. Suddenly, the Penumbra's orbit brought it into view of a sunrise over the tiny planet. It showed a very bright and very hot sun. The main viewer had to actually darken slightly to avoid over-burn on the screen.
. The door slid open from the corridor and LtCmdr. Denovan Hawke stepped through, having come up from Sickbay. He relieved Lt. Standin from the Tactical Station, "Thank you, Lieutenant."
. Zak turned to his Tactical Officer, "How's the Colonel, Den?"
. Den gave a slight shrug, "He'll be okay, and being as stubborn as ever."
. Zak grunted and then asked, "And ... Carter? Did he get to Sickbay?"
. Den's face slumped slightly. "He's there, though from what I overheard, he's not in as good shape."
. Zak sighed, "Yeah, I wouldn't have wanted to be in a Turbolift when we went bouncing like that."
. Tabby, lying under the Science console, tapped his commbadge, "Tabby to Pat, hey, sorry it took a bit getting you. Hope you're okay. Oh, by the way, should fill you in that the Turbolifts are kinda messed up right now."
. LtCol. Travis Patterson had just entered a Turbolift after leaving Sickbay. As the doors slid shut, he tapped his commbadge and replied, "Least you guys managed to figure something out. I'm on my way up there. Pat out."
. Tabby slid out from under the Science console and said, "Okay, let's test. Come on power on primary!" And then, the lights flickered brightly and went completely out!
. "Well," Tabby grunted, "kinda figured."
. Den glanced up in the darkness, "Really, Tabby?"
. Zak mumbled, "Hmm ... Tabby, I'm guessing something wasn't quite ready."
. "Yeah, I'm on it," he responded.
. Patterson, however, riding a Turbolift that had almost reached the Bridge, suddenly came to a stop and went dark. "Great," he muttered as he pried open the maintenance panel and toggled it into manual mode, headed up.