S3:E3 (MINISODE) Revelations - Part 2: Into the Rabbit Hole

[Oscar Chang]

[Airlock/Security - USS Challenger]

Ensign T'Vel was rather taken aback at the two handed handshake and blinked according.  She managed to not snatch her hand back since she had had a lot of experience with humans and knew this was a custom, although normally only with one hand.

She took the credentials and smiled.  "Yes that seems to be in order, you're in D-4 on Deck 2 Crewman Thompson here will go there and then take you to check in with Dr. York on Deck 7.  It was interesting meeting you Doctor.  Crewman..."

She handed the credentials back to the doctor, offered what passed as a smile on the stone features of the Vulcan and then went back to acting like a statue.

"This way please Doctor... Chang wasn't it?  I'm Crewman Thompson, let's get to the turbolift and then we can get to your quarters." Thompson stepped into the turbolift.  "Deck 2" he ordered.

[Airlock/Security - USS Challenger]

He would have a stone hard face, listening to everything the Ensign had to say, when she finished he loosened up and smiled. He took the credentials back and stuffed them into his pocket. "Thank you Ensign, it was nice meeting you." He'd pick up his heavy luggage and follow the crewman.

He'd walk along with the Crewman and answer his questions. "Uh, yes Doctor Chang, nice meeting you crewman." He'd step into the turbolift with him and drop is luggage on the floor. He'd let out a big sigh and massage his shoulders, muttering, "God, that stuff was heavy."

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Airlock/Security - USS Challenger]

He would have a stone hard face, listening to everything the Ensign had to say, when she finished he loosened up and smiled. He took the credentials back and stuffed them into his pocket. "Thank you Ensign, it was nice meeting you." He'd pick up his heavy luggage and follow the crewman.

He'd walk along with the Crewman and answer his questions. "Uh, yes Doctor Chang, nice meeting you crewman." He'd step into the turbolift with him and drop is luggage on the floor. He'd let out a big sigh and massage his shoulders, muttering, "God, that stuff was heavy."

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

[AS Dr. Maggie York]

Security at the Airlock had let Dr. York know that Dr. Chang was now on board.  Smiling, Maggie signed off another few PADDs then hit her commbadge.

Dr. York to Dr. Chang.  Once you're settled in your quarters, if you fancy a tour of the Sickbay and a quick run down on what we're working on at present I'm in my office on Deck 7, help you get familiarized with the place.  No rush I've got a pile of PADDs to work through, no rest for the wicked! York out.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

[The Pickled Pakled - Innominatum Outpost]

When he first took Helga in his arms, the most Ferengi part of him began to calculate how long before she did something to him that he would regret. When she leaned into him and returned the kiss, the only coherent thought he could manage was.

"I'm not dead!"

The count was up to thirty Mississippi's when Lahr finally decided to interrupt, clearing his throat.  "I'd tell you two to get a room... but it looks like you'd do exactly that and then I'd be left to drink alone with Chief Dradis.  Come on, help a friend out and save it for later, K?  Helga, I got you the shooter special.  Something called an 'Electric Jello'.  You might like it Lek, I'm told it's made with vodka."

Lahr held out the jello shot towards Helga as she broke her kiss with the Ferengi.  She glared towards the Andorian.

"What?!  I get you two back together, buy you alcohol and this is the thanks I get?"

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

Sukal offered his Captain a warm smile after her compliment of wanting him at her side even over Klingon warriors in battle.  Despite his peaceful nature - battle was something which came to him almost naturally.  It was, perhaps to many, a contradiction.  He loved peace, desired peace, but if he had to fight - he would do so without reservation or hesitation.

"A pleasure to meet you," D'leha nodded firmly and politely to Ruth's two sisters as the Captain continued.  "As for my orders, Captain, I am here by special assignment from Vice-Admiral Alexander Sheridan of Starfleet Operations.  My ship where I was Second Officer fell under attack from Leyton's rebels.  The CHEKOV will be in dock for about three months, and he thought I could be of some use here considering my former Security background in dealing with counter-espionage and so forth."  She then turned back to Sukal after noting the Captain's remark about him being half-Betazoid.  "What an interesting combination.  I would never have thought two people so different could have come together in such a union," she admitted with an almost Vulcan-classic raising of the right eyebrow.

