Medical Secrets (Part One of Two)

Previously…..

“There’s something you should know before we start.” Rahel announced. “We’ve managed to access your records Rashad and we’ve discovered a problem…..”

Now…..

Sitting Rashad down on the diagnostic bio-bed, Rahel began to explain about what they had discovered.

“There’s some sort of implant in your brain, which appears to be monitoring your vital signs.” Rahel stated. “If we remove it, then those readings are going to cease and will most likely alert whoever is monitoring.”

“What do you mean there’s a “bug” in my head ?” She felt herself going pale green as her Vulcanoid eyebrows rose from the shock of the news.

And then it suddenly hit her.

“Beard. But that is impossible, he is dead – Admiral Devore killed him with his own hands.” The way she said the name of the traitor, made it sound as if it were a swear word.

“Excuse me, but who is Beard ?” Asked Logan.

“He is one of us Commander…..” Freelancer replied. “….that is, he was. Until he lost his sanity and betrayed the Federation. Beard was quite a character and he fooled everyone for quite a while.

“The operative word being ‘was’…..” Noted t’Kul. “He was killed three years ago by my former Captain, now Admiral Devore. What I want to know is why Section 31 is still using this implant to monitor me. Who is behind this ?”

*Could this also be the work of Adam Drakara ?* Rashad thought to herself.

“There could be a logical explanation for this.” Azri stated. “Beard was a clone, or to be more precise a generational clone. He had been cloned so many times that his DNA had deteriorated to the point where it started to breakdown, leading to his madness. Who is to say there is not another Beard clone out there ?”

“Another Beard ? Oh, Prophets !” Exclaimed Rashad exhorting the higher powers of Bajor. “Okay. What’s the bottom line ? Can you get this monstrosity out of my head, Doctor ?”

“To be honest, I have no idea how to extract the device. If I had an idea how it was originally implanted, then I may be able to work out how to reverse the process.” Rahel admitted. “Unless I can figure that out, then we can’t use the cure without setting off the device and if I make a mistake, then I could end up killing you. First we need to find a way to prevent whoever’s monitoring from realising that the implant has been removed.””

“I may have a solution that problem.” Logan suggested. He had been examining the schematics of the device whilst Rahel had explained the situation to Rashad.

“What do you have ?” Rashad asked.

“I’ve been studying these schematics of the device and I think that we could use a modified tricorder to keep the device active.” Logan suggested. “The device is basically made up of three components, the sensor net which monitors Rashad’s vital signs, a generator which uses the blood flow within her brain for power and a storage device, which holds information for later transmission. We could upload a tricorder with false data and pass it across to sensor net.”

“Create a feedback loop, that could work.” Rashad suggested. “But how do we maintain a constant stream of data whilst Rahel attempts to remove the device.”

“We can’t, but I think I’ve found a way to access the central core.” Logan replied. “I should be able to upload data from the console afterwards and make it look like the data was recorded as a constant stream. I’d like to at least try.”

“OK.” Rashad said. “See if you can get access to the core.”

Logan started to work on the console and a few seconds later managed to access the device’s central core. Suddenly Rashad started to convulse uncontrollably. Rahel picked up a medical tricorder and started to scan Rashad’s head.

“Logan, something’s wrong.” Rahel announced. “All of Rashad’s brain functions are erratic, the device must have some sort of fail-safe.”

“Hang on.” Logan suggested, furiously typing away at the console. “There. How are the readings now ?”

Rashad had stopped convulsing and was now laid flat on the bio-bed, eyes closed as if asleep. Rahel ran the tricorder over her once more. Although the readings had returned to normal, something was still not right.

“Her autonomic functions have returned to normal, but she appears to be in some sort of trance. Her brainwave patterns are almost non-existent.” Rahel announced. “I can’t pick up any brain function at all, it’s as if her mind is gone. What did you do ?”

“I think the device is much more sophisticated that we first thought.” Logan replied. “I think it has the ability to override the subjects brain completely and take over. I want to do a quick test.”

Suddenly Rashad’s left arm slowly rose from the table and then back down again.

“How did you do that ?” Rahel enquired.

“The device has taken complete control of Rashad’s body, both conscious and unconscious, that’s why she had the convulsions. When I first accessed the device, it was swamped with information from Rashad’s brain and couldn’t control everything. As soon as I managed to access the control program, she stopped.” Logan explained. “The device has taken over all her unconscious functions, breathing, circulating blood and controlling her muscles.

