Now this could be trouble.

Posted on Sat Nov 20th, 2021 @ 1:50pm by Lieutenant Marina Tanger & Lieutenant Commander Robert Hendon

Mission: The Thorion Conundrum Mission Brief
Location: Sickbay

{ON}

After her catch up with Ryan, Marina had headed to Sickbay with her security escort for a complete medical workup as ordered by Captain Sterling. She had to admit the headache she had was starting to drive her nuts. Entering Sickbay she offered Robert a smile. “Back again Doctor, the Captain has ordered a thorough medical check-up, I have a thumping headache that I’d really like sorted out anyway.”

Something was wrong. Hendon had been looking over Marina’s file. He had got her medical file from Betazoid.But there was a gap. It ended some years ago until she was arrested. The dizziness was part of the withdrawal symptom from the enhancement drugs. But the bad headache? That was something else.

“ Please lay down on the bio bed.” Hendon said

Marina nodded and did as she was asked, she hadn’t known the Doctor long but she’d come to trust him. “I err...I’m starting to get the shakes” She held up her hands to show him. “I take it that’s part of the withdrawal symptoms too?”

Hendon looked at her concerned.

“ You should not be getting the shakes……what is going on?” Hendon said looking at her readings.

He ran a probe over her head. Something was wrong. Her readings had not changed which was wrong. They had stopped her medication. They should be getting better not worse! Unless there was something else doing all this? The guards were watching her so she could not get new drugs. That left only one other thing. There was something connected to her brain. An implant. If there was one. Which looked more then likely. It was well hidden.

“ We’re going to have do a full scan of your brain. Something inside your head is fighting back.” He told her.

Marina looked at Hendon concerned. "Okay. Do whatever you have to do."

Hendon moved a large device towards her head as she lay on the bio bed. It gave a gentle hum as the dome shaped machine began to scan her head. Robert’s eyes never left the screen as he looked for anything that could be causing all her problems. Then he saw it.

“ There just between the Cerebrum and the Cerebellum. My goodness how did they get that in there….” He said aloud.

oO and how do we remove it without turning her into a slab of warm flesh.Oo He thought.

“It’s just a tracker” Marina looked at Hendon. “It’s a requirement of my master’s, all his women, in-fact all Caliphate members are made to have them.”

Hendon looked at the image on the screen. That was more then just a tracker. No matter what they hold told her.

" From it's position I'd say that's more then just a tracker. It is also causing your bad withdrawal symptoms." Hendon said

“I err...I didn’t say sorry.” Marina paused. “For taking those drugs. I saw them and I...just couldn’t help myself. I know it was stupid. Thank you for saving my life.”

Hendon nodded.

" Please don't do it again. At least until the bruises heal. By the way what is it a boy or girl?" Robert asked.

Marina gave Hendon a wide eyed look, she hadn’t mentioned about her daughter. “Err...a girl. Her name is Aurora.” She looked away. “I don’t get to see a lot of her.”

Robert had looked over the readings on the bio bed display. He had seen the chemical changes in her uterus. That signified she had been with child.

“ A girl. I have twins a boy and a girl. Both eight years old in a few weeks. Where is your daughter now?” He asked this as the infant was quite young to be away from her mother.

Marina sighed. “Aurora is with her father, she’s part of his ever growing nursery of children. The strongest of us are chosen for the harem, as we call it, we only get to see our children when we’re back with the harem, the rest of the time the children are looked after by the older women. It’s his way of...keeping us on a leash!” She shook her head. “If I do this chances are I’ll never see Aurora again!”

Robert felt angry. Treating children like bargaining chips. Behave or your never see your kiddy again. He could not imagine never seeing Tom or Petra again.

“ That is barbaric…..listen it’s up to you. Do you wish to go ahead with surgery to remove the implant?” He asked.

Marina nodded. “It’s remove it, or go on having these headaches. They’re bad enough now, if I leave it who knows how bad they’ll get!” She looked into his eyes. “Do whatever you have to, I’ll sign anything you need me to sign.”

Hendon felt sorry for Marina. Being in so much pain that she was willing to give up the chance , of ever seeing her child again. He gave her a gentle touch on the shoulder.

“ Very well. The forms will be ready in one hour. If at anytime before then you wish not go to ahead let us know.” He said.

Marina gave Hendon a serious look. “I won’t change my mind, I want that thing out of my head.”