"It was an interesting union," Sukal replied without further explanation.

When Arya asked her what she wanted to drink; the new officer merely shook her head politely to decline.  "While I appreciate the offer; I have no desire for refreshment at this time.  Perhaps later on," D'leha answered with a slight smile as she took in Ruth's quarters with interest.  She was also quite aware of the First Officer watching her keenly.

"Yes, a party for your sisters should most certainly be in order," Sukal agreed with a smile for the twins; though his eyes were watching how D'leha was examining the room.

While the three sisters conversed in what Sukal could only believe was their native ancient language; he noted how the new arrival walked with a deadly grace.  This was someone who was lethal in personal combat.  It showed in the way she moved, stood, and examined the room.  Betazoid or not - the woman was a warrior clear and through.  Such was indeed a contradiction considering the Betazoid culture for peace.

"Well, I would not want to keep you and your family, Captain.  I still have to get my quarters settled, and take the time to become familiar with the station's layout.  I hope the three of you will live long lives filled with honor and glory," D'leha said to them before she started to turn and leave.  "I look forward to working with you, Commander," she added to Sukal.  "Please inform me when you have cleared my orders so that I might be of some use around here." Saying nothing more; D'leha Amoreen left the Captain's quarters without a backward glance.

Every stride she took - Sukal noted, and a slight frown creased his face when the doors closed.  "She could be a great asset considering the diverse personalities coming to this conference."  He turned to gaze at his Captain and the two girls waiting nearby:  Katya and Arya.  "I trust you both are ready for Starfleet Academy.  It has been a while since I had the chance to interact with you two beyond a few hellos and goodbyes.  Tell me - what did you two think of Lieutenant Commander Amoreen?"  One moment he had been talking to them as if it were the most natural of conversations, but his mind was on the new arrival.  The question slipped out before he could even think of recovering it.  "Consider it a lesson in observation," he added for effect.

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

[Ruth, Arya, Katya]

Ruth nodded at Amoreen as she left, still not quite sure of the woman.  She'd seen how she moved and how she was looking around her quarters.  That did not sit well with the Captain.  Before she could answer however, Katya took point on Sukal's question.

"I'm wary of her.  I don't think she's all that she says she is, or rather she's more than she says she is.  She's been trained, probably in martial arts.  Is she Ops or Sec/Tac?  I mean in Sec/Tac we do get taught hand to hand, unarmed melee and so on, but there's something about the way she moves that makes me think she is more used to having to be stealthy not just running down a corridor, phaser drawn sort of thing.  And that doesn't sit with the whole Betazoid peaceful thing, no offence, I know you can fight the best of them Uncle Sukal, but... forgive me, you're rather unusual in all kinds of ways.  I also thought it rather rude of her to speak of your parents like that, I mean who's she to decide who people can fall in love with... well I assume it was a love match.... that's far more of a nice assumption than what she said about not thinking... well that was her problem... not thinking!" Katya said with a derisive look on her face.

"And there we have Katya the ever so never out-spoken of the twins!"  Ruth said sotto voce.

"I-I think..." Arya said with a confused look, "...she's very pretty but that's about all I liked about her.  I don't know what it is, you Uncle Sukal would probably with your heritage, understand what I mean.  I'm not empathic but I was just getting the wrong 'vibes' from her.  She was looking around like she was assessing Ruth's quarters for a robbery or something or possibly..."  Arya was always one for trying to see the good in someone.

