When Elephants Fight

Posted on 12 Apr 2016 @ 9:43pm by Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & Captain Jonathan Holliday & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

2,509 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 10 - Symposium
Location: USS Galileo Deck 3 Sickbay
Timeline: MD 96 - 0900 hrs

Allyndra was in the office though technically past gamma. It was always that way on the start of a mission. There was always a lot to do and getting medical records in order and making sure everyone was caught up was her responsibility.

She paused for a moment to let her eyes rest and looked out the window now open to the sickbay. Tuula was still puttering about and making small changes to her set of decorations especially the new nurses station that had been installed just across from bed 2 and near the door. Allydnra was not exactly sure that the somewhat to her way of thinking dark decor quite fit but then each species had its own thoughts on aesthetics. From her office she could just make out the large holopainting she had brought from her own quarters and put on the wall across from biobed 3. Right now, it depicted the Twins on a Low Winter day just setting. She really wished that the enhancements to the holoprojectors could be done but it had been low priority.

She sighed and went back to reviewing who needed to get done and her eyes fell on one record with a glaring, way past due. It did not seem surprising to her, and she figured it had to be something they taught in command school for it seemed a running joke that Captains seemed to avoid their yearly.

=^=Allyndra to Captain Holliday, please report to sickbay, you're well past your yearly checkup. Best to start the mission on good footing.=^=

Allyndra got up and stuck her head out the door. "Tuula, the Captain is overdue for a physical, please keep an eye out for him as I just called him down here."


Holliday's blood ran cold as he received the summons to Sickbay. He had deliberately made the decision to avoid his medical for as long as he possibly could, but it seemed their CMO was intent on making sure that he obeyed the rules - even the ones he did not want to.

Without replying to the comm call, the Martian headed for the nearest turbolift, and Sickbay. As he approached the doors, Jonathan felt even more apprehensive. He had never enjoyed medicals - with the time he spent here after his assimilation by the Borg for a short while he had enough unpleasant memories to last him a lifetime.

As the doors parted, and the XO stepped into the room, his apprehension regarding his upcoming medical treatment was quickly admonished by the horror at what had become of his ship's medical bay.

Stepping forward, he took a moment to calm himself before speaking in a raised voice.

"Would someone care to tell me why this facility has been decorated in a way other than prescribed by Starfleet specifications!?"

Tuula was busy putting the final touches on the decorations and, not having heard Holliday came in, nearly dropped the vase of black flowers that she was arranging in surprise.

She turned to face Holliday, and tried to offer him a disarming smile. "We've made it better than specification, sir," she responded in an upbeat tone.

"Better?" The captain queried in an incredulous tone. How exactly was defiling the walls of a Federation starship in any way at all better.

"Lieutenant I give you precisely five seconds to retract that statement and get that vase into the replicator or you and I will have an issue beyond the fact that your hair is so wildly against regulations I am not sure where to begin."

"But... but... it matches my uniform," blubbered Tuula in protest as her hand instinctively reached up to the side of her head to ensure that her bright turquoise mohawk hadn't gone limp on her.

Ever since the last mission and her ill-fated meeting with her mirror universe counterpart, Tuula's unique style had gotten even more extreme, if that was possible. She had shaved her hair into a mohawk, and was dying it a new bright colour just about every other day, openly flaunting Starfleet hair regulations. She had diligently applied her dark makeup every morning, and had even considered getting a piercing or two.

In truth, it was a defense mechanism. She couldn't bear the thought of being anything like the mirror universe version of herself, and took refuge in her individuality and quirky style. It was perhaps a bit strange, after the traumatic experience of what she had went through, that she would take solace in bone saws and dark makeup, but they were something which was familiar and comfortable to her.

"You should try a new style sometime," said Tuula, ignoring Holliday's angry tone as she adjusted the position of the vase. "I think you would look good with a mohawk."

"Style does not come into it Lieutenant! This is a Starfleet vessel, a military vessel, not a pleasure cruise around Risa! I expect you back in regulation appearance before your next duty shift or the next place you can consider decorating will be your quarters whilst you are taken off duty!!!"

Holliday was utterly incensed - forming a fist with one hand he had to bite his tongue before he could say anything further. The Captain had been under enough stress recently with his replacement as commanding officer, to then find that those under his command had so completely ignored regulations was a little more than he was prepared for.

"Lieutenant Commander Warraquim!!" He called out, wondering why his Chief Medical Officer had not been there to greet him after she had been the one to summon him for his routine checks. Perhaps this was all some sort of deliberate ruse to irritate their First Officer?

Allyndra had gone back to work on the updates and though she had called Holiday down had expected that Tuula would inform her when he arrived. Thus she had missed most of what was happening with the door closed to the office until she heard voices being raised with a final shout.

Closing the records she stood and went to the door and stepped out. "Captain, sorry, I have been updating records. I thought Tuula would inform me as to arrival." She saw the man seemed to be tense and incensed but ignored that at the moment and waved to the bed number three, the one closest to the office with the holopainting on the opposite wall. "Please take a seat and we can get this over with."

Silently, Holliday made his way to the designated location and sat down on the end of the biobed. From this angle he could see even more of the changes that had been done to his ship's Sickbay against any and all regulations he could count. Firstly, his medical, and then second - the break in rules.

Allyndra waited while the man got settled and then due to his rank asked for the electronic privacy curtains. They blocked sight and sound, but one could move in and out of them. It was another modification that had been done after the incident with the Admiral and her intended. She became all business.

"There we go, now then sir, has there been any medical issues since your last visit that may not have made it into the record?"

