The Truth Of The Matter

Posted on 07 Nov 2021 @ 7:49pm by Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant C'Tora Kuroka & Lieutenant JG Oliver Stevens

Mission: Picking up the pieces
Location: Sickbay
2768 words - 5.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

The hour she had agreed with Captain Reynolds had elapsed and Cassandra had called Doctor C'Tora down to sickbay, fully aware that his ire may be burning given the time it was, but the Captain wanted this addressing and soon. She had given him a brief rundown of the results from the scans and genetic comparison. The report was lacking in solid info. The scans showed a void of data and the genetic comparison was intriguing. only a small amount of genetic data from Xu was present, the rest was unknown with no trace of genetic data from Oliver or even a carbon-based lifeform.

She was sat across from C'Tora in his office looking at the felinoid with curiosity trying to measure his response to the information, or lack there off.

"I ran the analysis twice Doctor but both came back with the same result... The baby may look human, act Human but there is only in the region of twelve percent of the mother's DNA present in her biological makeup!"

C'Tora was still trying to shake the grogginess and cobwebs from his head. He looked at Cassandra through bleary eyes. " The next time you call me down here at this ungodly hour, there had better be a grilled salmon waiting for me. " He murmured under his breath. He perked up as he listened to her report. "What?... Wait, what did you say? " Not sure if he had heard her right. " Only twelve percent of the mother's DNA and none of the father's? That's impossible. " He looked out his office to where Oliver and the child were. " Are you sure about those test results? If that's not a human child then what is it? " He asked.

"The tricorders pick nothing up when you try and get a reading Doctor... I showed Captain Reynolds the data as well" she looked over to the Captain sitting beside her looking equally as uneasy at the implications while he was still cradling the infant. "The Captain has quite rightly stated that we cannot hold this information from Lieutenant Stevens, it would be unethical but I do worry about his mental state... He has been through so much in just the last twenty-four hours. For all intent and purpose, he has lost his partner, gained a child to raise by himself and the child seems to be growing at an exponential rate. To now tell him the child may not even be his from a genetic standpoint, this will be a major blow for him on top of everything else that has happened to him."

C'Tora glanced over to where Oliver was at and spoke in a softer tone as not to be overheard. " I agree it would be unethical not to inform him of the results, but let me play devil's advocate for a moment. Right now that child is his anchor to his mate as far as he's concerned, If we go in there right now and inform him of such who is to say what his reaction might be? Will he love it just because it came from her? Or will he try and harm it and blame it for taking his mate from him? I'm not willing to take that gamble with a life. "

He thought a bit before speaking again. " For right now the child is therapeutic for him. After a while we'll send him off to bed but tell him we need to keep the child for observation, We'll inform him after he gets some rest, at least it will cushion the impact of the news. It's the least I can do for him after all he's been through. Gods, I hate doing things like this!! "

"If it makes it easier for you Doctor, the Captain has offered me the position of Ships Counsellor... It does mean you will be a Nurse short in sickbay though, and I'm sorry for that, but my point is, you won't need to do this on your own now!"

Cassy put a hand out to squeeze the hand of the Chief Medical Officer, seeing how this was affecting him which would be an insignificant amount compared to that of Lieutenant Stevens.

"That said, the Captain has asked..." she stressed the word 'asked' implying that it was more of an order, "That we do inform Lieutenant Stevens of all developments thus far!"

C'Tora picked up on how she stressed the word "Asked" and took note of it. " The Captain is in his right to ask me to inform Lieutenant Stevens of the developments, But this man is in a fragile mental state right now and needs rest. He will be informed of everything within twenty-four hours. I am not going to have him go ballistic here in Sickbay and harm himself or anyone else. Give the poor man at least six to eight hours of rest and we'll inform him then. "

C'Tora sighed and glanced back up at her. " Yes it will make things a little short-staffed around here, But I'll have to readjust the schedule to fill in the gaps. Congrats on accepting the position as Counselor, I will make it part of his recovery program to seek out counseling. It has been an honor working with you and you have made us all proud Emily."

