Continuing their previous argument and completely ignoring where they were going, Kylara cut in. "How the hell can you not mean to shoot me? I mean, hell, you were facing the opposite direction. I at least got an excuse." "Instinct," Erelen said wearily, watching warily as the doors to sick bay slid open, upside down to both women. "um...excuse me..." Zack called as he stepped in, a woman across either shoulder, "I think they may need some help...and I'm pretty sure I'll need a head start...can somebody take these two, please?" With a mock glare, Kylara looked at him. "Oh no you don't! You're stayin' right here." Then she grinned. "Don't worry, wouldn't want to get that brother of yours mad at me." Aidoaneth looked up from his research at the main console to see a young Human male carrying two females, one over each shoulder, each of whom seemed to be run through with...na, it could na be. There were arrows sticking out of each of them. And here I thought this was going to be so much more quiet than a Rihannsu ship. "What happened?" he asked as he approached the trio. He then looked over his shoulder at Sindar. "You may wish to tell Dr. Michaels about this." "She shot me!" Kylara exclaimed, by now almost enjoying their argument, and the unusual predicament they were in. If the damn arrow didn't hurt so much, she'd be delighted with the whole mess. Or at least if it didn't hurt quite so much. It was a lovely sort of pain. If only she could find someone who wasn't very squeamish. Erelen just sighed, sensing Kylara's amusement mixed with pain. An odd combination. "I didn't mean to," she protested automatically, before turning to the doctor and explaining. "I guess you could call this a holodeck accident. A combination of too much laughter and real bows and arrows, I guess," she shook her head. "Zack, will you put me down now?" she asked. "They've already seen me and I can't get away." Zachary glanced toward the doctor as though making sure it was all right to put them down before doing so. At his nod, he set them both gently upon their feet and started toward the exit, then froze. Turning silently, he scanned the area across the room near the regen tank his brother had vacated only moments before he entered. Mac nudged Joshua as he came out from behind the screen, straightening his collar and once more futilely pushing curls out of his eyes, then nodded toward Zachary. He gave the slightest of nods as his eyebrows shot up and he almost smiled. Zachary laughed and shook his head as both Mac and Josh came over toward him. The first thing Nan realized when he left the quiet of the private room was that the Vulcan PA was gone and there was a Romulan there now. How very interesting, he told himself. The place seemed to be in a minor bit of chaos. Two older officers, one of them almost as tall as Senek, were talking to a young Human boy in a cadet's uniform. What really got his attention, though, were the two women shot through with arrows. He recognized the tall blonde one from his PADD. He walked over and offered her a bright smile. "Chief Petty Officer Nan Ecitsuj at your service. I hope arrows aren't a prerequisite for the Engineering department. That wouldn't agree with my cybernetics and that would give you way to much work to do," he stated. "Hey look! It's Mr. Mysterious!" Kylara called with a grin and started to wave enthusiastically. Until, of course, she realized she had an arrow in her shoulder and she yelped in pain. "Damnit," she muttered. "Just when it was starting to feel good..." All of a sudden she hoped no one had heard that last remark. She glanced around. She seemed to be in luck, at least for the moment. At Kylara's greeting, Josh blushed brightly and seemed to step back a bit, causing Mac to laugh out loud and nudge him closer to the group. "Hello Chief," Erelen greeted him with a rather pained smile. Rather difficult to be pleasant with an arrow stuck in her back. "Welcome on board. No arrows necessary. Just don't make the pilot laugh when she's got a bow and arrow in her hands." John Butler hated physicals but you did what you had to do and you had to have one every year. He approached Sick Bay at the same time as a blue eyed Vulcan in Medical colors did. "I'm here for my physical, Sir," Butler said, straightening up as if to show how healthy he was already. Seren nodded toward the door. "Step inside, Ensign. I just came off a break and I'm not sure if there's anything going on ahead of you." As they walked in, Seren resisted shaking his head as he saw the arrows. Whatever made me think there wasn't going to be something going on? Rachelle looked up from the log she was writing when she heard the voices in sickbay. It sounded like every member of the crew was in there! She hurried to the door, pausing as it opened. Once that obstacle was out of the way, she entered the main area and stopped short. There were people everywhere but the ones that caught her attention first were the two with the arrows sticking out of various body parts. She realized she was standing there gaping when she had patients to attend to and started moving again, calling out instructions as she made her way toward them. "Ok, let's get to work now. One of you, get those two up on biobeds, carefully, please." She gestured towards the arrows as she spoke, hoping the orderlies would know she meant the patients were the ones who should be on the beds, with the arrows in tow of course. "I want scans immediately, let's see just how much damage had been done here. Get some mild painkillers into them, not enough to knock them out, just to take the edge off for now. I want the surgery rooms prepped and ready in 5 minutes. Let's move!" The staff started bustling around as Rachelle approached the closest human pincushion and asked, "Wanna tell me how this happened, or should I even ask?" "She shot me!" Kylara announced before Erelen could say anything. Erelen sighed, winced, and shook her head: Kylara seemed to be having too much fun with that. "It was an accident in the holodeck. The bows and arrows were real, which is why they're still here. Commander Someone here accidentally shot me because she was laughing, and then I shot her before I realized what was happening," she explained, figuring the details could wait until later. It rather looked like the doctor was going to have her hands full for the time being. "Zack brought us in. One of us over each shoulder, if I might add," she said with a wry smile. N'Ellie had to rub her eyes after walking into sick bay. She'd never seen it so crowded nor had she ever seen anyone with... arrows? punching through their skin. Walking up behind the gathering, she over heard the elf looking woman and laughed. "I call dibs on having the kid on any away teams I'm on." Zack laughed merrily at that. "I wouldn't have had to if they'd have come on their own, but they wouldn't." A bit more seriously he asked,"Do they let Cadet's go on away missions?" Glancing over his shoulder, gave a quick shake of the head and held his hand up to his brother, who halted his progress toward the exit and waited near the wall, as far from the crowd as he could get without going back toward the regen tank he'd so recently left. "Not first years kido but since your here and not at the academy who knows" N'Ellie replied before looking over at Josh. She offered him a warm reassuring smile. Then she looked back at the crowd. "Ya know we're a pretty big place so if you don't have an arrow sticking out of you, or if your not trying to remove said arrow, how about either getting out or find a chair, park your rear ends into it, and stop gapping as if this were a crash on the freeway or something." Seren glanced at the Romulan doctor a moment. He hadn't met him yet but that could wait. He gestured toward Ensign Butler. "Why don't you go have a seat in the waiting area, Ensign. Your triage level is so far below green that it's not even on the scale." Tawa still had his arm around Dove's waist as he escorted her in to Sick Bay. It might have been for his own comfort as well as to help her. She still looked very queasy to him, despite his first aid, and he was sure this was not going to end well, ice cream promises aside. Looking at he huge crowd of people, he looked at Dove and said, "I bet this isn't all marshmallow related." Dove was looking around at all the patients. "I highly doubt it. Have we been in a battle without my knowing it? With primitives?" she asked, eyeing the arrows protruding from her chief and the pilot. She was still keeping her hands out of the way very carefully in spite of the... surprise. Erelen looked up at Dove's voice and caught her questioning glance. "What, you too? This seems to be the new location of the engineering convention." she said bemusedly, then shook her head. "Stories later, I guess." Luckily, Erelen was very used to hiding the nervousness that being in medical brought about. And the irony of the situation helped as well. Nan, hearing the Klingon lady's pronouncement, offered Erelen and Kylara a theatrical bow and a wide smile. "It was really very nice meeting you both but I think I better go. I'll be more than happy to see you both when you get sprung." Aidoaneth, after casting a curious glance at the tall Vulcan PA, approached Rachelle. "We've just received a patient with second degree burns to the upper limbs. Shall I see to that while you and Ms, Coyne see to the...targets?" Looking over at the newest arrive, N'Ellie looked around quickly. Seemed as if everyone was busy so she decided