Without A Trace - Part I

Posted on Tue Sep 30th, 2025 @ 4:08am by Staff Warrant Officer Madelyn Steele & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii & Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Robin Maxwell & Lieutenant Endymion Tox & Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri & Lieutenant JG T'Avia Espinosa
Edited on on Tue Sep 30th, 2025 @ 4:13am

1,532 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Preservation Instinct
Location: Planetside
Timeline: Continued from "Hello, Is Anybody Out There?"

[Continued from "Hello, Is Anybody Out There?"]

[Team One]

The dividing of 'teams' had left Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa with Commander Ra-Gruvloveii, the irritating Chief Flight Controller, and the medical cheerleader, Tox. Though it was not the ideal bunch to be around, she felt better with Ra-Gruvloveii than with the other group. Still, her inclusion on this entire away team took her aback. Yes, she was the Acting Chief Science Officer, but plants...botany and herbology were not her avenue of comfort.

"It would appear as though we have no need to be concerned about oxygen," noted Espinosa as she stepped inside tow. "The plants look to be abundant" she added. Yes, this would indeed put Lieutenant Bálor in hog heaven.

Xavier looked around. "Indeed. Plants tend to make all things better. I think that the ship has a lot of plant areas and it brightens the atmosphere."

'Operations have kindly kept the schedule that one of our scientists kept in keeping them flourishing,' Yiv said neutrally as they stalked their way through the mists. 'It would have been a waste of effort if they were left to wither.'

As they were also one of the few physical reminders of Percy's presence outside of their shared quarters, Yiv was determined that they would not be allowed to go to ruin. The sting of their separation lessened slightly

He looked at his tricorder, 'we should be coming up on the administration building now. Eyes peeled if you would.'

Tox looked down at the tricorder. "No life readings. Should we split into two teams in there, sir?"

Thinking for a moment, Yiv then shook his head. 'No, we're split up enough as it is - sticking together means we each have enough manpower and specializations to deal with whatever we come across.'

"Okey dokey!" Tox said.

Xavier sighed. "No more coffee for you," he muttered under his breath. The building drew nearer and the closer they got to the heavier the energy. He suppressed a shiver. "It's too quiet."

The small group made their way into the admin building. It was three floors high and dead silent. Not even the sound of the wind squealed through the ground floor broken windows.

Xavier kept his phaser up following the XO and the Vulcan science officer. His eyes drifted behind him about to tell Tox to walk up closer to the front and then his eyes widened. "Sir! Tox is gone."

'What do you mean, gone, Lieutenant?' Yiv asked sharply, rounding on the younger man. 'I thought he was with you?'

"He was but when I looked back he was gone." Xavier pulled out his own tricorder. "I got his signal. Permission to go get the nut job?"

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Yiv looked back in the direction they were heading, then to Xavier. 'We'll go together - no sense in us splitting up further.'

"Aye sir."

Tox had wandered off following his tricorder. Somehow he'd not even noticed until he was in a room full of plants. There was an unsettling feeling about this place. He watched as the vines crawled up the staircase. Shrugging he wandered that way as if pulled by some strange force.

Xavier headed in the direction he had seen Tox go. He was the first one up the stairs but with so many options he didn't know where to go first. He would have called out but he heard a sound and headed down the middle path which curved slightly at the end of the hall.

He heard it again, muttering. "Nurse Tox?"

"Down here. Unusual readings..."

Xavier headed down where the voice had called.

"Life signs..." Xavier huffed as he looked at the tricorder. "Do not open the door Tox we do not know what is in ..."

Tox opened the door with eyes big as saucers. "OH MY GODS OF STARFLEET!"

Heart pounding as he heard the shouting, Yiv rounded the corner at a gallop, phaser drawn, yelling his support of his junior officers.

Xavier didn't hear what the commander said but he ran just as Tox stepped into the room and dove after him only to stop short just inside. Tox was on the ground cooing to what appeared to be a small animal...a kitten.

Xavier raised an eyebrow as he knelt by Tox. "Life."

