Arriving

Posted on Fri Jan 8th, 2021 @ 5:32am by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Captain Gary Taylor & Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Commander Sthilg & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Season 4: Episode 3: Guided by Starlight
Location: Lead Convoy Ship
Timeline: Current
1962 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Fernando and the Doc arrived aboard the lead convoy ship. The transporter depositing them in a large room, possibly the bridge.

There were several men around them all with different degrees of surprise on their faces.

"I am Senior Chief Petty Officer De La Rosa and this is Lieutenant Commander Sthilg, the Elysium's Chief Medical Officer." Fernando said
making the introductions.

The gorn gave his most polite smile that his species could muster as he looked at the mixture of shocked, scared, and surprised faces looking at him. " Greetingsss. I was told you have children that need ssseeing to." He said politely.

Fernando looked at the men, "You said you had children that needed to be seen. Where are they? So the Doctor can get started."

Avonaco Quispe walked forwards, "He is not Human? Are you sure this creature even knows what what a Human child looks like?" His question was directed at Fernando, it was as if he didn't want to acknowledge Sthilg at all.

Fernando drew himself up. "The Doctor knows more about medicine than you and all your people will ever know. He is eminently qualified to treat your children. However if you wish to continue with your insulting attitude, we can go back to our ship and you will have to explain why your children weren't treated."

"Do you think us children? Are you leading us to believe you have no Human doctors on board that vessel of yours?" Avonaco walked towards Fernando, "Our beliefs are deeply rooted in our past, creatures like this are part of that belief. They are guardians and soldiers of the evil one, we can not overlook that. Even for the mighty Star Fleet, our children would be frightened and would run and hide".

Fernando regarded Quispe with a cold eye. "No, I don't think your children. I do think you are being terribly closed minded in regards to your children's health. The Doctor is a Gorn and I can assure you that he is no guardian of evil. In addition you asked for a male doctor. Dr. Sthilg, is the best doctor we have. Highly decorated for his service and his knowledge. Now, do you wish to have your children looked at?

"And how do explain that fact to a four year old child? A child raised in our ways, and that has only seen Humans". He turned to face Sthilg, "You are a Gorn? And you are a Doctor, or so this one here would have us believe". He pointed at Fernando as he spoke, "Tell me Doctor, how do you treat a child screaming in fear? A child who's very heartbeat will be racing in terror?"

Sthilg's face born no sign of frustration, but deep down he wanted to scream at this creature. " For those that sssupposedly are part of the brotherhood of chrissst you ssseem to be failing missserably at passssssing hisss teaching'sss to your children." He said as calmly as he could. " I would treat your children the sssame way I have treated any children who are ssscared by my appearance."

"In other words Mr. Quispe, let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Fernando said calmly but forcibly.

Avonaco glanced at the Gorn, "Let none say I am not without grace, please Doctor follow me". He walked slowly towards the door, as it slid open a narrow corridor led towards yet another door. This door now opened and a large room with several corridors leading off it now welcomed the small band, "This is one of our meeting places, the children are this way". Quispe pointed and then walked down the corridor with doors either side, double doors at it's end now opened and what appeared to be a school was revealed. "Here are our children on this ship, the other ships also have children on them". Avonaco now received a message, "I'm sorry, something has been detected on board. I will leave you and your Doctor to carry on". He spoke to Fernando as he turned to leave, he simply nodded towards Sthilg.

Waiting till the human was out of earshot the gorn whispered to Fernando. " Remember if we end up in trouble the code word to bring in the marinesss is red angel sssymdrome. " he said looking to the side as he sensed someone was looking at him. Looking down the corridor he saw nothing, but he had the feeling that someone had been there.

Fernando nodded as the Doctor gave him the code phrase to use if trouble developed. "Yes sir, I have it. I just hope we don't have to use it."

Breathing in slightly the doctor opened the doors to the school. He was hoping for somewhere he could set up privately and he could see the kids one on one.

Fernando followed the CMO, he was on high alert. He was there to protect the doctor from any harm should the colonists take offense to his appearance.

==

A few hours later, the doctor had finished his checks and the children were all good to go.

" Well...." the doctor said to Fernando as the last of the children filled out of the room. " That was a checkup I'll be glad not to have to do time and time again." he said hoping the screams, looks and curses of him being a demon would fade from his mind quickly.

"I'm sorry sir for the treatment you received. it's a wonder humanity got as far as it has with this kind of mentality." Fernando observed.

" It'sss okay Fernando you ssshould have ssseen what we were like back in the passst." the doctor said as he began to pack his bag.

"No sir. It isn't alright. It's bigoted thinking by uneducated, uninformed and uncaring like those we've encountered that make progress hard." Fernando replied clearly annoyed by the shabby treatment the Doctor received.

