadying himself he slowly pushed the floating door to a new position and peered under it. Staring back at him from under the water were the dead eyes of what must had been the dogs master. His body pinned under the water by a sunken log, his hand still clinging to his pets leash even in death.
TC inhaled and reached back under the water and gripped the dead mans hand and slowing opened his rigor ridden fingers to release the leash. The dog seeing his dead master under the water whimpered slightly. TC checked to see if he could salvage the body but found it to be held fast by the log.
Turning slowly he headed back towards high ground pushing the floating door and dog in front of him. It took a few minutes to reach his entry point and as soon as the dog was in leaping distance it jumped to shore shaking the mud and water from it's fur as best it could.
Biggs helped TC back up the embankment where he sat down. The dog came over and in an act of seeming gratitude, licked his face. Biggs shook his head and moved to rejoin the others on the other side of the farm. TC scratched the dog behind the ear and inspected the dogs collar. It had a metal name plate attached, it read Sunshine. TC shook his head at the irony.
"Well Sunshine. Where do we go from here?" He asked the dog.
Sunshine's ears picked up and his head tilted to one side as if he was contemplating the question. He then trotted back towards the rest of the away team, stopping to turn and bark at TC.
Nodding with a smile TC stood. "Right, back to work." Then the pair made their way back around the wreaked farmhouse and rejoined the away team.
"Everyone, this is Sunshine. Sunshine this is everyone."
Lt. (jg) TC Blane
Acting Chief of Operations
USS Independence