to take this one. "If you'll come over here and have a seat on the stool I'll take a look at those burns." She told Dove as she went for a tricorder. Seren nodded at N'Ellie. "If you will see to that, I'll see to anything new and to Mr. Butler's physical." Nikolas walked down the hall towards sick bay, thumping his chest. That would be the last time he took Hale's word on something being, "It's so mild a baby could eat it." Especially when it came to chili. When the doors parted he stepped in, hoping that he could get something for his heartburn quickly so he could head back to the bridge, but by the looks of the medical department that wasn't going to happen. "All right, let's see what we have here." Rachelle scanned the screens over the two, noting that the damage didn't seem to be life-threatening. She frowned, then reread Erelen's screen without comment. She'd be talking to her later for sure, there were a few unusual readings there. For now though, the arrows took precedence. She glanced around as the doors opened again. What was going on here today anyway? Was the whole crew going to end up there before it was all over? Leaving the newest arrivals to Aidoaneth, she narrowed her attention to the immediate area, effectively blocking out the crowd of ailing crewmembers to concentrate on these two. She shook her head, trying to fight the grin that threatened. Bows and arrows, what next? Nikolas watched for a few moments. The CMO seemed to be treating to women with arrows sticking out of them. The med student was treating another woman with burns. There was a Vulcan and a Romulan working the crowd. Boothby warned him there'd be days like this if he took an assignment with Hale. The odd thing was that he loved this unpredictable nature of the Georgetown. Stepping further into the room, Nikolas brought himself to his full height and quickly stepped into his command roll. "Would someone care to tell me if there is something I should be aware of here?" Josh stood off in the corner away from the crowd, watching the chaos unfold, awaiting permission to leave. The moment the question rang out, Zachary, looked up at him, trying on his most innocent expression. Noting the pseudo-angelic gaze, Josh almost smiled, shaking his head and Mac laughed right out loud. "Oh, no sir," Mac attempted, his voice thick with barely contained mirth. "Nothing at all. Just a typical day on the Georgetown, sir." He no sooner got the words out than the laughter won out. Within moments, even Josh wore a full fledged smile. Aidoaneth knew this was the first officer speaking. Rachelle was busy seeing to the targets and the student was seeing to the woman with burns. He wondered if the Klingon was going to get irritated with the tall green ensign who was hovering nearby. A friend of the patient? Most likely. Approaching Nikolas, he said, "I am Dr. tr'Ghaladriel, Commander. I believe Dr. Michaels has everything well in hand. Is there something you need assistance with?" Nikolas was a young man, younger then most others who shared his rank and position, but he was old enough and experienced enough to remember all the hell that the Empire had caused the Federation. It felt odd to him to have a Romulan on the ship. It felt even odder that the man was not only being civil but also seemed to be passing off as respectful. "Never believe the Captain when he tells you his chili isn't hot.. Got anything for heartburn?" Aidoaneth blinked then shook his head. "I have yet to meet the captain, Commander, but I think I will take your word for it.," he said with a slight smile. He sensed the man's hesitation and knew that it had to be because of what he was. Eh, we will all get used to each other eventually. He looked over his shoulder at the at hand med supply stock and reached for a hypo full of a common anti-acidic. Holding up for the man's inspection, he said, "I will quite understand if you want to read the label first." Looking over her shoulder at the laughter, N'Ellie took note of Josh's smile. It was an amazing smile that caused her to smile in return. From his seat in the waiting room, John Butler could see his psycho of a roomie hovering over the girl being treated by the Klingon student. Tawa's hand was resting on the patient's shoulder. Damn, but she's cute. "Tawa Pax with a woman? Must be a pity thing," Butler said derisively. Tawa had hearing that was Vulcan sharp and his head whipped around. His nerves were frayed already from Dove's injury. Butler's barb was the last straw. The smell of burning paper was very strong as he clenched his hand into a fist and stepped away from Dove and N'Ellie. "Take it outside Sprout." N'Ellie warned Tawa. She'd sensed what she could only call crappy emotions of the man in the waiting room, and then sudden smell of burning paper only reinforced the switch in what she was sensed from Tawa. "And try not to get hurt we're kinda busy in here." Josh and Mac looked at each other. At Mac's nod, both moved closer to Tawa, making it obvious they were watching his back, causing Zachary's brows to shoot up. Mac grinned at Butler, then put his hand on Tawa's shoulder. Quietly, so that only he could hear, still smiling, he told him. "Easy, man. He ain't worth it." Tawa swore under his breath but he released the clenched fist. THey'd saved him from seriously getting more brig time. He was still pissed at Butler but he was also grateful for the help. "Thanks, guys--really." "So that's your roommate," Dove said, studying Butler, then shrugged, unimpressed. She was very grateful for the pain-killing hypospray, and holding her hands still while N'Ellie examined them. "He's a--" Tawa began. He bit off his reply. It definitely wasn't going to be polite. "You feel any better, Dove?" Dove nodded and smiled a thank you. "Yes... numb is good." Then she frowned a moment, then brightened, recognizing the two men who had joined Tawa, finally. Burns were very distracting. "You're the new engineers," she said, before realizing that wasn't much of a greeting. "Lt McEntire and Ens Garrity? I'm Dove McCallah," she finished, turning to include N'Ellie in the greeting. Josh stepped back slightly, just behind Mac, who grinned. He knew he'd have to be the one talking."Nice to meet you. I'm Patrick McEntire. This beanpole here is Josh Garrity." Kylara, meanwhile, was rather disappointed when she was given painkillers. The discomfort from the arrow had softened into a lovely, warm ache. She figured she would be glad of it when they removed it, but still. Erelen really didn't show any change, sitting perfectly still after nodding and smiling in response to Nan's farewell. Then Kylara slowly started to smile, and before long it was a rather devilish grin. She debated with herself for a moment, then figured that what the hell, she would probably be murdered for it later, but it would probably be worth it. "Hey Zack," she said as innocently as possible. "Probly oughtta let Captain know where you are so he doesn't worry." Then she suited actions to words and called Hale before anyone could stop her. "Someone to Captain Hale. Zack, me and Erelen are all in sickbay after a bit of a holodeck accident. Just lettin' you know!" she informed him cheerfully and then cut of communications before he could answer. Josh's eyes went wide and Zachary almost choked. Nikolas looked over at the young woman who'd called the Captain. As far as he knew she wasn't a department head, and he found it rather interesting that a junior officer would have the gall to call the Captain that way. Then he looked over to where the young men were. The Captain's nephews. He had yet to meet the boys and was surprised at their appearance. As much as the old man could eat, you'd think his kin would be a little less.... thin... The older one seemed incredibly shy and awkward but the younger one seemed more lively. The look on the younger one's face when the woman called for Hale, nearly made the commander laugh. He knew that look well. He often wore it himself when his wife was about to find out he'd been running a holoprogram he shouldn't have been. "N'Ellie Coyne." N'Ellie replied as she started graphing the burns. "You know if I didn't know any better I'd say these were almost as bad as a candy burn." Ariana walked into sickbay ready for her first shift, what she didn't expect was to walk into total chaos. It seemed as if the entire crew was in sickbay for one reason or another. Some with arrows sticking oout of their bodies, other with burns, and still others with god only knew what. She did the only thing she could do and that was to find a patient and begin treating them. At least it kept her occupied Hale entered sickbay at a dead run and looked around for Michaels, or Someone, anyone to tell him what had happened to his boy. He stopped just short of running over the nearest person to the exit. Spying Nicky-boy, he hurried over. "You seen my boy?" He asked him, obviously worried. Looking around at the madhouse his sickbay seemed to be, he asked him seriously. "We had an outbreak of something?" After finishing with Dove's hands, N'Ellie told her to stay put so she could get a hypo that would help with the pain and keep off any infection. As she headed for the supply locker she stopped near Josh, Mac, and Zack. "Don't look so worried, Zack. I'm sure the girls will be ok. You did good getting them here." Then she looked over at Josh and smiled at him. Then softly so only he could hear her she said, "Mess halls empty around oh three hundrand. I thought we could continue talking