Unfinished Business

Posted on 14 Oct 2018 @ 5:08pm by Commander Rhyan

1,207 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Empty Creche
Location: Sickbay, USS Redemption
Timeline: ED1 1000

ED1 1000 Sickbay, USS Redemption

Sickbay was the most calm that Rhyan had seen it in a long time, much to his relief. It had been less than twenty-four hours since the Redemption faced-off against the Ee Hybrid’s ship, resulting in mass casualties; and that was before Rhyan himself, along with Cadet Scott and Ambassador Sutherland, were forced to attend following their encounter with the late Ensign Marshall. Thankfully all of them had been discharged from Doctor Afton’s care, with the exception of Daniel Sutherland. Of course, despite being discharged, Cadet Scott had kept an overnight vigil at Daniel’s beside, much to Afton’s annoyance.

“Commander,” Doctor Afton’s familiar voice broke the relative silence of sickbay, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I was just checking in on the Ambassador. I had hoped to relay some positive news to the President this morning.” Rhyan was, of course, keen to update President Zal on Daniel’s condition. He had sent a communiqué to her late last night, but hoped that Doctor Afton would have some good news for him before he sent another. It would be a number of hours before the Redemption was back in Earth orbit, so he felt a duty to update Zal before he had to speak with her face-to-face.

Keisha folded her arms across her chest before answering. As she spoke, she looked towards the unconscious forms of Sutherland and Scott rather than looking directly at Rhyan. “You do realise the damage that Marshall did to Daniel with that point-blank phaser discharge, don’t you?”

“I am,” Rhyan replied, coldly.

“Then you must know that it has taken a lot of work on the part of my team and I just to keep him alive. The physical damage I have repaired; he has a new left kidney and spleen. But the electrostatic disturbances created by a close-range discharge have disrupted his neural pathways in ways I just can’t fix. If I could click my fingers Rhyan, I…”

“I understand, Doctor,” Rhyan said, interrupting Afton before she could finish her sentence.

The doctor scowled. “And how many times, Rhyan, do I have to ask you to call me Keisha. If all of my subordinates can manage it.” She placed a hand briefly on his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity. “Daniel is a healthy, young man. Given time I am sure that he will pull through.”

Rhyan sighed. The distinctly un-Vulcan act took Afton off guard and she withdrew her hand. Rhyan turned to face her and made her make eye contact with him. “Be honest with me. How many more people are going to suffer while under my command?”

Keisha’s features hardened slightly and she grasped Rhyan by both arms, teetering on the urge of shaking some sense into him. “You need to stop letting Major Blackburn get to you. You are more than capable of being the Redemption’s first officer; you have proven it time and time again. How many officers do you think Azura has lost under his command?”

Rhyan shrugged his shoulders.

“A damn sight more than you, Rhyan. And,” she hushed her voice slightly as Jody’s slumbering form stirred beside Daniel’s biobed, “I’m starting to think that this obsession you have with losing officers under your command stems from another problem.”

Rhyan’s gaze dropped to the floor, unable to look Afton in the eye any longer; but the doctor finally gave in and shook her immediate superior. Despite the drop in volume, her voice took on a heightened pitch, “You need to forgive yourself for Sarah’s death and move on. She is never coming back and you have to accept that.”

“I…” Rhyan started, but Keisha didn’t give him a chance to get going.

“Oh for the Goddess’ sake, Rhyan; open your eyes!” She removed her hands from his upper arms and continued her stern lecture. “You might want to look at how much your crew actually respects you; Cassandra notwithstanding. And,” she smirked slightly, “that Lieutenant Tigan is clearly infatuated with you.”

Rhyan was suddenly surprised. “What?”

Afton was now showing the hint of a grin; “I overheard her talking to Ensign Pol following the final Hadronus virus meeting. I mean, she didn’t say it in so many words; but when you have been a Starfleet officer as long as I have, you learn to read between the lines.”

Unsure how he would respond to Afton’s observations, Rhyan remained silent on the matter. He didn’t want to embarrass himself further in front of the doctor. He was only just coming to terms with the loss of Sarah, and now Keisha was trying to set him up with another member of his department. He could appreciate the sentiment, but wasn’t sure he was emotionally – the irony – ready for another relationship. Right now his priorities were to the ship, Ambassador Sutherland and President Zal. Nothing more.

“Look, Rhyan,” Keisha said, softening her voice to put him more at ease, “I would like to think that after all we have been through we could consider each other friends. And for that reason I am going to be completely honest with you. Your emotions are laid bare for all to see, not just those of us with empathic abilities. You may look like a Vulcan, but we all know that you are something different. Something more. And that’s alright with us; and it should be alright with you too.”

“Doctor…”

“Rhyan,” she continued, once again preventing him from interrupting, “do you honestly think the captain would have promoted you if he didn’t think you had the character, skill and capability of being an effective executive officer?”

“I,” Rhyan started, trying to find an excuse to refute the doctor’s claims, but then realised it would be just that: an excuse. He knew that Captain Ashcart had a fondness for him, but the man had enough integrity than to promote Rhyan for more than sentimentality. Maybe the Vulcan was, as Keisha was not so subtly trying to point out, his own worst enemy. “Thank you, Keisha.”

“Your welcome, Rhyan,” she said, smiling. Keisha took the resolution of their conversation as an invitation to step away from the Vulcan and resume her duties. That didn’t stop her from talking as she picked up a medical tricorder and approached Daniel for an observation check. “And you really should take my advice with regards to Lieutenant Tigan. After all, you do make a good team together.” Keisha winked subtly in Rhyan’s direction.

Unsure how to take the conversation any further, Rhyan made his excuses and departed sickbay for his laboratory. Not before he thanked the doctor one last time and requested an immediate update should there be any change in Sutherland’s status. Their conversation had given him some food for thought, however. And, although not high on his list of priorities right now, perhaps he would consider pursing a social relationship with Lieutenant Tigan once their current duties were completed.

Perhaps.

OOC: Diane, I hope you don't mind me using Keisha for this post. She seemed like the right person to use for it.

 

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