Af-Kelt

Posted on Sat Jul 12th, 2025 @ 2:36am by Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Crewman Tiazal Jiru & Kiala Targaryen & Vezkun Targaryen & Zaklim Targaryen & Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD

4,214 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Gaia - Short Treks
Location: Sickbay, U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-06-13, 20:00

Commodore Wilkan Targaryen smiled broadly as his children came running into the Turbolift car, followed closely by his mother, who was also visiting the Enterprise. A Starfleet brat, Wilkan had grown up in Starfleet and bounced between the care of both his mother and father during his formative years. It was his sincerest hope that his sons followed his way into the family business, but he really didn't know if they would. As much as he loved them, they didn't seem as interested in Starfleet service as he had been. To be honest though their mother may have influenced that with their living on Starbase 419. While the Enterprise was always on the move, a starbase stood still. That could put a bad taste in anyone's mouth.

"Well, I'm out of the quarters! Happy?" Vezkun asked.

"Vezkun," Wilkan's mother interrupted before the Enterprise's Captain could say so much as a single syllable, "is this how we act?"

The young boy looked up, "No, I suppose not."

"Then why are you acting that way now?" Kiala asked sternly.

Vezkun looked between the two adults before centering on his father, "I'm sorry for how I acted. It wasn't nice."

Wilkan was about to talk with his son when his mother interrupted again, "That didn't answer my question."

"I don't know," Vezkun replied. "Can't we just get on with it?"

"Yes," Wilkan snipped as he motioned for his family to board the turbolift. "We need to head down to Sickbay to see Doctor Kholin." Once they were all aboard, "Primary Sickbay Complex."

"Confirmed," the turbolift announced and began its descent.

Retired Admiral Kiala Targaryen was never one for silence and spoke next, "I still don't understand why you wouldn't just authorize privileges for me aboard the Enterprise. I've been a doctor longer than most people on this ship have been alive."

"When you came aboard you did so to keep an eye on your grandchildren. Them running around Sickbay while you treat patients isn't really watching them," the Commodore pointed out.

"When they're with me they tend to behave," Kiala countered.

The Enterprise's Captain shrugged, "They normally behave for me too."

"Is that what you call Vezkun's sassiness?" Kiala questioned.

"I call that his mother's influence," Wilkan countered.

Zaklim pulled on his father's sleeve, "I still want to go to the Arboretum."

Wilkan looked at his youngest, "Tomorrow. It's late now and Petty Officer Mrabet has to wrap up for the next duty shift."

"You could always take me," Zaklim pointed out. "You are the Captain after all. Can't you go wherever you want on the ship?"

Vezkun cried, "I don't want to go to the Arboretum. I want to go back home."

"Is this their mother too?" Kiala taunted her son as the Turbolift slid to a stop and the doors opened.

"Let's all just try to make this as easy as possible. Doctor Kholin's only been aboard a few weeks and I'd prefer not to lose a good Chief Medical Officer because my family scared her off," Wilkan explained as they approached the entry to Sickbay.

Vezkun asked, "If I'm good can that get me out of going to the Arboretum this whole trip?"

"I want to go to the Arboretum," Zaklim yelled.

Standing just inside the Primary Sickbay Compound, Wilkan Targaryen wondered if every eye in the complex was on him and his family. Pointing to a group of chairs in the lobby area, Wilkan walked up to the triage desk and found Nurse Tiazal Jiru sitting at the computer terminal. Wilkan smiled at the young Crewman as she realized he was there.

"Commodore," the Trill nurse welcomed.

"Hello, Tiazal," Wilkan greeted. "Is Doctor Kholin available?" He knew the answer, having called ahead. It may've been right before the night watch, but the Captain of the ship calling often had some pull.

The nurse nodded, "She's been expecting you." Glancing up, "Since you have the whole family with you, I've made arrangements for Doctor Kholin to see you all in the ICU."

"Really, Crewman, it's no trouble to meet in the Clinic or the Emergency Compartments," Wilkan explained. "We don't want to put anyone out."

"It's no trouble, Sir. We don't have any patients requiring enhanced care right now and there's enough beds for each of you." She pressed a control and one of the other nurses came into the lobby, "If you'll follow Chief Lylmin we'll get you all checked out."

