Captain Mercer looked over at Commander Grayson. He then turned his attention back to the view screen. He was relieved that Malloy and Bortus seemed to be okay but was very concerned that they were on a spaceship they could not identify. He glanced at Lieutenant Keyali and signaled for her to mute the signal.
"Isaac," had said, "see what you get on that ship. Try to be discreet. Get LaMar involved in it as well."
"Well, at least Bortus does not have a mullet," noted Kelly. Captain Mercer gave her a dirty look and nodded his head to have the mute taken off.
"Captain Picard?" asked Mercer to confirm the name. "It appears some of my men are with you. May I speak with them?" He had learned some time ago to start softly.
"Of course," answered the hair impaired captain. He looked at them with assumed authority. "Gentlemen."
"Captain, this ship saved us from crashing into a star. We lost consciousness during our attempt to escape the star. I will write a complete report when I return," said Bortus. He seemed a bit off to the captain but the situation has abnormal.
"Bortus is right, captain," said Malloy. "They have treated us pretty well. I am afraid the shuttle got the worst of it. I am looking forward to getting back home though."
"Captain, we are anxious to return your men to you. I would recommend that your doctor give Mr. Bortus a full exam. Unfortunately, we have never met a Mochlan before so our ability to treat him was limited. I was also hoping we could have a discussion about our current situation. Ever since we encountered your crewmembers, there have been some inconsistencies in globally impacting areas that we are unclear on."
"I am sorry Captain, what was that?" Mercer was trying to keep up but this Federation (?) captain had a peculiar way of putting sentences together. just as Picard got ready to respond, he heard a thud to his left. He turned and looked and saw Bortus lying on the ground.
"Medical Emergency! Doctor Crusher to the bridge!" shouted Riker after hitting his commbadge.
"Captain what is going on there?" said Mercer standing up.
"Not sure," he tapped his Commbadge. "Transporter room, get ready to beam our Mochlan visitor directly to the bridge of the Orville. "
"I am afraid the Orville has the same quantum signature as the shuttle. We can't get a lock on the destination," answered the transporter technician.
Picard looked at Riker and then the viewscreen, "Captain Mercer, I would like to use one of our shuttlecrafts to bring your Mr. Bortus to your medical facility. I have every faith in our Doctor Crusher but we have never seen a Mochlan."
Mercer looked perplexed. "How have you never seen a Mochlan? Never mind for now. You have clearance to come aboard in your shuttle. I am sure that you will understand that we ask for you to come unarmed."
"Of course Captain," Picard turned as his head the turbolift as Dr. Crusher rushed in with an assistant and medical grav-bed in tow. She quickly took out her medical tricorder and took readings. It barely registered with her that there was an entire different crew on the viewscreen watching anxiously as well. She looked at the reading and there appeared to be some issue with neural transmitter but it did not make any sense to her. She considered a hyp0 spray but was concerned that it would make matters worse. She glanced back up at the view screen and saw the bridge crew of the Orville staring at her. She stood up and stepped forward. "Do you have a doctor that knows anything about Mochlans? I am guessing here."
Mercer immediately looked to Teyalla, "Get Dr. Finn on the line, now." After a couple of seconds Dr. Claire Finn appeared in a split screen. "Dr. Finn, meet Dr. Crusher. She needs your help with Bortus."
"What is going on?" she asked. The Union doctor had of course been briefed on the situation. She did not understand how any doctor that had contact with the Union had no knowledge of Mochlans, but her immediate concern was Bortus.
Crusher immediately went into evaluation mode. "He presented with symptoms of high gravity injuries and a head injury. He did come to when we attempted to extract him from his ship where he was obviously confused and attacked a member of the crew."
"He grabbed the doctor here Captain," said Gordon. "He don't think he meant it and the doctor was not hurt. Bortus has got to Bortus, huh?"
"I am fine and it is not important right now," continued Crusher. "One of our security guards stunned him and we took him to sickbay. He came to shortly after and seemed okay until now."
Finn looked slightly perplexed. "What do you mean by 'stun'?" she asked.
Worf realized he was the expert on this topic. "Our phasers are our primary weapon. One of the settings temporarily disrupts neuron activity to render the target unconscious. It is meant as a non-lethal means to subdue a hostile entity."
"I can see that but I understand why Bortus is having trouble. Mochlans are tough but they do not like having their synaptic pathways messed with. Do you have something that would retard neurological degradation? We need to get him here ASAP but anything you can do to slow things down would be helpful."
"Triaxital," stated Crusher simply to the medical orderly. He handed her a hypo and she injected into the unusual alien. He seemed to stir slightly but remained unconscious.
"Captain, we are bringing Mr. Bortus to our shuttlebay and along with our doctor and your crew members. With you permission, I would like to send over Commander Riker and Lieutenant Commander Data as well. Once your patience is settled in, I hope to learn something of each other," Picard glanced at the two officers he had just volunteered.
"Of course, Captain. We will have a detachment awaiting your arrival," answered Mercer.
As Crusher rushed her patient out on a grav-bed with Crusher, Riker, Data and Malloy in tow, Worf looked at Picard. "Their 'detachment' will of course be a security detail." He said matter-of-factly.
Picard looked back at the image the Orville and said, "Would you do any less?"
Back on the Orville, Mercer looked at Lieutenant Keyali, "Talla, get down to the shuttle bay and take a security detachment with you. Try not to look too intimidating but something isn't right here."
Talla opened a communication channel to her team and said, "Team A to the shuttlebay. " She jumped up and took off. Captain Mercer followed. "Let Klyden know," he said to Kelly Grayson.
In the shuttle bay, Talla's team stood at attention. While they attempted to appear more as an honor guard, they all bore weapons in case something unexpected happened. The Starfleet shuttle Currie moved into the bay and revolved. It was about the size of a union shuttle and easily fit into the landing area. The back of the shuttle opened and Doctor Crusher led the grav-pod into the Orville.
"I am Captain Mercer," started Ed. "I suggest we make introductions once we get my officer on his way to Sickbay.
"Agreed," said Riker. "Is your doctor here?"
"I am Doctor Finn," she was already scanning the Moclan and was shaking her head. "Your 'stun setting' has done quite a number on Bortus. Follow me please." Crusher began leading the grav-bed to behind Doctor Finn when one side dropped down. Data pulled out his tricorder and observed, "it appears the quantum signature has caused problems in one of the anti-gravity units. The other appears to be functional for now. I can lift up this side if Doctor Finn would like to lead me to their medical unit."
"I got it," said Talla who had walked over to the downed side of the unit. With little effort, she lifted it and began to follow Doctor Finn and her crew to the medical bay. Both Riker and Data looked on with surprise. This woman could not have been more than 11o pounds.
"May I come with you," asked Crusher. "I would like to understand what happened in case we ever run into a Mochlan again." Mercer nodded and Crusher followed with the rest of the Orville crew.
"Perhaps you gentlemen should come with me," said Mercer to Riker and Data. He turned and walked out with the Federation officers following close behind.