Ridges, Spots and Stethoscopes

Posted on Wed Nov 6th, 2024 @ 3:53am by Commander Yalee Prar

2,828 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Pirating Typhon resources
Location: Main sickbay
Timeline: TbA - post 'Angel with a broken wing (Rii'Na XO step down piece)

Yalee had made herself familiar with most of the files on the Chiefs when she was en route to the Starbase. It filled the gaps and time while she sat in a ship. SAT! The mere thought was offensive to her. Why couldn't she fly? She understood that there had to be a certain sense of decorum with being a Commander but honestly, did they have to take away her right to fly herself? Well, that would change when she had the reigns to herself.

Reailzing that Yalee had distracted herself with her thoughts, again, she knew that she had to meet the former XO, Commander Rii'Na. Most people did not step down from an XO position. Yet, she had. Certainly there was stress in the position, but to give it up just to be a Medical Chief again...? That did not compute in Yalee's world. Why give up a position where you could do more for the same old routines on a daily basis?

Then again, having someone that was grounded in the routine, could be very useful. After all, she would not be seeking to move up, making Yalee's position secure. But, there would always be the issue with people looking up to Rii'Na. Therefore, it was important to be friends with Rii'Na. It would make a smoother transition and further solidify Yalee's position.

God, that sounds so manipulative! You're not that! Why are you thinking like that, Yalee? Are you actually nervous? Just be you The symbiont Prar spoke to her and Yalee had to admit that Prar was right. Maybe it was nervous excitement. The thrill of being somewhere new and the thrill of trying to sort out why someone would step down.

Yalee returned to Prar, Your advice is sound. I'll just be me and let the chips fall as they may. I'll try not to press too much.

With those thoughts concluded, Yalee found that her feet had already taken her into medical. She looked around and called out, "Commander Rii'Na, are you here and available?"

It was a lighter atmosphere within the space of main Sickbay. The nurses seemed to move around with purpose, there was light instrumental music in the background and there was one lady who seemed to float between the others.

At 5'6 she was of average height, curvy yet demure. Her deep brown hair was back in a plait down her back and the old style stethoscope with a teal cord to it could be seen around the back of her neck. The twisted chain of her earring danced as she talked with the nurses and made notes. She was very neat, tidy and comfortable in the skirted version of the medical uniform. Upon hearing the new voice in the space she looked back over her shoulder then made some sort of arrangement with the nurse she was talking to. Ashe turned around and headed towards the door. Seeing a Trill in the command red, her heart dropped and then sped up a bit. The file had come across the desk withing the first couple of days as CMO. It had been there a while, seeing as there had been time from it passing across and her own impromptu honeymoon. This was the replacement to her vacated position of XO.

She slowly moved over to the Trill. *She probably wants to know why. I would if it was me and make sure she is not stepping on any toes.* Ashe thought to herself.

She gave the customary bow, her blue eyes shining in the light as she came back up. "Blessed day, Commander. I have a feeling as to why you are here, besides the usual medical check-in." She gestured to move into the main bay. "Do you wish to get the evaluation done or get all the other 'questions' out of the way first?"

The Trill Commander smiled brightly and gave a small chuckle. Her eyes twinkled momentarily. "Well, Commander, I have to admit that your insight is rather refreshing. Why not be efficient about all of this? Do you have a private room where you can complete your examination of me? We can talk about everything else at the same time if it does not bother you." Yalee paused before continuing. "By the way, I'm extremely jealous of your sparkling blue eyes. I was not so blessed."

"We do have a couple of more private rooms, usually for things of a more personal nature. I am more than happy to follow up that idea. I just had a feeling. If it were me, I would be curious too." Ashe blushed at the comment of her eyes. "I guess it is what the Prophets saw fit to bless me with. JC seems to like them. You'll like him, he is the beta shift flight ops, he does it well." She could feel her cheeks burning.

Rii'Na led Yalee over to one of the private rooms close to the CMO's office. She transferred the notes she needed to a PADD and showed Yalee in. "Just up on the biobed and jacket off for me. You would be the first joined Trill I have been treating, so do excuse me if I seem to ask a few more questions." She pat the biobed. "All customers earn a lollipop at the end, if they are brave." She smiled and had a little giggle.

