Salem Sector, Station Salem One, Civilian Quarters:
She sat in darkness with the deck, shuffling the cards with casual ease as she sang softly, lovingly to herself. "It's time to play the music... it's time to light the lights... it's time to get things started, because it's our Grand Opening Night..." She chuckled. "That rush of anticipation... the music... the crowds... the mayhem... Shall we see what to expect with the Tarot Club on Station Salem One?"
She set out the first Three Card Spread. "The Sun: success, celebration. The Six of Wands: victory, reward. And the Nine of Pentacles: fruits of labour, luxury. Oh, Brother, Dear Brother, your coffers will be full once again... at least, until your self-destructive hunger for gambling depletes them, once again.
But what about the poor people of Salem One? What can they expect from my efforts tonight?"
She set out the second Spread, making sounds of mock sorrow at the results. "The Five of Cups: loss, heartbreak. The Three of Swords: suffering, grief. And the Moon, Reversed: confusion, fear. Maybe Simon could purchase some lilies for the bereaved? Or are lilies poisonous to cats?
And, pray tell, what will our beloved Max Zorin bring when he finally joins us here?"
She set out the Third Spread. "The Wheel of Fortune, Reversed: loss of control, bad luck. The Ace of Swords, Reversed: confusion, brutality, disorder.
And... Death."
She set aside the rest of the deck and picked up the Death card, contemplating it like the photo of an old lover. "I know, I know, we are never meant to take this one literally. It's really about change, cycles, metamorphosis. It doesn't have to be about actual death.
But where's the fun in that?"
She kissed the card.
Come, Sweetheart. And while you come, I will spread Chaos out on the ground like a blanket, for the picnic.
*
Deck 1 - Commodore's Quarters:
Kami emerged from the cubs' bedroom, only having just settled Sreen down back into bed - this time ensuring the exoframe was completely switched off this time. Poor little thing, it must have been some nightmare. And to be honest, their little lives were so tumultuous, it was astounding that there weren't more nights with bad dreams.
The door chimed as she was refilling her wine glass, and she carried her glass with her as she approached, wondering who would be visiting that time of night, when they could just send a comm- "Ange?"
Cadet Ange Boladede stood in the corridor, clearly livid with rage. A part of Kami had expected such a reaction to what he had undergone today; regardless of how much of it he had brought upon himself, it was natural to feel anger at being caught out. "Cadet, it's not appropriate to come to my quarters-"
"Bitch."
She glanced down, saw a phaser in his hand.
She instinctively tried to dodge and kick the weapon out of his grip.
She was quick.
He was quicker.
The energy bolt struck her, sending her flying backwards. Her wine glass shattered against a table leg and spilled shards and red liquid onto the carpet. She lay there, crumpled up, the clothes at her chest smouldering.
*
Boladede stood there, weapon still raised, not quite believing what he had just done. Not quite believing it was real.
Maybe it wasn't real. He might have fallen asleep in his bunk earlier, and was dreaming all this. Yes. Yes, he would wake up soon, maybe socialise with the rest of Alpha Squad more than he had to date-
Kami coughed, sputtered. Brought him back to reality.
Bitch.
He had come looking for Commodore Hrelle. But this one would do.
He raised his weapon once more. He had cobbled the weapon together from spare parts, and the power cell was almost depleted, but there should have been enough charge left for one more shot, and if he delivered it point blank shot to the head, it would be enough.
He drew closer, bent down-
A roar distracted him, and he turned instinctively to fire at the object torpedoing at him.
He was quick.
Misha was quicker.
The pyjama-clad cub leapt onto Boladede, claws and fangs bared, raking the side of the cadet's head and knocking aside the weapon arm with his leg, using a combat technique he had learned from Cousin C'Rash. The force of the impact sent them both backwards against the wall, as Misha continued the attack relentlessly, driven by an overriding ferocity.
Boladede finally flung him off, sending Misha flying into the nearest wall and landing on the desk, knocking over the terminal and books.
Blood seeping from the wounds on his head, Boladede clamped his hand over the wounds and staggered back out into the corridor, needing to take care of this... and to find an escape from this place.
