The Fixers (Back Post)

Posted on Tue May 9th, 2023 @ 10:56am by Lieutenant Commander Frasier Greene & Lieutenant Rowena "Rena" Campbell

1,942 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Good Will Tour: Mountain Home [Part Two]
Location: Medical
Timeline: MD23 1150

After his induction with Captain Culver the newly arrived Doctor's first port of call was to the medical centre of the seabase and become acquainted with his new staff.

Located on deck five it was as expected easy to locate and was fitted with some rather impressive equipment Frasier noted as he passed through on his hunt for the station's Counsellor or Doctor Gocx whomever he was able to find first.

Still dressed in his off duty attire he'd travelled in Frasier had debated pausing at his assigned bunk to change before introducing himself the crew but had decided against it favouring to get this awkward moment over with quickly.

As a late comer to the Academy Frasier Greene didn't fit the standard fresh young faced officer that one would normally perceive with a Lieutenant Junior Grade rank. The forty-two year old six foot human was and had been a Doctor first before officer before his life went sideways. The odd expressions he received upon introductions had quickly grown old and tedious at his previous postings - would Triton be any different.

"Excuse me," he absconded a nurse idling updating a patient file. "I'm looking for Counsellor Campbell, have you seen her?"

Rena heard her name; she often left the door to her office open after patients, in case one of the crew wanted to chat "off the record" or if Max needed something (which, to be honest, was regularly). She stood and walked to the door.

"Nurse L'Vana, I am here, thank you!!" She smiled warmly at the Romulan. "Lt Greene? I am Lt. Rowena Campbell. I go by Rena usually. Come on in!!" She gestured to the man. "Nice to formally meet you."

Offering the nurse a departing smile Frasier moved toward the Counsellor to greet her properly. "Hello Rena," he held out his hand for her to shake mostly out of habit. "Nice to meet you too."

Rena smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, too!! Would you like to come in? I promise not to head shrink you today!" She joked. She pumped the air full of positive feelings, just in case, and the half Betazed woman led him inside, leaving her door open so he'd know she meant it. "How are you adjusting?"

A smile tugged at Frasier's lips at her tease and followed her inside her office. "It's a bit hard to say, I've on the station less then an hour hence why I'm not in uniform. Captain Culver has been bringing me up to date with a few of the things that have transpired and I wanted to hear your side of things. Sounds like it been a bumpy ride so far."

Rena nodded. "Feel free to get comfortable-no need to be so formal in here. Do you want anything to drink? A snack?" She offered. "It certainly has been VERY interesting the past few weeks!" She sighed, wearily. She had been using her empathic powers much more than she was used to, and it was tiring. "But...I feel like we're coalescing again. Which is fantastic, and we have an official Chief Medical Officer! Dr. Gocx is wonderful but a little...Klingon-y, you know?" She said.

"Is he likely to respect me coming in, or is he going to be a problem?" Frasier asked realising his arrival may not be some welcoming as Rena offered him refreshments of which be politely declined.

Rena nodded. "He will be fine giving you the reins; I don't think his heart is in much besides trauma surgery." She shrugged. "It make sense for a Klingon, really. And I know the Captain will be happy to move the EMH to a more forward-facing position. They get along well." It was weird to describe that kind of thing between a man (technically alien, but hey) and a machine, but who was she to judge?? Some of the EMHs had personalities like humanoids-including the surly, sour ones.

Sliding into the surprisingly comfortable chair opposite the Counsellor Frasier's eyes flickered at the reference of the EMH as Culver had mentioned them too in their meeting. No wonder they seemed genuinely happy to see him - why had Starfleet delayed posting a senior medical officer to the seabase? He pondered, had they doubted the station's chance of success?

Pushing aside the question Frasier returned back to business: "How are you doing? I've heard you've been busy with the wellbeing of the crew. How are they?"

She sighed. "Yes, since we got here!! Mostly well; a couple of us are a bit behind the curve, mental health wise, but it's a really good group." She paused a moment. "Between you and me, I don't think the Fleet expected this expedition to last that long-I think that's why they sent us all. Most of us are young or otherwise inexperienced. We only had the acting CMO." She paused again. "But we've managed to make a good go of it. We've forged some alliances and made a few scientific discoveries along the way. The Captain is doing well, and even the Romulans don't seem to mind us-we help employment and goodwill, after all." She finished up, settling back. "I only mention to say...you've come at a good time. Any sooner or later, and I think we would've been too much for your first posting."

Frasier bit his tongue to prevent saying something he'd later regret as she commented on his experience. It was infuriating that his years as a civilian physician was always overshadowed by his short time in Starfleet having joined as a mature student.

The Doctor steered the conversation back a step: "How have our neighbours welcomed Starfleet's return to the station? Any disagreements?"

