Preserving The Future - Part 2

Posted on Mon May 12th, 2025 @ 4:46pm by Captain Daegan Baas & Lieutenant Liam O'Riley & Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome

1,765 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Sole Survivor
Location: Bio-Lab
Timeline: MD 15 - 0930

The Trill Science Officer nodded. "Yeah, and for the record. It actually wouldn't take that many wombs over time. Since these are all already fertilized, the ones identified as female would be implanted first. Five can easily start, then upon maturation they carry five more for one pregnancy, then another and so on..." Urushi explained. "However the moral implications are the problem. But, to birth every embryo in these containers naturally on those numbers could take upto around forty to fifty years."

"Sorry, I got rambling again!" Urushi admitted blushing slightly. "I've given it a lot of thought."

"That's quite alright; I know very little about science so any explanation is educational" Liam replied with a grin "So if we make a new container then I hope the forty to fifty years can be drastically cut."

Urushi nodded. "At least for the time being, until the alien we recovered can find a suitable way."

"That would be ideal having someone from that era at least giving us some sort of direction; but for now I can start on a suitable container using poly carbonate panels if you'd care to assist me" Liam replied not minding an extra pair of hands for this project "it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours to complete.

The Trill Science Officer nodded. "Sure," she said with a small smile. "It feels strange, but this container is hopefully going to ensure the survival of an entire species."

{Later}

The container was finished and a site-to-site transport was initiated to get the item from engineering back to the bio-lab. After hooking up the power and converter Liam grinned "Guess we might as well give it a whirl" as he turned the new unit on "Hopefully this will do the trick so the embryos can be moved in."

"And you're sure this will be good to hold them?" Urushi asked. "I'll need to look up how long they can be held in cryo as well."

"Am I sure....not really but this does seem to make the most sense" as he paused "Like I already mentioned this is very, very old tech and sadly we really don't have much to go on either" O'Riley explained still being hopeful.

"Yeah I guess you're right." Urushi nodded. "If we do fail however, at least we tried... right?" She paused for a moment before the container beeped. "How about we transport only a few to begin with? Then if they seem to be OK, we'll transport the rest."

Liam grinned "Spoken like a true scientist; yes that would be a better way to proceed" he replied "I'll watch the readouts on the unit while you transport however many you are comfortable with to start. When you're satisfied with the results then the remaining can join them."

"OK," Urushi smiled as she mover to a nearby console. "I'm going to transport only four of the embryos. I'm not willing to risk any more potential lives than that." She said as her fingers tapped on the console. "Transporting now."

Watching the embryos materialize inside the container, O'Riley kept a constant eye on the readouts. After several minutes he looked at Urushi with a smile "Looks like it's holding so far. Let's give it another thirty minutes or so before you make a decision as to the rest" he suggested.

"Got it. They seem to be adapting well. No signs of shock or changes in their current status." Urushi reported. She stepped away from the console. She thumbed over towards the food replicator set in the wall behind her. "Coffee? Something to drink whilst we wait?"

"Yes a water would be great, thanks" Liam replied. Knowing they had some time to kill he inquired "Just to satisfy my curiosity what is it like being joined with a symbiont."

Urushi trotted over to the replicator and returned with a glass of water for Liam and a coffee for herself. "It's hard to explain properly to people of species that are of non-joining." Urushi said resting her chin between her forefinger and thumb. "For us Trills, it's like... a badge of honour. You're giving up your own individuality, but not in a Borg sort of way. Hmm..."

She paused for a moment. "Let's see how should I explain this..." she turned to look at him. "The easiest way to put it is that it's like a computer. As Urushi Yaotome I was the original firmware. It was like I was the factory settings. But when the Leon symbiot was put into me, I received upgrades to what I am now." She pondered a little more.

"It was a little scary at first. But the symbiote shares more than just memories. It shares traits, knowledge and experiences. So when a host dies, everything they knew and were is passed on. I guess in Human terms the symbiot retains their soul, if not enhances it. A Trill host never really dies in that sort of sense, as long as the Symbiot survives." Urushi explained to him. "Of course, I got Leon by accident, so I hadn't gone through the training to receive the Symbiot. But from the moment Leon accepted me as a host, we are one together. The symbiot is a part of me much like your own heart is a part of you."