" It isss a little odd though i've worked with members of the Order of Ssst John and they didn't have this level of xenophobia. " the gorn puzzled.

OOC: Spanner time

There was a shuffling sound by the door as they prepared to leave. A young woman, stepped into view. She carried a little boy in her arms and a little girl clutched at her legs through the skirt. "Excuse me?" she asked hesitantly. Her clothing was old, but neat, and it showed signs that items had been repaired by hand. The little girl's clothing was ragged around some of the edges but in a clean condition. "Ar..are you finished?" The young woman's voice, trembled as she spoke.

" No my dear I can sssee you right now. " the gorn said with his usual doctorly tone. Looking up and down he wished he'd brought some replicated jumpsuits over. Many of them looked like they could use them.

"its... my brother." she walked forward. "He is three, and he has a bad cough... " she glanced around. "I am sorry we are late, but.. I had chores." she ducked her head.

The little girl pressed closer.

" My dear you have nothing to apologize for. Put him down on the table and i'll take a look at him. I can check on your little sister as well. " he said patting the table as he internally wondering why these three hadn't been here for the main checkup.

Avonaco now returned and heard the exchange between the two Officers and the female colonist, he waited to see how this event would turn out.

Fernando looked at the woman and the two smaller children. "Hi, I'm Fernando. What are your names?" He asked flashing his megawatt smile.

The little girl cowered even more. The older girl shifted. "We are not permitted to give those names to you." she said stiltedly noticing Avonaco in the doorway. As she spoke she placed her brother on the bio bed.

Fernando caught sight of Avonaco in the doorway but said nothing instead he told the older girl. "That's alright. You know my name and you can use it any time you like."

Moving further into the room, Avonaco looked at the woman. "You may tell them your names, no harm will befall you". He turned to the two Star Fleet Officers, "I trust all is well with those you have treated?"

" Asss well asss can be expected from a population born on a ssspace ssship. I have a list of dietary and vitamin sssupplementsss sssome of them will need." the gorn said gesturing to a padd he had been recording on.

Fernando's ear perked up at that. What harm could there possibly be from telling of your name. He kept his mouth shut but cast a look at the Doc to see if he picked up on the comment.

The young woman still didn't want to give her name out, but she said softly. "My brother is Articus."

"Hi Articus. I'm Fernando and this is Dr. Sthilg." Fernando said pleasantly hoping to remove the tension that hung in the air.

The gorn had noticed it to and gave Fernando a look to indicate that he had. " Well my dear. If you'll put your brother on the table i can get him ssscaned and sssee if he'sss okay." He said calmly to the young woman.

She did so and stepped back so the doctor had room, but she stayed close enough that she could scoop up the child if needed.

The little girl never left her side.

"Her name is Calixta, the young girl is called Ana Sofia. They are from a less desirable part of our community, hence her reluctance to give you her name". Avonaco now stood beside the Gorn as he examined the young boy, "I take it all is well?"

Fernando glanced at the CMO as Avonaco spoke. He wondered if the Doc had the same thought, *Less desirable?* But he held his tongues and temper and instead replied, "It is a pleasure to meet you Calixta and Ana Sofia."

Less desirable? Sthilg thought to himself as he examined the young boy. What was this place the romulan empire? Looking over at the clearly terrified girl he tried to give her a reassuring smile. " Every..." He began before he stopped as he noticed something. " The boy's arm has been broken and re healed. How did thisss happen?" He inquired calmly.

The elder girl flinched. "He fell" she said softly.

The gorn pushed as his eyes glanced over at Avonaco. Something about this felt rotten to the core. " How did he fall?" he inquired calmly.

Fernando didn't react at not outwardly but inside he was instantly alert. A broken arm and re healed? combined with the older girl's simple explanation didn't add up. he waited to see what the Doc would do next.

The eldest girl lowered her gaze. "I was not watching him close enough. he rolled off the bed."

The gorn nodded though she was clearly lying about something. He said nothing but continued the checkup on the three of them noting several other injuries. " There we go. " he said as he finished his scan on the older girl. " Avonaco I'd like to take these three back to my sssickbay. I have a few ssshot'sss they need." He said calamly as he looked over at the human.

"Very Well. Two hours." the man said coolly.

Fernando was both relived and surprised by Avonaco's agreeing to the transfer of three children. He knew just as the Doc did, she was lying about how her brother broke his arm. This needed to be reported to Captain Lalor. This couldn't be allowed.

The gorn nodded as he drew a few combadges and handed them to the children. " Sssthilg to Elysium we have five to beam back." he said camly.

OFF