NX-35 Vigilant
En route to Vulcan
Lieutenant Commander McArthur entered sickbay in a bit of a huff. At present there were no less than four engineers hard at work in here and he was bound and determined to find out just why the hell that was necessary.
"Doctor Sulok!" He barked, the moment he cleared the doors.
Sulok, currently overseeing the work in progress, was fortunately on hand to hinder any further outbursts in his department, appearing before the clearly aggravated Commander quickly in order to do so.
"Commander…" He began calmly.
"I just figured out why the status of both our shuttles has been 'maintenance overdue' since yesterday." McArthur said sharply. "The two engineers who oversee shuttle maintenance have been in here hooking up a brand new recovery bed we don't seem to have any particular damned need for."
"Commander McArthur…" Sulok attempted again.
McArthur had already snatched a PADD from his pocket to reference. "Supply Req' number 241-C, Sickbay Recovery Bed, type 21J." He growled. "Work Order 922E-12, Installation of recovery bed, Sickbay. Equipment Inspection Report…dated two weeks ago…Item 27, 'Recovery bed #4. Faulty battery pack and housing, damaged bedding and sheath.'"
"Commander…" Sulok endeavored.
"Nothing there that one engineer couldn'ta had fixed up right proper in two hours all by his lonesome, without having to replace a whole damned bed." McArthur snapped. "Now, Doctor Sulok, did I or did I not stand right where I'm standing now, just three weeks ago, and make perfectly clear to you that supply requisitions from Jupiter Station were to be, and correct me if my memory's failin' me here, 'frugal' and 'strictly necessary'?"
"Commander, the recovery bed…" Sulok explained.
"And the reason for that being we had quite enough mess stirred up with the desk jockeys at the station without givin' 'em any more supply req's to drag their feet on just because they're ornery." McArthur continued. "But now if that ain't enough, we got two shuttles that ain't clear for launch, just a hair from right when we're gonna need one, because you've got four of my folks tied up so you can disregard my instructions and get yerself a brand spankin' new recovery bed you ain't got no damned need…"
"Lieutenant Quinn died there." Sulok stated simply.
That brought the commander up short, as Sulok suspected it would, allowing him at last to speak without interruption.
"Recovery bed four was the unit that malfunctioned, resulting in the death of Lieutenant Quinn." Sulok explained. "While I agree, it could easily have been repaired, the crew have since displayed an illogical aversion to it that has proven insurmountable. As I conclude this will render sickbay effectively short one recovery bed for general use…"
McArthur stopped him, closing his eyes and raising one hand to halt any further discussion. "Alright. Yeah." He said grimly. "I gotcha doc."
"Very well." Sulok nodded. "I will strive to ensure that the installation of the new bed is conducted in as efficient a manner as possible, if that will alleviate your concerns and aid in…"
"Just forget it, doc." McArthur sighed. "I'll…take care of it."
"As you prefer." Sulok agreed. "However, it is fortunate that you arrived now. There is a separate matter that requires your authorization which has just come to my attention."
McArthur sighed again. He'd just had the wind knocked out of his sails pretty darned good and it looked like Sulok wasn't satisfied with that. Figured he'd learn not to bark at the Doc that way by now. Fellah sure knew how to make you sorry.
"Alright, doc." He said tiredly, already resigned. "Whatcha got?"
Sulok produced a PADD, as if by magic. "Secured Quarantine Authorization for Main Guest Quarters, deck G. I will require your designation."
McArthur stared blankly for a moment before snatching the PADD to go over it one good time. Looking back up, he was a bit amazed.
"The hell, doc?" He asked.
"There is a medical condition that requires…" Sulok began.
"What medical condition?" McArthur demanded. "And who, one of our Vulcan hitchhikers?"
"I am afraid I am not at liberty to answer." He replied simply.
"The hell…not at lib-…?!" McArthur sputtered for a moment, before searching the form again frantically to figure out what the hell, exactly.
