My, What Lovely Teeth You Have

Posted on 27 Jan 2015 @ 1:11am by Lieutenant Olsam Mott & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

1,978 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84, Allyndra's Quarters
Timeline: MD37: 1930 hours

ON:

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When the doors to Allyndra's quarters parted, they revealed a very neatly dressed Bolian wearing a three-piece suit with sharp, crisp lines and matching green and brown fabrics that probably would have looked better on someone without blue skin. He was carrying an old but dignified leather bag in one hand and used the other to lift his hat in introduction. The most remarkable thing about him was the intensity of his smile - his perfectly arranged teeth were all a bright white. The smile itself was disturbingly functional, like the sort one might expect from a person suffering mental illness.

"Good evening, I am Dr. Dorin Mott. I have come to look at your teeth."

Allyndra had known that Mott had relatives in town, well on the ship though the phrase had come to be used for most visitations. He had mentioned his dentist brother and had also admitted he had told him all about her. His brother had professional curiosity or so Mott had said about her dentation. What caught her off guard about the man appearing at her door is that she expected Mott to have accompanied him and he was early as well. She glanced at the chronograph on the wall. He was a good half hour early.

Standing she went over and greeted him. "You are Olsam's brother, pleased, as you have guessed I am Allyndra." She peered as best she could past him and then said, "I thought Olsam was coming with you?"

"Olsam? Oh, I'm afraid he's indisposed at the moment but assured me you wouldn't mind receiving just me. My apologies, I assumed he would have contacted you in advance. But as you know, my brother can be a little scattered, to put it nicely," Dorin replied, each word perfectly enunciated in such a way as to make him seem almost mechanical. "May I come in?"

"Please," Allyndra waved him in. "Anything I can offer you? I might be able to whip something up if you wish something not replicated." She indicated the small kitchen area she had. "I have been trying to improve my cooking skills and your brother has graciously allowed me to be my test subject. As I presume he told you, I cannot stomach most of my own cooking."

"Yes, he provided me with access to the database files on your species. Your physiology is very unique," Dorin said, cautiously stepping into the quarters and taking a careful and methodical survey of his surroundings. "But as to your question, no, thank you. I'm fine. I eat very little." He smiled an odd smile, almost as odd as the statement itself. A Bolian who, by his own admission, ate 'very little' seemed odd, indeed. "I wouldn't mind a cup of white tea, though. Weak, please. Anything too strong and it might stain." He displayed his disturbingly perfect teeth again in a broad, exaggerated smile meant to show off as many unstained teeth as possible.

Allyndra made a bob of her head and went to the replicator rather than her kitchen to prepare the tea. It seemed odd to her that a Bolian would be a light eater but the display of teeth and the fact that Mott had already told her about his dentist brother indicated that he took his profession very seriously almost to the point of be insufferable.

She returned after a moment. "He mentioned you wanted to look at my dentition. Especially...," Allyndra smiled and then displayed the sharp inner teeth briefly, "the secondaries."

Dorin did a poor job of concealing his excitement. "Absolutely fascinating, I've never seen anything like it..." He stood up, placed his briefcase on the coffee table and opened the latch. Despite the old appearance of the bag, it made a decidedly modern sound as it opened, something like a magnetic seal breaking. Inside was revealed an array of dental tools, both modern and antique. "Would you mind if I took a look? For purely academic reasons, naturally. I'm sure the dental characteristics of your species are little understood outside of Akkadian society."

"Considering I wrote what is known, then indeed. However I did not go into detail about our dentition so I suppose you will have that honour."

Allyndra thought it might be better in sickbay but they were both here now. "Perhaps if I lie down it might be easier?" She suggested.

"Yes, please do," Dorin said, taking on a sudden air of authority now that he was in his element. He produced two tools from the bag: one was some sort of modified sensor wand that also allowed him to both collect data and make a visual assessment and the other was a standard metallic pick. He waited for her to get into position and then activated the sensor wand, leering incredibly close to her mouth to get a better look. "Fascinating... Completely unique."

It was not easy to talk with her mouth open like this. There were very few dental problems she had ever had or even the species as far as she knew so this was definitely a new experience. The tools looked a bit scary but she forced herself to try to relax. It was something of a losing proposition. " 'ell I 'upose ith iths 'ince 'ew 'pethis are heamatophagies."

"Mm-hmm, yes," Dorin murmured, the standard dental response to any patient attempting to speak during an examination.

Moving with delicate and careful precision, Dorin used the sensor wand to examine the unique structure of her teeth. The missing bicuspids were a departure from most humanoids but not surprising giving the diet of the Akkadian species. In fact, everything about her mouth was both similar and dissimilar. There were certain common elements in her teeth and jaw, but the details and mechanics were completely foreign.