“Will she remember anything ?” Azri enquired.

“I doubt it.” Logan replied. “The device is keeping her body alive, but her mind, her conscious is asleep. The device is not sophisticated enough to process all the data it’s receiving, so it’s discarding everything superfluous, such as our conversation. Rashad hears what we’re saying, but the device is not processing it.”

“Maybe that’s how they managed to get the device in her brain in the first place.” Rahel hypothesised. “If they could ‘shut-down’ her memory, attaching the device would be far easier and she’d have no recollection of the procedure.”

“Then all you have to do is work out how to get the device out.” Logan stated. “I’ll start working on the tricorder.”

Rahel looked around the room and examined some of the instruments. Suddenly she realised that the answer was right in front of her. “

Azri, activate the diagnostic table.” Rahel ordered. “Access the scans Rashad’s brain and pin-point the location of the device.”

Azri moved across to the console at the foot of the bio-bed and accessed the diagnostic program. A holographic image of Rashad’s internal body appeared a foot above her real body.

“I’ve located the device.” Azri announced. An area of Rashad’s brain started to flash and Azri tapped a few keys and enlarged the image being projected.

“Can you access the ship’s transporters from the console.” Rahel enquired.

“I can do better than that.” Azri replied. “There’s a transporter system built into the bio-bed, what would you like me to do ?”

“I want you to transport the device out of Rashad’s brain.” Rahel replied. “I’ll try and stop any bleeding and neural damage caused by it’s removal.”

“In three, two, one….” Azri counted down. Seconds later a small device the size of a pea appeared on the side of the bio-bed. Rahel worked fast to keep Rashad alive, with the help of Azri and the diagnostic bed systems.

Minutes later, they were done. Logan meanwhile had taken the device and attached it to a tricorder he’d modified. He’d managed to recreate several days worth of data for the device to analysis and created a system to feed the data slowly into the device.

“How’s she doing Rahel ?” Logan asked.

“She’s still in some kind of coma.” Rahel replied “But her vital signs are stabilising, let’s do what we came here to do and get out of here.”

Azri passed Rahel the hypospray containing the cure for Rashad and Rahel injected it. All three watched as the readings from the bio-bed showed the progress of the cure through Rashad’s system.

“It’s working.” Rahel announced. “The cure is attacking all the infected tissue and destroying it. Her vital signs are stable and look….. her brainwave patterns are starting to grow stronger.”

Rashad started to stir on the bed, slowly at first, but gradually she came back to reality.

“What happened ?” Rashad enquired. “The last thing I remember was you wanting to access the device in my head.”

“Well there’s good news and bad news.” Logan announced. “The device is out and still working, but we discovered a much more sinister use for the device.”

“So what’s the bad news ?” Rashad asked.

“It not only monitored you vital signs, but it also had the capability to take complete control of your body.” Logan replied. “For about two minutes, I had complete control of your body.”

“That’s not such bad news.” Rashad remarked. “If the implant is out and the feedback system is working, then I’m free.”

“I’ve discovered something else about the device, you’re not the only one to have such an implant.” Logan stated. “Take a look at this.”

Rashad looked at the console Logan had been working at. It showed a long list of names, but one name stood out.

“It’s a list of all Section 31 operatives who have been implanted, plus a few other individuals……” Logan stated. “…. including Lieutenant Moss. Where you aware he worked for Section 31 ?”

“Yes.” Rashad replied. “From this list I would say that almost every Section 31 operative recruited within the last twenty years has been implanted.”

“I’ve downloaded the data to my tricorder, we can deal with whoever implanted these devices later.” Logan suggested. “For now I think we should get back to the Hellcat and get out of here.”

“How long do we have ?” Rahel asked.

“About another ten minutes.” Azri replied. “I’d sure like to know more about who did this, can you get any more information ?”

“No, there’s some sort of data lock.” Logan replied. “We’d need to get to the central core and extract anymore information from there.”

“The core’s not far from here, we could get the data.” Azri suggested.

“I’d certainly like to know just how far Section 31 has taken this….” Rashad commented “….and why ?”

“Rahel, you and Rashad head back to the Hellcat.” Logan ordered. “Prepare to launch as soon as we get back.”

“Logan, we should stick together.” Rahel protested.

“I need you to get Rashad back to the Hellcat.” Logan said sternly. “I’ll be OK.”

Logan and Azri headed for the computer core, whilst Rahel and Rashad remained in the Medical lab.