The Most Difficult Patient (Part 3, the Final Part)

Posted on Fri Apr 17th, 2026 @ 2:33am by Lieutenant Commander Nyxala Valentine & Lieutenant Colonel Ashok 'Ash', Son of Norath
Edited on on Fri Apr 17th, 2026 @ 2:34am

2,405 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Flight Of The Valkyries
Location: Marine CO's Office

And Now The Continuation:


Ashok slowly eased the knife back into its sheath, behind his back, before taking a step back and bringing both arms back around. He crossed them over his chest and let out a deep breath. He was relieved. He didn't want to go through it, but his fathers teachings which was being shouted in his ear wouldn't allow him to stand down, so he was looking for a way out before their verbal jousting began. His gaze finally locked with hers, his demeanor and tone much calmer than it was when this started, but it was genuine. Ash finally spoke, clearing his throat, before forming the words. "For the record... and on it... I wouldn't have done anything to you or your unborn child. I didn't even know you were, with child, until I caught the scent. In the middle of all my huffing and growling, I didn't catch it, by then I was already reacting. My brain shuts off and reflexes kick in, acting and reacting, like I was trained to do." He walked over to the front of his desk and turned around to face her again, leaning against it, placing his hands on the sides to grip the front of it. "Thankfully, my brain kicked back in, stopping me from following through. I'm... I'm sorry, Doctor."

“For what it’s worth, Colonel, I’m sorry on my end as well. I think we both hit a little too close on our points of honor. I’m not going to say I wouldn’t have shot you, but I damned well wouldn’t have let you die.” She slowly bent over and reached into her medical kit that had fallen unnoticed to the floor, withdrawing the medical tricorder with thumb and forefinger, showing him before she took it proper and flipped it open. She wasn’t about to move quickly, yet, with the heightened tensions, but since he’d effectively said she could examine him, she also wasn’t going to waste the opportunity, “I was a Recon combat medic before they sent me off to the Academy to make me a full-fledged doctor, then they pinned the silver bar on me and sent me back.” She withdrew the probe and stepped towards him to get closer scans in, “Six years in Special Operations before they decided it was a bad idea and kicked me out to a hospital ship.”

He gave her a nod, once she showed him the tricorder, as he eased him into a relaxed position. He heard her story, or at least a part of, while keeping his eyes on her. Not out of caution, but interest. A Recon Medic before being sent to Special Operations? She certainly had first hand experience when it came to the situations they were in now. "I've worked with a lot of Marines, each with their own style and skills, but Recon Combat Medics are as tough as they come. The work they do, under fire no less, is incredible. Their work, some would think would be messing, but it’s actually pristine in many cases. You must have been a great Marine and Medic to land Special Operations. I've worked with Special Operations when I returned to the Romulan facility I was captured in, when I found Cirilla, so I know their worth having around. Their medic, an Andorian named Veraa Sh'taorhoss, was a First Lieutenant at the time. She was quick and ready at a moments notice. V they called her. Once she saw Ciri, there was no hesitation. She went right in and checked for everything. Made sure she was health and happy." Ashok smiled. "She even went the extra mile to check in on her when we got back on the ship. Checking the Doctor's work. Explaining to me anything I didn't understand. Sends a transmission, from time to time, just to see how she is doing." He let out a little chuckle. "So, you could say, her first Doctor was a Special Op's Medic."

“Veraa Sh’taorhoss… Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in some time, glad to hear that she’s still around and kicking.” Nyx’s smile was genuine at the memory of the plucky Andorian who never seemed to run out of energy, “When you talk to her next, tell her that ‘Zen’ tells her to get her ass on over for a real rocking romp. We’ll see if she remembers that one barfight we got into, those gold-shirts don’t know what hit them in the end. She was part of the group that was at the Academy with me, but she got lucky at the end.” She pursed her lips, not at the readings but in thought, “Are you experiencing any discomfort or pain that I should be aware of? The scans are all well and good, but the person usually can tell a much better story and unlike others of my kind, I can’t get a read of pain off of anyone. I may be Betazoid, but the gift is weak in me, something my grandmother couldn’t stand.”

"Had you told me before this that you were in a barfight, I wouldn't have believed it. Now, not so much." Ash chuckled softly. He looked down for a minute, pleased to see her smile after all that hostility they shared with one another. It could have been the thought of Veraa, but it was still nice to see her smile. "Look at me, Doctor. I'm covered with scars and my insides aren't all that perfect either. I have some lingering pain, maybe a bone that wasn't healed properly, but it's nothing I haven't gotten used to."

“Then I will absolutely have to insist that once everything is said and done that you come to MY office for a full work up and we’ll see what I can do to try to properly fix things up for you.” Nyx gave him a stern look with a laugh that softened it a fair bit, “You may think you’re invincible, but I’ve got perseverance and the command structure on my side, Colonel, plus if we keep all your bits together longer, I’m sure Cirilla would be much happier for it.”

"I'll be sure to go... this time." Ashok replied with a smile, before quickly adding. "And if something comes up, that's unavoidable, I'll be sure to let you know and ensure i make it to the next appointment. By the third time, you have my permission to hunt me down, let's just try to not get into the habit of have that conversation end up like this one." He added a little chuckle before clearing his throat again. "Given what we are about to do, I've done my Klingon duty and prepared myself for the end. Part of me is at ease, given my parents would be proud of it. The other part obviously doesn't want to leave my daughter. That part will fight like hell, and go through hell, just to make sure it doesn't end that way. I've made arrangements for her, shoulder something happen, I just hope they never have to happen, you know?"

