JP Jolara & Robins - Finding Solid Ground

[Stella McIntire]

((Sickbay, USS Avandar))

::Talya stared blankly at the console. What she was looking at, she didn't know. How long she'd been sat there staring, she didn't know that either. She was still feeling decidedly unnerved by Cmdr Blake's visit to Sickbay from the previous day, but felt at least a little vindicated by the fact that Chase was now reaping his just rewards.::

::Though there was still a big part of her that was still annoyed at how quickly he'd ended up finding out he was no longer as...able, as he previously was. How could he? How could he *now*, with the baby just around the corner?::

::And so she'd ended up here, staring at a console, trying to focus on work. Her eyes had glazed over some time ago, and that was now about the depth of her knowledge. She couldn't even say whether some nurse or other had been in to talk to her, or whether she'd managed to have a sensible conversation with them.::

::Probably not, given how blurry her eyes were.::

::Eventually - and it really did feel like an 'eventually' - she blinked in the hopes of clearing her vision, and awkwardly got to her feet. Her bump was making moving incredibly difficult, and although she was more than a little fearful of how things were going to turn out...she did want this baby out.::

Robins: ::muttering:: Damn him.

::After all, this *was* his fault. Both the pregnancy, *and* how she was feeling towards Chase.::

::Rune stopped abruptly at the open door to the Doctor’s office. Her immediate thought was she should turn around and leave but if there was a problem, as Counselor, she should try to help find a solution. Then again, as long as it wasn’t something that would interfere with the doctor doing her duty, Rune wouldn’t push.::

Jolara: ::smiling as if she hadn’t overheard the whisper:: Hello. I’m Ensign Rune Jolara... Counselor Jolara reporting, albeit a little late, for my physical. But if this is a bad time...

Robins: ::sighing a little:: No, this is as good a time as any. Come through into my secret laboratory...

Jolara: ::eyebrow raising:: Secret laboratory?

::Rune hoped that was one of those human (though the Doctor was Trill)... jokes she did not understand as she followed the doctor.::

::Talya tried to work out a kink in her neck, hoping to clear her head at the same time. This *wasn't* like her...and she was getting seriously fed up of it. A hazy brain wasn't the best thing to have when dealing with a patient.::

::oO(Robins) Ah well, I can blame that on Chase, too. Oo::

Robins: ::crossing to the console to access her medical records:: Al-Leyan?

Jolara: Yes.

Robins: We...::she hesitated, recalling the image of Blackwood's dead body::...had a casualty in our Science department. An Al-Leyan, LtCmdr Sorani, took over as CSO.

::Talya had hardly known Evanna, having been new to the Avandar herself, but Talya had been the medical officer responsible for that away team. Her first away mission - her first casualty. oO No more of those, huh? Oo::

Jolara: I haven’t had the opportunity to meet LtCmdr Sorani yet.

::Rune was well aware of the other Al-Leyan aboard. She had seen her on the bridge during the... encounter with the mercenaries and Klingons. Rune found herself both eager and hesitant to meet her. However, her attention was focused more on the doctor. She seemed distracted causing Rune to wonder if she had been close to the former CSO.::

Robins: I guess its what we sign up for. ::pausing, she put a light hand on her bump, feeling another of those annoying niggles that warned of the impending birth:: Now, getting back to your evals, anything I need to know of? I know Al-Leyans generally carry inhalers. Is yours up to date?

::Rune’s eyes drifted down to where the doctor’s hand rested. Then she began to understand or thought she did. The doctor was with child which had quite a psychological impact on a number of females as well as a physical impact. She smiled even if only for a moment. Al-Leyan believed having children was a wonderful thing which was to be enjoyed and looked forward to. Though Rune wasn’t entirely sure... she quickly pushed that thought away. She mentally kicked herself for even having the slightest thought that went against what she’d been taught.::

Jolara: ::focusing on the doctor and nodding:: Yes, I just replaced it before coming aboard. I do not believe there is anything that isn’t in my record. ::remembering her reaction to the pain medication she had gotten from Gina:: Actually that is not correct. I had a... reaction to Terakine, I think it was.  It was a very low dosage but it had an unexpected... inebriating effect.

Robins: ::lifting a curious eyebrow:: Oh. Good to know. I'm not sure being drunk on duty is a good idea, so I'll note that down in your records. ::tapping away to input the data:: Okay, if you want to sit up on the biobed, I'll set up the scans. It won't take long, though I do want to do an added sight and hearing test, if that's alright with you?

Jolara: ::she started to protest but stopped herself:: If it is necessary. Will I be required to come back for them?

Robins: We can do them all at once, so you won't have to come back.

