For the first time in days, Commander Yilaan's eyes fluttered open, and she had a coherent thought; 'I'm hungry.' She'd been lying in Sickbay during the entire trip back, as it had taken Dr. Giovanni some time to empty her body of the flood of sedatives that the Monroe's crew had given her during the occupation to keep her under. Her second thought was, 'I've never had such a terrible headache in my life!' and she quickly called out to the doctor.
"Good, you're awake Commander!" said Dr. Giovanni. "We've been worried about you!"
Yilaan made a pained expression and pointed at her head. Marisa Giovanni understood, and soon injected her with a hypospray of pain killers.
Jevor, who'd been having a conversation with some of the medical staff about his exploits aboard the Monroe, then strolled over with a smile on his face. "Good to see you still in one piece Commander Yilaan."
Yilaan's expression of surprise and shock was priceless. "You're dead!" she said simply.
Jevor shook his head, "Nope, the good doctor here says I'm just fine."
"Then I must be dead," Yilaan replied after a moment's thought.
"Nearly so, Commander," Dr. Giovanni inserted. "They injected you with enough sedatives to destroy the autonomic functions of your body. Fortunately we regained control of the ship in time for me to look after you."
"They? Who? What?" was all Yilaan could muster. She then remembered the telepathic attack on her. "I must speak to the captain immediately," she said, trying to rise.
"I suggest you lie down Commander!" Giovanni ordered. "I have a few million tests to run, and you're in no condition to move."
"But the captain has to hear me! Wu and the others, they've....," Yilaan started to complain.
"They've been affected by a mixture of drugs and brain-washing, and all Wu's demonstrations of good nature are merely a lure to trick us? We know all this; you've been unconscious for days, Commander," Dr. Giovanni replied. She then proceeded to give her a quick run-down of the events of the past few days.
Seeing that everything was taken care of, Yilaan, after voicing anger and dismay at what had happened, said simply, "On that note, I think I'll lie down. How is the captain?"
"Recovering," Giovanni said simply. "As are we all, I think."
Captain Freeman's initial feelings of anger at the Romulans had also found its way towards the Monroe's crew. Dr. Giovanni had found a countering agent to the effects of the drug, and the Bristol's counselor had been working with a few of their crew to attempt to help them overcome the brain-washing. Freeman had spoken barely a word to Wu since the whole thing ended.
He had downloaded the security video archives from the Monroe's computers and looked them over; his anger towards the crew of the Monroe had turned quickly to pity and remorse, while that towards the Romulans strengthened. Lt. Reiv had come in during his perusal of the Monroe's logs and video imagery; he'd allowed Reiv to sit with him and look at the torture the Monroe's crew had endured before they had finally all succumbed.
Eventually, Captain Freeman turned the monitor off, and the two officers wordlessly stared off into the stars beyond. Each jaw was clenched, each thought focused. Though outside of the character of either man, even of Reiv truly, both officers swore vengeance on that day.
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