Previous Next

Topping Up the Tank

Posted on Thu Jan 24th, 2019 @ 12:43pm by Death & Baroness 2nd Class Schwein von Alcott & Lieutenant Commander Thex sh'Zoarhi & Lieutenant Asa Dael
Edited on on Sun Jan 27th, 2019 @ 6:15pm

Mission: Section 31-B
Location: Sickbay

Thex had started worrying as she stared at the blank wall of the sickbay waiting for the doctor to arrive. After what Hera had told them she just wanted to get a full scan and see if anything serious had happened to her. How could she have been so stupid to believe that the gods wouldn't have included as the humans called it monkeys paw.

Stifling a yawn, Lieutenant Junior Grade Asa Dael entered Sickbay and took in the view to see what activity was going on. Nurse Vimes was giving a yearly physical to a member of Engineering who did not appear to be enjoying it, PA Secundo was treating a case of Venusian Pox to an itchy looking science officer, and the EMH was completing prenatal care for one of the now 15 pregnant crew members.

Thinking things looked well in hand, Doctor Dael was momentarily startled to see Lieutenant Commander sh’Zoarhi waiting in their office. The doctors’ mind immediately went to the outbreak of pregnancies and fertility treatments on board and thought back to their previous conversation regarding finding another 2 partners. Perhaps things were going well with Tathaa and it was time to move that along….

“Good afternoon Lieutenant Commander, how are you today?” Dael greeted Thex warmly. “I need another cup of coffee, anything I can get you?” Dael moved to the replicator to procure the beverage and waited for sh’Zoarhi’s response before returning to their desk.

" Um no thank you, doctor. I'm in need of a complete scan of all of me. Whilst asking our guest some question she informed us about an effect of the god artifacts. Apparently, they take time off of your life as you use them. Around one year per five minutes. " the andorian explained as calmly as she could.

Asa paused mid-stride at hearing Thex’s explanation, placed their coffee on their desk, and went to show the Andorian beauty to biobed.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Lieutenant Commander,” Dael replied, “but I’m confident we can find some answers and begin working to a solution. What can you tell me about the artifact in question? How long were you exposed? ” Once the privacy holo-wall and soundproofing field was in place, Asa asked Thex to lay down and began programming the scans into the interface.

" It's the armor of Achilles I've been testing. I don't have the exact amount of time, but it's been less than an hour. " The Andorian replied as she laid down on the biobed.

“Well, the good news is you don’t look 20 years older to me, so I’m sure it will be ok,” Asa said in what they hoped was an encouraging tone of voice. The doctor could tell Thex was being stoic, but theorized based on their previous interactions that a stoic façade was important to the engineer’s mental image of themselves.

“I’m going to start with some basic scans that would be on your yearly physical and then proceed from there. Plus hey, you can skip the physical next month, so that’s a plus right? If you have any questions at any time, please let me know. I can tell right now your blood pressure, body temperature, metabolic rate, lung function, antennae alignment, and bone density are all within normal parameters. Have you noticed any changes in your day to day life? Sometimes our bodies tell us things, so any little twinge that is out of the ordinary….please let me know.”

The scanning enclosure was locked in place and whirring over Thex’s abdomen and a series of lights were flickering overhead. Dael glanced at them periodically, tweaking a nob here and there, and then nodded in satisfaction as a progress bar appeared at the bottom of the screen. They moved to sit next to Thex for a moment and make eye contact while waiting for her response.

" No I haven't felt different and I've felt no real change. " Thex said from her position as she stared at the ceiling. " Up until today, my life's been feeling great other than my inability to attract a two male andorians." She said giving a cheeky grin as the machine went about its work.

“Well, let’s see if we can’t get everything back to hunky dory then,” Asa replied in their peculiar fashion of antiquated Earth colloquialisms. Anyone who talked to Asa for any period of time was sure to come to the conclusion that this was a person who spent their entire childhood reading Earth fiction…and they would not be wrong.

The biobed’s display alternated to a different set of blinking lights as an almost imperceptible hum began deep within the equipment. “We are moving to deeper scan here, you may feel a slight vibration…well…in your hindquarters for lack of a better way to put it.”

With a pat of reassurance to Thex’s hand, Asa stood to go back around to the control panel on the biobed. There was a flash of confusion, then a frown, then back to a calm smile on their face as Asa’s input into the scanner sped up, making their fingers appear to fly across the controls.

“Just another few minutes, Lieutenant Commander. I’m going to consult with my colleague here and compare this to your previous data. The bed is going to unlock as soon as the scan is complete, please feel free to sit up. Can I bring you anything to drink?” Asa inquired, their eyes darting to the doors to Sickbay as if looking to see who came in, but the doors had remained closed.