*
Misha ignored the pain in his arm from hitting the wall, stumbling back to his mother. "Mama! Wake up! He's gone! I protected you! MAMA!"
She lay there, spasming, her back and limbs cambering in pain.
He pressed the Alarm on the wall, but nothing happened!
He rushed out into the corridor, looked around, could smell the Bad Man in the air, but knew he was gone. He went to the nearest doors, banged on them, called for help, receiving no response. Stupid people!
He returned. He had to get help, he had to get Papa or Sasha or Mru or-
He had an idea, and raced up to Mama's Starfleet jacket, taking off the combadge and bringing it over to Mama's paw, letting her biometric signature activate it as he shouted at it, remembering all of the right commands to get attention. "Emergency! Red Alert! Intruder Alert! Medical Alert! Everything Alert!"
The voice of the Station Chief, Captain Kate Sternhagen, replied.
"Who's on Counselor Hrelle's channel? Is that you, Misha?"
"Captain Kate! Mama needs help! A cadet shot her! I protected her! Please, get Papa, get Doc Cowboy!"
"Okay, Misha, you stay with her, help is coming!"
Seconds later, Kate's voice came over the station intercom.
"Intruder Alert! Security Team to Deck 1! Medical Team to Commodore Hrelle's Quarters!"
*
Deck 5 - Broadway:
Hrelle had stayed in Tarot long enough to meet and greet some of the newer station crew who had shown up for the opening of the new nightclub, before deciding to leave the younger patrons to it. He strolled alone with his thoughts: thoughts about the evolving situation in the Quadrant, thoughts about the recent battle the Katana fought with that Defiant-class vessel, thoughts about Sasha and Mru, who were growing closer and closer-
"Intruder Alert! Security Team to Deck 1! Medical Team to Commodore Hrelle's Quarters!"
His combadge chirped for attention alongside Sternhagen's announcement over the general intercom, but he was already running as he slapped it and reported, "I'm on my way!" He didn't wait for the lifts but entered a nearby vertical Jefferies Tube, ascending quickly - noting fresh human scent and partial handprints from blood on the wall and ladder rungs, but not stopping or even slowing down to investigate further.
He emerged on Deck 1, finding Security crewmembers with phasers and tricorders, all of them sensibly stepping aside as he raced down the corridor, seeing Sternhagen with Station Security Chief Lt Cmdr Salvo standing outside his open doorway while he heard familiar, urgent voices within, and smelled more blood.
And ashen-looking Sternhagen held up a hand. "Esek-"
She barely avoided him torpedoing into her as he entered his quarters.
Doc Masterson and an Emergency Medical Team surrounded a fallen Kami on the blood-stained carpet stabilising her as they were loading her onto an antigrav gurney. Nearby, Misha stood, his pyjamas and fur matted with human blood, while Professor Tallus, Weynik's mother and one of Salem One's resident Station Scientists, stood beside him, keeping a supportive arm around the cub.
Hrelle said nothing, waiting for Masterson to look up long enough to report, "Phaser beam, cardiac and tissue damage to her heart but we have her on Bypass until we get her into surgery. We'll keep you posted."
As the team moved to raise Kami up, Hrelle's heart sank at the sight of the life support module fitted onto his wife's breastbone, and the scent of burnt fur and flesh, and he forced himself to not interfere further as he stepped aside to let them depart with her to the Hospital, while he approached his son, kneeling down, his eyes and nose confirming that none of the blood on Misha was his own. "Are you alright, Son?"
The cub nodded, though it was obvious he was slipping into shock over whatever had happened. Hrelle looked at Tallus, the Roylan explaining, "I was putting the grandkids to bed when I heard Misha isha faced her. "Like you, and Eydiir, but no hair!" He touched the left side of his own head in several places. "I bit him here, and clawed him here, and made him drop his gun and run away! You go get him!"
"She will," Hrelle assured him, looking at Sternhagen again. "Sasha and Mru were in the new club when I left them, they won't have their combadges on them, send someone to get them here, on the double, they'll stay here and watch over the cubs - with a Security team outside the door. Then we'll get back to Ops."
Sternhagen regarded him with concern. "You can go to the Hospital, Esek. You're a husband."
"I'm also the Station Commander. We have to find this cadet, whoever he is-"
