Chain of command

Posted on Tue Jan 7th, 2020 @ 5:08am by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Commander Hades,MD

2,196 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 102 - The Rising Tide of War
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD1, 1600 hours

“...and triple checked,” Ensign Martinez confirmed as the pharmacist handed over a copy of the data files. “I’ve included my analysis of the composition of the sedative as well. If you need anything else, just call.”

With that she retreated, almost colliding with the familiar figure coming the other way. “Hello Doctor Harris,” she offered with a smile as she stepped around him. “I think Doctor Mendez is waiting to speak to you.”

“Yes, I am,” Mendez confirmed as he came to the door. While he had sequestered the use of Hades’ office he had not dared sit behind his desk. “Thanks for your help, Ensign. Doctor Harris, please come in. I need to speak with you, in private. It is a ... complicated situation. But as you are now technically our acting Chief Medical Officer -“

His eyes bugged out. "What the hell do you mean Acting CMO?" He scrubbed his hand down his face. "Carolyn..." He shook his head, "Doctor Corrigan is the Assistant CMO so therefore she is Acting CMO."

“That’s the other reason for calling you here,” Mendez said with surprising patience. “I was part of a team called to deal with a medical emergency... it was Doctor Corrigan.”

As he spoke he handed a PADD over to Harris. “I am not convinced and nor is Counsellor Monroe but it appears that she overdosed on a sedative. Given the type and strength, there can be little doubt the dosage was intended to be lethal. There are, however, indications that it not as it appears. I just do not have hard evidence. I am therefore duty bound to inform our CMO but I have also made it clear Hades does not learn of this. Which leaves you.”

He swore violently. Grabbing the PADD he read it over quickly. "She didn't do this. This was not Carolyn. Where is she...good call on Hades by the way. He needs time to recover." At this moment Harris was thankful for Kalani's stubbornness in taking Hades home.

"I agree. Had he been here it would have been near impossible," Mendez commented, sure it wouldn't be beyond their CMO to have the place bugged to keep tabs on what was happening. Although perhaps not, since his wife seemed just as stubborn. "And I have her in a side room within ICU. She is breathing on her own now, vital signs are picking up steadily as the sedative leaves her system.

Before you go in though," Mendez added, "she was conscious, briefly. But she was agitated, confused. She had no memory of me or the rest of the staff. When I asked her the date... she thought it was almost two years ago. It suggests a head trauma of some kind, I've certainly never encountered it as a natural side effect of a sedative. Even one as powerful as this one. It may pass naturally or I'm missing something."

"Her grandmother has offered to help with a neurological exam but I would advise against it. Counsellor Monroe was with the woman when they found Doctor Corrigan and she is... concerned that she knows more than she is saying. Yet we have nothing concrete. We know we didn't dispense the sedative, from the counsellor's accounts, there is a period before the sedative would have been in her system that Carolyn was not responding to comms.

She has insisted on being with Carolyn, I couldn't refuse. But we have two nurses in the room at all times. Because I can't prove something doesn't mean I'm taking chances."

He sighed, "Wise. In the mean time I've been looking at Hades' notes. He doesn't trust the old buzzard either. Alright. I'm going to issue a quarantine on Carolyn. I want that woman out of her room. I need to do some research. Run a mind probe on the memory centres. I need to know what's going on with her mind." He looked at Mendez. "How are we going to keep this from Hades...he might have listening devices even here. The man is part genius part evil genius."

“Counsellor Monroe seemed to think she could keep him distracted,” Mendez said, “aside from that I have no idea. He will find out sooner or later. Speaking of the counsellor, she was going to come back at some point with her daughter. See if it would jog her memory.”

Harris sighed. "Dammnit!" He ran his fingers through his hair. "We're not loosing her. It's not an option. Do you hear me!" He was shouting for nor reason but he knew how much Carolyn meant to Hades and he himself was growing fond of her.

Mendez raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I hear you. For one, do you realise how much of the surgical staff admin she does?” He was trying to inject some humour, to lighten the mood. It fell flat. “Look I saw the two of you, I don’t know exactly what your thing is and I don’t need to. But she isn’t dead, she will be fine. And unless we specifically state it was self harm, then her fitness to practice is not going to be questioned.”

He looked at Mendez. "Find out what happened. In fact...call Michael Nivar. Have him investigate. If this was her grandmother's doing I want to know." He sighed. He ignored Mendez's personal comment. "I'll be back I have to go check on a few things." He sighed, "In the mean time we need to check on Hades. You get that lovely task. We'll take turns."

“Me?!” Mendez practically squeaked. “Won’t he know something is wrong? I’m a surgeon, I don’t do house calls.”

"Mendez!"

“Fine,” Mendez groaned. “I’ll speak to this Nivar on the way. He stay on the station I take it?”

"Yes." Harris told him where to find Nivar


=/\= Michael Nivar's residence =/\=


With a medical kit slung over his shoulder in preparation for his visit to see Doctor Hades, Mendez had one detour to make. He wasn't entirely sure who this man was or what Dr Harris imagined he could do that station security could not, yet here he was. Complete with the blood sample.

Pressing the door chime there was no audible response. Just a slight delay before the door opened. Taking a deep breath as he stepped into the room. "Mr Nivar? Doctor Harris sent me."

Nivar motioned. "Come in." Harris had called down. "Do you have the sample and report?"