about comfort food." "From what I can tell. There are two crewmen with arrow wounds. One with burns. One's here for a physical. Some of the others are friends of the wounded." Nikolas started as he looked around the room. Then he turned and pointed to were the boys and the med student were. "Both your boys are over there with McEntire." Hale slapped Nick on the back, muttering a thanks and hurried toward his boys, only to stop in his tracks and stare. There in front of him was his oldest, talking to a cute little female med student and actually almost smiling. Who was she? He wondered. Whoever she was, she was obviously good for his boy. "Nicky," he asked, turning back. "Who is that girl?" "The med student you OKed. Coyne." Nikolas answered as he looked over at the young woman who had her back to them. "She's the one you'd said you'd handle after the fight in the lounge." Hale groaned. Not that one, dammit, he thought. Any girl but that one. Looking around quickly N'Ellie smiled as she leaned in to whisper to Zack. "There's gummy bears in my locker, kiddo, why don't you grab you some and get your brother a cup of coffee." Zack jumped to do as he was told, spotting Hale along the way. "Uncle, come on. I want you to meet Josh's friend." Something about the sound of his voice and the twinkle in his eye made it clear he thought she might be more than just Josh's friend. "I know you like coffe but how do you feel about chocolate?" N'Ellie asked with a smile. "I want you to try something.. Meet me in the mess hall tonight.. I'd better get back to work." "Chocolate?" Josh asked quietly, nodding hesitantly. He had no idea, but supposed tonight he'd find out. Tawa froze then thanked whatever deities there were in the galaxy that Mac and Josh had stopped him. The Captain was there now and Dr. Kaartaren's words were echoing through his head. Aidoaneth was still holding the hypo he'd prepared for the XO. Since the man hadn't voiced any objections to the contents, he approached him again, where he stood with the captain. "Excuse me, sir," he said to Hale, as he pressed the hypo to Renaldi's neck. "That should take care of the problem, Commander." Turning his attention back to Hale, he added, "Both of the brothers are unijured, sir, though it was the younger of the two who brought the two targets in." "That damned girl," Hale grinned."She got me again. Remind me to turn her over my knee later." He turned to Nick, looking concerned. "What's wrong with you, Nicky-boy? What was that," He mimed the hypo,"all about?" Dove thanked N'Ellie, looking at her no-longer-blistered hands and sighing in relief. "It was marshmallows, actually. Tawa and I were roasting marshmallows and one caught on fire and landed on my hand," she explained. Meanwhile, Kylara was grinning from ear to ear, watching Hale run in, and really enjoying the look of confusion on his face, as well as the grin that appeared as he discovered that Zack was perfectly fine. "I heard that!" she called across sick bay to him. "Didn't think abusin' officers was the best way to run a ship, but... whatever pops your cherry, I guess." "You'll think that come dinnertime, little girl," Hale laughed. "See if you get any chili. I'll have you eating the boy's rabbit food instead of the good stuff with the rest of us." Erelen merely shook her head, torn between amusement and exasperation. Seren had been about to tell the ensign in the waiting area that he could have his physical when the man made the derisive comment. It was the surname that caught his attention. Surely not, he told himself. He looked over his shoulder at the four young men clustered over by N'Ellie and the young Human female with the burns. He'd met three of the four when Lish took him to visit the other ship. It was the fourth one, the one with the green complexion and the faint Trill spots, who had to be the object of Butler's scorn. Tawa Pax. Oh my, I do believe I have to look into this, he told himself. "Mr. Butler, if you manage to keep your snide remarks to yourself, we are ready for your physical," he finally said. "Or you can explain your lack of self control to your CO if you'd like." "It's nothing really, Sir." Nikolas answered. Then he laughed at the interaction between the Captain and Someone. "If things are under control here, Sir, I think I'll return to the bridge." Rachelle paused when she heard an alarm. It wasn't unexpected, she had set it herself to alert her when the scan was finished. She motioned to Aidoaneth. "Could you please go and tell our guest he can get up now? The scan is finished and the data is complete." "Of course, Rachelle. I think he will be glad to get up," Aidoaneth said quietly. He entered the private room and immediately tapped in the sequence of commands that saved the data from the scan. He then looked down at Senek. "You are free to go, Commander. Dr. Michaels is a bit occupied at the moment but she will discuss the results with you as soon as she can." Senek sat up, allowing the sheet to fall to his waist, and stretched. Tilting his head slightly, he listened to the muffled noises outside the door. "What is going on out there, Doctor?" "I..." Aidoaneth couldn't help it. He shook his head and laughed. "You Federation people are very strange. Gest dressed and see for yourself." Meanwhile, back in the main room, Rachelle was trying to restore some order. She picked up a tricorder and ran it over both human targets, noting the exact position of the arrows and planning out the best strategy to remove them without causing more damage. She gestured to N'Ellie and Sindar. "I would like for you both to get those who actually need attention seated. Herd the rest to one side for now, I don't see much hope in getting rid of them until the whole story comes out. Then we'll move these two into the surgery rooms and remove their ornaments." N'Ellie nodded at Rachelle and then turned to look at the room. It was loud and no one was looking her way. Putting her fingers to her lips, imitating the way Joanna use to get her classes attention, N'Ellie whistled loudly. Once she had everyone's attention she said loudly. "If you need medical attention come over here and check in with Nurse Sinder. If you do not need medical attention please move out of the main bay into the waiting area over there." N'Ellie pointed to waitng area. As she watched the groups forming she smiled. "Thank you for visiting the sick bay of the USS Georgetown and please enjoy your day." Assuming that was close enough to permission to leave, Josh made a be-line for the exit. "Hey, whoa, hold up!" Mac stopped him. "Michaels hasn't even had a chance to check the results for today yet. You know she's not going to just let you walk without first reviewing your progress." Josh shook his head with a sigh, longingly eyeing the exits. He'd been so close. Tawa wasn't willing to leave just yet, not without knowing if Dove was going to be okay. He moved to the waiting area with Josh and Mac. After Mac stopped the lanky Josh from leaving, Tawa casually posted himself by the door. He had the notion that Josh would try to leave if anybody else walked in. He didn't notice the PA's odd glance at him as he led Butler off for his physical. After he was dressed, Senek stepped out into the main room in Sick Bay. He looked around rather causually and one brow raised slowly. He spotted his trainee looking somewhat amused, or was that guilty, and strolled over. "Your hands will be fine." N'Ellie told Dove once she'd returned to look over the newly healed hands. "The skin might feel a little tight and dry but some gentle flexing and some hand cream should take care of that." N'Ellie pressed a hypo to Dove's neck and then handed her a small cylinder of hand cream. "Come back in a couple days so we can make sure everything healed up alright." "Thanks again. And it was good to meet you. I still haven't met all the newer arrivals," Dove smiled as she hopped off the bed and headed back to Tawa and the pair of engineers she had just met. She was hoping she would get a chance to compliment Josh on his new replicator programs, without getting anyone in trouble. First, however, she showed her hands to Tawa. "Good as new, though I don't think I'll be wearing this shirt very often," she said ruefully, eyeing the burnt sleeves. After smiling warming at Dove, N'Ellie walked over to the replactor and ordered a coffee. She smiled as she looked over at Zack who'd been distracted by Captain Hale. Then she walked over and handed the cup to Josh. "Strong and black and more important hot.. You look like a baby targ someone left out in the snow." Josh accepted the steaming cup gratefully, smiling slightly at her comment. He'd never seen snow, but understood the concept nonetheless. Zack bounded back over, determined to get N'Ellie's attention. "Come on, you need to meet someone." he smiled. As he turned to lead her over to John, he spotted Senek heading toward him. "Afternoon, sir." He laughed. "Still think down time's a good idea?" "I am beginning to think not," Senek said dryly. He didn't see Nan there any more but there still seemed to be quite a crowd. Considering that two of the crowd were the pilot and the chief engineer, both of whom were shot with arrows, and considering Zack's question, he shook his head. It was rather difficult to banter while being fussed over by doctors, but Kylara was very practiced. "Rabbit food? That mean I get to eat with the rabbits?" she called back to him, grinning over at Zack and Josh. "Maybe I'd even learn to play chess." Then