WRITING CHALLENGE: Forgotten Pains

Posted on Sat Jun 25th, 2016 @ 11:18pm by Captain Rueben Gregnol

Mission: Mission 1 - Bridges
Location: SS Mary Rose: Engineering
Timeline: MD05 12:55
1124 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Rueben stood surveying Engineering, he frowned the systems were archaic and he was a 100% sure not even JJ could sort this mess out even if she wanted to help him which he was a 99% sure if she saw him she wouldn’t. He had lost her the moment he had agreed to go with the cartels, it was hard to say it but he really was looking at a life alone if he couldn’t win her back. He didn’t want anyone else, it was her or no one. He sighed running his hand over the console trying to see was the operation level was of the warp core. The ship shook for a moment and it was like he was suspended in time, his mind going back to another place as he hit the wall.

The Victory shook violently as the enemy ship fired off another torpedo. Rueben was clinging to the security console trying to help the Security Chief with tactical information and secure the ship. He slammed into the wall as another wave hit the ship.

“Captain... Engineering is reporting that they are having issues with containment.” A voice called across the Bridge. Rueben turned a little to listen more, any information from Engineering always made him interested after all his girlfriend would be there right in the middle of it at Damage Control. For another ten minutes the ship shook every now and then until the other ship limped away, the huge Starfleet Vessel winning... just.
The Captain frowned as she saw the information about Engineering; something suddenly alarmed her as she stood up looking directly at Rueben before turning away.

“Bridge to Ensign Kea...” The captain called. Rueben looked up surprised at the older woman, why would the captain be talking to Jeassaho.

“Ma’am... I have this... I just need to deflect the energy.” Came the familiar soft voice. Rueben paled instantly, she sounded hurt and tired.

“Engineering is evacuated apart from Kea Ma’am,” The Operations Chief called. Rueben shared a look with the Security Chief confused – Just what was going on. “The deflector array is coming online from Engineering.”

“Lieutenant Commander get down there. Organise Engineering, they have no Chief or Assistant.” The Captain said softly seeing the worried expression on his face, it would solve two issues order would be restored and the young man would stop looking so concerned. Rueben nodded and quickly ran towards the turbolift feeling more and worried by the second, Jeassaho was too stubborn and brave for her own good. If she was pulling some stunt down in Engineering it would be risky. As the door opened a sick feeling as he saw the bloody Engineering Personal and smelt the acid and smoke in the air. He saw a familiar blonde in the crowd, a Crewman who was on Jeassaho’s shift.

“Cara... Where is she?” He called. The Crewman looked up and shook her head quickly, before she indicated the sealed door. no... no... no... Stupid woman, He thought as he pushed through the crowd of yellow and blue personal to the door. It didn’t open as he approached.

“Sir?” An Ensign asked. He looked confused seeing the XO of the ship there trying to help him. They both went flying as the ship shook one final time and then the alarms stopped. He rolled over and quickly dived up looking at the door still refusing to open.

“Get that door open now!” He ordered having a terrible feeling that the ship alarms stopping and the lighting returning to normal was something to do with the woman behind that door. The young ensign quickly by passed the safeties and opened the door. Rueben rushed in and glanced around. “JJ...” He cried rushing towards the slumped figure on the floor. He laid her down properly pressing his head to her chest barely hearing her heart beating. “It is going to be okay Jessa,” He whispered stroking her hair as Medic’s took over helping her. Within minutes Jeassaho had been transported to Sickbay leaving him to clean up the mess that had been left in Engineering. It took him the best part of three hours to get some order and auxiliary powers back on in Engineering before he could even go to see Jeassaho. He walked in to sickbay surprised at the silence in the large set of compartments, most people having been discharged with just minor injuries but the ones that were more serious were sedated.

“Jennifer, where is she?” Most people knew that when the XO asked where ‘she’ was it was Jeassaho Kea that he was referring to. The older woman smiled a little seeing the worry in his eyes. She had known Rueben since he had started on the Victory many years ago as a newly qualified Security Officer, she had never seen Rueben look happy or relaxed in himself as he did around the young woman. They matched each other perfectly.

“She is fine Rueben, no need to look at me so angrily. She is sedated but she is okay.” The Chief medical officer assured him as she lead him to when the tiny Betazoid was lying on the bio bed. The machine monitoring his girlfriend beeped quietly above her.

“What happened... What did she do?” He demanded leaning over brushing a kiss over her temple.

“Well firstly she was knocked out with the Chief when the consoles blew up then she inhaled poisonous gas after saving the warp core... so I don’t know whether you want to be angry or happy with her.” She teased him softly as he watched the man staring at the woman in a way she had never seen him like that before it was truly a sight to behold this huge Russian worrying over a tiny Betazoid who had him completely smitten. He smiled softly look down at the familiar features and shook his head, he had a few hours to decide which to be when she woke up. Trust his stupidly brave woman to do something so headstrong, he had always suspected she was going to end up like this one day but he hadn’t realised it would be so soon.

“I don’t know yet... I will decide when she wakes up.” He assured brushing her long hair out of her face.

“I don’t know why you haven’t asked her yet,” The English woman said softly turning on her heels leaving her to it. Rueben watched her leave, he didn’t know himself but this just proved it, he couldn’t live without having this woman fully in his life permanently.

OFF

Rueben Gregol
Executive Officer
SS Mary Rose