Determining the Fates of Others

Posted on Mon Feb 8th, 2010 @ 12:06pm by Commander Michael Evans M.D. & Lieutenant JG Margaret Winchester

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "Now Boarding"
Location: 2XO's Office
Timeline: MD02, 2000hrs

ON: [[USS Pandora, 2XO's Office, MD02, 2000hrs]]

Doctor Evans hadn't had much time to fully settle in to his new, larger office. His old one, the CMO's office on the Tethys, could comfortably seat two, but here there was room for a small couch and even a small table against one wall. The biggest thrill was the viewport that looked out into space. He'd hastily replicated furniture should anyone stop by, but he didn't anticipate actually using the office for at least a few more days yet. He had managed to procure some sort of flower from the arboretum to display on the table, brightening up the still-spartan room.

Doctor Haelen pressed the door chime and, having received permission after a brief moment, entered to find Michael setting a fresh caraffe and a couple of mugs on the table. "Good evening," Tony said.

"Welcome," Michael greeted him. Come on in. "Would you like anything," he offered, gesturing to the table.

"Oh, no thank you," Tony answered as he moved to look out the viewport.

Margaret walked down the corridor, her cup of freshly made coffee steaming in her hand. She would normally have been unpacking at this point, but she had yet to decide if she would actually be staying on the Pandora or not. As she had been walking through the corridors, she passed by the second officers office and thought she'd stop in to say hello to her immediate superior officer. She pressed the door chime and awaited a response.

"Come in," was heard from inside.

Margaret walked through the door and looked from Dr. Evans to Dr. Haelen. "Evening gentlemen, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Of course not," said Evans.

"Actually, I'm glad your here," said Haelen. "It would be good to have the Chief Surgeon's opinion, too," he said looking at Evans.

Michael nodded and looked at Winchester. "Do you have a couple minutes?"

"Of course." Margaret responded.

Michael gestured to the table and waited while everyone took a seat. He poured himself a cup of coffee before speaking. "Doctor Haelen had an encounter with the Pandora's EMH today," he began. "I guess she's a piece of work... the latest in the EMH series."

"With a perfectly charming personality to boot," Tony chimed in sarcastically.

"Anyways," Evans continued, "we need to decide whether we want to keep her program aboard the Tethys (active, in storage, or otherwise), or if we want to have her program transferred out." He took a sip of his coffee.

"Admiral Iluvar has left the decision to me," Tony said, "but I wanted to consult with Doctor Evans. And I'd be very glad to have your opinion, too. Besides," he gave a half-shrug, "I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the issue myself."

Margaret's eyes narrowed slightly, unsure of how she wanted to respond. She had yet to meet the new EMH but she figured, like the majority of the EMH's before her, there were a *few* personality hiccups in the program. "I completely understand," she started, "though I think it only fair to remind you both of the issues that have always been present in the each of the previous versions. Eventually they got worked out. That said, I don't really know about the Mark X, so maybe it's a bit worse."

"I activated her very briefly when I came aboard, just to introduce myself," Michael said. "She was professional enough with me, but seemed quite full of herself."

Tony agreed. "Yes, it seems she has quite the superiority complex. Very arrogant."

Michael looked hard at Tony for a moment. "Besides what the pot here," he motioned towards Haelen, "is saying about the kettle," he smirked a little, "and don't get me wrong, I do agree she seemed quite arrogant; but she kept trying to tell me what all she could do, what kind of upgrades she's had, the new personality model subroutines she'd been programmed with. Almost as though she were trying to convince me of her worth."

Doctor Haelen was silent. He remembered his program being transferred to the dilithium mines, the comments about his personality subroutines, the humiliation... Was he starting to think of a fellow EMH as "just another hologram"? That thought disturbed him greatly.

Margaret looked down, deep in thought. She didn't really know how she felt about having to adjust to a new EMH but she also knew that she deserved a chance. "If we'd like to try her out, I can take her in my sickbay and you, Dr. Haelen, could stick to Sickbay Alpha if you would prefer not deal with her for the moment."

Anthony was silent, considering. He still wasn't sure what to think, but was inclined to give the Mark X the benefit of the doubt... for now.

Michael looked carefully at Margaret. He had always gotten the impression that she wasn't too fond of the EMH concept. Her offer, therefore, seemed very considerate. His gaze swung to rest on Anthony. He seemed pensive, unsure.

This wouldn't do. Making a decision he announced, "Let's do this: Margaret, thank you for the offer of trying her out in your sickbay. Why don't we put her on probation... say, for the next mission or two. That'll give us a chance to see how well she'll fit into our department, either regularly or as a supplement. Thoughts?"

Anthony looked up from chewing on a holographic fingernail and gave a nod.

Michael looked at Margaret.

Margaret nodded. She knew the next mission or so would be trying, at best, but she also knew that she could possibly make some progress both personally and with the EMH herself. "I'll work to get her a little more personable."

OFF

A Joint Post by:

Lt. Cmdr. Michael Evans
CMO/2XO
USS Pandora

Anthony Haelen (NPC)
EMH/Asst. CMO
Played by Michael Evans

and

Lt. (jg) Margaret Winchester
Chief Surgeon
USS Pandora