“M’Hark, what the hell was that?!” Sylvester turned to the cat. He sneered back.

”Defending myself! That’s what that was!” Runt hissed, staring down the XO.

”Can you both just stop? We’re alive and heading down to engineering. That’s all that matters.” Velau groaned as she leaned against the wall.

”If I knew taking on a special case like yours would cause this, I would’ve advised starfleet against it! You could have gotten us killed, Ensign, does that mean anything to you?” Sylvester pushed a finger into Runt’s chest. But the Ensign didn’t back down.

”Oh, so me possibly getting killed and injured is better? You’ve SEEN this crew, Commander, you’ve seen how they have no mercy! They held a blade to my—OUR—necks!” He pointed to himself and Velau.

”…I have to agree with Runt.” Velau crossed her arms, standing next to him. “We took a risk, we ran, and if we didn’t do anything, who’s to say what they could have done?”

“That was still insanely dangerous and now we have presumably a very strong and dangerous enemy after us.” Sylvester leans in, sneering. “After all of this is done, it’s your badge, Ensign. Don’t do that again.”

Runt’s ears flattened against his skull. Perhaps Sylvester was right, or perhaps he wasn’t. What mattered was that his hard work would possibly all be erased almost instantly.

”You cannot be serious.” Velau chimed in, arms still crossed. “‘Special case’, by the way? What’s that even supposed to mean?!”

”It means that if they’re going to react like this-“ Sylvester pointed directly at Runt’s ears. “-then we have a much bigger problem when more shit hits the fan.”

”So he’s terrified of the dark—and we chose to have our best defense be a blackout—and when reacting accordingly to the situation, you punish him?!” She didn’t back down.

“We’re in space! EVERYTHING is dark!” Sylvester replied. He rubbed his face and groaned. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Ensign M’Hark, if you drag Williams into all of this—“

“Williams!” Runt’s eyes widened and he hastily looked around; almost like he was realizing something. “Is he okay? Where was he stationed?”

”Wait—yes! Is he?” Velau asked. “He helped save my life, I’d like to know if he’s okay.”

”He was doing work..somewhere. I forgot, truthfully—we’ve been having to-“ Sylvester was suddenly cut off by Runt.

”Computer! Where’s Reon Williams?!” Runt cried.

”Reon Williams is in the torpedo bay at an auxiliary console. Floor ten.” The computer replied. Shakily, but still on. Runt glanced at the turbo lift and saw floor twelve was rapidly approaching. Then eleven.

”Ensign M’Hark, don’t you dare. I swear to-“

Runt didn’t think twice; the moment it hit floor ten he slammed on the emergency stop and bolted out the doors. Sylvester let out a huge groan of annoyance and slammed the doors back closed.

“Wh—HEY!” Velau snapped. He glared at her in return.

“Do you want to keep your badge? Stay here. We’re going to engineering.”

–

Runt’s breath was caught in his throat as he ran down the hall, feet barely audible. The running in Starbase Bravo had helped quite a bit—but, even if this was all for his best friend—this was becoming a bad idea for him. The dark, the lack of people, the red alert. . .it was quite a lot to handle.

But…Williams could be in danger. Possibly overwhelmed. Hurt. Dying.

Those thoughts made Runt move faster.

Just as he was moving down the hall, there was a quick whisper from one of the doors. It sounded like—

“..Doctor Sullivan?” Runt stopped, turning, and meeting eye to eye with the good doctor. She let out a sigh of relief.

”Ensign M’Harak. A pleasure to see you—is your head feeling any better?”

“…Okay enough.” The cat finally de-tensed, walking over and offering a hand to help Amira up. She took it, happily, and walked into the hallway. “You did a brilliant job.”

“I try. Now, where does everyone seem to be going? Engineering?” She asked, grabbing Runt’s head and gently tilting it to the side, inspecting it. He nodded as she did this.

”I uhm….disobeyed orders, though.”

”I figured. You aren’t exactly running towards engineering.” The older woman chuckled, giving Runt a pat on the cheek before grabbing out her phaser. “Where are you running?”

”…To my friend. My uhm—my only…real friend? We haven’t been here long, just…I’ve known him for a while.” Runt looked to the side, before looking back at Amira. “I’m not going to listen and be told to run away from him.”

“Ah, I knew I had a good feeling about you.”

”Wh—huh?” Runt looked at her, raising a brow.

”I’m here technically defying orders from Captain Dowe. Well—no, not exactly, but I need to help people. It’s the reason I even joined starfleet.”

”What order did she give you?” Runt started to walk, as Amira followed.

”Go help people, and get to Engineering. She never said how long I had to be.” Dr. Sullivan winked as the pace was picked up.

–

Runt frowned as they finally came to a standstill; one of the doors were shut and had to be wired open. His hands were working diligently, but in his opinion? Not fast enough.

”You made this?” Amira asked, eyebrows raised as she examined the Plasma knife. “All on your own??”

”Er—“ Runt paused as he thought. “Besides the handle shell design, yes.” The cat instantly went back to working on the circuit.

”This is remarkably stable for a prototype, Ensign M’Harak. I’m impressed.”

Runt’s tail instantly started to sway back and forth. “Really??”

”Of course? This is truly a unique weapon. It could be potentially used in future medical practices if done properly…” Amira trailed off as she examined the blade a bit further. “…Ensign, I want to ask you a question.”

”Yes?” Runt looked back.

“I’ve noticed on your file you’ve been. . .” She pauses. “You’re awfully anti social. Is it because of this device, or..?”

”No.” Runt replies. “No, it’s not. And you know why, I’m sure you’ve read my file. I’m just….I’m ready to get myself out there.”

”But?”

”But, that’s tough. And now I just potentially got my badge taken away because I didn’t listen to Commander Mikhailov. So…who knows my future.” Runt’s ears were flat against his skull as he spoke.

”Pfft, ignore Sylvester. He’s stressed and doesn’t know half of what to do with Ensigns who can be difficult.” Amira walks over and crouches down next to Runt, grabbing a tool and helping. “You’ll be fine. But for now? We have to go help your friend.”

”..Yeah. Yeah! I’m sure whatever comes, it’ll be fine.” Runt gave an uneasy smile. “Okay. Just a little bit more…”

With a few more swift movements, the doors to the bay swung open. And inside?

Ensign Reon Williams, with two Vaadwaur closing in on him, and a hand over his injured side.