::Talya moved to set up some of the scans on the biobed, then walked away from main Sickbay, leaving the Ensign on the biobed for a moment. When Talya returned, it was with an ocular-scanner, and she placed it in front of the Al-Leyan.::

Robins: Computer, reduce lighting by sixty percent. ::indicating the chin-rest:: If you'll just rest your head on there, and look straight at the dot.

Jolara: Okay. ::she hesitated before leaning forward and placing her chin against the chin-rest as the Doctor indicated::

::Crossing back to the console, Talya input the command for a hearing test for her. This was the fun part, and as she keyed it in to begin, thoughts of Chase and the baby vanished, and she tried to hide her smile. She loved the way people reacted to this.::

::Little pin-pricks of light darted out from the dot, and into Jolara's eyes. Rune tried to keep her eyes open but the nictitating membrane automatically snapped shut as the bright light hit her corneas essentially blinding her. A few moments later, the scanner let out a tiny beep, confirming the test was complete.::

Robins: Mm, I'll need to check our records, because I'm not all that up on Al-Leyan physiology, but those results look consistent with your race's sensitivity to light.

Jolara: ::blinking several times to clear her vision:: Is the hearing test going to hurt as much?

Robins: It's all done. ::grinning:: That's what I like about the hearing test. Silent, but effective.

Jolara: ::curious:: I did not hear anything. How can that be effective?

Robins: The biobed monitors for impulses and reactions in the brain, while the computer emits low-level and high-level pulses. Once your brain starts registering the pulses, and transforming them into signals your ears understand, we then know where your range of hearing lies. You never need consciously to register having heard anything.

Jolara: I am thankful for that, however the eye test needs much improvement. ::frowning:: Is there anything else?

Robins: Nope, you're all done. All your organs seem to be working fine, though I'll want to keep an eye on your lungs. As long as you're feeling fine, there's nothing else.

Jolara: I feel... fine. o0Physically.0o ::tilting her head slightly:: How do you feel?

Robins: ::surprised, the brief cheerfulness quickly fading:: Me? I thought I was the one doing the physical.

Jolara: I realize we don’t know each other but may I ask you a personal question?

::oO(Robins) Okay, *this* is interesting. Oo::

Robins: ::the levity completely gone, she warily eyed the Ensign:: Go on.

Jolara: ::glancing quickly at the doctor’s bump:: Are you... happy?

::The question took Talya by surprise even more than the first one, and for a moment she stayed silent, too unsure to even utter a sound. Was this woman telepathic? Nothing was mentioned in her medical file...unless her eyes were still too blurry to notice.::

Robins: ::eventually crossing her arms defensively and leaning a hip against the console:: Why...do you ask?

Jolara: ::taking note of Talya’s defensive posture, she hoped she hadn’t just offend the doctor:: Al-Leyan women are taught it’s a great honor to bring new life. The... pregnancy is to be enjoyed and we should look forward to it. Is it the same for humans... Trills? ::taking a breath:: I am sorry if my question offends you. It’s just that I am trying to... ::she searched for the right word:: connect? Learn how other species feel and think about things. If I can’t I will have to re-evaluate my worth to this ship and to Starfleet. o0Which I have been doing since arriving.0o

::Talya suddenly felt guilty for having turned defensive, and she let out a relieved breath, relaxing a little. She had read somewhere before that bringing new life into the universe was an honour for Al-Leyan's.::

::And as long as the questions stayed on a species-wide basis, Talya would answer them as best she could...from a Terran perspective as opposed to Mellorian.::

Robins: ::moving away from the console and sitting on one of the other biobeds:: It's...complicated, I think is the best word. Child-birth and -rearing is considered desirable by most Terrans, but...I wouldn't say that Terrans are *taught* that as such. Some have a...how can I put it...an inbuilt *need* to raise a family; others don't. It's an individual choice. As for Trills, I'm not sure how they view child-rearing to be honest.

Jolara: It is not a... It is very different for us. ::Rune was at a loss for what to really say as she absorbed the doctor’s words.::

::There was something in the other woman's demeanour that made Talya wonder if perhaps she *didn't* follow her people's traditions when it came to bringing new life, and for a moment she felt a wave of sympathy if that was the case.::

Robins: ::taking a risk:: Traditions are important for any species, any culture. But...take my word for it, it has to be something you can follow heart and soul, or some of those traditions will only hurt you...or hurt the child.

::She stopped then, and looked down at her bump, thinking about "traditions". Chase had been hurt by the traditions of his biological parents' cult. Talya and her baby *would* be if things didn't go to plan.::

Robins: ::keeping her eyes on her abdomen:: Don't *ever* have a child if you can't love and protect it. You'll hurt yourself and...you'll hurt the child.