After a moment. "Reference to Medical Protocol 14, paragraph 2. That's all you got for a reason here, doc." He pointed out, tapping the PADD with one finger.
"I am afraid that is all I am at liberty to…"
"Well, I'mma need a hell of a lot more than that before I go posting armed guards and sealing our guests up in their quarters, doc." McArthur insisted. "A whole hell of a lot more."
"Then I would recommend consulting Medical Protocol 14, paragraph 2."
**********
Vulcan Medical Institute
Shir Kahr
Marisa had already been slowly inching toward paranoia while waiting around in this very weird, very quiet and very alien place all day long. Again with the waiting around. And she couldn't even escape outside for a minute to get some fresh air or anything. Gravity was loco on this rock and you could just forget about breathing and doing anything else at the same time in what passed for atmo out there.
But this…this did not look like any kind of operating room to her. It didn't look like any kind of outpatient treatment room either. In fact, this didn't look like it had anything to do with medical treatment at all. It was just an empty chamber with nothing but a knee-high, thinly cushioned...table. And two very stone faced Vulcan men standing over it. And one of those guys had some kind of hypospray.
No. That's mala onda. We're not having any of this today.
"No vaya." Marisa said, shaking her head. "I don't think so."
"You will offer your cooperation." The bad guy on the right spoke. In a cold, cold voice. "Recline here, then we will…"
"Chin no, no vaya." She said, waving one hand very firmly 'no' in that direction and whipped around, heading for the door. Screw this, we are outta here. But now there's the two guys that have been following her around everywhere. The steely-eyed security guys. And they were blocking the doorway.
"You two need to get out of my way." She growled, glaring.
"Rodrekiss, this is…" Bad guy number two.
"Rodri-guez!" She snapped over her shoulder.
"As you insist." Bad guy one again, and no less cold. "You must recline here for…"
Insist? It's my damned name!
"No one's telling me anything about what's going on here." She asserted, turning sideways between the two pair of men, her peripheral vision on full alert. She was getting pretty close to losing her cool, she knew. But at least she could try another Parsons dive on one of the two blocking the door.
When no one responded, she was officially done with all this. "This doesn't look like any kind of pinche treatment room to me."
"Now." She jerked one furious thumb at the thugs in the doorway. "These two had better get out of my way or I'm going cabrona up in here."
"Pehhau. Saseshau kanok-veh." A calm female voice spoke out, from beyond the two blocking the door. "Sa'ash-tor sahris dahkuh'du."
Just like that the two at the door were gone and her exit was wide open. Outside, leaving plenty of room for her to bolt, an elderly Vulcan woman stood looking back at her. Marisa had never seen anyone appear both stern and peaceful at the same time but she couldn't help noticing this mujer vieja was managing it pretty well.
"Lady Rodriguez, you may disregard these medical officers." She asked calmly. "They have foolishly neglected to offer you a universal translator and so consequently fail to understand much of what you say. Due in part to your accent but more, I suspect, to their deficient intelligence. So also they fail to recognize your profanity and the warning that should otherwise convey to them."
Marisa stayed riveted on the old woman. It was obvious right off that she was in charge around here. With just a few words the probability of violence occurring had just dropped pretty significantly. But she wasn't quite ready to let everyone around here off the hook just yet. So this lady might be on the receiving end in a minute.
"If you will allow it," The old woman said. "I will escort you to the exit and wait with you there until a public conveyance arrives to transport you to the embassy."
"Who are you?" Marisa snapped.
"I am V'Sun." She replied. "It is I who was to save your life."
**********
NX-35 Vigilant
En route to Vulcan
The ready room chime sounded. Without taking her attention away from the data on the screen, T'Pril called out. "Enter."
And Henry McArthur strode into the room, exuding a particularly unusual mixture of amusement and consternation that caught her attention quickly.
"Well." He said, flouncing into the chair across from her. "I'm about to make you real happy we got two shuttles."
