Echos of War

Posted on Thu Oct 9th, 2014 @ 12:21am by Commander Tressa Brislan

2,588 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: Infirmary - Starbase 400
Timeline: MD4: 0830 Hrs

"Echos of War"

Master Sargent Jeffery Duval
Lt Commander Tressa Brislan
-
Commander T'Nae Duval
Cadet 4th Class T'Lee Duval
Cadet 4th Class T'Kera Duval

***** Starbase Infirmary - Starbase 400 *****

Master Sargent Jeffery Duval who was nicknamed 'Hardcase' though some called him 'Hevy' because of his immense size and mass walked into the
infirmary, he took in the sights and sounds of the place at a glance before heading over to the secretary's desk. "Hello." he greeted her with his odd accent before producing a PADD. "I was told to report for a physical checkup, something about my age catching up with me."

His accent sounded almost like it was from New Zealand on Earth but there were a few things wrong with it, other then it sounded like a bass solo or someone who was always angry, all of the time.

"Your name?" the nurse asked cooly. She typed his answer into her terminal. "You're physical was scheduled for yesterday, please keep to your appointments and message us if you are unable to do so. I will see if the doctor on duty can fit you in."

"Ahh... well that information was not exactly helpful." he commented before raising an eyebrow.

"We have a schedule, Master Sargeant," she said haughtily. "Unless this is an emergency which it is not. Perhaps you can be more organized in future? You can have a seat and I will message the duty nurse."

"Very well. I will do that then." he responded as he turned and went over to the plush seats nearby as he settled in to wait for the Doctor to tell him that he or she was available to see Duval, outwardly he looked fine and calm but inside he was seething with rage and contempt, yesterday he had not even been on the station and he didn't know about the checkup until after he had gotten back.

A few moments later a tall nurse walked over to him and smiled.

"Sargeant?" she asked politely.

Duval raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" he growled at her.

"Follow me please, the CMO will be able to see you today."

Duval didn't think the response worthy of an answer so he rose to his full height and followed the smaller woman to where the doctor was waiting, he missed the company of his wife whom he found greatly soothing and he had no tolerance for people who talked down to him, the last time someone did that, well he had smashed his fist through their desk.

Duval regarded Doctor Brislan who was even smaller then the first nurse but before they got to the examination room, a taller comely Bolian walked past as she regarded him with a smile. "Hey Jeff... Hows it going?" Siaxx was one of a very few select group who called Duval by name and those who did were friends of his.

"The battle rages my dear..." Duval smiled at the shorter Bolian, when one was six foot five inches tall, everyone seemed shorter then he did.

"Of course. Live free" Siaxx Dvald responded with a wide smile.

"Die Well Siaxx." he responded with a smile as the Bolian nodded before moving off as he turned to look at the taller nurse. "Its a long story".

"A pleasant one I'm sure," she replied drolly.

Duval growled at her. "I was being polite. Why do you Doctors and nurses think you can offer me opinions on which you know nothing about." he then clasped his hands together before cracking all of his knuckles in a show of pure malevolence at the nurse, it was intended to intimidate and nothing else.

The nurse didn't answer, instead smiling sweetly as she ushered him into the exam room with the doctor. She left just as quickly.

Tressa smiled as she approached the large man. "Hello, Sargeant, what can I do for you today?"

Duval sighed while he turned to Tressa. "Well that depends." he commented.
"I seem to be dealing with rather sensitive people here, my scheduling got screwed up because yesterday I was not on the station when my appointment was due, Its not my fault that some of your people are less then useless."

"I see," she said, picking up her padd. "Yes, you were scheduled for your physical yesterday."

"Doctor. What would you prefer I do?" he inquired as he looked down at the much smaller Doctor who was a foot shorter then he was. "Somehow teleport myself from halfway across the Federation to keep your secretary happy..?"

Tressa held her ground, looking the tall man in the eye.

"Right now I would prefer that you get on the bed so that I may begin your physical without any further waste of my time."

Duval raised an eyebrow as he regarded the much smaller woman. "As you wish" he commented but rather then hop up onto the bed, he simply sat down on the bed as he watched her carefully.