Motioning toward his family, Wilkan walked toward the tall Kelpien nurse and followed him into the ICU, hoping that this would go quickly with how his family was already acting.

As they walked deeper into Sickbay, Kiala whispered to her son, "Still could just let me get this over with so we don't bother your new Chief Medical Officer. Besides, are you sure she knows anything about the Af-Kelt?"

"Shes a Starfleet Officer who knows her Captain is part El-Aurian. I'm pretty sure she'd know to look into it," Wilkan answered as they turned down the corridor that led to the ICU.

"My grandbabies are counting on her," Kiala reminded.

Wilkan rolled his eyes as they entered the ICU and noticed that it was empty, save for Doctor Kholin and the Kelpien nurse, "So is everyone else aboard this ship. She's going to do great."

"If you say so," Kiala protested. Looking at the kids, "Let's get you guys up on a biobed."

"Am I going to get a shot?" Zaklim questioned with obvious fear in his voice.

Kiala answered, "That's not up to me.

"I don't want a shot!" Zaklim screamed.

Wilkan tried to ignore the outburst behind him, "Hello, Doctor. We're here for a checkup prior to our mission. Thank you for agreeing to see us."

Rio nodded respectfully towards the CO as was proper and smiling, reassured him. "It's my pleasure Commodore. I'm very glad to be meeting your lovely family Sir." Leading them all towards the semi-circular group of biobeds. "Does anyone want the middle bed?" she asked out of the blue, instantly getting the attention of the children and diverting them from their prior distractions. "I have to tell you - with full disclosure - that the one at the left of the centre is the one that Captain Bluebeard, the Pirate was on when he was on this ship on one occasion that I could tell you about." she only paused very briefly, continuing quickly so as not to lose their attention.

"The other one, to the right of the centre one was used by the Ambassador of Krypton after he had tried to travel to Earth to attack a man called Clark Kent." Her face was very serious and convincing and the Commodore's two children were looking right at her, wondering whether she was serious and if what she was saying was credible or funny or scary. They didn't seem to have decided which yet when Dr Kholin looked across to the Commodore and Kiala nodding as if to gain their agreement, but actually to check - without asking aloud and giving herself away - if this ruse was acceptable to divert the children.

"Wow!" Zaklim exclaimed in response to the stories.

Wilkan smiled, happy that his youngest twin seemed to be accepting of the stories. His youngest never seemed to like doctors, but his older child was attracted to them. It probably was because Vezkun had been the sicker of the two, following a rather complicated delivery. The Commodore was about to confirm the story when Vezkun interrupted.

Vezkun wasn't as convinced, "Doctor Carrillo on the Starbase tells better stories."

"Vezkun Dazad Targaryen," Kiala interrupted, "This is not how we act!"

"But he does!" Vezkun reiterated. "I just prefer my doctor, back on my starbase, with my mother!" The oldest twin slid off of the biobed and went running for the door. He didn't get very far though. Galatea, artificial intelligence for the Enterprise, had been set to monitor the twins. She locked the door to the ICU, preventing him from escaping.

Zaklim mumbled, "Drama King."

The older brother overheard, "I am not!"

"Boys," Wilkan interjected, trying to get a handle on the situation before his mother started once more. "We need to get checked by Doctor Kholin because of the mission the Enterprise is going on, so please try to relax and let the Doctor do her work because you don't want to get sick, do you?"

"No," Zaklim said from his spot on Bluebeard's biobed.

Vezkun still wasn't convinced, "I want to go home!" He hit the door.

"Vezkun!" Kiala yelled.

Rio passed a glance to the Commodore, sensing the stress this escalation was causing and she tried another tack. Producing a giant fluffy white bird-like toy from a cupboard, she approached Zaklim and handed it to him with some ceremony. "I used to be called a Drama Queen" she commented conspiratorially but loud enough for Vezkun to hear. Then, returning her voice to normal she added. "It's a shame your brother doesn't like my hospital because it's got some COOL gadgets, that I was going to show you all but that's okay, I understand. I've not been here before this week either and I liked my old hospital and didn't want to change over either. I know it can be scary to have to do things differently to the way we're used to." She smiled at both boys in turn. "Blackbeard left this guy here when he left. He didn't have a parrot like most pirates, he had an albatross!" she pretended to stroke the white bird which she secretly thought had originally meant to have been a swan but it was all she had.

