It was only three in the morning when Maruu woke up. He was a bit tired from last night's excitement. He saw Lt. Roen next to him. He got up from the bed to return to his quarters when he realized he was naked. He quickly put on his clothes and left a note on a PADD for Roen. Maruu headed to the nearest functional turbolift. He entered it quickly. "Bridge." Before long, the doors opened to the bridge.
Surok was on duty, Valdago was dozing off. Surok spoke loudly in order to wake Valdago. "Hello, Captain!"
Ensign Valdago awoke with a start. "Yes! Captain! Hello!"
Maruu had to smile. "At ease."
[Lataro to Virgo.] A voice came through the com.
"Go ahead, Commander," answered Surok.
[I am reading some life support functions still active on board. Can you verify?]
Surok checked his panel. "There are faint signs coming from within the ship."
[Confirmed. I am going to check it out.] The com line closed.
"Tell me that was from the holodeck, Commander." Maruu showed anger.
"No, Sir. Commander Lataro is on the J'Rigagh investigating the rest of the ship."
Maruu hit the control panel in front of him making Valdago, who was sleeping again, jump. "Damn!" He left the bridge and headed for Shuttle Bay One.
When he got there, he saw K'Lara attempting to run a shuttle. "Captain!" She was startled when he walked into the shuttle.
"What's next? Mutiny?" he said angrily.
"Sorry, sir, but Jon is on that ship and..."
"I know, Lieutenant. We're going to go get him." He began starting sequence and K'Lara flew the shuttle out of the Virgo and into open space.
Location: J'Rigagh
K'Lara and Maruu were both ready with phaser rifles and environmental suits. They landed next to the LaForge and entered the vessel. After ten minutes, they came to the door of the cargo bay.
"There seem to be some life signs on the other side of this door. But the cargo bay is pressurized so I suggest we beam ourselves to the other side," explained K'Lara.
"Agreed," replied Maruu. "Maruu to Shuttle One computer. Beam K'Lara and myself approximately five meters in front of our current position."
They disappeared from where they were and reappeared five meters in front, within the cargo bay. They looked around the cargo bay for Jonathan. All they saw were animals in cages. They seemed to be the one's giving off the life signs. Suddenly, the animals began to screech.
A Kirusan came out of the shadows and grabbed K'Lara. He trapped her in a bear hug and began to squeeze. She began to feel nauseous and dizzy. Maruu grabbed a metal tube from the floor and began to attack the Kirusan. The Kirusan backhanded him so that Maruu flew against the hull.
A smaller figure jumped on the Kirusan's back and made him let go of K'Lara. She fell to the floor and attempted to catch her breath. The Kirusan flipped Lataro, now visible in the light, over his shoulder. The front of his helmet was cracked. The Kirusan kicked Lataro taking the air out of him as well.
Immediately, Maruu jumped to his feet. "Hey, you!" Maruu grabbed his phaser and shot the Kirusan it the face. This caused no damage. It only angered the Kirusan. The alien shot two energy beams from each of his eyes against Maruu. Maruu managed to get out of the way, and the energy beams hit the hull, causing a breach.
Maruu flew out of the hole in the hull and grabbed on to the wall. The Kirusan flew, hitting Maruu on his way out, and both were expelled into space. K'Lara held fast to the hull as she almost flew out into space. Lataro, who had a cracked helmet, was about to fly to his death when K'Lara managed to grab his hand. She held him close and used the phaser to weld their two helmets together.
Lataro smiled; he had blood all over his face. "Quick thinking."
K'Lara smiled. "Thanks."
"LaForge, two to beam up." They disappeared.
Maruu held on to the dead Kirusan. His blood vessels had ruptured, and he was a disgusting thing to look at. Suddenly, the LaForge came to the rescue. [Lataro to Captain Maruu. You ready for transport?]
Maruu grinned. "Yes, Commander. Oh, and Jon, you're on report for the next week."
[Yes, sir.] He sounded happy.
Maruu disappeared along with the Kirusan. They would all be returning to the
Virgo.