House call [Back post]

Posted on Sat Sep 18th, 2021 @ 1:42am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Stoun & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,677 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 3 - Fear Is Fear Itself
Location: Sick bay
Timeline: Before all hell broke loose.

ON:

Going down the list of items that needed to be looked into was the EMH, it was on the fritz again or it was just being cranky, either scenario just hopefully meant a little tweaking to the underlying code. He pushed the door activator to sickbay and walked in.

"Doctor, are you in?" Stoun moved in and looked around for a moment.

"In here Chief," the Trill said loudly. Sat at her desk she was going over the list of supplies the Andromeda had shared with them. "How can I help?" she said looking up at him as he entered.

"I hear that your EMH has needs an attitude adjustment." The Chief smiled as he moved further into the office. "One of the other engineers told me, what seems to be the issue?"

"Well he keeps just flashing .... is that the right team ... its not beaming is it but its like beaming .... flitting around, one minute he's there and the next he zips right in front of me. He says its more efficient but I'll be honest it makes me jump. And I've knocked several things over," Mel said.

"Hmm... he programmed that himself into his code?" Jon leaned against the wall thinking. "He shouldn't have access to that kind of subroutine."

"Can we maybe make it so he can only do that in an emergency?" she asked.

"Yeah, I mean, I can have it only active during a red alert situation if you think that would be better." Stoun move over and sat at the desk in front of the Doctor. "How ya doing?"

Mel smiled at him. "That sounds wonderful. Yes just during red alerts. And I'm good. I mean I could have done without running for our lives from that creature and it sliming me but ... hey " she showed the man her engagement ring. "The Captain proposed." She figured the whole ship knew anyway and they weren't going to miss her with a diamond on that finger. "How are you doing chief?"

"Oh my." He looked at the ring. "Impressive. I'm doing alright I suppose. Could be better could be worse." He reached down into his bag and pulled out a PADD and started to fiddle with it. "Just trying to keep things together if you know what I mean." He furrowed his brow. "Did you lock down the EMH settings?"

“Im a doctor Chief, not a hologram programmer, ” Mel quipped at the bald man. “I wouldn't even know where to begin. What do you mean just trying to keep things together? Are we talking the ship or life?” she asked. She didn't know the chief well. Did he have friend? Was he socializing as well as working?

Jon tapped a bit on the PADD. "Some of the EMH's sub routines are locked down. I didn't do it so I thought you may have. I should be able to override it so that isn't a problem." He paused as he looked over a few of the sub routines and file structure. "Odd..." He paused as he let a diagnostic run. "In terms of keeping it together, I've just got a lot on my plate with all of the repairs and such going on. Trying to keep everything straight especially with the other engineering group coming over to assist."

“You are a saint,” Mel smiled as he set to work on the hologram. “When do they land? I’m due a visit from the Andromeda’s CMO myself. I bet you have lots to keep everyone occupied? And I hear you filled assistant chief.”

"They are swarming all over engineering as we speak. Was an opportunity for me to leave to be honest." Jon smiled as he finished up the scan. "Alright, I've turned off the flittering, except for a red alert situation and I've locked it down so he can't change it." He put the padd away and looked to the doctor. "When is the wedding? Soon? Later? Eventually?"

“Eventually I guess. Well hopefully. I get the feeling his family or at least the ones I've met so far don't think much good of me, ” Mel said miserably. “But you must come Chief, ” she smiled at him. “Im hoping I will be able to get my son and brother back to see it. One of them give me away.”

"I'll be there, I'll even put on my nice uniform." He smiled as he put that tablet down. "What did you do to his family? Punch someone in the face or something? I mean, I can't imagine why they wouldn't like you. Successful doctor, smart, funny." He shrugged. "I don't know, I guess other than having them at the wedding it isn't really any of their business."

"Me either but I get that feeling. But your right once the weddings done it could be years before I have to deal with them all in one place again," Mel said. "You think I'm funny?" Mel said. That threw her. Most didn't think she was funny at all.

