Post 468: Help Is On the Way

Stardate: 70829.2045
Title: Help Is On the Way
Author: Ensign Biggs/Lt. Grace
Scene: USS Alchemy
Time: Concurrent with "A Visitor"
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Simon watched Reece's vital signs fluctuate on the tricorder he held in his hand. This wasn't good.

It was clear the Reece had suffered several broken ribs when the science console had flipped and landed on him- but what was now becoming apparent was that one of them had poked a hole in his right lung. That was going to require treatment, and soon.

Things had been going so well before they'd come out of transwarp and gotten caught in the gravity shear. Simon thought back over the course that he'd heard Grace reviewing with Salvek before they'd engaged the drive the second time- she'd made no mention of any comet activity in the area. If only they'd known.

Simon remembered how excited he felt when he found out that he'd been chosen to serve on the Alchemy's test flight. . .

--Flashback; three days ago aboard the Independence--

Simon was just starting his shift when Commander N'Dura called him into her office. She closed the door which normally meant something was up.

"Sit down, Ensign."

Simon sat down in the seat in front of her desk. "Yes, Sir?"

"I want you to patrol deck one, sections 1, 2 and three; engineering, seven forward, and shuttle bays 1 and 2 during your shift today. Dismissed."

Simon got out of the chair and headed towards the door "Biggs, one more thing. The captain wishes to speak with you immediately and I don't know what she wants."

"Aye, Sir." Simon said, and he exited N'Dura's office and headed for the bridge. A few moments later he was standing outside the ready room.

"Come in," Zanh said in response to the chime.

Simon walked in and stood at attention.

"At ease, Ensign."

Simon relaxed a bit. "You sent for me, Sir?"

"Yes, I did." Zanh looked at a PADD in her hand. "You have served aboard the Independence for some time now, and you've shown yourself to be an officer who can be depended upon to handle any unexpected circumstance which may arise in the performance of his duties." She smiled at him. "This pleases me." She set the PADD down. "In fact, I like nothing more than keeping you around here all the time. But, it seems that Commander Salvek has requested that you go along with the crew who will be testing out the Alchemy. With me so far?"

Simon's eyes widened and he nodded. He'd been hearing all sorts of talk about this new vessel assigned to the Indy, but had not seen it yet. "Exactly what kind of vessel is Alchemy, Sir?"

"Take a look." Zanh handed Simon another PADD, one with specs for the Alchemy on it. "She is the first of her kind- therefore you'd call her Alchemy Class. There's never been one like her yet, she's the original of the species."

"Prototype. . .transwarp!" A grin spread across Simon's face.

The captain smiled "Yes, and Salvek needs the best hands he can get for this trip. Therefore, Simon Biggs, I am assigning you to the test crew. Have a good time out there. Wish I were going with you."

"Thank you, Sir." Simon was pleased by the show of faith in him- by Zanh, and by Salvek.

"One more thing,"

"Yes captain?"

"It's good to see you, Biggles where have you been hiding out lately?"

"Good to see you too. . ." he grinned again, "Zanh-o-rama." His smile faded a little when he thought of where he'd just been. "I went to Earth, actually. To visit my family."

"Oh, that's great. Have a good time?"

"It was. . .complicated. Long story, Sir."

"Oh. Well, if you need to talk about it, you know where the counselor's office is, I'm sure that Dr. Trind or Vedek Jariel would be happy to-" she was merely teasing, imagining some minor family drama had played out on the planet.

But as his expression changed again, she realized that he was truly troubled by something and stopped. "Simon, I was only joking. You know you can talk to me, if you need to. Are you all right?"

"Maybe," Simon began slowly, "We can talk about it after I get back. I assure you, Captain, it won't interfere with the performance of my duty."

"I'm not worried about that," she replied gently, all joking aside now. "I'm worried about you."

"I'd best get to the Alchemy to check in." Simon replied. "May I go?"

"Yes," Zanh said, still concerned about him. She had never seen him quite this way before. "Dismissed."

Simon entered the Starion's landing bay and the first thing he noticed was that about twenty other people were standing around, looking at the tall, almost triangular in shape USS Alchemy.

*It almost looks like one of the old Earth Stealth fighters,* Simon thought, plane buff that he was. *This is going to be interesting.*

-----End Flashback------

*Interesting didn't begin to cover it,* he thought now. He heard his combadge chirp, and gratefully tapped it. This meant that help was on the way.

"Biggs."

[Status of Lt. Reece?]

"Time is ticking away Commander. Any chance of getting him to Sickbay soon? We've exhausted quite a bit of his golden hour already."

[I have located Ensign Xhian and he is on his way back here, to Engineering. We will make it our highest priority to restore power to one transporter so that Reece can be beamed to Sickbay. The EMH is active and Lair Kellyn is already receiving treatment there. I will contact you as soon as the transporter is on line. Salvek out.]

"The cavalry is coming, Dabin," February said softly as she continued watching over the sedated Dabin Reece. "Just hang on."

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Ensign Simon Biggs
Security Officer
USS Independence

and

Lt. February Grace
Helm/Flight Controller
USS Independence