Melvaran Mud Fleas

Posted on Mon Nov 6th, 2023 @ 12:10am by Civilian Mark X

506 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Sickbay, USS Pegasus

Doctor Duboun sighed as she looked at her desktop monitor. Ever since arriving aboard the Pegasus she had been involved in a very complicated study of the Melvaran mud flea and her colony was about to hatch a new generation. It should have been a time to celebrate and, instead, she was annoyed because fer research would have to go on without her. Starfleet Command had temporarily ordered her reassignment to Deep Space 12 and the experiment was unable to be transferred. So, two years worth of research was about to be lost in a spectacular fashion and there was absolutely nothing that she could do to stop it. If only she'd listened more to the Eighth Rule of Acquisition when she agreed to sign on to Starfleet this may have been avoided.

Sitting back in her chair, she stared at the research notes and pondered. She'd gone through chemical options, stasis theories, about a dozen other therapies she could apply to delay the hatching. None of them would work. This would set back her career two years and no one but her seemed to care. Sighing, she deactivated the monitor and rose from her chair. One of the orderlies coming in as she closed out.

"Ma'am," the young Pelian interrupted as he noticed the Ferengi's demeanor, "I'm sorry, Doctor, but are you alright?"

The Chief Medical Officer nodded, "Why wouldn't I be? I have an experiment I've been working on for two years that Starfleet's pulling the plug on by sending me to some starbase." She was a little louder than she meant to be, knowing she could be heard in the main ward. "So why shouldn't I be happy? And why are you here? Shouldn't you be tending to Ensign Mendon's respiratory issue?"

"Well, so you know, a group from that Starbase are here to see Sickbay," the orderly explained. "Thought you'd want to know."

Duboun sighed, "Frinx! Why didn't you start with that?'

The Pelian shrugged, "For some misbegotten reason I wanted to make sure that you were ok."

"Fine and dandy like sour candy," the Chief Medical Officer answered as she walked toward her office's exit. "Get back to work."

Entering the main ward of the Sickbay, Doctor Duboun looked around to find the collection of officers that she did not recognize. "Welcome to Sickbay," she greeted with mock enthusiasm, "What do you need?"

Lily turned her Turquoise eyes upon the Ferengi. "We are here for our physicals." She stated in her icy tone. "I am taking over as the Chief Science Officer."

Borrowing from her profit-seeking Ferengi ancestors, Doctor Duboun offered the customary hand gesture of her people. Normally used when greeting other Ferengi, she held her wrists together and gave a small, submissive bow. "Welcome to Sickbay. Normally I'd say my house is my house, but it belongs to you fine people now," the former Chief Medical Officer said as she flicked open her Tricorder.

She motioned toward the biobeds, "Take your pick for the one you'd like scanned on."

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