"I think if I were him.... Alby..." she indicated the white fluffy toy. "I'd be sad that my owner had left me behind. What do you think Zaklim?"

The young El-Aurian looked at the Doctor and the toy, "I wouldn't be too keen on it if I were him."

As she was listening to Zaklim's response, Rio unlocked a display panel on the shelf above the door that Vezkun had ceased trying to open by now. Taking out a small metal gadget that looked ancient and clunky and she checked that a battery of the old-fashioned type from Centuries ago, was inside it. As it was all complete, Rio turned back to the Biobeds and took the ancient piece of equipment over to the one she had alleged to have been occupied by the Krypton visitor. "This was left here by Clark Kent, after he escaped from the clutches of his enemy. It's an ancient type of voice recorder - he was a journalist you see.... " Turning the item over in her hand Rio made a big deal of pressing the buttons to make it whir and click before emitting a crackly audio recording.

It did seem to Rio that she might be provoking a slight interest from Vezkun but without looking directly at him or giving away that this was all to get his attention, she just put the 'recorder' onto the biobed and turned to the Commodore's mother looking as if she was moving on and would start up a different conversation with her.

Vezkun walked over to the biobed and looked at the ancient device, somewhat transfixed by it.

"You know she's not bad at getting their attention," Kiala whispered to her son. "Wonder how she'll do at actually treating them?" The elder El-Aurian looked at Doctor Kholin, "We need to be getting back to our quarters to call their mother. Can you begin preparations to treat for the Af-Kelt?"

Rio took up her medcorder and looked at it. "Would it be okay, young gentlemen, if I were to scan you both to see how well you're doing?" she asked as the two boys were each looking at their diversions.

The kids didn't protest, but their grandmother looked at their father, "Did she just ignore my question?"

"No," Wilkan answered, not entirely sure, "But let's let her do her job."

Starting the biobeds off with their routine scans and getting them quickly underway before the boys got bored again or decided to object again, Rio's fingers flashed over the LCARS as quickly as she could. With them running simultaneously, she was free to turn back to the Commodore and his mother. "I wonder if I might ask you both to take up a biobed on either side and I'll set yours off as well. I'm hoping to get this all working as simultaneously as possible to give the quickest resolution for you all. I'll do my best to get you all back in time for your call." she explained.

"Af-Kelt" she went on, speaking directly to the two Adult El-Aurians whilst the children continued to discuss their distractions with one another, "is a time-sickness that is brought on, as I understand it, by the effects of time distortion on El-Aurians. I will give you all hypospray doses of something that has been developed that acts like a form of anti-nausea, to simplify it. It actually.... "She approached the biobed that the Commadore was on and set it up with the same deft dexterity of her fingers over the LCARS display. "... contains several remedies, some medicinal and some herbal but the combination has been tried and tested and was released for general use once proven to be safe and effective."

Moving to the biobed that Kiala had laid down on, Rio started again with her programming and continued her sales pitch. "I understand there has been years of research and a lot of time-travelling done to ensure the end product does all it claims and does no harm to the patients themselves."

Stepping back as the basic scans took place, the CMO then returned to the boys. "I'm just going to check your results boys, and if everything is alright, if you're well and healthy and strong enough to go on this VERY special mission, alongside the really exciting crew we have on board, then I will be able to arm you with your own secret weapons!" checking the results as they scrolled across her consoles it was clear that the boys were both perfectly well and had no reasons showing in their scan results that might put up any red flags against this treatment.

"OH Well done you two! Excellent results. You're both in perfect health and fitness so you are eligible for the upgrades" she winked at them and grinned. "I have a hypospray to give you the imaginary 'golden soldiers' you need but first, I'm going to put it to my own neck to show you that it doesn't hurt and that nothing scary happens to me. Will that be okay? Will it be alright if I do that and then you could have them too?" she asked.