“ Very well.” Robert pressed the hypo to her neck.

Once she was unconscious the operation began. It took a while to remove the device due to its location. Hendon had to be very careful not to damage cerebellum or cerebrum. They also had to be careful the device was not carrying a booby trap. So although things had to be done slowly. They could not hang around.

But Robert had a theory that the device was faulty hence her headaches. This was proved as once the device was out of her head. It suddenly was engulfed in an electrical charge. Which made Hendon drop it on the floor. Luckily he was not badly hurt and was able to finish the operation.

“ Well now we wait for her to regain consciousness which shouldn’t be too long.” He said

As she slowly regained consciousness Marina opened her eyes, albeit drowsily. It took a few moments before she was conscious enough to speak. “I’m guessing...from my lack of a headache...the implant is gone?”

Robert had been keeping a close eye on Marina. So as soon as she started to stir Robert was at her side.

“ Yes. It was a complete success.”Hendon told her.

Marina frowned. “I...can’t sense you” She looked worriedly at Robert. “Why can’t I...sense you!?”

“ The inhibitor is stopping you. Remember we are using them to stop being telepathically attacked. Now with the implant gone you can feel it more. It was holding you back that’s why it didn’t bother you before.” He explained.

Marina nodded and breathed a little easier. “Thank you Doctor. Will you be able to remove the implant from my family too, and any others that are willing?”

Robert ran a probe over the front of her head. He made some notes on a padd. Then he checked her ears for any traces of fluids.

“ If they are willing. But it will have to be after the mission is over. Then only after a full diagnostic check up and location. You were lucky but others might place theirs. In a place that will caused more harm then good if removed.” He warned

Marina nodded. “I understand, I appreciate your honesty. I guess I can hope that you’ll be able to help my parents. I know they aren’t my real parents but they’ve been good to me, I love them.”

Parents. For a brief moment he thought about his mother. Flailing her arms around in the kitchen and his father backing away. Knowing this was an argument he would never win.

“ Of course but I must warn you. If the implants are in a section of their brains that cannot be reached. Quickly before the anti removal device kicks in. There won’t be anything we can do.” Hendon warned her.

Marina nodded. “I understand, thank you for your honesty.” She sighed. “Sorry I’m not used to being without my senses, it makes me feel...uneasy.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s weird, there’s times when you wish you could turn off the permanent background hum of other people’s thoughts, but when they’re not there you feel so...” She paused as a wave of nausea made her take a deep breath. “I don’t know what was in that sedative but...I feel really nauseous all of a sudden.”

Robert looked at the bio bed readings as red lights began flashing.

“ What the……the scanner never picked that up….but just the same the Fetus should not of been effected……what is going on……” He said alarmed.

Marina looked at Robert in surprise. “Did you just say...what I thought you said? I...I’m pregnant!?” She sighed. “This is...nothing to do with the procedure. I suffered with serious morning sickness during my first pregnancy.” She took a deep breath. “I spent weeks in medical care.”

Robert knew there had to be more to Marina’s symptoms. But they did not have any access to her medical records from before. So there was no way to know the full details.

“ I don’t have any records of that. Betazoid pregnancies never really show up properly until the sixth week. That’s why we missed your condition. But now we know hopefully things will be easier.” Hendon said

Marina gave Robert a stern look. “I don’t want anyone to know! Not yet!” She took another deep breath. “If the Captain knows she won’t let me partake in bringing down the Caliphate. I need to do my part. This does come under doctor/patient privilege, you can’t tell her without my permission.”

Hendon backed away slightly as he saw that Marina was quite strict on this.

“ Yes of course. But I must warn you that even at this early stage. Any hard knocks our heavy stun phaser settings. Can put your Fetus at risk.” Hendon warned.

Marina nodded. “I understand, I don’t plan on getting myself injured or shot. Once the master...” she paused. “Caliphate leader knows I’m pregnant he’ll protect me anyway. He always protects his investments. To him the children are just that, the future of the Caliphate.”

Hendon hid his anger at the ‘ master ‘ but hoped someone would one day end this state of affairs.

“ Well for now just rest. But if anything changes let us know.” Hendon said

{OFF}

Lieutenant Commander Dr Robert Hendon
Chief Medical Officer
USS Leto

Lieutenant Marina Monroe
Ex Caliphate member
USS Leto