Yalee laughed at the doctor's humor. "Well, it has been a good long time since I've had a lollipop and I do feel in the mood for one, so I think I shall behave...." She let the sentence linger before adding, "For now." Hopping up onto the biobed, Yalee flashed Rii'Na a mischievous grin.

"So, do I address both of you by using Prar or do I use Yalee? I am more than happy to be called Ashe if you are more comfortable with that." Ashe asked as she started the base scans. "I want for both of us to be comfortable with each other. I am sure the question as to 'why' is burning in your mind. I feel I can answer it, yet the story does feel like a bit more than anyone bargained for and personal enough to warrant first name basis."

Wiggling her bottom to get a bit more comfortable on the biobed, Yalee answered, "You can address me by either. Prar is certainly more formal and has generations of history. Friends call me Yalee."

The Trill cricked her neck as the scans started. "This isn't going to affect the scans, is it? I'm not good at sitting still. Mom said that I was running before I crawled or walked." Noting her own digression, she said, "Never mind that, Ashe. Tell me your story. I admit that my curiosity is getting the better of me."

"There is a certain amount of leeway in the scans. I also do some more manual checks as well. I think we will be all right. I am curious about Prar and the physicality of joining, as I have not had a joined Trill as a patient before." She took off the stethoscope to check on Yalee's heart. "I use this for a few checks. I can hear things better." She put the buds in and other end to Yalee's heat as she started to tell her tale.

"I am sure you are no stranger to the conflicts between Cardassians and Bajorans. I know first hand just how dirty, low, and forceful the Cardassians can be. At 19, I was taken by a Cardassian who still had some standing and thought some practices of the past were still acceptable, like using Bajoran women as party favours and worse. I was held by him for four years, before a raid by Starfleet and I was recovered."

There was a strong sound that greeted Ashe, the unmistakable thud of a heart in rhythm. She moved on to checking breathing sounds.

"It was not till I was here, during this pirate crisis that this same Cardassian tried to reclaim me. He vaporised two security officers before my eyes, almost killed the man I love and wanted me to go willingly with him." Ashe cringed.

"I assume that is the JC gentleman that you mentioned before, right? Dare I ask what this Cardassian did to JC? And after all of that, why would he think that you would come along willingly?" Yalee wondered aloud.

Ashe took the earbuds out for a moment, sitting to the side and checking on the scans. "Yes. Gal'Nor had me under thumb for years. He knew he was already in my head, to a degree. It was all a matter of how badly would I push back after knowing freedom. he called me his 'Little Fuchsia, expected that when he came calling that I would do anything to meet his needs... and like it."

Ashe's head dropped for a moment. This was not an easy thing to talk about. "He shot JC on the promenade after splitting us apart. He used my own phaser to do it, Yalee. He dialed that blasted thing up to where it could have killed him at point blank range! Thank the Prophets there was some distance and JC just managed to move enough that he only was grazed by it. Still, it did more than enough. I watched that Cardassian with an arm around me dial it up, vaporise the security boys and threaten that if I didn't go with him that JC was next and it would be as though it was my own hand did it! What other choice did I have? If I had fought back, he would have ended JC! I haven't loved anyone like I do him. After years of being 'claimed', not even being thought of as anything other than a 'pretty piece of meat'... I couldn't stand to lose that..." Ashe started to have the emotion creep into her voice, her eyes started to tear up.

Woah! That's rather messed up! Yalee thought to herself and Prar. What do I do? Should I hold her? Just listen?

An answer came back, Let her finish her story. It is a little patience and you will be rewarded with more than you know. This is the advantage of several lifetimes.

"That's awful," Yalee told Ashe. "So, what happened, then? Because obviously, you're here and JC is here...."

"I went with that snake to be able to spare his life... and he left me in a holosuite and went to end JC anyway! He had every intention of taking me off this station and having me, back in service......permanently! Thank the Prophets that the Marines stopped him... and eventually found me. After I had been left alone and was going stir crazy. With the thought of the Security boys, and I was constantly being told by Gal'Nor that JC was dead and I would never see him again. That he was the only one that truly knew me and that loved me. Fork tongued snake of a man! I tried to stay awake for three days thinking he would come in and take me in my sleep after killing...."