she remembered something. "Hey Mac! When we going mud wrestling?" Josh carefully avoided her gaze, instead focussing on the cup in his hand as Mac roared. "Whenever you want, sweetheart. Just make sure to leave the bows and arrows at home." Mac answered. Winking at her, he added, "We'll go shirts and skins. I call shirts." Senek offered the Captain an apologetic shrug. "Sir, I told him to make sure to take some time to relax," he said then nodded towrd the two targets. "That was not what I meant." Kylara laughed delightedly and winked back. "Careful what you wish for. Jus' might get it!" Erelen, meanwhile, was wondering when the doctor was going to try to knock Kylara out so she'd shut up and let them get some work done, and was suddenly very glad that Kylara was not an engineer. Of course, it could be interesting... Erelen smiled. There would never be a dull moment wherever Kylara worked. As it was, she was just hoping to get out of here a soon as possible. Aidoaneth practically grinned when two more women walked in. Rachelle hadn't been joking when she said she had a twin. Carrying Challornetha, Gressa stomped her way into Sick Bay, brushing past anybody in the waiting room, looking for the child's father. The Andorian said he would be right there to meet her but where was that good looking Vulcan? "What in Kahless' name is this chaos?" she growled to no one in particular. Nobody looked to be sick. There were wounded, which surprised her, but everyone else looked well enough. "Stragglers should be put to work or left behind." Josh and Zack both shrunk silently back, with Joshua carefully drawing his brother behind him, muscles tensing, as the woman's demeanor struck a cord of painful familiarity. Unfortunately, Kylara was the one who heard that, and having the self-preservation skills of a depressed lemming, she had to comment. "Stragglers? How the hell do you get stragglers on a ship? We're kinda all moving at the same pace, ya know." "Oh boy..." muttered Erelen. As if things weren't interesting enough already. If nothing else, this would be... entertaining. "You," Gressa growled across the room, "are slow enough to be shot once. I can always shoot you myself later if you'd like." Seren, hearing that familiar voice, left Butler on the exam bed, saying, "You stay there and you keep your mouth shut." "Huh? What'd I say?" Kylara was confused. "And of course I was slow enough to be shot. I was standin' still and laughing my ass off!" No longer caring whether or not he had permission to leave, Josh began moving again slowly toward the exit, drawing Zachary with him. Tawa looked over at Mac, nodding at Josh. "I don't think he's supposed to leave yet. We ought to distract him." Erelen merely shook her head, smiling wryly as she lay down on her stomach where she was instructed to and wondering how Kylara would get out of this one, once she realized what she was in to in the first place. Then, just as Josh and Zack were nearing the doors, Jessica ran in. She had been working in her lab when a chemical added had suddenly turned the compound she was working with highly acidic, which promptly ate through her beaker and table before setting to work on her hands and one leg. By grabbing the nearest base she was able to stop it's progression, but she still had dents in her hands that were rather painful, despite the improved aspirin she had made the day before. She had just gotten past Josh and nearer to Gressa when she realized what she was seeing and stopped short, not realizing she was in between the nanny and Kylara. "Um, did I come at a bad time?" she asked, looking around as shock temporarily made her completely forget the way her hands and thigh felt. "Are those arrows?" N'Ellie looked over at Josh and held out her hands to stop him. "Trust me she's all bark." She then stepped closer to the older Klingon woman. "What is your purpose here." She asked in Klingon. Josh knew well enough never to assume anyone was "all bark". He paused, but remained ready to run or fight if necessary, to hear the answer. What was her purpose here? Gressa stared at the youngster. She may not be all Klingon but she has the heart, she thought with a smile. She nodded toward the white gaired, blue skinned baby she held in her arm. "I seek this one's father." Looking down at the baby the elder Klingon woman held, N'Eille actually blinked. The baby looked to be blue Valcan with feelers. Could the child really be Valcan and Andorian? She asked herself. That had to be even odder then a Betaziod Klingon Human. "Who is the small one's father?" "Him," she said as she saw Seren appraoching. Of that was when the child started bawling at the top of her teeny lungs. "le silence le petit votre père est près." N'Ellie whispered to the baby. She'd figured that Klingon would be to harsh a sound on the little one's ears, so she opted for French. He's right over there," Hale answered her, moving to position himself between the door and his boys, next to Tawa and Mac. He looked at Josh, who still looked ready to spring and said so softly that only the two of them, or perhaps those nearby with Vulcan's hearing, could possibly hear him."Easy, boy. You're worrying over history, remember? He's safe, and so you. It can't happen again. Not here. Not on my watch." Angelina looked around, barely containing her glee at the frenzy she'd walked into. She had heard this crew was a diverse bunch and obviously the reports had not been exaggerated. She saw a couple of Vulcans, a Klingon holding what she assumed was a baby with antennae, or the strangest headgear she'd seen lately, humans, some with arrows of all things, some without, and was that a Romulan standing by with a hypospray in hand? Craning her neck, she finally caught sight of hair that looked like her own. Pushing her way as gently as she could through the crowd, she walked up beside Rachelle and in a low voice said, "You know, things are never boring when you're around." Rachelle whirled around, tricorder still in hand. Her eyebrows shot up as she saw who had spoken and the look on her face so exactly matched the one Angelina had made earlier in the shuttle bay that Arianna and Calista had to bite their lips to keep from laughing out loud. Ariana looked around and saw N'Ellie trying to get into a fight with the older Klingon but luckily Seren managed to show up in time to handle that situation. Ari had been watching N'Ellie off and on and had noticed how much time she had been spending with Josh. She wondered what was going on. Oh well t'was none of her business. Meanwhile she went looking for Dr. Michaels to see if she could assist in the surgeries or in any other way possible. Return-Path: <ussgeorgetown-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Received: from rly-yd04.mx.aol.com (rly-yd04.mail.aol.com [172.18.141.68]) by air-yd03.mail.aol.com (v104.18) with ESMTP id MAILINYD34-20d420c094e23d; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:25:00 -0500 Received: from turing.freelists.org (freelists-180.iquest.net [206.53.239.180]) by rly-yd04.mx.aol.com (v104.18) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINYD45-20d420c094e23d; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:30 -0500 Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by turing.freelists.org (Avenir Technologies Mail Multiplex) with ESMTP id 7402A6FB39; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:30 -0500 (EST) Received: from turing.freelists.org ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (turing [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 27798-08; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:30 -0500 (EST) Received: from turing (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by turing.freelists.org (Avenir Technologies Mail Multiplex) with ESMTP id D8F466FAE1; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:29 -0500 (EST) Received: with ECARTIS (v1.0.0; list ussgeorgetown); Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:29 -0500 (EST) X-Original-To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Delivered-To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by turing.freelists.org (Avenir Technologies Mail Multiplex) with ESMTP id 9ACAD6FA6C for <ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Th u, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:29 -0500 (EST) Received: from turing.freelists.org ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (turing [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 27798-06 for <ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:29 -0500 (EST) Received: from imo-m21.mx.aol.com (imo-m21.mx.aol.com [64.12.137.2]) by turing.freelists.org (Avenir Technologies Mail Multiplex) with ESMTP id CB7E66FB2C for <ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:28 -0500 (EST) Received: from Tesa16591@xxxxxxx by imo-m21.