Star Trek TNG: The Next Gamer
Episode 2.2: Hello Nurse! Hello Doctor
"Tyson to T'Pol"
The computer automatically replied, "T'Pol is not in her quarters."
"Computer, locate T'Pol please."
Two beeps of denial.
"Invalid command. T'Pol does not have a combadge."
"Jesus Christ, come on," Tyson mumbled. "Computer locate all Vulcan life signs onboard"
Again two beeps of denial.
"Insufficient command level."
Tyson rolled his eyes and let his head hang back, staring at the ceiling, "Three hundred years in the future, and my problems could be solved with a cellphone."
His telepathy range was too short to locate anyone. So he accessed his empathy. Opening himself up to the multitude of emotions was unsettling and ultimately fruitless. If he was trying to locate a single strong emotion among all the feelings, he may have been successful. As it was, trying to find T'Pol like this was the equivalent of hearing a whisper during a concert. T'Pol's suppressed emotions were lost in the sea of noise.
Tyson pulled out his medical tricorder. It had a scanning range of two hundred meters. He was on deck twelve. Most of the saucer section should be within its range.
Computers/Medicine Check (DC: 25) = 35 Major Success!
Computers skill has increased! 10 - 11
Seven-hundred twenty-eight lifeforms in range. Vulcans have copper-based blood, isolate for that. Two signatures, remove himself and the remaining signature should be T'Pol. She's three decks up. The only place on deck nine he knew T'Pol had visited was the replimat.
The replimat was moderately crowded for mid-shift. The flexibility of the shift rotations on the Enterprise ensured there wasn't a major rush at any given time, though shift changes usually saw the highest traffic. T'Pol was seated alone eating a plain-looking soup. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, only long dual bangs being left to frame her face. He walked hurriedly to her table, stopping outside of arm-reach.
"Good morning. There's an emergency, I need you to come with me, now please."
Regardless of their current relationship drama, T'Pol's officer experience kicked in, recognizing Tyson's no-nonsense tone. She rose immediately to follow him. She didn't ask any questions and no further thought was given to her meal.
Now inside the turbolift, Tyson began explaining, "During an away mission to another ship we encountered an unknown pathogen. The doctor was unable to isolate any disease, but Lieutenant Yar was exhibiting unusual symptoms and she escaped from Sickbay. I'd like for you to quarantine in my quarters. I've installed holoemitters, so you should easily be able to sustain yourself until this situation is resolved."
"I understand. Do you have any idea how the pathogen spreads?"
"Skin-to-skin contact. If possible, try to avoid touching anyone, myself included."
T'Pol faced Tyson as they spoke. The turbolift doors opened, and she turned to step out but collided with another person. Surprisingly, T'Pol was knocked backward and Tyson instinctively caught her as she toppled.
"My apologies. I was unable to avoid you quickly enough," stated Data. "I am unsure how that is possible, my reaction time should have been more than sufficient to avoid bumping into you. Perhaps a diagnostic on my optical processing units and motor processing subroutines is in order."
Lifting T'Pol to her feet, Tyson interrupted, "No worries, Commander. We were at fault. Have a pleasant day."
The damage was done. Tyson lead T'Pol to his quarters while Data continued wherever he was going. When they arrived inside, Tyson used his Observe skill. He hadn't needed to use it recently so it had fallen behind his highest skills. The information revealed was as he expected.
T'Pol {Companion}
Reputation: Warmly
Negative Status Effect
Polywater Contagion: While in the grips of this contagion, victims frequently succumb to their base desires.
Stage 1: +3 Charisma skill checks, -2 Intelligence skill checks.
Tyson loaded the program he'd created for the date with Troi. Knowing she had been infected, he hoped the beauty of the lake would provide a serene environment for T'Pol to meditate.
Loading the program and ensuring he set no 'NPCs' he finally addressed the Vulcan woman. "Since we touched in the turbolift, you've likely contracted this contagion. You can expect a sensation of warmth which may be accompanied by feeling intoxicated or a weakening of emotional control. I'd like for you to stay here. This environment should be suitable for meditation, which may help control your symptoms."
Tyson pulled several prepared meals from his inventory. "This should be enough food for a few days. Will you trust me on this and stay here?"
The Vulcan woman stared at him, her features not revealing her thoughts. The slight emotions he sensed from her revealed she was conflicted. Moments passed before she agreed, "I will stay here. What will you be doing?"