The pale woman dressed head to toe all in black eyed Asa hopefully and was relieved when the Doctor seemed to still be able to see her so she pointed off to the nearby office and headed in there to wait.

With a jerk of the head to a being that not everyone could see, Asa jogged quickly into their office. Once they were alone in the office, Doctor Dael looked at Death and said, “Hey, how have you been? Hopefully you aren’t here on business…..?”

Death smiled politely, her black gloved hands clasped in front of her. "I can't be away from Schwein too long... But... Sort of. That woman had her lifespan unnaturally shortened by almost twenty cycles and I'd like to know why. Do you have any clues?"

“Huh,” was all Asa could say for three heartbeats. From a childhood of aspiring to nothing more than the scientific and rational to having a consult over a patient with the physical embodiment of Death was a bit jarring, even for the most resolute of minds.

“She used some armor found on Meroset, a planet that used to hold Hera’s temple. I’m given to understand the armor exacts a cost from the wearer for its use by shortening their life span. All I am reading on my end is a lessening in cohesion at the subatomic level with her pleons vibrating at the same level as a plintic particle. There are a few signs of damage to the fourth reproductive cycle of the third helix in her RNA also, but nothing definitive. Is there anything you see that can be done?”

Asa sat waiting for an answer, running their hands anxiously through close cropped hair. No doctor likes delivering bad news, even less when they don’t understand it.

Death raised one hand and tapped her lips thoughtfully. "That does line up with the initial stages of what happens when I touch someone... As for returning the lost time, it's a simple enough matter for me, but... I would need a donor."

Without hesitation, Asa replied, "I volunteer. What are 20 years to me? Might as well share them around, otherwise what's the point of being so bloody long lived?"

The pale woman looked up at Asa in surprise. "Your people are rather known for living slightly outside of the rules of time itself... Even if I took twenty years from you and gave them to her you still have well over..." Pulling a small leather bound tome out of her long black jacket, she opened it up with a few crackling noises and scribbled something inside before tucking the book back away.

The room seemed to darken around Death for a moment as she spoke, but the illusion quickly passed. "If you touch her, flesh to flesh, within the next six minutes, you will seal the contract and the years will be transferred."

Outside of time itself? That’s not ominous at all… Asa thought. Realizing the clock was ticking for both Asa and Death, they offered quick thanks and promised to go visit both Death and Schwein as soon as possible…and if they happened to imply that the Baroness darn well better be resting when they got there….well, more to the better.

Jogging out to where Thex was waiting, Asa placed their left hand gently at Thex’s pulse point on her wrist. The feeling that resulted was not entirely unlike being kicked in the stomach, and Asa felt the wind leave their lungs briefly before returning. In order to cover the onslaught of sensation, Dael made as if to lean over and inspect where the biobed met the floor. Once the feelings subsided, Asa popped up as if fresh from a good nights rest with a huge smile.

Nothing like overcompensating. Smooth, Asa, real smooth. they mentally berated.

“Well good news, nothing that couldn’t be undone with a little help from a consultant. Your full life cycle has been returned to you, but it’s not a feat I can easily accomplish again, so let’s lock that armor up somewhere, yes?” Asa smiled brightly at Thex and hoped they would not be asked questions that might provide uncomfortable answers. The doctor was keenly aware that their actions could be perceived as taking away Thex’s right to her own consequences, but Dael felt if they were willing to die for a fellow crew member that giving away a small percentage of years off their life should be acceptable also. Even so, the burden of feeling another’s sacrifice is not something Dael wished for Thex, so they hoped to use their manic awkwardness as a distraction. As if to continue in business as usual, Asa went to the supply closet and picked out some all-purpose Andorian meal replacements/

“Here, if you ever can’t get in a good meal, please eat one of these for the next two weeks. Your metabolism needs support, and I know things can get hectic in engineering. So at least throw this down your gullet, will ‘ya?” they concluded with a wink.

Thex was a little confused as she pulled herself up off the biobed. " Okay.... not sure what you did doctor i don't feel any different, but I'll take your word for it. One of these for the next two weeks if i feel off during meals. " She said talking the pill bottle.

" Don't worry I'm not touching the armor again. It's staying locked up for a long time."

Bouncing on their feet to hide the residual discomfort, Asa smiled and wished well to Thex, offering assistance should she feel any effects.

Back in Schwein's quarters, it felt like she'd been kicked as well as she was startled awake. Immediately, Death was drawn back to the augmented woman and their eyes met. "What did you do?" the silver haired pirate asked the phantom deity.

"Nothing that you wouldn't have done," came the reply.

 

Previous Next

labels_subscribe

Comments (1)

By Commander Rita Paris on Thu Jan 24th, 2019 @ 1:46pm

Very cool story!