Emergency Shelter

Posted on 21 Sep 2024 @ 10:58pm by Lieutenant JG Ziyi Zhao

650 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Stranded
Location: Science Lab 2 - Deck 6
Timeline: Current

Ziyi Zhao extricated herself from the overturned lab console that had fallen over her and pinned her to the ground for the past fifteen minutes. Her left arm felt sore and bruised, but she could move it - more or less. There was little doubt in her mind that inflammation would set in soon and movement would be painful, if not impossible.

She stood as soon as she was free from the console, and fought off a wave of dizziness. Not so long ago, the deck and the ceiling had decided to switch places, and every piece of equipment had played musical chair - even the chairs themselves.

She managed to find something to use as a light source, and looked around the room. The science lab now looked more like the images she'd seen in holovids of outposts attacked during the Dominion War. She took a deep breath, and pushed a stray lock of her jet-black hair behind her ear.

She made her way to the door, and tried to pry it open. Her bruised arm made the job that much more difficult, but eventually she managed to get it halfway open, at least enough to squeeze her small frame through. She emerged into the corridor and heard moans coming from a few meters away.

Zhao made her way to the source of the moans, and cast her light on a young Ensign in a yellow Engineer's uniform. The young woman was lying flat on her face, and the carpet around her was stained with her blood. Zhao helped her up to a sitting position. The young woman's face was bruised and bloody. Her nose was at an odd angle, and there was a gash bleeding above her left eyebrow. She remembered seeing the girl in the mess, but they'd never been introduced or had a conversation.

"I'm Lieutenant Ziyi," she said. "Can you stand up? I have an emergency medkit in the Science lab, I can help you."

"Ensign Butler," replied the girl, trying to catch her breath. "I think so."

Butler tried to get to her feet. Zhao offered her uninjured arm to the girl, and working together, Butler slowly but steadily got to her feet. As Butler braced herself against the bulkhead, Zhao ran her light down the length of the corridor, hearing additional voices calling out for help. One man in Science Blue was slowly getting to his feet, when his ankle gave out from under him with a sickening crack, and he collapsed back to the deck, screaming in pain.

A Bolian in Command Red, rose slowly, holding his head and swiveling it from side to side, testing the muscles in his neck. He reached the man with the broken ankle, and held out a hand, helping him get up on his uninjured leg. Broken Ankle wrapped his arm around the Bolian's shoulder, and together they hopped three-legged toward Zhao.

"Let's get them in the Science lab," she said. "It's designated as an emergency shelter. There are medical supplies, we can wait for help there."

The Bolian nodded. "Let's get them settled. I'll go around the deck and see if there's anyone else who needs help."

"Go," she said, waving the Bolian toward the door to the Science lab, ten meters away. She took Butler's arm and together they followed the other pair to the lab, wrapping an arm around Butler's waist to steady her.

Once inside, Zhao and the Bolian settled the injured crewmembers as comfortably as they could. Zhao fetched the emergency medkit while the Bolian cleared some space around the room, enough for them to move around and accomodate a few more people, should the need arise. He then left with a nod, and set out in search of additional survivors on Deck Six.

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A brief post by
Ensign Ziyi Zhao (NPC, played by Temerant Bast)
Science Officer, USS Cygnus

 

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