"Swimming Forever"
By Dr. Corran Quezith
Location: USS Sulu, Arboretum Laboratory
Stardate: 57908.02, 11h15
***
"The results of the initial treatment suggest plant growth and
sustainability has been increased 75%. Continued treatment should raise it
to about 135%, but I'll have a better idea of the results afterwards."
Corran sat on a stool in front of a standard Federation computer console,
giving a report on what his more recent experimentations or modifications to
the arboretum's automated systems had entailed and resulted in. All of this
while still going through the pains of a constant headache from xenosocietal
exposure. It wouldn't seem like much to others, but typing anything into the
console in front of him was becoming a huge effort.
He'd managed to order some supplies from Deep Space Nine for the arboretum
though, and that allowed him to relax somewhat. His meeting Cris' mom had
been pushed back because of more pressing matters that the crew had to take
care of, but his former duties to the arboretum had come right back at him,
along with his plans to set up a small café next to the laboratory's
entrance. It wouldn't take up any space in the arboretum's contained ecology
thankfully, and there'd been enough spare room from the lab to do it.
He wasn't sure why he'd bothered with the idea to begin with, but it was his
headache talking. There would be no waiters, at least not for starters, and
would work off of a single replicator station for three or four round
tables. Seemed simple enough.
Corran groaned as he tilted his head back, purposefully tossing a padd he'd
been holding right next to the console he'd been working at. He reached up
to his head, closed his eyes, and applied pressure to a region just behind
his temples - it didn't relieve nearly any of the drilling going on in his
head, but the idea of it seemed to cloak the pain a little.
"Computer, who should I go to for counselling?"
He blinked his eyes a few times in the process of trying to return to
reality, or as close as he could get, but then he reached out to a wall
control and turned off the lights in the lab altogether. The darkness did in
fact soothe his pain.
"You may report to the Counselling Department or directly with Counselor
Brennyn Scott."
"Record a message for Counselor Scott. I'd like to request an appointment
with her at earliest convenience concerning continued treatment and the
initiation of an adaptive treatment, maybe the development of a new one.
Sign as Corran Quezith and attach updated private psych files."
"Message sent."
"Old Acquaintances"
By: Ensign Tristan Percival Finn
Commander Lyrr Tayla
Location: USS Sulu
Stardate 57908.02, 14h35
***
It was at the hatch that separated the station from the Sulu that
he saw her. Standing there, prim and proper, just as he remembered.
The frown was just as he remembered it, the most beautiful expression
of disgust he'd ever seen on a face, as far as looks of disgust went,
of course. She was an attractive woman, there was no doubt, but she
had the temper of a Klingon with a head cold. He remembered their
last conversation before he left the Davies. She'd told him to
watch his back because with his jokes, someone was likely to shove a
vibroblade through it. That'd been...two years? He wondered if she'd
still remember.
The crewman she'd been talking to nodded and accepted the padd as she
held it out to him. He turned away, unaware of the scowl that
followed him. Deciding that this was his chance, he stepped forward.
A quick glance at her collar forestalled any potential, yet highly
embarrassing flub, if he'd called her Commander, meaning lieutenant
commander, as opposed to Commander, the three-solid-pip kind. If
anyone was able to perceive that subtle slight, she would be the one.
She had a way of knowing.
"Commander Lyrr Tayla," he said in as militaristic a voice as he
could manage, and then snapped a salute that could, if not controlled
properly, remove one's head from his shoulders. "Ensign Tristan
Percival Finn reporting for duty, sir!" It would have been more
convincing without the smile.
Lyrr raised a single arched eyebrow at the ensign and noticeably
leaned forward and to one side, searching for something behind him.
She made a curious sound, then pulled up again. "Surprising. No
vibroblade. Does this mean you're jokes have improved, or have you
become very adept at sleeping with one eye open?"
"Actually, I've begun telling my jokes with one eye open," Finn said
with a grin. "How are you doing, Commander? It's been a long time.
You're looking very good, especially with that full pip."
"And I see that you've still got the single," Lyrr replied. "Getting
into mischief again?"
He touched his collar and sighed. "Not mischief, necessarily," he
said. "My star wasn't shining quite as brightly as others. I'm
alright though. Still doing what I enjoy doing, and that's what
counts. I wouldn't pass up a promotion, but I'm not about to let a
little hunk of metal stuck on my collar define me."
Lyrr chuckled. "It isn't wise to insult your executive officer within
moments of stepping aboard, Ensign."
"It wasn't my intention to insult, I was merely saying that, for me,
a promotion isn't as important in my life as doing what I enjoy
doing. I enjoy being a security officer. A promotion would likely
result in partial administrative duties as well, and I like it where
I'm at now."
"Don't make any hasty decisions," she advised. "You haven't met your
chief yet. He's strict and won't stand for practical jokes during
shift." She smiled. "You've been warned."
"I only joke around off-duty," Finn said. "But, I'll be careful. So,
the chief...is he really that bad? He takes himself and everything
else seriously, doesn't he?"
Lyrr motioned for him to join her as she walked, and the two started
away from the hatch. "He takes his duty to this vessel seriously,"
she amended. "He's a good man once you become acquainted with him,
but he does put up quite the stern mask."
"You don't say," Finn said as he moved along at her side. "Why, I
don't believe I've ever encountered someone like that in my life." He
gave her a teasing, sidelong glance.
She suppressed a smile and instead shot him a disapproving frown.
"I'm a commander now, so I can justify being always strict and
unpleasant. It earns one respect."
"It also earns one the gabberings of the junior officers and enlisted
on the ship," Finn said with a chuckle. "They start calling you awful
names behind your back, wicked, cruel things like Turkey Lips. You
haven't ever been called Commander Turkey Lips, have you? I've seen
it. Not pretty. The XO of the USS Saratoga, about a year ago, got
that name pinned on him, and they had to remove him from the ship in
restraints. They say he's still in a facility back on earth, drawing
pictures of turkeys with no lips on the wall."
"They did not," Lyrr shot back with a look of clear disbelief. "Are
you still partial to telling tall tales, Ensign Finn?"
"I find that most people don't have the patience to sit through tall
tails, so I go with short tails these days. Also, after one
particularly tall tale, when Lieutenant Graves found out it was a
joke, he nearly ripped my head off. You can still see the marks from
where he tried. Thankfully a dermal regenerator works wonders or I'd
have a little trouble talking right now."
Lyrr sighed, familiar with Finn's propensity for flapping his lips,
but realizing it still rankled her to no end. She laughed softly in
defeat. "I think I'll introduce you to one Ensign Farrell," she told
him. "I think you two would get along well."
"I don't think I like people I get along great with," Finn said with
a grin. "They remind me too much of me, and then I get jealous." He
chuckled and shook his head. "So, how are things these days? I hear
you're the not-quite big cheese on the Sulu now."
"I'm the Executive Officer," she pointed out. "That's big enough."
She smiled, then, and continued. "It's a fine ship, and she has a
good crew, for the most part. I don't know how much you've been told,
but we were scheduled for a six month tour through the Gamma
Quadrant, but that's been delayed pending a search for a crewmember
who's gone missing recently." Lyrr shrugged. "You know how it is."
"I heard about that," Finn said, his voice taking on an
uncharacteristically serious tone. "I don't think there's anything
worse than finding out that a friend has gone missing. A definitive
answer is bad, but the unknown... I've...I've been transferred to the
Sulu, so I'll be joining up with you." He stopped himself and looked
at her. "Should I have asked you to sit first?"
Lyrr chuckled curiously. "Why ever, Ensign? Do I appear to have
gotten frail in my old age?"
"When old age does finally come for you, Commander, I am quite
certain frail is not a term that will ever be used to describe you."
"Good," she commended, "you're seeking to gain my favour already.
Perhaps we can get you another pip after all." She chuckled, then
handed him the datapad in her hand. "Your quarter assignment and
shift schedule."
'Thank you," he said, then smiled. "It's good to see you again, Lyrr.
It's been awhile, but if you have time, I'd like to have one of our
talks...if you're up for it. I got transferred before we could have
too many, but I enjoyed them."
Lyrr sighed. "They were interesting, to say the least. But things are
very hectic lately." She smiled wanly. "And very different. Ask me
again when I'm not so harried?"
Finn frowned, and then nodded. "Sure," he said. "Sure thing."