"...maybe if she's Security she was assessing how safe the Captain of this ship would be against attack in these rooms.  I echo what Katya said about the way she moved... she's not part Caitian is she? That might account for the stealthy movements, y'know, ..." she shrugged, "...naturally.  And it seemed like she couldn't wait to be away.  As for your other question about Academy, yes and no.  I mean the time we spent on the Redav getting here and on the Challenger have all helped to prepare us for what to expect and I hope to work more with Lt. Tempest in the time we have left before we leave and learn more, but at the same time that apprehension of 'Am I gonna be good enough, will we make Ruth and those we consider family like you, hence the honorary title of Uncle, ... well proud of us, will we do enough to graduate?' Even Kat's calmed down a lot, like it's hit her too that this is serious as it gets, but we've seen things, and I don't mean like in that movie we watched Ruth.  'I see dead people...'  I've seen too many dead people and I'm just 17, sadly I feel I'm going to see a fair few more in my Starfleet career and that's a sobering thought."

"Arry's right."  Katya said "Oh I'm still the mad, bad, wild one of the two but yeah, things seen, heard, experienced.  Ruth you never really mollycoddled us but you did shelter us from the worst stuff the best you could, I'm not ungrateful, oh believe me I'm not, but we learnt the hard way like ripping off a band-aid and well, possibly that was the best way, we didn't have time to react really.  I'll answer you honestly Uncle Sukal... no.. I'm not ready, in fact I've been questioning if I even want to still go.  I talk myself down because I know my particular skill set and the encouragement I got from Mr. Nari and Lt. Taray... I'm yet to work with Chief Maghouin, was that they think that I'll make a good Security Officer, I've not done a lot on the Tactical side yet but that can be learned.  But yeah, I'm scared, having seen the things I have in the last couple of months... it's been a lesson that I don't think any classroom could give, no stimulator, no holodeck training.  And most Academy graduates... sorry but they'll never know that until they are thrown into their first battle, see their first dead body - I'm not talking cadavers either if they are medical students or it's basic field first aid training... I mean freshly dead, killed in front of you and still warm dead."  Katya said a blank staring look on her face.

"Kitty Kat, are you ok?" Ruth asked concerned and flicking a look at Sukal which spoke volumes, mostly 'Heck, I didn't think they could be so deep or that these few months had affected them that much, Leyton is gonna pay for robbing the last vestiges of childhood away from them.'

"Yeah I'm fine.  Is the Science Dude erm... Lt. Tempest I mean, coming or what, I'm staaaaaaaaaaaaarving and my belly is saying PEEEEEEEEEEETZA, PEEEEEEEEEEEEEETZA like those baby turtles in that funny movie with the ninja terrapins."  Katya said.

"And can we have Ice Cream?" Arya asked looking every inch the sweet angel she was normally.  "Uncle Sukal you're coming with us aren't you?  It's the only way we can make sure Ruth actually isn't working!  We could handcuff her to the bed but she probably wouldn't like that as Will's not here...erm... ah... "

Ruth snorted and gave Sukal a relieved look... it seemed like at least some shreds of the mischievous twins she knew and loved were still in there!

Sigurdsdottir to Tempest... I have 2 starving teenagers here begging for pizza, what's your ETA? Ruth sent to Tempest a grin all over her face.  She would make sure that the last few weeks she had with the twins were going to be a blast for them, and she didn't mean the explosive kind....hopefully!

[Oscar Chang]

[Sickbay - USS Challenger]

[AS Dr. Maggie York]

Security at the Airlock had let Dr. York know that Dr. Chang was now on board.  Smiling, Maggie signed off another few PADDs then hit her commbadge.

Dr. York to Dr. Chang.  Once you're settled in your quarters, if you fancy a tour of the Sickbay and a quick run down on what we're working on at present I'm in my office on Deck 7, help you get familiarized with the place.  No rush I've got a pile of PADDs to work through, no rest for the wicked! York out.

[Chang's Quarters - USS Challenger]

He would lift his belongings on to his bed, and before he opens his suitcases up he gets a message from Doctor York.
"Acknowledged ma'am, I'll be right down there."
He opened up his suitcases and started unpacking, placing his clothing in his cupboard and fixing his uniform, before he left the room.

