Trouble's a Brewin'
Posted on Wed Sep 30th, 2009 @ 5:19pm by Commander Curtiss Drake & Captain Elsie Halliwell & Lieutenant JG Lucy Carter
1,866 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
The Shining Truth
Location: Sick Bay
Timeline: Current
"Look, I know you're a Doctor, but until we get a Chief this is my Sick Bay." said Doctor th'Zahn, his bright blue antennae narrowed forward. "Now. If you'll explain the problem to me clearly we can find a Medical solution." he said.
Doctor Elde sighed and ran one hand through her hair, a bit frustrated.
"Allright." she said quietly, "Without a Trill host, the symbiont is difficult to keep in stasis. We normally proceed from host to host with very little interim period, so there isn't a lot of data on prolonged stasis." she said, trying to keep her tone even, even though her emotions were raging. She didn't want to lose him before she could get him to a new host.
"Yes, I understand that." th'Zahn replied. "I've read as much as I could on the Trill-Symbiont relationship in preparation for this." he continued, nodding, his antennae now standing straight up. "What is the problem now though?" he asked, trying to look around Elde's protective stance before the stasis interface.
"Basic respiration is down to seventy five percent and falling slowly, but steadily." she replied, betraying a bit more emotion. "I'm not entirely sure what else to do, I'm not that familiar with Starfleet medical technology." she added.
"May I have a look?" he asked, unfolding his tricorder. "I'm here to help." he added.
Elde reluctantly stepped out of the way and allowed him to actively scan her charge. After a few quiet moments of scanning, he stowed the small node and set the tricoder down on the table.
"You're right." he said quietly, "His respiration is down, but I'm also seeing some cellular decay." he added, standing aside a bit so the Doctor could see his tricorder scan.
Elde was silent for a moment.
"May I suggest something?" th'Zahn asked.
"Yes, yes of course." Elde replied.
"It could be a bit of a risk, but we can try a stasis pod." he suggested. "Considering the risks, though, I'd have to get the Captain's approval." he added.
"What kind of risks?" Elde asked.
"Could be nothing, but it is also possible that we may not recover the symbiont from the status pod. Their anatomy is... unique." he said. "The Captain is the only one that can make that decision, though, considering the risks to the patient." he said.
Elde nodded, "I need more information, I'd like to speak to the Captain."
th'Zahn nodded and tapped his chest, =^="Captain Lane, could you please report to Sick Bay."=^=
The hail went unanswered. The Doctor repeated his comm. Transmission but, again, to no avail. As Nurse Gilmore walked past them both, a tray of implements in her hand, her brow locked and she quickly flicked her gaze towards to the two doctors. “Um, Doctor th'Zahn,� she ventured, wincing as she spoke. “I’m not sure if you are aware with your recent posting and everything, but the Captain is the brig. The Archimedes is now under the authority of Commander Arkham now.�
"Ah, yes. Of course. The ship's being run by some unknown person, but the Doctor is the last person that needs to be aware." he replied, folding his arms across his chest. "Anything else I need be aware of, Nurse? Perhaps we're sailing into Borg space and expect me to have a cure prepared?" he added in frustration.
Nurse Gilmore had been aware of the rumours regarding the acerbic tone of the new stand-in doctor, but tended not pay too much attention to them. That was until she seemed to be on the receiving end of such attitude. Her decision now was to either raise to her anger, or follow procedure as best she could and inform her superior what he had acidly asked of her.
“Um, well, I suppose being just as able-bodied as myself and in possession of a higher rank, you would seem to be privy to more information than my mere self. Shouldn’t you know this already?�
Damn, she chastised herself. Her own tongue seemed to be hinged in the middle just like the new Doctor’s. If only she could keep that mouth of hers shut some times.
th'Zahn's antennae curled forward menacingly as he clenched his jaw. "Perhaps you have something else you should be doing?" he said icily, resting one clenched hand on the bio bed. He turned back to Elde after a moment. "Without the Captain, my authority is the deciding factor. I say we initiate the pod. If Captain Lane had been about, we could have possibly attempted to an early joining, but with the Captain in the brig for whatever reason, we need to do this now." he said, looking to Elde for some kind of confirmation.
Doctor Elde narrowed her vision upon the Andorian and sighed. “The one physician that has been present throughout this entire ordeal is the EMH. We had to run him for a few days before your arrival, Doctor. I know that he is no match for either of our medical training, and especially my own experience with the joining process, but he could assist. If it’s one thing that I cannot do, it’s lose the Kerr Symbiont. I simply won’t allow it. He may also have additional information on the next host, also... Captain Lane.�
th'Zahn sighed, "I can't stand the pink skin EMH." he said, stalking away a few steps. "Computer, activate EMH." he ordered, waiting to see where their ill-tempered computer construct would appear.