"I'm sorry," she told him. "But I really would like to catch up on
all your antics, so..." She smiled and shrugged. "Don't be afraid to
contact me if you need anything."
"Just let me know when things are less hectic," he said. "We can
catch up then."
Lyrr nodded, then offered him her hand. "It's good to see you again,
Finn."
Finn shook her hand and smiled. "Good to see you too, Lyrr. It's been
a lonely last couple years without someone who can scowl as well as
you can. At last I'll have someone to make me shake in my boots
again. If you have time before we shove off, I've got some credit
left at Quark's Bar --- don't ask how I got it, that would be
revealing trade secrets --- and if you're up for it, we can get a
drink, and talk."
"You are persistent, aren't you?" she chuckled. "I think I'd
forgotten that. And if my schedule does clear before we depart, I'd
be glad to."
He nodded. "You have to be persistent to get what you want in life,
but I do know the limits that I can push. Have a good day, Lyrr, and
I'll see you later. I should go report in to Lieutenant T'Kal."
"That will have to wait," she told him. "Lieutenant T'Kal is
currently on a search party seeking out our missing crewman." Lyrr
leaned in towards him and whispered, "That means at least a few more
days of goofing off before he arrives."
Finn laughed. "Well, I won't complain," he said softly. "Though, if
you find yourself with some free time and a desire to goof off, let
me know. I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but I'll make it up
as I go along. If there's anything I can do for the Sulu in the
interim, Lyrr, you'll let me know, right?"
"Of course. I'm sure I can find many uses for an Ensign who can pull
latinum slips out of ears," she answered, and with a departing smile,
she took her leave.
"You should see what I can do with communicators," Finn called out
after her, and saw her shoulders shake with laughter as she kept on
going. He grinned to himself, and then continued on, to get situated
in his new quarters aboard the Sulu. It would be an interesting
tour, that was certain.
"Unscheduled Interview"
by Dr. Damhnait Sefton - Chief Medical Officer
and Dr. Ilan Potts - Assistant Chief Counselor
Location: USS Sulu, Sickbay
Stardate: 57908.02, 13h15
***
Dr. Ilan Potts swung into the Chief Medical Officer's office at an angle,
gripping the door frame with his right hand and smiling broadly. Sitting at
her desk, Dr. Sefton maintained her focus on the work at hand even though
she had sensed the curious mind of the half-Deltan while it loitered in the
corridor outside Sickbay. Apparently, he had ignored the subtle telepathic
hints to move on. She was not at all surprised.
"Hullo, Doctor!" Ilan enthused, still maintaining the curiously steep angle
of his body half-in and half-out of the office. Given his thin arms and
rather ample belly, it would have seemed unlikely for the Counselor to
maintain this posture but Ilan was nothing if not limber and surprisingly
fit in spite of all indications to the contrary.
"Doctor Potts," Sefton declared affably, but not entirely without distaste.
"Are you not well?"
"Only a small wound to my heart," Potts admitted, pulling himself back
upright and letting go of the door frame. He walked into her office, his
eyes darting around at the decor. Admiring a Bajoran figurine made entirely
of thin twisted metal rods that Dr. O'Shea had left behind, Ilan added:
"I've heard that you've been having individual meetings with the Medical
staff. I assume my exclusion was an oversight."
"I had assumed Lieutenant Scott would handle your orientation. Was I
mistaken?" Damhnait asked, sounding completely confident in her assumption,
despite having worded her statement as a question.
"My lovely Lieutenant Commander Sefton," Potts said, picking the
sculpture up from her desk for closer examination. "I may be but a mere
Counselor in your eyes but I am also a Doctor of some small skill. I could
be of use to you," he added with a solicitous wink. "In a pinch."
"I don't doubt that...outright, but I'd prefer not to interfere with
Lieu--" Damhnait started.
There was a terrific clatter as the twisted rods of the sculpture all did a
half-turn at the joints and it came apart in Ilan's hands. They rained down
on the CMO's desk individually with Ilan looking more sheepish with each
respective 'clang'.
Damhnait regained her composure. "I can -- "
A final rod clattered down on Damhnait's desk sounding a full three times
louder than any of the others, causing both of the Doctors to wince
involuntarily. Damhnait's glare turned positively chilly.
"I can rely on you to handle tube grub related injuries and to break every
bone in a patient's body. Is there anything you can't do?" Damhnait asked
facetiously.
"I'm not very familiar with internal anatomy," Potts said, sinking into the
chair opposite Dr. Sefton and crossing his legs. "External anatomy is a
specialty of mine," he added, unable to make it sound unlascivious. "A
hobby, you might say."
Deciding to let that sex smile of his slide by without a complaint this
time, Damhnait perfunctorily moved onto another standard question, "What are
your first impressions of Sickbay and the Sulu's medical department as a
whole?"
"Well, the Sickbay certainly seems to be such a lovely color of beige and
gray," Potts said, looking around. "Very becoming. As for the 'whole'
medical department, I can't say that I've had the pleasure. I've met Ensign
Reese and she seems an absolute delight. And I believe I saw your son in the
mess hall yesterday. A fine lad." Potts rested both elbows on the desk and
cupped his cheeks with his hands. "I guess all I can say about the staff
thus far is I'm very impressed with our lovely CMO," Ilan finished,
looking positively dreamy.
"I am not garnering to be impressive, especially since you haven't even seen
me work, yet," Damhnait quirked a smirk. "All I demand is your respect."
"You'll have it, Doctor," Potts said, believing himself truthful. "I am
literally dying to see you at work."
The smirk on Damhnait's face remained. She couldn't help being flattered at
how flexible Potts' imagination surmised her to be; she'd never quite
heard
of that position on a biobed before, but likely wouldn't get a chance to try
it until she returned to Fortu on Betazed. A part of her - a small part of
her - had to respect Potts for being unabashed by the sex constantly running
through his head. It was obviously quite common for mouth-talkers to think
of sex whenever they realised their thoughts might be heard, and then it was
even more common for them to try to hide those thoughts. Sefton supposed it
had to be Ilan's Deltan half that prevented him from ever trying to hide his
lasciviousness.
Glancing over to Potts' record on her terminal, Damhnait looked back to Ilan
to ask, "What is your most proud accomplishment that can't be found in your
Starfleet record?"
"I once sang 'My Ideal' intentionally off-key well over a hundred times at a
juice bar in Tulip City," Potts admitted with a small puff of his chest. "I
was eventually arrested."
"That must have been a crime to music," Damhnait said, leaving it
intentionally vague as to if she were referring to his singing or the
arrest. Briskly, she moved on to her next query; "What has been your
greatest medical challenge?"
"The next one," Potts said, semi-serious. He reacted to Damhnait's eyes even
though the telepath had to know he wasn't being flippant. "Come,
Doctor...you know of what I speak. You can fill your head with all the
knowledge in the galaxy and there is never a guarantee that your next
patient will be so kind as to follow the example given in your textbook. It
shames me to say it, seeing how we're often dealing with life and death, but
I love that about medicine. The losses hurt but when you manage to save
the one you were sure would slip away, it's just about the best feeling in
the world." Potts looked dreamy again. "It's like that in counseling too, by
the by."
Damhnait nodded, truly understanding, and finding relief in knowing his
intentions were generally in the right place. Much gentler than she'd ever
spoken to him before, Sefton asked, "How did you react to the last patient
who did get away?"
"Ah well," Potts began with an exhale. "I'm not too terribly sensitive, I'm
afraid. Thick skin." His smiled only faltered a little bit. "You have to be
pragmatic about these things, otherwise you'll make yourself crazy.
Something I do not want to be, Doctor."
He was lying, Damhnait knew, but she suspected he might not even know,
himself. She chose to simply nod in response. "Is there anything you would
like to ask of me?" Damhnait openly offered.
"Only that you reconsider you initial impressions of me," Potts said, slowly
gaining his feet. "I may not have earned your respect but I'm quite
certain that I deserve it. If you give me the opportunity to occasionally
lend a hand in your Sickbay, you'll be certain as well."
"My impressions of a person are always changing, Doctor Potts," Damhnait
comfortingly responded with a full smile. "If you have medical services to
offer, I will gladly check for room on the shift schedule. If you don't
mind working with nurses who are just as likely to hand you the wrong laser
scalpel as they are to slice you open with the sharp edges of their words."
