A Man and his Plumage

Posted on 19 Dec 2013 @ 7:19pm by Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

2,573 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 07 1500

ON:

Theron Rhodes sat in his office. He had been sitting in his office for the last 2 hours without moving. He had blocked all calls, except from the senior staff, and had told the security personnel not to disturb him.

He could not decide about the hair issue. He knew it was a no nonsense procedure. He could walk in bald and walk out with hair on his head in just a few minutes. But the dilemma yet existed.

He had to make a decision. He stood and walked out of security without saying a word to anyone. All the officers just seemed to hold their breath as he passed. Theron just hoped that the doctor available would be understanding and not make him have to deal with the other issue.

Entering Sickbay, which still seemed to be busy, Theron saw Lt. Warraquim. He knew her to be one that was a factual person. A . . deal with the issue person. A . . no need to embarrass the patient person. At least Theron hoped. He raised his hand and wiggled his fingers slightly to get her attention.

The patient load finally was thinning. Most of the more minor injuries had been taken care of and sent off, and even a few of the more serious ones she and the staff had gotten put back together and sent off. There were still a lot and some of those, especially the now de-assimilated ones it would have to wait for a major medical facility.

She absently scratched at her head, the hair was growing back with a vengeance and rather than a cue ball, she could pass for a marine buzz cut. A movement caught her eye and she turned her head to see Lieutenant Rhodes.

One last scratch and she headed over. "Lieutenant Rhodes, what brings you to sickbay?"

He hesitated, "Well," his hand stroked across his bald head, "as you know I too was one of the members of the away team." That of course was an obviously stupid statement as he looked at her bald head. He looked right and left to see who might be listening. "I'd like to get my hair . . ah . . regrown?" Theron was not sure if that was the best way to describe it or not.

Allyndra blinked, the request was odd. "Well, it should all on its own. You see mine is already starting out. I know some males have issues with baldness, but in this case the procedure did not damage the hair follicles, so give it awhile and you will be asking for a hair trimming." She made a smile, "If you do not mind me saying so, you do look handsome either way."

Theron was not amused by her humor. With a stern look on his face Theron was about to say something, but someone walked by and he stopped and turned slightly away. He was sure that he was blushing now. The words he spoke came out shaky, "Ppplease. It would mean a lot to me." He hesitated again and swallowed hard.

Allyndra saw the look and wondered why it was such a big deal especially to a male. She could see having hair being more important to the females, but she just gave up trying to figure nuances of cultures. "Very well, follow me and I can see if there is enough power to get the tissue regenerator up to stimulate the hair follicles. Please this way..." She indicated with a sweep of her arm and headed toward one temporary bed that had been set up. This was such a minor thing that occupying a regular biobed was out of the question.

Theron followed and stood next to the biobed. He felt relieved that she had not pressed the matter. Explaining it all, here, would not be his first choice.

"Please have a seat Lieutenant. I will be back shortly with a regenerator." Allyndra headed off to find an instrument leaving Rhodes to sit there.

Rhodes sat up on the bed. He felt odd sitting there by himself. He should not. He had had wounds tended to many times in sickbay.

It took a few minutes, but finally Allyndra returned and looked over his head. "Alright here we go, I cannot guarantee a full set of hair, but should be something more than fuzz. You will probably look like a marine buzz cut."

In a straight tone, he replied, "That will be adequate. Thank you."

"Alright, here we go. This will tingle, a lot, but should not hurt." Allyndra slowly moved the regenerator over Theron's head being careful to make it even and follow the slightly darker parts that marked his natural hairline. It was slow and tedious, but after a point a fairly even 'carpet' of millimeter or so long hair was left. She was fairly sure she was not going to get further there was only so much you could stress cells.

She set the machine aside and then fetched a mirror and handed to Theron. "I think that is it. I hope it is adequate. You must realize that regenerators stimulate the cells much faster than normal, but one must be careful not to over stress them least they expire in the process."

A concerned look remained on Theron's face as he looked in the mirror. Glancing up at the doctor and then resuming looking at the mirror said, "I guess this will do," setting the mirror down and looking at the Allyndra, "for now. I would like another treatment later in the day, if possible."

"Later in the day?" Allyndra questioned with a puzzled look on her face. "The cells need a much longer time than that to recover. At least twenty four hours minimum and really twice that long before being stimulated again. We would risk damaging them otherwise."

Theron closed his eyes in frustration and the realization he needed to accept this situation. He looked again at the doctor and said calmly as if controlled, "I understand. I will make other arrangements."

Allyndra was puzzled. "There is something more than this," she brushed her hand along the fine hair. "Isn't there? I am a doctor and a former counselor, so you can tell me in confidence."

Rhodes physically felt something happen to him at that instant. It was like being weightless or being in free fall with no pressures on him anymore. He was not sure why a few words from a doctor that he did not know very well, would cause this effect on him. Yet he did not want to ignore it, but take advantage of it.

Theron looked to Allyndra with kind eyes and smiled slightly, yet reserved, "This has nothing to do with the hair on my head."

Allyndra listened, but as soon as Theron said: 'nothing to do with hair on my head'; she began to suspect what this was about.

He turned away slightly to focus on nothing as this tall, strong man tried to explain, "On the planet, their method of cleansing was to remove all hair, which included hair from the genital area. I have no problem with nudity . . . but the absence of hair reminded me of a time as a boy."

Akkadians did not exactly have a childhood as many placental humanoids. They had a nymph phase, the Khar'atah, in which they spent their first year in the sea. However, placental types underwent a distinct puberty much different and with it the maturation of the reproduction system and development of various secondary sexual features. She understood now what Theron was referring to and rather than laugh or take it lightly she nodded solemnly. "I understand."

