[snip]

Lance was taking mental notes of what he saw. There and a small guess of their level of technology. He then leaned up against the wall “damn implants acting up again” he said to himself with a hand covering his left eye

Cross being a doctor caught the word ‘Implants’ and turned around ‘’Are you okay Lt? Is there anything I can do to help?’’ she asked with a concern look on her face. The COS had yet to do his medical evaluation but there had been no time to do so, since they were about to board the shuttle when he joined the crew of the Merrimack.

William looked between the first officer and the Captain, he had always admired how CO’s and XO’s could often communicate without speaking, words with meaning beyond the words, it was like watching advanced mathematics that implied something greater than the whole of itself. He clasped hands behind his back and followed behind the XO, not minding the Conversation between Miriam and Lance.

Joe was simply waiting at the moment for the Dol to assign a tour guide to his group when he saw his main concern which was Doctor Cross start to move out of the corner of his eye. ‘Oh no she’s going to make a break for it.’ he thought to himself. He turned trying to make it look casual and unconcerned to see what it was she might be up to. He could only smile then as he saw her anxiously tending to Lieutenant Del Wolf about something. She could be a handful but at the end of the day she was a good and caring doctor.

He then turned to look at their science officer and said , “Well Mister Gray we seem to have a problem with getting a guide and now a problem with our security officer. If you’d like, join the Captain until we’re ready here.”

Joe then walked toward where Doctor Cross stood with Lieutenant Del Wolf. He smiled at both of them as he walked over. Coming up behind Cross, Joe said in a neutral voice .”Is there a problem Doctor?

Cross was about to tell the Cmdr to go and get lost somewhere, as she remembered hearing him saying to the Captain ‘’that he’ll watch over Miriam’‘.

‘’How should I know ,I can do nothing here or now nor without a medical Tricorder, the medical kit is in the shuttle ‘’ it was amazing how the CMO could talk with hardly moving her lips ‘’Lt Lance has this happened before ,do you have any idea what could be wrong ?’’ Cross asked. She figured if he had the implants done a long time ago maybe just maybe he would know.

Lance looked to the doctor “ i’ve been having slight pain in my implant on my left eye. It’s not usually a problem with his lights aggravating the pain” he said. A few years ago when he first started working security on the star base he got hit in a shuttle crash and lost his left eye as a result.

Cross biting on her lower lip thoughts were tumbling one after another on what was the best action to take ‘’Hunter threw in some painkillers into my bag that may help you with the pain’’ she told Lance ‘’Then again, not knowing its source I would prefer if we go back to our shuttle where I can scan in more detail and if it needs be get you transported back to sickbay’’ .

The female doctor was blaming herself ‘’ I should not have allowed you to join the team knowing you sill had to undergo your medical ‘’ .
It happened with their urgent haste to get going and needing a COS badly....but to Cross that was not a valid excuse. now she looked at Lance waiting for a response.

Joe had left Cross to her duties for a moment to give her a chance to practice her craft and to get whatever seemed to be bothering her under control. He now saw that they finally had someone to take them on their tour, so time was out. He then moved nonchalantly to Cross’s side and said in a neutral voice. “What’s your report doctor? Is the Lieutenant ready and capable of resuming his duty within the next moment and if not what is wrong with him? “.

‘’Without a scan I cannot do much Cmdr....I’m sorry’’ she barley whispered the last two words.

Lance looked at the doctor “ just give me some basic painkillers I’m gonna need to stay alert though I’ll just lure the input on my eye for the time being. That will help with the light” he said. Lance was a marine before joining star fleet he was as tough as nails.

Joe looked from Lance to Cross and back again. It was times like these that he hated making decisions. ,”Lieutenant, he began by addressing Del Wolf. “What you have in you is a violation of the parameters of this mission. You should have warned the doctor. This can be rectified but it has to happen quickly. ” Joe then turned to Cross and said, “If you can take him to the shuttle and give him an injection of some pain killer which will act immediately, he can continue. He can come back here and watch the captain. Otherwise, he’ll have to go back to the ship. To have brought someone here with us who might seem physically would no doubt upset any sort of first contact situation.” Pausing then, he took a breath and said to Del Wolf. “I’m sorry Lieutenant, But I’m sure you understand that we can neither frighten these people with some unknown illness nor let them get whatever might be in your head.”

Joe turned and put his hand on Cross’s shoulder and asked her. “Can you make this happen Miri? I think the rest of the tour is about to begin.”

Cross did not let anything or anyone distract her as she opened the bag Hunter had given her were she found Terakine in pill form, she had to do a quick calculation not to over dose ‘’Here Lt take these’’ the doctor held one pill and a half ‘’It should help with the pain for the next four hours or so and if I shield the eye from the light do you think you’ll manage or would it hinder you’re peripheral vision?’’ .

Lance looked at her “I can lower The oculus brightness. No one will be able to know unless you look close enough they will see if my pupil is dilated” he said in a low voice so only she can hear “if I can do that I will still have full Vision and will be able to react probably” he said

‘’That’s fine with me but if a problem arise do let me know ‘’ Cross replied to Lance ‘’At least it would be elusive to the others just take the painkillers and lets join the group where ever they’re going to take us ‘’ .
She then addressed the Cmdr ‘’All good to go ‘’ the female doctor said in a not very enthusiastic tone.

A suppressed smile tugged at the corner of Joe’s lips as he listened with false intensity to Cross as she obviously stretched the truth at least somewhat. He then looked around at the various people now milling about the area and he leaned down. His lips only inches from Cross’s ear, Joe whispered in an amused voice. “Alright then Miri. But if this goes bad just remember you’re going to owe me a home cooked meal.”

Cross said nothing but her thought was lanced with Arsenic gone was the ‘Sir and ma’am of the Victorian times’.

Cara Meow, Ship’s Anthropologist, was keen to get going and frustrated at whatever the hold up was. She looked over at the trio of Joe, Miriam and Lance and wondered what the problem might be. This was a chance to see a first contact world, a world totally uncontaminated by the influence of the Federation. None of her peers got to see this and she wanted to get on with this tour so that she got the chance.

Joe then stood tall and looked about at all the milling people and said loudly ,” Alright then we’re ready to go now finally, Our guide didn’t lose patience and leave, did they?”

The female doctor threw the bag which was made of thick cloth on her left shoulder as she quickened her footsteps behind Cara.

“Luckily not!” said Cara, “But let’s speed it up before she does.”

With a side long glance Cross looked at the Anthropologist ‘’What’s wrong with you? If the guide leaves we could explore at our own leisure I for one would search for the pods and spheres, don’t care much about anything else’’ she said with a sullen expression.

“Really?” replied Cara, “I want to see this whole new world that has never met with the Federation before. I want to see their behaviour, culture, society, sciences, and linguistics; all that have never been influenced or contaminated by contact with Earth, Vulcan, Andoria or Tellar. It’s like a blank page in a book, still unwritten. It’s the very reason why I become a Star Fleet officer in the first place! Just to be out here, meeting with people from new worlds, seeking out new civilisations, going where no anthropologist in my class has ever been before!”

Cara Meow, Ship’s Anthropologist.