"I absolutely love working with nurses," Potts said. "No matter the
hazards...why, I was once the key note speaker at a graduation ceremony for
the Trathallian Nursing Academy. I met the loveliest pair of bio-nueated
triplets." Potts cupped his hands in front of his chest. "They had the
loveliest set of --"
"Of course," Sefton started loudly, "if the nurses become your direct
colleagues, fraternisation will be frowned upon. ...You don't want to make
me frown, do you?" Damhnait asked with a barely-there subconscious pout.
"Oh my sweet Doctor," Potts said, actually reaching across her desk and
pinching her cheek. "I am nothing if not professional." Potts released her
and backed out of the room slowly, smiling huge.
The translucent door to Sefton's office shut satisfyingly. Damhnait knew
she had ordered its construction for a reason. It always added a symbolic
sense of finality to meetings, which was necessary since she knew there
would be no true end to Potts' visits. If anything, they would become more
frequent, and Damhnait promised herself that the next time he walked into
her office, he would be greeted with a smile.
Potts strolled back in being gone all of an instant. He went right for her
desk. Damhnait did not smile.
"What do you want now?" Damhnait asked irritatedly, feeling awfully
uncomposed, despite only having been alone for a matter of seconds.
"I'd like to take the sculpture," Potts said, as he started to gather up
fallen rods. Sefton watched him with a fair bit of open-mouthed
incredulousness until he got them all clutched haphazardly in his arms and
left again without so much as a goodbye.
Pursing her lips, Damhnait said to herself, "I never liked that sculpture."
"Karma"
By: Ensign Mason Farrell; Operations Officer
Lieutenant Brennyn Scott; Chief Counselor
Location: USS Sulu, Scott's Office
Stardate: 57908.02 15h46
***
She hated this time of day. With only about fifteen minutes left in Alpha
Shift, Brennyn Scott was left to finish reports and to polish off session
notes. Such administrative work was a necessary evil in her work and would help
her work more effectively, but it was no secret that she preferred one
on one conversation to bureaucracy any day.
The doorchime rang.
She laughed. God was smiling on her today. "Come in," she called,
swiveling in her chair to greet her unexpected visitor.
Ensign V'ral poked her Vulcan head into Scott's office.
"Ensign Farrell from Operations is here to see you, Counselor. He has no
appointment, but he insists his visit will be brief."
Stifling the comment that such an occurrence would be a miracle, since it
would be lost on Vulcan ears, Bree replied, "Sure, send him in."
V'ral closed the door, and Farrell reopened it a moment later. "I'll be
quick," he drawled to V'ral, apparently repeating himself. The door closed.
"You're nanny's pretty protective," he jerked his thumb at the door, but did
so with humor.
"More like she wants to get out of here on time today. I kept her ten
minutes over yesterday to update the master schedule, and while she didn't
break her Vulcan facade, I could tell she was a tad peeved..." She winked
at him. "It's good to be chief."
Farrell nodded, and appeared to collect his thoughts. He cleared his throat
gently. "I, uh. I just wanted to thank you for jumping on the spear the
way you did at the staff dinner. It was dangerous to make a proposal like
that in front of everyone, but it cleared the way for Sikara to come aboard,
which was the goal."
Bree's eyes lit up. "Dangerous?" She shook her head. "I never thought I'd
live to see the day in a free Federation that it would be considered
dangerous to compliment a man on his culinary skill." Scott looked to
Farrell. "He's a good chef. I'm glad he's aboard."
Farrell stared at her for a surprisingly long time. "I think you know what
I mean, but I'm not here to warn you. I'm just here to thank you."
Bree looked positively puzzled and chuckled. "Warn me? Whatever for?"
Her eyes sparkled.
"You're not serious," he quipped.
"Most of the time, no. But occasionally I do find it helpful to be
professional," Scott deadpanned.
"Now you're just messing with me. I see how it is," he deadpanned right
back.
"What?" asked Scott, truly puzzled. "Mason, are you feeling alright?"
"Do you even grasp the potential ramifications of what happened at dinner?"
Farrell was incredulous. "You're the counselor. Surely you recognize the
position you put the Captain in."
Now Bree was completely lost. "I'm aware the captain was less than pleased,
but what does that have to do with you and I?"
"You put the Captain in a tough spot," Farrell said, leaning against the
wall and folding his arms. "It was a force-move, and in my experience
Command-staffers don't tend to go for that sort of thing. Just be careful."
Brennyn's smile grew. "Why, Mason Farrell, are you trying to protect me?
How very chivalrous of you. Don't worry, I can take care of myself, but
thank you."
He held up his hands in surrender. "Fair enough. So I'm going to be
running back and forth to DS9 and such for these last couple of days before
we pull out of here for parts unknown. I've already filled Medical's
wishlist. Anything Counseling needs? Anything the counselors need?"
Bree placed a finger on her chin and pretended to be deep in thought. In
actuality, the department itself was in fairly good shape. Although not as
big as on some ships, the Sulu's counseling department made the best use of
its limited space to create a homey, comfortable feel. "Bajoran Dark
Chocolate Truffles," she replied, and then nodded and added more firmly.
"Definitely Bajoran Dark Chocolate Truffles, the universe's greatest mood
enhancers." She looked at him with a mischievous smile. "Do you think you
could pick up some of those for us?"
Farrell smiled. "By the box, or by the kilo?"
Bree laughed. "Oh what the hell, by the kilo!"
"Done," he said confidently. "If you think of anything else, you know how
to find me."
"Thank you, Mason, I will. But...I hope you aren't doing this just
because you think you owe me something. I'd like us to be a little more
comfortable around each other than that."
"You're kidding, right?" Farrell answered. "Karma, counselor. You do
something nice, and something nice happens for you. That's all."
"Oh," she replied wistfully, "sure." Scott sighed. "I'll let you get back
to work then."
Farrell nodded and turned to go. He was reaching for the door control when
he stopped and half-turned back. "Oh, one last thing," he said,
remembering.
"What's that?" asked Bree, turning her attention back to Farrell.
"I understand Lieutenant Druschev is filing a formal complaint on Counselor
Chambers. Just out of curiosity, what's the procedure for dealing with
that?"
Brennyn arched an eyebrow. "You're not asking me to break confidentiality
are you Mason?" Scott was well aware of Mason's connection to both women.
"Just looking for the procedural details. Not the specifics of the case."
Bree was still skeptical, but decided there was no harm in discussing
procedure. "Well, I would speak to both of them first to hear what they
have to say, and I'd review Ainsley's notes. Depending on how things go,
we'd either come to an agreement or the complainant would go over my head.
I'm hoping it doesn't come to that obviously."
Farrell nodded. "Thank you, ma'am."
Scott arched an eyebrow, trying to decide if it was worth the energy to
inquire further
into his motives. Then again, she couldn't indict him for being curious and
she had
told him nothing confidential. So she decided to chill out. "You're
welcome."
And he was gone.
As she watched him go, she knew she was going to be keeping an eye on him if
only because she cared for Ainsley and found him to be too guarded. She
smiled.
If only he and Lyrr knew what they had in common!
Putting all thoughts of work aside for the moment, she decided to head to
the gym.
If Mason was true to his word, she would have cause to put on an extra kilo
if she
didn't watch it!
"Snap and Twist"
by Lt. Cmdr. Damhnait Sefton - Chief Medical Officer
Ensign Raina Derrell - Medical Officer
Ensign Annikafiore Szerda [NPC] - Nurse
and Crewman Emma Summers - Medical Technician
Location: USS Sulu, Sickbay
Stardate: 57908.02, 16h00
***
Doctor Sefton was nearly the last Alpha shifter to leave Sickbay. Ensign
Raina Derrell would be remaining for a second duty shift, at Sefton's
suggestion, for the sake of emergency endurance testing; Ensign Annikafiore
Szerda also seemed to be lurking around, but Sefton was too tired to
determine why. With immediate danger from the Yxrk virus seeming to be
past, Damhnait felt no hesitation at retiring to her quarters immediately
after her scheduled shift.
When Sefton stood up from behind her desk, she accidentally kicked a ball of
yarn out from under it. Staring at it for a moment, she considered if it
might actually belong to Doctor M'lira, or if it had been placed there by a nurse
as a joke. Finally deciding it irrelevant, she disposed of it in her
office's replicator. Striding out of her office, towards the exit, the
doors between Main Sickbay and the waiting room parted before Damhnait
stepped into sensor range.