“Oh, yes,” Mendez said quickly as he handed over the sample and a PADD. “My preliminary medical report, along with the details Counsellor Monroe provided. I’m hoping it will help. All our techs could tell so far is that it has Vulcan and Romulan DNA markers.”

"Lovely. I'll get in touch with my contacts at the Tal'shiar. Tell Harris it'll take a day but I'll get him info. Also....if you're going to see Hades you might need this." He gave Mendez a small disk like object.

“Will do... what’s this?” He asked as he turned the disk over in his hand.

"Cut the monitoring feed from sickbay." He smiled, "It's Hades. Just place it in his study. Maybe then you and Harris can keep your secret about Corrigan."


=/\= Dr Hades residence =/\=

He was staring, he knew it.

Entering the quarters Doctor Hades shared with his wife, Mendez was completely caught off guard. He had expected your typical Starfleet décor but this could not be further from that if you tried. Reminding himself he was not here to stare at the ceiling, he cleared his throat as he turned to face the Orion who was patiently waiting off to one side. He couldn't tell but he was sure she was laughing. On the inside.

"Quite the place you have here," he said, attempting to aim for polite small talk. "I'm Doctor Mendez. I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm here to check on Doctor Hades progress and to make sure he is following orders to rest."

Kalani smiled. "I had that same look when I walked in." She motioned around. "Hades did this to surprise me." She sighed. "It's nice to meet you Doctor Mendez. Hades is....resting in the bedroom. As for following orders. I've chased him three times from the study area." She sounded frustrated. "Honestly. He needs rest but all he thinks about it getting back to sickbay."

“Oh, no need to think of that for some time yet,” Mendez said as he ran a hand through his hair with a nervous smile. “Rest, rest and more rest. He’s only been home a few hours. I hear the new journal of medicine has a delightful selection of articles on new surgical techniques. Is the bedroom through here? Perhaps you’d like to warn him before I barge in.”

She laughed. "Oh no. Catching him off guard is best." She smiled. "But i'll go first. Honestly you all act like you fear him. Hades is nothing but a big Teady Bear." She was aware that on Vulcan the Sehlat's or teady bears had six inch fangs and were alive.

“Yeah, a teddy bear,” Mendez agreed, rolling his eyes.

She laughed. Guiding him she found Hades sitting in bed, his arms crossed defensive and a sour expression on his face. "I want to go back to work."

Kalani sighed. "Oh no you don't!" She gave his shoulder a slight push and he lay back. "Now play nice with doctor Mendez. If he runs out of here screaming no dinner." She turned and gave Mendez a wink. "Have fun."

“I promise, this will be quick,” Mendez assured him as he retrieved his tricorder and began his scans. It was not a difficult house call, if you discounted the secrecy. Just a scan and the first of daily medication. “You are recovering at an astonishing rate. Your wife keeping watch is clearly just what you needed. It’s quite remarkable...”

"Yes well." He studied Mendez.

“I’ll prep the hypo and then be out of your hair,” he promised, reaching for the hypo.

He watched the man work. "Why are you here and not Carolyn?"

“Oh, she was caught up in surgery so asked me to come by,” Mendez said with a shrug, “said it would give me a chance to work on my people skills.”

He sighed, "I see." He thought a moment. "How is sickbay?"

“Same as ever,” he said, too his ears it sounded too bright, too cheery. He had to reign it in. “Everyone wishes you a full recovery of course. But they also want you back to full health. Your wife mentioned you’ve spent some time in your study and that is good. Physical activity, within reason, will do the world of good. I can leave my copy of Surgical Review in your study if you wish?”

He sighed. "Sure. It would be good to catch up." He rubbed his chin. "Alright why are you so cheerful today?"

“Me?!” Mendez said as he administered the hypo. “Just glad to see you on the mend. And not working nights for a few days always does wonders for my mood.”

He raised an eyebrow. "Yes but ... are you sure you are telling me everything?"

“Of course I am,” he lied. “And on that note, you are all good until tomorrow. Keep resting and I’ll leave that journal for you.”

Hades scratched his chin. Something was odd. Before he could say anything Kalani popped in and took the good doctor to the study.

Kalani smiled. "Just on the desk in there. Would you like to join us for lunch?"

“Very kind but I really must get back,” Mendez said as he opened up his kit bag. He took out a PADD, holding up and showing it to Kalani as his other hand slid the disc underneath top shelf of the desk. Nivar had assured him it would adhere to any surface and he hoped he was right. “This is Surgical Review. I know you are a scientist but some of the research papers might interest you. You would be amazed at some of the new techniques... sorry, I am babbling. Thank you again for the offer of lunch. Oh! Doctor Hades, didn’t see you there. Well...right. I best be off. Enjoy your lunch. Any problems, just give us a call.”

"I will. Thank you. Kitana, Hades' daughter will love reading it too. She's always puttering around in the study. She's convinced that someone's spying on her father." Kalani shook her head. "She'll want to examine the data padd.

“Spy?” He repeated, several octaves to high. “Of course she can. It’s just a journal. Nothing harmful unless you are averse to some of Professor Langdon’s ramblings. He is guest contributor. I’d skip that article. The rest is harmless and educational.”

He cleared his throat, moving towards the door. “I’ll be off. Doctor Harris will be on duty tomorrow so he’ll stop by to check on you.”

Kalani smiled. "That sounds good. Thanks for your help!"

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