Showdown in Sickbay

Posted on Fri Feb 5th, 2010 @ 4:23am by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Michael Evans M.D.

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "Now Boarding"
Location: Main Sickbay, USS Pandora
Timeline: MD02, 1408

ON: [[Main Sickbay, USS Pandora, MD02, 1408]]

Iluvar made his way down the corridor, smiling at crewmembers as he passed. Being aboard a new ship meant getting to know a new crew. Certainly there were others from the Tethys who had been part of the transfer, but not everyone had come along. Besides, the Pandora was a larger vessel, meaning that there would be more personnel to man her systems.

Trailing a few steps behind Iluvar, Aris noticed that the crewmembers would stop whatever they were doing when they passed. Some of them would return Iluvar's smile, but a number of them also gave Aris strange looks, as if they weren't quite sure what to make of him. Maybe he had gotten so used to being on the Tethys that he hadn't noticed it before, but the looks he was getting were making him slightly uncomfortable. He tried to ignore it and kept pace behind Iluvar as they continued toward Sickbay.

The doors to sickbay hissed open at their approach, allowing them access to the Pandora's main medical facility. From the looks of things, nurses and medical personnel were moving about to handle all the new arrivals and prepare for the departure that was expected to come any day. Iluvar looked down at the small device in his hand before proceeding to the freestanding console in the middle of the room.

Carefully, he set the device atop the console and began inputting commands to access the ship's hologrid. It didn't take him all that long to isolate the sickbay emitters and establish the link for the transfer. "They still there," Aris asked curiously.

"It looks like it," Iluvar replied, making a few adjustments, "Let's see how they enjoyed their trip." With a final tap, he smiled with satisfaction at his work. The display showed that the transfer had proceeded smoothly and that both Doctor Haelen (NPC) and Peter (NPC) were now fully incorporated into the Pandora's systems. "Computer, activate EMH," Iluvar ordered, looking up to the open space just in front of the console.

To his surprise, two forms shimmered into existence, side by side. One was the familiar figure of Doctor Haelen, but the other was an unfamiliar woman. Iluvar realized with belated amusement that he had neglected to take into account the Pandora's existing EMH program.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," Anthony stated automatically.

"Welcome to sickbay, how may I help you," the woman stated at the same exact time, a friendly smile on her face. Immediately, she turned to her left and the smile faded. "Who are you and what are you doing in my sickbay," she demanded of Haelen.

Doctor Haelen had turned to his right, looking her up and down before saying rather matter-of-factly, "Your superior. And this is to be my sickbay," he corrected. He crossed his arms and turned more towards her, taking an authoritative stance. He'd recognized her as a medical hologram as they both materialized and supposed that this was the latest in the EMH series. "Are you to be my new nurse then?" He said it as though it were a serious inquiry, but it was clear that it was meant as an insult.

"My superior," the woman scoffed, "I'd hardly consider you superior in any fashion. You're the Mark I EMH...the inferior model. Beady eyes, terrible bedside manner...yes, I'd recognize you anywhere. Perhaps you are malfunctioning, yes? I will call engineering and see if they cannot have your program removed." She seemed perfectly confident in her statements and the smug look on her face made it clear that she was also confident in her superiority.

Haelen took a small step closer to her and faced her directly, not appearing flustered in the least. "Well, this beady-eyed, inferior model still outranks you, bedside manner or no. I'm the Assistant Chief Medical Officer serving under your new CMO, Doctor Michael Evans, having just transferred from the Tethys. And until he, or the Admiral here," he motioned with his head towards Iluvar, "says otherwise, you'll be reporting to me." He pointed to the Mark X on the word "you'll" and back at himself to emphasize the "me". He figured he'd trumped her on this point, and stood with a small but smug smile on his face.

"Oh, I highly doubt that," the woman replied smugly, "I doubt you'll last even a few..."

"Computer, deactivate the Pandora's EMH," Iluvar interjected, having heard quite enough. The woman shimmered out of existence in mid sentence and, frankly, Iluvar was glad to see her go. Aris was surprised to see Iluvar react so suddenly, but he couldn't say he was going to miss the other EMH. Unlike Peter or the doctor, she seemed to have a few problems interacting with other people.

Anthony uncrossed his arms and turned to Iluvar. "Well, she's pleasant," he said without the smile, indicating the vacant air where the female EMH just dematerialized. "Do we intend do keep her online," he asked.

"I suppose that is up to you, doctor," Iluvar replied, glancing down at the terminal before him, "If you think she's going to be a problem, I can have her removed and transferred to another vessel in need of an Emergency Medical Hologram."

Tony thought for a moment. She was annoying. But he was able to admit to himself that, supposedly, so was he. They didn't really need the staffing, but it might be interesting to work with another EMH. Peter (NPC) was great, and it was nice to talk to him as a fellow hologram. But a fellow EMH would be different. It might also be interesting to experience firsthand what Starfleet was looking into for their newest EMH's. Tony appreciated Iluvar giving him the opportunity to voice his opinion, but he wasn't sure yet what that was.

"I really appreciate you asking me, sir. But... I'm not sure yet. I'd like to talk to Evans before a decision is made," Tony said.

"It's up to you, doctor," Iluvar told Haelen, "Just make sure you let me know what you decide before we launch."

"Of course," he acknowledged.

With a nod, Iluvar decided that it would be best to allow the hologram to settle in on his own. He and Aris had not yet begun to unpack their own belongings. It wouldn't be long before he had to start concerning himself with the regular duties of a commanding officer and he didn't want to have to worry about navigating unpacked belongings.

"If you need anything, doctor, don't hesitate to ask," Iluvar reminded the medical hologram as he and Aris headed out the door into the corridor. He turned and started toward the nearest lift access, hoping that he could get most of his unpacking finished before the next morning. That way, he'd be free to turn his attention to seeing that things were well in hand before the launch.

The lift arrived swiftly and as the two of them entered the car, Aris was still thinking about the other medical program. "I don't like her," he remarked, looking over at Iluvar, "She was...rude."

"I wasn't particularly fond of her myself, but it's really up to the doctor if he wants to work with her or not," Iluvar replied. Aris nodded once as the doors hissed shut and the lift began to move through the ship. He understood, but he still didn't like it.


OFF

A JP between

Dr. Anthony Haelen (PNPC)
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Pandora
Played by: Lt. Cmdr. Evans

EMH Mark X (NPC)
Emergency Medical Hologram
USS Pandora
Played by: RAdm Iluvar

Aris Ibanya (PNPC)
Crew Family Member
USS Pandora
Played by: RAdm Iluvar

and

Rear Admiral Iluvar
Commanding Officer
USS Pandora