The air fizzled to their right and the form of the EMH appeared, facing away from them. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency" he said, automatically then spun on his heel to see whom had called him.
"Who are you?" he asked of the people in sickbay. "Where is Doctor Mabren?"
“Doctor Mabren has been reassigned, Doctor,� Elde stepped in attempting to appease the notoriously frustrated EMH. “There has been a... new regime onboard and, with the Kerr Symbiont deteriorating in health, and apparently Captain Lane detained with alternative official matters, we need your help in stabilising the Symbiont and preparing it for transference to Lane... when he is available. Have you not been brought up to speed with the current situation?�
"Of course I wasn't aware. I rest in cyber oblivion day and night, night and day until someone has the need of me. You try it! It's a living tedium! Do you know that there is only one person on this ship who bothers to speak to me when she thinks I might like to as opposed to when other people think it necessary? Just one! And another thing. My uniform. I want to complai....."
“Doctor!� Elde interjected, cutting him off. “This isn’t quite the right time to discuss the subject of fashion.�
"How about you stick to your programming, hologram, and help us stabilize the Symbiont before we lose him." th'Zahn said, handing him the tricorder he'd used to scan the Symbiont a few minutes prior.
"My determination is, that without a host to attempt the joining with, we have to put the Symbiont into stasis. Do you concur?" th'Zahn asked.
The EMH studied the organics with a narrowing holographic gaze and said, finally "I don't think I have ever encountered such rudeness on board a starship. Still, it's your blood pressure that's rising, definitely not mine." With a smug little smile, he took the tricorder, flipped it open and removed the sensing probe. Scanning it efficiently up and down the body of the Symbiont for a few seconds, he made everyone jump by suddenly snapping shut the tricorder.
"It's an obvious diagnosis," he offered. "This Symbiont is rapidly deteriorating. Either he is joined to Captain Lane within the next 5 hours or he dies. That's the Symbiont, you understand, not Captain Lane." He looked at the others, saw they were not amused and decided to press on. "The only other alternative is for this Symbiont to remain in stasis. I am surprised he is not already, although nobody bothered to ask my opinion before now. I am programmed with the medical knowled..."
"Yes, we're well aware of your programming, now get to the point." th'Zahn interjected quickly.
"All right, all right. Keep your antennae on. This patient needs stasis. Now."
The EMH walked to the far wall and pressed a panel. The wall hummed and a covered bed appeared as if from nowhere, stretching out into sickbay. He touched a few more buttons and the cover opened with a hiss.
"Come on then," he said, with irritation. "Who is going to help me get him in?"
“I will,� Doctor Elde said, stepping forward to assist. “I have more experience tending to the Symbiont, if that’s okay, Doctor th'Zahn. I wouldn’t want to overstep the mark.�
"No, you have the expertise here, Doctor." he replied.
As both the Trill and holographic Doctors moved their way to the Symbiont, it was physically apparent that the slug-like creature was in fact losing health. The brown, porous skin, usually dampened and moist, looked dry and grey. “I’m worried,� she said, shaking her head.
"As well you should be" snapped the EMH. He saw the others looking concerned and decided to alleviate their anxiety. "Of course, there are records of a Symbiont being joined with only one hour to go. In the nick of time, so to speak. I think our friend here will be fine with my excellent treatment." He tapped the wall by the bed and the cover swooshed back into place, sealing the Symbiont. A few more taps and the bed's local temperature was slowly being brought down to stasis levels. A monitor above the bed in the wall displayed vital signs. The EMH glanced at them and gave a satisfactory nod.
th'Zahn reviewed the vitals quickly and nodded in agreement, turning now to the EMH who was smiling back.
"Computer, end program." he said with a smile, the EMH vanishing before he could give another smart response.
"Now to more pressing affairs." he said, turning to Elde. "Like where is the Captain..."
“As far as I am aware, Doctor, Captain Lane is being held in the brig. Starfleet politics and protocols have worried me little throughout my career as a Symbiont Attendant, but this could prove difficult if he isn’t released soon for the joining. I doubt that whatever has caused him such a loss of liberty is serious as this ship would have been turned around and headed for a starbase by now, and I haven’t received orders from the Symbiosis Commission contrary to the joining so I am to assume that everything will right itself in time. That’s if there’s enough of that left.� She inhaled deeply and looked and the readout for the status unit. “My life’s work rests on Federation technology and procedures. I just hope that it’s enough.�
OFF:
Doctor th'Zahn
Acting Chief Medical Officer
(Played by Lieutenant Fox),
Doctor Eleri Elde
Symbiont Attendant
(Played by both Lieutenant Fox and Captain Lane)
AND
The Wonderful EMH
(Played by Lieutenant Junior Grade Carter)
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