Covering the bases

Posted on Friday May 24th, 2019 @ 00:50 hours by Mercy & Taleria Lin MD

Mission: Pixie Dust
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD 05, 0800
1105 words - 2.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Heavy footfalls carried the ship's resident engineer to what counted as sickbay onboard the civilian freighter. It was small and rudimentary, especially compared to the sickbays Mercy had been used to before her - disagreement with Federation law, but it served its purpose. Mercy just hoped she wouldn't have to depend on these facilities for something serious. Still, a capable physician could work wonders with outdated and rudimentary equipment, and likewise a bumbling one wouldn't be able to heal a papercut with the most advanced equipment in known space. The engineer just hoped that the physician onboard Fawkes was of the more skilled variety.

A dark shadow cast over the entrance as the hulking Sirran ducked down to pass through the bulkhead. "Ah, excuse me, doc? Got a moment for me?" her warm, thick voice sounded.

Taleria poked her head from behind one of the wall storage units at the far side of her new and very small working space. No matter, though. Lin relished a challenge. At the sight of the giant vulpinod creature,the trill straightened up. "Hi, there? You must be one of the new crew? Well I'm also new, so I'll go first. Taleria Lin, the new resident sawbones."

"Ship's engineer. Name's Mercy." She extended a hand in greet, warm and covered in a soft fur, except for the pads on the inside of her hand. "Pleased to meet you, Taleria Lin." she smiled, flicking an ear. "A trill doctor? Onboard a civilian freighter like this? Must admit, hadn't expected that."

Lin grasped the semi furred hand and shook as firmly as she dared. "I'm number seven, things start getting weird after five usually." Taleria chuckled. "What can I do for you, Mercy?"

"Just figured I'd introduce myself. I find having at least a working knowledge of who the shakers and players are on a ship like this is always useful." she smiled, leaning against a bulkhead. "Oh! And to give you this." she offered a PADD. "It's just basic medical information on my people, so you have base line life signs to compare should I ever end up in here needing fixin' up. Not sure civilian freighters like Fawkes have Sirran in their medical database, these ships are older than first contact with my people and the Federation."

"Indeed," Taleria took the PADD. "I've read up on the Sirrans when the contact was made with your people," the trill admitted, "thanks though, it's definitely a good thing to have in our databanks. I'm still working on having everyone's baselines in the system."

"You remember and were active during our first contact?" Mercy flicked an ear, looking surprised. "That would make you at least - ... Oooh, you must be joined, referring to your symbiont's memories. I see." the large engineer offered a smile. "What's a joined trill doing on a small time ship like the Fawkes? I'd think with how precious Trill symbionts are and how you're held in high regards you'd be on a much more glamorous journey than hauling bulk freight across the back end of space. Must be a story there."

"That's the crux of it right there, Ms. Mercy. The story." Lin grinned, "the new and varied experience is what joined existence is all about. Like I said, I'm number seven. I've done various stints in Starfleet over the past century or so, been a Doctor, been a scientist, been an engineer even a musician. Now I'm being a civilian on an old Groumal doing contracts that show the other side of Federation life. Providing a link that expands the chain that is within Lin."

"You know, that's fair." Mercy smiled. "So, tell me a bit about yourself, Doctor Lin? How'd you end up on a civilian freighter to begin with?" she asked.

"Just Lin, or Taleria. I doubt people will not know I'm the Doctor eventually." Lin chuckled, "I'd resigned my comission sometime ago, then did some therapy and decided on a new path in life. Originally I was supposed to get off at Langley and interview for the Federation Health Organization, then the communal high happened and Droz offered me a job, so I decided to take the more exciting route. And you? A Sirran far from Sirrah, that's a better story in my book."

Ears wilted for a fleeting moment before she put up her guard again. "It's ... a complicated story with bad memories that I do not care to recount to someone I'd just met. I left my home, signed up for the Academy, had a career in Starfleet, then found myself in a penal colony, doing hard labor. Right now, I'm just trying to pick up what small pieces remain of my life and try to build a foundation for a new one."

Taleria nodded, "and yet you feel it's alright to question me on my story, despite just having met you. Interesting logic, Ms. Mercy, but as you will." The trill smiled. "So here we are, on a bajoran made ship, formerly in cardassian service names after one of Earth greatest miscreants."

"You are entirely welcome to ask about my past, just as you were entirely welcome not to answer me when I asked about yours, Taleria. If that's not fair logic than I don't know what is." Mercy folded her arms over each other, tilting her head a bit, looking at the other woman. "You chose to answer. I don't see how that points to a flaw in my logic?"

"Your answer spoke quite differently to what you're saying now." Lin's words were one of understanding, rather than contention. "Just about snapping my head off is not exactly welcoming."

"Seventeen years in a penal colony will make one exceptionally blunt. Me being several times your size and weight, and a predator species as well, might put you instinctively a bit on the defensive." Mercy chuckled. "I apologize, Taleria. I was merely being honest and direct. Nowhere near 'biting your head off'. Trust me, if I'm angry or upset with you, you'll know."

The trill nodded, still amused on how the furred woman was contradicting herself still. "In any case, good to meet you, Ms Mercy." Lin smiled.

"Just Mercy will do." The Sirran pushed off the bulkhead, rolling her shoulders a bit. She gave the Trill a nod and a smile, then turned to lumber out again.

Taleria nodded, "Taleria, or Lin, whichever you prefer." She offered as a peace offering.

The large engineer stopped to turn around, offering a smile. "Taleria then. Nice meeting you." She added before leaving.



Mercy
Engineer

&

Taleria Lin
Sawbones