Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Clodagh Donnely (Security Officer) in Is my head attached?… Clodagh checks in with Medical

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Tolar Zarath (Chief Medical Officer) in Is my head attached?… Clodagh checks in with Medical

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Clodagh Donnely (Security Officer) in Is my head attached?… Clodagh checks in with Medical
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Five foot nine, 195 pounds, and with amazing red hair and blue green eyes. The young Celtic decendent moved down the halls taking in as much as she could. As security she would soon be expected to know what normal is on the ship, so she can recognize the abnormal when it appeared. She was humming absently and watching the crew as well. Smiles were met with smiles and looks of curiosity were met with bigger smiles. She could sometimes be intimidating and she tried not to let it become that part of her that everyone would get to know first.

Stepping into the medical bay, she glanced around for the first person she could reach out to about her check in.

Lt JG Clodagh Donnely
Security

Lt. Donnely would find that the closest person was also the only person, and he was seated at his desk, which was off to one side of the small sickbay, partially partitioned off with a half bulkhead of mostly windows.

“Lt. Donnely, I presume.” The Andorian’s gravelly voice greeted the woman as she approached. The Doctor stood up and motioned with his cane toward one of the Bio-Beds. “Have a seat and we’ll get down to it.”

She smiled and nodded, heading for the bed. “Yes, Sir.”

He was an inch shorter than she was, and thin, with snowy white hair and Brown eyes. If the Antennae weren’t a dead give away, the blue skin would surely alert her to his species. He moved with a limp and used a polished ebony cane for support. However, he wasn’t slow or clumsy in his motions. He wore the standard uniform tunic and pants, but also a white lab coat. From a pocket, he produced a medical Tricorder as he made his way to her.

“Anything you’d like to add to your file, concerning your present state of health?” He asked, the tone belaying the joking intent with the formality of his speech.

-Zarath, CMO

Shaking her head slightly, “No, Sir. I believe I got here all in one piece. Head may be on sideways on occasion,” she laughed lightly. “But I am sure the Counselor can make sure it doesn’t end up completely backwards.” Like most folks, she glanced at his antennae as they danced about with his thoughts and actions. Thankfully, she’d been around enough Andorians that it wasn’t a wholly unique experience and she was only looking a moment.

Glancing around the bay, she smiled. “Must be nice to have some quiet. I’m sorry I was the distraction in it for you.” She glanced at the tricorder as he ran it over her, her hands resting her palms on the top of her thighs as she awaited the verdict.

Clodagh
Security

He raised an eyebrow as he began to scan Clodagh, and the barest hint of a smirk came to his lips. “Too quiet… Any quieter and I’d be getting paranoid. Thank providence you showed up when you did. So no apologies necessary.” Clearly sarcastic, the tone of his gravelly voice let her know he was indeed kidding. “Let’s see here… Everything appears to be in order.” He grunted. “Statistically, redheads are less likely to go grey with age. Unlike my people, who rarely have any color at all in our hair. Maybe redheads really are lucky. Either way, you, Lieutenant, are cleared for duty. Unless there’s anything else I can do for you.”

-Zarath, CMO

Clodagh smiled at the jest of providence sending her the CMO’s direction. “Well, if you ever start to feel paranoid or it gets too quiet in her again, let me know. I’m happy to come down here for some ridiculously made up reason that will surely kill you of boredom and have you once more enjoying your ‘peace and quiet’ in no time.” She laughed.

Shaking her head as he pronounced her fit, she smiled. “Well, as to grey hair, I think I can accommodate that as well should you find a desire to see it in a redhead. Though I admit it would be temporary as I’m not sure how comfortable my peers would be at seeing me suddenly grey overnight. And no, I can’t think of anything else at the moment. Is there anything I can get or do for you before I head to the Counselor? I have nearly another hour before I have to be there. I’m happy to stay and keep you company a bit. As security, it would behoove me to know about the Medical Chief and facilities on the ship, would it not?” She raised a curious eyebrow as she teased him with a reason for her to stick around in case he didn’t actually want to ask it of her.

Clodagh
Security

“I’m sure there are other ways to instill discomfort in your peers.” He chuckled, “and it strikes me that you probably know about all of them already.” He put the medical tricorder in his coat pocket. “I think I’ve got matters fairly well in hand, but if you’d like a cup of tea you’re more than welcome to it. I’ve gotten into the bad habit of growing my own, and now I’ve got more than I can steep before it goes bad. Is there anything else it behooves you to know about the curmudgeonly old medical chief?”

-Zarath, CMO

Clodagh laughed. “I can think of one or two ways. But I prefer to let each place come up with its own ideas for the individuals. More entertaining that way.” She nodded at the tea offer. “Tea sounds wonderful. What made you decide to grow such an abundance of your own?” She waited to follow his lead. “As to what else I want to know…” she laughed once more and shook her head. “I don’t hunt. Most of the time, anyway. I prefer to just let it happen.”

