212: As a Jaybird

By Terasha, Warren Dalca, and Zander Blakeslee
80313.0530
Between Fragrances in the Wind and Conduits

-=Sickbay, USS Serendipity=-


Terasha was reading the Deltan medical database, when something struck her like a lightening bolt blasting through the ship. Why hadn’t she thought of that before? She tapped her comm badge.

“Dr. Terasha to Lieutenant Blakeslee. Please report to Sickbay as soon as possible.”

Terasha got up and headed toward Dalca, taking deep breaths and focusing her mind on her duties.

The blue light of the decontamination chamber bathed the sleek, muscular form of Warren Dalca, security officer and inpatient. Warren practiced his martial arts katas for a while, but he felt just a little like an animal in a cage. Body moving in one seamless flow, like water, Warren moved in a slow, methodical dance, full circle. He stopped, sighed, and stood to face Doctor Terasha, while she adjusted the settings. “Okay, so shirtless? I feel like I’m running a peep show.”

Concentrating fully on the readings, Terasha commented without looking at Dalca’s rippling, muscular, wonderful, masculine.... She shook her head to focus.

“You’re wearing pants.”

“I would hardly call these things pants.” Dalca looked down at the briefs which hugged him a little too tightly. Still sweating, he could feel some changes affecting him as the doctor continued to adjust the radiation levels, in an attempt to completely flush out the prior treatments he’d received.

Warren walked up to the transparent aluminum barrier. “I’m hungry.”

“That’s a good sign,” said Terasha, keeping her eyes on the readouts.

Silence.

“How much longer?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, I’m just a little bored. How much attention does what you’re doing require?”

*More than you realize, Mr. Dalca.*

“I need to monitor and adjust,” said Terasha. “This is a critical time in your treatment. This is experimental, so it still may not work.”

Dalca sat against the frame, just deep enough for him to hold his balance, and folded his hands on his knees. “Excellent. An opportunity to get to know each other better.”

“I’m sure Kathy has already spread rumors all over the ship.”

Dalca laughed at that. “I don’t put much stock in rumors,” he shrugged, “unless they’re true.”

He studied how she reacted to him, wondering how much of her focused actions were because of the work she was doing, and how many were because of him. It was because of doubts like this that he’d ever taken the treatments to begin with. “You know, I don’t know what people say about me and I really don’t care, honestly.” He tapped the glass to get her to look up at him. “Conversation. I was looking for conversation, Doctor.”

Terasha sighed lightly and looked at Dalca. “I understand, Mr. Dalca. However, if you want out of there, I must finish the work.”

“You can call me Warren, if you’d like.”

Terasha tapped the console, making a few adjustments. “What would you like to discuss, Warren?” She kept her eyes on the readings.

“I don’t know. Hobbies, interests, fun little stories that make people laugh.” He sighed, shaking his head at her. “That sort of thing.” Warren stood back up, pacing casually from one side of the observation window to the other. “What do you do for fun?”

Terasha didn’t answer right away. All her life, she had been groomed to serve, being chosen for the Andorian Imperial Guard as a girl. Everything in her life had been based on being there for her people, to be professional and dedicated to her duties. There wasn’t usually time for fun. To serve is life.

“I never had fun, Mr. Dal-, Warren. There wasn’t time.”

He stopped and looked at her sideways. No move of hers was wasted. The precision of the Doctor’s work, and the look in her eyes... neither had been dulled by time. He could admire that, to an extent. He also felt a need to at least attempt to bring her around to his way of thinking. ‘Typical human hubris’, were the words that went through his mind. The chief complaint of others who thought humanity was trying to whittle down the cultural integrity of galactic sentients everywhere.

He considered playing it cautious, but if Warren really wanted to win her over to his way of thinking, he would have to tread boldly, not carefully. “Everyone needs fun, Doctor. It’s... essential to life.”

Terasha glanced at Dalca, a tiny sliver of amusement on her face that was gone in a flash. “Tell that to the Vulcans.”