"Yeah." Tox held the kitten close. He saw Yiv walk up. "We found life." He held out the kitten.

Yiv raised an eyebrow. 'How'd that get stuck here?' he wondered to himself.

"Not sure but he...er she's here. Can we keep her?"

'I ... Yes. Provided there's nothing on the tricorder to suggest she is in fact less of a kitten than she appears.' Efrosians were not sensible about their fellow beings. Their home climate militated against it. Animals, on the other hand, were a different kettle of fish. They were precious, and there appeared to be no-one to take care of the kitten. 'You'll be responsible for her care aboard ship, though.'

Tox gave a little squeal. "I'll do that!"

Xavier's lip twitched. He stood. "Sir, I recommend we hurry and clear the building. Something does not feel right."

The silence screamed. As they walked along Xavier felt .... oddly nothing. Usually, he picked up on energy but now it was quiet and there was an odd and uncomfortable feeling. Xavier felt as if hundreds of ants crawled underneath his skin. It was a most uncomfortable feeling. He kept his eyes on Tox who was protecting the kitten as if his life depended on it. He had to stop and shake his head a bit. It was odd that this annoying entity was finding a way to get to Xavier. He was...softening towards him. He vowed to change that when they got back to the ship.

[Team Two]

Maxwell was really more into his 'Danger Mode' thought patterns, his hand was nowhere near his weapon; he was calm to the observer. Casual in his mannerisms; he instinctively knew he would not draw a weapon this soon. The sounds of nature in the background; the lack of Colony Automatons making noise both comforted and struck his senses that something is huge and out place.

He had entered stations and campsite where the team or crew had gone missing, this one reminded him of those. He knew what is most scary is the danger one does not readily spot in the beginning.

"I-I don't like this Robin." Ishall noted looking around. "Like a human haunted house and I am waiting for someone to say 'Boo.'

[Shuttle]

Madelyn took a look at the screen which was marking the progress of the two teams.

She turned to the lieutenant, "Hello, I am Chief Steele. Since we're here and watching over the teams, do you have a deck of cards?"

"As a matter of fact..." Peri pulled a deck of cards out of her pack. "You never know when you need to kill some time." She smiled at Madelyn. "I'm Peri. I'm in Operations." She showed the cards. "This is my AIs of Starfleet deck." The face cards had been replaced by different robots, starting with V'ger and Nomad.

Taking a look at the cards, Madelyn was delighted with them. "I've not seen these before, where did you get these? I would love to have a deck of cards like these. Very creative. Also, my name's Madelyn. Let’s play cards." settling down to play cards.

"I know someone who makes them. I can get you a deck. He makes several different decks. I prefer the tekkie ones." Peri grinned. "So, the next question is, what shall we play?"

"Let’s play Go Fish," Madelyn suggested, "That should be fun. Hmnn. Shall we dig up some snacks as well, I did bring some with me. You never know when you need something. Right?"" Pulling out her backpack. "Oh, and I'm Madelyn"

"I have beef jerky and a water canteen, but there's a replicator over here." Peri went over and replicated a bag of mixed candies and brought it to the table. "Might as well enjoy our game." She proceeded to shuffle the cards and dealt out seven cards as there were only two of them.

Madelyn loved the game of fish with Peri, the Assistant Chief of Operations. She was very intense and provided quite the challenge definitely engaged both of their attention. The day moved forward for the two of them and Peri won the last several games.

Madelyn looked up getting another refill of their drinks and snacks, she noticed that hours had passed by.

"It’s gotten later in the day. My how time flies when we're having fun." Madelyn giving a laugh.


(To be continued...)
 
SWO Madelyn Steele
Chief Engineer
USS Ontario
 
Lieutenant Xavier
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Endymion Tox (NPC)
Head Nurse
USS Ontario
 
Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant T’Avia Espinosa
Acting Chief Science Officer
USS Ontario

Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario

Lieutenant Robin Maxwell
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Ontario

Ishall
Damage Control Officer
USS Ontario

 

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