After a moment, she thought about something. “Have you considered drying in the leaves to use later? Sealed up they would preserve well enough. Though that idea may be a bad one. I may not get invited to help you drink the ‘extra’ anymore.” She smiled.

Clodagh
Security

“If they were leaves, that’d be a fine idea…” The doctor grinned and nodded to a small pot on his desk, in which was growing a slightly luminous orange mushroom. He moved around to the small replicator and was back in half a moment with a steaming cup in hand. “So where do you hail from, lieutenant?”

-Zarath, CMO

Clodagh laughed seeing the mushroom. “I suppose leaf drying is out of the question.” She took the offered cup and leaned on the wall, unsure if they were going to remain in the office or return to the other room. “Though, depending how it thrives if void of them, perhaps small slices, dried and stored, would allow you to share when it got to be too much. Or merely as a way to keep some on hand for gifts as well.” She took a sip and smiled. “It’s a wonderful taste.”

Realizing she hadn’t answered Zarath’s question, she smiled. “I was born just outside the Federation Capital, about 30 miles, anyway, the year the Borg attacked. My father died in space above my mother’s head, defending us. And my mother died in childbirth from a broken heart and the stress of the delivery. So I guess I am one of those that could have gone either way. Had a good fostering, though. So here I am,” she gestured to the ship and space as she laughed. “Defending those who can’t defend themselves.”

She took another sip. “Mmmm definitely happy to help you purge the excess of this.” She laughed and looked to the Doc. “So why are you out here in the darkness of space, plying your skills to plasma burns and sparrings that get out of hand?”

Clodagh
Security

He was enjoying his own cup as he listened to Clodagh tell her story. He might’ve guessed from her age, but he’d seen her eyes before that had come to mind. There was always something in the eyes when there was loss in the history. Always. Hell, it probably showed in his eyes too. He smiled at her comment about defending those who can’t defend themselves. It was wry, and perhaps tinged with just a tiny hint of bitterness. “That was the line I bought too, Lieutenant. ‘Defending the Homeworld, Protecting those who can’t fight back…’. That’s what made me pick up a weapon and board a starship. However, that was when I was a young man with the Imperial Guard Special Forces.” He was clenching the handle of the cane tightly, and forced himself to let it go by hanging it on the edge of his desk and changing his position so that his weight was on his better leg. His real leg. Then Tolar took a drink. “Starfleet though… I signed up at first because I wanted to put people back together instead of taking them apart. After a few years, even a bitter old skeptic like me could see there’s good people in the fleet. People who actually uphold our overly dramatic and lofty ideals. Sadly, I’ve become one of them.” He chuckled. “At least that’s what helps me sleep at night.”

-Zarath, CMO

Clodagh saw the change but allowed the man his privacy. They weren’t close enough for her to pry, and she half guessed his pain was from loss, anyway. When he mentioned falling for ‘the line’ she laughed. “I guess most of us come out here to ‘help those who are weak’ or to ‘kill those who want to harm us’, huh? And for the record, though I am sure you would deny it,” she laughed lightly, “I don’t see a bitter, old skeptic. I see a man who’s been on both sides and knows reality from fantasy. And has chosen his path because of that knowledge. I am no simple cadet who thinks I can be some kind of old fashion super hero that comes to the rescue of every creature that cries out.” She smiled. Her head was on straight but the words were cliché. “But I know there were people out here in the dark that made my life possible. And if, by being out here in the dark myself, I can do the same or someone, then it means it was worth it.” She took a sip of the tea and smiled. “Cause if we don’t have a reason to be here… then why do it?” She laughed once more, “And don’t tell me ‘cause of my orders’. Because I think if you didn’t like your orders, you’d tell them to shove them somewhere even that walking stick can’t reach.” She winked and took another sip of her tea to hide a smile.

Clodagh
Security

The Andorian grunted and took a sip of his own. “You just worry about your situational awareness as much as your reasons, Lieutenant, so that I don’t have to sew up any holes you manage to acquire, hmm? I prefer my idealists in one piece, even the ones I sort of like.” There was a slight smile though. He rapped the cane on the bulkhead in jest.

-Zarath, CMO

Clodagh laughed for them both. “Yes, Sir. And I will promise to deny ‘sort of’ liking the Medical Chief, if anyone asks. I’m fully aware of the *situational awareness’ and hate to be the fall of your reputation.” She smiled and finished her tea. “Speaking of which, I should go. Stars forbid anyone comes in here and sees you being overly cordial to the new girl. Though, if I may, I’d love a chance to share some of your tea again. Provided it’s not an inconvenience.” She was liking the man more and more. The no nonsense approach and desire to help were the least of the traits she saw. The rest, well, she wouldn’t tell if no one else saw. It was their loss.

Clodagh
Security

“I see we’ve reached an accord.” He chuckled. “You know where to find me, Lieutenant. Sickbay is like a bad diner. We may not always be doing business, but we’re always open.”

-Zarath, CMO