Warren laughed, and it felt too loud in the confined room, where the sound carried right back to his ears. “Tried that once or twice. And you’d be surprised, actually. Vulcans find their fun. It’s just different for them. Like it’s probably different for you.” He leaned forward on the glass. He grinned widely. “Tell me. Or don’t. But I can go on quite a bit longer...”

“You may go on as long as you wish. We’re still going to be here for a while. I’m still confident this will succeed.”

His hand rubbed the back of his neck, and he wrinkled his nose for a moment, thinking. “That’s good news.” Warren decided a moment of silence wouldn’t be too bad, either, and simply watched her work. After a long moment, he turned and walked back to the middle of the room, and sat cross-legged on the floor.


-=Transporter room 2=-



Zander had just stepped off of the pad when the call came on the badge. [Dr. Terasha to Lieutenant Blakeslee. Please report to sickbay as soon as possible.] He looked at the transporter chief who simply shrugged his shoulders.

*I hope there is nothing wrong with the kids, or Sam.*

Without hesitation he made haste to sickbay.


-=Sickbay=-



Kathy entered Sickbay and saw Doc Terasha and Warren Dalca working together again, though Dalca was in an isolation chamber. Frowning, she wondered why Doc had left her out of whatever it was they were doing. Kathy had been with Doc Terasha since she graduated from the nursing program at Starfleet Medical and had come over with her for The Alchemy Project. Not wanting to be told again to go have some coffee, a drink Doc knew Kathy hated, she approached them.

“Hey, Doc. Need some help with your captive audience?” A broad smile beamed on Kathy’s face.

Terasha glared at the nurse. She didn’t want Kathy to be affected by Warren Dalca’s situation. Kathy was Miss Party Hearty and would have been putty in Dalca’s hands in his current condition. Then again, the more she thought about it, Terasha wasn’t sure if it would have been the other way around. For some reason, perhaps it was the amount of concentration she had to do to not be affected by Dalca, or because of the stress and frustration over not finding a remedy yet, Terasha did something she had never done while treating a patient.

Terasha laughed!

The laugh started out as a nice, cheerful laugh, but it quickly blossomed into a deep, hearty laugh, that brought tears to her eyes.

Kathy stared, her eyes wide in amazement. She had never seen Doc laugh like this in the five years they had been together.

Dalca craned his neck to look behind at them, eyes wide with quiet surprise. He stood up and walked over to the window again, smiling and nodding approvingly at Terasha. He waved at Kathy. “How’s the weather out there?”

While Terasha was still giggling uncontrollably, her antennae bouncing like two balls attached to string someone was twirling in the air, Kathy motioned toward her with her thumb. “Whatever it is you’ve done to her, keep it up.”



-=Outside=-



Zander strode through the doors to Sickbay, his eyes scanning for any member of his family. Seeing none in the room, he turned his attention to finding the CMO.

It was then that he felt it. A strong Deltan presence. His limited empathic skills were almost overwhelmed by it.

“Wow.” He paused a second to get acclimated to the change in atmosphere.

He followed the wave which acted like a beacon to find the doctor, head nurse, and a Deltan male that he did not know.

He smiled. “A male. I knew it.”

He turned to the good doctor. “What’s up, Doc?”

Terasha realized everyone was looking at her, including Blakeslee, who had just arrived, and that she was laughing. Noticing Kathy’s look of amazement, Terasha quickly composed herself. Clearing her throat, she turned to face Blakeslee.

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Blakeslee. Kathy, take a coffee break.”

Kathy’s jaw dropped and she let out a gasp of surprise. Staring in absolute disbelief, she stood almost paralyzed, not knowing what to do or say. Finally, a hurt expression covered her face and she spun on her heels and stormed off, muttering something about Andorian doctors and their family lineages.

“Mr. Dalca, Mr. Blakeslee is married to a Deltan woman, so I’d like him to help with your situation, which is taking longer to correct than I’d hoped. Is that all right with you?”

“I make it a point never to argue with my physician,” Warren stated, and faced Zander. “Commander,” he greeted with a curt nod. “I’m finding myself in quite the bind.”