"And Haruk, Leon's previous host is also part of me. I'm only the second host. But when I make some decisions, it's like Haruk is there in my head. A bit like having a little advisor full of knowledge that you can tap into. It's useful at times, Haruk was a Starfleet Engineer for twenty six years and then eventually a Captain for Twelve Years." Urushi told him. "But it's not like I just know how to stand there and calibrate the antimatter injectors. If I want that information I have to access Haruk's knowledge through Leon and let me tell you... Haruk... he was a right stubborn asshole at times!" She couldn't help but laugh a little before taking a sip of her coffee.

Listening with much interest while sipping his water "Urushi you are a remarkable person being able to navigate all of that and still keep your sanity" then he paused "Your explanation gives me a whole new appreciation for the Trills as a species. I doubt not many humans could manage such a life without going completely mad."

The thirty minutes went by as Liam rechecked the readings "Looks like things are still holding steady anytime you want to add to the population in the container" he informed the science chief.

Finishing the last dregs of her coffee Urushi returned to the console. Her eyes darted left to right as she read the data. "It seems that you're right." She said with a smile. "Well then. Let's get these little guys and girls over to their new home." She said as she tapped away. "Oh and if you're wondering, I was aesthetic to determine what sex each of the embryos are by their DNA structure." She explained. "However, once we transfer them we'll be taking full responsibility for them. Until we can find a way to either return them to their people, or find a way for them to be grown and born, they'll be in our technology and will rely purely on our power grid... Should we ask Captain Bass about this?"

"That's probably a smart move Lieutenant. The only time I've seen the Captain a little....how should I put this....irate was just before my interview for engineering chief. It seems the person before me thought he was the gods gift to Star Fleet; trust me I don't think either one of us ever want to be on the receiving end of that" Liam concluded with a smirk.

"That makes sense..." Urushi replied. She tapped her comm badge. "Yaotome to Captain Bass..." she said, hopefully she wasn't disturbing him.

[Bridge]

Daegan sat reviewing the outline for his report to Starfleet on their current situation when the call from his science officer came in. Tapping his badge, "Baas here, what can I do for you Lieutenant?"

Urushi briefly described the current situation and even proudly quoted that those could be against the prime directive. However it was the only way to save the embryos. "What are your orders Captain?"

Rising from his chair walked forward thinking, they were walking a very thin line as it was already. He knew those around him were watching and listening, waiting to see what kind of man their Captain was. If he stopped them a species would die. Unfortunately had they not come along that was probably exactly what would have happened. If he allowed them to continue...but they would only be ensuring they remained in the same condition that they had been found in. That was splitting a seriously fine hair but... "You have permission to proceed, but only as far as keeping them on ice. Commander Hunt has gone to check on our guessed, why don't you meet us in my ready room, I'm sure he will more than curious about those pods."

[Bio Lab]

"Understood Sir," Urushi said as she looked over at Liam just as the channel cut off. "Ok, let's get these to their new home."

"Works for me" O'Riley answered feeling much better having the Captain's permission to proceed.

Nodding the Trills fingers danced over the console. A series of small transporter sounds could be heard as she worked. The whole procedure only took a couple of moments at most. Finally she raised her hands a d stepped away, visible proud painted on her face. "It's done. They're all in their new homes."

Liam smiled "Fantastic. If you need anything pertaining to this or if you need help with anything else in the future please don't hesitate to call" he commented "Besides we make a pretty good team you and I. Well I guess I'd better get back to main engineering before Lieutenant Sovak sends security looking for me."

"Yeah, it seems we do," Urushi replied softly with a smile. "If I require your help again, I'll be sure to seek you out. You best get off, the last thing we need is security turning up looking for you." She laughed. "Thanks for your help."

"You're welcome, anytime" Liam replied with a smile. Turning he left the Bio-lab pleased he had been able to lend a helping hand.


Posting by:

Captain Daegan Bass
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Urushi Yaotome
Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant Liam O'Riley
Chief Engineering Officer

 

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