EXETERRPG: (1 - 0529) aCO Cmdr Ailynn Bracken, Lieutenant Greta Smith & CSO Lieutenant Erin Cortez

[Jaclyn Smith]

Mission: Andromeda's Chain


Day: 1


Stardate: 2446.01.03


(USS Exeter -  deck 7- sick bay - aCO Cmdr Ailynn Bracken, Lieutenant Greta
Smith & CSO Lieutenant Erin Cortez - 0529)


Greta glanced at Moxley as he left and then looked at Ailynn,  "So… how
bad?"


Ailynn sighed slightly as she grabbed Greta’s left hand, and with practiced
ease, ran in a line and attached a unit of fluids, typed for a universal
doner, and pulley a stand over, hung it up, and gave Greta a very small
shot to calm her slightly.


“Damned Pilots and your damned gung-ho attitude. Didn’t I say ‘Take Care’?”
Sighing once more, she looked at the wound. “It looks worse than it is.”


"Good. So, you can patch me up so we can keep moving then?" Greta replied,
smiling.


Ailynn nodded. “It will just be a ‘patch up’ I don’t have time to do
cosmetics and make it look pretty, you’re going to have a scar for the
collection I’m afraid. It won’t be like last time where I had time to
play.” She reached over, and picked up the tissue regenerator, and began to
carefully knit together the small blood vessels, a couple of inches deep.
“Your muscles will ache too. If we survive this I’m passing you over to
Cerise for some physio.”


Greta nodded, "Sore I'm used to. Scars, got plenty so what's another?" She
sighed and closed her eyes.


"I… Commander, I'm sorry."


“Yeah I know.” Ailynn smiled as she carefully treated her patient, making
the minutest corrections and repairs to her patient. She was temporarily
back at Mars, stress and carefree. “You can talk if you want and are able.
Doctor/Patient privilege.” She smiled warmly.


"I didn't mean what I said about the bro code. It's… I know I didn't do
right by Ire and I know that the others don't like me for it…. "


“I’m not sure you’re correct about that but I’ve never understood that kind
of thing. Besides, law of the hen...from what I understand he wronged you?”
She winked. “This might tingle.” She adjusted the instrument and made
another minutely careful pass.


"He… wouldn't talk…. Wouldn't help me understand…" she winced slightly,
"..but i didn't give him time. I should have. This is my penance. But
that’s it." She replied, closing her eyes again, seeing Ire's face as she
slapped him once again.


“Look, I’m no counsellor, I have enough of my own mistakes to even think of
helping with others’, but, strikes me that things had been going wrong and
you lashed out in the heat of the moment. Not saying that was correct.
Understandable perhaps. Okay. That’s the worst of the bleeding. I’m going
to do a general microsuture and then a general regen. Like I said, I wish I
had time, I never leave scars.” She laughed to herself, not since med
school anyway.


"Who's gonna see this one now?" She paused and looked at Ailynn. "Again,
sorry. No need for me being depressed and what not. Not when we have a job
to do."


“We do. Doesn’t mean we’re not human; or Bajoran, or whatever. We all have
burdens. Keep a secret?”


"Patient surgeon confidentiality. Sure."


“What Lana said on the Bridge, about me being an addict? That was true.
Back before I was at the Academy, I hit rock bottom in a big way. I carry
that, and it gets to me sometimes, I try not to let it define me or who I
am to myself and others.”


"I have somewhat of an anger problem. Got me into trouble in my youth.
Story for another time. But I get it. I do. Maybe I was wrong… seeing this
as penance. But my point still stands. The others, the pilots from back on
Mars… we haven't been as close as we were. Part of me thinks that is
because of what happened, part of me thinks it down to us all doing
different jobs now." She paused for a moment, "Still love him though. Deep
down. Always will. But don't you dare tell him that."


“Pinky Promise.” Ailynn switched settings again. “Look, when we get back,
you guys need to hook back up. Get a private room in a bar and chew the fat
over a few beers. I get that things are crazy at the moment, but we will
get out of this and we will face normality again. Who knows; maybe this is
another Quella simulation and I’m actually still….never mind.” she blushed.


Looking down at her PADD, Erin paused outside the door and knew Ailynn and
one other was on the other side. Taking a breath and, rather than bursting
in, knocked on the door softly.


Greta's eyes opened wide at the sound and, as she attempted to sit up,
groaned slightly. "Phaser?"


Ailynn pushed her down. “Move now and you’ll tear.” She however picked up
the phaser and rested it on Greta’s abdomen. “Enter. Surgery in progress,
identify.” Ailynn called out habitually.


Taking a breath ,  Erin opened the door slowly, "Surgery? Everything okay,
A?"


Greta, holding her phaser, closed her eyes in relief and stayed lying.
However her grip on the weapon tightened. If the last few hours had taught
her anything, it was no-one was who they said they were.


Ailynn looked up at Erin, even as her delicate, perfectly trained fingers
still worked. “Minor injury, I say minor, carpets will need cleaning. Can
you trust me Erin? Knowing about ‘you know who’ doesn’t necessarily mean
we’re on the same team at the moment."