"The Captain is sat right here," Jon stated. "He doesn't need speaking about as if he's not in the room and can speak for himself. And the Captain knows that man better than any of you. You already packed him off to bed and he needs to be told what's going on and I have sent for him. If it were your child and something very weird was happening in terms of its DNA you would not want to be kept in the dark and as already pointed out it's not exactly ethical."

C'Tora seemed surprised when Jon spoke." I'm sorry Captain, I've had a lot on my mind and I didn't see you there. No disrespect intended Sir, but I was concerned for the physical and mental health of Lieutenant Stevens and in my medical opinion he needed rest. If I had unloaded all that on him before sending him off to bed he wouldn't have gotten any sleep, and that would not have helped the situation, Sir." He stated in a respectful tone.

C'Tora continued. " Furthermore Sir, the child is in perfect health, And I do mean perfect health. There is absolutely nothing wrong with her, even down to the cellular level. Nor was it my intention to keep him in the dark about anything. That man has been through hell with his mate being in a coma and everything else that has happened to him recently. " Tears began welling up in his eyes. " I would not call it unethical to be concerned about a patient and friend and wanting the best for him. " As he wiped them away and regained his professional composure quickly. " This has been stressful on us all Sir. "

"What's going on?" Oliver's voice rang out from the corner. He looked all-around at the faces in the room and noticed that Jon was sitting there holding .....

"She was not that size when I went to bed ..." the human man said. "She's still growing quicker than she should isn't she?"

Jon handed the child to him. She certainly didn't look like a newborn anymore. He would peg her at 6 months. The child instantly calmed in Oliver's arms and he sensed it. She might not be biologically his, or even human but it seemed she identified Oliver as her father.

C'Tora turned to face Oliver. " Ok, so here it is in a nutshell. Xu is in a coma, I will recommend that she be taken to the nearest Starbase medical facility for long-term treatment options. I have done everything I can for her. The treatments I gave her should have brought her out of her coma and on her path to recovery, but for some reason, she hasn't responded. The good news is she's alive, and if she responds to treatments at the starbase she should be fine physically and mentally. "

He sighed and then took a deep breath before speaking. " Your daughter is a mystery. She is not human, she has only twelve percent of Xu's DNA and none of yours. She responds to you as any newborn would to her biological father and is in perfect health, She is growing at an accelerated rate with no discomfort of growing pains and developing perfectly both mentally and physically as she grows. I am at a loss to explain it. I might suggest you start playing Terran common in audio in your quarters to help her develop her speech skills, because at the rate she's growing and developing it won't be that long. "

"Also Lieutenant, given everything you have been through in the last few days I will keep my door open for you... As ships Counsellor, you and this infant are now my priority... I can help you adjust or just be a friend should you need it!"
She said softly, giving him an encouraging smile.

"I ... erm ...." Oliver looked stunned as he gazed down at the baby in his arms. "Might take you up on that. Thank you."

"You have me to Oliver," Jon said. "I know a little about babies. Eddie was one once."

"I don't care if she's different," the other human said nodding. "She's here for a reason and she picked me and Xu. And if Xu was awake she would be of the same mind I believe. She's going to pull through this I know it. We know it don't we?" he smiled at the child.

Cassy was standing before she knew she had intended to and was putting her around Olivers Shoulders, part hugging him, part trying to enthuse encouragement and support through to him in that one act.

Jon raised a slight eyebrow in his new chief counselor's direction while Ollie didn't seem to mind or his mind was elsewhere.

"She needs a name," he said after a moment, clearly in love with the child regardless of anything else. "Any ideas?"

"I think that needs to come from you Lieutenant," Cassy said as she started to direct Oliver round to take her seat while she then retreated around to the end of the Doctor's desk.

Oliver looked at her and nodded slowly. "I don't know where this has come from but the names in my head. Methalina.

Jon found himself sitting up suddenly. His suspicion was probably right. He exchanged a look with Cassie this time. If that was the living embodiment of one of his race's goddesses then yes, she needed to keep an eye on things. How was Oliver supposed to deal with that? Why him he wondered. Did the goddess not want a Betazoid to have that honor?

This was huge .....

Cassie caught the Captain's look that was directed at her, the name meant nothing to her but something from their previous conversation spoke volumes. She would need another meeting with the Captain and soon.

"I think it's beautiful Lieutenant" turning her attention back to Oliver. "Where is it from?"

