ST: Sakura Hoshi - 15

2410.12.5

Locations: Dauntless Sickbay
Timeline: Current
Characters: McGregor, Hagen, Magar

Japanese help:
Oji-chan: Affectionate "Uncle"
Baka: "stupid","idiot"
Gomen- Short "I'm sorry"
Shimatta - "crap"

Hashimoto Yuuto = Gen's deceased uncle
Japaneglish = Japanese and English in the same sentence

--

It was happening again. The ship was rocking, wounded were coming in like a dam had burst and Gen did her absolute best to keep up with it all. She rushed about the Sickbay, patient to patient treating plasma burns, broken bones, and even the occasional head injury. Those that could still work were immediately rushed out to make room for the ever-increasing mass of Starfleet Officers coming in.

The Betazoid-hybrid was so busy with running around that she nearly missed noticing something that induced a boiling heat of rage in her heart.

She almost couldn't believe it -- it was a Cardassian female. She was lying in a biobed in an unconscious state, despite all the commotion going on around her.

At this sight Gen stopped dead in her tracks. Cardassians were the monsters that had taken her Oji-chan away from her, and there was one right there in the Sickbay, sleeping without any knowledge of anything around her, peaceful... vulnerable to attacks.

Gen gasped -- was she just thinking that!? No, no, no! She can't be! O...Oji-chan wouldn't want this of his only niece.

But- but they killed him! Why not return the favor?? They deserve it for destroying something so precious of Gen's! They deserve it for everything they had done to the innocent people they had attacked!

No, Gen, NO! the woman scolded herself. Baka, baka, BAKA! You're not this person! NO!

She wouldn't move -- her legs would not obey her one way or the other. People went by her, but ignored her because they had other things to deal with right then.

The noise was getting to Gen. Not the physical, audible noise -- the mental noise that she heard through her telepathic abilities that all Betazoids -- and half-Betazoids -- were born with. All the people around her just would not stop thinking! Gen didn't care about the vitals of a Vulcanian security officer or the bleeding head-wound on an Andorian; she wanted to be the only one she could hear! She didn't want to hear anyone else!

Desperate, Gen clasped her hands to her head, forgetting her own duties to the Sickbay, and mentally shrieked:

AAAAHHHH!!!

~~~

Gen hadn't moved from the same spot for what seemed like hours when in reality it was only minutes. Every time she tried to her body gave her a reason to stay – what if the Cardassian woke up and tried to hurt someone? She wouldn't let something like that happen to anyone else. She felt that she needed to be the one to stand in this thing's way should that occur… like with the Admiral's son…

The woman ignored everyone and everything around her. The only things that existed were the unconscious Cardassian, her herself, and her severely unsettled thoughts.

"Doctor Hagen?"

Gen about jumped out of her skin when she heard a voice next to her. However she immediately recognized the mental pattern of Doctor Rose McGregor.

Gen looked at her as she asked "Are you alright?"

Dr. McGregor showed clear concern for Gen, but the half-Betazoid – even in her own troubled thoughts – could tell she was upset about recent events; more specifically the Admiral's depression and mourning caused from his son's death. Gen felt very much the same when she received news of Hashimoto Yuuto's passing, but that was years ago – now all she wanted was justice for him.

But the young woman could not forget about the person near her as she meandered through her own thoughts. And there was no use in lying to her commanding officer.

"No, Doctor," she mumbled, a little darkly, "I'm not alright at all."

McGregor set her hand softly on Gen's arm, which made her tense up but then relax. "Doctor Hagen."

"Doctor McGregor," Gen began, "the… the, uh…" Great, now she was tripping up on her English. That only happened when she was really stressed.

But Dr. McGregor seemed to understand what she was trying to say. "This is Ambassador Magar," she said, referring to the unconscious Cardassian, "she's… she was hurt but Dr. Sorren and I operated and the outcome seems positive." Okay, so maybe she didn't understand.

"No, I mean," Gen breathed sharply, trying to find the right words in the right language, "I mean what… what is that doing in here?" The words felt like vinegar in her mouth. "After what happened… just… why?"

McGregor shook her head. "She's Cardassian, but she's not… she isn't responsible for what's happening."

To Gen, the Doctor didn't sound convinced of her own words, and her thoughts confirmed that. But McGregor hadn't lost anyone as far as the half-Betazoid knew. Why was she feeling doubtful? She has no reason to unless… oh.

A quick – and cautious (especially after the incident with Drake) – confirmed the young woman of her suspicions. She heard rumors, but learned to never trust them; however now the rumors had now proven to be true. Doctor McGregor was in a relationship with the Admiral. And since his son had been killed, she is now feeling helpless to help him to mourn and recover.

Suddenly Gen felt very stupid and naïve. She thought she was the only one who was feeling disdain for Cardassians – for this war – but now Rose McGregor had told her, without actually telling her, that she definitely wasn't; it had finally begun to sink in.

"I- Gomen, Dr. McGregor," she sputtered in Japaneglish. "I am sorry for the Admiral's loss, and am especially emotionally affected as he is in this as my Oji-Chan – uncle – was killed by the hand of a Cardassian as well." She shuddered. "And seeing one here… in the Sickbay where I had never expected to see one… just took me completely off-guard." Gen shuddered. "I will try to do my best to regain more control over myself," she said. "P-perhaps my father will be of… help in this. I appreciate your concern, Doctor," Gen told her. "Really. Maybe I can repay you for that in the future… after my own thoughts are suppressed of course." She will discipline herself to tolerate the presence of currently harmless Cardassian... that doesn't mean she has to like them however.

"Alright, well you know where I am if you need me." The Doctor smiled and turned as if she was going to go continue her work. Gen thought that may be best for her too; the further away from the Cardassian, the better. She made to do the exact same thing.

"Doctor...?"

"Nani??" Gen immediately clapped her hands over her mouth and stared as the Cardassian in the biobed began to stir, raising a hand up. Gen quickly cleared her throat and smoothed out her uniform, refusing to look at the patient. She mentally repeated Betazoid, Vulcan, and Human meditation phrases, trying to stay calm.

Beside the Betazoid-hybrid Dr. McGregor quickly rotated her body until she was once again completely facing the patient. "Ambassador Magar..." she said quietly.

The Ambassador looked at the two doctors quietly before she spoke. "I do not want to cause distress..." she stated fairly calmly, "but what did you do... and why did you bother...?"

"We're doctors," McGregor immediately answered, "it's our job."

Gen folded her arms. =Not like I enjoy some of the patients,= she mumbled quietly in Japanese, but still making sure neither of the other two women could hear as an extra precaution. Did not want to cause distress... somehow Gen found that very hard to believe. If the Cardassian didn't want to cause distress, why didn't she just leave? Better yet: shoot herself out the airlock.

Ambassador Magar sighed. "One Cardassian less," she said, "what would it matter?" Gen could immediately sense activity in her brain as she searched for a memory, but then stopped after apparently finding the right bit of information. "Doctor," she addressed McGregor, "one favor, that is all I ask. You must warn them, there are Obsidian Order ships joining the battle. They may already be here. They will be cloaked. It was not supposed to get... messed up like this." 'Messed up'? Wasn't that a more human-like term to use? "I told the Admiral but..." She was quiet for a second as Gen could sense an idea coming into her head. When she started to sit up Gen twitched but did her best to try and keep her composure, which seemed to be failing fast.

"Cloaked ships?" Dr. McGregor asked beside the half-Betazoid. From her natural radar Gen saw McGregor pull up a picture of the Admiral and then doubt. "Uh... I'll let Commander Almeida know," she told the Ambassador.

Cloaked ships? Great... Or maybe the little monster was just messing with them, telling them of false facts to try and throw the Dauntless into meaningless stress.

The Cardassian tried to sit up more and Gen, perhaps a bit jumpy, tried to reach one of her hypospray devices.

"You do not have to drug me," the Ambassador told her, which made Gen growl mentally and she stood straight and folded her arms again. "I will behave," Magar continued, "but what happened to the Admiral? They had no right to interfere. He is unhurt?" Gen couldn't believe it; a Cardassian asking about a human without any obvious malevolence? That seemed completely out of character.

Rose McGregor seemed also to be baffled. "Admiral Robinson is...uh...he's...not hurt," she replied hesitantly.

Your people just made him watch his son die and now he's stuffed someplace else on the ship and not in the Captain's chair where he stinkin' belongs, Gen thought sarcastically. Heavens, she was glad she was the only telepath here.

"He is unhurt," Magar said. "Good."

"You should rest," McGregor said, briefly glancing at Gen. "Is there anything you need?"