"I'll be trying to find a solution." He pressed his lips to T'Pol's cheek. "Stay safe. Contact me if you have any issues."
He walked to the door, "Computer lock access to my quarters to all crew excluding myself and T'Pol."
"Acknowledged."
Tyson tapped his combadge as he walked back to the turbolift. "Tyson to Cetacean Ops."
"Akai here, go ahead Tyson."
"Akai have you had any humanoid crew members down there today?"
"Nope. Only us aquatics here."
"Good. Think you can lockdown Cetacean Ops and keep it that way?"
"Sure can. What's going on?"
"Some kind of disease is spreading, don't want you to get caught up in it. The away team brought it back from a mission. Over on the other ship, people were messing with environmental controls. Got so bad they froze to death trying to get the temperature low enough for comfort. I don't want anyone getting the idea they can go for a swim to cool down or freeze you unintentionally."
"Oh, that sounds bad. Locking things down here. Thanks for the warning. Be safe dry-boy. Akai out."
Tyson reentered Sickbay, passing through the outer treatment area into the lab. Crusher seemed hard at work. Tyson gave a short greeting and sat at one of the terminals. He needed to find the mission log and medical records from Kirk's Enterprise's experience with this phenomenon.
Computers Check (DC: 25) = 17 Major Failure!
Computers Check: 25 Success
Tyson spoke aloud to get Crusher's attention. They were the only two in the lab, so he hadn't had to raise his voice much, "I think I found our problem, doctor. There was a case on the Constitution-class Enterprise under Kirk's command. During a mission, they were monitoring a collapsing planet which caused huge shifts in gravity. Somehow this resulted in complex strings of water molecules that acquired carbon from the body and acted on the brain like alcohol. This resulted in impaired judgment and the crew going out of control. They found a formula that reversed the effects."
Crusher approached as Tyson was speaking. As he explained, she became excited and reached past him, grazing his hand as she grabbed the screen.
"Are you sure?"
"It's all here."
"I'll go over this information. It's the most promising lead yet. Thank you for your help, Tyson."
Crusher dove into the information and was blind to the world around her. Tyson moved to another workstation. The doctor had made contact with him in her enthusiasm for the present lead, she was infected. If he recalled correctly, this was earlier than it had happened in the television episode. The severity of the debuff increased over time, Crusher would have more difficulty coming up with a cure than her television counterpart.
Tyson would need to help close the gap he just created. He pulled out his medical tricorder with the recordings of the contagion from earlier, and his PADD, and started trying to solve the polywater puzzle.
Medicine Check (DC: 45) = 34 Major Failure!
Medicine Check: 43 Failure.
Medicine Check: 43 Failure.
Medicine Check: 44 Failure.
Constitution Check (DC: 13) = 6 Failure
Negative Status Effect Gained.
Negative Status Effect
Polywater Contagion: While in the grips of this contagion, victims frequently succumb to their base desires.
Stage 3: +5 Charisma skill checks, -5 Intelligence skill checks, -5 Wisdom skill checks, -3 Attack rolls.
Another hour passed and Tyson's contagion had progressed to stage three. The increased debuff didn't change anything in his search for a cure. Tyson needed a critical success from the start. Even with the increased skill debuff from the third level of the contagion, a critical success ensures a solution. The issue wasn't with the system. Since the stage three advancement, he noticed the sensations slowly overwhelming him. It became more difficult for him to concentrate the longer he sat in the lab.
Medicine Check: 27 Major Failure.
At stage two, it was taking him fifteen minutes for each Medicine check. Now, at stage three, each attempt was taking twenty minutes.
Medicine Check: 40 Failure.
Medicine Check: 28 Major Failure.
Constitution Check (DC:13): 13 Success.
After the second hour, Tyson was no closer to finding the cure. It was around this point that the gamer knew for sure he wasn't the only person in the room affected. Doctor Crusher, who had initially been engrossed in her work, had been sneaking glances at him for the past hour. Now, she was spending as much time watching him as she was working on her screen.
Tyson shook his head. No distractions, he would keep working as long as he could.
The Hello Nurse! perk was a blessing and a curse. The actress who played Doctor Crusher was an attractive woman. Once he received the perk, it looked like someone took her, de-aged her ten years, and mixed her best features with those of a full-bodied Marvel superspy.
