Retrieval
Posted on 23 Aug 2022 @ 9:04am by Commander Amelia Fox & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant JG Harper Matthews
Mission:
Through the looking glass
Location: Transporter room 3
Timeline: MD3 Evening
2269 words - 4.5 OF Standard Post Measure
ON:
Amelia entered the transporter room first, carrying her own phaser rifle and went over to the chief. “Here are the coordinates. Can you see any activity in the area?"
The chief entered the information. It’s a fairly remote section of the station. I’m only showing one life sign in the area.”
“Any odd power readings or shielded areas?” Amelia asked, then turned to Harper “If Mirror Fox is involved, I don’t want to take any chances.”
Harper had her tactical vest on, a phaser on her hip and a rifle primed and ready in her hands. Behind her was a team of 3 others but very capable crewmen. She didn't want to bring lots of people as too many minds can add a dangerous element to a crucial situation. That's why elite teams were of a smaller size. "We'll stay safe Commander."
The chief reported “No sir. I’m not picking up anything unusual.”
“Ok.” Amelia adjusted her phasers power setting. “Standard defensive posture, phasers on maximum stun. If you see mirror Fox, stun on sight unless she leaves you no other option, understood?”
Grimes, Chen, Le'Vi and Grol all nodded with a small muttering of an affirmative. Harper looked over at Fox and nodded to her.
Amelia led the way onto the pad. When they were all in position. “Energise.”
****
They materialised in a dimly lit storage area. Amelia saw the informant stood waiting for them. He was alone.
The team materialised all facing in different directions, just in case of an attack from any side. They all turned their rifle lights on and scanned the area with no threats seen immediately they waited for the order to move forward.
Amelia glanced around then turned to Harper, Keeping her voice low. “That’s him. I don’t like this. As you said, this has trap written all over it. Fan out slightly and hold but maintain visual contact. Report anything that twitches. I’m going to make contact.”
There were quite a few blind spots in the area. Harper agreed with Amelia, this had disaster written all over it if people were hiding in the shadows. If this was a trap then there would be a lot of places a shot could come from and they'd be none the wiser. "Yes, ma'am. Be careful... we've got you covered." Harper said confidently and signalled her team to move.
Grimes took up the left flank, Le'Vi the right. She had told Chen to take up an overwatch position, an aerial view would be ideal in a situation like this. Grol would swing around the back of the mystery man and Harper would be in close proximity to the Commander, able to grab her and protect her at a moment's notice.
Great full to have Harper at her side, Amelia approached the informant who stood near the entrance to this cargo area. Sweat was running down his brow and he looked nervous, worse than that he looked…. Broken. He kept his eyes looking down, only glancing up at Amelia. He didn’t look her in the eye. He was like Syvar had been when Mirror Fox had… done what she had done. Only this guy looked worse.
Eventually, he spoke. “You came. She said you would. Here is the PADD.” He simply handed it over to her
Amelia frowned, not expecting it to be that easy. “You don’t mind if I scan this?”
“Go ahead. Scan away” he said
Amelia pulled a tricorder out of her pack and scanned the device. Amelia reported to Harper. “It’s from our universe. Standard Federation PADD. The serial number indicates it was made only this year, Earth issue and…” he heart sank “it has her DNA on it. Cellular decay indicates she handled this less than 12 hours ago. Damn.”
"That is still closer than we have ever been to her." Harper said trying to provide a silver lining. "He knows more than he's letting on."
She looked back to the informant. “Where is she now?”
“She left.” He replied simply.
“You’re coming back to the Andromeda with us.” Amelia said, “we can provide you with protection.” She added as she tapped her comm badge “Fox to Andromeda.” She frowned at the lack of response “Fox to Andromeda, come in.”
He shook his head. “You can’t save me any more than you can save yourselves. He said sadly. “She is…. Glorious. Like Fire! You remind me of her but, she alone commands when I live and die and, she also commands for you to suffer. I’m sorry.”
He stepped to one side as the door behind him opened revealing 5 masked assailants, all in black, like ancient ninjas. Each of them brandished a wickedly sharp sword. A box in the middle of the room fell open, revealing 5 identical swords.
“She wanted to make this entertaining… but they are the most highly trained sword fighters in the alliance.
Amelia sighed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She levelled her phaser rifle and pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened.
Amelia rolled her eyes as the ninjas advanced. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.” She turned to Harper “Grab a sword!”
"No need ma'am." Harper said as she brought from behind her a small wooden stick and as she gripped the handle gave it a squeeze and a quick forceful shake as both ends extended to show a beautifully crafted staff. The pattern on it was of swirls, much like the sea, of flowers of the most beautiful Australian gardens. There were mixed in little critters from kangaroos to Komodo dragons as it was a tribute to her heritage as much as a weapon for protection.
Taking a stance in preparation she wolf whistled to her team. "Get down here now and arm yourselves!"
Amelia grabbed and sword and spun around just in time to block a bade aimed for her throat. Falling back to the deck, her attacker came down on top of her, trying to press his attack home. She managed to get her foot onto his chest and kicked him off. He ran at her again. Those fencing lessons with Aidan finally paid off she thought to herself as she managed to parry his attack, finally managing to get the upper hand and with one powerful thrust, ran her attacker through the stomach.
