The Empty Ship
"Commander, are you aware that a significant
number of the crew are not at their stations?" asked the cool, even voice
of Sub-commander T'Pol. Tucker had never been so glad to hear her voice.
"T'Pol!" he exclaimed. She raised an eyebrow
as he grinned with relief. "I thought I was the only one left!"
"Left, commander? Do you mean that the crew
is ... absent from the ship?"
"I don't know what I mean. I just know that
engineering is empty and so is the bridge."
T'Pol walked to the science station and brought
up the internal sensors. The sensors showed only one other life form aboard
the ship.
"Have you been to sickbay, commander?"
"No, I didn't think it would help." said Trip,
cracking a smile as he watched her at her station.
"I am reading a biosign from that location.
It appears to be Denobulan. It would seem that we are not entirely alone."
The faint odor of burned out circuitry was
in the air and the lights were out as they entered sickbay. Commander Tucker
fiddled with the a panel by the door for a moment before the lights came
on. Their illumination was sickly, but manageable.
"Hey, doc!" called Tucker as they stepped
into sickbay.
"There." said T'Pol, nodding toward the biobeds.
A pair of feet were sticking out from between
two of the beds.
Tucker glanced at her and momentarily wished
that anyone, even Malcolm or Hoshi, were stuck on the ship with him. The
calmness and lack of concern in her voice chafed as he dashed toward the
chief medical officer.
"Doc?" questioned Trip, kneeling next to the
sprawled form.
"It looks as though he received a shock from
the instrument panel." said T'Pol as she joined him. One of the consoles
near the biobeds showed signs of shorting out: faint scorching and a darkened
screen.
"No kidding." muttered Commander Tucker. He
shook Phlox by the shoulders. "Doc, can you hear me?"
"He does not seem to injured severely." said
T'Pol as she ran a tricorder carefully over his body. "His right hand shows
signs of a first degree burn" she added.
The doctor groaned and opened his eyes.
"What happened?" he questioned.
"That has yet to be determined." T'Pol informed
him, speaking more globally of the situation.
"We think you received a little shock." Trip
answered, glaring at T'Pol.
Phlox sat up slowly, looked at his singed
fingertips, and nodded in agreement before saying, "Yes, commander, I believe
you are right."
"Do you require medical attention, doctor?"
inquired T'Pol, finally tucking the tricorder away.
"No, I don't believe so." he replied.
"Then I'm afraid we have some more bad news."
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