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r3.8.) id 3.7d.62b35d13 (18555) for <ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:20 -0500 (EST) From: Tesa16591@xxxxxxx Message-ID: <7d.62b35d13.2f3d6342@xxxxxxx> Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:24:18 EST Subject: [ussgeorgetown] Re: a tag log for everyone who wants to play...jump right.. . To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1108085058" X-Mailer: 9.0 SE for Windows sub 5005 X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new-20030616-p9 (Debian) at avenirtech.net X-archive-position: 348 X-ecartis-version: Ecartis v1.0.0 Sender: ussgeorgetown-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Errors-To: ussgeorgetown-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx X-original-sender: Tesa16591@xxxxxxx Precedence: normal Reply-To: ussgeorgetown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx X-list: ussgeorgetown X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new-20030616-p9 (Debian) at avenirtech.net X-AOL-IP: 206.53.239.180 (Slightly edited to get all the parts in. change what you wish of course LOL) Continuing their previous argument and completely ignoring where they were going, Kylara cut in. "How the hell can you not mean to shoot me? I mean, hell, you were facing the opposite direction. I at least got an excuse." "Instinct," Erelen said wearily, watching warily as the doors to sick bay slid open, upside down to both women. "um...excuse me..." Zack called as he stepped in, a woman across either shoulder, "I think they may need some help...and I'm pretty sure I'll need a head start...can somebody take these two, please?" With a mock glare, Kylara looked at him. "Oh no you don't! You're stayin' right here." Then she grinned. "Don't worry, wouldn't want to get that brother of yours mad at me." Aidoaneth looked up from his research at the main console to see a young Human male carrying two females, one over each shoulder, each of whom seemed to be run through with...na, it could na be. There were arrows sticking out of each of them. And here I thought this was going to be so much more quiet than a Rihannsu ship. "What happened?" he asked as he approached the trio. He then looked over his shoulder at Sindar. "You may wish to tell Dr. Michaels about this." "She shot me!" Kylara exclaimed, by now almost enjoying their argument, and the unusual predicament they were in. If the damn arrow didn't hurt so much, she'd be delighted with the whole mess. Or at least if it didn't hurt quite so much. It was a lovely sort of pain. If only she could find someone who wasn't very squeamish. Erelen just sighed, sensing Kylara's amusement mixed with pain. An odd combination. "I didn't mean to," she protested automatically, before turning to the doctor and explaining. "I guess you could call this a holodeck accident. A combination of too much laughter and real bows and arrows, I guess," she shook her head. "Zack, will you put me down now?" she asked. "They've already seen me and I can't get away." Zachary glanced toward the doctor as though making sure it was all right to put them down before doing so. At his nod, he set them both gently upon their feet and started toward the exit, then froze. Turning silently, he scanned the area across the room near the regen tank his brother had vacated only moments before he entered. Mac nudged Joshua as he came out from behind the screen, straightening his collar and once more futilely pushing curls out of his eyes, then nodded toward Zachary. He gave the slightest of nods as his eyebrows shot up and he almost smiled. Zachary laughed and shook his head as both Mac and Josh came over toward him. The first thing Nan realized when he left the quiet of the private room was that the Vulcan PA was gone and there was a Romulan there now. How very interesting, he told himself. The place seemed to be in a minor bit of chaos. Two older officers, one of them almost as tall as Senek, were talking to a young Human boy in a cadet's uniform. What really got his attention, though, were the two women shot through with arrows. He recognized the tall blonde one from his PADD. He walked over and offered her a bright smile. "Chief Petty Officer Nan Ecitsuj at your service. I hope arrows aren't a prerequisite for the Engineering department. That wouldn't agree with my cybernetics and that would give you way to much work to do," he stated. "Hey look! It's Mr. Mysterious!" Kylara called with a grin and started to wave enthusiastically. Until, of course, she realized she had an arrow in her shoulder and she yelped in pain. "Damnit," she muttered. "Just when it was starting to feel good..." All of a sudden she hoped no one had heard that last remark. She glanced around. She seemed to be in luck, at least for the moment. At Kylara's greeting, Josh blushed brightly and seemed to step back a bit, causing Mac to laugh out loud and nudge him closer to the group. "Hello Chief," Erelen greeted him with a rather pained smile. Rather difficult to be pleasant with an arrow stuck in her back. "Welcome on board. No arrows necessary. Just don't make the pilot laugh when she's got a bow and arrow in her hands." John Butler hated physicals but you did what you had to do and you had to have one every year. He approached Sick Bay at the same time as a blue eyed Vulcan in Medical colors did. "I'm here for my physical, Sir," Butler said, straightening up as if to show how healthy he was already. Seren nodded toward the door. "Step inside, Ensign. I just came off a break and I'm not sure if there's anything going on ahead of you." As they walked in, Seren resisted shaking his head as he saw the arrows. Whatever made me think there wasn't going to be something going on? Rachelle looked up from the log she was writing when she heard the voices in sickbay. It sounded like every member of the crew was in there! She hurried to the door, pausing as it opened. Once that obstacle was out of the way, she entered the main area and stopped short. There were people everywhere but the ones that caught her attention first were the two with the arrows sticking out of various body parts. She realized she was standing there gaping when she had patients to attend to and started moving again, calling out instructions as she made her way toward them. "Ok, let's get to work now. One of you, get those two up on biobeds, carefully, please." She gestured towards the arrows as she spoke, hoping the orderlies would know she meant the patients were the ones who should be on the beds, with the arrows in tow of course. "I want scans immediately, let's see just how much damage had been done here. Get some mild painkillers into them, not enough to knock them out, just to take the edge off for now. I want the surgery rooms prepped and ready in 5 minutes. Let's move!" The staff started bustling around as Rachelle approached the closest human pincushion and asked, "Wanna tell me how this happened, or should I even ask?" "She shot me!" Kylara announced before Erelen could say anything. Erelen sighed, winced, and shook her head: Kylara seemed to be having too much fun with that. "It was an accident in the holodeck. The bows and arrows were real, which is why they're still here. Commander Someone here accidentally shot me because she was laughing, and then I shot her before I realized what was happening," she explained, figuring the details could wait until later. It rather looked like the doctor was going to have her hands full for the time being. "Zack brought us in. One of us over each shoulder, if I might add," she said with a wry smile. N'Ellie had to rub her eyes after walking into sick bay. She'd never seen it so crowded nor had she ever seen anyone with... arrows? punching through their skin. Walking up behind the gathering, she over heard the elf looking woman and laughed. "I call dibs on having the kid on any away teams I'm on." Zack laughed merrily at that. "I wouldn't have had to if they'd have come on their own, but they wouldn't." A bit more seriously he asked,"Do they let Cadet's go on away missions?" Glancing over his shoulder, gave a quick shake of the head and held his hand up to his brother, who halted his progress toward the exit and waited near the wall, as far from the crowd as he could get without going back toward the regen tank he'd so recently left. "Not first years kido but since your here and not at the academy who knows" N'Ellie replied before looking over at Josh. She offered him a warm reassuring smile. Then she looked back at the crowd. "Ya know we're a pretty big place so if you don't have an arrow sticking out of you, or if your not trying to remove said arrow, how about either getting out or find a chair, park your rear ends into it, and stop gapping as if this were a crash on the freeway or something." Seren glanced at the Romulan doctor a moment. He hadn't met him yet but that could wait. He gestured toward Ensign Butler. "Why don't you go have a seat in the waiting area, Ensign. Your triage level is so far below green that it's not even on the scale." Tawa still had his arm around Dove's waist as he escorted her in to Sick Bay. It might have been for his own comfort as well as to help her. She still looked very queasy to him, despite his first aid, and he was sure this was not going to end well, ice cream promises aside. Looking at he huge crowd of people, he looked at Dove and said, "I bet this isn't all marshmallow related." Dove was looking around at all the patients. "I highly doubt it. Have we been in a battle without my knowing it? With primitives?" she asked, eyeing the arrows protruding from her chief and the pilot. She was still keeping her hands out of the way very carefully in spite of the... surprise. Erelen looked up at Dove's voice and caught her questioning glance. "What, you too? This seems to be the new location of the engineering convention." she said bemusedly, then shook her head. "Stories later, I guess." Luckily, Erelen was very used to hiding the nervousness that being in medical brought about. And the irony of the situation helped as well. Nan, hearing the Klingon lady's pronouncement, offered Erelen and Kylara a theatrical bow and a wide smile. "It was