A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Lab

Posted on Tue Feb 25th, 2020 @ 3:09pm by Commander Nalla Furban & Commodore Siaxx "Bluemoon" Dvald-Vaxx MD
Edited on on Tue Feb 25th, 2020 @ 3:17pm

Mission: Mission 15: Old Ghosts
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1300Hrs - December 3rd, 2390

Lieutenant Siaxx Dvald was making the rounds, wanting to meet her people and get to know them on a personal level so her next stop on this tour was the second medical lab in sickbay. She noticed that the Lab was assigned to one person only and nobody else seemed to go in there.

She tapped the doorchime rather then simply barge in. Automatically, Siaxx was introduced to a very low lighting level, padds neatly stacked on shelves against the wall behind the workbench, and a bald woman in scrubs working on some sort of miniaturized transporter padd.

"Walking into an electronics lab is unwise, especially if you do not know if the components are sensitive to uncontrolled particulates within the air," the bald woman spoke from behind a pair of goggles.

Siaxx opened her mouth. "A fair point." she raised an eyebrow as she noticed something wasn't quite right. "I'm Lieutenant Siaxx Dvald, I'm just meeting my people... seeing if they are settling in and what they need from the Starbase before we ship out..."

"I was settled into this ship two years, twenty-seven days, and six-point-seven-four hours ago," Nalla answered with a Vulcan-like head bob as she turned to look at Siaxx.

When the protective goggles came off, the Bolian could see a pair of blue implants staring at her with cold accuracy.

"I suppose I could use a few more boxes of transport buffers and bioscanners," the tiny woman added as she powered up her iPad-like looking miniature transport pad/receiving port.

The device powered up for only a moment and then shorted. Which meant her power supply was corrupted, or needed charging.

Siaxx nodded her head. "Okay... it can be arranged...." she paused. "What exactly are you working on?" she inquired.

"An even smaller and more accurate particulate transport extractor, than my beta model," Nalla answered very factually as she reached for something that looked similar to a digipen. "This is the surgical instrument used in the body to transport foreign particulate and bone matter out of very small cavities withing the body. And the pad in front of you functions as the targeting computer and receiving pad for the debris off the transport pen."

Her beta model sat on a table on the far right wall. Bulkier and heavier than the one Nalla was currently trying to build. "Starfleet Medical did not see my beta-tested model as a good option for away team field surgery, but when I complete this version, it will be small enough to carry in a medical bag and scrub pocket."

All the while, Nalla did not ever look Siaxx in the eyes, but rather the Bolian's chin and neck.

Siaxx listened in silence, not asking questions as the one thought in her mind came to the front. 'What the fuck are you doing cooped up in here?' Siaxx thought to herself. 'You should be in research and development on a Starbase or at Starfleet medical...' she then sighed softly. "Fascinating work Doctor, how far along are you?" Siaxx inquired.

"I am approximately four months from miniaturizing the transporter pad and targeting systems," Nalla answered. "Once I solve the problem with the power supply, I believe it will be fully functional."

Siaxx blinked as she realized Nalla was almost finished with what looked to be a major project. "So its just the power supply issue and this thing of yours will be fully operational?" the Bolian inquired.

"Finding a source that can charge one-point-five times faster than a standard power cell, is the goal." Nalla gave a rigid head bob to the right as a thought hit her. "It would be useful to have a surgical particulate extractor that can recharge to full power in a manner of a half-hour."

Siaxx raised an eyebrow. "Why exactly are you in my sickbay anyway?... you should be doing this at Memory Alpha or at Starfleet Research and Development..." she commented. "Clearly you're level of intelligence outstrips everyone else in sickbay by a considerable margin."

"My registered level of intelligence is the highest among the ship, and ninety-four percent of the Federation's population," Nalla corrected in her typical monotone. "I honestly do not know why I am here. But my foster parent had to pull many owed favors to get me on this posting, versus the alternative."

Siaxx blinked as she regarded the smaller woman. "the alternative... which is?" she inquired.

"My birth mother is of the impression that I suffer from some degree of mental instability," Nalla admitted, very detached. "So she would attempt to have a conviction of commitment into a mental healthcare facility."

Siaxx blinked. "Your birth mother is clearly a fucking idiot." she responded. "What abut the rest of your family... do they share in this .... delusion?"

"My mother is the Matron of Tenth House of Furban, Holder of the Sacred Key of M'lalla," Nalla informed in a very detached, indifferent manner, while she went back to work at miniaturizing her power supply. "What Matron Furban wants or does not want, is something no one in her house questions."