Erin nodded, "Agreed. Hence why your FO isn't here. I told her that we
would meet and, only if I were sure you were… you, then I would bring her
in. Can't have anything happened to her if you … aren't you."


Greta looked at the pair of them and sighed, "Oh for goodness sake, you
two. Figure though quickly, please. Mainly because Commander Bracken is
trying to not give me a zipper track scar here. So talk, damn it and just
figure it out." She snapped as she gripped the phaser.


Ailynn nodded. “I was actually going for a smiley face.” she shrugged, and
smiled gently. “Look. You know what you need to do. For myself; as I said
to Moxley, I’m already in Command, I don’t need to mutiny and seize it. If
the Captain does stuff it’s sedition which is a different charge
altogether, besides…” she paused, beginning to close up Greta’s wound. “I’m
the best surgeon in the Federation, but beyond that I’m an extremely
dangerous adversary. If you’re amongst these Mutineers I am going to
mess...your...shit...up.”


Erin smiled widely and looked at Greta. "She's herself. Only A could say
that with that vehemence."


Taking a step forward, Erin placed her phaser down on a crate along with
her PADD and held her hands infront of her, palms open, "See, not armed.
I'm not combat trained so, believe me Lieutenant, I'm not a threat. You
gonna allow me closer or shoot me?"


Greta looked at her for a second and sighed, "Okay, but I'm watching.
Believe me when I say that, I'm Sore and very tetchy right now."


Erin nodded and moved closer to Ailynn’s shoulder, "Totally understand
that. You have no problems from me."


Leaning a little forward, closer to Ailynn’s ear, Erin closed her eyes
slightly and whispered a truth in her best friend's ear. One that she knew
only she would understand.


Ailynn felt her friends presence at her ear, her whisper warming her neck,
the truth sinking into her mind. Closing her eyes, Ailynn nodded silently.
“Yeah...I know.” she then turned and with her spare arm, pulled Erin into a
hug, and kissed her forehead gently. “I’m glad you’re okay.” She turned
back to Greta, and carefully removed the cannula that was in her palm, then
with the regenerator, closed that wound too.


“Now take a moment, you’re going to be a bit hazy, like you’re 4 pints and
4 shots of green fairy into a heavy night. That will clear quickly as
you’ve only had a light shot. I’d steer clear of alcohol for a few days, as
you will be a really cheap date.” she winked wickedly as she carefully
lifted Greta to a sitting position.


Greta smiled softly and groaned as she sat, "So, she’s okay?"


Erin smiled at the woman, "I think A…. sorry Commander Bracken can vouch
for me?"


“My apologies Lieutenant, she’s good. Tempting though it is sometimes, we
can’t shoot friends.”


"Aw crap." Greta replied with a smile.

“So Erin, talk to me.” It had always unnerved her ‘friends’ at the Academy
how fast she could switch her brain from ‘playful’ to ‘furious
concentration’


"Keira is nearby. She's safe. We got caught in Astrometrics. Two ensigns
tried to grab us. She has some readings of them and I… was right." Erin
replied,  looking at Ailynn.


"I wiped the computer of my findings and the only record is on this PADD.
But, the problem we have first is more immediate. I can get Keira here now
if you want, then we can all plan?"


Greta smiled and chuckled a little, wincing again. "Sorry, but look at us.
Seems like all the people trying to save the ship are the women. Girl
power."


Ailynn smiled and chuckled. " I’d gamble that we’re not the only ones, but
you are right. Erin, call Kiera. I need to see her scans. I also have to
look at my idiot brother’s brain, and at the moment, I’ll settle for doing
it the simple way.” Ailynn was still irritable, and annoyed, though her
temper was settling.


"On it." Erin nodded as she headed for the door. Stopping,  she looked back
at the pair and said, "So, can she walk because I really haven't been doing
much weights recently…"


Greta shook her head, "I can walk. Slowly but I can walk. Where to, oh
fearless leader?" She said, looking to Ailynn.


Ailynn drew a breath, and sighed, picking up a bunch of things and scooping
them into the medkit bag, shouldering that, and picking up both Moxley’s
phaser and the metal rod.


“Sickbay...and there...we talk sweetly, but carry a big stick. Trust your
instincts, your gut will always know before your brain does.”


"Currently my gut is telling me to stay away from spicy food and alcohol
but I take your point." Greta replied, standing slowly. "At least I have a
new addition to the war wounds collection. We should wait for Commander
Merek and Lieutenant Cortez to get back. Safety in numbers,  right?"


Ailynn nodded. " Just relax a bit, let your body get used to things again,
the haziness will dissipate. The scars you can show to your grandkids in
the old people’s home, Here…” She spotted something in a drawer, tossing a
small tube over. " Dextrose, slightly slower release of energy, bit of a
pick me up.”


"No candy floss? This place sucks. Never coming here again." Greta replied
with a smile.

(Reply any)
(Posted by Jackie and Mark)
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