"I don't know. It's just in my head. Maybe Xu spoke it some time. Maybe it's Japanese from her culture. I mean I must have heard it somewhere right?" he said. The baby's hand reached out and squeezed his thumb and she chuckled.

" Oliver, I think it's wonderful that your being so open and accepting of this child, You'll make a good father. " C'Tora cocked his head to the side when he heard the name. " Hmm... Methalina. " He let the name roll off his tongue. " An unusual but pretty name, I don't think I've even heard that one before. It's a precious name for a precious child. " speaking softly and in a subdued tone.

"Thank you," Oliver said. "Jon I have a favor to ask. As she seems to be growing up so fast. Will you be her godfather? I mean Xu just got taken out in a heartbeat. If anything happens to me she's no one and I've known you for the longest time. My oldest friend here."

"Your not going anywhere Oliver but yes. I will take that honor. Gladly," the Captain said simply. He walked over and patted his shoulder. "You know both me and Eddie are here for you too."

Oliver nodded and turned back to the Caitain doctor. "Doctor. Have you contacted Xu's family?" he asked.

" No Oliver, I have not had the time as of yet, But I assure you that I will. " Stated C'Tora. " I will also send them a report of her condition and where she'll be for her long-term care at Starbase 308, And of course let them know of the birth of their granddaughter. " C'Tora had a very troubled look on his face. " I still don't understand. " He said. " I've dealt with worse injuries than what she had and the patient was fine in a day or two. The care Xu received from my staff and I was the best we could give. " He pointed at the biobed. " She should be sitting right there smiling and holding her child. What made the treatment ineffective? " He asked.

"Perhaps," he directed at who he knew to be the new chief counselor now. "You might help me speak to them? I think it would be better coming from me. It will be bitter-sweet them meeting her and then hearing that though."

"Of Course Doctor... Let me know when!"

Cassie offered, suddenly feeling more somber again knowing that it would be less than an enjoyable task.

C'Tora Sighed. " I will compose my thoughts and begin drafting a message for her parents, I'll have to check her records to see where they are located. " He paused briefly. " Oliver I really don't have the right to ask this with all that you've been through, But would you consider adding a message of your own to my report? I think it might be comforting to her parents to know a bit about the man that loves their daughter. I'll leave it up to you if you want to or not. "

C'Tora turned to the counselor. " Emily, I'd like you to review the message prior to it being sent out and perhaps suggest any changes if any are needed and to perhaps add a message of your own if you'd like to. I believe that her parents could benefit from your words of comfort. The message I want to tell them is that their daughter will need extensive treatment but will be able to return to them again. At least that is what my prayer is. "

Cassie sighed inwardly as the doctor's continued error with her name and she threw the 'Don't worry, he does this all the time' look in the direction of the Captain encouraging him not to say anything.

"Of course Doctor... Now, If I may suggest, Oliver... with the Doctor and the Captain's agreement, I believe it is time you took your daughter for a walk... Get to know her a little!"

Jon wasn't sure if he was supposed to be amused that his CMO had just referred to his prior nurse Emily or not.

Oliver looked just as confused. "No doctor," he said after a moment. "I'm going to speak to Xu's parents myself over subspace and introduce them to our daughter before she's older than me. I would prefer the counselor help me do that in person and I will let them know you will be sending over your report on their daughter's medical condition. Also, who is Emily?"

C'Tora shook his head. " I did it again didn't I? " He looked at Oliver. " I have three nurses that have the same fur...I mean hair color and their scents are similar. Cassie, Emma, and Emily. Sorry, Cassie, It happens when I get stressed or distracted as you know. "

"It is fine Doctor... Now, if you will excuse me, I have other appointments... Ollie, shall we meet tomorrow?"
Cassie turned to look at the forlorn man before her and in many ways, her heart was breaking for him. He had so much to deal with and it had all come about in a very short space of time.

"Yes erm .. I'll message you. I'm not sure ..." he looked at his daughter. "On routine yet," he finished.

OFF:

Oliver Stevens/Methalina
NPC Jon

Lieutenant JG Cassandra Higgins
Ships Counsellor

Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant JG C'Tora
Chief Medical Officer