The Monster M*A*S*H

Posted on Tue Dec 16th, 2025 @ 2:44pm by Captain T’Kal & Lieutenant Commander David Erickson & Lieutenant Commander Valerie Novis & Lieutenant CASTIEL 'Cas' Johnson MD & Lieutenant Megosho Gehente & Lieutenant JG Annika Johnson

1,244 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X05: Nightmare on Ark Royal Street
Location: Lounge
Timeline: SD 8983.3 (31 October 2290, 21:30 hours)

Previously on "Star Trek: Ark Royal:

"How dare you," T'Kal said. "It is time for you to leave."

David's eyes narrowed at her reaction and he shook his head. "I do not understand any of you," he said. "But perhaps I'm not getting the right perspective." He turned and blended back into the crowd leaving them behind.

And now the continuation...


The large, rabbit-like creature hopped between the party-goers. Some looked at it, assuming someone was dressed as a magician and lost control of their pet accessory. Others ignored it completely. As it leaped up onto a table, however, one woman noticed it immediately, especially as it bared its fangs.

It was about half her size, which put it as one of the smaller adults of the species, but her hindbrain didn't care about that. The smaller ones were more aggressive, more ferocious, more prone to attacking an unsuspecting victim. Torii began to hyperventilate as she backed away and into one of the tables holding refreshments, knocking a punch bowl over and spilling the contents. The sight of the Tchachi, the unexpected contact and liquid splashing on her leg elicited a loud, high-pitched strangled scream from her that would have made an horror movie director's ears perk up. Her hands first flew to her face before to turned to flee, but ran facefirst into a clump of people that blocked her path.

Turning as she felt the impact to her back, Meg fielded the smaller woman, steadying her with both hands. Noticing her hyperventiliating, Meg opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but spotted the hopping rabbit-like creature making a bee-line for their Feixian officer. Mouthing a constant what the eff, the Orion pivoted Torii around so she was firmly inside the knot of people.

Now between Torii and the Tchachi, Meg took firm, measured steps to close the distance between her and the inexplicable creature that was terrifying her comrade. Grabbing a chair in a smooth motion, she wielded it in front of her, herding the creature away from Torii and towards a corner of the room. The analytical part of her brain, detached from the need to solve the immediate issue, pounded away at the notion that this creature was out of place, and wrong, but adrenaline and concern for her friend blanketed that weak klaxon.

Soon she had it herded and cornered in a quieter part of the mess, far enough away from Torii.

The peace didn't last as both Meg and the chair were knocked back. The rabbit was gone, and in its place was a rapidly growing figure that was quickly resembling a giant scorpion-like monster. It clacked its front claws together menacingly and took a step towards Meg before knocking a table aside.

As soon as the Tchachi was away from her, Torii had scrabbled at the panel near the door that held the phasers there in case of an emergency, but her gloved hands wouldn't let her authenticate herself. She tore them off as she mumbled, "Gotta kill it, gotta kill it." The weapons locker finally opened as her hand print was recognized and she pulled the phaser out to check it and turned around, eyes opening wide as she saw how the Tchachi was gone and now it was a giant scorpion, not nearly as fearsome to her, but still bad. She acted by instinct, taking a pair of quick steps before throwing herself at Meg, wrapping her arms around the science officer and taking her out of the line of the stinger with her.

'Fu -!' Meg gibbered, uncomprehending what was going on. It was a cuddly killer rabbit one moment, and the next, a hideous scorpion. Scrambling along the deck, her heart pounding in her ears, adrenaline coursing through her body, her one thought was to get away from that monstrosity.

Crashing into a table, Meg dragged it over, and leaned against the surface as she caught her breaths in a few, deep lungfulls, muttering it's not real. It can't be real. It's not real ... to herself, before popping her head over the tabletop to where Torii and the scorpion were taking up space.

'All right,' she said to herself flatly, terror wrapping its talons around her, 'that's a real scorpion.' Meg glanced about for a weapon, a knife, something pointy at least, but could find nothing. What there was was the wall comm. Steeling herself, she got to her feet and closed the distance unsteadily, slapping her hand on the com activator.

'Security to the Mess Hall,' she commanded in a thin reedy voice, 'we got a ... giant-ass scorpion up in here.'

"Security team is on the way." Valerie's voice had some confusion to it, but otherwise was just normal.

The creature roared and lurched forward, it's tail coming up from behind to stab at the tables nearby. As the crowd scattered it turned and aimed directly at David, the stinger striking right through his chest. It pulled back out and David dropped to the floor.

"No!" Torii shouted as she came up to a knee and aimed the phaser at the scorpion, flicking the safety to off and shooting the creature.

"David!" T'Kal rushed to him as well. He may have just been callous and cruel, but he was still her friend. He could not leave. Not like this...

The monster roared before glowing and disintegrating into disassociated atoms, leaving the room eerily quiet.

'What the hell was that!?' Meg roared into the silence, stunned and appalled that the creature had injured David. Slapping her hand on the comm once more, she summoned Medical personnel, and grabbed a medkit from the bulkhead to assist in tending to the man.

Castiel ran over to the injured, kneeling down, he took his tricorder and scanned him. Looking around, first a Gorn, now a big ass scorpion. "I'm sorry."

"David..." the Captain said, putting a hand on his cheek. A mascara-stained tear ran down her cheek.

Annika stood open mouthed in complete shock at what she’d just witnessed. Shaking it off she put her feelings aside and turned to her Counsellor training, right now she was needed to support her fellow crew mates.

As Meg, the Doc and others gathered around, they could see the obvious: the hole in David's chest was about the size of a softball, and right through the center. There was no tending to him.

The mourning period was short, however, as a rattling draw of breath came from David's body. His eyes were frosted over, his skin pale, and his movements stiff, but he clearly was trying to breathe and wheeze. He moved in awkward, jerky movements as he tried to sit up, turn and eventually pull himself to his feet, turning to face the assembled crowd, taking a lurching step towards the Captain.

Rapidly scooting backwards on her hands and feet, Meg tried desperately to put some distance between her and the Not-David. The rational, analytical part of her brain was telling her that this was a zombie, a state of being from Earth's past. Not that those had massive holes in their chest. What the hell is going? she asked herself, breath hooking in her throat as she swallowed a scream.

What the hell was this?


To be continued...

 

RSS Feed