Second Time's The Charm

Posted on Wed May 31st, 2023 @ 9:48am by Commander Arianna Frost & Captain Akiva ben-Avram & Lieutenant Teejay

2,492 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Season 1 Interlude II (E5.5)
Location: Yuna Tarka Medical Facility
Timeline: MD 5 - Following 'Bitter Morning After Pill, Part 2', before "Sharing is Caring? No!"

After Teejay and Leah left the 'breakfast' and changed into more appropriate clothing to go and see Reggie, they re-materialized in the same spot at the Yuna Tarka Medical Facility as they had the night before. Leah was still shaken from the revelations that morning and was greatly concerned. Concerned for Ari too and whatever else she was hiding that was connected to this case - especially to Project Lazarus. The way her friend had paled at the mention of the name. No, there was more to it that Ari wasn't saying, she was sure of it.

Now was not the time to dwell on it though. Now they needed to see to Reggie and if the Delta protocol had been successful. Hopefully Tafalla would be more accommodating today. When they arrived to the Med Center, though, it was discovered that Tafalla was off rotation and a new doctor was on duty. However, due to the Delta protocol being approved by Leah and Teejay, their aliases now appeared on Reggie's chart as his attending physicians.

"Welcome to private practice," the charge nurse said, observing their body language. "Your patient is responding well to the Delta, which is to say his body parts are all in the right places. The fungal growth has begun remission, but only at an incremental rate of 0.09% of its previous spread. At the current Delta levels, his projected discharge date is approximately 14 months from now."

Teejay studied Reggie's chart as the nurse spoke and rolled his eyes as he faced away from the other two present. He noted both the shift in written responsibility - unexpected but definitely interesting - and raised an eyebrow with regards the deeper consequences of such. The machinations of the intelligence community, presumably, and a potential herald of more people inbound to investigate? Then he studied the change, or more accurately, lack of progress with their patient himself. This was definitely not good. He looked for any sign of anything useful towards speeding things up, but failed to find it in the details offered. As he turned back from aiming his gaze at the far wall, his expression was stern and serious.

"That's not going to work for us," Teejay told the nurse. "We're going to need to try something else, or... raise the levels." He tapped the data entry as he shifted position for Leah to read the same information.

Leah nodded as she took a look at the files herself. "Page the Doctor that is liaising for Doctor Tafalla please, tell them to meet us at Patient Howley's Room."

Without another word, Leah headed for the elevator. If there was one thing she hated about private hospitals, it was their power to run outsiders around. This sort of behavior would never fly at a Starfleet Facility. She took a deep breath as Teejay followed after her and called for Reg's level.

"We may need to bring in Fleet experts if increasing the dosage doesn't work. Take him to one of our facilities for proper care." She said, the look on her face somewhat haunted. "Poor bastard."

Teejay nodded solemnly, his thoughts drifting from Reggie himself to the wider potential problem of those who had likely been with him.

A very young woman with her hair in an intricate upbraid and a prominent Risian symbol crested on her forehead met the two at Reggie's bedside. "Hello," she said as though she were aware of a tantalizing secret that she was near bursting to share. "I'm Dr. Arayu and I'm told you required some assistance with... the patient." She spared a mournful look for Reggie, but only for an instant. When she looked back to Leah and Teejay, the passing rain cloud had been banished by her dazzling, sunny smile. "How can I help you?"

This was a pleasant surprise, to be sure. The little pin on Arayu's uniform suggested that Arayu had been a Starfleet liaison as well which suggested that Starfleet had stepped in to a point, at the very least in Reggie's treatment. Which was good.

"Good morning, Doctor Arayu, I'm Doctor Wolf, this is Doctor Zhi'rev." She introduced herself and Teejay and stepped over to where Reggie was isolated and suspended. "We just read the reports of the Delta protocol treatment for patient Howley. Can you tell us why there is only a minute improvement?" Wolf got straight to the point.

