One Of A Kind

Posted on Mon Jan 24th, 2022 @ 8:26pm by Lieutenant Is'san & Lieutenant Commander Melanie D’BrooNi- Haistro

1,101 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: Promenade - Infirmary
Timeline: Mission Day 15 @ 0900 Hours

ON

Gracefully picking his way through the throng of beings, standing at least two heads taller than most, Is'san was navigating the new assignment as best could be expected. It was still very alien to him, most being considerably shorter than he and most of them with just one knee joint in each leg... It still baffled him how they managed to stay standing let alone walk or run.

He finally spotted his destination and clucked his tongue, a species trait all of his kind did, even if most did not believe in leaving their homeworld. He was something of an oddity in that regard. Perhaps five, including him, were now in service to Starfleet, following in the footsteps of Captain Saru who had lost his life over a hundred years ago in a battle with some rogue computer program... Starfleet was still very vague about the entire situation.

"Ah, Doctor D'BrooNi I presume?" he asked when entering sickbay and spotting the red-haired Humanoid at her workstation.

She turned and smiled at the newcomer. A kelpien. Not one she had come across a lot in her life, even with several lifetimes under her belt. "You have me at a disadvantage," she said playfully. "But yes I am Dr. D'BrooNi. How can I help?"

"Lieutenant Is'san, I have been assigned here as Strategic Operations Officer" the towering humanoid extended a slender and almost delicate-looking hand to shake that of the Doctors. "Given my species lack of representation in Starfleet I thought it best to see you first to make you aware and to get my physical examination cleared before I see the Stations first officer!"

"If only more people thought along your lines," Mel smiled. "I commend you. Most go into hiding at the prospect of a medical. Please," she indicated the Cardassian version of a biobed.

"Indeed... But to steal a line from the Vulcans, there is no logical reason in hiding from it". Is'san clucked his tongue as he started to smile down at the doctor, even from his now sitting position on the biobed he towered over her. "If I may enquire Doctor... or do you prefer Commander?"

"I prefer Doctor. The Commander thing is .. well it's rather new," Mel answered.

"Very well, Doctor. If I may ask, what has happened on the promenade... I saw evidence of a scuffle and the unmistakable odor of phaser fire!" again he smiled noticing the Doctor's confused look. "We Kelpien's have a much deeper visual acuity and our sense of smell is far more sensitive than most Humanoids!"

"We have voles Lieutenant," Mel answered looking him up. The computer found him immediately. The only Kelpian onboard. "And some rather enthusiastic shop keepers apparently. Although the voles are more worrying."

At that moment, Tamaska walked into Sickbay carrying a couple of PADD's. She was coming to see if Mel had a supply list ready to go. "Oh excuse me, I am sorry for interrupting." Tam looking at the new person in the infirmary.

"I was just about to do a physical but if you need something Commander ..." Mel said.

"Commander Holt?" Is'san enquired, gently sliding from the biobed and extending a slender hand to shake the other women. "Lieutenant Is'san, your first consignment of Strategic Operations Officers!"

"Hello, and welcome aboard. Lieutenant Is'san. A pleasure to meet you." giving a smile to the Kelpien. Tam then looked at Mel, "I was coming by to check over your supply list for medical. Once again sorry for the interruption. I will wait in the waiting room until you are finished."

"Your welcome to wait in my office, well if we can call it that," Mel laughed. "The list is on the Padd in there."

"Very well, and thank you." Tam gave a smile before she left main medical to retrieve the lists.

"How old are you Lieutenant?" Mel asked. She scanned his Ganglia first.

"I am fifteen cycles... although I believe that equates to twenty-seven earth years sir!" he reflexively brought a hand up to shield his ganglia feeling both defensively uneasy and as though his privacy was being invaded but just as quickly forced down his biological programming, knowing and understanding she was simply doing her job. "And before you ask, no I have not undergone my Vahar'ai just yet!"

Mel nodded. “You will welcome it when it comes?”

"After the... The incident that unveiled the mystery of the Vahar'ai and the reconciliation efforts of the Federation to heal the division between my people and the Ba'ul we Kelpiens no longer fear the Vahar'ai as we once did... even if the event itself is still very painful" Is'san tilted his head and smiled gently, his eyes lighting up with the same warmth. "To answer your question, yes I will welcome it. To be born in fear and exist in that same state for this long is not how anyone should live!"

"I'm sorry," Mel said. "I'm not familiar with the "incident"," she looked at him curiously.

"It was over a century ago now... The USS Discovery sent an away team to my home planet... The details are a little vague but while they were there Commander Saru and Commander Burnham unearthed the true nature of the Ba'ul occupation and subjugation of my people... We were simply evolving and the Vahar'ai is part of our natural aging process. We had thought for many centuries to be descended from a species of prey but it turns out we were the predatory dominants until the Ba'ul discovered they could stunt our development by culling those coming of age!"

He knew he had oversimplified it but the details were very foggy after so long a time and parts had been classified by Starfleet even to this day.

Mel nodded. Every culture had its dark spots. She didn't comment further. "How are you feeling in general?" she asked. "Any issues I need to know about?"

"I feel tired from the journey and very eager to take my duties Commander... If there is nothing further I should take my leave as I am sure you have far more important duties to attend to yourself!" Is'san added with a-typical Kelpian politeness as she started to rise from the biobed, once again towering over Doctor D'BrooNi.

"Nothing is more important than my patient Lieutenant," the Trill said firmly. "However you look to be in good health. Or at least what Starfleet knows of good Kelpien health. I'm going to clear you but as I say to everyone if anything changes or your begin to feel unwell make sure you come back."

END

 

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