Tyson was distracted, too distracted. Beverly had all but given up on searching for a cure. She was openly ogling him now. The back of the stylus she had previously used on her tricorder and interface screen was now unconsciously tracing patterns along her cheek and lips. The light sheen of sweat that developed on her brow was spreading. Her uniform, which was tight before, was now sticking to her like a second skin. Her nipples were visible through her top and he thought he was starting to see the outline of her raised areolas.
Medicine Roll: 40 Failure.
He continued to pressing on the PADD's interface, his focus entirely on the enticing doctor, and not on what he was doing. When Tyson looked back at his work, it was gone. All of it. His previous attempts at finding a cure were gone. Even the initial scans of Tasha where he'd isolated the polywater contagion were deleted. There were no records of his work, and no backups he could restore.
Medicine Roll: 24 Critical Failure.
+1 Luck
Tyson let out a long groan of frustration. Two hours wasted. He would have to start from scratch, finding another infected crewman to scan. The only bright side being he wouldn't have to hunt one down. He had a willing subject nearby.
"How are you feeling doctor? I noticed that you're perspiring."
"I am feeling rather.. warm."
Tyson pulled out his medical tricorder and began running the scanner around the doctor.
Medical Roll (DC:40): 40 Success.
With his new readings, Tyson could continue his work. But he wouldn't be doing it in Sickbay.
"You may be affected as well doctor, you seem to be exhibiting symptoms. I would recommend you isolate for now. I'll continue working elsewhere."
He didn't trust himself around Beverly and trusted her self-control even less. Tyson rushed out of Sickbay without waiting for a response, leaving a disappointed redhead yearning for attention.
~~Star Trek: TNG~~
Deanna Troi returned to her quarters to find clothing strewn about the whole lounge. She heard noises in her bedroom. A woman's voice, moaning lightly and laughing.
Recognizing the voice as belonging to Lieutenant Yar she called out, "Tasha?"
Troi found her standing in the mirror holding up one of her dresses as if she was inspecting the fit.
"What are you doing?"
"I need your advice, that's why I came to your quarters. "Tasha purred, nonplussed.
Deanna replied without hesitation, " Of course, anything I can do.."
Yar interrupted, "Your clothes. You always wear such beautiful clothes off-duty. Your hair always looks so nice. I want to change my image. What do you think about this?" Tasha then dropped the blue dress and picked up an orange that was hanging on a nearby chair. "Or this one?"
"It's not for you. Tasha, I feel you're very uncertain. That you're fighting something. What is it?"
As Deanna spoke, Tasha embraced her hand. Caressing her outstretched palm and fingers she replied, "Nevermind, I'll find what I need myself. The ship stores will have it."
Yar dropped Deanna's clothes and left her quarters. Troi called out, "Tasha. Tasha wait."
Troi tapped her combadge. "Troi to Captain Picard."
"Picard here."
"Sir, Tasha just left my quarters. She wasn't acting herself."
"Thank you, counselor." The captain turned to the other officer nearby, "Commander Data, please retrieve Lieutenant Yar and escort her to Sickbay."
"Yes sir."
~~Star Trek: TNG~~
Wesley Crusher was staying in his quarters as his mom instructed. Every hour he spent alone increased his frustration that Captain Picard wouldn't let him on the bridge. He tried to be respectful to the captain. He tried to demonstrate his knowledge of the ship's systems and operations.
His science project was a miniature-scale version of the Enterprise's tractor beam that he made from scratch! He doubted anyone else on the ship could construct such a model, except that recruit, Tyson. Wesley had seen him working in an engineering lab one day, repairing fused isolinear chips. The man was a machine, it was like watching Commander Data work.
He picked up one of his other experiments; a soundboard he made. For a week he walked around the ship with it recording, and he had collected snippets from a large portion of the crew. The soundboard allowed him to string together different phrases quickly to create the dialogue that he wanted.
The voice of Captain Picard echoed through the room. "Wesley Crusher, report to the bridge."
"Wesley, you have the helm."
"Congratulations on your promotion, Ensign Crusher."
Wesley reveled in the sound of the captain's praise. Alas, it wasn't real, it was only his imagination, his creation. But it didn't have to be. If Wesley could prove himself to the Captain, maybe he would be allowed on the bridge. He'd have to do something to prove not only his technical know-how but his leadership capabilities as well.
