What Should We Expect

Posted on Sun Jan 13th, 2019 @ 4:16pm by Lieutenant Asa Dael & Hera

Mission: Section 31-B
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: After a Pop of Color

Another day, another pregnant crew member.

At least that is what it felt like to Chief Medical Officer Asa Dael. Ever since the USS Hera had started playing impromptu host (and jailer) to Her namesake, the vessel had started seeing a surge in pregnancies and requests for fertility treatment; the physician even had biologically Male crew members requesting fertility treatments. It was all highly suspicious....after all, a 15 percent increase in sexual activity following a brush with death was normal, and a few crew members becoming pregnant would be expected, but this was far beyond the norm.

Since the living Hera’s first trip on board there had been 14 puking women in Sickbay, all certain their distress should be attributed to faulty replicators instead of morning sickness. There had also been seven women who correctly guessed they were pregnant, and even one male partner correctly asserting his wife was with child.

That’s not to mention the 27 crew members that had requested genetic counseling or fertility treatment. It was, for lack of a better word, weird. The norm for a ship this size would have been two pregnancies and three fertility requests over a six month period. This was clearly an aberration, and it was time to address it.

Dael had their suspicions as to the cause of all this baby fever. The goddess currently in repose in her stateroom was after all the goddess of fertility, home and hearth. While Asa could understood that Hera likely would consider the increase in reproductive activity a blessing, the doctor knew that any outside influence had to stop- immediately.

After all, this was directly impacting the crew’s free will, not only by adding hitherto unwanted offspring to their life, but also by necessitating a change in their career to a posting that did allow children.

The doctor compiled their notes to send to the Captain and First Officer, somewhat cautiously as they knew Captain Telvan was among the number rumored to be seeking fertility treatment.

That posed another quandary in of itself. A holographic/biological child had not been conceived anywhere in the galaxy that Asa knew of. The technology seemed to be on the cusp of a breakthrough that would allow such a child, but it was not there yet. The ethical ramifications of using new technology, or forging it wholesale, were also a dlimena. Nothing Asa could think of would offer any solution without being, in essence, sentient being trials. How could they produce an offspring to the Telvan household without that child being the first of its kind? That would be a burden the doctor did not wish on a child- they would likely be poked and prodded their entire life and treated as a sort of curiosity.

Not to mention it would be unwise to assume the child would automatically be granted the full rights of sentient beings. Starfleet did not have a spotless record on that, as Data’s trial for the right to choose his own life was taught at the Academy during courses on recognizing new forms of sentience. Of course the doctor would do whatever they could to help, but they feared they were wading into murky waters.

Well, first things first. Time to talk to Hera.

The doctor cleared a visit with security and had procured some real cheese and fruit from the leftovers of the most recent victory brunch. Hopefully the offering of non-replicated food would help the conversation go a bit more smoothly this time. Security waived the physician through, but they rang the chime and waited instead. Even for a prisoner, manners matter, and it’s rude to barge into someone’s bedroom.

"Yes? Come in." Looking up from her favorite perch on her fainting couch, Hera set aside her PaDD with her current reading material and stood to greet her sudden guest. Seeing who it was as the doors opened, she smiled brightly. "Asa, my dear, how have you been? It's so good to see you."

“Um, hello Hera. I’m glad to see you as well. Thank you again for the gifts you gave me….I may even some day learn to use them,” Asa chuckled.

Walking awkwardly towards the goddess, Asa proffered the fruits and cheese to her, and said plainly, “So, I had some questions for you, and I figured might as well talk over lunch?”

"Of course. Please," Motioning to the small table, Hera waited for Asa to sit before she sat down herself. "What troubles you?"

Absently munching on a strawberry, Asa looked Hera in the eyes and smiled warmly.

“Well, it’s not really a bad thing, at least it doesn’t have to be, but if it’s not what people want it could be, plus it’s just plain weird…..” Asa trailed off, then realized they were stalling.

Rubbing their neck with their left hand they blurted out, “It’s all the pregnancy. It seems like every five minutes there is some poor woman coming to me expecting to be told they have a virus, when instead what they have is a fetus! A few pregnancies per year are normal on a ship this size, but we have had 22 in the last month, and 27 more actively seeking to become pregnant. It’s unprecedented. I’m not trying to say it’s your fault or that it’s wrong….it’s just weird. I was thinking since you are the goddess of home and hearth, maybe it’s some kind of cosmic resonance or something? I don’t know, I’m not trying to upset you…I just want to understand….”

Popping one of the grapes into her mouth, Hera hummed, her eyebrows raising in understanding. "Ah right... My domain... Your birthrate being an advanced civilization is... Understandably low. Especially so being a vessel with your responsibilities. You're likely noticing a fair number more couplings and marriages as well, I presume. Family related things."


"Well I don't ask about.....couplings....." Asa replied with a cough, "I, have, uh, been asked to treat some 'injuries' that were more likely caused by copulation than the given reason of exercise and rug burn from wrestling, now that you mention it...."

The doctor could not have been any redder around the ears if they tried. Although sex was natural and part of their education, speaking about it casually definitely had not been, and as the latest mortal enemy had proudly proclaimed, Asa was, in fact, a virgin.