Emma Summers breezed into Sickbay at the start of her shift, only to almost
run into the new CMO. She was perfectly attired in her class B uniform -
single piece with the medical blue blazon across the shoulders. Her hair was
in a tight bun, pulled away from her face - she looked a picture of
professionalism as she smiled at the Betazoid woman. She stopped short and
said, "Hello, sir," holding out one hand and beaming a smile at the Chief of
Medical. "We haven't met. I'm Crewman Emma Summers." Emma's dark eyes were
looking straight at the Betazoid female seemingly without a care in the
world.
"I've been wondering when we would finally cross paths; I've already met all
of the other technicians," Damhnait said distractedly, as she took Summers'
hand. Emma's mind was a complete void; it was extremely unusual in humans,
but not impossible.
Emma grinned. "How do you say your name, sir? Sorry but it's awfully
confusing. I saw it on the roster: Damm-nit? Dam-hanit?" She shrugged
helplessly. "Sorry, sir, I'd like to get it right.."
"Dav-ven-net," Doctor Sefton said, using elongated vowels. "There's a
phonetic spelling in my public Starfleet record, and it's 'Doctor Sefton' in
Sickbay. It's at the point now, where I practically wouldn't even recognize
'Damhnait' as my own name when I'm on duty. Was there anything else,
Summers?"
"No, Doctor Sefton, thank you, sir." Emma smiled politely, keeping a smirk off
her face. She nodded to the senior officer and went through into sickbay
proper.
From a biobed alcove, Annikafiore Szerda spotted Emma Summers finally left
alone by the exiting Doctor Sefton. Her expression stony, Annikafiore
dashed towards Summers, but stopped to mutter a polite, "excuse me" when she
nearly charged into Raina Derrell.
Raina moved to one of the private exam rooms to deal with a patient
complaining of symptoms mimicking the Yxrk virus. From what she'd seen to
date she was pretty confident that wasn't what he had. Never the type to
leave any stone unturned. Especially when they were trying to rule out
something such as this virus.
Not too concerned about being asked to pull a double shift for emergency
endurance testing. That wasn't new to Raina by any means. She'd done it
enough as part of her previous assignments for Starfleet. This would be just
one more to add to her armada.
In Main Sickbay, Annikafiore was similarly single-minded in her own, not
life threatening but no less urgent, task. She delicately grabbed Emma
Summers' wrist and guided her into the empty Life Sciences laboratory.
Several inches taller than Emma, Annika looked down at her with an
expressionless face, and firmly folded her arms across her chest. Steely,
she asked, "Did you tell Amy Reese that I'm afraid of you?"
Emma snatched her wrist away and sneered at the taller woman. "Gee, Annie, I
can't remember...are you?" Her gaze was serious but her lips were turned up
in a slight smile. She stood with arms behind her, her body language totally
non-threatening. It was her eyes that showed pure malevolence. Her voice was
quiet, only the two of them would be able to hear it.
"If anyone, you should be afraid that I told a security officer about your
assault and battery," Annikafiore informed Emma in an airy, matter-of-fact
tone. "You can say anything you want about me; hell, it'll probably be the
truth. You can certainly try to rip my tongue out. And I honesttogod
hope you can empower Amy to be her slutty self, without always whining, and
demanding forgiveness for it. But in the end, I have nothing to fear from a
fake like you."
The word echoed in Emma's mind. Fake. Her face drained of color. What did
she know? She couldn't know or she'd be afraid...she'd be very afraid. The
shock reaction was momentary as Emma's survival reflex made her smile in the
face of threat. She'd told a security officer? "I spilled my drink...it was
an accident," she said it quietly, her voice under tight control. She hadn't
gone through so much to lose it because of a stupid cow like Annika. A stray
image of herself plunging a blade into the woman in front of her flashed
through her mind.
"God, you're doing it now," Annikafiore snapped. "At first I thought
your much-gossiped femme-fatale performance in the lounge was just about you
living out a fantasy to be Amy Reese, but now I'm more sure than ever that
you are that woman. Which means this mousy 'I'm so nervous around men'
medtech behaviour is a mask. And that's just pathetic."
Emma's fist bunched behind her back. Her nails bit into the soft flesh of
her palm - enough to draw blood. The flash of pain cleared her head enough
to stop her retort. "Amy is my friend," she said through clenched teeth.
"You were saying nasty things about her and I won't have it! So just shut
your mouth, Annika. Amy's a better person than you'll ever be!"
"You don't know me, it truly doesn't sound like you actually know Amy,
and so you obviously don't know what you're talking about," Annikafiore
stated, much calmer than before. "I don't 'shut my mouth' for anyone."
"If you don't stop spreading vicious rumours about Amy Reese I'll make it my
business to shut you up," Emma snarled. "She's done nothing to you - she's
done no harm to anyone. If you don't leave her alone I'll make sure you
regret it." Her eyes were a dark shade of grey, malevolent pits with
expanded irises that made it look as if they were black. She stepped closer
to Annikafiore and glared, her raw hatred revealed in the utter madness in
her eyes. She had to fight to retain control; it was as if a beast was
clamouring in her head for blood - Annika's blood. "Get out," she said
quietly. "Leave...now."
Backing away, Annikafiore spat, "Delusional psychotic." She didn't turn her
back on Emma until she had made her way out the nearby exit into the
corridor, and the door had fully closed.
Emma chuckled. A soft sound that turned into a full laugh. "Stupid cow," she
laughed as she straightened her uniform. With a sunny smile she started her
work humming a tune.
"There you are. I thought I saw you, and then you were gone," Nurse
Saffron Pakarinen called out to Emma, who walked round the CMO's office to
return to Main Sickbay. "You are on my team today, Crewman Summers, and
we have been assigned to Ensign Derrell from Alpha." In the last day,
Doctor Sefton had announced that all medical personnel would be grouped into
teams for each shift, and that the teams would be shuffled each day to give
every member of the medical personnel a chance to work with all of the other
members.
"That's nice," Emma replied with a smile. "I might not be in medical too
much longer anyway," she confided. "I've put in a transfer to Counselling."
She smirked. "I can't stand that silly bitch Szerda. So...what's Derrell
like?" she asked as she sat at a terminal and began accessing the previous
shift logs.
"Well, for one thing, she probably wouldn't like me telling you that. She
likes to solely focus on the healing," Saffron said, as she kept an eye out
for eavesdroppers or Derrell herself. "...But, what I have learned of her
social life is that she likes some snap with her pop."
"She likes what?" Emma made an I don't know what the hell you're talking
about face.
"Some twist with her touch," Saffron said meaningfully, and a little
louder than before.
The blank look was complete with a little sideways slouch and a hand on the
hip. "How about Federation Standard?" Emma asked sarcastically. "I don't
follow...what are you talking about?"
"Raina's a masochist," Saffron exclaimed with an exasperated huff. "She
wants a boy-toy to beat her up like the Cardassians used to do to her."
Raina walked out of the exam room just in time to hear Saffron's comment.
The medical officer stopped cold in her tracks. Her gaze met the others with
what little composure she could muster and that disappeared incredibly fast.
"Too far... You've gone too far!" The emotion in those few words were clearly
evident because the comment held no truth but it caused far more painful
memories to surface.
"Think before you shoot your mouth off..." Her final comment before making a
very quick and emotionally distracted exit from sickbay, came in a jumble of
words. Angry, terrified sobs intermingled did their best to drown out
Raina's voice.
Saffron stared at the door Raina had exited through in stupefied silence.
She had been repeatedly muttering, "I'm sorry", like a mantra, but when it
became clear that Raina wasn't returning, it felt like there was no point in
continuing.
Too upset to really notice the corridor as she entered it, not much time
passed before Raina sought support from a nearby wall. Heavily she leaned
against it as her body was wracked with more sobs and uncontrolled tears
streamed down her face. Overcome by the shakes and near a state of
hyperventilation, her head finally dropped into her hands. As much as Raina
really wanted to find some place more private it was very hard to find
enough energy to move, yet alone make it back to her quarters.
