Post 349: Getting Down to It

Stardate:70804.1300
Title: Getting down to it
Author: Commander Dabin Reece
Scene: Outside symbiont caves at Mak'ala: Trill
Time: Following Promises Made, Promises Broken Part Three
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"And then, they made her their chief." Trind concluded, relaying a story to Jaine Hood about another Grace host that had been floating around the Independence for a few weeks now.

Jaine nodded in understanding, feeling now she knew this girl and the symbiont better and why Dabin and the Indy crew were so determined to get her the help she needed.

"Jaine!!!" Came an echoed voice from inside the cave.

"Dabin?" she yelled back. "We're over here."

From the mouth of the caves, Dabin and Rigin appeared, carrying the limp form of February Grace.

"Oh no." said Trind, as she and Hood rushed over to meet them.

"What happened?" asked Hood. Dabin and Rigin placed Bru on the ground as Hood and Trind began looking her over.

"She was going on about how the symbiont was trying to kill her, like it did Wen. She said she wasn't going to let Grace do this to anyone ever again, and she was taking Grace with her if she died. Then she passed out and here we are."

Reece recapped the goings on in the cave for the doctors. Rigin stood nearby, anxious to help but not sure what even he could do for Grace and Bru at this point.

"Hey! Did you know about any of this, pool boy!" Reece snapped at Rigin. "Your not going anywhere 'til we know what you know."

Rigin held up his hands, looking quite sincere that he had no idea this would happen.

Reece turned back towards Trind, "Come on Doctor, it's Symbiont Manipulation isn't it? It's influencing February to try and get her to kill herself so it can be free."

"That doesn't happen. Symbionts do not do that." Trind said, sounding about as sincere and sure of herself as a used car salesman.

Reece pointed emphatically at the prone body of February Grace laying on the ground.

"Come on Doc, you explain it then. Why did she say all those things in the caves? The half of the conversation I heard seemed to indicate that they promised Grace some rest after Deveral's hard and fast life. And don't try to argue that point with me because I'll remind you Deveral knocked me up, so I know what kind of life he led!" Reece declared, a tear coming to his eye.

"Okay okay enough!!!!! Jaine declared. "Anyone with spots shut up and listen to me! This girl is in some kind of neural shock related to the symbiont. I can't do anything for her here and I doubt we have the medical supplies she needs on the runabout, so we are going to have to get her to the Symbiosis Commission. If you want to argue Trill politics and the merits of joining do it later, but we need to get her out of here now!"

"You! You know more about Grace then anybody! You are coming on a field trip, Stretch!" Reece said, grabbing Rigin by the arm.

"I was going to volunteer anyway Reece, you know they are all like children to me. I'll do anything I can to help."

Dabin and Rigin once again gathered February up in their arms, and moments later were aboard the cramped runabout.

"What happened?" asked a very concerned Captain Gilmore.

"Sorry, no time to explain." said Reece. "Point the transporter towards the Symbiosis Commission and beam us straight to emergency admittance."

"I'm coming down with you." Gilmore declared.

"Uncle, are you sure that's wise? I should go." Lily said.

"BEAM NOW, ARGUE LATER!!!" Reece shouted, anxious to get going.

No sooner did Reece finish speaking, the transporter beam enveloped himself, Jaine, Trind, February and Rigin once again and they vanished. An angered Gilmore swung around to see who had operated the controls. Jariel Camen implored him to calm down with his hand gestures.

[[I'm sure there is a landing area somewhere in the city. We can take the runabout down and then meet up with the rest of them at the Commission.]]

"He's right, Uncle. I'll request landing clearance and let Blane and Biggs know where we are if they need us."

"Very well." Gilmore said, the concern on his face was obvious to Camen and Lily. He did not like being up here while she was down there, fighting for her very life.

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Dabin Reece
Guest Poster/Science Guy
USS Independence