The Doctor and Dalgliesh

Posted on 04/07/2020 @ 9:43pm by Lieutenant JG S'Lace
Edited on on 04/08/2020 @ 11:39am

Mission: S1E1: Out of the Barn
Timeline: Day 3 at 1100

NOT TOO LONG AGO...

S’Lace’s long strides carried her down the corridors of Deep Space Twelve as she made her way to the Crazy Horse’s airlock. Her duffel bag over her left shoulder, she carried the cat carrier in her right hand. Dalgliesh was being particularly excitable, but then he was not fond of restraints of any kind.

On that score, S’Lace noted with a touch of wryness, they were very much alike. She was still quite uncertain what to make of the feline; she had only been in possession of it a week and still had not made up her mind whether or not she was going to keep it. Dalgliesh seemed much too affectionate for S’Lace’s austere tastes. And yet, there was this curious, almost unsettling sense of satisfaction when S’Lace returned to her quarters and the cat greeted her with a near over abundance of affection.
S’Lace had done just fine on her own at Medical school, she had given good service on board the Boomslang, what crew had affectionately called the “Boom”. She had been an attentive doctor and worked tirelessly, and if her “bedside manner” was lacking her patients made complete recoveries. Her superior, Doctor Robiquet had noted that S’Lace needed a hobby that forced her to interact with people but she had politely but firmly disagreed. Then Robiquet had suggested S’Lace at least needed friends. Once more S’Lace did not see eye to eye with the Chief Medical Officer. Twelve hours after she departed the ship she found the emotional good-byes from her fellow doctors still very much upon her mind. None of them had been friends, yet their well wishes had been sincere. An hour later the cat had been delivered, a gift from her former crew.

She was still not certain if said gift had been given in sincerity or as a joke. Or both.

A chief stood at the airlock, phaser on his hip and looking quite competent. He noted S’Lace’s approach and said, “Good evening, Doctor.” At S’Lace’s arched eyebrow he held up a PADD, “I have a list of new arrivals; you are the only Vulcan on it. Nevertheless I do need to see your orders, sir.”

“Of course,” S’Lace replied as she set down both carrier and bag. She pulled the small PADD with her orders out of her jacket and handed it over. As the Chief looked it over he said, “Nice cat.”

“Thank you,” it seemed the appropriate thing to say. How he knew the cat was “nice” was beyond her.

Likely it was simply a human attempt at making ‘small talk’.

“Denevan Singapura?” he inquired as he examined the orders.

“…Yes,” S’Lace was nonplussed. She hesitated then asked, “How did you know, Chief?”

“The bold reddish coloring and small size. They’re also growing more popular on ships these past few years because they don’t take up much room. Security might ask you to get it chipped in case it goes wandering, sir; they are infamous door dashers.” he handed her orders back, “Nothing too unusual about the ‘Horse, Doctor. Interactive maps on the walls, Sickbay is on deck seven, your quarters are on deck three,” he smiled, “I assumed you already knew, but protocol demands I tell you so just in case.”

The chief was a most efficient person, S’Lace noted as she replaced her orders. As she picked up her bag and carrier he said, “Welcome aboard, Doctor. I hope you find your service here rewarding.”

“Thank you Chief,” as S’Lace made her way off the station and on board her new home she wondered if her other fellow crew mates would be as easy to deal with. Just then Dalgliesh charged the gate of his cage, seemingly eager to be out and to cause some form of mayhem.

Yes, S’Lace thought, the Chief’s suggestion was sound. The cat escaping to cause mischief seemed to go from potentiality to certainty the longer she was acquainted with it…

A Post by

Lieutenant JG S'Lace, M.D.
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse