The sun rose slowly over the bustling city of Valtira VI the next morning as Commander S'Nira knocked on Dr. T'lirri hotel room door, eagerly awaiting the Vulcan doctor's answer. Captain Hayvna was late to meet her there, but it wasn't too alarming.
"Dr. T'lirri, are you ready?" S'Nira called, her voice a mixture of urgency and concern. The ship was scheduled to depart soon, and their captain should have been there by now as had been agreed upon the previous night before the 3 returned to their private rooms. "Hayvna's late so there isn't that big of a rush."
"I will be ready shortly, Commander," replied Dr. T'lirri, her Vulcan composure evident even as she hurriedly gathered her medical kit. "It is illogical for Captain Vevva to be late. She has always exhibited punctuality when it comes to departing for the ship."
S'Nira nodded, her ears twitching with anxiety. "I know. I'm starting to worry. I'll check on her."
The commander reached into her pocket to pull out her communicator, her fur bristling slightly with unease. "Captain Vevva, please respond. It is time for our departure. You don't want to be left behind, right?" They wouldn't actually leave her behind. It was more of an old joke between them.
Silence greeted her, and S'Nira's heart sank. The CMO finally exited her room and came outside into the sun filled corridor. S'Nira exchanged a worried glance with T'lirri, who raised an eyebrow, her expression a blend of concern and curiosity.
"Commander, may I suggest we proceed to her quarters? It is possible her communicator is malfunctioning," T'lirri stated, her logical mind already formulating a plan. "She...did not respond to my own attempts to hail her."
"Agreed," S'Nira replied, her voice firm as she stepped into the corridor. "Let's move quickly."
The two officers made their way through the hotel, weaving past crew members who were bustling about, their excitement palpable as they prepared to return to the USS Arsenal. S'Nira's thoughts were consumed by worry for her captain, even if that worry were illogical, or T'lirri would say.
When they reached Hayvna's room, S'Nira pressed the door chime. The sound echoed in the quiet corridor, but there was still no answer.
"Captain? Are you in there? Please tell me you didn't oversleep again." S'Nira called, her voice starting to rise in urgency. "No response. Let me get the door open."
After a bit of fiddling, the door slid open and revealed a darkened room in disarray. The bed was unmade, the sheets tangled, and as the lights flickered on, they both could tell something bad had happened.
"T'lirri, look!" She exclaimed, pointing to the floor. A trail of what appeared to be dark red stains led away from the bed toward the bathroom. S'Nira's heart raced as she stepped inside, feeling Dr. T'lirri brush past her with a sense of urgency.
It was no longer a secret aboard the Arsenal about Dr. T'lirri's status of partnership with the captain, but seeing a slight loss of emotional control from a Vulcan? It was startling.
The Vulcan quickly moved to examine the area. "It appears there has been a struggle," She noted, her voice forcefully steady despite the gruesome sight. "We must ascertain the captain's whereabouts immediately."
S'Nira felt her stomach twist as she turned toward the bathroom. "Hayvna?" She called again, but her voice echoed back in a haunting silence. She stepped cautiously toward the door, her instincts on high alert.
T'lirri joined her, her expression serious and maybe just bordering on angry. "I believe it would be prudent to contact Lieutenant De la Rouche and inform her team of the situation. There is no way of knowing at this moment as to how long she has been missing."
S'Nira nodded, quickly tapping her communicator where it still remained in her hand. "Commander S'Nira to Security. We have a situation in Captain Vevva's quarters on shore. She is unaccounted for, and there are signs of a struggle. Send a team immediately."
"Understood, Commander. We are dispatching a team to your location," came the voice of Lieutenant Bellatrix De la Rouche, Chief of Security.
"Thank you," S'Nira replied, her mind racing. "T'lirri, do you think she could have been taken?"
"It is a possibility," T'lirri replied, her logical demeanor shaken by an ever so slight waver in her voice. "We should investigate further before making any assumptions."
S'Nira nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of concern. "Let's check the rest of the room."
They began to search through Hayvna's belongings, looking for any clues. S'Nira's eyes landed on the captain's personal effects—a small data pad, a few articles of clothing, and her Starfleet uniform neatly pressed in the closet. But nothing seemed out of place except the absence of the captain herself.
"Commander, I have located the captain's communicator," T'lirri announced, holding it up. It was cracked, the screen dark. "It appears to have been damaged."
"Damn it," S'Nira muttered, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. "What happened to you, Hayvna?"
The door slid open suddenly, and a team of security officers rushed in, their expressions a mix of concern and readiness. "What do we have, Commander?" Lieutenant Bellatrix asked, taking charge of the situation before her eyes fell on the room. "Oh, mon Dieu."
S'Nira gestured toward the bathroom and the bloodstains. "Captain Vevva is missing, and it looks like she was attacked here last night. We need to secure the area and find out where she might have gone. I want a sweep of the ship down as well."
"Right away," Bellatrix replied, signaling her team to begin their investigation. She turned to S'Nira and T'lirri. "We'll check the surveillance footage of the hotel. It's possible we can find out who entered or left this room last night."
"Good idea," S'Nira said, her mind racing with possibilities. "Let's find her before it's too late."
As the security team began their work, S'Nira felt a sense of urgency coursing through her. Hayvna was out there, alone and in danger, and every passing moment felt like a lifetime. She exchanged a determined look with T'lirri, who stood resolute by her side.
"We will find her, Commander," T'lirri said, her voice steady. "Logic dictates that we will uncover the truth."
S'Nira felt a flicker of hope amidst the chaos. "Yes, we will. For Hayvna."