"If they agree, I could do your grandmother and your father first - if they're well enough and strong enough and pass their tests too?" she went on, turning to the Commodore and his mother to seek approval?

"Please proceed, Doctor," Kiala Targaryen answered, interrupting her own son before he could give the go ahead, but Wilkan nodded his approval.

"Thank you Sir, Ma'am" Rio replied and revealed five pre-prepared hyposprays on a tray close by, covered by a cloth.

"I'll go," Wilkan answered, very pleased with his new Chief Medical Officer so far. While she had only been aboard for a short while, their encounters so far had given him no pause or cause for concern. That was welcome after the challenges they'd experienced with their previous CMO, who had only recently been reassigned to serve with her husband.

"This one is for an Adult El-Aurian Sir" Rio announced, hoping the boys were still taking this all in. She applied the spray to the Commodore's neck gently and it hissed quietly not giving any cause for alarm. It was quick, painless and easy.

Next Rio picked up another and went through the same routine with Kiala Targaryen and thanked both the two adults for their cooperation and assistance.

Zaklim kept playing with Alby, "I'm ready."

"Oh Zaklim, that is very brave of you - I'm so proud of you!" she encouraged and took one of the slightly smaller hyposprays, placing it with the gentlest possible pressure on his neck - it hissed quietly, exactly the same as those of his father and grandmother had done. "You know, I'm certain that Alby is as impressed as I am, I think he wants to stay with you so you can take care of him and show him how to be brave too!" She offered with a big smile.

The younger El-Aurian hybrid smiled as he hugged the toy, "Thank you."

"How about you Vezkun?" Rio asked gently.

"If it gets us out of here," Vezkun protested, to the consternation of his grandmother.

"It will!" Rio confirmed cheerfully. taking up the second small hypo and applying it gently, just as she had with his family. It hissed quietly just as the others had and she withdrew it and placed it back on the tray, empty.

"Wow. What a brave family you all are!" Rio exclaimed, speaking to the boys obviously. "Vezkun, would you like to keep my historical artifact as a reward? I'd need you to take care of it and keep it regularly cleaned and greased and so on, but if you l like it, I'm sure it will fare better with you than it would up on my dusty old shelf. Do you have any inkling that you might like to be in medicine in the future?"

The alien child shrugged, "Haven't given much thought to it yet. I figure I have a lot of time to decide," he looked aside to his father and grandmother. "Can we go yet? I'm getting tired."

"What do you think, Doctor?" Commodore Targaryen asked from off to the side. "What's our prognosis look like?"

"Well Sir, I'd say very good indeed!" Rio answered.

The Captain of the Enterprise was gratified to hear that. He looked at his mother, "I need to follow up with Doctor Kholin on another matter. Could you take the kids back to my Quarters please?"

"Ah so you want me to have them go to your Ready Room?" His mother teased.

"Not this time," he glanced at the Chief Medical Officer as he said it. "Kids, go with Grandma."

Vezkun was already starting for the door, but Zaklim hesitated, "I want to stay with you."

"It's fine, pal, I'll just be a few minutes," Targaryen reassured. "I won't be long," he directed to his mother.

The older El-Aurian nodded, "Very well, children, come along." You didn't have to be El-Aurian to know that she wanted to argue the point that he needed to go with them, but she chose not to engage and accept the delay.

Watching as the children stepped away, Zaklim turned inward and waved goodbye as the door slid shut behind him. Letting out a long breath, the Commodore continued, "While I'm hoping to learn more tomorrow in the Director's briefing, with having a Director of Temporal Investigations aboard I'm sure that we're running the risk of temporal incursion. You're going to need to prepare for possible temporal illnesses and have contingencies in place."

"Understood Sir" Rio affirmed. "The medications and vaccines you have all had today should offer your family a lot of protection against Af kelt symptoms or effects and I'll be watching very carefully for any reactions from all the rest of the crew as well. Although not strictly Af kelt specifically but any other kinds of time-shifting effects that other races or hybrids might display or describe."

