There’s No Way This is Seasickness

Posted on Mon Jan 2nd, 2023 @ 10:34pm by Colonel Galen s'Khev & Commander Vianola Paxidor & Christine Graham
Edited on on Wed Jan 4th, 2023 @ 5:40am

1,514 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission One: Goodwill Tour [Part One]
Location: Triton Seabase: Sickbay
Timeline: MD1: 0900

Doctor Christine Graham was directing medical staff about where supplies and medications should be placed. The holographic doctor was directing the staff based on hundreds of years and doctor’s experiences. She looked up as the very stern Executive Officer and his current command teammate entered the room. Commander Paxidor appeared concerned, but not yet worried. Colonel s’Khev’s emotions appeared to never change, stone faced with a slight scowl.

These were the only two who, when together, could force her to reveal the truth about their captain’s actual situation. She was, of course, both in the medical bay and the captain’s quarters. Splitting her time between the two places was not difficult considering her current load in sickbay being simply directing traffic.

She approached the pair in the busy bay. “Colonel, Lieutenant Commander, welcome to sickbay. We weren’t expecting any patients today. My files are complete and all crew evaluations were done before Triton Seabase launched this morning.”

Galen was a Romulan, and Romulans were known throughout the galaxy as liars. This was a horrible reputation as far as Galen was concerned. However, it lead to the undeniable ability to know when others lied. The likeliness that Max Culver had seasickness was about as likely as Galen spontaneously bursting into flames.

Despite all of this decorum prohibited the XO from outright asking about the Captain's health. So for the time being he contented himself with observing and listening.

Vianola could feel the anxiety in the good doctor as they both entered sickbay. It was almost palpable. She also felt Galens resistance to asking the why of what made them visit. Vi wasn't.

"That's great doctor, but that's not why we are here." Vi began. "We have some regards as to the medical condition of the Captain. I have noticed you have visited his quarters a few times..." Vi monitored for security purposes. "More so than I'd expect for social visits due to the times and duration. Can you explain this to us?" she asked.

“I have actually split my matrix to remain with the captain. He has a severe, acute case of seasickness and with his hangover, it is made worse. I’ve got the Captain on intravenous fluids and multiple medications,” Christine explained.

Galen snorted. "You know that my people have spend eons learning when a being is lying. In fact we are living lie detectors, and you just set mine off. Care to try the truth?"

"Pretty serious case." Vianola said nodding. "I do know that you would have to have been cleared as not having seasickness to serve on board Triton. So, as the Colonel has so gracefully put, real reason please. Bear in mind I do have an empathic sense that does show when one lies."

Christine looked from one to the other. Curious, she looked at Commander Paxidor and asked, “Are you able to read emotions in a hologram? That would be a fantastic case study.”

"They make these holograms to lifelike these days." Vi said forgetting she had even been speaking to a walking repository of knowledge and sass.

“I am unable to assist you with your requests,” the hologram answered their other question.” She paused, knowing the captain had made a rushed decision to keep his secret. She wasn’t sure why she said it, but she quickly added, “Not without a direct order from the Executive Officer and the Second Officer and their command codes.” She suspected it had something to do with her primary personality choice, Doctor Christine Chapel.

"You are so ordered by myself Colonel Galen s'Khev Romulan Imperial Navy. Executive Officer of Triton Station. Command Code Galen-rho-trivshu-lhi-hwi-hwi." Galen gave the information requested and awaited the answer. He understood the hologram's need for protocol, even respected it. However, that did not mean he liked it.

Vi sighed. "Order seconded by myself Lt. Commander Vianola Paxidor, Second Officer of Triton Station. Command code Paxidor-Echo-Two-Five-Tango-Whisky-Six," she said as she watched the hologram process the order. For a moment she turned to Galen, it took a lot of suspicion and reasoning to override an order from the Captain. "I hope we are doing the right thing..." she muttered knowing he would hear.

The hologram looked from one to the next and accepted the command codes. Her eyes flashed as though electricity pulsed there before returning her attention to the pair. Making sure no one was around to hear, she reported, “Captain Culver has been poisoned with a Romulan neurotoxin. I am currently treating him in his quarters while also projecting here to have supplies stored for our Chief Medical Officer’s arrival.

I suspect the captain knew that this would cause alarmist reactions on both sides, so he ordered my silence.” She finished and awaited their follow up questions.

For the first time since their arrival, something from Starfleet surprised Galen. He cocked an eyebrow in the way his distant cousins on Vulcan did. "Are there any suspects? Any investigation of any kind?" Galen gave Vi a stern look, sterner than normal. He knew that this was not her fault. He tried to convey that something was terribly wrong if the Captain was not reporting an incident like this to the XO or the Chief of Security.

Vi's eyes nearly popped out of her head. The poker face she prided herself on failing at the moment of the revelation of the Captains condition. Why hadn't he told her? This made more troubling by the looks and emotions coming from the Romulan at her side made everything all that much worse. "I honestly know nothing of this Colonel." Vi admitted to him before turning to the hologram.

"How was this neurotoxin administered? How long has he been suffering from its effects? And more importantly, is this poison curable?" she asked the doctor.

The hologram once again glanced as one fired rapid questions, then the other. “The neurotoxin could have been administered at anytime. I understand there was a party last night, it could have happened there or anytime between.

“When he collapsed this morning, the timing would indicate he ingested the poison within eight to ten hours before it took effect. I am analyzing the toxin. It appears to have originated in the Romulan Free State. I suspect any person could have accidentally administered the toxin to the captain last night. It’s my suspicion that perhaps the Ranger unwittingly gave it to him in a drug called “Purge”

Turning to the Security and Second Officer, Christine answered, “I am currently treating him in his quarters. He is in an induced coma and I am stabilizing trillions of neurons as we speak. His treatment is going well and I expect he can be back on duty as early as tomorrow afternoon, if he is comfortable of course, Commander Paxidor.”

Galen listened intently to the hologram as she explained everything. As a former agent of the Tal Shiar Galen prided himself on being a walking lie detector. He knew that Vi told the truth when she stated she had no knowledge of this. He turned toward Paxidor. "Commander it is my understanding that according to Starfleet regulations, I am in command. This of course due to the Captain being in a coma. Am I correct?"

"As per standard regulations in this type of scenario, as the Captain is unable to perform his duties as Commanding Officer on health ground then yes Colonel. At the moment you would be in charge until he makes a recovery and comes back to active duty." Vi responded rather hesitantly.

Once his thought was confirmed Galen continued. "Then as the acting commanding officer of Triton Station I would like to go to Yellow Alert. Commence a full security sweep of the station looking for traces of this toxin. I would also like this Ranger brought in for questioning. I would like to be present when you question him Commander."

"Yes sir. I'll send out some of my officers to pick him up and put us at Yellow Alert when we leave sickbay." Vianola then looked at the Doctor. "I'll need data on the toxin so I can configure the internal scanners for it."

Christine moved to the computer and entered her command codes, downloading the toxin information to a PaDD before handing it to the second officer. “The final report should be coming in soon. A few hours at most. This will narrow down where the toxin originated.”

"Thank you, Doctor. If you send it to my mini-com, then I'll take it from there. At the moment, I'll bring in the Rangers and by the time we have spoken to them we can hopefully move on in the toxin," Vi replied in a tone with a finality to it.

Galen nodded in appreciation of the quick response to his orders. He made his way to the bridge as there was a mystery to solve. He may not like Culver that much, but Max was still the Commanding Officer.

It was time to move on the information given.

 

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