"That is extremely unlikely." T'Pril doubted.
Henry nodded. "Okay, then. But that'll put me up by two points now, I do hope you know."
T'Pril considered carefully, before turning her attention to him fully. "Very well. I accept your challenge. However, I will draw your attention to your wording. 'Real happy'."
Henry stopped short at that. "Huh." He said doubtfully. "Okay. May have bit off more'n I can chew with that one."
After a brief reconsideration, he shrugged. "But what the hell. I might get lucky." Producing a PADD from one pocket, he continued. "Secured Quarantine Authorization. Main Guest Quarters, deck G. I just signed off on it."
That brought T'Pril's eyebrow to new heights.
"What has prompted that level of intervention?" She asked.
"That's exactly what I asked the Doc…well, more or less anyway." He shrugged. "But Medical Protocol 14, paragraph 2 says I don't need to know and I'd best stop asking if I know what's good for me. One of those quirky little agreements we made with the Vulcans way back when, that keep popping up every so often."
T'Pril's eyebrow went promptly down at that statement, he noticed. Yup, looked like it was about as serious as he was beginning to figure. He might just get that point after all.
"Now, I managed to whittle a bit out of him." Henry went on. "Especially when he mentioned it was one the young ladies down there that was in trouble..."
T'Pril considered that carefully, while Henry waited. At length she asked. "How much information were you able to elicit from Doctor Sulok before he recognized you knew nothing?"
Henry grinned. "Right. I made out like I knew what was going on at first but he caught on quick enough. I managed to figure out enough to know I don't want to know anymore. And I found out I'm glad I didn't sneak a look at that book of yours, like I was aiming to do. You got me all curious on that one, you know."
"Commander, curiosity is an exceedingly dangerous emotion to indulge." T'Pril admonished.
"Oh, I do know that." He nodded, with a grin. "But anyway, here's what. Got deck G starboard quarters locked down, Achilla and our only other two female security officers down there. Teval's free to come and go, since he took the quarters to port, but we both know he ain't gonna. He's apparently protestin' your existence by locking himself up in there, though I find oddly enough not a soul on board finds themselves much put out by that. But...Sulok says the Vulcan girls down there can handle their own in the meantime and that it ain't likely to be a problem anyhow. She's supposed to be a week or two out from being in any kind of real trouble and I gather he's just being particular about the whole thing."
T'Pril nodded. "It is a condition that does not reward failure to properly prepare."
"So now we know why we got the famous Teval hitchin' a ride on a Starfleet NX class. He had to get one of his girls home to her fellah double quick." Henry said. "Which, pushing the boundaries of that curiosity we were just talkin' about, he's supposed to be takin' care of this girl, right? I mean, I still ain't got all the in's and out's here but I gather that's where she wants to be, right?"
"Indeed." T'Pril replied simply.
"Good enough." Henry nodded. "Reckon that's all I need to know. Just wanted to be sure we were doing right by the girl."
T'Pril suddenly realized the relevance. "I comprehend now your prior reference to the fortune of having two shuttles available."
"Right again, you got it." Henry nodded. "Teval's girls will be taking Shuttle One down tomorrow, assumin' you approve. So as to get that girl straight to home."
"And Teval?"
"Has his own ride, comin' up for him a little later on."
"Then I will approve, of course." She agreed. "However, I must regretfully inform you that you have failed to earn an additional point. While I do find it fortunate and I am indeed gratified that we have an additional shuttle at our disposal, I would not characterize this as 'happy', much less 'real happy'."
"Ah, well." Henry dismissed. "Can't score unless you shoot."
T'Pril affirmed with a nod. "We are tied again, Commander."
**********
Vulcan Medical Institute
Shir Kahr
Marisa Rodriguez was a little annoyed to find that all it took to reduce her to a pequina was an old woman, Vulcan or not, who could speak so calmly and still snap your head off at the same time. V'Sun had her sitting still with her mouth firmly shut, mindful of her posture even, in less than a minute. But she was at least charitable enough to finally offer her an explanation of the coming procedure.
