Verifying Identity...

Posted on Wed Oct 27th, 2021 @ 3:16am by Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Commander Sthilg & Staff Sergeant Liam "Swede" Reece [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium, Main Sickbay
1943 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

After finishing up with Naxea, Liam headed straight up to the ship's main sickbay. As he entered, he had a few flashbacks to when he almost died in here, thanks to that damn spoonhead's blade to his left lung.

Thankfully, the flashback ended almost as quickly as it started. Taking a cleansing breath and shaking his head, he continued to the CMO's office. "Hello?"

" Hello there Liam what can we do for you today?" The CMO replied with his hands on his usual steaming cup of coffe.

Liam grinned, a slightly confused look on his face. "Uh, I didn't know there were Gorn telepaths. How did you know my name, Sir?"

" Naxea called ahead." the gorn said friendly. " Now if you'll jussst follow me we can get all this sssorted out."

Liam nodded and grinned. "Yes, Sir." He feel in step with the larger officer and then moved to sit on the offered biobed. He handed over an isoleniar stem, which held his entire medical history since joining the Corps, then waited.

" Okay pleassse hold ssstill." The gorn said calmly as he picked up an empty hypospray. " Let'sss get usss a blood sssample."

Liam did as instructed and stayed still. He knew that, though the Dominion War was long over, it had left lasting scars. The sample test being one of them. Had he been a shapeshifter, the sample that Sthilg was drawing would revert to an amorphous shape, instead of remaining a collection of red blood cells.

The gorn walked over to one of the machines and placed the drawn blood in a scanner. It would only take a few seconds to know the truth.

Liam sat calmly. He knew he was himself, afterall.

" Well everything'sss look well." the gorn stated as nothing seemed wrong with the sample. " I sssee no reassson to not declare that you are you."

Smiling, Liam chuckled. "Yay! I'm me!!" He chuckled some more. "Sorry, Doc. Couldn't help myself."

" Well lay down and let'sss get you ssseen to. " The gorn said as he started up the scanner. It didn't take long before old traces of scars started appearing. " Have you ssseen a lot of combat?" The doctor inquired.

Liam took off his uniform top and laid down in his tank top. Looking over to Sthilg, he nodded and replied. "Yes, Sir. Though, the biggest surgery I've had was to replace my left lung. A cardie decided to use me as a pin cushion the last time I was on the Ely."

“Last time?” Leilani smiled warmly as she reappeared from the medical supply room. “I’ve sorted those supplies away for you Doctor” she smiled warmly as she looked towards Sthilg before looking back at Liam. “So you’ve served onboard before?”

" Lucky i lost my left leg and two of my testiclesss to a bomb blassst." The doctor replied to the new mararine before looking to Leilani. " Thank you my dear."

Liam was suprised twice. Once by the beauty that had just walked in and second, by the CMO's sharing of his combat injury story. "Oh," he said akwardly. "Umm, I'm sorry to hear that, Doc." He then looked over to the lovely nurse, noticing both her Marine green uniform and her similar rank of Sergeant. "Hi, Liam Reece, new sapper for the unit. And yes, I served on the Ely before, five years ago."

Leilani smiled warmly. “Pleased to meet you Liam. I’m Leilani Charles, combat Medic. I guess we’ll be working together.”

Liam grinned, then saw her wedding ring. "Hopefully not through any accident of mine." He chuckled. "So, who's the lucky guy who claimed your heart?"

" No need to feel sssorry my boy. Gorn males have sssix." Sthilg said with a cheeky grin forming on his face.

Liam looked back at the CMO and chuckled aloud. "Six?! Wow. Not sure if I should be jealous or envious."

Leilani grinned. “To answer your question, the lucky man is George Charles. He’s a pilot. Oh and if you happen to bump into Emily Charles, she’s George’s sister.”

"Well," Liam said with a chuckle. "Ely is really turning into a family ship."

Leilani nodded. “More than you know!” She gave Sthilg a smile. “The doctor here has just become a grandfather for the second time. Oh and I never did say Congratulations to you Doctor!”

" Thank you my dear. N’Vea is a wonderful little girl." the old lizard replied.

Liam smiled softly as he watched the dynamic between his two new crewmates. It was yet another point that showed he had made the correct decision on coming back.

“I’m sorry I’m getting you both off track” Leilani smiled. “I’ll stand out of the way and let you get on.”

" I'll sssee you around my dear. " The gorn said before returning to his patient. " I could remove thessse ssscarsss if you want." He replied calmly as the scan contuied.

Liam looked down at his collection and, after a few beats, shook his head. "No thank you, Doc. Each one is a story of how I became who I am today."

" Jussst offering." The doctor replied as the scan finished. " Well, that'sss compled. " I sssee no reassson to not clear you fit for duty."

Liam smiled as he sat up and started to get dressed. "Thanks, Doc. Glad to know I'm not the only one who knows I’m me."

The gorn handed over a copy of the scan on a data crystal. " Here you go. I hope you enjoy your ssstay on the Elysssium. "

Liam took the crystal. "Thank you, Sir. I will certainly try to."

