The PADD led on the bed next to Carla's hand; it had fallen there when she had finally given in and let her eyes close. There was so much information to digest, so many reports from so many departments. Escaping to her quarters from her claustrophobic office she had felt overwhelmed, she decided the best course of action was to take a shower first. Standing in front of the small mirror she roughly combed her hair, her dark mahogany bob was styled somewhat severely around her diamond shaped face and contrasted starkly with her pale skin and indigo eyes. She wasn't conventionally beautiful, whatever that meant. Too tall at five foot ten to be considered demure, even with her ample womanly curves.
Her Grandmother had said it to her years ago and she still didn't really know what she had meant by it. Her Mother had tried to make her feel better at the time, telling her she had an 'aura', that people would always be attracted to her because she radiated self-confidence, friendship and intellect. She still didn't know what that meant either if she was being honest. She pulled at her eyelids trying to smooth the wrinkles that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, tutting she gave her cheeks a light smack and went into her bedroom.
Serving on the Enterprise had taken it out of her, she'd had her fill of adventure.
So when she awoke four hours later she cursed to herself and grabbed the PADD trying to digest as much information as possible before the brief.
"Fuck fuck fuck." Quickly dressing Carla was still reading one of the many reports sent to her by Commander Spock as she entered the briefing room and took the closest seat.
"You look like shit Cece." Doctor McCoy took the seat next to her and nudged her arm with his as he spoke.
"A pleasure as always Doctor McCoy." Carla didn't look up from her PADD, McCoy couldn't help but laugh quietly at her response.
"Right, shall we get started? Collins, why don't you get the ball rolling?" Captain Kirk gave her a smile as he strode into the room and took a seat at the head of the table, Commander Spock, who was walking behind him, took the one opposite Carla.
"Yes Sir, the people of Alika are not a primitive race, as much as they appear to be. They have rejected outsiders up until now however, as we know they are increasingly becoming the target of bandits and bounty hunters."
"Why's that?" Kirk asked, leafing through the report in front of him.
"In essence they're much like the Augments Sir, they're remarkably agile, five times as strong and twice as intelligent as a Human, resistant to sickness and with enhanced senses, possessing heart muscles twice as strong and lung efficiency fifty percent better than ours. Their blood contains platelets capable of regenerating from any disease or toxin, which as we know could be used to cure or revive medical subjects via transfusion. They also have twice the average lifespan."
"I've never felt more mediocre." Kirk quipped.
"That's where the similarities end, they don't have a defect in their genome Captain."
"Defect?" The Captain asked.
"The defect in the genomes of the Augments created a malformation in the base-pair sequences that regulate the neurotransmitter levels in their brains, causing them to be highly prone to aggression and violent behaviour. Lieutenant Collins is right in saying the defect isn't present in these people." McCoy answered curtly.
"Unlike the Augments who were aggressive, arrogant and ambitious, with a diminished sense of morality the tribes people of Alika have chosen to live a relatively peaceful life, their rejection of technology a symbol of their rejection of what they deem modern ferocity." Carla quickly looked to Spock, he was listening to her intently but gave no indication of his opinion on the matter.
"So they're prized for their blood?" Kirk asked, Carla nodded in response.
"After the USS Vengeance crashed in San Francisco and Commander Spock and Lieutenant Uhura apprehended Khan, he was placed back into suspended animation under heavy guard. Individuals are willing to pay a high price Captain for what these people could be used for, they need to be protected."
"Agreed Lieutenant." McCoy answered.
"Chief Engineer Scott has devised a means that affectively cloaks the entire settlement, it will be undetectable from any sensors and the naked eye." Spock answered.
"Alright Mister Spock, sounds like you have everything in hand." Kirk stood from his chair and pulled at his uniform, the rest followed. "I'd like Scotty to head up the Engineering team installing the equipment, Collins, I need you to play Federation Ambassador, do you think you can handle that?" Carla nodded, knowing that Kirk liked to tease her. He knew full well of her capabilities and credentials, a qualified and experienced Mediator, she specialised in First Contact, studying with the Vulcan Diplomatic Command after her time at Starfleet Academy. Kirk gave her a wink. "Bones, I want you down there too." Kirk threw over his shoulder as he was leaving the room.
"And why the hell do I need to be there Jim!?" McCoy shouted after him but Kirk had already left, Carla turned to McCoy and smiled.