"Computer, vitals and cardiovascular scan please," the doctor began as she removed her tricorder from her pocket. She picked up the padd and checked the med file again. "Sargeant Duval, are you in any pain today?" she asked.

"No more then usual." he responded. "mostly tight muscles... and old injuries bugging me." he raised an eyebrow. "Also having issues sleeping recently."

"Computer, musculoskeletal and neuro scans please. Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep?" she asked.

"Getting to sleep can be a pain and waking me up is easier then ever." he replied evenly. " he shrugged. "I never gave it much thought." he admitted.

"Well I'm here to ask the tough questions," Tressa said with a smile. "Do you eat or drink just before bed? That can make it difficult to get to sleep. Stress keeps us awake as well."

"I usualy don't eat before I go to bed." he raised an eyebrow. "Why does Lieutenant Dvald have a black eye anyway?" he inquired in a neutral tone. "Do I need to... educate someone in pain?"

"I am not at liberty to discuss Doctor Dvald's condition, Sargeant," Tressa said softly. "There is a torn muscle in your left shoulder but it has begun to heal," she added, changing the subject.

Duval raised an eyebrow. "I got that from combat training three days ago." he commented as if it meant nothing whatsoever to him. "Pain is sometimes a good thing. Wouldn't you agree Doctor..." he blinked slowly as he regarded her. "An easy victory is worth nothing.."

"Pain is your body telling you something is wrong." Tressa felt the torn muscle gently. "You will need to take it easy for the next few days or this may not heal properly. Scans look good, blood pressure and heartrate are excellent," she remarked, looking at the screen behind him.

"Pain can be many things." Duval answered quietly. "I'm fifty six years old Doctor and I joined when I was sixteen... my enlistment ends in six months time and....." he sighed. "I probably won't re-up again."

She looked up at the tall man and smiled. "Forty years? That is a long time, you've certainly earned your retirement."

Duval regarded her, a quiet sadness to his eyes. "Have I?"

"I would think so, that is your entire adult life. You can spend time with your family, bounce grandchildren on your knee," she said with a chuckle. "Many men would envy you that, don't you think?"

"Doctor, there isn't a lot I can really comment on. I do have a family of my own.. three, soon to be four children and a mate of my own." Duval explained to Tressa as she had asked him what family he had but he had no idea that his family was about to crash into his life with the grace of a meteor as the door to the examination room beeped at them both.

Duval raised an eyebrow. "Expecting someone?"

"I'm not," the doctor said with a puzzled look.

Duval rose to his feet, considering he was six foot five in height and massed at over three hundred fifty pounds muscle, he simply stood up and answered the door, what awaited him was the sight of two Vulcan women who shared many of his looks.

"This is a private examination," Tressa said, looking at Duval. If he was uncomfortable she would have them removed, but he just looked startled.

Duval blinked. "Girls... what are you doing here?" he addressed the two women who were clearly related to him.

The closest smiled as she regarded her father. "Suprising you, the Shield of Vega put in an hour ago and we are exploring this... floating hotel they assigned you to." she turned to Tressa. "Oh Hello Doctor... I was not ware you were busy... I thought my father had been committed for insanity."

The second Vulcan woman frowned. "Must you?" she glared at her sibling.

"I must." the first responded with a sweet smile. "I'm T'Lee and this is T'Kera."

"I am Commander T'Nae." a third voice interrupted as the larger Vulcan woman approched. "Ladies... let the good doctor finish her work before she has you escorted out of the infirmary." an older Vulcan woman approached, wearing command red and in uniform. "My apologies Doctor. I had expected my children to behave but clearly... I was asking too much." as she regarded her husband with a look of affection and love.

Duval smiled. "You have no idea how much I have missed your company."

"Oh but I do know...." T'Nae responded before she smiled at him, a Vulcan who smiled was unusual, she nodded to the doctor as she gave her husband a telling look that spoke much.

T'Lee and T'Kera clearly were used to seeing their parents being reunited at times like this as T'Nae smiled at her husband. "When the Doctor lets you out...I have dinner reservations for four in Crum's lounge ion about two hours."

"Sounds good... " Duval smiled at his wife.

"Very well... we will depart now, thank you Doctor.." and with that, T'Nae turned and departed with her two daughters behind her.

