The Quibbler Comes A'Callin'

Posted on Fri Aug 31st, 2018 @ 4:36pm by Lieutenant JG Siobahn Fallon

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/4
Location: Main Sickbay

Siobahn sat on a bio bed at the back of main sickbay, legs crossed in front of her, staring intently at the book open on her lap. A long twirl of raspberry licorice hung from one corner of her mouth as she twirled the other end idly with one hand.

Even though she technically wasn't on duty, the silence of her own quarters had been driving her crazy so she opted to relocate her study session to sickbay, at least here Eries was pottering around, or she had been until she got called out to do a quick house call, leaving Siobahn alone.

The sound of the doors parting made Siobahn look up, watching as a woman (presumably) with the most startlingly blonde hair walked in, paused and looked around.

"The nurse has just ducked out to run an errand, did you need help with somethin'?" Siobahn asked.

The woman in question just looked at her curiously while she chewed her lower lip, then put on a smile that brightened up the room, "Hi!" She bounced up to Siobahn, "Oh, I'm just here exploring again, I used to actually be an officer on this ship." She stuck a hand out, "Raine Dash, formerly executive officer on the Welly! And formerly a Commander and well, it's really a long, long, long story."

Siobahn laughed and brushed her hand against her clothing to make sure there was no licorice on it before taking Raine's hand in her own. "Siobahn Fallon, medical officer, but currently off duty. I'm just down here to get some study done, or at least that's what I keep tellin' myself! So what brings you back to the Wellington?" she asked curiously. "Sounds like it must be one hell of a story!"

"Well, after I got chucked in the looney bin for a couple years after an, ahem," Raine coughed hard, "Awkward, event, I got retired after a reduction in rank and went into civilian life, so I did what any self-respecting Betazoid would do in my situation: I became a reporter!" She patted the bag on her shoulder, "Federation News Service, one of the bare handful of reporters out here in the Delta Quadrant, but I picked this ship because Jason was my Captain, really like the guy."

Siobahn stifled a bit of a giggle at the bare bones explanation. "I'll take your word for it, I've not actually met him, but then again being a new ensign I'm pretty much invisible to anyone outside of this department. So news reporter huh? I guess I better be careful of what I say then..."

"Pfffffff!" Raine waved that last comment away, "Just because everything's on the record doesn't mean jack shit! I'm not going around trying to bugger everyone in the Fleet, I know what you all go through, been there, done that, hell, I was a nurse once upon a time!" She giggled infectiously, "And anyways, it's the people like you, the 'invisible' ones that know more about things than others! I'm sure you know a bunch of stories I've never heard!" Raine's eyes met Siobahn's brightly, and inside the younger woman's head, 'It's all right, she would loit is rather plain really but that is the closest approximation we have to an "original form," each cell of the parent colony can enter another lifeforms body and then accumulate and replicate within the host literally turning the host into part of its self, or we can literally alter the hosts biological and genetic structures from the inside out. hypothetically let's say you wanted to change an aspect of yourself we could release some of our cells into your body and rewrite your genetic code and then leave your body.ve to hear things! I can trust her with some stories.' All in Siobahn's own voice.

Siobahn shook her head quickly, trying to chase the thought away quickly, yet it lingered. She laughed quickly. "Oh, honestly, apart from a few strange injuries I've not seen all that much. I think everyone is still a bit shell shocked from all the carnage before, but I am just guessing there. It happened before I came onboard."

"Ohh, I heard about that... Part of the reason the Service sent me out to New Earth instead of trying to get me to finagle entering the Ts'usugi and Dalacari terroritory, but I wasn't able to get an interview with that Major who helped lead the whole shebang." Raine looked around sickbay interestedly, "So, what do YOU do around here? I mean, I know you're just a kid, but obviously you graduated the Academy and are a real doc, so it means you fit in here like a puzzle piece."

"A kid?" Siobahn raised one eyebrow quizzically. "Yes, I did graduate the academy and I am even a real doctor. In my spare time I'm remote studyin' to complete my post graduate, but other than that, I just tinker around here when I'm on duty and spend as much time with my girlfriend as I can when I'm not. But I am most definitely not a kid!"

Raine reached over and placed a hand on Siobahn's head, a couple inches shorter than she was, "You sure? You can't be more than eighteen, nineteen, right?" She ruffled Siobahn's hair.