She was now sitting beside the new XO quietly crying her heart out. "It took Landon snapping me out and showing me that Gal'Nor was dead and JC was just sedated in sickbay for me to believe that the nightmare was over!" Ashe was shaking a little from the tears.

Yalee could not help herself at this point. She put her arm around Ashe and let Ashe lean in if she needed to do so. It was obvious to her that the story was not done, so she decided to sit quietly and wait to see what more would come from it. Though, it seemed obvious to her now, that the CMO was a broken woman.

"As soon as we were truly back together, we couldn't stand to lose each other again and I couldn't pick that command jacket back up again. I couldn't honestly give another order that could result in men being vaporized like I saw those officers. I know in medical I can lose patients, but I know those risks and do my best to control the situation. That situation got away from me and I had NO CONTROL! I almost lost the other half of me Yalee! Look at me, sitting here in tears talking with someone I barely know yet feel like I could have for years....is that a joined trill thing?!"

A small chuckle escaped Yalee. "No, we have no special powers. In fairness, even before I was joined, people always liked talking to me, but I suppose that may be because I'm curious about everything. And, I don't judge. Given what you have gone through, I certainly can understand why you would take a step back. Hopefully, it is not a permanent step back. I'm not a counselor, but I suspect it will take time."

She squeezed Ashe closer into her. "And this is the first time that I'm going to be an XO, so I suspect that I could use whatever insight you can give me. Maybe that will help both of us?" Yalee shrugged. "What do you think, Ashe?"

"Of course. Support is always nicer than going it alone." She accepted the squeeze. "We all could use a good friend at times. I was not perfect as an XO either." Ashe replied, giving a little squeeze back.

"Hm," Yalee mused. "I think you are probably being too hard on yourself, but I certainly can understand now, why you feel the way you do." She pursed her lips and did not consider her next words, "So, are you still to be the 2XO?"

"Prophets no! We already have a 2XO and she does a great job. I am happy to be just the CMO for now. For a station like this, that will be enough. I have all of the Marines to check over as well as the fleet staff. I have more than enough as well as being a newlywed to have a full plate." Ashe replied.

"Ah, yes!" Yalee exclaimed with the remembrance of the Chief Intelligence Officer. "Raven Adams. I read her file en route. I had nothing better to do since I had to be transported and was not permitted to fly," she replied disdainfully. "I guess that's someone else that I should meet today.... But, you have been kind enough to tell me about yourself, is there anything more that you would like to ask me?"

"Is there anything major I need to know or do to look after you both?" Ashe was curious yet was even hesitant to touch the pouch area on Yalee. "Are there any checks I need to do on Prar?" She fiddled with her hands, almost like she was thinking of touching something taboo. "Is Prar a 'he' or a 'she', I heard it' s like you have their voice in your head? Do excuse me, what your kind does in looking after the symbionts and letting them share in life is amazing and a blessing in its own way. I am truly curious, both from a personal and professional standpoint. I'm not embarrassing myself, am I? You know, asking too much?" Ashe went red.

"Prar, like all symbionts are asexual." She noticed Ashe's hesitation to touch her and then guided Ashe's hand to the receptical area. "You are a doctor. You need not to be concerned about my privacy. Touch. It is alright, I assure you. And, of course, ask whatever you will. I know that our conversations are privileged." She then turned into Ashe and said, "Yes, Prar has its own voice and I have mine. In the scans, you'll see our individual brain patterns. We talk and share, but ultimately, if you would, I'm in control but there is a sharing. It is a bit difficult to explain, especially in talking to the personalities of prior hosts. Prar will likely outlive me and it is my privilege to take care of Prar."

"I only ever want to look after others as best as I can and in the way the Prophets would see as blessed. I started out as a Prylar, the Vedeks said that I have a gift for healing. I only hope that is truly the case. I still enjoy what I do, regardless. At least my husband will say i am as gentle as the breeze, still JC is biased." She blushed. "We up and got married, spur of the moment and all the day after JC was released from sickbay. I couldn't stand the idea of losing him again/ Luckily enough, neither could he."

"Hopefully your marriage will be blessed by your Prophets forever and you will have children a plenty."

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