"As much as I'd love for other El-Aurians to be aboard the Enterprise, I'm afraid there aren't many of us left. I'm not even a full El-Aurian, as you could probably tell, nor are my children. I'd be surprised if there were many full El-Aurians left," the Commodore explained. "How have you been finding the Enterprise? You've been aboard for a few months now and I hadn't really gotten a chance to check in with you in all that time."

Rio smiled widely. "Oh, she's a real beauty Sir. I had dreamed and imagined her, as I guess we all do until we've actually met her, but the Enterprise is a real pedigree lady! I've been gradually meeting a lot of the crew - especially those who came on board at the same time as I did, for their routine medicals and up to now, the every-day bumps and scrapes have been few and far between, allowing me plenty of time to do a full inventory of my supplies, a full brush up on this beautiful Sickbay and her state-of-the-art equipment. I've honestly been having the time of my life Commodore. I keep wondering what the catch is but I'm in no hurry to find out." she laughed at her own joke. Never a good thing. Clearly, she was still a little bit nervous around her "new" CO but hopefully that would wear off?

Wilkan snickered a little bit at the rapid response that he'd gotten from the new Chief Medical Officer, silently hoping that she'd take it that he'd played in to her corny joke. She had shared a lot in a short amount of time, really the Commodore had wondered if she'd taken a single breath during the entire exchange. He pondered the answer though, wondering if there was more behind the scenes of what she'd been saying that perhaps she didn't even realize.

"No catch to this ship, Doctor," Targaryen finally answered instead of over analyzing the conversation any further. "It would seem that you've been keeping busy since you've come aboard at least. I was curious because this seems like it's been our first real conversation. I'm used to people beating down my door."

"I hope I haven't been negligent in keeping you updated Sir - in future I'll report in more often" Rio wondered if she'd been neglectful of her duties towards the CO.

"I haven't been harassing you about your overdue medical sir, I felt that probably wasn't the best way to get to know a new Commanding Officer but now that you've had a thorough check over alongside your Af-Kelt vaccines, so that should have covered it of its own volition." The CMO smiled a little hesitantly, unsure how to take the CO's comment that she'd not been to see him enough.

She knew he was right. Just getting on quietly wasn't as helpful as it had seemed when she had been tucked in and 'housekeeping'. She would keep that promise to update him more. Her next challenge was how to let him know she was resolute about it, without repeating herself? His time was in great demand.....Hmmm.

"Sir....." she was thinking in overdrive. "Do you ever stop for coffee-breaks?" she began but no. "No, that's not the great idea I first thought.... you will need your break times. It wouldn't do to hijack one of those every week..... not for work......I'll need to think of a better idea......."

"Actually, Doctor, I rarely get a break aboard this ship," he answered honestly. "With my position as Captain of the Enterprise and within the Gamma Quadrant hierarchy I'm constantly being sought after or questioned. Probably the only person busier is the Admiral, and he's not aboard the Enterprise at least," it didn't take much to hear the annoyance he had for the Admiral come across.

He paused a moment, "A weekly meeting with the ship's doctor could justify me having that 'coffee break' you suggest."

"Then I think I should prescribe it as a medical necessity, Do you agree Sir?" her smile returned and she held out her hand to see if she had a deal.

Targaryen nodded, "Sounds like a plan. Hate to do this, but I think my kids have probably transported my mother to a stasis chamber by now. If you'll excuse me?"

Rio chuckled without thinking that perhaps she shouldn't but it was a natural and honest reaction. "They're lovely boys Sir, they have so much promise, both of them. I'm already impressed by each of them and I have barely met them. I would like to think your mother may have the better of them but I won't keep you any longer, just in case!" She smiled.

Walking with her 'new' CO towards the main doors, Rio stood there as he left. "Thank you for your time, Commodore." she said, somewhat reflectively.

She had always been told that El Aurians were charismatic, but she hadn't anticipated they'd start like that from so young. She had also been told never to think you knew an El Auran well enough to predict what they were thinking, planning ahead for, nor even what they're about to do right now. ~Outwitted by babes just out of arms~ she said to herself silently, but still smiling as she went back to her work.

"Have a good night, Doctor, and try not to work too late," the Enterprise's Captain recommended as he left for his cabin.

 

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