Making the ink flow

Posted on Sat Aug 14th, 2021 @ 6:05pm by Lieutenant Wann Tinyo & Ensign Arianna "Ari" Connolly

1,904 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: [USS Ottawa]Bendy and the Dark Star Trek
Location: Deck 14
Timeline: MD001 2230

Wann stepped out of the turbo lift on to deck 14. Of course his two best officers on the department were two women. Despite finding it hard to be around women, when working he didn't seem to mind. The only woman currently doing him in was Lieutenant Ward.

He looked to his crew mates. He nodded to them and said, "Ensign Eshi Kamar and Chief Petty officer Jeanette Wilson. I don't think I need to tell you that we are in a predicament. The truth is we are in some life sized holo novel. In order to get things in order again we will need to play the game. And we are given a task. We will need to find a valve on this desk. What I was explained it looks like a wheel and it is fitted on a pipe or on some device. We will recognize it as there is a sign above it that says 'ink flow'. When the engineering team did their part we will have to turn the valve to get this ink flowing."

Eshi crossed her arms. "A game...hmmpff. Well how hard can it be finding a valve." She looked over to Wilson. "What do you think? Jeanette?"

Jeanette thought it over. "If it's a game, I doubt it'll be an easy one. And if it's like a life-sized holo novel, it could be even harder. I have a notion that this might not be as easy as one could hope for", she said slowly.

Wann nodded. "Maybe, but we have an easy job right now, find a valve and get some ink flowing. Think we can find it. It should be on this deck. Could be in a cargobay or even an office, so leave no stone unturned."

Eshi now looked serious. "Yes, sir!"

Wann walked into the hallway. "Also, this is new territory. According to cadet O'Donnaghue there may not be any enemies to speak off, but we need to be on our toes. I have a bad feeling about all this."

Eshi looked around, "For some reason I don't want to walk around here alone." She pointed to the ceiling. "Maybe we should stick together." Ink suddenly started to drip from the ceiling.

Wann looked at where she was pointed. "Right, let's start moving." He looked over at Jeanette. "You alright there, Wilson?"

"I agree with Eshi. We should stick together. Especially since we don't know exactly what's going on. And we better start looking. The sooner we find that valve, the better it is", Jeanette said. She knew that things were not as they seemed right now.

The group started walking. Some places the ink came to their ankles and some places the floors were clearly seen. At some places the ink was dripping off the ceilings and walls. They passed a hallway and Wann as he looked in. The room at the end was open and he looked straight in to a corpse. It looked like a humanoid cartoon. It's chest was open. Next to it was a poster of the cartoon figure and it said 'Boris the Wolf'.

Eshi looked over his shoulder and shivered. "Someone did Boris in good, look at his chest. And it's empty, like his heart was ripped out. What a horrible game!"

Wann pushed Eshi forward, "Let's get out of here, we need to find a valve. My guesses are it's not here."

Eshi pointed up to the ceiling. "How about we follow those pipes?" She said as she pointed her fingers alongside big black pipes? You did say this valve had something to do with ink flow, did you not?"

Wann looked up and then started ahead and followed the pipes. The pipes suddenly turned into another a corner. As the three engineers walked in to the corridor a cartoon card board suddenly came out of the room. Wann jumped back not prepared for the card board cartoon cat like figure to appear suddenly. Eshi also startled had to catch her chief up.

Jeanette looked around. The pipes seemed to go on for ages. And it also seemed like they'd split up somewhere. This game was a dangerous one. Someone, or something, was set on having them going through hell. "We better hurry. Before this gets any worse than it already is", she said.

Wann walked two steps. He wasn't sure this was important, but he thought this was worth to report. He tapped his badge. "This is Lieutenant Tinyo to Commander Sharp. I would like to report an ink body. From the images on the posters I have deduced this is the body of the cartoon known as Boris the Wolf. I spotted it in operations office 2 hallway E."

Well looks like we may have to pull stuff outta a corpse afterall.” he said, tapping his Commbadge, “Thanks for the update Lieutenant, does Mr Boris have a sizable hole in him?” he asked.

Wann looked over to the corpse. “Well, yes, sir, it looks like something was forcibly removed, I am guessing his ink black heart.” He squinted his eyes a little as he could swear he something blinking. He then continued saying, “Sir, I believe there is something inside the chest.”

“Okay, I’ll head that way soon, Cadet O'Donnaghue Meran has found the ritual room so now we’re just looking for 5 items.” He said, turning the Bendy doll over in his hands, “I have reason to suspect Boris may have one of the others.”