really very nice meeting you both but I think I better go. I'll be more than happy to see you both when you get sprung." Aidoaneth, after casting a curious glance at the tall Vulcan PA, approached Rachelle. "We've just received a patient with second degree burns to the upper limbs. Shall I see to that while you and Ms, Coyne see to the...targets?" Looking over at the newest arrive, N'Ellie looked around quickly. Seemed as if everyone was busy so she decided to take this one. "If you'll come over here and have a seat on the stool I'll take a look at those burns." She told Dove as she went for a tricorder. Seren nodded at N'Ellie. "If you will see to that, I'll see to anything new and to Mr. Butler's physical." Nikolas walked down the hall towards sick bay, thumping his chest. That would be the last time he took Hale's word on something being, "It's so mild a baby could eat it." Especially when it came to chili. When the doors parted he stepped in, hoping that he could get something for his heartburn quickly so he could head back to the bridge, but by the looks of the medical department that wasn't going to happen. "All right, let's see what we have here." Rachelle scanned the screens over the two, noting that the damage didn't seem to be life-threatening. She frowned, then reread Erelen's screen without comment. She'd be talking to her later for sure, there were a few unusual readings there. For now though, the arrows took precedence. She glanced around as the doors opened again. What was going on here today anyway? Was the whole crew going to end up there before it was all over? Leaving the newest arrivals to Aidoaneth, she narrowed her attention to the immediate area, effectively blocking out the crowd of ailing crewmembers to concentrate on these two. She shook her head, trying to fight the grin that threatened. Bows and arrows, what next? Nikolas watched for a few moments. The CMO seemed to be treating to women with arrows sticking out of them. The med student was treating another woman with burns. There was a Vulcan and a Romulan working the crowd. Boothby warned him there'd be days like this if he took an assignment with Hale. The odd thing was that he loved this unpredictable nature of the Georgetown. Stepping further into the room, Nikolas brought himself to his full height and quickly stepped into his command roll. "Would someone care to tell me if there is something I should be aware of here?" Josh stood off in the corner away from the crowd, watching the chaos unfold, awaiting permission to leave. The moment the question rang out, Zachary, looked up at him, trying on his most innocent expression. Noting the pseudo-angelic gaze, Josh almost smiled, shaking his head and Mac laughed right out loud. "Oh, no sir," Mac attempted, his voice thick with barely contained mirth. "Nothing at all. Just a typical day on the Georgetown, sir." He no sooner got the words out than the laughter won out. Within moments, even Josh wore a full fledged smile. Aidoaneth knew this was the first officer speaking. Rachelle was busy seeing to the targets and the student was seeing to the woman with burns. He wondered if the Klingon was going to get irritated with the tall green ensign who was hovering nearby. A friend of the patient? Most likely. Approaching Nikolas, he said, "I am Dr. tr'Ghaladriel, Commander. I believe Dr. Michaels has everything well in hand. Is there something you need assistance with?" Nikolas was a young man, younger then most others who shared his rank and position, but he was old enough and experienced enough to remember all the hell that the Empire had caused the Federation. It felt odd to him to have a Romulan on the ship. It felt even odder that the man was not only being civil but also seemed to be passing off as respectful. "Never believe the Captain when he tells you his chili isn't hot.. Got anything for heartburn?" Aidoaneth blinked then shook his head. "I have yet to meet the captain, Commander, but I think I will take your word for it.," he said with a slight smile. He sensed the man's hesitation and knew that it had to be because of what he was. Eh, we will all get used to each other eventually. He looked over his shoulder at the at hand med supply stock and reached for a hypo full of a common anti-acidic. Holding up for the man's inspection, he said, "I will quite understand if you want to read the label first." Looking over her shoulder at the laughter, N'Ellie took note of Josh's smile. It was an amazing smile that caused her to smile in return. From his seat in the waiting room, John Butler could see his psycho of a roomie hovering over the girl being treated by the Klingon student. Tawa's hand was resting on the patient's shoulder. Damn, but she's cute. "Tawa Pax with a woman? Must be a pity thing," Butler said derisively. Tawa had hearing that was Vulcan sharp and his head whipped around. His nerves were frayed already from Dove's injury. Butler's barb was the last straw. The smell of burning paper was very strong as he clenched his hand into a fist and stepped away from Dove and N'Ellie. "Take it outside Sprout." N'Ellie warned Tawa. She'd sensed what she could only call crappy emotions of the man in the waiting room, and then sudden smell of burning paper only reinforced the switch in what she was sensed from Tawa. "And try not to get hurt we're kinda busy in here." Josh and Mac looked at each other. At Mac's nod, both moved closer to Tawa, making it obvious they were watching his back, causing Zachary's brows to shoot up. Mac grinned at Butler, then put his hand on Tawa's shoulder. Quietly, so that only he could hear, still smiling, he told him. "Easy, man. He ain't worth it." Tawa swore under his breath but he released the clenched fist. THey'd saved him from seriously getting more brig time. He was still pissed at Butler but he was also grateful for the help. "Thanks, guys--really." "So that's your roommate," Dove said, studying Butler, then shrugged, unimpressed. She was very grateful for the pain-killing hypospray, and holding her hands still while N'Ellie examined them. "He's a--" Tawa began. He bit off his reply. It definitely wasn't going to be polite. "You feel any better, Dove?" Dove nodded and smiled a thank you. "Yes... numb is good." Then she frowned a moment, then brightened, recognizing the two men who had joined Tawa, finally. Burns were very distracting. "You're the new engineers," she said, before realizing that wasn't much of a greeting. "Lt McEntire and Ens Garrity? I'm Dove McCallah," she finished, turning to include N'Ellie in the greeting. Josh stepped back slightly, just behind Mac, who grinned. He knew he'd have to be the one talking."Nice to meet you. I'm Patrick McEntire. This beanpole here is Josh Garrity." Kylara, meanwhile, was rather disappointed when she was given painkillers. The discomfort from the arrow had softened into a lovely, warm ache. She figured she would be glad of it when they removed it, but still. Erelen really didn't show any change, sitting perfectly still after nodding and smiling in response to Nan's farewell. Then Kylara slowly started to smile, and before long it was a rather devilish grin. She debated with herself for a moment, then figured that what the hell, she would probably be murdered for it later, but it would probably be worth it. "Hey Zack," she said as innocently as possible. "Probly oughtta let Captain know where you are so he doesn't worry." Then she suited actions to words and called Hale before anyone could stop her. "Someone to Captain Hale. Zack, me and Erelen are all in sickbay after a bit of a holodeck accident. Just lettin' you know!" she informed him cheerfully and then cut of communications before he could answer. Josh's eyes went wide and Zachary almost choked. Nikolas looked over at the young woman who'd called the Captain. As far as he knew she wasn't a department head, and he found it rather interesting that a junior officer would have the gall to call the Captain that way. Then he looked over to where the young men were. The Captain's nephews. He had yet to meet the boys and was surprised at their appearance. As much as the old man could eat, you'd think his kin would be a little less.... thin... The older one seemed incredibly shy and awkward but the younger one seemed more lively. The look on the younger one's face when the woman called for Hale, nearly made the commander laugh. He knew that look well. He often wore it himself when his wife was about to find out he'd been running a holoprogram he shouldn't have been. "N'Ellie Coyne." N'Ellie replied as she started graphing the burns. "You know if I didn't know any better I'd say these were almost as bad as a candy burn." Ariana walked into sickbay ready for her first shift, what she didn't expect was to walk into total chaos. It seemed as if the entire crew was in sickbay for one reason or another. Some with arrows sticking oout of their bodies, other with burns, and still others with god only knew what. She did the only thing she could do and that was to find a patient and begin treating them. At least it kept her occupied Hale entered sickbay at a dead run and looked around for Michaels, or Someone, anyone to tell him what had happened to his boy. He stopped just short of running over the nearest person to the exit. Spying Nicky-boy, he hurried over. "You seen my boy?" He asked him, obviously worried. Looking around at the madhouse his sickbay seemed to be, he asked him seriously. "We had an outbreak of something?" After finishing with Dove's