::Like she was just about to if the baby didn't turn out to be male.::

::Rune had a feeling there was much more behind that statement than she could understand.::

Jolara: Al-Leyan children are... reared and protected by the Haemachuo in a very secure, peaceful environment. We do not... As I said, very differently.

::Talya slipped awkwardly from off the biobed, and moved back to the console, a tear trying to choke her. Tapping the results from Jolara's tests into the computer, she tried to shove thoughts of her baby firmly from mind. She couldn't think about it now.::

Robins: Computer, increase lighting at five percent intervals every three seconds until normal levels are reached. ::she didn't want to blind the woman, given her sensitivity to light.::

Jolara: I am sorry if my questions have upset you.

Robins: ::sighing a little, and turning to the woman:: It's not your fault, Jolara. But...may I ask one of my own?

Jolara: Yes, of course.

Robins: ::concerned:: Are you asking simply so that you can relate to humans better, or is there something else? For an Al-Leyan...you don't come across quite as cheerful as perhaps I imagine you would. Or maybe that's my own perceptions.

Jolara: As with most races, we are all different but, ::looking puzzled:: I am not sure I understand.

Robins: From what you've said, having kids is considered an honour. Do you...::hesitating a moment, then pressing on::...do you view it as such?

Jolara: To view it any differently would be against The Fallen Branch and unacceptable.

Robins: ::shaking her head:: No, that's not what I asked.

::Talya moved *back* to the biobed she'd just vacated, and hiked herself up to sit on it, facing the Al-Leyan.::

Robins: I'm not asking what your people think - I'm asking what *you* think. Maybe you would understand if I tell you of my culture. I was born on a colony world. We have a very different culture to Earth. One where raising a family *isn't* optional. It's mandatory.

::There was far more to it than that, but to explain that only 20% of the female population was fertile, and the consequences of that? oO No, keep to the minimum. No need to frighten her, too. Oo::

Robins: I'm supposed to raise a family on my homeworld, but...::she stopped, looked nervously at her hands, and continued::...well, as you can see...this ship isn't exactly a globe orbiting a sun.

::She sighed, mentally kicking her worries out the way.::

Robins: The fact is, I'm supposed to raise a family on my homeworld, but because of certain traditions...I would not have the choice of father. ::she paused, and held the Al-Leyan's gaze:: Even for my culture and my customs...I *couldn't* do what was required. That was..."Falling from the Branch", I think your people would term it.

::Her heart was pounding a little faster. Would the Al-Leyan understand? Talya hoped she wouldn't gain the complete truth from that, but did hope it was enough. She wasn't sure she could say much more than she already had without beginning to fall apart. The woman didn't need to know of Savnum, and those cold, calculating eyes that still came back to haunt her on occasion even now.::

::A million thoughts raced through Rune’s mind. She had not expected things to go this direction. But she thought she was beginning to understand.::

Jolara: So you have chosen to go against your... branch.

Robins: ::nodding:: I guess that's how your people would view it, yes. I would have hurt *myself* by...well, you get the idea...as it was that my culture demanded. Can you understand this?

Jolara: ::nodding:: Yes, I believe so.

Robins: Good. I'm telling you this because I want you to understand that you can be honest with me, because you have nothing to fear from me. I've..."Fallen from my Branch". I'm not going to judge you.

::Talya left the question un-asked, but still hanging. She didn't want to pressure the woman the very first time she'd met her, but the thought of an unwanted - and unloved - child was a lot to think about with all that she'd learned...especially with her own baby so soon to be born.::

Jolara: ::even in a whisper she was afraid to admit it but she shook her head:: I am not... I am conflicted. Saying as much is not be acceptable and would warrant attitude re-adjustment. ::taking a breath:: It is complicated.

Robins: Tell me what isn't. ::she sighed, and stood up:: I can see that this is something difficult for you, and although I'm not posted here as a counsellor, if you want to talk about it, you're more than welcome to. I won't judge you.

Jolara: ::smiling weakly:: Thank you. I appreciate the offer. Perhaps another time? I’m sure I’ve taken up enough of your time.

::Talya smiled, just as weakly as the other woman, and then felt a burgeoning twinge again. She hid it as best she could by moving back to the console and finishing up on Jolara's records.::

Robins: To be honest, I was rather glad of having some company, but... ::forcing a smile to rid herself of the latest twinge:: I'm afraid I do have to get back to work.

Jolara: Thank you and if YOU need to talk... well, that’s what I’m here for.


JP by

Ensign Rune Jolara
Counselor
USS Avandar

&

Lt(JG) Talya Robins
Medical Officer
USS Avandar