Workplace Confessions

Posted on Fri Feb 21st, 2025 @ 12:34pm by Lieutenant Evelyn Stewart & Lieutenant T'Mara & Lieutenant Tollan Yara
Edited on on Fri Feb 21st, 2025 @ 3:02pm

1,669 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Year One: Strange Bedfellows
Location: USS Moore - Sickbay
Timeline: MD 024: 1530 hrs

Tollan pressed the hypospray to a young engineer’s neck as the man grabbed at his stomach. “A word of advice, never eat something Char cooks, especially if he is trying out a new recipe. Got that, Ensign?” He asked with a sagely tone as the man groaned and nodded before making his way out the door.

Ensign Calloway was the latest victim of Char’s to come to Sickbay that day. By Yara’s count, it was his ninth patient with some sort of gastrointestinal issue related to whatever it was Char tried to pass off as food at lunch. He knew T’Mara had several patients as well but didn’t keep count. With a weary sigh, he turned to his superior officer as he replaced the hypospray. “With any luck, they start slowing down and Keishara finally arrests Char for poisoning the crew for the fiftieth time.” He commented to the Vulcan with a wry smile.

"The...fiftieth?" T'Mara inquired with an imperious brow raise. Why would Captain Stryvek allow such a menace to remain aboard if this was the case? So many questions. "It is unfortunate that this male wasn't removed after the first dozen or so incidences, then. This is not an efficient use of either of our time."

Tollan smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Compared to what, reviewing and reclassifying all the medical inventory?" He asked rhetorically about the tedium of their assignments. "I understand your meaning Doctor, but I think you'll find serving on a starship, there is not a lot to do most days. At least Char is keeping things interesting, if it is annoying for all parties."

It was utterly inexplicable. To keep someone onboard who knowingly and repeatedly sickened crew members did not compute. She had no desire to keep busy through the misfortunes of others, especially when it could be logically mitigated.

"I do not believe allowing our fellow shipmates to become ill due to negligence to be...interesting." T'Mara replied coolly.

Yara folded his arms in front of him as he considered what the young doctor said. She maybe the chief medical officer and older than him but he had the life experience of several Trills. "Trust me, Doctor, you'll find serving aboard a starship to be monotonous, even by Vulcan standards. Tummy-aches and rashes are about all we have to look forward to during our duties. I suppose we should be grateful for the holodeck then to shake things up," He said with a grin. "In all seriousness, Char means well and is trying to find a purpose beyond just serving officers drinks all day. It's best we leave it be so long nothing serious comes of it. It's hard enough being a civilian on a Starfleet vessel."

T'Mara's brows rose as she listened to what the Lieutenant said to her. The words were in her mouth to rebut what Yara had replied, but she also realized that she did not have a lot of ship experience, and if this was the modus operandi of serving aboard a starship then she had more things to learn. Regardless, she pledged to document the causation of such gastronomic upsets quite carefully.

"Char should take mandatory holodeck cooking lessons including food safety if this is going to be allowed to continue." It was a compromise.

Yara couldn't help a slight chuckle at the Vulcan's unintentionally humorous observation. With a sigh he considered and nodded. "That would be...logical, I suppose." He offered with a grin. He turned towards the door to Sickbay when he heard the door hiss open, seeing Stewart walk in with a purpose. "Stewart, I'm surprised to see you hear, " He offered before looking at her. "Don't tell me you ate what Char was serving today."

Stewart looked at him in confusion that nearly bordered on offense. "What? No, of course not. I'm here about my poker set. You are bringing it tonight, right?" she asked, not having retrieved it from the Trill from the last game hosted in the DMZ. Her eyes drifted towards the other person in the room before realizing it was T'Mara, naturally. She only gave the Vulcan a curt nod of acknowledgment as to not be rude as she waited impatiently, ignoring the female doctor as best she could. She was still uncomfortable with T'Mara ever since their away mission. The doctor's comments about her relationship with Stryvek still in her head regularly.

Yara nodded at the pilot's question, noticing her impatience and he sighed. "Yes, of course. I haven't forgotten, it's been safe and sound in my quarters. I know what that set means to you. With any luck the Syndicate won't be a hassle for us tonight....Maybe we should find another place to play?" He mused aloud, thinking about the nuisance that Syndicate has been throughout the ship.

