"Looking Within"
(Previous Post: Tiffany's 'The Planning....')
===================================
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Robotics Lab
After the senior staff meeting, David had decided to
make his rounds. He started in Main Engineering and
after getting the OK from the staff, he headed to the
robotics lab to check on his friend. He had
been... somewhat AWOL since their return to NEW
ALEXANDRIA as he worked on the ANUBIS' Avatar Annie.
Upon entering the lab, David noticed his assistant,
Ensign Norheim, working close hand with the Oltharian giant.
"How is she Commander?" David asked as he stopped by
the table which Annie was lying.
"I have no clue Ensign," Elan replied as he wiped his
brow and Mattias looked at the two of them. The CEO
referred to the Oltharian as a commander, when his
rank clearly stated he was a junior grade lieutenant.
And the same could be said about Elan's referral to
David.
::Weird,:: the aCEO thought as he listened on.
"Every diagnostic I've ran and every walk through
system check I've performed says Annie is operational
*beyond* normal parameters..."
David nodded, "But?"
"Look at her" Elan huffed and that was the first time
*ever* David saw an emotional release from his friend,
"her positronic net is functioning better than it was
when I brought her online, but there is *no* higher
brain function. Her neural pathways... still just as
strong but for each connection I make, 2 either fray
or short out another function. I tell you David, its
quite... maddening."
David picked up a tricorder and scanned the Avatar.
Just as Elan said the diagnostics say that Annie
should be up and moving about, but she wasn't.
"Almost like Enaii," David murmured to himself. But
that couldn't be possible. Even in his wildest...
"What was that sir?" Mattias asked.
"Oh" David shook his head, "nothing. Listen, I have an
appointment I can't be late for. I'll be back later on
to assist... only if you two need it."
"Anything you can do to help will be greatly
appreciated my friend. I know that with our combined
minds we can solve the problem that ails her."
David nodded and turned to leave. Once outside in the
corridor, he pulled his pocket watch from his vest. He
was going to be late... so he did what he always did
in a situation like this...
===================================
Lea was setting her instruments up for David's
examination as the transporter hue caused the CMO to
turn and smirk.
"*That's* cheating" Lea said as she pointed to biobed
3 and laughed.
"No," David replied, "that's cutting it close," and the
CEO looked at the biobed, "the dreaded bed with the
hole huh?"
"I thought it would be... poetic justice," the CMO
said with a wry grin as the CEO smirked.
"Thanks... *I'll* remember that."
"You do that. Now if you would please remove your
blazer and vest." the CMO said.
"Shall I remove my tunic as well Doctor?" David asked
as Lea wiggled her eyebrows.
"Only if there won't be a medical malpractice charge
brought up against me so let's just keep in to shall
we?" as David laughed.
As Lea scanned David's chest she harumped and grunted.
"That's doesn't sound good Doc," David said and Lea
nodded.
"It isn't" as she produced a hypo, "I need to take a
sample of your blood."
"I *hate* needles," David said with a grin.
"Oh you big baby," Lea replied and as she went to place
the hypo to his chest the CEO eyed her.
"Wouldn't my arm be better?"
"No," Lea replied, "I need this straight out of your
heart." The CMO patted the pillow and David stretched
out.
"I remember the last time this..." and she stuck him.
"OW!" David snapped, "...sharp pain that you said
wouldn't be there."
"Is it?" Lea asked as she rubbed David's chest above
his heart.
"Well..." the CEO said with a wink, "not anymore"
"Good," Lea said as she headed towards the lab and
David followed. She inserted the vile of David's blood
into the computer and looked at the screen.
"So, why the harumphs earlier?" David asked.
"This is why," Lea said as she enlarged the lower
ventricle of the CEOs heart, "your nanite count is
*far* too high and they're basically closing off the
lower right ventricle. That has me worried."
"Well... the little guys need a home," David said and
Lea scowled at him.
"They have more than 6 feet 6 inches of you to find a home, not
clogging up your heart." and she turned to face him,
"Have you had any dizzy spells as of late?"
"Only when I think of you," David said as Lea's eyes
narrowed at him.
"I'm serious David... we're talking about your life
here and..."
David sat on a stool so he could be somewhat eye level
to Lea. "Yes I know... my life. And I want to spend the
rest of it enjoying all it has to offer. So what
they're blocking up a section..."
Lea shook her head, "David... it could kill you. You
*do* know that the lower ventricles are responsible
for pumping fresh blood into the upper ventricles to
be sent out..."
"I remember basic med training Doc, and I know what
they do. But I have a little confession to make..."
Lea folded her arms across her chest. "Go on."
"Its a new program I designed where the
nanites... assimilate the older ones. It cuts back on
their replication program and also the number of them
in my system. That way, I won't have the symptoms of
dizziness, laziness, or sudden spells of weakness."
and he smiled at her and pulled her closer to him, "I
did listen to you after I came back."
The CMO shook her head and hugged the massive
engineer. Her head rested on his chest and she could
hear his heart beating. She closed her eyes
momentarily and got lost in the rhythm.
"See... the old ticker has tocked yet. So... I was
here on time. Where's my surprise?" he asked looking
around.
"You're an eager beaver" Lea replied.
"Well... I want to know." as he tried to stand and Lea
placed a finger in his chest. Normally a person of her
stature couldn't move a person with David's stature
but there *were* times when it worked perfectly.
"Sit," was all Lea said and she turned to leave.
"Wait," David said and Lea stopped. He stood and headed
in her direction slowly.
"So am I healthy as an Rigalian Ox?"
She nodded, "and just as big. Now *sit!*" she ordered
as David returned to his seat.
===================================
as
Lieutenant David Dawson
"A Starfleet officer... that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2006 post #174
Stardate: 61013.1245
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Sickbay
Stardate: 61013.1300
Julian Knight (d_dawson_1@yahoo.com)
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
