*** USS Chimera *** Athena stepped away from the small group that consisted of Shane and some ODA personnel. She stood in front of her door contemplating that feeling of danger that she sensed and then found her thoughts wandering to Rob. {What is he up to?} An uneasiness settled over her and she began to fidget a bit as thoughts ran through her head. {I'll just go find him} she decided as she turned the corner passing the small group and heading toward the turbo lift. To look at her one would think she held a storm in her eyes as they seemed more grey than blue with the thoughts running through her head. Rob had left Athena on the Bridge. He knew 'officially' he should have put her under arrest, reported to the XO and let him decide the next move. But in the given circumstances he had no problem with his own decision. He had stepped out of the turbo lift on Deck 5, wanting to take a moment to check on the injured men in sickbay but having gone only a few paces, he had received an urgent message. +Taps+ Lieutenant? Connell here...Sir.. theres an intruder on Deck 14 + Rob had gritted his teeth and raced back to the lift tapping his combadge to answer: +Taps + On my way.+ Athena was going by her senses more than knowing where she wanted to go as she stepped on the lift. As a consequence Athena had the lift stop at every floor. She'd step out into the corridor wait a couple of seconds get back on the lift and go down one floor and do the same thing over again until what she was sensing was almost overpowering. The alien looked around at the primative suroundings and thought {I can't believe these lifeforms aren't already dead, but as long as they have what we need..... thats fine with me.} He remained silent taking in his situation as the foreign lifeform came nearer to his position. {They aren't exactly quiet either} he thought as he continued to do the job he was given as he kept one eye on the puney figures that were gathering at an end of the corridor. "Where is it?" The lift doors were not fully opened before Rob stepped out, demanding an answer.Cpl Connell fell into step beside the Lt. "Along here sir." he replied. "Just the one this time. It seems to be interested in one of the antimatter storage pods." Robs mouth tightened to a line of displeasure."How many men?" "Two sir..Benton and Harris." They turned a corner and slowed. Rob and Connell took in the situation. "Its stationary Sir" Benton said in a whisper "Hasnt made a move from there in five minutes." Athena took a few steps one way off the lift and decided that was not the direction she desired and turned to go the other way. The alien looked at the merry little band checking out how far away they still were. His tenticle whipped into the air as if he were stretching and then as he touched the button on his belt he tried to push his tenticle through the wall. {This is supposed to work!!} The four marines, at a signal from the Lt, edged forward, each holding rifles aimed steadily at the intruder. {Antimatter pods......} Rob ran through various options in his mind "You two" he whispered "Move along there...draw it away.Connell we'll move in from this side when its out of range of the pod." Harris and Benton moved forward with practised stealth. Athena slowed her pace as she felt the presence of an alien. It was a feeling she was becoming all too familiar with all too quickly. She made an effort to move more quietly. The alien noticed the movement of the lifeforms and withdrew his tenticle from the wall. He took in his surroundings again. He whipped one of his tenticles out into the air and it landed on and grasped one of the small sticks the silly lifeforms was holding onto. The stupid lifeform didn't let go of the stick. The alien shook his tenticle in the air shaking the marine, who still held onto his weapon,up like a bottle of vinegrete dressing. "Fire!" Robs command coincided with the phaser blasts that hit the alien in quick succession. Benton clung to the rifle as long as he could, even managing to fire it in a futile attempt to hit the creature.In a moment his grip was broken as he was flung through the air and knocked senseless against the wall. Athena heard the phasers fire as a feeling of dread fell over her. She quickened her steps to a trot. She came to an abrupt halt as she saw the small group that included Rob and an alien. The alien briefly hugged the weapon to his body and seemed to gain strength from it before he discarded it by throwing in it the direction of another marine,then let out a thundering click as he was struck by the phasers and then he grabbed another one. His tenticle slithered around another stick and this time the marine looked like a maracca being shaken to a lively tune. Harris, ducking down to avoid the thrown weapon, was not quick enough to recover before his own rifle was taken.He let go and stumbled backwards, grabbing the fallen marine as he did so. "Seperate!" Rob shouted, continuing to fire. Connell ran crouching towards the nearest corner, taking cover there and firing again a moment later."Theres no effect!" he shouted"It's not moving back!". The alien paused, seeming to assess its enemies.From the corner of his eye Rob saw a movement but kept his concentration on the shimmering floating form in front of him. Athena took a few more steps closer. She could sense the pain, the fear, the anger and the confussion. {{Stop!!