Rena smiled tightly. "Well. For Romulans, they've been surprisingly welcoming, yes. In their way." She sighed. "The head Senator-I forget their terminology-is a bit....well. Rude, but I do what I can to assist in spreading...good vibes. I am only *half* Betazed, but of us three kids, I got the strongest powers from our mother." She explained. "Both of my brothers seem fully Human in that way." She shrugged. She then asked HIM a question.

"What is civilian medicine like? I've considered leaving the Fleet after this posting and doing counseling in the private realm. But I don't know...both of my parents were in the Fleet, and we were all born on Starships, and we are all officers..."

Frasier chuckled lightly: "Sounds like being in Starfleet is in your blood, you'll properly find civilian medicine quite dull. Similar to you I come from a long line of medical professionals, it was given that I would train to become a Doctor but I'm the first of practice within Starfleet however. If you chose to remain in the Sol system it's very..." he paused looking for the correct word. "Safe. Standard hours and short journey home in time for dinner."

Rena nodded. "I see! Thank you, that is good to know. My mother would prefer I return to earth. She remarried a few years ago and lives there now. She's Betazed, but my father was Human, too, as is her new husband." She explained. "She'd also prefer I return to Earth and marry and have children, but I think that life has other plans." She said. "What about you? Do you have a family aboard?" She asked.

"No," he shook his head sadly. "Catherine looks after our son James after we separated. "I stay in touch but we didn't leave of the best of terms which can be a bit awkward."

Rena nodded once. "I understand. If you'd ever like some assistance opening a line of communication, I can assist. IF you want. There's never an obligation. So. What do you hope to get out of your posting here??"

"Thanks for the offer," Frasier replied surprised by her answer. Most people didn't want to poke around in his affairs after they'd learned of his situation. "What do hope to get out of here?" repeated her question again surprised she'd asked. "To be honest I'm not sure yet. I share the goal of the bigger picture of rebuilding our relations with the Romulan's - I suppose I just want to feel as if I've made a difference. Sounds a bit corny hearing it out loud," he chuckled.

Rena shook her head. "No. That's very relatable. My mother was a Fleet Nurse, and um...that's how I got into this. I was always the one in our friends' group who would be the listener, you know? Before I started to really develop my empathetic skills, I was still a good listener. And I feel like I give good advice. I think that's part of humanity-wanting to matter in some small way. We're just a small blip in the vastness of the Universe, but maybe-JUST maybe-we can be important to someone sometime." She nodded and smiled. "Some might call that ego. I think it's just...natural. Cardassian, human, Betazed-we all just want our time here to matter. And yes, securing a new way forward with the Romulans is a good way to do that." Boy, was it ever.

"Some might call it a tall order," Frasier nodded. "For them to permit our occupation of the Seabase was brave and we shouldn't squander this opportunity."

Rena sighed, and nodded. "Trust me, I know that better than most. Captain Culver is...sometimes struggles with the pomp and circumstance, but he pulls through in the end." She said. That was all that Greene needed to know. "I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the planet. Earlier, when we first arrived, it was summertime, and quite beautiful. Like a tropical island back on Earth. Think...Bermuda." She explained. "Mountain Home will be more like a winter thing, I think, and I am not really looking forward to freezing!" She said, with a laugh.

The Doctor chuckled. "I must admit I prefer the sunshine far more than the snow. Both are beautiful and yet hazardous at the same time."

Rena nodded. "Me, too. Betazed has seasons, but not as severe as Earth; I always preferred to visit my mom's parents for that reason." She said. "My mother is Betazoid but now lives on Earth with my stepfather," she explained. "But I hope someday to live on Betazed or one of the colonies. My partner is from Cait, so maybe there, too."

He smiled softly as Rena spoke about her family and personal life and hoped it was an early indication they'd get along together. "Sounds like you have things planned out already."

Rena sighed. "I thought I did!" She exclaimed. "The partner thing is still new-turns out I like men and women equally. My mother won't be exactly thrilled, but that's Ok. I am." She explained. "I was really struggling to meet someone who was nice and I liked enough to spend time with. She was here the whole time! Strange how that goes." She said. She glanced quickly at her chronometer. "I'll let you finish your thoughts, and then we can wrap this up if you'd like. I am sure you're quite busy." She said.

"I do have quite a list," Frasier confessed. "It was great to meet you and hear your side of things. I think we're going to work well together."

Rena smiled and nodded. "I think so, too. Please send me a message when you're ready to come around again! No rush." She explained. "It was nice to formally meet you." She said.

Off:
Lt. Rowena "Rena" Campbell
Chief Counselor
Triton Seabase

Lt JG Frasier Greene
CMO
Triton Seabase

 

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