Clean up crew

Posted on Saturday March 2nd, 2019 @ 10:26 hours by Kari Pahlmihr
Edited on on Friday May 15th, 2020 @ 07:47 hours

Mission: Pixie Dust
Location: Cargo bay 2, Deck 3, S.S. Fawkes
Timeline: MD02 - 0343 hours (Immediately after impact)
1137 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

"What do you think that was?" Kari looked at the other two in the room with her, the Rigellian able deckhand didn't seem all to phased by it all but the human man seemed to be a bit out of sorts by the whole ordeal. She ran a finger across the spots on the side of her face and neck. That was when the lights flickered red and the voice of the Captain came through announcing that it was an emergency.

Keith still seemed a bit shaken up by all of this, "Let's take a look at the cargo. See if there's something we need to fix up." He pointed in the direction of the most important bay. It was rented out by some Starfleet big shot scientist, they had stuffed some other cargo in there as well to make some double money on the space. Not that they needed it, the other bays were filled to capacity by a long shot. Just wishful thinking on the Captain's part, as far as he could tell.

Seeming none too pleased Gurreglaek made his way over to the doors of the second cargo bay, a musky scent immediately assaulted his nostrils. It was immediately apparent that the heavy container had jarred loose, "Well shit." He looked over his shoulder, "Keith, Kari, clean this mess up. I'll go find the Bosun or QM to see what they have to say about this." He stepped away from the doors and headed for the exit.

Kari looked at Keith and sighed a bit, "You know, there's something to be said about automation taking away the menial tasks." She grabbed a broom from the corner and stepped into the bay, immediately coughing a bit, there was something in the air here and you only needed one look in the direction of the container to know what it was. The strong container was cracked open and a small pile of a white sand-like substance lay beside it, "Do you know what this stuff is?"

Keith shrugged a bit, "Was listed as bio-hazardous. Seems like sand to me."

"Should we suit up in hazmat?" Kari wondered, hesitant now to come closer to the stuff.

"What? Are you afraid to get some sand in your hair?" Keith reached out and grabbed the broom off her, "Let me do it. I don't want to go through all that scrubbing. We'll just wash up after."

Kari wasn't quite sure that was the best approach but wasn't about to go against her new colleague, she scratched the spots on her neck again. She was sure it was just some sort of mental thing, "Maybe we should ask the medic to take a look at this stuff."

"Don't bother, she's probably busy fixing bumps and bruises, seemed like a nasty bit of turbulence. Hand me the tin." Keith reached behind him waiting for Kari to actually come and help him.

Staying at a distance she handed him the dustpan and watched as he scooped up the dust and put it back in the container, "Are we just going to close it up and not say anything to the customer?"

"That's not my responsibility. The Captain will have to decide exactly how much she will divulge about our little bump in subspace." Keith sniffed a bit, it was odd, he was inoculated against the cold are a myriad of other diseases before signing up on the Fawkes. There was sweat accumulating in the small of his back. "Is it warm in here or what?"

Kari frowned and looked at her colleague, "No, it's really not." He had been doing all the work, but it wasn't like he was really working up a sweat doing so. She suddenly saw movement in the corner of her eye. She jerked her head in the direction of the movement but didn't spot anything. She scratched at the spots in her neck again.

Keith dumped the remaining dust in the reclamation unit closeby, cleaning his hands on the front of his shirt. "Nobody will be any the wiser." He then shrugged and gave a bit of a grin before his face turned to a bit of a shock, "What are you doing here?"

Kari frowned, looked over her shoulder but didn't see anything, "What are you talking about? We're on duty together." She turned back to Keith who was now rushing past her in the direction of the doors.

"You need to get back, you need to hide." Keith hissed as he kneeled down and seemed to interact with someone only he could see. "I'll talk to her, make sure she doesn't tell anyone. You're not supposed to be here."

Kari saw a shadow move in the top of the cargo bay, her heart skipped a beat as she finally realized what it was. She had brushed it off as a horror story before, something her brother told her when she signed up for a freighter job. "Keith. Don't move." The shadow coalesced into a solid form before dropping from the ceiling on top of Keith, "No! Keith!" She knew it was pointless to try and save him now, the dark matter ghost would drain his energy and leave a husk behind. The only chance she had was to run. Hide. Ward it off somehow.

She sprinted out of the cargo bay and in the direction of the maintenance tunnels, she suddenly remembered what her brother had told her about the creature. She knew exactly where to go and started climbing up the stairs as quickly as she could.

Back in the cargo bay Keith gave his little girl a hug, "If they ever find you, they'll kill you. I can never let that happen. Do you understand?"

"I don't want to be with them, they don't make nice scrambled eggs like you do. I want to stay with you. Talk to the Captain, she'll understand." The small blond girl responded.

"I know, sweetie, I can't. You need to hide. Just a little bit longer. Just until I can make things right. Then I'll come get you." Keith looked around his crummy apartment, the rain outside rapping against the windows. Of course it was raining, it was always raining on days like these. "Come we'll get you cleaned up and then I'll get you back to the friendly cops that help keep you safe. Just a little more time, dear. I almost have what they want." He was now more determined than ever to get the information the Federation prosecution needed on the family. He wanted his daughter back. He wanted his life back. He wanted them to rot in jail for the rest of their natural lives.

[OFF]


Gurreglaek
Deck Hand (Able)

Keith Emerson
Deck Hand (Ordinary)

Kari Pahlmihr
Deck Hand (Ordinary

S.S. Fawkes