Siobahn wasn't sure if she should be offended flattered. "Actually I'm 23," she replied with a shake of her head, biting back the first thought that popped into her head.

Raine's eyebrows raised, but she laughed, "No, they didn't, it was only a brief experiment anyways." She answered Siobahn's unspoken comment, "But I thought it was worth a shot. In the end, it was a drug issue, so I'm on the good stuff right now. In fact... I'm gonna need a doc to watch over my issuance of those meds, I know you're off-duty and all, but well, you're here, I'm here and if I don't ask?"

"Sure," Siobahn replied easily, closing her book and climbing off the biobed. "I assume all your medical records came through with your transfer orders?"

"Transfer orders?" Raine asked, then shook her head, "No, no no no no no no, I'm not in Starfleet anymore! I'm a civilian! Reporter, you see, get the real truth out to the people, not the bullshit that the Fleet liasons spew out or what the anchors in their broadcasting booths feed the populations. I'm rather quite the independant reporter, always love a good story, even if I can't tell other people." 'It's always fun to tell others a story' Came into Siobahn's head, again in her own voice.

"Hey, everyone loves a good story," Siobahn replied with a smile as she grabbed a PADD from the counter. "Okay, give me a moment and I'll see what we've got for you medical records wise and we can update anything we need to update while we're going." She thumbed through quickly until she pulled up Raine's medical records.

What came up included a history of her time in Starfleet as well, with all of the requisite medical exams and their results shown for each of her changes in status. Over a thirteen year Starfleet career after leaving the Academy, she'd apparently been a part of each and every department a starship could offer, save the Marines and fighter squadrons, but including medical, counseling all the way to engineering and security. Raine kept her eyes on Siobahn while she perused the record.

"Well, you definitely had an interesting Starfleet career didn't you?" Siobahn said with an easy laugh. "This all seems pretty straight forward, everything seems to be fairly recent," She handed the PADD to Raine to double check. "Is there anything under current medications or treatments that you can see is missing?"

"Iiiiiit looks right to me..." Raine scrolled up to see what had been written about her that she might not have seen, but shook her head before handing it back to Siobahn, "It doesn't list the treatments that didn't work, but since we know the one that did finally work, it's the only one that really needs to be right, wouldn't you agree?" 'Agree.'

"Oh, I completely agree," Siobahn replied easily. She paused for a moment, not entirely sure why she even said that. She didn't agree. The doctor in her knew it was important to keep accurate records even of failed treatments because one never knew what the future would hold for any patient. With a quick shake of her head, Siobahn brushed it off and chalked it up to residual fatigue and stress. "Okay, so with that sorted, what do you need from me today?"

"Well, I'm not here for anything medical, despite that I'm here in... Medical." Raine waved that off, "I'm here because I figured that people in the medical area get to see EVERYthing. Whether it's the result of some engineering accident, away team incident, stubbed toes, poked eyeballs, people here have one of the best views of the goings on of the ship! And I wanna hear things!"

"I think the most exciting thing I've seen since I've been here is a teddy bear who got attacked by a dragon," Siobahn replied with a laugh. "Other than that, the odd broken bone or black eye, but that's about it."

Raine's lower lip stuck out in a pout, "Are you sure? I mean, it's a biiiig ship and sooo many people, certainly theres some teeny weeny, itsy bitsy story you can tell me about what's happened on the ship?"

"Honestly, I'm possibly the least important person on the ship, for anything that comes in, I'm the last person who would know!" Siobahn shook her head slightly. "I get the left overs."

"Hmpf." Raine plunked herself down on a randomly place stool, "Is there anything at all? I mean, you did say there was a teddy bear that got attacked by a dragon, right?"

"Yes, Sir Henri belongs to a 7 year old girl, the head nurse's daughter. He got caught in the doors of the turbolift and got ripped in half... required rather extensive surgery to recover, but we got him through it." Siobahn smiled gently. "It was a quiet day, I had nothing else to do and she's a good kid... But... you know... an actual kid..."

"And to whom it truly was the end of the world!" Raine said cheerfully, "But you, the heroine of the Castle Wellington, saved the day!" She cleared her throat and settled down, "Sooooooooo... Nothing interesting at all?"

"No, really not. We celebrated with Milk and cookies, then her Momma came and took her home." Siobahn shrugged slightly as she cleared the PADD and set it aside. "Honestly, if you want to know what really goes on, you'd be much better off talking to Renee, or maybe even Hailey."