"Then, Colonel, there's an easy solution: Don't die." Nyx smiled with the humor of someone who knew it wasn't that easy, "And if I have to hunt you down again, next time I come in with tranquilizer darts and we make it an exercise with me against your troops. I honestly wonder how far I'd get, or if I've really lost a step. I almost wish I could bring in a few people to test it out." She gave him a shrug, "But I think we can avoid what happened today. Seriously, though, don't be a stranger in sickbay, I'm here to help." She picked up the medical kit at normal pace this time, now assured that he didn't see her as a threat, "And when you bring Cirilla to visit Gigi, make sure she brings marshmallows."

Ashok let out a quick laugh before replying. "My father would say A Human Prepares for a battle and hopes to survive. A Klingon prepares to die and does not hope to survive. He just fights and relies on his training to keep him alive." He smirked slight, looking over to Nyx, before adding. "Then mother would add that if he did survive that she better be seeing him soon or she would kill him herself." The Klingon shook his head and chuckled again as he remembered his father joking about feeling safer if he had died. He would then quickly add he was never worried, because he know she would avenge his death and end the lives of the cowards who sent to the afterlife with his ancestors. Soon he would return his gaze to her, nodding. "I won't be a stranger, Doctor. I promise. So, when the battle begins, I can assure you it won't be my day to die." He looked down, crossing his arms over his chest, before looking back up to her with a curious look on his face. "You don't really have a dragon... do you? It's just a holodeck program or something you carry with you, isn't it? That was all just for Cirilla... wasn't it?!"

"Gigi is one hundred percent perfectly real and alive, I promise you that. She's a Drusselian Drakeling, a bit larger than a cat in body and if she'd been here with me, she would have been... Unhappy." Nyx grinned widely, "Don't worry, she's exceedingly well trained and behaved, but yes, she does breathe fire, hence the marshmallows. She was a gift from the Prince after his near-death experience that I was there for."

His eyes widened as he sat there with the information before speaking. "Wow.. Saved a Prince and got a Dragon. You certainly find yours in some unexpected situations, but you manage to make the best out of them." Ashok gave her a chuckle which ended in a smile. "And it's safe, right? Cirilla will be fine around it? She's going to want to touch it and ask a million questions just to learn about it." He released a quick sigh before adding. "I hope you know, you just made her next birth very difficult for me."

"I'm as close to an expert on the Drakelings as anyone you'll find within a hundred light years, and she's perfectly safe. When I say well trained, that's an understatement. Sure, she'll go off-command in stressful situations, but once I reinforce a command, she'll obey it instantly. I'll show Cirilla what not to touch, but once Gigi realizes she can get belly scritches from her, she'll be in heaven. I'll also teach Cirilla some whistle commands, just in case, but she doesn't mind having something climb all over her, does she? Gigi has sharp claws, yes, but she is very careful."

"I apologize, in advanced, for any trouble she causes or annoyance she gives you for all her questions." Ashok said softly with a smile. He looked down for a moment before locking eyes with her again. "My daughter... she's very curious about things. Especially when it comes to animals and creatures. She enjoys learning about them and will sometimes tell me something she learned that she says is cool and weird. Sometimes its something I already know, but every now and then, she'll tell me something I never knew. She can be quite a handful, but she's worth it, just to see her face light up when she learns something new." He cleared his throat quickly before adding. "I trust you to keep her safe and teach her to be smart and careful around your... Drakeling. After seeing how you were here when it came to me... I am sure you'd fight just as hard, maybe even more so, if anything were to happen. Whether it is from something medical or some danger trying to hurt us all."

"She'll be safe with me, you have my promise, my oath." Nyx stated solemnly, "And the pursuit of knowledge should never be stifled, only encouraged. But, as for now." She slung the medkit over her shoulder and glanced down only long enough to maneuver and slide her feet into the two inch heels that she'd worn into the office, "I'm sure that someone has managed to do something to get themselves injured in the time I've been gone. I'll review all of your records and come up with a comprehensive treatment plan to get you back into your peak fighting trim. How does that sound?"

"I'll looked forward to it, Doctor." Ashok said as he stood up from leaning against the desk. He placed his hands behind his back, taking a moment to look down, before focusing his eyes back onto her. With a small smile, as well as a bit of hesitation, he continued. "Again, I'm sorry for all the trouble you had to go through just for a medical check up and for how things go earlier. Maybe, you can let me make you lunch or dinner sometime? I promise it won't be gagh or anything alive. And it would be all three of us. Just as friends or crewmates. Nothing complicated or anything like that. A way to... redo our meeting and get to know each other in a less hostile setting."

"I think that would be wonderful." Nyx said with a chuckle, "I can handle gagh if you really want to, I'm not the most picky eater, especially with the past being as it was. But friends we can be, just remember that I'm a bit harder on my friends when it comes to medical treatment, because I've got more invested in keeping them alive." A mischievous glint lit her eyes, "Still, I'm sorry I came on so strong and... If I don't see that Corporal on the way out, let him know that threats come in all shapes and sizes. I didn't give him that big of a dose of sedative, just enough to put him out."


END

Lieutenant Colonel Ashok, Son of Norath
Marine Commanding Officer
USS Tokyo

Lieutenant Commander Nyx Valentine
Chief Medical Officer
USS Tokyo

RSS Feed