*** Somewhere on the Research Station *** Suddenly Peter felt far more relaxed and his worries and fears far less important. Even the thought of the alien ghouls lurking just few meters away lost on importance as the aliens looked now so funny to him. It was virtually the first time in few days that Peter smiled for a while. But the situation between the ODA and the aliens started to change. It almost looked like the aliens came to a decission and now hastened to turn it into reality. The probablity was high that the decission the aliens made was ... 'to destroy the puny humans'. "Help me get him to a safer place" Rangi said glancing at Mercedes.A short distance away the ODA team continued to fire and advance on the aliens. Mercedes put Peter's left arm around her shoulders and Rangi took the right arm. Together they lifted him up and started moving him out of the way to a safe place. Mercedes hoped they would run into the rest of the away team soon so that they could get off the damned station. The medicament dose was most probably quite strong, cause Peter felt still very easy and nothing worried him. A broad smile on his face surely draw the Fleet officers carrying him mad. TIll now had the ODA the upper hand in this skirmish, as they've managed to push the aliens backwards. Their modified lasers, even if not able to harm them, managed to stop them from advancing. But no longer ... the ghoul soldiers seemed to get stronger somehow and now THEY advanced towards the ODA members. {They're coming back} Rangi thought darting a glance to her right."Does that work at all?" she asked, turning to the AMO and pointing at the device that had protected them before. "I think so," Mercedes replied. "I switched its powercell with my phaser's and reactivated it. But there's no certain way of telling without a tricorder." The frantic fire from the ODA members had little to none effect on the ghouls now. They advanced slowly but steadily like dark wraiths, messengers of death. Not even a concentrated fire from all the ODA members could even slow them. Really, those were alien soldiers, shielded and prepared for combat and not just simple alien technicians. The difference was like an armoured knight compared to a squire. Now it was their turn to act ... to kill those humble humans and they really intended to do so. After a little while they were just few feet away from the nearest ODA member. If someone would be looking into the man's eyes now ... he would see fear! Rangi briefly returned Peters smile. "I think we're about to find out!" she told Mercedes."Lets stay as close together as we can...He's in no shape to run for it." she added, looking at Peter. They steered Peter into a small alcove along the corridor wall, and sat down on the floor. Mercedes watched as the ghouls steadily pushed back the ODA unit and hoped the device was working. Seeing the situation slipping out of their hands, the ODA team started to retreat ... noone was a hero (or a fool) enough to meet the aliens in hand to hand combat. Step after step they were backing off the scene and still trying to their luck with their phasers. A tactical retreat is sometimes a good thing ... but now when the enemy is just the same behind you as in front. And that just happened. Someone turned backwards to see the best way where to retreat and cried out loud when he noticed two more aliens blocking their way ... Rangi shrank back against the wall, too aware that they were unsure of the devices power."Its all right Peter" she said quietly holding his arm."They wont see us." Mercedes tried to remain as quiet as possible against the wall. Peter made a muffled sound and she put her hand over his mouth so that he wouldn't attract any attention from the aliens. Jason looked around "Ah Judas three of um; and weapons appear useless; hmmmmm any ideas guys?" Jason waited and heard a negative sighing to himself he glanced around and hummed to himself wondering what he could do. The aliens were merciless ... slowly they 'moved' towards the ODA team and if they would have faces, you could read there: "DEATH! DEATH!" But there was some luck on the human's side cause the aliens have not noticed the three humans hidden under their weak shield and now were the two women and the civilian outside the circle slowly drawn around the ODA team members. Rangi felt she was in a dream.Everything was playing out in front of her.The aliens and their evil intention, the ODA team, cornered now.She glanced at Peter who seemed to watch the proceedings with interest. Mercedes noticed a jefferies tube hatch behind them. She nodded at Rangi and then in the direction of the hatch, waiting to find out if the CMO followed her idea. There was little choice. Rangi knew it would be some time before the sedation wore off enough for Peter to be fully aware of things.She nodded to Mercedes and said to the man at her side "Peter? we're going into the tube...can you go quietly...dont rush..its ok." Peter shrugged in a way like saying: "Sure thing my angel, I would follow you and the tall teal elephant next to you everywhere" Doing what was requested from him, Peter moved behind Mercedes but with relaxation and he took his time like he would be on some trip on Betazed. Peter tried to focus on Mercedes as he slowly made his way behind the Ensign. He smiled broadly like a drunken man (the medicament dose was maybe a bit large indeed) and said quite loudly: "Never saw an speaking elephant! wow!" *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO USS Chimera & Ens Mercedes Carpenter AMO USS Chimera & Lance Corporal Jason Kilpatrick Weapons specialist USS Chimera & Peter Heher Scientist (NPC) by Muma