“Welcome aboard” Leilani grinned as she stepped forward. “Are you heading back to marine country?”

Liam grinned to the lovely woman. He could see, by her eyes, that she was Betazoid. "Thank you! Yes, I am. Gotta get myself unpacked and familiarized with my squad."

“Wonderful” Leilani grinned. “In that case may I accompany you? I need to get back to Medbay anyway. Not that there’s going to be much for me to do at present.”

"Sure," he said with a grin. He then stood to the side and sllowed her to exit sickbay first. "So, how long have you been on board?"

“Funnily enough not that long!” Lani smiled as they walked. “I came aboard a few weeks ago, I met George and it’s all been kind of a whirlwind. We’re expecting our first baby, it’s all a bit complicated but Emily is currently carrying our baby for us.”

Liam arched his eyebrows. "Only a few weeks, met someone, got serious enough to have a baby, and his sister is carrying it?" He thought about it for a bit, then nodded. "Yeah, sounds about right for this ship." He chuckled as they reached the turbolift. Again, he stood aside and allowed her to enter first.

“A true gentleman, thank you” Leilani smiled warmly. “So how does it feel to be back aboard the Elysium? Has it changed much since last time you were here?”

Liam smiled. "Our mother raised us to always respect women." He then considered her question before answering. "Well, the atmosphere does feel a little different, what with Admiral Sharr gone. But other than that, it's like returning home, but most of the people who lived there are gone and new people are there." He paused and smiled softly before adding, "But, there is a new face that I find very intriguing. Two actually."

"Would I be being nosey if I asked who those faces are?" Leilani grinned.

Liam blushed a little as he smiled. "Lieutenant Samaire McBride and her sweet little niece, Skylah."

Leilani grinned. "Ahh I see, well I hope your intrigue works out in the long run for you."

Liam thought that Leilani had just given him a compliment, but, was unsure. He didn't really have a lot of experience in relationships. "Forgive me if I sound dense...my intrigue?"

Leilani smiled. “It sounds like you’re interested in a more...romantic sense?”

"Oh!" Liam smiled and blushed so heavy, his ears turned beet red. "Yeah," he finally said. "I certainly do. She seems like a wonderful woman, we actually have a picnic lunch date, the three of us, on Saturday, in the Arboretum."

Leilani smiled warmly. “Well I hope you have a wonderful time!”

He smiled in reply. "Thank you! I'm sure we will. I'm gonna suprise them and make all the food myself."

“Wow! You cook too!” Leilani grinned. “She’s a lucky woman for sure!”

Liam chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm the lucky guy that she seems interested in me."

“Well if you ever need someone’s brain to pick, on flowers, gifts or anything else you know where to find me!” Leilani grinned. “Though I’ve no doubt you’ll manage that all by yourself.”

Lian nodded and smiled in thanks. "I appreciate that Lee." It was good to make new friends so quickly. It helped take his mind off of his old friends, back at Falkirk, who were still listed as missing. Third Fleet should be arriving later today or early tomorrow, depending on the time difference. Hopefully, they'd get to the bottom of the silence quickly.

“Now that’s a nickname I haven’t heard in a long time” Lani grinned. “Since my days at the Academy! It’s nice to have made a new friend, especially one whose part of the marines.”

Liam stopped and, with a concerned look on his face, started to pat down several parts of his body.

Leilani watched sensing a change in the emotions coming from Liam, “Have you lost something?”

Liam stopped and looked up at Leilani, a sudden mischievous glint in his eyes. "You said part Marine. Was just checking myself, as, last time I looked, I'm all Marine." He grinned ruefully as he finished.

Lani grinned and playfully punched him in the arm. “You really had me going there for a minute!”

Liam took the punch and grinned. "I think you and me are gonna be good friends, Lee."

Leilani nodded. “Damn right we are! You remind me of someone I used to know a long time ago, he was a good friend. I think we’ll be fast friends from now on.”

Smiling, Liam tilted his head in the direction they had been walking. "So tell me, Naxea. She as good as my spidy sense telling me?"

Leilani nodded. “From what I know, she certainly is! In-fact the entire marine contingent are the best. If you meet Heather De La Rosa she used to be marine medic, she’s moved on to medical on a permanent basis as she’s heavily pregnant.”

Liam nodded as he listened. "Good. Glad the unit has excellent leadership." He paused, then added, "I suppose, with Ely, there are quite a few babies born on a regular basis? Last time I was here, she was still pretty new from Spacedock, so, not much time for...extracurricular activities." He chuckled a little darkly.

Leilani grinned. “Oh there’s a fair few children onboard ship now, Counsellor Kelea-Salik has two children, one quite recently. There’s Heather expecting, Emily with my baby, plus George and I have a son that we recently adopted. Plus there’s plenty more families aboard too.”

Liam chuckled softly. "The last time I was here, the only two families onboard were the Admiral's and the XO's."

Lani smiled. “In that case, welcome to a whole new version of the old ship you left!”

He chuckled and dipped his head in thanks. "Appreciate it, Lee."

{OFF}