[Chang's Quarters < Turbolift]

He would call the turbolift and wait for the doors to slide open. He got in and tried to remember what deck sickbay was on. "Uh... Deck 7?" The turbolift would vibrate slightly, then the doors would slide open almost instantly and he'd step out. He'd think to himself, "Score! Right deck!"

[Turbolift - Sickbay]

He would enter sickbay and navigate his way through to the CMO's office. He'd chime at her door.

[Ruth Sigurdsdottir]

[Chang's Quarters - USS Challenger]

He would lift his belongings on to his bed, and before he opens his suitcases up he gets a message from Doctor York.
"Acknowledged ma'am, I'll be right down there."
He opened up his suitcases and started unpacking, placing his clothing in his cupboard and fixing his uniform, before he left the room.

[Chang's Quarters < Turbolift]

He would call the turbolift and wait for the doors to slide open. He got in and tried to remember what deck sickbay was on. "Uh... Deck 7?" The turbolift would vibrate slightly, then the doors would slide open almost instantly and he'd step out. He'd think to himself, "Score! Right deck!"

[Turbolift - Sickbay]

He would enter sickbay and navigate his way through to the CMO's office. He'd chime at her door.

[CMO's Office - Deck 7 - USS Challenger]

[AS CMO - Dr. Maggie York]

Maggie heard the chime and looked up, since the door was always open unless she was making private communications or working on something secret.  She saw the Asian doctor standing there and smiled then beckoned him in.

"Dr. Chang, do come in, make yourself a drink,.." she indicated the replicator in the corner of the room, "...and let's get acquainted.  I'm Dr. Margaret York, but since we're going to be colleagues and working on a lot of things in quite close environments, I think you should call me Maggie, unless you know there are patients around!  If they're unconscious, another matter!"

She stuck out a hand by way of greeting and then continued.  "I thought I could give you a run down of what's going on over a cuppa, then a tour of the medical facilities and let you meet some of the staff.  I'll have to take you onto Innominatum too as a lot of our staff are on rotation with the Outpost medical staff at the moment.  Everyone and thankfully the Captain leads by example, she and Lt. Commander Sukal have already been 'done' are having medicals with a view to having the crew back to full fitness by the time we go out on our primary mission by the end of next month.  It's gonna take that long to get through them all even with another very welcome pair of hands.  Probably not a lot of that will make sense for now but I'll explain."

Maggie let her fellow doctor get comfortable and then got him up to date with everything that was going on.

"So there you have it... do you have any experience in neurosciences?"

[OOC - I'm PMing you with all the info to read thru before the next mission so that you're up to date, since this mission is winding down and new one starting tomorrow]

[Lek]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

The count was up to thirty Mississippi's when Lahr finally decided to interrupt, clearing his throat.  "I'd tell you two to get a room... but it looks like you'd do exactly that and then I'd be left to drink alone with Chief Dradis.  Come on, help a friend out and save it for later, K?  Helga, I got you the shooter special.  Something called an 'Electric Jello'.  You might like it Lek, I'm told it's made with vodka."

Lahr held out the jello shot towards Helga as she broke her kiss with the Ferengi.  She glared towards the Andorian.

"What?!  I get you two back together, buy you alcohol and this is the thanks I get?"

[The Pickled Pakled - Innominatum Outpost]

Lek blinked at Lahr's voice and stared at him uncomprehendingly. He was still trying to process that Helga hadn't pulled his tongue out his arse for kissing her in public and without permission. Whatever Lahr was babbling was a distant second place to his unexpected survival. Having gotten away with the kiss, he settled for taking Helga by the hand and steering her to the table where Dradis was sitting. Once he had sat down, the rest of the universe faded away and he smiled at Helga.

"I've missed you."

[Sukal]

[Ruth's Quarters - USS Challenger]

[Ruth, Arya, Katya]

Ruth nodded at Amoreen as she left, still not quite sure of the woman.  She'd seen how she moved and how she was looking around her quarters.  That did not sit well with the Captain.  Before she could answer however, Katya took point on Sukal's question.