Charity indeed, because Marisa was sure the old woman could have had her agreeing swiftly and respectfully to go along with it whether she knew a thing about it or not. This mujer vieja knew how to command obedience.
"Do you have any familiarity with Vulcan psychic disciplines, Lady Rodriguez?" V'Sun asked.
And there she goes with that 'lady' again. Which just made her try to act like one, not that she had the vaguest notion.
"Uh...no." Marisa responded. "Or…well, not really. I heard of mind-melding from some v'tosh ka'tur I ran into this one time. But don't know much about that kind of thing."
"I would not find such persons a reliable source of information." The old woman replied, somewhat sternly. "Or reliable for most anything else. However, the topic of Vulcan empathic ability is relevant here."
V'Sun folded her hands in her lap comfortably and explained. "Most of what was known of such things has been lost to us in ancient history. And so significant research here at the Medical Institute has been devoted to recovering what we can, as much of it has proven to have direct and practical application in the field of medicine. Specifically, we have begun to uncover the physical mechanisms behind many psychic and spiritual abilities, finding they often share many of the same characteristics."
"For example." V'Sun asked. "Are you familiar with the to'tsu'k'hy?"
Marisa hadn't a clue and only shrugged, though she could have kicked herself for being so discourteous.
"To'tsu'k'hy is a technique used to render another unconscious by applying pressure to a specific nerve cluster at the base of the neck." V'Sun continued. "It is routinely taught as a method of self-defense and to subdue the violent. This technique itself derives from a more general therapeutic discipline, most commonly known as ne'hish to'tsu or 'neuro-pressure'. This discipline, I understand, played a significant role in the development of the bond between the biological parents on your own starship captain."
Marisa hadn't actually known that but she wasn't about to say anything. The old woman had already begun to intimidate her. Just a little.
"The to'tsu'k'hy, the various techniques of ne'hish to'tsu and even the more commonly known kash-nohv, or 'mind melding', all share similar traits. All require touch, all involve the nervous system and almost all are unique to Vulcans, often being difficult or in some cases impossible to teach to non-Vulcans. Even the tel-tor, the mating bond, we have found shares these same general traits. What does this suggest to you?"
Marisa was a little lost. "I…can't say, senora."
"It should suggest that the mechanism for Vulcan psychic communication relies upon, or at least directly involves, the nervous system." V'Sun explained patiently. "Though we continue to fail to detect such energies mechanically, it is the logical deduction. This is the reason direct physical contact is required for the to'tsu'k'hy technique, ne'hish to'tsu 'neuro-pressure' and kash-nohv 'mind-melding'. It is also the reason frequent and intimate physical contact plays such a significant role in strengthening bonds of all forms and even aids in explaining the ability of the ozh'esta 'finger embrace' to elicit comfort."
"And so, in the course of our research in this general area, we have incidentally recovered many previously lost medical treatments for cerebral and nervous system disorders, including the pa'nar syndrome and your own illness. Therefore you will find it is most commonly through the conscious and deliberate application of psychic manipulation upon the brain and nervous system that such things are treated here at the Medical Institute."
Now Marisa got it.
"Oh…so, that's why…" She guessed. "I kind of freaked out a little when I didn't see any medical equipment in here. Or…anything else."
"This was my conclusion. And so I have offered you this explanation." V'Sun affirmed. "Furthermore, I required you to understand this so that you would also understand a further requirement. That you meditate for one hour before we begin. Spetok has informed me that you have a rudimentary understanding of simple meditation and so you will do so now."
Marisa was surprised. "You know Spetok?"
"Certainly. He is my great-grandson." V'Sun replied. "We communicated several hours ago. It was upon my suggestion that he made contact with you aboard the Outreach, to assess you before we met and to relay his general evaluation to me. As well as take any opportunity that might present itself to educate you in basic meditation."
