Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen - All we ever need is a kind word and a friendly face…
CPT Arianus
(( Radiation Treatment Ward, Deck 7 – USS Artemis-A ))
Ollie looked away and fell silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he reached into his jacket. He felt the familiar cold chill as his fingers touched datarod's body. He still had doubts, but hadn't these past few days shown enough proof that hiding secrets in the shadows was pointless? He pulled his hand out of his pocket, gripping the datarod tightly in his palm, and that was the moment he made his choice. He released the datarod, opened his hand, and placed the rod next to the vial.
Bergmen: I’m not a doctor, but maybe a record of readings from the tricorder I took as it progressed this time will help, Roy.
Roy let out a slight shake of his head as he grabbed the rod.
Bancroft: Don’t undersell your contribution here, Ollie. ::holding up the data rod:: This? This is the difference between me guessing… and me cheating.
The doctor let a slight, humanizing smile form at the corners of his lips.
Bancroft: For the record, I am very much in favor of cheating when the alternative is letting something nasty win.
There was truth in those words. Ollie understood them, understood what would need to come. Roy moved to the console and started data transfer. As the data was copied into the machine, the doctor glanced back at the biobed for a moment, his face mirroring the determination.
Bancroft: Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to compare these data against what was documented on the Vancouver and on Gideon, see what’s diverged, and use that to determine whether we’re looking at simple recurrence, acceleration… or something meaningfully new. Does that sound alright to you?
Bergmen: Right. Sounds good. Hopefully you will understand our medicine more than I. ::smiles changes into sigh:: But if this is… a something new… what then?
Roy nodded, as if he would expect a question like this. And he did, because he had an answer spoken without hesitation.
Bancroft: If it’s something new, then we follow the chain of events methodically. We figure out what changed between then and now – between when this was under control and when it wasn’t. Once we find the hinge point, we’ll know where to start.
Now was a time for Ollie to nod. He braced himself on his hands and slid his feet to the ground. He walked closer, his step slightly unsteady and limping, while looking at the medical console screen. He pointed to the data and visualizations unfolding before their eyes and tried to smile as he spoke.
Bergmen: So, where do we start, doctor? Bloodwork? Scans? Autopsy?
Bancroft: Response
There was some truth in what Bancroft had told him. Ollie didn’t nod; he knew it would be a pointless gesture. Instead, he just obeyed, went back to the biobed, and lay down, relaxing.
Bergmen: I'm ready. Let's start.
Bancroft: Response
TAG/TBC
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Lieutenant JG Ollie Bergmen
Operations Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
A240009JC1