Emma found her not too far from Sickbay. She came up to her with a contrite
expression, stopping a few feet away. "Hey..." she started. "I'm sorry you
heard that. Saffron doesn't know when to shut up. It was a stupid thing to
say. Szerda shouldn't go around spreading that kind of crap anyway." She
moved a little closer to the distraught medical officer. "I'm sorry."
Raina walked to the nearest turbolift behind Emma. Not wanting to be rude
but she wasn't in a state of mind to discuss anything presently. She had
barely noticed Emma's presence at all due to being so preoccupied.
"Now What?"
By: Ensign Shirik Lektar
Ensign Raina Derrell
Lt Commander Damhnait Sefton
Location: Derrell's quarters, USS Sulu
Stardate 57908.02, 16h18
***
Any sense of time or true reality had disappeared for Raina sometime
earlier.
She didn't know how long she'd stood there in the corridor outside sickbay
leaning against a wall. Not certain how or where the energy had come to make
her way back to her quarters, but it had somehow. Everything was a giant
haze.
Unaware that her roommate was present or that the lighting had been altered,
she stumbled for her bed. It took great effort and concentration to keep her
breathing from getting too far out of control. Her body shook with a ferocity
she
hadn't experienced in a long time and it scared the medical officer.
It was Beta shift. Shirik's roommate had notified her that she'd be working
a
double shift this evening, so she was looking forward to some quiet time
alone in their quarters. She had the light level lowered as she often did
when alone, and was seated on her bed reading and jotting notes in a PADD.
She looked up as the door opened, not having expected anyone, and frowned
slightly as her roommate stumbled into the room and into her bed. Despite
the lowered light level, she had no problem seeing her, and watched in
silence for a moment before finally deciding to speak. "Ensign Derrell?
Aren't you supposed to be working?"
Raina heard Shirik yet it took her another moment or two before she managed
to get out a partial answer. "Not anymore." The reply flooded out in a gasp
as
she tried to focus on getting herself under control. Nothing seemed to be
working.
The hyperventilation seemed to get worse as did the shaking.
Shirik frowned slightly. Her keen hearing brought her the sound of Raina's
breathing, and it didn't sound normal to her. She set down her book.
"Computer, return lighting to normal levels." The lights came back up,
making her squint for a moment.
"Has something happened?" she asked.
The only thing she could do was nod yes. Still far too upset to say anything,
yet alone risk that with her current state. Raina dropped her head back into
her hands the way it had been in the corridor.
Shirik just sat there on the bed watching her roommate for a while. It was
obvious she was very upset, but about what wasn't really her business to pry
into. Instead, she asked, "Do you require medical assistance?"
During that time she noticed her vision starting to get fuzzy. With some
effort
Raina managed to get herself lying down. It wouldn't be long before she
totally
lost consciousness. Perhaps that would be a relief from the terror that
wanted
to consume her.
Shirik frowned and slipped from her bed to slowly approach Raina. "Ensign
Derrell?" she called, hand reaching for her combadge at the lack of response
from her roommate.
There was no answer from Raina. She had totally passed out by now. Her hands
had dropped to her stomach or her side when that occurred. Her head rested
against the pillow.
With a frown, Shirik tapped her combadge. "Lektar to Sickbay. Please send
someone to my quarters, Ensign Derrell is unconscious and may be ill." She
stepped back, hoping whatever it was wasn't contagious.
It wasn't long before an emergency med tech showed up at their quarters.
"I need you to help me get Ensign Derrell to sickbay. The CMO is going
to have to be informed as well."
Shirik nodded and helped get Raina loaded onto an anti-grav gurney, then
accompanied it to Sickbay. If Raina did have something contagious, she
wanted to make sure she got treated quickly. Hopefully the CMO would be
too busy with Raina to notice her so she could leave just as quickly.
They made it to sickbay without much of a problem. Yulik contacted the CMO,
"Sickbay to Dr Sefton."
"Sefton here," Damhnait's voice came from the comm-system.
"Sorry to interrupt your evening, Doctor, but Ensign Derrell was just brought
in unconscious. Her roommate is here with her and is the one who reported
the problem."
"Thank you for informing me. I'm on my way as I speak," Damhnait told
Yulik.
"Oh my god," Nurse Saffron Pakarinen breathed out when she saw Raina on the
gurney. She hurried to her side, and helped Yulik get Ensign Derrell onto a
biobed. "She's been hyperventilating. We need to lower her oxygen levels
and give her an anti-anxiety Dexatane?" Saffron asked Doctor Yochorov, as he
approached.
At Yochorov's nod, Saffron scrambled for equipment, while Yulik loaded a
hypospray.
"Was she conscious when you found her?" Yochorov asked Shirik.
Shirik nodded. "I was in our quarters reading when she came in. She didn't
look well, and was breathing strangely...then she fainted."
As Doctor Yochorov and Nurse Pakarinen tended to Derrell, Cadet Arie Nokomis
took Ensign Lektar aside to ask, "Are you okay?"
Shirik kept her eyes and ears on what was happening with Raina. "As long as
Ensign Derrell has nothing contagious, why shouldn't I be?" she asked.
When Damhnait Sefton rushed into Sickbay, Derrell was just barely starting
to regain consciousness. Damhnait dismissed everyone away from Derrell's
biobed, and silently watched her vitals normalise on the overhead monitor.
Once Derrell's eyes fluttered open, Damhnait soothingly asked, "Raina, how
are you feeling?"
Raina couldn't recall exactly what happened after her hurried departure from
sickbay earlier. "I feel like I've just run a race and failed miserably."
Briefly she regarded the CMO before answering further, "Honestly, Doctor, I'm
tired and edgy. What happened?"
"As I understand it, you ran out of Sickbay, began hyperventilating, and
lost consciousness in your quarters. Fortunately, your roommate was present
when it happened, and she had you brought to Sickbay immediately," Damhnait
gently explained.
"Severe anxiety attack?" Raina asked. Then figured she'd better fill the
Commander
in on what happened. "Yes I ran out of sickbay thanks to an ill timed
comment from
Nurse Pakarinen. I can quote the entire thing because it went way too far.
'Raina's
a masochist. She wants a boy-toy to beat her up like the Cardassians used to
do to
her.' That was unfortunately just the final part of it." Raina sighed. If it
wasn't for the
anti-anxiety medication she wouldn't have been able to give her department
head a clear
picture of the issue at hand. "She used some rather vivid words to hint at
that before coming
out and saying it."
Damhnait put a hand over her own mouth to hide that she was gaping with
incredulity.
"I'm...so sorry that anyone would say something like that. Especially
someone you
work with in my staff. Do you need anything? Would you like me to retrieve a
counsellor?"
"I'm already working with one of the Counselors aboard. I'll let her know
what happened. What I don't want to see happen is someone else fall into
their same trap. I think they wanted me because I refused to become part
of their gossip ring. But something tells me this has been going on long
before you took over as CMO," Raina commented. "Thanks for your
concern, Doctor."
"I don't want you to be worrying about this happening again. Just rest,"
Damhnait told Derrell. Briefly turning away, she hissed at a nurse,
"Pakarinen. Wait in my office." Sefton then returned to Derrell's bedside
with a soft smile.
Shirik's keen ears picked up the goings on by the biobed and she frowned to
herself, and gazed at those gathered in Sickbay. At the mention of the name
Pakarinen, her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she stalked off after the
retreating nurse like a hunting tigress.
She waited to intercept the nurse in the CMO's office, out of earshot of
most
of the others. Her icy gaze pinned the nurse like a target. "You," she said
shortly,
with the voice of authority, of the Princess addressing a disobedient slave.
"People
like you are why this ship is a vile nest of slanderous lies. What is
wrong with
you people? This isn't kindergarten, this is a starship! You're supposed
to be
professionals. Start acting like it!" Although her words were sharp, her
tone was low,
almost dangerous sounding, with the subtle sound of threat.
Without another word she left the office, and went back to see whether
Ensign Derrell
would be returning to quarters or not.
Raina wanted to know if she was going to be allowed to return to her
quarters as well.
All she wanted to do was forget the whole incident as much as possible. Sure
she'd
probably have to discuss it again with Dr. Sefton at some point especially
since knowledge
of the whole thing now had the potential to go past the medical department.
"My quarters," she gave the Doctor a tired smile. Raina figured Damhnait
would understand
considering sickbay was a place she spent a good amount of time already
during her duty shifts.