}} her mind screamed as she came to a stop in the middle of the corridor. The alien got an odd sensation as a smaller lifeform appeared in his view. The larger lifeforms were scattering around. He swung his tentical that held the stiff stick at one of the silly forms crouching along the pathway. The alien hadn't moved from its spot until this moment as it moved a couple of feet toward Athena. Rob saw the form begin to glide towrds him and heard the corporal shout:" Counsellor...Go back" {What the...?} Rob spun round and froze for a split second as his mind registered who stood three steps behind him. "Get back!" he echoed the shout, for once fear sounded in his voice.He made to move towards the silent figure realizing that Athena was intent on the alien and taking no notice of her own danger. Athena stood still mentally willing the alien to stop. At the sound of Rob's voice her concentration was broken for a second. With the mental message silenced the alien stopped as well. He liked the curious feelings that the smaller lifeform gave him and he tried to speak to it. Athena gave Rob a brief glance and then the alien began to make a series of clicks. Some were sharp and others were soft but it was very definately being directed in her direction. She trembled slightly but stood her ground in the hopes that she could help. With her concentration focused back on the alien it moved towards her again. With every advancement the alien made toward Athena she took a step or two backward. Seeing her slow steps,Rob seized Athena by her left arm "Get going...move!" It seemed to him she was in the dream like state he had witnessed before. He shook her arm roughly, desperate that she should be aware of the threat.He glanced round and saw the alien was closer than he had thought.Stepping in front of Athena he raised the rifle to his hip and fired a prolonged burst at the creature. The clicking of the alien had been getting louder with every backward step she took and Rob grabbing her shocked her. She could sense a frustration from both the alien and Rob. It felt as though both man and alien were frustrated with her lack of understanding and she trembled briefly. The alien's tentical reached out and slithered around Rob's waist. The alien grasped him roughly and moved him out of the way. Athena visably shook at the sight of what was happening before her as her mind screamed a mental anguish that seemed to disturb the alien. The Alien dropped Rob's now limp body to the ground and then he disappeared from sight. Still shaking Athena dropped to her knees next to Rob's body. His one thought was to keep the shapeless form away from Athena.It was so close he could see a shimmering 'skin' like texture. A seering pain ran through his body, stronger than he had ever imagined a pain could be.It petrified him. Every muscle froze, the breath in his lungs burned like a fire.The agonised scream stayed caught in his throat.{Athena} stayed caught in his mind. He knew he was on the floor. The intensity of the pain had lessened and he no longer saw the jellied skin of his attacker. Athena could sense Rob's immense pain as she knelt next to him. Still trembling she took his hand and tried to make him as comfortable as possible. She was barely consious of somone calling for one of the AMOs. {Athena...} It was an effort to think.His whole body seemed to be changing somehow, as though he was no longer a part of it.He tried to move his arm, his fingers, yet could not feel a sensation.Athenas face was very close and he attempted, without success, to speak her name.Thoughts he wanted to form no longer came easily.His grey eyes closed and when they reopened,he was no longer sure who was beside him. Athena? Rangi?.... he couldnt tell. From a long distance he heard someone say his name. Athena said his name softly and a warm tear slid down her cheek as she stared into eyes that no longer saw her. *** End Log *** Lt Athena Wellington Counsellor USS Chimera & Lt Rob Richards Assistant ODA Commander USS Chimera & Alien (npc) by Jass & ODA team (npcs) by Rangi