Teejay nodded and offered a sombre smile that belayed more concern than interest for the moment. His dark eyes studied both Arayu and Reggie with over curiosity though, as the two women conversed and he let them take that verbal lead. Surely Risians had encountered this situation before? It couldn't be solely Starfleet idiots who violated geographical boundaries and went exploring where they shouldn't, right? Dr Arayu seemed particulary keen, bright and excitable though - perhaps a direct correlation with his and Leah's allegiance to Starfleet? Better that than alternatives Teejay could muster.

"It appears that the aggressive mycosis may be driven by a number of factors," Arayu said, turning serious but never solemn. "Physiology plays an important role with immune response with many other subcategories falling under that as well. Perhaps we could isolate the patient's biome to determine if there is anything promoting the accelerated growth rate of the fungal spores or enhancing their resistance to the Delta radiation." Her bright disposition returned along with her grin. "But on the bright side, that means some people would have a natural resistance to the infection. Most of them would be native Risians or perhaps anyone who has frequented this world and availed of our services--" Arayu's grin turned to a smirk as her head bobbed suggestively from side to side as she said the word. "--to a significant degree." In the end, she shrugged. "Fortunately, since the patient doesn't appear to be in any danger, time is on our side. I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually."

Leah frowned a little at that. "Sadly, we don't have nearly as much time, as we'll have to return to duty within a fortnight. He'll need to either be well enough to travel by then or at the very least not contagius so that we can transport him in isolation to our ship. Still, we should isolate the biome as you suggested and determine the cause of his aggressive case."

Wolf felt a tiny itch on the hand that was holding the flimsi with the report, and rubbed the itchy spot before sighing. "Has there been any word from Global Security, do you know, Doctor Arayu?"

Leah didn't think Arayu would know much, or would even tell her, but it didn't hurt to ask and get some intel in the process while they were trying to locate Ryland themselves.

"No, I'm afraid I'm not privy to such investigations," Arayu said with a tinge of regret. "I might be able to find the name of the constable assigned to the case, though."

While they'd been talking, Teejay had been studying patient's computerised charts and scans quietly, digging a little deeper into that unique microbiome created by the genes of the Reggie's 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells. It would, as Leah had mentioned, take time, but he was curious nonetheless. "Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to investigate a little during that fortnight though," Teejay suggested, primarily for the enthusiastic purpose of entertaining Arayu's own clearly driven curiosity. "But you're suggesting that copulation with a resistant local might provide some form of immunity? The act of transference of body fluids would really act that swiftly and consequently rearrange the internal microbiome of a participant?" His voice lilted upwards with the question - not an unprecedented situation, but an unusual one in his experience. "So," Teejay pushed, chancing that Arayu might know more than she was currently divulging. "You've seen this before?"

"Yes and no." Arayu smiled, happy to have the chance to explain something they actually didn't know. "I didn't mean to intend that 'copulation' as you put it would be an effective preventative treatment, only that exposure to identical or similar contagions would promote a rapid immune response before infection could set in. Someone who frequented Risa on the regular could theoretically acquire near native immunity, but I'm certain there are some natural born Risians who could fall risk to infection as well. The spectrum of immunology is fascinating that way." Tapping her chin as she thought back to her recent research, she added, "As for this particular strain? Yes, we've seen its baseline before, but I'd say this is a novel form of it that has evolved over the past century into something that is quite aggressive. It's unfortunate that Mr. Howley was the one to stumble on it. Another person might have been less affected or even entirely asymptomatic if their stars were aligned."

Now this Leah understood. Mutations and pathogens. "It could have even mutated in Mister Howley himself. Almost as if it's a virus rather than a fungus itself. With Reg's physiology, health, immune system, conditions of infection and location...it all could have been a factor to his response to this particular strain." She sighed, "alright, let's increase the levels on Delta Protocol and continue treatment. We'll need to do what we can here before we can transfer him to our ship and find a more express solution as he cannot stay here indefinitely."

"The aggressive case of mycosis would suggest that the patient was being devoured by the fungus rather than mutated by it," said Arayu. "Not that that's any better, though..." She clicked her tongue, realizing how unhelpful her observation was. "Uh, yeah. So, more Delta. Got it. If there's anything else I can do for you, just ask!" She ended her sentence with another wide smile before continuing on her rounds.