"Of course; I assume your roommate will help you get home safely. Take care
tonight, Raina,"
Damhnait offered, squeezing the back of Derrell's hand. She watched Raina
for a moment, before
stalking into her office, where Saffron awaited.
"Thank you, Doctor," Raina nodded as she slowly eased herself off the biobed.
Briefly she shifted
her attention to Shirik. "I appreciate your assistance. Now let's get out of
here."
Shirik nodded. That sounded like a good idea. Finished with her business in
Sickbay, she headed
for the exit.
"Quiet. Too Quiet."
By: Commander Lyrr Tayla; Executive Officer
Ensign Mason Farrell; Operations Officer
Ensign Amy Reese; Nurse
Location: USS Sulu, Operations Office
Stardate: 57908.02 16h35
***
Mother Yalen could drive her utterly mad in one instant, and become truly
endearing in the next. For Lyrr today, she had shown both sides of her
personality, at once irritating her with melodramatic raving, then appealing
to Lyrr's sensitivities by accepting her once again into the family.
Though, Lyrr
never had truly expected her to keep good on her threat. Yalen always presented a
tough, inexorable exterior, but she was a passionate, tender woman within.
Lyrr admired her for her ability to choose which persona was appropriate for
each situation. Lyrr, herself, only every displayed her strict, unforgiving
facade, even to Yalen and Derna, but both loved her just as they would if
she were the most gracious, considerate daughter they could hope for. Lyrr
smirked. That was something she would never be, though they seemed to be
accepting it...finally.
Still slightly irritable after her encounter with some potent, foul-tasting
Bajoran liquor that left a deep pounding in her head, Lyrr had managed to
swing by sickbay for an appointment with a dermal regenerator after her morning-long transmission with Yalen and Derna. Only after
looking in the mirror that morning did she realize the right side of her
face was swollen, and purple bruises were spreading over her stomach. The
medical officer treating her had looked slightly skeptical, but after an
explanation involving a brutal springball opponent, the ensign seemed
satisfied. Apparently, her penchant for violence on the springball court
had become legendary in sickbay, so the lie was an easy out for her.
All
the while, she'd feared T'Kal would show up to witness her condition; no
explanation other than the truth would have appeased him. But, she had
avoided him thus far, and would do so until she was confident he wouldn't
see something in her eyes to provoke his suspicions. That meant getting
rid of some evidence that might implicate her if T'Kal happened to find it
in her possession, and fully overcoming her stupor so she was better
equipped to handle any questions that might arise when they met later that
evening. So, Lyrr proceeded through the corridor, beginning her quest to
put that horrendous night on Bajor past her, and ensuring her secret
remained just that was a good first step.
She hesitated partway to her destination, turned forward again to resume
walking, then sighed and strode finally into
the office. It was childish to feel such apprehension in something as innocent as visiting a
fellow officer, but minimizing the number of instances in which they were
seen together was an important part of concealing the connection they
shared involving the incident on Bajor. It would offer her a more plausible
deniability. Still, Lyrr was relieved when, upon a quick glance
around the room, she found it empty save for the single Ops officer lounging
in an oversized chair with legs propped on the desktop and a PADD raised for appraisal.
Lyrr studied Ensign Farrell's profile, realizing she had never simply paused to truly
take in his appearance - in most cases, there would be no time before she
jumped into her heated tirade. This time she did, and noted that he was a
handsome man with boyish good looks much like Matt's, but more importantly
that his expression was a serious, pensive one, indicating his mind was
actually focusing on whatever was scrolling past the screen. A manifest?
An efficiency report? Or his latest scheme? Lyrr smirked, choosing that as
the most likely scenario, but after their time on Bajor, there was some
small part of her that could no longer bring herself to prejudge Farrell in
such a way. And that part of her had gained an iota of respect for the
ensign, and a gratitude she owed him enough to honour. But that didn't mean
she would go easy on him the next time he got out of line.
"Busy?" she
called out to him, though much to her surprise, her smile was somewhat
pleasant.
He looked up, and then pulled his feet down and stood respectfully.
"Afternoon, Commander," he said. "You, of course, know full well you could
order me to not be busy if you wanted," he smiled slightly. "Though as it
happens, I'm between tasks for a minute. What did you need?"
"Nothing," she replied, gesturing for him to retake his seat. As she
approached the desk, Lyrr glanced around the room, then regarded him again.
"Can we talk for a moment? Something...confidential."
Farrell looked suspicious, cocking his head and looking at her sideways.
"Sure," he said slowly. "Want me to secure the door?"
Lyrr nodded. "Might be best. I don't want anyone accidentally
overhearing."
Farrell nodded, and motioned Lyrr to a side chair while he ordered the door
secured. He sat behind the desk again, and gave Lyrr his full attention.
She smiled tightly at the ensign, while shifting in her seat to cross one
leg over the other. "I'm quite surprised," she began, still trying to find
a comfortable position for her hands. Lyrr finally settled on folding them
together in her lap. She again smiled. "I haven't heard anyone even hint
at what happened on Bajor. I'm glad you can keep a promise."
"What promise?" Farrell asked rhetorically, his voice innocent, but the
inflection obvious. "What happened on Bajor?"
Lyrr chuckled. "Yes...of course. Though, since that never happened, I
guess the conversation I had with my foster parents today never happened
either, so there's no point in me telling you all about that and what Mother
Yalen said about you." She shrugged and made a move to rise.
Farrell quirked a smile. "You're slicker than I give you credit for,
Commander. What did Mother Yalen have to say about your" --he thought a
moment-- "Messenger Boy."
Lyrr sighed as she again settled into her chair, then re-crossed her legs.
"Well, I told her what happened that night," she frowned. "I wouldn't have
been able to keep it from her long anyway, so I figured telling her outright
would save me some grief. And I told her what you did for me, including the
fake communication." There was a gentle chuckle as she lowered her eyes to
her clasped hands. "She first asked if--" She cleared her throat. "She
wanted to know if you and I were...you know." With her cheeks colouring
slightly, she glanced up at him, and insisted, "I told her we weren't,
then she mentioned something about you being a clever, sneaky bastard,
though she could forgive you for it considering you were such a looker."
Farrell stared at her for a few moments with his eyebrows raised, and then
laughed; a rich boom of
humor, not mockery. "I don't think I've ever received such a nice
compliment. 'Such a looker,' " he repeated to himself. "For what it's
worth, you're not so bad yourself. If we ever get back to Earth, you'll
have to come meet my family. You'd probably like my brother."
Lyrr cocked an eyebrow at that. "Oh? Is he anything like you? If so, that
could be a problem."
"Oh no," Farrell said. "He's not much like me. Ty was always the serious
one; all about his duty and his responsibilities. You'd probably understand
him better than the rest of us ever could."
"From saviour to matchmaker," she quipped with an amused smile. Although
her obligation to T'Kal came to mind, Lyrr found it unnecessary to divulge
her attachments to Farrell. It helped that she wasn't too eager to meet any blood relation
of Farrell's, considering the sore spot he'd been in her life recently.
Though, Lyrr nodded at any rate. "I'd be glad to meet your brother, though it's
unlikely we'll be swinging by Earth any time soon." She paused, her
expression thoughtful. "He's not in Starfleet. If he is so strict about
duty and responsibility, why are you the one serving aboard a starship and
he isn't?"
Farrell chuckled. "Duty and Responsibility don't always equate to
Starfleet. Ty's always felt like his duty to his family was most important.
I felt the same way for years, until my grandfather started pushing me
toward duty to something bigger. So I'm here, and Ty's there, and we're
both serving in our own way."
"So, you don't believe one requires a sense of duty and responsibility to
perform well in Starfleet?" she inquired, though she was chuckling with
slight incredulity. "Did you, perchance, skip your first class ever at the
Academy where they go in depth about all that is expected of a Starfleet
officer? Now...it has been a long while for me, but I do recall those two
words coming up," she quipped.
"What are you talking about?" Farrell looked confused.
Lyrr shrugged. "You don't believe a Starfleet officer needs to value duty
and responsibility. It's what you said."
"That's not what I said at all," Farrell said flatly. "I said that duty
and responsibility don't always equate to Starfleet; as in, not everyone who
feels a sense of duty and responsibility is always going to end up in
uniform."