Duval blinked. "Had I known they were coming, I would have been in a happier mood." he then sat back down on the bed again as his smile slowly faded. "That... is what I retire to. If I decide to retire.." Duval added.

Tressa grinned at the tall man. "They are... lively, aren't they? You are a lucky fellow, Sargeant," she said.

Duval raised an eyebrow as he regarded the Doctor. "Most would regard emotional Vulcan's as anything other then lively." he commented with his usual dry wit,. "Others have wondered if I am cursed..." he then shrugged.
"I've missed them... " as a gentle smile graced his features. "Family is a terrible thing to waste."

"I agree, my niece and nephew can be quite the handful but I can't imagine my life without them," Tressa said with a smile.

Duval nodded. "I'm just missing Suvak now." he responded. "I doubt he could get the time off though."

"Just think of all the things you can do once you retire. You can visit whomever you wish!"

"I would be bored out of my mind all the time and we both know it.." Duval answered evenly. "Besides... I want my money back of that hot Bolian you keep around here... Siaxx bet us all cash in Phoenix's name and she won... "

The doctor chuckled. "Good luck catching her, Siaxx is difficult to corner." She sat down at the terminal and began to scroll through a padd. "Your scan results look very good, you are healthy and hale, and fit for duty."

"Excellent news Doctor." a smile escaped him. "though I might be back tomorrow with muscle aches and strains, I also might have some claw marks on me.... you know how it is?" he regarded her with a smile.

The doctor's eyes went open in mock surprise. "Sargeant, I don't know what you're talking about!" Then she smiled. "If you have any unusual pain please come to sickbay immediately. I did a full blood workup so I'll message the report to you when it comes in."

Duval nodded his head. "Sounds good." he responded. "My wife will doubtless be waiting for me outside the Infirmary... She's unusual for a Vulcan, in tune with her emotions instead of repressing them." he regarded Tressa. "So we have anything else we need to discuss before I go?"

"No, but I will message you if we need to do a follow-up."

"Sounds good. I look forward to it." he responded. "Give Fives my regards please." and with that he grinned at her.

She lifted an eyebrow at the man, reading his face. "I beg your pardon?" she asked carefully.

"Doctor. you wound me.... There isn't anything that happens on base that I don't hear about, I hear all but trust nothing." the massive marine looked down at the woman who was quite literally half his size.

"You hear too much," she said, realizing he was teasing her. She smiled to soften her words.

"Possibly." Duval responded. "I have served with Fives in the past and the subject of women came up, he asked me for my perspective on how to handle a certain case."

"He mentioned me?" she asked carefully.

"Well.. from the tone of the conversation. I gathered it had been some time since he had a relationship of any kind." he sighed softly. "I could not endure what that man has been through and remain sane.... If I lost T'Nae or my children.... I don't know what I'd do....I told him to take it easy and get to know the lady in his life before doing anything rash and.... I did not ask who this lady was." he gave her a look. "I did not wish to contribute to rumors... you know how this place is powered by word of mouth."

"Why would anyone care to know with whom I spend my free time?" she asked with a laugh. "Surely my personal life isn't interesting enough for scuttlebutt."

"Because.... contrary to popular opinions and looks Tressa. I do care about my friends, I consider Fives to b e a good friend, same with that hot Bolian in the next room..." he then smiled at her. "But don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold." his reputation was something he took seriously, he earned the nickname of 'Hardcase.' though being himself, tough as nails and taking no prisoners whatsoever.

"I consider Fives to be a good friend, too. Didn't take him for the kind to kiss and tell, though."

Duval realized that she had misunderstood him. "Tressa.." he addressed her by name for the first time. "He didn't tell me anything about you.... we were discussing shore leave and the subject of family came up... he was asking me about T'Nae and then he mentioned how much he wanted what I had... that's when the subject came up and I told him to be gentle about it...." he commented. "I'm sorry... you misunderstood me."

She smiled with relief. "I see, well then that is good to know." She watched the tall man for a moment. "He wants what you have? A family?"

Duval regarded her. "Yes." he answered quietly. "That's why I told him not to rush headlong into it..."

"Wise words, Sergeant."

Duval smiled at her. "I have a reputation to uphold."

***** Here's where the fun begins - Anakin Skywalker *****

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