“Understood, sir. I will leave the room to you and continue the search for my objective. I will report back as soon as we have found the valve for the ink flow. Tinyo out.”

Eshi stopped Jeanette. "Hold on a bit, we should stay together." She had her grey Cardassian hand on the human's shoulder.

"I agree. This is not a good situation. It is, in fact, a disaster waiting to happen. I doubt that we'll get out of this unscathed. My gut tells me that that ink body won't be the last we see", Jeanette said, her voice grim. "My only hope is that we at least get out of this "game" alive"

Wann ended the conversation. "We have to move on, we really need to find the valve. I got a feeling we have to follow that card board." He walked in to the direction he saw the card board cartoon figure pop out a minute ago and walked around the corner. The cardboard was put against the wall. There were ink splatters on the floor. They walked in to the dark room and a projector turned on lighting up the room and a dancing ink cartoon figure appeared.

"Are we getting a show?" Eshi asked. "The artist are very...hmmm I don't know, I am not sure it's something Cardassians would like."

Wann ignored the playback for now and started to look around the room and then found the panel with a valve on it and a sign that says ink flow. He smiled. "Well we are finally getting lucky."

Jeanette wasn't so sure she would use the word "lucky". It seemed more of a set up to her than anything else. But, for the time being, finding the valve was a blessing. Though this was definitely not the end of it.

Wann has started to inspect the panel with the valve on it as he tapped his badge, "Commander Sharpe, This is Lieutenant Tinyo here, we have found the valve, we await your orders to turn it."

“Good work Lieutenant, hang on there for a little longer, we’re nearing the time of the great ritual.” He added with a roll of his eyes, “But we don’t have all the items placed on their pillars.”

“Understood, sir, we will wait for your mark.” Wann replied.”

"It's a relief the valve is found. But I doubt it's that easy. If this is as it seems, I wouldn't be surprised that it's rusted solid", Jeanette said, thinking of the macabre ink body they had seen.

Wann touched the valve. "I don't see any rust spots. It looks looks brand new. It's just tainted with ink." He held up his with the ink on his finger tips. "I don't think we will have any problem turning the valve. Now we we just need the order to turn it and this over with."

Eshi in the mean time was scanning the panel. She looked on her tricorder. "This is a hologram. It's kind of a weird valve. And the panel, what are those meters, it tells us nothing." She tapped with her fingers on the panel.

"Well, from what miss O'Donnaghue explained this is part of a game that takes place in a cartoon world, or something to do with cartoons." Wann let his heand go over the panel as well. "It almost looks like it was draw on the ship bulkhead. It's incredible though. The details of this game."

Jeannete thought it over. A brand new valve was just as odd. "While it is quite impressively made, I don't like this game. I have a feeling one, if not more than one, of us might end up dead during this "game"", she said. shuddering at the grim thought.

When all the items were placed Sam tapped her badge. “Lieutenant Tinyo, all items are placed. Can you make the ink flow?”

“Yes,” Wann said as he grabbed the valve and started to turn it. There was a little resistance, probably to make it look as if there was some wear on it. Suddenly the valve popped loose and he was able to turn all the way. But as soon as it came loose one of the pipes over head burst open and ink came flowing out and flooded the room.

Wann did his best not to curse over the com. “Well, Commander, Cadet...the ink is flowing alright. I think I will return to the observation lounge, I think you can turn on the main power now.” He shook his head trying to get the ink off him as he sloshed through the ankle deep ink to get out of the room.

"Chief, Ensign, lets get out of here. I will allow you to return to your quarters if you are able to, to get yourselves a new uniform and a shower."

Eshi wiped some of the ink from her head as she waded to the hallway. She cursed a little in Cardassian. "I hope I get this stuff out of my hair."

Wann laughed a little nervous. "Don't worry, it's most likely holographic. I am sure it will gone once you get to your quarters." He was more worried about Wilson. The Chief Petty Officer was already a little weary about all this. She was a good engineer none the less.

"I hope that this will be the end of this, though I doubt it", Jeanette said, thinking of the mess the ship was already in. "Something tells me it'll be a miracle if everyone makes it out of this "game", alive". She sighed. "I guess that's a headache for another time. Seems like we made it through today alive".

---TO BE CONTINUED

Lieutenant Wann Tinyo
Chief Operations Officer
USS Ottawa-A

&

Ensign Eshi Kamarr
Operations Officer
USS Ottawa-A
(NPC Lt. Wann Tinyo)


&

Chief Petty Officer Jeanette Wilson
Operations Officer
USS Ottawa-A
(NPC Ensign Arianna "Ari" Connolly)

 

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