"I'm wary of her.  I don't think she's all that she says she is, or rather she's more than she says she is.  She's been trained, probably in martial arts.  Is she Ops or Sec/Tac?  I mean in Sec/Tac we do get taught hand to hand, unarmed melee and so on, but there's something about the way she moves that makes me think she is more used to having to be stealthy not just running down a corridor, phaser drawn sort of thing.  And that doesn't sit with the whole Betazoid peaceful thing, no offence, I know you can fight the best of them Uncle Sukal, but... forgive me, you're rather unusual in all kinds of ways.  I also thought it rather rude of her to speak of your parents like that, I mean who's she to decide who people can fall in love with... well I assume it was a love match.... that's far more of a nice assumption than what she said about not thinking... well that was her problem... not thinking!" Katya said with a derisive look on her face.

"And there we have Katya the ever so never out-spoken of the twins!"  Ruth said sotto voce.

"I-I think..." Arya said with a confused look, "...she's very pretty but that's about all I liked about her.  I don't know what it is, you Uncle Sukal would probably with your heritage, understand what I mean.  I'm not empathic but I was just getting the wrong 'vibes' from her.  She was looking around like she was assessing Ruth's quarters for a robbery or something or possibly..."  Arya was always one for trying to see the good in someone.

"...maybe if she's Security she was assessing how safe the Captain of this ship would be against attack in these rooms.  I echo what Katya said about the way she moved... she's not part Caitian is she? That might account for the stealthy movements, y'know, ..." she shrugged, "...naturally.  And it seemed like she couldn't wait to be away.  As for your other question about Academy, yes and no.  I mean the time we spent on the Redav getting here and on the Challenger have all helped to prepare us for what to expect and I hope to work more with Lt. Tempest in the time we have left before we leave and learn more, but at the same time that apprehension of 'Am I gonna be good enough, will we make Ruth and those we consider family like you, hence the honorary title of Uncle, ... well proud of us, will we do enough to graduate?' Even Kat's calmed down a lot, like it's hit her too that this is serious as it gets, but we've seen things, and I don't mean like in that movie we watched Ruth.  'I see dead people...'  I've seen too many dead people and I'm just 17, sadly I feel I'm going to see a fair few more in my Starfleet career and that's a sobering thought."

"Arry's right."  Katya said "Oh I'm still the mad, bad, wild one of the two but yeah, things seen, heard, experienced.  Ruth you never really mollycoddled us but you did shelter us from the worst stuff the best you could, I'm not ungrateful, oh believe me I'm not, but we learnt the hard way like ripping off a band-aid and well, possibly that was the best way, we didn't have time to react really.  I'll answer you honestly Uncle Sukal... no.. I'm not ready, in fact I've been questioning if I even want to still go.  I talk myself down because I know my particular skill set and the encouragement I got from Mr. Nari and Lt. Taray... I'm yet to work with Chief Maghouin, was that they think that I'll make a good Security Officer, I've not done a lot on the Tactical side yet but that can be learned.  But yeah, I'm scared, having seen the things I have in the last couple of months... it's been a lesson that I don't think any classroom could give, no stimulator, no holodeck training.  And most Academy graduates... sorry but they'll never know that until they are thrown into their first battle, see their first dead body - I'm not talking cadavers either if they are medical students or it's basic field first aid training... I mean freshly dead, killed in front of you and still warm dead."  Katya said a blank staring look on her face.

"Kitty Kat, are you ok?" Ruth asked concerned and flicking a look at Sukal which spoke volumes, mostly 'Heck, I didn't think they could be so deep or that these few months had affected them that much, Leyton is gonna pay for robbing the last vestiges of childhood away from them.'

"Yeah I'm fine.  Is the Science Dude erm... Lt. Tempest I mean, coming or what, I'm staaaaaaaaaaaaarving and my belly is saying PEEEEEEEEEEETZA, PEEEEEEEEEEEEEETZA like those baby turtles in that funny movie with the ninja terrapins."  Katya said.