Stewart shook her head. "Char said he's closing up the DMZ early tonight so we can have a chance to play in peace," she gave a small smirk shrug adding, "With the exception being for us of course. We can't take all of Koaruh's latinum without a few drinks in him to mess with his powers."

Yara gave a soft chuckle with a conspiratorially grin. "Like we really need it to clean him out." He joked about the young Betazoid's poor poker skills and penchant to gamble. "2000 hours, correct? I'll meet you all over there."

Stewart gave a brief grin. "Thanks, Tollan....Doctor." She said acknowledgment of T'Mara more curtly before heading out and making her way to the bridge.

Once Stewart left, Yara glanced over at T'Mara, taking in the exchange. He grabbed an instrument to fiddle with, seeming to keep himself occupied so he didn't embarrass the woman outright. "How are you getting on with Lieutenant Stewart?" He asked as casually as possible. Stewart made no secret of her hatred of Vulcans and her personal dislike of T'Mara, though he couldn't figure out why.

T'Mara looked to Yara with eyes that were filled with something before they shuttered and her expression smoothed into neutrality. "She has made her personal aversion towards me quite clear. I have no reason to engage with her, and if such a thing became necessary I would do my duty."

"A very Vulcan answer, cryptic as ever." Yara commented wryly before he sighed, still nodding in understanding as he repeatedly tapped the empty hypospray in his palm as he thought. "You know, Stewart doesn't speak for all of us. Her history with Vulcans is...complicated. That doesn't mean you shouldn't spend time with the rest of the crew. I know Vulcans like their solitude, but that doesn't mean you can't join us in the DMZ from time to time." He offered, noticing the woman hardly spent time in the lounge and wondered if that was completely by choice or was motivated by something else.

She ducked her head, not knowing what to do with the offer. "I do not believe that would be wise." She hedged. Vulcan or not, she did not have any 'desire' to have her presence rebuffed in a place that she could not 'escape' from.

Tollan folded his arms and looked at the woman. “Why?” He asked boldly. As far as Yara was concerned, he saw no reason the young doctor needed to isolate herself.

"Stewart appears to have significant influence on the ship." T'Mara began haltingly. She wasn't about to divulge anything she knew, but to her it was career suicide to do anything to anger the mercurial pilot given her...connections. "Our last exchange at the DMV did not go...well." And very little was done which meant it was condoned. She added silently.

"I would rather not cause any more acrimony amongst other members of the crew...besides, I have been busy as of late." T'Mara thought of her recent night on the Orion ship, and the temptation to return. She had to find contentment where and when she could. "The Orion ship has proven to be quite the fascinating diversion." Yes - steer the conversation to something different.

Tollan raised a bemused eyebrow at the doctor’s recent excursions. “I never would have taken you as one looking for such adventures.” he said with a wry smile before considering what she had said about Stewart.

With a sigh, Yara had to admit that while his friend, Stewart could be difficult at the best of times. He could see how the pilot could be intimidating to some. Putting the hypospray down he looked at T’Mara more seriously. “T’Mara, I can understand your reluctance when it comes to Stewart but avoiding the problem isn’t going to solve it either,” he said kindly. “Stewart talks a big game but I assure you she’s has very little influence. It’s her way of feeling in control and keeping herself safe, emotionally. She’s got a lot of rough edges but trust me, she’s a good person at heart. She just sometimes gets in her own way.” Tollan added, showing he understood far more than he let on.

With a sigh he looked at the Vulcan, worried his explanation was lost on such an unemotional person. “Listen, come to the poker game tonight. Everyone will be there and will have the opportunity to make up their own minds. And I’ll see to it that Stewart minds herself. If nothing else consider it a social experiment.” Yara offered with a small smirk he couldn’t help.

A social experiment. Only the variable was a person...her. Deep down a sour feeling took hold, one that had been a constant companion since...No. The past was done; it served no purpose to continue picking it up. It was an ongoing battle that she was forever losing. Better to get this over with so she could return to her current strategy of remaining aloof.

"If you wish." She replied neutrally.

 

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