CIV Lt Cmdr. Zio Jintaci

[ In the woods ]

Zio crept slowly up towards Doctor Spector. Doctor Spector had went ahead of Zio while he stopped to examine a set of tracks they had stumbled upon. He saw the Doctor was focused on something he saw through the bushes. As he approached, he tried not to startle the already trembly Doctor.

“It’s me.” Zio said in a very soft whisper with a tinge of his french accent near the Doctor’s left ear.

Doctor Spector twitched slightly, but didn’t move.

’Whatever is out there, it must be fascinating.’ Zio thought as he tried to catch a glimpse through the bushes. Zio methodically, and slowly, lowered a branch to get a glimpse of what the Doctor was looking at. What he saw was fascinating enough to make Zio take pause, and look.

Zio saw some of the zombie like creatures in the open with two Starfleet officers. ’Fascinating, there are some survivors of the center.’ Zio thought as his eyes tightened on the officer in maroon. ’No that can’t be.’ Zio thought as his eyes tightened on the officer. Zio rubbed his eyes with his left hand, while maintaining his right hand on the branch that had obstructed his view. ’It is her, the XO of the Perseus. Commander N’Ruri’ Zio thought in bewilderment. ’That must mean that the Perseus is here.’ Zio thought as a thin smile crossed his face for the first time in weeks. ’It is a small quadrant after all.’ Zio though as he glanced at the Doctor.

Doctor Spector focused on the group, and gave Zio a slight sideways glance. “Must avoid the fishy blue one.” The Doctor whispered.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Zio whispered.

That officer he didn’t recognize. He appeared to be an Andorian, in a gold trimmed uniform.

Doctor Spector crept into the trees, and Zio moved with him. “No one wants to go there.” The Doctor whispered as he shook his head.

“But we have to Henry.” Zio whispered. “We’ve got to get some answers.” Zio paused as he glanced around. “We’ve been through too much, and lost too many to hang back now.” Zio finished.

He knew that the Doctor was weary, and not really in his right mind at this point. They’ve been through too much already, and it had mentally affected the Doctor. He was delusional, a common mental self defense mechanism in humans who have experienced sudden, and horrific, trauma. Zio’s Deltan heritage, and physiology, was the only thing that kept him sane and rational. He had been working with the Doctor, but wasn’t entirely successful in rehabilitating him. Zio often wondered the last few days if he even knew if all of this was real. It was Doctor Spector's only defense after losing the rest of the team.

Then Zio observed the creatures begin to drag the two officers into the research center.

“Come on Doctor, we need to find the core.” Zio whispered in a pleading tone. “It’s why we are here. Like it or not, they’re a good distraction for us to get in there.” Zio said as he nudge the Doctor. “And we can get the two officers out at the same time. Now is the opportune time.” Zio finished.

Doctor Spector shook his head slightly as he looked at Zio. “If you think that’s a good idea King Mongkut, I support you.” Doctor Spector said. “I don’t like it though.” The Doctor finished as his eyes widened on Zio, and then he slowly bowed his head.

Zio shook his head slightly with frustration. “I’m Doctor Zio Jintaci Henry, not King Mongkut.” Zio said with a sigh. Since the Doctor became delusional, he was convinced that Zio was King Mongkut from the King and I, a famous 20th century Earth movie starring an actor who was bald. Zio couldn’t remember the actor’s name, it was something like Yul Brunner, but Zio’s lack of hair must have connected him to the character from the Doctor’s favorite earth movie.

“Whatever you say King, I am you liege.” The Doctor said as he made a slight curtsy.

Zio then thought he heard some yelling from the building.

“Come on Henry, we have to go now.” Zio said as he glanced at the building in concern.

He looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and began to move towards the research center with Doctor Spector in tow.

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DO Lieutenant T'Saylar
Valdivian Station / USS Trinity
Mike Schell
actd (at) mugatu (dot) com