Leah blinked, looking after the woman for a minute. "That's it, I officially hate Risa. With one exception.." she then looked over at Teejay and winked at him. "Come on, let's get another round of Delta in."

Reggie let out a groan, though it was unclear whether he was conscious.

"Reg?" Leah turned her attention to the infected engineer as he made the sound. "Can you hear me?"

Her question was returned with naught but silence.

"So they knew about it," Teejay stated simply. "But they hid it and didn't warn anyone? Great. Awesome." He looked from Reggie to Leah and back again. "Kinda hoping he's the only poor bastard in this state, but also..." He let that trail. No way they got that lucky, not with half the ship down here on the surface. "It's eating him alive," he whispered. "I wish this was the first time I've had to deal with that kinda nightmare."

But Leah's wink brought a flash of teeth in a fleeting smile. He didn't hate Risa for that same reason, but he was seriously under impressed by Risians and this damn fungus.

"More Delta for you, Reggie old chum," said Teejay, setting up for the highest level the system was willing to send. "Don't worry, bud, we got ya."

Leah sighed and copied the readouts of his condition now, to have a timeline comparison between each of the stages of treatment. As she finished, she walked out of the room and waited for Teejay. Her arm itched again, and she scratched it without much conscious thought.

Another file needed to be added to MT archives, and sufficient warnings sent out through the Medical network to warn others not to try such shenanigans on Risa. Or any other planets for that matter. Such irresponsible behavior irritated Leah to no end. How many instances had she seen over the years of stupid spreads. Hell even Ultima Thule, in the end ended up being a stupid, even if deliberate, spread.

He spent a few more moments just quietly watching, and occasionally speaking to Reggie, but Teejay remained in that moment entirely, aware only of the poor man's situation. He couldn't help but wonder why Reggie had risked it, or why no one had seen fit to help him. Heads would roll, if they all got out of this in one piece, he considered, while letting the medical data upload to his personal PADD, a wealth of information from his lengthy study of disease, death and variety. Then, finally, he followed Leah out.

"You okay?" Teejay asked Leah, as he joined her out in the corridor. "I'm trying to tell if you're hurt, furious or just contemplating all of this mess," he admitted, seriously but lightly.

Leah sighed, her shoulders dropping, "all of it, to be honest. Just all reminds me why I left civilian service and joined up and why I went into research medicine. I suppose if we hadn't heard what we'd heard earlier..." she added, referring to the jarring breakfast, "I might feel less irritated by all of this...but today has just been so much...Ari is hiding more, she hasn't told us everything, I'm sure of it. Just...ugh!"

Teejay wrapped a long arm about those weary shoulders and pulled Leah close against him to gift her a warm kiss on her cheek. "It's been a lot," he agreed, voice soft as he pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. "But we got this. You and me, we're a solid investigative team. And if Arianna Frost wants to hide stuff from us, then we won't be able to help her properly. But that's her call. Personally," he grinned, wanting to lighten her mood. "I think she's gonna need us, so I wouldn't worry 'bout being kept in the dark for too long. Wanna go for a swim, check each other for 'shrooms?" He teased.

It gave her all the pleasant goose bumps, the feel of his lips against her cheek and his arm around her. Amazing how far they had come in such short a time, but she wouldn't change it for the world. He was right, they worked well together, on screen and off screen, for the lack of a better term and Leah found herself realizing she wanted this on a more steady basis, but that particular talk was yet to come...after they were off Risa.

She leaned into him more, "yes, please. A thorough check is definitely in order. Let's report to the Captain first though." Leah said as they headed out of the vexing facility.

"No problem," conceded Teejay with a gracious simplicity to both his words and gesture. "We'll report it, but keep our distance. No sense in risking the chance of anyone else catching this. Then," he grinned. "We'll have that thorough check-up. I mean, real thorough," he added, with emphasis on that penultimate word.

"Yes!" Leah chuckled, "hey, have you ever experimented with..." The duo headed out of the hospital in a much better mood than they went in.

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