[sb118-ops] LtJg Sasch Kreshkova - The Song

[Evan Ross]

This heart-wrenching sim from @Sasch Kreshkova really got me good. Watching such a loved & bright member of the crew being turned really puts the Borg-horror on a new level. Excellent sim! 👏👏 

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(( U.S.S. Narendra - Deck 1 - Main Bridge - Sol System ))

Sasch sat at her console trying to get her hands to work properly.  She had no time to think through what could be preventing her.  She had to fly.  Attack.  Evade.  Reposition.  Roll.  Hide.  Until they stopped - not of her own accord - they hadn’t stopped.  

Just when her fingers stiffened further, someone with a white ponytail materialized in front of her facing the viewscreen.  But once the person appeared, not only were her fingers hard to move, but her whole body felt almost outside of her own control.

Taybrim: Who are you? What is going on?

They clicked their tongue in admonishment.

???: You're late, Sal.

As Sasch looked around, she saw notes of recognition on some of the faces, but she had no idea who this person could be.  She certainly wasn’t going to ask.

Korras/Tito: ?

As the woman turned, Sasch, who was closest to her, nearly gasped.  She was a Borg.  In place of an eye, she had an implant that wound its way down her neck.  Her hands - which weren’t hidden by her uniform also showed the telltale black pieces of augmentation.  But the woman’s hand was set softly on the handle of her phaser.  The red beam from near her eye swept across everyone on the bridge including Sasch.  The young woman wanted to put more distance between this Borg and her…  Why couldn’t she?  

Taybrim: ?

Their view returned to the Commodore in the center seat.

???: I was once that individual. :: A pause :: I am Solus of Borg.

Taybrim: ?

Solus: She was assimilated. :: They scanned the bridge again. :: Just as you will be.

Oo  No…No… oO  Sasch couldn’t even think of what to do.  Instead any thoughts were drowned out by a melodic hum within her head.  She could hear a melody and a myriad of harmonies.  It tried lulling her into a state of complacency.  Sasch blinked several times, trying to focus her mind as the song called her to relax.  To listen.  To let the song penetrate all of her - to permeate each sinew of her being.

Bridge Crew: ?

While Sasch wasn’t able to move, apparently others on the bridge could.  A phaser bolt struck out hitting the woman, Solus, on the shoulder - to no avail.  A second blast was repeated after the first proved to be ineffective.  

But then the worst thing that Sasch’s brain could imagine happened.  The woman - this Solus - took a step toward her and extended her hands to welcome them.   The green haired young woman wanted to heave a sigh of relief.  Oo Wait! oO she thought, unable to believe the words that had traversed through her brain.  She wasn’t relieved that they were being welcomed.  But some part inside of her was glad.  Oo NO! oO she yelled silently into her mind.  Oo I should be angry or frightened or determined not to let Solus gain control over me.  Why aren’t I? Why am I almost disappointed that I wasn’t assimilated? oO   Her fingers twitched again.

Solus: Surrender your vessel. Prepare for assimilation.

Kreshkova:  I am ready.

Oo Wait! Did those words just come out of my mouth?  No!  I am not ready to be assimilated.  What did I say?  Why would I say such a thing? oO  But once again the song wound around and through her addled brain calming her, comforting her, soothing her.

Bridge Crew: ?

Solus then turned to look at the Commodore.  Dropping one hand to her side, she held her other hand parallel to the floor.

Solus: Resistance is futile.

But then Solus snapped her fingers, and Sasch lost her seat and fell to the ground on all fours as her body wracked itself with pain.  A scream ripped through her lungs.  And while her body still looked like her body … at least from what she could see, she could feel something growing within her, flooding through her systems - her lymbic system, her circulatory system, her musculo-skeletal system. Besides her body being engulfed by this growing and seemingly unstoppable force, it felt like another spirit had been inserted into her body - this body that every nanosecond felt more and more foreign to her.

Solus: There is no need to fight it.

Sasch looked up into Solus’s mechanical eyes.  It took every ounce of determination she could muster for her to speak the words

Kreshkova: I must…fight … it.

Finding no sympathy from the Borg in front of her, she turned her eyes filled with fright in the direction of the Commodore.

Kreshkova:  Please…don’t…let…

She would have continued if she had been able to, but instea,d she rolled over onto her side and cried out again in pain.

Kreshkova:  Will….not…give…

More than seeing it, Sasch felt the console in front of her - her console be brought into the song that played in her head.  It was another note in the symphony of the “we.”  Together, the parts played.  There was movement, point and counterpoint, crescendos and diminuendos, trills, and runs.  Everything was woven together in a masterful song, that tried to worm its way into Sasch’s head.

McLaren: :: Strained, terrified :: oO Sal! Help-- Oo

The woman disappeared, but Sasch - or what was left of her - remained on the bridge.  Her eyes - and they were still her eyes - focused on the man in the center seat.  

Kreshkkova:  Help….me….

Taybrim/Tito/Korras: ?

Kreshkova:  ::Even while her skin took on an ashen hue::  Can’t….give….in…

Taybrim/Tito/Korras: ?

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tags/tbc

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LtJg Sasch Kreshkova

Helm

SB 118

OPSO240103SK2