"No. Nothing." Holliday replied in his usually gruff tone, taking the time whilst he was sat stationary to look around the parts of sickbay he could see through the privacy field. There were flauntings of regulations across the entire room - decorative objects that had no form or function in any way related to medical practice and simply had no reason being there.

"I presume the leftover Borg technology from...from our last encounter with them has remained stable since my last physical?"

He enquired - this whole business with their next mission involving synthetic life simply made the Captain a little nervous as he remembered the events from his past. He had tried to keep those memories suppressed, but from time to time they would make their way back to the surface.

"Well let us take a look shall we?" Allyndra said and made a motion with her hands for him to lay back. "Please lay back and get a complete scan." She waited until he got settled and then started a deeper more detailed scan then what she usually did for routines. "Things appear to not have changed from the last scan. What there is, is still there and dormant. I see no further need for treatment at this point unless they are bothering you."

Holliday nodded in approval as the doctor confirmed that the latent technology in his body had remained as stable as ever. Granted he would have perhaps preferred to hear that it was degrading and his own body was eliminating the technology that had invaded it in the first place, but at least there was no chance he would wake up one morning as a drone once more.

"Not at all Doctor." He replied as he picked himself back up from the bed and returned to a seated position. The Captain felt far too vulnerable laid down in such a fashion, and found being upright much more comfortable.

"Otherwise I assume that I am in good health and fit for duty?"

"Physically I suppose so. There are indications from certain neurotransmitter levels," she had done a more full scan due to the implants. "That you seem agitated. I am not the official counselor but perhaps you should talk to one or is it something else?" Allydnra had heard a bit of the tone when Holiday had shouted for her though she had missed the first interaction with one of her doctors.

Tuula interrupted, leaning in behind the privacy screen. She smiled at Holliday, showing off her black lipstick, trying to disarm him. "Can I fetch anyone a coffee?" she asked, trying to get back on his good side. "Captain Holliday?"

"I sincerely hope that our medical staff are not wasting time and effort fetching beverages Lieutenant Voutilainen. I suggest that instead of such dalliances you focus on your work."

Holliday replied through gritted teeth. He neither wanted to be in Sickbay nor did he want to share a beverage with his subordinates. What he wanted was his ship....Lirha's ship...to run according to the rules and regulations of Starfleet. Nothing more and certainly nothing less.

Allyndra was a bit surprised at the tone. She thought Tuula was only trying to be nice and at the moment there was not that much to do. Sickbay was empty and other then doing some routine checks it was not like there was much taking of time away from.

She looked to Tuula and made a quick dismissing motion. "It is not routine sir, but I believe only that she is extending a kindness." Allyndra said coolly. She did not know Holiday well, they had only crossed mostly on official times but while he was a regulations man, his tone seemed to be more pointed then usual.

"Hmph." Holliday acknowledged from his Chief Medical Officer as she attempted to defend her subordinate. He couldn't fault her for that - it was the job of a department head to protect those beneath them, and the XO to worry about the department heads. It was ordered, effiicient, and to regulation.

"I will assume that I am certified to return to duty until my next physical then Doctor? Unless there is anything further you need to subject me to whilst I am here?"

"Yes sir, I will certify you as fit for duty. However, on the caveat that you return in a week's time. I am concerned about those neurotransmitter levels." Allyndra decided that while it was more likely something emotional she would provide a cover excuse. "It could be the Borg implants are causing a problem." She hoped that would work.

Holliday paused midstep as he started heading for the door. The mention of the remaining implants perhaps causing an issue was all it took to make his blood run cold.

"A problem Lieutenant Commander?" Holliday snapped as he turned around to face the doctor, preferring on this occasion to refer to her by rank rather than by occupation.

"As I said, there are certain neurotransmitter levels that are running higher then normal. I would normally say perhaps anxiety or other emotion but considering that you have a reputation for being a cool collected individual then my only other surmise might have to be with the remaining implants. A scan this brief is not sufficient to determine which is which." Allyndra tried to explain. She did not want to suggest outright that perhaps the captain needed a counselor.

It was at that moment when Tuula poked her head in again. "You know," she said, "when I'm feeling agitated or uptight, I find a nice sauna helps me relax. I have a holo-program you can use."

Allyndra cocked her head. "You know you keep promising me one of those and yet to fulfill on that promise. I am most intriqued by the such a thing." She looked at Holiday. "Perhaps you might like to join me?" Allyndra had nearly forgotten the idea and had never looked it up so had no idea what was involved. "I think from what Tuula has said it would be just what the doctor ordered."

Holliday grimaced internally at the idea of socialising with his crew. Fraternising with those under his command? Why that was a blatant violation of regulations! As the XO he had to maintain his authority in order to act as an effective right hand to the Admiral. Equally however, he could not appear to be rude in the way that perhaps might make more questions be asked regarding his wellbeing...

"Perhaps I will use some of my holodeck hours...but a sauna is not to my tastes....if you'll excuse me Doctors - I think I need to spend some time sharpening my skills with a phaser."

Leaping from the biobed, Jonathan of course did not wait for the response from his medical team and instead headed straight to the door and the corridor beyond. There was still the issue of sickbay decor and uniform regulations for him to deal with, but that could wait for a time when he was a little less likely to turn his weapon on the crew, and for when his words would be all the weapon he needed....

Allyndra was a bit surprised at Holiday. Still she called out though he had already disappeared out the door. "Another time then, to sauna?" She shook her head. "Why is it that no one wants to sauna if it is so wonderful."

"I don't know," replied Tuula, shaking her head and spiky turquoise hair. "Some people are just so boring."

[OFF]

CAPT Jonathan Holliday
Executive Officer
USS Galileo

LCmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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