Kira Owen (Star Trek: Remnant)

[celest]

This should have been a noraml day. It was always a bit risky landing some where. You never know if someone might catch you at dock, like the Federation or worse the Cardassians. Even still, making stops was routine. Everything should have gone along smoothly. As usually, a few of the crew would head to the bar after duties. They would come back drunk and come to me, the medic, complaining fo head aches and varius other complaints. I might have to pump a stomach. I'mused to it. In fact I prefere treating drunks than those wounded in battle. There is less of a chance of them dying on me.

So I figure have some time. Like most of the others on the Unity's Vengeance, I had finished had my duties and decided it would be nice to see if anything of interest could be fond near by. My supply of loose tea leaves was getting low, and if I am lucky I will be able find a shop that supplyed them. In the worst case all I would be able to find is tea bags. Tea bags is nothing compared to tea brewed loose, but hot freash tea brewed in my mother tea pot, one of the few things I had been able to take with her when I left my home, was better than no tea at all. Even worse is the concoction that the kitchen staffs called tea. I'll drink coffee before touching that crap again.

Wandering about the area best discrbed as a slum, My hopes began to dimish of finding what I wanted. Sometimes one could find a small community of humans whoes ancestors had been Asain on Earth and brought with them their tradtions. These small Asian communitys I have found were the best for finding loose tea of any quality. I had once come across a small shop outside one of these communties and bought it's loose tea. Apon tasting it at in my room I quickly decided the shop was a fake, selling baged tea, removed for the bag to look loose just to charge the higher price. It looked like I would have to wait until the next stop before I could get any more good tea. I figuered that I would have to be careful about rationing my tea if I wanted it to last until the next stop.

So I'm heading back to the ship. It is a bit early for my drunen crew mates to start coming in but it I figure itwould be nice to get in a quick meditation before they came. On the way back was when I noticed the bar. Warm Saki comes to mind and I feet the sudden desire to have a sip of my mothers favorite drink. Maybe I could buy a bottle to have on hand, should I ever run out of tea. Saki has a burning effect in contrast to the cooling feeling of tea, but it is just as useful for relaxing.

"This isn't usual for me, but saki would be nice right now. In Mother's memory." I think to myself as I walk into the bar. Not to my surpirse the bar had a few of my crew members in it. One catches my eye in particular. It is the ship's Navigation officer. What caught my eye was the fact he is crying over his glass. His name is Maxwell. He had been picked up by the ship not ore than two days ago. She can remember checking his vitals as the ship had picked him up from an escape pod and well, escaping can lead to more than a few injuries. It was lucky we found him. I remember loosing the pervious Navigations officer. But i don't want to get into that right now. I can remember having a short conversation with him while I checked his vitals. He too was ex-federation. Other than that I don't know much more than that but I am guessing his reason for joining the Maquis was pretty similar to mine. He lost some one at the hands of the Cardassians, and when the Federation refused to help he lost his sense of duty. The Maquis renewed that sense of duty. They gave him, as they have given me, a reason to live.

So I sit down next to him. I'm a medic for a reason, I can't stop myself from helping people and it looks like Maxwell needs some help, even if it is just a friendly face to talk to. I wave to the keep for another round for him and introduse myself. Ofcourse I immediately regret ordering the drink. The fumes that are coming off his breath as he answeres are enough to intoxicate alone. I can't imagine the drink they are coming from. I guess that he has far more reasons to join the Maquis than I do, and at the moment he is trying to forget them all. If there is one who will need his stomach his stomach pumped today, this will be the one. I am going to stay with him. He is going to need my treatment, I might as well start it now by changing that drink order to a coffee.

[celest]

My god this is bad. Maxwell is most likely on the edge of alcohol poisoning and he just ordered himself another drink. Not to mention he thinks I’m some one else, probably some one he is trying to forget with whatever the hell that drink is. I look over to the bartender. I remember once in my studies coming across a strange and horribly sounding concoction called a Prairie Oyster. It was very good fro getting drunk people sober. I’ll ask the bartender if he knows how to make one. Then I’ll get Maxwell to the sip and pump his stomach. He’ll need an IV too with a fair amount of Potassium. All these things are running though my mind as I’m searching the bar for service.