"Oh, okay…uh…" Marisa was beginning to feel a little spun around. "Why…do you need me to meditate?"
"Communication is rarely one sided in such matters." V'Sun explained. "It will be necessary to interact directly with your nervous system. Were you to experience any particularly powerful emotional state, such contact would likely provoke a lesser but similar response from me. It would represent only a mildly disturbing effect but would linger for several hours and can be expected to prove difficult to suppress. It is an unfortunate side effect. I would prefer to avoid it if possible."
"Oh…alright. I can understand that, I guess." Marisa nodded. "But…I'm not sure…"
"You will meditate for one hour." V'Sun announced. "At that time, if you are able to achieve any emotional state that is less than openly aggressive, a sedative will not be required."
With that V'Sun was on her feet, with quite a lot of pep for an old woman, and swishing through the door before Marisa could think of anything else to say.
Except, dammit, that she wasn't aggressive.
**********
NX-35 Vigilant
Vulcan Orbit
Commander Henry McArthur hustled down the corridor, heading for the shuttle bay. He couldn't help but welcome any opportunity for hands on when it came to engineering matters. The Executive Officer position had too damned much data collation for his tastes. So any excuse to get his hands dirty, even figuratively, was a good thing these days.
So. Get shuttles prepped, get Teval's girls loaded up and get them headed on out. Teval could go on pouting down in Main Guest all he likes until his private shuttle picked him up in a few hours at the port airlock. In fact, Henry hoped he'd keep that up right until he left. He hadn't made any friends on the ship with his habit of sharin' his opinion of the captain all over the place. So with all that covered there'd be plenty of time to get Shuttle Two ready to go for the captain to pick up Rodriguez when the word came. And since Hsaio was bridge Flight until Rodriguez was back on board, and Stone was the only other certified female pilot for Shuttle One, that would leave West shuttling the captain down. Which meant he wanted Shuttle Two in absolute tip-top shape. No offense to West but he wasn't one hundred percent on her abilities. Rodriguez probably wouldn't be flying back so…well, just best leave nothing to chance...
And so McArthur was a little distracted and almost didn't notice the young Vulcan clinging to the bulkhead until he was nearly two meters from running her right over.
Now Henry was well into his thirties, so he'd lived long enough to figure out one particular thing about his life. That being in most cases, given a range of possibilities, the one most likely to cause him the greatest trouble was the one you could pretty much count on happening. And so he knew right off which one of Teval's assistants this young lady most likely was.
And he knew just enough about that situation to have an idea that this here was some trouble just waitin' to happen.
His mind immediately occupied itself with two very important questions in regards to that. First, just what the hell it was he supposed to do in this situation exactly. And second, why the hell this woman was standing all by her lonesome, clinging to the bulkhead like she was drowning, when there wasn't a security alert going on about it as there damned well ought to be. In fact, he suddenly found himself looking forward real keenly to addressing that matter with Ensign Achilla just as soon as…
"Security alert! All security officers to stations. On watch for Vulcan, female, medium height, brown robes. Considered dangerous, possibly armed. Do not approach, report to security on sight."
Well, then. That's covered. Now what about this.
Okay, quick assessment, Henry. There's an intercom right over there. 'Dangerous, possibly armed', so we'll just edge on over real easy. No threat here, lady. You just keep a good grip on to that bulkhead so it don't go anywhere…
And then she looked up at him desperately. And Henry McArthur suddenly reassessed the situation. 'Cause this young lady didn't look all that 'dangerous, possibly armed'. She looked plumb lost. And scared half silly, and pretty darned confused. And…well, maybe something else there that the more gentlemanly part of him didn't really want to put a label to.
Well, hell. Did his momma raise him right or not? You don't just stand around and leave a woman in trouble just hangin' on a bulkhead like that. We'll just try to put her at ease while we tiptoe over to the intercom really easy.