Theron took a deep breath and tried not to shake as he let it out. He continued, "Boys can be cruel. Those that I went to school with during my adolescent cycles were rough and sometimes mean."

"I have heard, well studied such things. There are many cultures that have various indications and responses."

The Tandaran looked to Allyndra, "If a boy had no hair growing yet down there," he looked down to his groin, "then they were teased and ridiculed. Names like 'sprig' were used, and that was a kind one." He again took a breath and let it out more even this time. "I thought I had overcome all those memories. I had no idea they would control me like this."

"Well," Allyndra picked up the regenerator. "If you would be so good as to accompany me to the Medical Lab we can work on that aspect in privacy." Allyndra gave a jerk of her head to indicate to follow.

Theron did not move. "I am not sure if that will fix my problem."

Allyndra stopped dead in her tracks and turned with puzzlement on her face. "Did I misunderstand something? I thought I had the idea."

Theron rubbed his face with his hands, then looking at the doctor, "You and I both know that growing my hair is not the key. I know it is all mental." He looked away, torn as to what to do or even think.

Allyndra thought this might be best done with a regular Counselor, but perhaps there was something she was missing. It was not unknown for Counselor's to have relationships and that meant it was not a good idea. She had no idea if that was the case here or not.

"Very well, let's go to the medical lab. It is private and we can discuss things. Please..." She indicated the way.

Allyndra lead the way and indicated to one nurse that she was not to be disturbed for a bit. The medical lab was deserted as she expected, the whole project with her DNA research had long gone dormant. She pulled a chair and indicated the biobed.

Theron followed the doctor. Emotionally he felt like a pet keytrofly; a very affectionate, obedient, and slightly naive fluffy animal. Physically, though, he walked upright and normal, so others would not take notice.

"Now beyond hair in the genital area, there is obviously something else as you indicated about the whole incident that has affected you. It is not unusual for such 'violations' as we experienced to result in performance issues."

"Performance issues?" Theron questioned just slightly irritated. "I have not been with anyone to have 'performance issues." He then rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of the comment, but then he took on a more serious expression. "However, being bare would certainly not help my lovelife." He looked at the doctor with the deep sapphire blue eyes, "I guess I just feel . . if I had hair on my head, everything else would not matter. No one would know any way."

Allyndra thought she was getting an idea. "I see something that does not make it so obvious that your hair was removed." She thought for a moment.

"As I said, I cannot exhaust the cells by over stimulating but..." she looked around the room and an idea came to her. "I think I could replicate the cells and follicles, then put those on a high stimulation and transplant them in. That would give you a much fuller head of hair quickly and as that hair was finally shed your own natural ones should have had a chance to catch up. I could even do the same with the groin area as well if you wish. How does that sound?"

That actually sounds pretty good. Theron thought. His eyes brightened up a little and the pressure seemed less in his chest. "Yes. I think that might indeed do the trick."

"Very good. Well, why don't you lie down on the MedLab biobed and we can get started. Now if you see a lot of hair loss in a few months' time, it is because the transplanted ones will have died. A few months on your natural ones should give it an approximate match. Now then, lay back and let me get a few to put through the cell replicator."

Theron sat up on the biobed and laid back. He did not understand why this simple thing would seem to control him so much. He recognized it as a weakness in him that could be used against him.

Allyndra waited while Rhodes got settled and then carefully harvested a few follicles from various spots. She put those in the cell replicator and let the machine go to work. She went ahead and programmed a high stimulator, so that they would grown very quickly, though it would mean the replicated one's death.

A thought seemed to continue around and around in Theron's mind, Not something I would want others to know, to be able to control me. He then realized paranoia was present as well. He thought, I guess it is time to go see Commander Blake again.

She then turned back and made a motion with her hands. "I will have to have you take off your trousers and underwear for the next part."

This didn't seem to bother Theron either and he complied, bulling down his trousers, laid back again, and just relaxed.

Allyndra was professional about her work and did the same. This would actually be harder work to do, but she would do her best.

Holding those samples to the side, she waited while the machinery finished on the first set. She then replaced those with the second set of samples and turned back. "If you wish you may redress while I work on your head."

Theron smiled. His first thought was to give her a 'macho' comment about his manhood, but then remembered what this was all about, and thought better. "Yeah, it's getting a little chilly in here." of course he lied.

Allyndra went to work. It was delicate work, and time consuming especially after she switched to his groin area, but finally it was done. If she said so herself it almost looked like his pre-beam down to the planet self. And yes, she had noted the rest after their forced strip.

"Well? I hope it meets with you expectations?" she asked.

As Theron stood before Allyndra, fully clothed, and looked in a mirror to admire her work. He then raked his fingers through the hair on his head and replied sincerely, "Yes. I truly think it will. I know you have only given me a crutch for an issue in my life, but I thank you." He looked down in thought, then looked again at her, "If we can, may we keep this just between us?"

"But of course. Between what I consider medical information and also something said in the confidence of counseling this is strictly between you and me."

Theron hesitated and said, "And . . and . ., I guess the phrase is, 'I owe you one."

Allyndra smiled, but shook her head in the negative, "Tell you what, let's just call this a little gift between friends alright."

Theron liked that idea a lot. With smiles he said, "Thank you C . . " He hesitated thinking better of the situation, and continued, "Thank you . . Allyndra. Let me know if I can ever assist you."

Allyndra simply made a very formal but polite curtsey and bow of the head.

OFF:


Lt Cmdr Allydnra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

RSS Feed