Siaxx listened in silence before she nodded her head. "Fair enough.." she commented.

"My foster mother wants me far from her, though." Furban was very quiet at that point. Stoic, really. As if thinking about something so terrible was threatening to take her Vulcan-like calm from her.

"Thats her loss... I've only just met you... and I can see you being a valuable member of my personnel here... you're direct which is good."

"I do not know what that means," Nalla blinked in true confusion. "However, Captain Tane felt it imperative I not disrupt the function of her medical staff. Thus I am given a lab and am expected to perform surgeries only when the department needs me."

"Captain Tane does not run sickbay... I do." Siaxx commented. "Therefor... I'll be the one who runs this place... not her, next time someone tries to give you orders, you come see me okay?" the Bolian knew that raising her voice or losing her mind would be most unwise.
"You are my deputy Chief... Thus you help me with the day to day running of sickbay and..... I'd like it if you would become my personal medic... I can't treat myself and... there are a few people aboard who I am close to which would call my judgement into question at best.... I'd like it if you would handle those cases, if and when they arise.."

"I would still require regular hours for my lab projects. But yes. I do not see any flaw in your arrangement," Nalla agree in a rather detached tone.

"Which is fine..." Siaxx answered. "But if I need you for a surgery or a breifing. I have the right to pull you for it okay?"

"That is satisfactory, Doctor." Nalla gave an agreeing nod to that.

"Alright..." she paused. "tell me some details about yourself... something other then work... because.. I think you need to get out more..."

"I swim regularly." That was the only thing outside work Nalla could think of.

Siaxx smiled. "Works all your muscle groups." she commented. "Its also relaxing."

"For most Deltans, swimming is a very spiritual feeling, though I have never felt it," Nalla added, as she thought it held some relevance to the conversation.

"I find it relaxing.." Siaxx commented with a smile. "So.. where else have you served?"

"I was previously part of Intelligence. I served as a tactical unit's personal doctor," Furban explained very matter-of-factly. "Before that, I was the ACMO of Starbase 12. But that posting did not really turn out to be an ideal posting for me."

"I didn't think you and Starfleet Intelligence would be able to work together... " Siaxx admitted as she realized she needed more information about the woman before her.

"They needed a good medic and after my mom attempted to have me expelled from the fleet, my foster mother Captain Olmos, called some of her friends to do a favor for her, in order to get me into the unit," Nalla noted in a very detached monotone.

Siaxx mentally skidded to a halt. "Wait... your mother tried what.... lay it all out for me..." she inquired.

Nalla paled for only a second. Not may cared to ask so many questions with Nalla. So when the young doctor spoke again, it had a small crack in it. Fear, the hinted emotion.

"My mother believes I am mentally compromised. That I lack the emotional maturity to survive in society," Nalla explained quietly.

Siaxx felt her brain break. "Uhhh..." the Bolian responded. "She's an idiot." she responded quietly. "You have all of us.... such as we are." she spread her hands as if encompassing the entire ship. "You survive just fine.."

Nalla blinked at Siaxx with confusion. She honestly had no idea how to process that. "My mother's house is also know as the House of Perseverance. So yes. I suppose I do."

Siaxx raised an eyebrow as she slowly nodded. "I can see how that would make sense." she responded quietly. "What else are you working on other then this?"

"I have been working on improving the live bio-stream data, to lessen the rate of transporter accidents due to pattern degradation," Nalla noted rather casually.

Siaxx raised an eyebrow. "Your talents are wasted aboard this ship." she commented. "but thats okay, their losses are my gain..."

Nalla gave a vague nod to that. Not sure what she should say to it. Then she went back to her work. "I also am among the top two-hundred of neurosurgeons within the Federation."

"You're skills are clearly wasted... but you're a part of my staff." Siaxx commented. "I will put you to work..."

"That would be acceptable," Nalla nodded with a Vulcan-like accuracy.

"Very well... do you require anything from me?" Siaxx commented.

Nalla sat there dumbfounded. She truly did not know how to answer that question. Very few times in her life, folks asked her what she wanted. It was always decided for her.

"I do not know," Nalla said, blinking in confusion.

"Well... lets help you find out then.." Siaxx commented with a smile. "In any case. I need to get back to work... I'll let you get back to it."
and with that Siaxx smiled at the other woman before departing the lab