"Well, I've heard that this Renee lassie is a nutter who only cares about engineering and this horrid rumor that Hailey, it's Weston, right, is a barbarian who does what she wants and takes no guff from anyone." Raine shook her head, "I've never met either, but I'm guessing you know them both?" Raine's eyes lit up, "Wanna tell me about them?"

Siobahn paused for a moment, swallowing back the bitter distaste she felt at anyone referring to either Renee or Hailey in such an unflattering manner. “Renee is brilliant. She comes up with the most amazin’ inventions I have ever seen. She is a R&D specialist and she will take the entire universe by storm...” she replied defensively. “And Hailey is no Barbarian, she is just damn good at her job. She does what has to be done but she is definitely not the monster you think she is!” Swallowing hard, Siobahn turned away and made herself busy putting the PADD away. “If there’s nothing else you need from me, Ms Dash, I need to get back to my study now. I have a deadline to meet, I’m sure you know what that’s like,” she finished quietly, her voice sounding almost strangled.

Raine raised her hands in surrender, "All right, all right... I didn't say she was a barbarian, it's just a rumor that was going around, sheesh..." She sighed, "I'm a reporter, I hear lots of things from lots of people and I was just thinking you'd be able to tell me more about them since you know them... To set the stories straight." 'To tell the truth about them, they're misunderstood.' The thought went through Siobahn's head in her own voice again.

‘They’re misunderstood’

The sound of her own words rang clear in her mind until Siobahn shook her head vehemently. “Even if doctor/patient privilege doesn’t extend outside of this room, my respect and love for those I care about are sacrosanct,” Siobahn replies firmly. “Friendship is not something you throw away without thought, and neither is love...”. Siobahn’s mind turned momentarily to the most recent events before she shook her head again. “Sorry, like I said, I’m not a good source.”

"Who said anything about throwing away friendship?" Raine asked, confused, "I'm honestly just trying to learn more about them." 'Honestly.' "And since I've apparently been given bad information about them, I just want to make sure I have the facts right. But for love... Which one? Renee? She's rather pretty, that one!"

“She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?” Siobahn enthused suddenly. “And she has the most insane wardrobe of any woman I have ever met! But she bats entirely for the other team...” she finished with a quick smile. “Though every now and then I have my doubts!”

"So it's you and Hailey?" Raine's eyes lit up, "Oooo, do tell!" She glanced around, "Don't tell my editor this... But absolutely, completely off the record, I promise."

Siobahn smiled genially. “There isn’t much to tell. We met, we got involved, end of story.” Walking back to the back of sickbay, Siobahn picked up her textbook, closing it and holding it in front of her. “If you want to know what she's like, go meet her yourself. I don’t mean ambush her on duty, but really introduce yourself to her properly.”

Raine nodded somberly, "I think I'll do that..." She gave a sly smile, "Would you be willing to introduce me? It's not an absolute necessity, but.. I figure if I have a good introduction, she might be more amenable rather than someone coming up and telling her that their name is Raine Dash and that she's a reporter for the FNS?"

Siobahn hesitated momentarily. “Sure, I mean, I guess it wouldn’t hurt.” She smiled and shook her head quickly, trying to clear her mind. This whole encounter was really rather confusing.

"Hmm... When would a good time be for you?" Raine asked eagerly

"I really don't know, I'd have to find out what their schedules are like, they're both pretty busy, duties and all..." Siobahn replied hesitantly.

"I'll tell you what... Let them know who I am and see if they're willing?" Raine gave a bright smile, "Tell 'em I'm actually a nice gal, because I'm not out to ruin careers or find dirty little secrets, honestly! I'm here to tell the truth, no matter how good or bad it is. I've been in your guys's shoes, not literally, yours would be too small for me, I think."

Siobahn nodded slightly. "I'll ask, but no promises. I'll let you know what they say."

"Soooo I guess I should leave you alone for now? Since well, I don't think you need me underfoot, do you?"

"Honestly, it doesn't phase me either which way, given that I'm not technically working right now anyway, you're welcome to stay if you want, if not, well, your choice." Siobahn shrugged slightly.

== END ==

Ensign Siobahn Fallon
Medical Officer
USS Wellington

Raine Dash
FNS Reporter
USS Wellington