Gen cautiously watched the Ambassador think. The word 'No' immediately popped up in the Cardassian's mind, but then was shaken away.

Gen refused to say anything -- she knew how important it was to keep her feelings contained and not lash out, but geez it was hard! The Cardassian is helpless, she kept assuring herself. She will not harm anyone...

"Ambassador?" McGregor asked. Gen felt disappointment from her toward the half-Betazoid and she immediately felt guilty. Okay, so she obviously was lacking in dealing with things and people she didn't like.

"One thing," the Ambassador sighed. "Actually two. The first... is it possible to have some water?" Gen was surprised -- the last thing she would think about asking a Cardassian was for a glass of water or anything to eat. She glanced at Rose, who did the same, and it was almost as if each was asking the other to get the water. Magar continued speaking: "The other is... I need this on record so there is no confusion. Normally I would say this in Cardassian but Federation Standard will have to do."

"Of course," McGregor replied, looking at Gen again. "What was the second thing?"

Gen stayed put, wanting to hear what the Cardassian had to say. It was sure to be interesting at least.

"I came here as a matter of honor." She spoke in a professional tone of formality, which surprised Gen. It wasn't the tone, but it was what she said and the mental impressions that accompanied the statement: she actually meant it! "The Admiral had a right to act as he did and should not have been stopped," she continued. "There will be no action from us should he finish what he started. That is my statement, I call you both as witnesses."

The Doctor beside Gen shook her head a little and gave a small smile. "I don't think the Admiral will be finishing what he started," she said, "and we didn't fix you up for nothing."

Gen was confused. 'The Admiral had a right to act as he did'? What did a Cardassian care for that? 'Should not have been stopped', she agreed with that part -- he should have been given the chance to repay those beasts for what they did to Kolten Robinson. Great, she was going mad: agreeing with a Cardassian.

"Now if it is possible to have something to drink...?" Gen was snapped out of her thoughts by the Ambassador and stared at her, though she felt like it was more like a scowl. Shimatta. Magar sat up tiredly and looked at Gen. "Doctor you do not need to keep jumping," she told her. "I am hardly about to attack anyone. I mean this of course with respect, not to offend. If it makes you feel better you can restrain me so I do not do anything violent."

"There'll be no need for that," McGregor immediately said with a sideways glance ag Gen.

The half-Betazoid painfully sighed. "Dr. McGregor's right, we don't need anything like that," she said quietly. "I..." She wanted to apologize, as was how her parents raised her, but at the same time she didn't because of her deeply engrained resentment for Cardassians. She let herself trail off and pretend not to have anything else to say.

The Ambassador spoke: "It is quite obvious to a traind observer that you have had some – shall we say – bad dealings with Cardassians. Both of you. It is far too common and regrettable…" Gen narrowed her eyes at the Cardassian. What was she getting at now? "It was family was it not? That is far worse. For what it's worth I am sorry..." Gen could only stare at her.

"Cardassians have a certain reputatioin," Dr. McGregor agreed, "but you aren't responsible for your entire race."

Gen pressed her lips together and nodded. "Sh-she's right," she mumbled. I just hope I can learn that soon, she admitted to herself. "And thanks," she added as an after-thought.

"Contrary to popular belief not all Cardassians are monsters," the Ambassador sighed. It may surprise you to know some of us even love and care for our families. Hard to believe I know that a vile Cardassian could actually feel something like love but there you have it." She sounded almost annoyed, and again Gen felt guilty.

"Nobody said you were all monsters," Doctor McGregor said. "And you shouldn't be upsetting yourself. Like I said, you need to get some rest." She then looked at Gen. "Please get the Ambassador some water."

The Betazoid-hybrid nodded. "Yes, Doctor. I shall put in some medicine in it to help her relax, if that's okay."

With that she quickly trotted off as she heard Dr. McGregor ask "Do you need anything else?" to the Ambassador.

Gen retrieved the glass -- not actual glass, but an unbreakable yet similar substance -- of water and medicine and came back to Dr. McGregor and the ambassador.
"My thanks for that," Magar said, taking it the glass.

"Ambassador..." McGregor began, "before we operated on you, you told us about the technology in your head, and you said it was a gift from the Obsidian Order. Are there more 'gifts' from the Order that we haven't yet found?"

Gen didn't understand what the doctor was talking about, so she decided to remain silent. She was vaguely aware of the rising awkwardness of her being present for a conversation she did not know was about.

She could see the Ambassador hesitate. "That device you removed is commonly referred to as the Wire. And to answer your question I do not have any other technology of the Obsidian Order hidden on me. I assumed you scanned me earlier and you will have noticed many healed wounds, I have had my fair share of injuries... which is why I dislike doctors in general."

"None taken," Dr. McGregor said with a smile. Gen didn't even register the Ambassador's comment on doctors... she simply didn't care. "Not many people are comfortable around doctors. And you're right, we have carried out thorough scans, but the Obsidian Order are notoriously..." she paused, and Gen raised her eyebrow, "skilled at concealing such things."

"Skilled on a disturbing level," Gen mumbled. "But anyway, what are you doing with Order tech in your brain?"

"If you are asking if I am an agen of the Order..." Ambassador Magar said, "well naturally I deny it. For one thing I am too short." Gen knew immediately that was a lie. This Cardassian was winning points, and losing some as well. Physically, Magar appeared to be relaxing, though to her disliking. "Can you imagine someone as small as me being an agent?"

Gen could totally understand someone as small as her own self being too small -- Japanese genes -- but didn't think twice that Magar had any height issues or anything as such.

"Oh, believe me, I have a very good imagination," Rose McGregor said, chuckling. "But for now, I need to check on a couple of other patients, so get some rest, Ambassador, I'll be back to check on you later." And with a nod to both Gen and the Cardassian, she left.

"I must be going too," Gen stated. "Don't go getting into trouble... rest easy now." And she too left.

When she left the Cardassian behind she gave a sigh of immense relief. Naturally she was still anxious, but for now the confrontation was over. Oh, Buhdha and the Four Divinities... she felt like such a fool about her initial reaction to seeing the Cardassian. She was feeling so much emotion, it wouldn't surprise her if every telepath onboard the Dauntless came knocking at her and her roommate's quarters.

The Betazoid-hybrid then noticed something; she was out of hyposprays. Time to get some more.

--

Ensign Gen Hagen
Medical Officer
U.S.S. Dauntless