Jon always kept a hidden stash of red on the maelstrom. One never knew when they needed a hit. And it was always good to have an intimate knowledge of the bowels of a place in case you ever had to disappear or blow it up.
The negotiation with V had been a tough one. She had not yet deemed to fall for his charms but his empathic side told him she certainly wanted too.
He had excused himself briefly from XU to retrieve the drugs. Hell, she needed a hit more than he did. She was so up tight. She hadn't been this bad when Oliver had still been with them. Hell, maybe he could talk her into partaking. Maybe he would get a slap for the suggestion. It was worth the risk he reasoned. Hell, he had the crown now. He wondered what she or V would look like wearing it. Both would likely slap him for that suggestion he chuckled.
He had just lit up when he heard noises. Like steel on steel and girls trying not to come. "Hello my beauty," he said to the joint.
The noise continued. "Geez can't a man smoke his red in peace." He hoped Xu hadn't followed him. For one being berated didn't fit his vibe right now and 2 -Cleaning up so they could continue to return to this place wasn't factoring in his agenda.
He got up despite knowing it probably wasn't worth it. And then had to do several double takes to work out if what he thought was happening was really happening. Wasn't that the bitch that everyone was after? The brunette? And the blond ... oh now who was she? She was quite tasty. He watched and enjoyed body parts bouncing for a while and then to be honest this whole thing was going on too long. But which side to help end it he mused.
He went with the blond. Her mate might be one of the most hated women or powerful in the universe but so was most of his company.
"You know," he said appearing next to them dancing about. No spare sword so he assumed a boxing stance. "A man likes to smoke in peace you know."
Harper twirls her staff to block an oncoming attack by sword. The assailant swung for her upper body and then when they couldn't get through went quickly for the legs. As she was an expert in using the staff she quickly manoeuvred her body and staff accordingly to stop the strike. However, the damage the sword was doing to the staff was annoying her, something she'd have to repair when this was over.
As another strike came in she dodged it and struck the attacker on the back of the knee, forcing them to falter slightly off balance. With this, she then struck them across the face with the opposite end of her staff causing them to roll backwards.
Then she was distracted by a familiar voice. Turning she saw the man she loved beside her and she froze for a moment as smoke hung from his lips. "Jon..." she said almost stunned.
It was then the attacker came back and the sword nicked her cheek, drawing blood. This brought her back to Earth so to speak and she focussed on the sword wielding ninja person. Still, half her mind was confused as to what was going on with the lookalike boxer next to her.
"Hey, you don't nick a lady in the face. Certainly not one this beautiful," he growled taking another puff on his joint clamped in his mouth, he landed an particularly powerful uppercut in the man's side as he was prancing around with a sword stupidly. Before he could react he spat the joint in his face. He wasn't expecting to be burnt that was for sure. And he backed off howling dropping the sword and reaching to try put out the minute flame.
"That joint is tiny. Be a man," he laughed at him. "You have me at a disadvantage although everyone knows your friend," he said to the blond.
He dodged another assailant and his eyes became serious for a small minute. "Your not her though are you? Don't sense evil enough."
Harper watched this crazy man take swings at a sword wielding man and argue with him for striking her. It seemed that Jon in any universe would come to her aid... there was some comfort in that. "I think we both have each other at a disadvantage..." she said back through breaths as she finished off the slightly charred man. With a quick but powerful strike to his temple, or simply just the right of his head, they went down with a thud. "She is under my protection." Harper said seriously in return. There was no point in giving out information for free, and this was hardly the time for a chat.
Picking up the dropped sword from her now unconscious attacker she threw it at another attacker impaling them in the leg. Chen nodded in thanks and then struck the finishing blow before going to assist someone else.
"Under your protections. I just want to smoke my red in peace and you all were making to much noise. I'm not after her," Jon said firmly.
"Good." Harper replied simply. "You can go back to your bad habit soon enough then."
A few well placed hits and smacks later...
When the dust settled, the five alliance "ninjas" were all face down on the ground. Amelia shot a look of gratitude to Harper before turning to the man who looked like the Captain. "I suppose thanks are in order." She also notice that the informant had taken the opportunity to disappear. "Do you know who he was? Or where she is?"
"Nope and nope. Although I gather you both ain't from around here. I don't want to know. I got what I needed this visit," he said lighting up another joint. "Going to go find me a goddess now. Here enjoy ladies," he fished out two more and pressed them into the blond's hands.
Just then Amelia's comm badge chirped "Andromeda to Fox. Chief Burton here. A local dampening field went on as soon as you beamed over and we lost communication and the transporter lock. It's just been turned off, what's your condition?"
She tapped her comm badge. "Fox here. Just a little welcoming party, nothing we couldn't handle. We got what we came for and we'll be returning shortly, stand by."
She turned back to Jon. "If you hear anything about her we'd be grateful if you could let us know."
"I doubt I will find you or you me," he smiled. "But good luck out there."
"You stay beautiful," he winked at the blond before disappearing around a corridor section.
"Thanks?" Harper said with a hint of disbelief in her voice. Meeting Jon's doppelganger had been quite a strange experience.
Fox tapped her comm badge again. "Fox to Andromeda, beam us back."
OFF:
Commander Amelia Fox
XO
USS Andromeda
Lt. JG Harper Matthews
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Andromeda
MU Jon
NPC Reynolds
