Post 488: Florence Nightin-Ensign

Stardate: 71010.0330
Title: Florence Nightin-Ensign
Author: Simon Biggs
Scene: Caverns of Yensul V
Time: Following "Overture" and hours before "Without Fanfare"
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As Simon Biggs fell asleep before the dimming fire, his mind replayed in dreams the events of just after the crash of the USS Alchemy, in vivid, graphic images. . .

*Flash*

The Alchemy crashed violently on the surface of what they thought was a small moon. The shock of impact left Simon a heap on the floor, but not unconscious.

He lay motionless there for a few minutes, trying to comprehend what had just happened. He then got up and his Starfleet training kicked in.

He immediately went to the nearest supply locker, which had been pulled from its foundation and ended up on the floor after the crash. He managed to open the locker and looked at the contents to find the standard equipment; two palm beacons and one hand phaser. The rest of the contents were badly damaged and unusable.

He didn't have to look far to assess the condition of the bridge, from where he stood, he saw enough.

It was a wreck.

So much so that he feared the worst; that no one else was left alive. Then, he heard someone speak.

"Computer," the figure of Commander Salvek rose from the deck. "Lights."

Simon switched his palm beacon on and shone it on the Commander. Salvek raised his arm to shield his eyes from the bright light and Simon lowered the beacon. "Commander," he offered, handing another to Salvek.

The Commander took the beacon and turned it on and nodded his thanks. Simon began investigating the bridge and hearing a crunch and a rumble, turned and then saw Maak rise out of the rubble, covered in dust.

Simon continued searching for other survivors, trying not to be distracted by the distressed Klingon's shouted curses. Simon smiled slightly, thinking, *Typical, normal Klingon,* grateful that Maak seemed to be unharmed by the crash.

He suddenly remembered his tricorder and opened it up, picking up some life readings coming from the rubble. The life readings seemed familiar. He was about to shout for February when Maak bellowed "We won't be going anywhere for awhile," slamming the console in frustration.

"Lt. Grace, where are you?" Salvek called. Simon joined in and shouted at the top of his voice.

" Fe-Bru-Ar-Y!!!"

Simon heard a clear "Here! " coming from under the communications station.

"Don't move, I'll be right there." The ensign went to get the med-kit from the wall and rushed towards her, tricorder still in his hand.

Moments later Maak helped Simon pull February out from under the station and propped her up against the wall so she wasn't laying flat on the deck. Simon did a medical check- apart from a few bruises and a hairline fracture of her cheekbone, she was all in one piece. "No major broken bones or internal injuries, or damage to your symbiont."

"Reece!" February cried suddenly panicking. "Where is Reece?"

"Shine your light down here, Biggs," Commander Salvek said, and Simon and Maak rushed through the rubble in the hopes of finding the poor unfortunate man.

Reece was lying under the sharp edges of what was left of his console. He seemed only half conscious as he moaned, "Sometimes, I really hate it when I'm right."

"He's really injured," Simon thought aloud, showing concern at the first sight of the man, "We need to move him." Using his field medic experience to the max, Simon and Maak grabbed Reece's arms while Commander Salvek grabbed the two legs.

All of a sudden a pair of bruised hands, those belonging to a very brave February Grace, came forward to support Reece's head and help lift the man off the damaged deck.

After a little maneuvering of Simon's patient, Simon started his tricorder scans again.

"The science station landed on me? That's just insult to injury. Damn rude, if you ask me." Reece complained.

Simon tried not to laugh at the comment, even though it was funny. He suddenly remembered what February told him about Reece's sarcastic streak, which quickly came to the fore in bad situations.

Once again Simon's specialized training kicked in and he told Reece to hold still while he gave him an anesthetic to help the pain. He bid the Trill "Goodnight," and Reece went unconscious, which was just what the anesthetic was supposed to do.

"Dabin!" An understandably frightened Grace exclaimed, Simon put a firm hand on February's arm, but her concern remained. Simon's mind flashed back as he saw the raw abrasions on Reece's arms to the incident on Trill with Blane and the fire beast. He was certain that Reece must be in a great deal of pain.

Simon shook his head. *Mind on the job Biggs.*

"Bru I need to examine him more carefully, but I need more light. Can you help me? Find as many palm beacons as you can and gather them up." He was trying to calm her down by distracting her attention with activity. Grace complied and started to look.

Simon started to scan Reece in more detail and his expression turned grim. Salvek checked to see if Grace was far enough away that she wouldn't hear, and then whispered "How bad is it?"

Simon looked at Salvek professionally "Bad enough. he'll be alright if he gets the proper treatment. I'm going to need a hell of a bit more to work with, than this." the Ensign pointed at the med-kit "I need to get him to sickbay but I'm only a medic do we have an EMH?"

"If we can get it on-line. I need to find," Simon looked at Salvek as he paused, waiting to hear the rest, "My wife. I will need her help to restore power." Salvek actually sounded worried.

"You will have to use the ladders in the turbolift shaft to try to get to her. Shall I go with you?" Maak bellowed in response.

"No. We need to know what is going on outside the ship. Put on an environmental suit, and go outside to take a look around. Do not wander far." Salvek commanded.

Simon looked at Maak as he went towards the environmental suit locker, *I could use some fresh air too,* Simon wished he could go with him.

Simon saw Salvek look back in his direction "Stay with Grace and Reece until I return, Ensign."

Simon nodded in response as Salvek walked to the door to force it door open. "Hurry, Commander."

Simon watched Salvek easily open the turbolift doors and disappear down the shaft. Simon was startled by Grace's sudden appearance with three palm beacons in her hand. She turned them on and arranged them around Reece's body and then moved to rest his head in her lap.

--------Flash----------

Time seemed to be going very slowly for the party waiting on the bridge for help from their crewmates.

Reece was starting to regain consciousness, and opened his eyes to see that February had leaned her head back against the wall, and fallen asleep.

Simon was setting up another pain killer in the hypospray when he noticed his patient was alert. "How are you feeling Reece?" He asked, using his best bed-side manner.

"My head hurts a little," Reece groaned, his voice weak, "My chest.. . hurts a lot more."

"That’s just the anesthetic wearing off, but have this for the pain." Simon injected him with enough medication to help, but not so much as to knock him back out. He was concerned about the condition of Reece's lung, and he wanted to keep him awake from this point if he could, until they got to Sickbay.

"Thank you, by the way." Reece responded. "If it weren't for you, I'd be in much worse shape."

"No problem, bro." Si said, as the lights suddenly started coming on.



"Yes, Sir" Simon felt the tingle of the transporter beam and suddenly found himself, Grace and Reece in Sickbay. . .

. . .along with a woman they had never seen before, who happened to be holding a knife to Lair Kellyn's throat.

*End Flashback*

Simon bolted straight up and he realized he'd been dreaming. So much had happened since the things he'd remembered.

Now, Tybelle Maffe, leader of the settlement and the same woman who had been holding Lair at knife point, was asleep by the fire next to him. Reece, who was doing so much better after the EMH's treatment, slept a few feet away as well.

Hearing someone stir, February opened her eyes and cast a concerned look at Simon, asking in this way if he was all right. He nodded to her, and she smiled at him warmly. She glanced at Reece, and back at Biggs, fully aware of all Simon had done for them both in the time they'd known him.

She mouthed the words "Thank you," and Simon nodded once more before closing his eyes and trying again to go back to sleep.

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Ensign Simon Biggs
Security Officer
USS Independence/USS Alchemy