That’s when I noticed them. The Starfleet and a large number of them too. A fight hasn’t broken out, but it looks like it’s about too. And Maxwell is talking, drunk talking. About the Maquis. They haven’t noticed us yet, but if we don’t get out of here they will, not to mention Maxwell is in no condition for a bar fight if one starts up. I have got to get him out of here.

I pull on his arm to get him to stand up. "Come Maxwell, lets get back to the ship," I say quietly to him. "We can get some tea in you and you'll feel better. I'll buy you all the drinks you want later." I pull a bit harder to help him stand. Which he does, which is great, but then he does something stupid. I think he still thinks he with the Federation right now because he just spoke to him self with an imaginary Starfleet issue communicator. He asked to be teleported. Of course that isn’t going to work. I pull a bit harder on his arm to get him to walk with me. No, wait. Now he is walking right towards the Starfleet. Crap this is bad.

[celest]

There are a few times in your life when time seems to stand still. A perfect first kiss, a beautiful sunset, times when love happens at first sight. Unfortunately this wasn’t one of those times. Oh yes time is standing still around me, but nothing wonderful is about to happen. In fact I’m pretty sure exact opposite is about to happen. How do I know this? My stupid gut is telling me that right now, and my gut is almost never wrong.

Yep, Maxwell’s body just suddenly stopped mid-stride. Now it’s falling along with the glass that was broken on his head by some Starfleet. Stupid, stupid, stupid Starfleet. There are times I hate them about as much as the Cardassians. This is certainly one of those times. I got to help Maxwell. I got to get to him first. I rush forward to get to his side. Shit, time is still doing that stand still thing. Oh this is bad; and its about to get worse. When ever time does the standstill thing for this long it has to catch up, so all the bad stuff starts happening fast, really fast.

Well at least I got to Maxwell’s side first. Now I just have to get him out of here. I wonder if time will wait for me. Well that answered that question fast. Everyone is fighting. It seems a few of my shipmates have decided to take on the Starfleet. One of them, I think the Bolian onboard is providing cover for me. Someone is yelling something at me. Is that Charlie? Doesn’t matter, I got to get Maxwell out of here. Luckily I did learn a few tricks for get the unconscious out of bad situations. My mom taught me the fireman’s carry sometime ago. Maxwell is the perfect candidate.

There I’ve got him on my back. There’s the door. Oh great they’ve pulled out their disrupters. Drunks with guns always lead to long hours for medics like me. Well not only am I short, but I’m also pretty much doubled over with Maxwell on my back so hopefully we are below the fire lines. Not to mention that with my free hand I’ve got a perfect diaphragm shot to any one who gets in my way. A beautiful open hand upward thrust that knocks the air out of your opponent and leaves them unharmed but completely breathless for about 30 seconds. One just went down from it as I make my best efforts at a run for the door. There’s another torso in my way, and with a swift hand there’s another person on the floor and not fighting, almost there.

He’s moving. Damn he came to fast. Ok door is too far now. That wall is close and most certainly out of the action. With one last burst if speed I get him there. Shit his body is slipping. Shit it’s convulsing. He is about to…

Well, at least he fell of off me before he dispensed of his stomach contents. I won’t have to pump his stomach now either. I still have to get him out of here. I put my arms around his shoulders as he tries to speak to me. He is still rather drunk. “My name is Kira Owens, Maxwell; I'm the medical officer on board." Slowly I help him stand. We are so close to the door. We can get out of here. "Come on we need to get out of here now. I'll help you back to the ship." I help him up and get his arm over my shoulders, acting as his crutch to steady him out the door.

Damn more Starfleet got here fast.

[celest]

Things have just gone from bad to worse.

My mind begins to race. Stupid Starfleet. Why in the stars did you have to get here so fast. I scan the room for the rest of my ship mates. They seem to be slowly realizing the graveness of the situation. I wonder which one of them pulled the trigger first and what the hell they were thinking when they did it. There is absolutely no way I am going to be able to get all of them out of here. Not with the guard at the door. No, they got them selves into this mess. They can get themselves out. That or wait till I tell the captain what has happened. Besides, none of them are anywhere near as bad as Maxwell. I got to get him some immediate, immediate medical attention. Hopefully I can get them past these guys. Once I get back to the ship I will try and have the captain meet me in the sick bay and I’ll explain everything while I get Maxwell fixed up. Ok I’ve got a plan, now I’ve got to execute it. Ok first step, get out of here.