A plan began to form in his head. The tractor beam would have to be modified to accept an alternate power source. He'd also have to modify it to reverse polarity and widen the beam. The tight tractor beam could be changed into a wide area repulsor. Once he completed the changes, he began pre-programming a few phrases into his soundboard.
He'd show the captain what he was capable of. He'd show them all.
~~Star Trek: TNG~~
T'Pol was thankful Tyson offered his quarters and prepared a meditation area for her. She was disappointed in him starting relations with her while having previous commitments, he had advanced her study of human sexuality. Her further research revealed it wasn't uncommon for adult humans to have multiple partners if there was no commitment involved.
It wasn't long before she began feeling the effects of this 'disease' he'd spoken about. It was subtle at first. After Tyson left, she sat at what looked like a prearranged picnic area and began eating. He had interrupted her meal but was considerate enough to leave her food in recompense.
T'Pol did not have a large appetite, but she found herself consuming one of the meals and moving to a second. She ate with her hands, not bothering with utensils. She consumed her meals and moved to a flat portion of the lakefront to begin meditating. The first hour of meditation passed smoothly. An hour later, T'Pol found she was becoming more and more uncomfortable.
"Computer, lower temperature by five degrees."
A single beep of ascent was heard.
Another hour and T'Pol couldn't maintain her meditative state. She spoke another command, "Computer, lower temperature by ten degrees."
This time she was met with two beeps.
"Temperature lowered five degrees."
She stated again, "Computer, lower temperature by ten degrees."
"Invalid command. Environmental controls have been locked. Temperature minimum set at 65 degrees Fahrenheit."
Her clenched jaw was the only outward sign of her frustration.
Trying to get more comfortable she requested exercise clothes. A matching set of yoga pants and a sports top spun up next to her. They were tight, but not restricting. Passive meditation wasn't working so T'Pol tried a form of Vulcan active meditation usually reserved for children who are too excitable to appreciate traditional meditation. The series of poses, movements, and stretches allowed the expenditure of energy, while not prohibiting entering a trance.
T'Pol closed her eyes and tried to find her center.
Tyson
Title: Recruit
Race: Human Hybrid
Level: 5 (4,850/61,000)
Energy Credits: 69,885
Hit Points: 110/110
Strength: 23 Dexterity: 11 Constitution: 11 Intelligence: 15 Wisdom: 12 Charisma: 11
Luck: 5
Unspent Attribute Points: 1
Racial Traits:
Vulcan Senses
Half-Betazoid Sense
Vulcan Strength
Vulcan Metabolism
Status Effects:
Polywater Contagion: Stage 3
Skills:
Observe: Lvl 12
Meditation: Lvl 0 - Locked
Engineering: Lvl 30
Computers: Lvl 11
Physical Science: Lvl 15
Martial Arts: Lvl 9
Athletics: Lvl 10
Medicine: Lvl 25
Social: Lvl 27
Cooking: Lvl 15
Energy Weapons: Lvl 9
Melee Weapons: Lvl 9
Stealth: Lvl 8
Perform: Lvl 8
Language Skills:
Cetacean: Lvl 5
Klingon: Lvl 2
Vulcan: Lvl5
Perks:
'Out of Nowhere'
'The Anti-Worf Effect'
'Universal Translator'
'Culinary Visualization'
'Your Hands Clean'
'Grand Theft Starship'
'Free Love'
'Power Eater'
'Apt Pupil'
'Master with your Hands'
'Binding Foods'
'Direct Control Disruption'
Drawbacks:
'Q and U'
AN: Thanks for keeping with the story! Follows, Favorites and Reviews are greatly appreciated.
The biggest question in the reviews: Why did Tyson not interfere in the events knowing how things would play out?
My first thought was… Pretty sure I answered that? So, I wrote this chapter back in October and couldn't remember lol. Had to read ahead to recall what Tyson's motivations were. So, stick with the story and you'll find out!
Work was light this week giving me a bit more free time. I got through editing several chapters and writing some more of the Star Wars Xover! So for Episode 2, I'll keep to 3 chapters per week. These ones are shorter anyway and I don't want this episode to take a whole month.
Question for Reviewers: Why do you think Tyson didn't stop the Tsilokovsky outbreak before it got going? What do you see as his motivations? Is all this really just to get into Tasha's pants?
Tyson's meta knowledge: Tyson has knowledge of all the franchises and games I had up to and including Discovery Season 1. No Picard, No Lower Decks, No SNW. Is this important? *Shrug*