"You never know Doctor, one of the Engineers may trip. Who would stick the dressing on the poor fella's knee?" McCoy didn't flinch, walking round her he left the room himself, not before muttering so that Carla could hear.
"Don't you have an unintelligent blob of goo to negotiate peace with?"
"You shouldn't be so harsh on yourself Doctor!" She shouted after him.
"Remind your team not to interact with the inhabitants Scotty alright?" Carla stood watching Engineers pull boxes of equipment off the shuttlecraft and set them down on the forest floor.
"Aye Lass, I'll be leaving the talkin' to you." Scotty replied.
Carla looked up at the tree canopy, the sounds of jungle life were all around them. Insects, birds and other exotic animals could be heard making their calls. She could hear the children in the village playing, she desperately wanted to go and speak with them, find out more about their world but they were under strict rules. It was the only way the Alika people had agreed to 'outsider' interference. The heat was stifling and she could feel a thin layer of sweat on her skin, it felt glorious in comparison to the constantly regulated temperature of the Enterprise.
"Make sure you drink enough water Cece." Opening her eyes she came face to face with McCoy who was watching her intently.
"Yes Leonard." She gave him a quick smile but didn't move for her canteen. "Do you think any of the insects are poisonous?" She asked him.
"Most probably." McCoy answered. "I wouldn't suggest walking around barefoot."
"I wasn't planning on it." Carla replied with a roll of her eyes. "How long did Scotty say this will take?" When McCoy realised that Carla wasn't going to have any of her own water he passed her his own canteen, taking it she took a large gulp and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Eighteen hours." McCoy answered, taking the canteen back from her and having a drink himself. The Enterprise had been called away and was to return then.
"We might as well start setting up camp then while the other chaps work."
"I'm a Doctor not a Boy Scout!" Ignoring his protest Carla grasped the top of McCoy's arm and dragged him in the direction of the shuttlecraft.
"Alright Boy Scout, you sit there and be careful not to break a nail while I do all the heavy lifting." Carla teased.
"You joke Cece but these hands may save your life one of these days! A skilled surgeon's hands are his most prized instrument you know?" McCoy grabbed the box of sleeping mats and thermo-blankets from the shuttlecraft and shoved them into Carla's arms.
"I'll be sure to remember that." Carla answered sarcastically. "Can those 'skilled surgeon's hands' grab another one of those boxes?" She asked as she set hers down on the floor.
The pair worked in relative silence for the next hour, setting up the parameter, the first shift Engineer's camp and the second shift Engineer's camp which was also McCoy's and Carla's. Standing and surveying their accomplishment McCoy looked up the sky.
"Looks like it's already going dark."
"See, we'll make a Boy Scout out of you yet." Carla gave him a friendly slap on the back and walked over to the Engineers. "One hour fellas, then you're off the clock. Mitsch, you're playing look out first okay?" The Engineer stopped what he was doing and looked up at Carla.
"Yes Lieutenant." He answered with a nod of his head.
Forty five minutes later and the camp was in total darkness save the torches sporadically laid out around the parameter. Everybody had eaten their rations and most of the Engineers were already sleeping, McCoy turned his head on his pillow and looked over at Carla who was settling in next to him.
"I hope you don't snore Cece." He asked gruffly.
"I wouldn't know McCoy." Carla turned on her side so that she was facing McCoy. "You're not enjoying this are you?" She stated to him in a whisper.
"Actually, I am. I use to camp when I was kid all the time, not in a Rainforest but… there's something about sleeping under the stars that I appreciate. What about you Cece? Or have you always been too refined to do something as lowly as camping?" Carla scoffed at his insinuation.
"I've camped out under the stars a number of times I'll have you know!"
"Of course you have Sweetheart." McCoy turned so his back was to her. "Goodnight Cece." Carla couldn't help but smile at McCoy's words.
"Goodnight Leonard." She answered, before closing her eyes.
Kusa Sarraf watched the camp from a distance, he'd been watching them for the past several hours. Tracking their movements, shift patterns, how many were put on look out. It was unfortunate that Starfleet had appeared just after he had arrived, it should have been an easy job. Take one of the inhabitants and report back to the boss, get paid and move on to the next job. Instead, he was going to have to kill a load of Starfleet Officers first, he'd already waited long enough and he had no idea how long they were going to be sticking around. There was no way he was going to get in and out of the village without them noticing. He was already behind schedule, it was time to get this show on the road. Sharpening his blade he smiled a blackened tooth smile.
"All work and no play." He whispered to himself.