Molars were completely absent, replaced instead by a secondary set of teeth that rested in grooves where the molars ordinarily would have been. A cursory visual inspection showed they were exceptionally sharp, so he avoided them with the sensor wand for fear of damaging it or her. The two sets of fangs seemed to have physiology that allowed them to operate independent of one another with the outer fangs capable of injecting anti-coagulant, anesthetic and euphoric peptides while the inner fangs seemed designed to drain blood and nectar into the esophagus.

Throughout the examination, Dorin made various noises not unlike his brother Olsam at a holiday meal. When he seemed to be satisfied, he removed the instruments from her mouth and gave his weird smile. "I don't suppose you'd mind a very light enamel scraping? I'd like to compare the molecular structure with a standard set of humanoid teeth, as well as study any differences in bacterial colonies. Our diets are so...different. You'd think there would be significant, well, differences."

Dentistry was not something very practiced on Akkadia. Oh things happened sometimes but in general more than pulling a bad tooth and then waiting for the new one to grow back in was about it. The tink and climk of instruments against her teeth induced an uncomfortable feeling so when he asked for more sampling she was not sure. "As long as it is quick and not painful," she replied involuntarily touching the teeth with her tongue.

"Yes, very quick and very painless, naturally," Dorin said, switching out a couple of instruments. It was quick, and he couldn't say if it was painless. Frankly, it seemed to him like people complained about mouth pain too readily. What was pain, anyway? Just a biological response to stimuli! When you looked at it that way, didn't it put it in a much less frightening perspective? Why, it was nothing to complain about at all. "Thank you. Should I send you the results of my preliminary research? Are there any restrictions I should know about? I would not want a visit from the Akkadian Secret Police or something."

Allyndra looked very puzzled at the last statement. No one cared if there was anything known or unknown about her species physiology. The past maybe, but there were reasons for that. "Well, they never said a word to me about putting out a medical database so I do not see where the problem is. As long as you do not ask me to bite you then we should be fine."

Dorin's interest was immediate piqued. He replaced his tools in the bag and turned to face her, one hairless eyebrow raised in curiosity. "And why should I not?"

"Because," Allyndra smiled. "Your particular physiology does not...how shall I say, sit well. I bit one Bolian once and felt ill for two days. I would not care to repeat the experience."

"Well, we both have unique physiologies, do we not?" Dorin said, giving a dry chuckle. He'd picked up the antique-looking bag and taken to cradling it in his arms like it was a child. Or, more accurately, like it contained some highly prized sensor data. "As fascinating as it might be to see the act, I am not really one for participatory experimentation. These sensors readings are more than enough for me and more relevant to my interests."

Allyndra nodded. "I understand but sometimes the experience is worth more than a thousand different readings. I could have watched many a vid of flight but none would actually compare to the real thing. None the less doctor, I do hope you find the data you collected interesting."

"Hmm, yes, interesting, indeed," Dorin muttered, running a hand over the leather bag as if he were petting a cat. Suddenly, he seemed to snap out of his own thoughts and flashed Allyndra one of his creepy smiles. "Well, I wish I could stay but there's so much to do. I promised my brother I would make a few dental house calls while I was out. Did you know Ensign James has an impacted wisdom tooth? Nasty bit of business that is... I can't wait."

Allyndra felt a bit funny like she was now a discarded specimen, the fascination over with. Well what had she expected, it seemed the more she got to know Bolians or perhaps it was only Mott's clan, that they jumped from one thing to another and the next shiny bauble was the thing to covet.

"Well then I see you have more pressing matters doctor. I will see you out." The response came out more terse then she had wanted but then she had hoped to have a bit more conversation then being a quick specimen exam.

"Don't worry, I can see myself out, thank you," Dorin said, already most of the way toward the door. He gave a little wave over his shoulder and disappeared into the corridor, off to inspect the next bauble on his list.

Allyndra just shook her head. She had not had that much interaction with Bolians, and she did not peg Mott quite in the same class as this interaction. Oh he had his ways sometimes, but perhaps it was just different personalities and perhaps different professions. Even in this day and age, Allyndra reminded herself, dentists were still not loved by many. Well perhaps it might be something to talk to Mott about later after his family departed. She suddenly missed their dinner talk and it seemed like a good time to renew it. In fact, perhaps she could invite the clan over and get to meet them before they went. It would give her new cooking skills a much needed test. She got up and went to the comm and sent a message to Mott to see if there was time for such a function.

OFF:

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LCMDR Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Gallileo

&

Dorin Mott, D.D.S.
Mott & Ploxx Dental Associates
Bolarus IX
[ NPC - Mott ]

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