Lyrr at once held up her hands defensively. "Okay...I can see this is a
slightly touchy subject." Sighing, she pushed out of her seat. "I just
came to thank you, not to argue."
Farrell sat back and looked incredulous. He opened his mouth, doubtless to
say something scathing, but worked it silently for a moment, then closed it
and looked away to one side of the desk.
"No arguing," he muttered, then seemed to remember something. "Ah," he
said, reaching below the desk where he had been looking. "I'd forgotten.
I've got something for you. And now's a great time to change the subject."
"Oh?" Lyrr smiled warily and made her way forward. "The moment you see me
bristling, you decide to make a peace offering?" She nodded. "Makes
sense."
"It'll keep us both from bristling, I hope," Farrell smiled tightly,
reaching for a box on the floor and setting it on the desk. It was
smallish, and could have contained a couple of PADDs stacked one atop the
other.
Lyrr lifted one eyebrow at the metallic case. At one time, she would have
expected a small explosive device to be hidden within; as she flipped open
the lid, and gazed upon the long, slender cigars, each in its own
humiditube, she was surprised at the content of the gift itself, but not at the innocent nature of it. She chuckled softly and fingered one of the dozen or so
cigars, but not once did she question the legality of them, though she
imagined they weren't quite sanctioned.
"You seemed to enjoy yours the other night. I figured I'd cut you in on my
stash," Farrell winked.
Smiling gently, Lyrr uttered a genuine: "Thank you." After closing the top
and smoothing her hand over its surface, she added, "Maybe you and I can
share one again someday." Grinning meaningfully, she reiterated,
"Someday."
"Someday," he repeated, returning her smile and relaxing as well. "Until
then, make 'em last."
"I'll need something good to drink with them first," she pointed out, then
palmed the case as Farrell shook his head with a chuckle. "Oh...before I
forget..." With her free hand, Lyrr dipped into her pocket. "I only
remembered I had it after" --she fished out the golden insignia and
tossed it at him-- "some woman commed you on it. I was too groggy to
remember it wasn't mine and answered."
He let it skitter on the desk and caught it as it slid toward him. "Some
woman?" he asked, looking at it curiously and standing to see her out.
Lyrr shrugged. "Yeah. She asked for you by name, then sounded quite
surprised when I answered." She chuckled softly. "I think I scared her.
She severed the connection pretty quickly."
Farrell made a thoughtful face. "She didn't identify herself?"
"She did," Lyrr replied with a sigh. "But it was only a garble to my
slightly addled mind. Though, it was definitely a woman, if that helps."
Lyrr smirked. "Judging by the rumours floating around lately, I doubt that
narrows it down any..." With a wave, she started for the door. "Thanks for
the cigars. But don't think I'm going to go easy on you."
"Commander," Farrell called, moving around the desk.
Lyrr rolled her eyes as she paused at the doors. "Of course..." she
muttered. "How could I not have expected this?" Sighing, she peered over
her shoulder at him. "Yes, Ensign?"
Farrell stopped in front of the desk and leaned back against it with his
arms folded. "I had a crazy idea I wanted to run by you," he said, his grin
big and his eyes twinkling.
Lyrr turned to face him now, knowing this required her full attention. "Did
I ever mention I hate crazy ideas?"
***
"Stupid door," Amy Reese muttered as she leaned over to examine the control
panel. She narrowed her eyes at it and cursed under breath after recalling
her near miss with the failing-to-open doors. My perfect nose could've
been ruined! She hadn't visited the Ops department often, but this was the
first time she remembered the doors ever being locked. She groaned
miserably, knowing Commander Sefton would have her head if she returned to
sickbay late. How could she explain that a simple check-up had turned into
a struggle simply to open a door? As she balled her fist in preparation for the mild
beating she meant to inflict upon the panel, the doors swished open rapidly
and Amy squeaked with surprise.
"Oh, I imagine you'd give anything to see me in a skirt, Farrell," Lyrr Tayla teased.
"So is that a yes?" Farrell called after her.
There was a long pause, then she answered, "I'll definitely let you know."
Amy yelped as Lyrr strode forward, and all attempts to dance out of her way
failed. The commander's grin vanished and transformed into a mild scowl as
she came face to face with an obviously stricken Amy Reese. Amy smiled
sheepishly, apologized, and stepped aside for the commander. Lyrr cleared
her throat and gave her a clipped, obviously uncomfortable greeting, then
strode past her, rather hastily in Amy's mind.
She narrowed her eyes
suspiciously at Lyrr's fleeing back, shifted her gaze into the Ops office,
where Farrell was still leaning against his desk and smiling as he absently
rubbed a corner of his mouth with a finger. His smile seemed slightly
dreamy to Amy Reese, and as she glanced back at Commander Lyrr, recalling
her last statement, Amy imagined he was picturing the pretty Bajoran in a
skirt. She smiled slowly, mischievously and turned her focus back into the
room, wondering just what had been going on behind those locked doors.
Giggling to herself, Amy sauntered into the room, her medkit swinging in one
hand, and sang, "Oh, Farrell..."
"On A High Note"
By: Ensign Kit Markham
Ensign Amy Reese
Location: Lounge; Arboretum, USS Sulu
Stardate 57908.02, 17h25
***
Kit Markham sat in the corner of the lounge, guitar before him as he
idly plucked its strings. Every once in awhile, he'd add some humming
to the tune he was strumming, but most of it was just playing,
planning, and toying. He had some ideas for the song in his head, and
he was working through a progression of chords that sounded great in
his head, but not so much off of the guitar itself. A few adjustments
finally curled his lips in a smile, and he started from the top,
gently swaying with the song as it unfolded. With foot tapping the
floor, he gave himself to the music, and let himself go with the
song. Joy filled him as it came out sounding even better than he'd
anticipated.
As he finally worked toward an improvised end, he looked up and
grinned at the audience of one he'd gathered, her plain hair and
uniform sending his heart pounding like only she could, even if her
hair wasn't mauve. "Hey there," he said, and strummed the guitar for
effect. "As you can tell, I was just thinking about you."
"Oh?" She grinned, hands on her shapely hips and head inclined
quizzically to one side. "You seemed a little unsure there about what
was coming from your guitar. That doesn't reflect upon me, does it?"
Kit laughed. "No," he said. "That was just the usual trials of
finding a chord that happens to go with the rest of the song. Did you
see? I managed to pull through in the end there. Pretty impressive,
no?"
Amy giggled and, with a burst of energy, darted towards Kit and
hefted herself onto the stage. She kissed him with enough force to
send him sprawling onto his back, if she didn't have her arms
securely wound about his neck. "Very impressive," she murmured, while
kisses were spread to his chin and neck.
"I can tell," Kit said with a laugh as one hand moved his guitar out
of the way and the other circled around her. "I've missed you, you
know."
"You really shouldn't," she told him, still finding flesh to kiss. "I
mean...where would I go, hm?"
"I've missed having you here with me, where I could hear your laugh
and see your smile and soar with the joy of having you in my life."
She grinned. "Is that part of your song? If so" --she dropped a hand
into his lap, and gave him a decidedly lustful smile-- "I really like
it."
Kit gave a low chuckle, then covered Amy's hand with his own. "Not
verbatim part of the song, but the sentiment is the same."
"Well...I thought we were gonna write something together," she said,
pouting attractively. "Don't you want my keen input?"
"I definitely want your keen input," Kit said with a smile. "And we
are going to write a song together, many songs together. It's just, I
wanted to write this one for you."
"Okay," she answered perkily. "Though...can you put the guitar down
for a bit? I sorta wanted to ask you something and...." She laughed
awkwardly. "Probably safer this way."
Kit glanced around the lounge and then nodded. "Sure," he said, and
then set the guitar back behind him. "Did you want to go somewhere
more private? We could go take a walk? Or go back to our quarters."
"If we go back to our quarters," she said with a grin, "we won't be
doing any talking." Amy surveyed the busy lounge, and wasn't too
eager to have a potential argument with Kit in front of a good number
of their peers. With a smile, she hopped down from the stage and held
a hand out to him. "Come on. I don't think we've ever seen the
arboretum together."
Kit slipped his hand into hers. "Arboretum it is then," he said.
"Come on, let's go dance beneath the flowers and sing joyous songs."
She snickered and started off with Kit. "Shall we frolic naked too?"