hands, N'Ellie told her to stay put so she could get a hypo that would help with the pain and keep off any infection. As she headed for the supply locker she stopped near Josh, Mac, and Zack. "Don't look so worried, Zack. I'm sure the girls will be ok. You did good getting them here." Then she looked over at Josh and smiled at him. Then softly so only he could hear her she said, "Mess halls empty around oh three hundrand. I thought we could continue talking about comfort food." "From what I can tell. There are two crewmen with arrow wounds. One with burns. One's here for a physical. Some of the others are friends of the wounded." Nikolas started as he looked around the room. Then he turned and pointed to were the boys and the med student were. "Both your boys are over there with McEntire." Hale slapped Nick on the back, muttering a thanks and hurried toward his boys, only to stop in his tracks and stare. There in front of him was his oldest, talking to a cute little female med student and actually almost smiling. Who was she? He wondered. Whoever she was, she was obviously good for his boy. "Nicky," he asked, turning back. "Who is that girl?" "The med student you OKed. Coyne." Nikolas answered as he looked over at the young woman who had her back to them. "She's the one you'd said you'd handle after the fight in the lounge." Hale groaned. Not that one, dammit, he thought. Any girl but that one. Looking around quickly N'Ellie smiled as she leaned in to whisper to Zack. "There's gummy bears in my locker, kiddo, why don't you grab you some and get your brother a cup of coffee." Zack jumped to do as he was told, spotting Hale along the way. "Uncle, come on. I want you to meet Josh's friend." Something about the sound of his voice and the twinkle in his eye made it clear he thought she might be more than just Josh's friend. "I know you like coffe but how do you feel about chocolate?" N'Ellie asked with a smile. "I want you to try something.. Meet me in the mess hall tonight.. I'd better get back to work." "Chocolate?" Josh asked quietly, nodding hesitantly. He had no idea, but supposed tonight he'd find out. Tawa froze then thanked whatever deities there were in the galaxy that Mac and Josh had stopped him. The Captain was there now and Dr. Kaartaren's words were echoing through his head. Aidoaneth was still holding the hypo he'd prepared for the XO. Since the man hadn't voiced any objections to the contents, he approached him again, where he stood with the captain. "Excuse me, sir," he said to Hale, as he pressed the hypo to Renaldi's neck. "That should take care of the problem, Commander." Turning his attention back to Hale, he added, "Both of the brothers are unijured, sir, though it was the younger of the two who brought the two targets in." "That damned girl," Hale grinned."She got me again. Remind me to turn her over my knee later." He turned to Nick, looking concerned. "What's wrong with you, Nicky-boy? What was that," He mimed the hypo,"all about?" Dove thanked N'Ellie, looking at her no-longer-blistered hands and sighing in relief. "It was marshmallows, actually. Tawa and I were roasting marshmallows and one caught on fire and landed on my hand," she explained. Meanwhile, Kylara was grinning from ear to ear, watching Hale run in, and really enjoying the look of confusion on his face, as well as the grin that appeared as he discovered that Zack was perfectly fine. "I heard that!" she called across sick bay to him. "Didn't think abusin' officers was the best way to run a ship, but... whatever pops your cherry, I guess." "You'll think that come dinnertime, little girl," Hale laughed. "See if you get any chili. I'll have you eating the boy's rabbit food instead of the good stuff with the rest of us." Erelen merely shook her head, torn between amusement and exasperation. Seren had been about to tell the ensign in the waiting area that he could have his physical when the man made the derisive comment. It was the surname that caught his attention. Surely not, he told himself. He looked over his shoulder at the four young men clustered over by N'Ellie and the young Human female with the burns. He'd met three of the four when Lish took him to visit the other ship. It was the fourth one, the one with the green complexion and the faint Trill spots, who had to be the object of Butler's scorn. Tawa Pax. Oh my, I do believe I have to look into this, he told himself. "Mr. Butler, if you manage to keep your snide remarks to yourself, we are ready for your physical," he finally said. "Or you can explain your lack of self control to your CO if you'd like." "It's nothing really, Sir." Nikolas answered. Then he laughed at the interaction between the Captain and Someone. "If things are under control here, Sir, I think I'll return to the bridge." Rachelle paused when she heard an alarm. It wasn't unexpected, she had set it herself to alert her when the scan was finished. She motioned to Aidoaneth. "Could you please go and tell our guest he can get up now? The scan is finished and the data is complete." "Of course, Rachelle. I think he will be glad to get up," Aidoaneth said quietly. He entered the private room and immediately tapped in the sequence of commands that saved the data from the scan. He then looked down at Senek. "You are free to go, Commander. Dr. Michaels is a bit occupied at the moment but she will discuss the results with you as soon as she can." Senek sat up, allowing the sheet to fall to his waist, and stretched. Tilting his head slightly, he listened to the muffled noises outside the door. "What is going on out there, Doctor?" "I..." Aidoaneth couldn't help it. He shook his head and laughed. "You Federation people are very strange. Gest dressed and see for yourself." Meanwhile, back in the main room, Rachelle was trying to restore some order. She picked up a tricorder and ran it over both human targets, noting the exact position of the arrows and planning out the best strategy to remove them without causing more damage. She gestured to N'Ellie and Sindar. "I would like for you both to get those who actually need attention seated. Herd the rest to one side for now, I don't see much hope in getting rid of them until the whole story comes out. Then we'll move these two into the surgery rooms and remove their ornaments." N'Ellie nodded at Rachelle and then turned to look at the room. It was loud and no one was looking her way. Putting her fingers to her lips, imitating the way Joanna use to get her classes attention, N'Ellie whistled loudly. Once she had everyone's attention she said loudly. "If you need medical attention come over here and check in with Nurse Sinder. If you do not need medical attention please move out of the main bay into the waiting area over there." N'Ellie pointed to waitng area. As she watched the groups forming she smiled. "Thank you for visiting the sick bay of the USS Georgetown and please enjoy your day." Assuming that was close enough to permission to leave, Josh made a be-line for the exit. "Hey, whoa, hold up!" Mac stopped him. "Michaels hasn't even had a chance to check the results for today yet. You know she's not going to just let you walk without first reviewing your progress." Josh shook his head with a sigh, longingly eyeing the exits. He'd been so close. Tawa wasn't willing to leave just yet, not without knowing if Dove was going to be okay. He moved to the waiting area with Josh and Mac. After Mac stopped the lanky Josh from leaving, Tawa casually posted himself by the door. He had the notion that Josh would try to leave if anybody else walked in. He didn't notice the PA's odd glance at him as he led Butler off for his physical. After he was dressed, Senek stepped out into the main room in Sick Bay. He looked around rather causually and one brow raised slowly. He spotted his trainee looking somewhat amused, or was that guilty, and strolled over. "Your hands will be fine." N'Ellie told Dove once she'd returned to look over the newly healed hands. "The skin might feel a little tight and dry but some gentle flexing and some hand cream should take care of that." N'Ellie pressed a hypo to Dove's neck and then handed her a small cylinder of hand cream. "Come back in a couple days so we can make sure everything healed up alright." "Thanks again. And it was good to meet you. I still haven't met all the newer arrivals," Dove smiled as she hopped off the bed and headed back to Tawa and the pair of engineers she had just met. She was hoping she would get a chance to compliment Josh on his new replicator programs, without getting anyone in trouble. First, however, she showed her hands to Tawa. "Good as new, though I don't think I'll be wearing this shirt very often," she said ruefully, eyeing the burnt sleeves. After smiling warming at Dove, N'Ellie walked over to the replactor and ordered a coffee. She smiled as she looked over at Zack who'd been distracted by Captain Hale. Then she walked over and handed the cup to Josh. "Strong and black and more important hot.. You look like a baby targ someone left out in the snow." Josh accepted the steaming cup gratefully, smiling slightly at her comment. He'd never seen snow, but understood the concept nonetheless. Zack bounded back over, determined to get N'Ellie's attention. "Come on, you need to meet someone." he smiled. As he turned to lead her over to John, he spotted Senek heading toward him. "Afternoon, sir." He laughed. "Still think down time's a good idea?" "I am beginning to think not," Senek said dryly. He didn't see Nan there any more but