"Alright, lady." Henry said, in as nice and non-threatening voice as he could. Which, he maybe really wasn't all that good at. "You just hold on right there now. We're all fine. Ain't no worry here."
He tried to smile a bit. Everything's fine here now, lady. Okay, he wasn't real good at being non-threatening but maybe she'd get the message...He gestured real casual like at the intercom.
"Uh…I'm gonna just call your lady friends down here, alright? Get you real safe and proper where you need to…"
And she was stumbling toward him, as pleading a look in her eyes as he'd ever seen.
"Whoa, now…" Henry exclaimed, stepping back a bit. "Hold on, there…"
And she had him. One hand pretty damned firmly gripped on his right arm and the other tangled up tight in the front of his uniform. Maybe tighter than she'd had hold of that bulkhead even. The hell to do now…?
"Okay…okay, now…let's all just take it easy here…" Henry muttered helplessly. Ho, boy. Well, she's got a grip, don't she? That's gonna bruise. So okay, she's happy with that. Let's just leave her to it and let's all take it easy now.
And this poor girl was scared. Scared right out of her little head. Confused, desperate, needed some help. Needed his help. And momma didn't raise no cad, did she? Damned if he wasn't gonna help her out here. Suddenly there wasn't no question about that.
Damned if he wasn't.
'Cause she was such a pretty little thing. Pretty little woman like that ought not to be in a situation like this anyhow. We're gonna get her where she needed to go double quick and, by God, best nobody try to get in the damned way. And she smelled awful nice, too. And he had her tight to his chest, then. She's all a tremble, so there, there now girl. Everythin's gonna be alright. We're gonna take good care of you. Not a thing to worry about. No one's gonna get at you while old Henry's gotcha, don't you worry about that. And damned but didn't she feel good right where she was…
"Commander McArthur, step away from T'Lin immediately."
The hell?
Captain Tucker. Standing right there down the corridor. And Henry realized he didn't know where he was or what he was doing...
"Uh…cap'n." He stuttered. Damn. He couldn't think straight all of a sudden. "We got…situation…"
"Step away immediately, commander." She said firmly.
And then he was mad. Pretty damned mad as he'd ever been. Except…he wasn't mad. She was. That frail little thing wasn't so frail all of a stark sudden. She was right out of her head pissed off. And just how he knew that, he had no idea. But she was spitting fire, out for blood all of a damned sudden…
So maybe he wasn't thinking all that clearly right now. But he should have seen that little girl go after the captain in time to at least think about doing something about it. He didn't though. The two were tangled up before he knew it. The really pretty, good smellin' one doing her best to rip the captain's face off…the cap'n taking hold of one arm, twisting around and slamming her into the wall…which…he really ought be doing something about all this…but he couldn't do anything but stand there and stare like a dumb ass.
And then the captain pinched that poor girl on the shoulder…and she hit the deck like a sack of taters. Just like that.
Oh, there's the security team right there. McArthur thought vaguely. Well, that's nice. Should have figured they'd be along directly...
One look at the captain, though…and that snapped Henry out of whatever the heck bunch of stupid had taken over his brain. Because that…that got his attention, right sharp, right quick.
She was breathing pretty hard and it wasn't from tussling with the Vulcan girl, he knew. She was pissed. Her eyes were wide and her fists curled up tight. Her chest heaved and she was shaking. This was nothing at all like the T'Pril Tucker he'd known up to this point.
This was bad news.
"Doctor S-sulok…" The captain stuttered angrily. "I will req…quire a mild sedative as w-well…"
Sulok, who Henry now noticed was on hand, was busy applying a hypospray to the unconscious Vulcan on the deck. He said something in Vulcan to the captain, very calmly. With lots of appeasement spread on top.
"Ri'kash-to hassu, goddamn now!" The captain erupted.
And that scared the hell out of Henry.