"And can we have Ice Cream?" Arya asked looking every inch the sweet angel she was normally.  "Uncle Sukal you're coming with us aren't you?  It's the only way we can make sure Ruth actually isn't working!  We could handcuff her to the bed but she probably wouldn't like that as Will's not here...erm... ah... "

Ruth snorted and gave Sukal a relieved look... it seemed like at least some shreds of the mischievous twins she knew and loved were still in there!

=/\=Sigurdsdottir to Tempest... I have 2 starving teenagers here begging for pizza, what's your ETA? Ruth sent to Tempest a grin all over her face.  She would make sure that the last few weeks she had with the twins were going to be a blast for them, and she didn't mean the explosive kind....hopefully!

Sukal nodded to the twins with a slight smile at their observations, and then glanced at Ruth as she called for Tempest.  Then, he turned back to the twins again before answering.

"Exactly," was all he said for a moment as he turned to look back at the door where D'leha had left.  Silence filled the room as he waited on his Captain.  "Her background says she is extremely adept at Security procedures, but more importantly - she is lethal in martial arts and sniper training.  It could be she simply was seeing how secure our Captain was, or she could have just as easily been thinking the opposite.  There is no way to tell, but there is one other detail you both missed," Sukal continued as he turned back to them, but faced the Captain instead.  "She walks not just with a deadly grace, but there is confidence which flows from her every move and word.  If you all ever see such a person in your career on mission - be extra vigilant."

He said nothing more about D'leha, but simply waited to see if Tempest would respond on his arrival time.  He wondered what the Science Chief wanted to see them about, but he could only speculate on that. 

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

[The Pickled Pakled - Innominatum Outpost]

Lek blinked at Lahr's voice and stared at him uncomprehendingly. He was still trying to process that Helga hadn't pulled his tongue out his arse for kissing her in public and without permission. Whatever Lahr was babbling was a distant second place to his unexpected survival. Having gotten away with the kiss, he settled for taking Helga by the hand and steering her to the table where Dradis was sitting. Once he had sat down, the rest of the universe faded away and he smiled at Helga.

"I've missed you."

Helga's glare towards Lahr didn't diminish any even after his statement of having brought them together, in fact if anything it intensified!  Some thanks, he grumbled internally as he watched the dazed looking Ferengi take Helga's hand and head over their table with Dradis.  Lahr followed sullenly behind with Helga's 'Electric Jello' shot.

It was times like this when his efforts went unappreciated that he wondered why he ever got involved with getting the Ferengi set up in the first place?  While it was true that he had been told to look after the Chief Engineer by the tr'Lhoell - no where in that 'order' had there been the notion to set him up; that had been all Lahr.  From what he could tell, Lahr became the match-maker among the crew mainly because he knew his own chances at ever finding acceptance among his own were slim to none.  At 23 years of age, he had all but missed his window of opportunity to help father children.  But he didn't regret being a part of Starfleet, even if it did mean that he was never asked to be part of a shelthreth.  He'd just have to settle for living vicariously through his friends.

Lahr sat down on the far side of the table from Lek and Helga, and tried not to listen in but it was hard not to.

Lek's admission of missing Helga caused the Andorian to wince, but it seemed to be the right thing to say for Helga smiled and leaned in closer to Lek's ear to speak so only he could hear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NPC Crewman Helga Tragnar
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

Helga leaned close to keep her words just between them.  "I missed you too... But it's my own fault... cause I've been avoiding you... not a very honorable thing to do, I know... cowardly too but .."  Her voice faltered as she tried to think of how to say what was the problem in a way he would understand.

"It's not you..." she began but then stopped because in a way it was him. She sighed in frustration.

"I just want to be able to give you a simple caress in public without it seeming lewd or inappropriate."

Was that so hard to ask? Maybe.

[Lek]

PO2 ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

Helga's glare towards Lahr didn't diminish any even after his statement of having brought them together, in fact if anything it intensified!  Some thanks, he grumbled internally as he watched the dazed looking Ferengi take Helga's hand and head over their table with Dradis.  Lahr followed sullenly behind with Helga's 'Electric Jello' shot.