Zander, who was still a little confused, simply nodded. “Well if I can help in any way, I’m more then happy to.” He stepped closer to the containment field. “You’re putting out an awful lot of emotional feedback.” He glanced at the doctor. “By the doctor’s,” He struggled to find the right word. “response to your presence, I would say you’re pumping out the pheromones also. What happened?”

“My treatments have failed.” Warren folded his arms, reeling his own emotions in and trying to steady his heart rate. I am water. He explained to Blakeslee, then, carefully, how he’d had genetic therapy treatment to contain his Deltan physiology, and how it had failed recently, he assumed because of the radiation the Alchemy experienced. But that possibility was still being tested by Doctor Terasha and her staff, and the results had not come back yet.

“I’d sooner not have to deal with this,” Warren finished, solemn. “I want nothing to do with my Deltan heritage... no offense to you or your wife, sir.”

Zander smiled. “None taken to be sure.” He thought for a moment. “You’re only half Deltan.” He scratched his chin. “I hope you don’t mind me asking a few questions.” He waited for Warren to nod.

“First, have you ever been to Delta IV? And second, was it your mother or father that was Deltan?” He asked plainly.

“Never. And it was my father.” Dalca’s response was cold and matter-of-fact.

“Mr. Blakeslee, is there anything you know that could help?” asked Terasha. “I originally thought simply detoxifying Mr. Dalca of the radiation, would stop the problem, but that hasn’t happened. His body is free of the radiation, but his imbalance is still there. I’ve been doing an experimental treatment, but that hasn’t succeeded. I’m at a loss over what to do next.”

Zander thought for a moment. “Well, if the radiation is purged, I am not sure what is causing the issue here.” Suddenly his eyes widened. “Hey, wait a sec. Doc, you don’t think my wife and kids are effected by this do you?”

Terasha thought for a moment. “Have they shown any symptoms? The problem was initially triggered by exposure to the radiation from 626.”

Zander shrugged. “I don’t know. I just got back from the Gauntlet. But I’ve talked to her several times and she never mentioned anything, of course our quarters are closer to the interior of the ship. Maybe the radiation didn’t reach that far.”

He turned back to Warren. “As far as your problem, outside of continued treatment that the doctor is giving I would suggest that you take a trip to the Deltan home world. The mystics there might be able to help you with your control issues.”

He shrugged again. “I’m not even human but when Sam and I decided to get married they helped me to deal with all of the raging pheromones on the home world.” He grinned. “After all she does have four sisters. If you catch my drift.”

The security officer smiled politely. “I’m not sure Delta IV is a good idea.” Blakeslee could feel Warren’s reticence, his revulsion at the idea, and knew there was clearly more than a physiological problem at play here. “Let’s just... start small. I’m anxious to get back to work.”

Terasha could tell that Dalca didn’t like Blakeslee’s suggestion, though it was an excellent one. If anyone could help, it would be the Deltans themselves.

“Mr. Blakeslee,” said Terasha, “I need to speak with Mr. Dalca. Would you excuse us, please? I thank you for your help, and please let me know if your family is showing any symptoms.”

After Blakeslee had left, Terasha directly faced Dalca for the first time since she had begun this treatment.

“Warren, I can give you injections that will temporarily alleviate your situation. I emphasize temporary. Over time, the drugs will have less affect, and you could become addicted. I believe going to Delta IV is your best option. In any case, I’ll need to send a medical report to the captain, informing her that you may not be fit for duty. I won’t tell her the specifics, but she’ll need to know you won’t be at 100%.”

Terasha hoped this news would cause Dalca to decide to go to Delta IV.

Warren nodded thoughtfully, seeming to take it under consideration, but reaching his conclusion very quickly. “Alright. Thank you, Doctor. We’ll see how things go in the coming weeks.”

Lt. Doctor Terasha
Chief Medical Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

Lt. Zander Blakeslee
Chief Tactical Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

And

Ensign Warren Dalca
Security Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012