Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself

Posted on Tue Oct 27th, 2020 @ 10:58am by Commander Taeler Santu M.D.

Mission: The Shadow of Arachne
Location: XO's Office
Timeline: Concurrent with 'Are you afraid of the dark?'
507 words - 1 OF Standard Post Measure

The office seemed smaller than before. The oppressive darkness outside having replaced the view on the fields of stars or even the orange glow of the Badlands. Santu sat behind her desk, looking over reports of people losing focus, some more than others. There was something about this environment that was affecting them and it clearly showed in how they were able to focus on their tasks. Every once in awhile Falor whimpered in the corner. Whatever it was, it affected him as well.

She had gotten herself a cup of tea, a calming, comforting, blend of herbs from across the quadrant. She hoped it would help her into a better mindset, get her ready for what was sure to be a challenging time ahead. She wasn't an astrophysicist but she knew enough to be aware that the situation they were in right now wasn't easy to get out of.

The smelled the tea and was suddenly taken aback by the smell. She looked at the liquid and saw it was dark, much darker than she had remembered making it. She smelled again and it suddenly rang a bell, Kanar. She put the cup on her table and shook her head. It couldn't be Kanar. She had removed the recipe from her personal menu years ago. She stepped around the table and picked the cup up from the other end of the table, taking it back to the replicator. Recycling it and then very consciously ordering another herbal tea.

This time even the glass was different, a traditional Cardassian piece of craftwork. She recognised the patterns from her time in the camp. From the time that the Gul wanted to get on her good side. She swallowed a lump in her throat and immediately recycled that order as well. Stepping back from the replicator without ordering a new cup of tea. She turned to return to her desk and finish her work. Her desk was suddenly set with a lavish feast. Just like the one offered to her by the Gul.

"No..." she shook her head, remembering why it was being offered to her, "No... this can't be happening" she felt her heart pound in her chest, sweat breaking out all over her body, the urge to scream her lungs out welling up inside of her, "NO!" She stepped up to the table and with a fell sweep of her arms she wanted to pushed everything off, onto the floor. Her hands went straight through and the mirage disappeared as she saw her console and a stack of PADDs hit the floor hard, right next to Falor, who startled and shot off into the other corner, trying to find a safe haven.

Santu shook her head again, it felt like she was losing her mind. She had to get to Kane, she wasn't fit for duty. She had tried to deny it for some time now, but it was getting more and more clear that she wasn't fit to be an Executive Officer on a Starfleet vessel.