"Well, yeah, I mean not in a haha type of way, more of a gotta think about it funny." He smiled as he tried to get comfortable in the chair. "I don't know, I dated an Andorian once, talk about complicated family life with that. I don't know, you are marrying the Captain, his family is baggage I suppose but, the best thing about baggage is that you don't have to look at it. Now, I'm just an engineer, not a counselor, anything beyond that and you'd have to talk to Horn."

"Oh I will don't worry Chief," Mel said amused. "So tell me about this Andorian. Is it true the marriage logistics. Four people involved is that right?" She was interested to see less of the gruff engineer and more of the actual human man. He must have some tales to tell.

"Oh my, could I carry on with that, yes, four involved, I was roughly the Thaan in the relationship" He used his hands to make air quotes. "It was hard, being involved with that. "That lasted about a year or so, though it made what easier I suppose was that it was The Shen of the quad that I was really more in a binary relationship with, and serving on the same ship with so for the most part, it was just a normal relationship. Though when the other two came around, it was just hard because it was supposed to be with all involved. Oy." He paused for a moment. "Taa was something else though. Anyways." Jon smiled at the Doctor. "I'd avoid Andorian relationships if you would like my humble advice."

"Leiko met one interested in her time but she wasn't up for the whole package," Mel said. "And yes I agree. Hopefully," she looked at her ring, "This one is the last relationship I need to worry about. What about you now then? On the look out for someone?"

"I don't know, I've never really had time for a relationship I guess and I don't even know now if I want anything." He paused for a moment. "I found it easier to talk to a warp core diagnostic than trying to make peace with someone." The chief smiled. "Why, you trying to hook me up with someone?"

“Yes, ” Mel said simply.

“Hes cute. He can't be left on the shelf. We must help him, ” Leiko started.

“What are you looking for in a lady friend Chief?” Mel asked smiling.

Jon looked at the doctor, furled his brow, and crossed his arms before exhaling deeply. "Hadn't put much thought into it to be honest. Who's got time when I've got a ship to keep together and rogue EMH programs to keep in check. I mean, ship relationships can get a bit messy I think. Besides, who wants this old broken nonsense here." he motioned to himself.

“Oh chief don’t sell yourself short,” Mel told him seriously. “There’s someone for everyone. And you can realign warp cores, fix everything … messy is nothing to be afraid of,” she winked at him. “You find the time if you find someone you want to spend time with. Now come on, I need more. What are your interests outside work?”

"Well" He paused for a moment to contemplate the question. "I like building model ships, boxing, I've been known to paint now and then." He shrugged. "Camping is fun."

"Isn't it?" Mel said dreamily for a moment. Memories of doing just that with spouses of at least 2 hosts flooded her mind. "So your paintings. What do you paint? Can you show me some?"

"Ok, no judgement, I paint beach scenes, but like, not the ocean, mainly from the Great Lakes where I grew up. Completely different. I'm pretty terrible at it. The water is a whole different color than the ocean" Jon typed a few things on the PADD he was holding and handed it across the table to the doctor. "There ya go"

"Your not terrible chief," Mel said. "I like it .But there's always room for improvement right? What if we set up an art class on Copernicus? There has to be other people wanting to expand their abilities."

Her mind was running through woman who she knew liked art. That she could talk into the class so he could meet them. "And maybe we need to sweet talk Keiben for a ships boxing match. Within reason ..." she smiled. "I don't want to be doing face implants and the like of course."

"Yeah, that all sounds good." He thought for a moment. "I guess there is someone from everyone huh?"

“In every lifetime,” Mel winked at him, “sometimes more than one.”

Jon laughed a bit. "Well we'll see. No promises but I'll go along with it for now. Anything else I can do for you at the moment while I'm here?"

"No," Mel said with a smile. "And thank you for tweaking Russ."

"You're welcome. Anytime."

Dr Mel D'BrooNi
Chief Medical Officer
USS Copernicus

 

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