I lean in to Maxwell and whisper into his ear. The guard doesn’t seem to be looking at us for the moment. They are focused on the center of the room. “"Don't say anything Maxwell,” I whisper into his ear. “I'm getting you out of here, but you need to keep quiet." Slowly I stand the two of us up and we walk slowly to the door. Ok, I’m cute, enough I suppose, maybe if I look pitiful enough… well here it goes. “Excuse me stir, I'd like to my friend out of here. He is drunk and suffers from PTS. He may have alcohol poisoning. I need to get him to a doctor." Ok I think I got a sort of puppy dog look going on here. I really hope this works.

This guy doesn’t look happy. "There is a medical team on its way from our vessel. This man will be cared for. My current orders are to detain you all until this matter has been investigated and the proper parties brought to justice." Well that was a no. He gives a few orders and then brushes pass me. I can not wait I have got to get out of here. Looks like he’s going to address the room now. “I am Lieutenant Commander Alhan Spetra of the Federation starship Merlin. If you would all place your weapons on the floor and remain calm, we'll get through this situation as quickly and as easily as is possible. There is a medical team which will be here momentarily to treat any wounded. I'm going to ask you all for your cooperation in this matter.” There is no way I can wait for their medical team. Who knows how long they will take. Besides, they won’t be able to treat Maxwell here; they will need to take him somewhere… else. I can’t let that happen. I’ve got to convince this guy to let us out of here.

Great the rest of the crew is talking. No don’t associate me with you. You guys caused the trouble. Ok maybe you didn’t cause it but you didn’t make things any better. Now he’ll think I was with you guys. Besides if I get out of here I’m not returning for you guys. I’m staying on the ship and not getting of until the next planet. Well maybe your attempts at legalities will be able to get me out of here, but I doubt it.

Wait a second Maxwell is moving. Now he is pleading with the officer. He is even worse than I thought. That cut looks really deep. I need to get some pressure on that. A medical kit would be really handy right now. Good thing I always wear my bandana. Quickly but gently I lay Maxwell down on the floor. Let’s see here. I need so wadding. I think I can sacrifice the inner pockets of my vest. Give the old tooth to the seam and there, that one came out rather nicely. That won’t be enough though, I need them both. The other comes out nicely too. Fold them up and that will make a decent patch. The bandana will hold them in place. There nice and tight. I’ll just have to deal with my hair in my eyes. That won’t stop the bleeding completely though but it will slow it down enough. Maxwell can use my vest as a pillow while I plead with guy some more. I’ve got to try to get him out of here.

"Listen,” I look at the Lieutenant Commander as some of my hair falls into my face, “I am Lee Kira Owens, the medic aboard the cargo ship this man and the other two there work and live on. Maxwell is in no state to give a statement, as you can see that. Allow me to give mine first and take him back to our vessel. Due to his disorder, it would be much better if I treat him than a bunch of strangers. He may do something rash as he is confused easily, especially when intoxicated.”

Did I just convince him of something? He’s talking into his communicator. No one else is going to get here for a while. Not fast enough for Maxwell anyway. He knows this. Oh thank the stars, I’ve managed to convinced him of something. Ok try to look appreciative while he is talking to you. Great, he’s giving me an escort. Ok I can deal with an escort. As soon as we get a fair distance away I can radio the captain and she can send some one out to pick us up and they will be able to handle the escort. I bow my head slightly to the good Lieutenant Commander. “Thank you commander. All right Maxwell let's go. Don't be alarmed. We're going back to the ship.” Slowly I lift Maxwell back up and position him back onto my back. I’ll just leave my vest on the floor. I’ve got a few more on the ship. Besides I’ll never get the blood out of it. I smile at the officer asked to follow us. “Let us go, Mister Collins was it?" I try to give him a kind smile and begin to head out the door.

Ok, step one completed. Next step radio the ship and inform the bridge we have an escort. They will figure something out from there. At least I’m finally out.