It was times like this when his efforts went unappreciated that he wondered why he ever got involved with getting the Ferengi set up in the first place?  While it was true that he had been told to look after the Chief Engineer by the tr'Lhoell - no where in that 'order' had there been the notion to set him up; that had been all Lahr.  From what he could tell, Lahr became the match-maker among the crew mainly because he knew his own chances at ever finding acceptance among his own were slim to none.  At 23 years of age, he had all but missed his window of opportunity to help father children.  But he didn't regret being a part of Starfleet, even if it did mean that he was never asked to be part of a shelthreth.  He'd just have to settle for living vicariously through his friends.

Lahr sat down on the far side of the table from Lek and Helga, and tried not to listen in but it was hard not to.

Lek's admission of missing Helga caused the Andorian to wince, but it seemed to be the right thing to say for Helga smiled and leaned in closer to Lek's ear to speak so only he could hear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NPC Crewman Helga Tragnar
[Innominatum Outpost - The Pickled Pakled]

Helga leaned close to keep her words just between them.  "I missed you too... But it's my own fault... cause I've been avoiding you... not a very honorable thing to do, I know... cowardly too but .."  Her voice faltered as she tried to think of how to say what was the problem in a way he would understand.

"It's not you..." she began but then stopped because in a way it was him. She sighed in frustration.

"I just want to be able to give you a simple caress in public without it seeming lewd or inappropriate."

Was that so hard to ask? Maybe.

[The Pickled Pakled - Innominatum Outpost]

Lek ignored Lahr's winings as he was so needy sometimes, not that he was a bad person, he was actually a good guy, but now was not his moment. Lek listened to Helga and felt humbled to hear her struggle to express herself. She was so intimidating it was difficult to see her ad anything but fully in control.

"I don't know if this will help, but by not being popular, I've learned to not give a damn what others think. If you want express affection, do it and anyone not us can go get bent."

[Oscar Chang]

[CMO's Office - Deck 7 - USS Challenger]

[AS CMO - Dr. Maggie York]

Maggie heard the chime and looked up, since the door was always open unless she was making private communications or working on something secret.  She saw the Asian doctor standing there and smiled then beckoned him in.

"Dr. Chang, do come in, make yourself a drink,.." she indicated the replicator in the corner of the room, "...and let's get acquainted.  I'm Dr. Margaret York, but since we're going to be colleagues and working on a lot of things in quite close environments, I think you should call me Maggie, unless you know there are patients around!  If they're unconscious, another matter!"

She stuck out a hand by way of greeting and then continued.  "I thought I could give you a run down of what's going on over a cuppa, then a tour of the medical facilities and let you meet some of the staff.  I'll have to take you onto Innominatum too as a lot of our staff are on rotation with the Outpost medical staff at the moment.  Everyone and thankfully the Captain leads by example, she and Lt. Commander Sukal have already been 'done' are having medicals with a view to having the crew back to full fitness by the time we go out on our primary mission by the end of next month.  It's gonna take that long to get through them all even with another very welcome pair of hands.  Probably not a lot of that will make sense for now but I'll explain."

Maggie let her fellow doctor get comfortable and then got him up to date with everything that was going on.

"So there you have it... do you have any experience in neurosciences?"

[OOC - I'm PMing you with all the info to read thru before the next mission so that you're up to date, since this mission is winding down and new one starting tomorrow]

Chang would walk over to the replicator, while listening to what Dr York had to say, and chuckling every now and then.

He would whisper to the replicator, "Jasmine tea, lukewarm." A cup with jasmine tea in it would fizzle into existence and he'd remove it from the replicator. He'd move over to Dr York's desk and sit down in front of her and shake her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Neurosciences? Of course, but it's not my specialty. But I learnt about it at the academy. Why have you asked me this sir?" He'd take a sip of his tea, then place it on her desk and shift himself in his seat.