there still seemed to be quite a crowd. Considering that two of the crowd were the pilot and the chief engineer, both of whom were shot with arrows, and considering Zack's question, he shook his head. It was rather difficult to banter while being fussed over by doctors, but Kylara was very practiced. "Rabbit food? That mean I get to eat with the rabbits?" she called back to him, grinning over at Zack and Josh. "Maybe I'd even learn to play chess." Then she remembered something. "Hey Mac! When we going mud wrestling?" Josh carefully avoided her gaze, instead focussing on the cup in his hand as Mac roared. "Whenever you want, sweetheart. Just make sure to leave the bows and arrows at home." Mac answered. Winking at her, he added, "We'll go shirts and skins. I call shirts." Senek offered the Captain an apologetic shrug. "Sir, I told him to make sure to take some time to relax," he said then nodded towrd the two targets. "That was not what I meant." Kylara laughed delightedly and winked back. "Careful what you wish for. Jus' might get it!" Erelen, meanwhile, was wondering when the doctor was going to try to knock Kylara out so she'd shut up and let them get some work done, and was suddenly very glad that Kylara was not an engineer. Of course, it could be interesting... Erelen smiled. There would never be a dull moment wherever Kylara worked. As it was, she was just hoping to get out of here a soon as possible. Aidoaneth practically grinned when two more women walked in. Rachelle hadn't been joking when she said she had a twin. Carrying Challornetha, Gressa stomped her way into Sick Bay, brushing past anybody in the waiting room, looking for the child's father. The Andorian said he would be right there to meet her but where was that good looking Vulcan? "What in Kahless' name is this chaos?" she growled to no one in particular. Nobody looked to be sick. There were wounded, which surprised her, but everyone else looked well enough. "Stragglers should be put to work or left behind." Josh and Zack both shrunk silently back, with Joshua carefully drawing his brother behind him, muscles tensing, as the woman's demeanor struck a cord of painful familiarity. Unfortunately, Kylara was the one who heard that, and having the self-preservation skills of a depressed lemming, she had to comment. "Stragglers? How the hell do you get stragglers on a ship? We're kinda all moving at the same pace, ya know." "Oh boy..." muttered Erelen. As if things weren't interesting enough already. If nothing else, this would be... entertaining. "You," Gressa growled across the room, "are slow enough to be shot once. I can always shoot you myself later if you'd like." Seren, hearing that familiar voice, left Butler on the exam bed, saying, "You stay there and you keep your mouth shut." "Huh? What'd I say?" Kylara was confused. "And of course I was slow enough to be shot. I was standin' still and laughing my ass off!" No longer caring whether or not he had permission to leave, Josh began moving again slowly toward the exit, drawing Zachary with him. Tawa looked over at Mac, nodding at Josh. "I don't think he's supposed to leave yet. We ought to distract him." Mac shook his head at him, noting the look in Josh's eyes. "Not sure we can. Something about her's got to him. We might want to just ride this one out. Better to bring him back when it's quiet and take the chewing out than to make him feel trapped. He doesn't do trapped well. " Erelen merely shook her head, smiling wryly as she lay down on her stomach where she was instructed to and wondering how Kylara would get out of this one, once she realized what she was in to in the first place. Then, just as Josh and Zack were nearing the doors, Jessica ran in. She had been working in her lab when a chemical added had suddenly turned the compound she was working with highly acidic, which promptly ate through her beaker and table before setting to work on her hands and one leg. By grabbing the nearest base she was able to stop it's progression, but she still had dents in her hands that were rather painful, despite the improved aspirin she had made the day before. She had just gotten past Josh and nearer to Gressa when she realized what she was seeing and stopped short, not realizing she was in between the nanny and Kylara. "Um, did I come at a bad time?" she asked, looking around as shock temporarily made her completely forget the way her hands and thigh felt. "Are those arrows?" N'Ellie looked over at Josh and held out her hands to stop him. "Trust me she's all bark." She then stepped closer to the older Klingon woman. "What is your purpose here." She asked in Klingon. Josh knew well enough never to assume anyone was "all bark". He paused, but remained ready to run or fight if necessary, to hear the answer. What was her purpose here? Gressa stared at the youngster. She may not be all Klingon but she has the heart, she thought with a smile. She nodded toward the white gaired, blue skinned baby she held in her arm. "I seek this one's father." Looking down at the baby the elder Klingon woman held, N'Eille actually blinked. The baby looked to be blue Vulcan with feelers. Could the child really be Vulcan and Andorian? She asked herself. That had to be even odder then a Betaziod Klingon Human. "Who is the small one's father?" "Him," she said as she saw Seren approaching. Of that was when the child started bawling at the top of her teeny lungs. "le silence le petit votre père est près." N'Ellie whispered to the baby. She'd figured that Klingon would be to harsh a sound on the little one's ears, so she opted for French. He's right over there," Hale answered her, moving to position himself between the door and his boys, next to Tawa and Mac. He looked at Josh, who still looked ready to spring and said so softly that only the two of them, or perhaps those nearby with Vulcan's hearing, could possibly hear him."Easy, boy. You're worrying over history, remember? He's safe, and so are you. It can't happen again. Not here. Not on my watch." Angelina looked around, barely containing her glee at the frenzy she'd walked into. She had heard this crew was a diverse bunch and obviously the reports had not been exaggerated. She saw a couple of Vulcans, a Klingon holding what she assumed was a baby with antennae, or the strangest headgear she'd seen lately, humans, some with arrows of all things, some without, and was that a Romulan standing by with a hypospray in hand? Craning her neck, she finally caught sight of hair that looked like her own. Pushing her way as gently as she could through the crowd, she walked up beside Rachelle and in a low voice said, "You know, things are never boring when you're around." Rachelle whirled around, tricorder still in hand. Her eyebrows shot up as she saw who had spoken and the look on her face so exactly matched the one Angelina had made earlier in the shuttle bay that Arianna and Calista had to bite their lips to keep from laughing out loud. Ariana looked around and saw N'Ellie trying to get into a fight with the older Klingon but luckily Seren managed to show up in time to handle that situation. Ari had been watching N'Ellie off and on and had noticed how much time she had been spending with Josh. She wondered what was going on. Oh well t'was none of her business. Meanwhile she went looking for Dr. Michaels to see if she could assist in the surgeries or in any other way possible. Threading his way over to Gressa, Seren immediately took the child from her. He held her to his chest, gently patting the tiny back, and asked, "What's the matter, Lady Gressa?" "I think the little one has a cold. Your mate was with a patient and asked that I bring her to you," Gressa reported. His arms filled with the unconcious T'Pern, Pas was glad the doors to Sick Bay opened automatically. He did stop short, though. Dark eyes looked around in amazement and he almost cringed from the swirl of emotions the crowd was generating. "Good thing I didn't ask for a house call," he said dryly. T'Leara followed him in a moment later. "I apologize for my tardiness yet again, counselor. My attention was needed on another matter for a moment." She appeared pale and somewhat distracted, and there was an edge to her voice that sounded far more worn than a Vulcan would typically allow themselves to sound. She looked around sickbay, then gestured toward one of the biobeds. "Lay her down. I will locate someone to render assistance." Seeing Jessica as she moved toward Seren, her brows shot up. Frowning slightly, she asked, "What was it this time?" Maybe it was the Klingon woman standing in front of her, dressed in the long leathers of an honorable woman from an horoable house. Or maybe it was speaking the language she'd only exchanged with a hand full of people, but N'Ellie suddenly felt very far from home and very much alone. Senek stepped as far back out of the way as was possible after his feet almost got stepped on several times. He supposed that he should have put his sandals back on. "Mr. Garrity--excuse me, Zachary," he said after both Josh and Zack looked at him, "I believe a report on traffic flow during this incident is in order since you seem to have been here from the start." Zachary immediately began to deliver a lengthy and detailed oral report on the traffic flow as Josh turned toward N'Ellie. Silently, he moved to her side, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder, his eyes expressing his concern far better than his words ever could. --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'