"Well, as ship's doctor, even though you haven't reached your own sexual maturity yet, that is something you'll have to be aware of, unfortunately." Munching on a piece of cheese, Hera sighed heavily. "And I'll do my best to reign in my aura and domain. To help with that, I don't suppose you could enhance the shielding around this room to be polyphasic in your ah... Upper subspace bands, I believe? It shouldn't take much more than an interference field, if I remember correctly."

Muttering to themself at first something unintelligible about sexual maturity being overrated, Asa came alert and said, "Oh, yes, of course, I'll ask engineering to do. I'm sorry to have to ask, I know you meant no harm...it's just, well, we won't have a crew left if they all are on maternity leave, you know? Anyway, how will this impact you? Are you going to be well? I don't mean to cause you discomfort."

"No, I'll be fine. In a way, this gives me more energy, so... Yeah, you should probably report that as well." Hera looked at the fruits and cheese a bit sheepishly. "I'm sorry to cause you these problems. If you contact the Asgardians, they should be willing to send the specs needed for enhancing your shields and you shouldn't have any more issues."

Asa was floored by the changes in Hera. The formerly braggadocio goddess was being so open and honest, at least as far as Asa could tell, and was even warning them about factors that could have given her more power. It was a remarkable change, and it warmed Asa's heart to see that Rita seemed to have gotten through to Hera about changing her behaviour.

"I will do that, thank you for your honesty and assistance, Hera," they paused a moment before continuing, "You seem changed. Thank you for showing me the kindnesses you have. Is there anything I can do for you? Find more fruit perhaps?"

Smiling softly, Hera rolled a strawberry around between two fingers before replying. "To be honest, I haven't been eating much at all since your replicators... I don't much enjoy the food they bring me from them and I don't have access to the one in these quarters, understandably. Then again, I really don't need to eat often, so it's not... But eating real food... It let's you know you're still alive, you know?" Popping the strawberry in her mouth, she savored it as she chewed. "But I know that it's hard to come by out here, so..."

"That's ok, I understand," Asa replied, "I'll see what I can do. I'll try to stop by and say hi too. No one should be in solitary, it's not good for the mind. I hear you are reading some old Earth books. I'm curious, have you checked out Isaac Asimov's books yet? I found it entertaining looking at how humanity viewed their future if no other life forms had been found. Plus, if you like it, there are a lot of the books. That or anything Terry Pratchett. Those are good for a laugh."

"I've been reading a lot of what you consider classical works first. Shakespeare, Poe, Asimov, Tolkien, Einstein... It's all been amazing and varied. I hope to move on to more classically modern works in a few days. Perhaps some Gramercy, Pratchett, and Rowling will be at the top of my list. I also skimmed over a picture book... It said it was about apples... but it seemed to just be about the early days of your reading devices. It was quite confusing but the colors were nice."

"I'm glad you are enjoying some of it. It's in black and white, but the photographs by Ansel Adams are said to be quite famous and calming as well. Personally I prefer nebula photography, but you strike me as a more grounded individual," Asa said with a guilty grin at the terrible pun.

"I... Enjoy seeing things through the eyes of others," Hera remarked with a bit of a grin. "That's mostly what cultural arts is, after all. One of the books in the collection I have I found curious though. It was written by a Vulcan named Surak, I believe. Are you familiar with him?"

"I am," Asa replied, "A remarkable person. His dedication to peace is one we should all aspire to, and of course his logic is incredible."

"I agree that he's one of the best, but I honestly prefer more emotion to my light reading." Hera giggled over that one.


Asa giggled as well, brushing Heras shoulder with their own in companionship.with a sigh, the doctor realized they had duty to return to.

"Would you please pardon me, ma'am? I need to get this report to the captain, but tell you what, if security would allow it, I would like to visit with you again, just to chat. Would that be ok with you ?"

Hera smiled brightly. "I would love that. And if you would permit it, I'd be willing to teach you what I know about your own heritage, though the knowledge is... Admittedly ages old."

Smiling broadly, Asa replied "I would like that very much. My community growing up was....tight lipped....about such things. Heck, I don't even know if we live longer than we used to or the opposite."

"If you know anyone close to five thousand cycles..." replied Hera casually.

"Thank you for everything, Hera, I am glad to see you embracing the force for good I know you can be, " Asa said, going in for a hug goodbye. Somehow along the way the way, the goddess had changed from an enemy to something approaching a friend to Asa, and they secretly hoped she would stay aboard longer than planned.

Hera stood and returned the hug warmly. "I had a very compelling reason to do so and a very convincing woman that gave me that reason. Besides, I like this vessel and the people I've met."


"I like you too," Asa said warmly and turning to exit.

Once back in Sickbay, Doctor Dael prepared their report. They had not thought Hera was causing the increases in fertility and desire for reproduction intentionally, but it was also nice to have a cause for the statistical aberration that could be addressed. They sent along recommendations to the Captain and First Officer to contact the aasgardians for the specifics Hera had mentioned, and also to alert the crew about the influence of the goddess being aboard.

That completed, Doctor Dael replicated additional contraceptives and prenatal medications to have on hand for the ensuing rush.

Now it was time to practice the part they have been dreading. Asa went to the holodeck and recreated Sickbay, asking the computer to send along holographic crew members that matched in symptoms to those they had seen in the past week.

The first holopatient on a bio bed, Asa turned to face the recreation of Captain Enalia Telvan.

"So," they began the rehearsal, "tell me about your sex life."

One way or another, the virgin doctor would get through sex talks...maven if they had to practice every day for the next year.