"Perhaps we should save that for our room," he said. "Unless we can
manage to get a security override lock on the door."
"Well, this time, let's just talk," she suggested. "I mean...this is
very important, Kitty." When outside the lounge, Amy lowered her
voice and leaned in closer to Kitty so their conversation wouldn't be
overheard by those passing in the corridors. "Now, you know I've been
talking to a lot of people, right?"
"Yeah," Kit said. "Has it been helping? I think one of the things
that really helps during any crisis or near-crisis situation is
having friends who can help you through it."
Amy smiled. "Exactly. So, people have been giving me suggestions
- you know, to help us get through this stuff. So, I was talking to
Crissy and he mentioned that on Betazed, couples are pretty open
about their relationships and that it seems to create a closer bond
between the couple."
Kit frowned. "What...what do you mean open? Do...do you want to be
with other people, Amy?"
"No!" she exclaimed. "I-I mean...it's what some people have
suggested. They think that if we both see other people, it might make
us realize that we already have everything we need with each other."
Amy looked sidelong at him, noting his displeasure. "Not such a good
idea then?"
"I already know that everything I want is with you," Kit said gently.
"Everything I want, is you."
Amy sighed and leaned her head against Kit's. "I knew it was stupid
to bring it up," she muttered. "I guess...I was clutching at straws.
I want this to all work out, Kitty...but I don't know how."
Kit brought his hand to her lips and kissed it. "So," he asked. "How
many times have you been tempted today? How many times have you found
yourself in a position where things with us might fizzle."
Amy grinned proudly. "None. You?"
"Well, there was...oh, but that was you this morning." Kit grinned
and shrugged. "Absolutely no one else. Sounds like it's working out
so far."
"Yeah...." She sighed and slipped an arm around Kit's waist,
wondering idly who to truly listen to, since Crissy's idea was a
complete failure. Her judgment was proving rotten. "You know, Kitty,"
she said, coming up upon the turbolift, "I don't know why I'm such a
floozy. Dr. Potts is helping me a lot, and from our discussion, it
sounds like it has a lot to do with my folks. Could they have made me
a slut, you think?"
Kit was silent for several moments as he thought about it then he
sighed. "I don't really know," he said. "I guess it could be,
though... I don't think that it would be something they did
specifically. Though, I imagine it could have been
something...suppose it... Could it have started as a means to get
attention?"
Amy shrugged, prolonging the motion as her mind pondered the
possibility. "They were busy people," she explained. "I guess it's
possible.... But I have you, Kitty. Why would I still want
attention?"
"Well, it probably started out as one thing, but it's changed into
something else. I imagine it's almost second nature for you, a
natural reaction to a given situation and you may not even be aware
you're doing it."
"Yeah..." she said slowly. "I think you're right, Kitty." Amy grinned
as they stepped onto the lift, and Kit asked the computer to shuttle
them to the arboretum. "You know," she told him, while hanging lazily
off his shoulder, "you could be my new shrink, Kitty. Use
some...hands-on therapy, hm?"
"Oh," he said as he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her
to him, "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. And, we can start
working to change your reactions, so I'm the only one who gets your
heart hammering in your chest and takes your breath away. We will
make this work, Amy. I know we can do it now."
"But...you are the only one, Kitty," she told him. "I mean...I
don't deny that I cheated or flirted...but you really are the only
one who ever makes my heart beat faster. With the others...it's just
physical desire, nothing more. It's so different with you."
"So we have to figure out how to make it so those physical desires
are only triggered by me and my sexay guitar playin'."
Amy giggled and placed a firm kiss upon his cheek. "And those
talented fingers." She leaned in for another kiss when the turbolift
beeped and the doors parted. Amy's hand slid into Kit's, and together
they were off to the arboretum. "You know," she mused, swinging their
arms as she skipped along beside Kit, "I think moving in together was
a good idea. I already feel everything changing for the better."
"Me too," Kit said. "And, I like waking up every morning with you in
my arms, and then slipping into the shower together, and then our
quick romp before our shifts followed by another shower."
"Which reminds me," she replied, "I was almost late for shift today.
Do you think we could have the romp during our shower tomorrow?"
"I am only too happy to oblige, my dear," Kit said with a grin.
"Though, only one shower in the morning will feel so...empty."
"Oh, you'll get over it," she assured him. "I mean...we're gonna be
together forever, right? So there'll be lots of time for showers!"
"Lots of time," Kit said with a big grin. "Someday, we should take an
entire day off, and do nothing but shower. Of course, that may be too
excessive, but it'd be fun."
"We'd be all wrinkly, though," she frowned. "Will you still love me
then?"
"Every morning I will tell each and every wrinkle how much I love it,
because they're all a part of you."
She sighed dreamily and lay her head upon his shoulder, with some
straining her neck to reach it. The two turned into the arboretum,
and were fortunate enough not to have any fellow visitors around. Amy
immediately pulled him behind the tallest bush and proceeded to
spread kisses over his lips and cheeks. "We're lucky, you know," she
said quickly. "Not everyone has someone to love. Look at poor Shyla."
Her hands smoothed over his chest. "Ethan's gone missing and people
say he's done for. I hear she's devastated."
"Ethan? Oh, the tall guy...with the-- and the-- Oh...missing? What
happened? Do they know? We should be looking for him, not sitting
around here."
Amy shrugged and proceeded to unzip Kit's tunic. "Said the shuttle he
was on just...disappeared. I hear the captain's sent a search team to help find him." Her lips grazed over his chin
and against his throat, while two expert hands spread his jacket. "My
point is, I don't know if I could go on without you."
"You won't ever have to," Kit whispered as he allowed his hands to
move over Amy's hips and side. "I'm never going anywhere, Amy. I'm
only yours."
"Me too," she whispered, then grinned and motioned her eyes towards
the grass below. "Shall we?"
Kit glanced at the grass, then kissed her. "I thought you'd never
ask," he whispered, and then lowered himself down to the soft bed of
grass below.
Amy giggled boisterously as the fresh grass tickled her flesh, then
it grew in volume as she and Kit attempted - and failed - to remain
as quiet as possible. "Well...someone's gotta christen this place,"
she told him when he asked if a more secluded spot would be
preferable.
Kit looked around, then grinned and shrugged. "You've got me there,"
he said with a laugh. "Well, shall we?"
Amy sighed and settled onto her back with both hands behind her head.
Smiling slyly at her lover, she answered, "Take it away, rock star."
No more words were necessary, and so they christened the Sulu's
arboretum, doing their best to stay quiet, though their efforts were
fruitless. At least, when they finally would leave the arboretum, no
one would think that Kit Markham and Amy Reese had gone their
separate ways. Their devotion to each other was stronger than ever.
"Time Alone"
by: Ensign Dwayne Sanchez
Location: USS Sulu
Stardate 57908.02, 22h35
***
Dwayne sat in his quarters humming an old twentieth century tune. Ever
since he was young, he'd wanted and old fashioned style keyboard, a
synthesizer for want of a better word.
He finally used some replicator rations and had the computer create one for
him. It had an internal power cell that was self-charging and a built in
percussion pad so he would be able to create his own music.
After the thing had been created, he'd set it up in the corner of his
bedroom and sat down to begin to play. The first song he played was Air
Supply's "Goodbye." He sang right along with his playing:
"I can see the pain living in your eyes
And I know how hard you try
You deserve so much more
I can feel your heart and I sympathize
And I'll never criticize
All you've ever meant to my life.
"I don't want to let you down
I don't want to lead you on
I don't want to hold you back
From where you might belong.
"You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to say, but Goodbye.
"You deserve a chance at the kind of love
I'm not sure I'm worthy of
Losing you is painful to me.
"I don't want to let you down
I don't want to lead you on
I don't want to hold you back
From where you might belong.
"You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to say, but Goodbye.
"You would never ask me why
My heart is so disguised
I just can't live a lie anymore
I would rather hurt myself
Than to ever make you cry
There's nothing left to try
Though it's gonna hurt us both
There's nothing left to say than to say Goodbye."
By the time he'd come to the end of the song, he'd felt warmth in his eyes.
He'd never heard that song done so well in his entire life... He'd remembered
all the fun he'd had with both Amy and Kelli and wondered if they would ever
consider him their friend anymore. He'd had fun, and now, it seemed, his fun
was over...