Lt Alex Storm - Rx Chocolate
Karen Morris
(( Primary Sickbay - Deck 7, USS Artemis-A ))
Alex studied Doctor Bancroft for a minute as if she were trying to puzzle something out. He was an efficient biobed operator. Like a conductor standing in front of an orchestra with his back to his audience. Two quick elegant moves of his baton - or PADD as the case may be - could wring the most beautiful notes out of the musicians he led. But in an instant, her eyebrows lifted and her mouth curled upward as if she had been struck by a brilliant idea.
Storm: I’ve come to a decision about you, Doctor. If we are ever boarded, I’m sending the hostiles to sickbay.
Roy stopped in his tracks and gave the Lieutenant a sidelong glance, one eyebrow cocked, grin fully deployed.
Bancroft: ::hand to chest, mock-wounded:: Why, Lieutenant… sacrificing me to the invaders? I can certainly understand your desire to use me as a Human speedbump – and the Captain would probably promote you – but think of the collateral damage. Jorgenson has children. ::beat:: I think.
Storm just shook her head – whether from disbelief, amusement, or some combination thereof was anyone’s guess. It was the kind of reaction Roy had learned to interpret as a sign of growing affection. Or, at least, grudging tolerance.
Storm: No, because despite your earlier gaffe, your manner is very disarming.
He laughed. A laugh as real as a Ferengi is greedy. The warmth of the laughter permeated her chest in a new way. It felt good to be light hearted, it wasn’t something she had known a lot of over the past couple of years. It was feeling she could enjoy … if she would only let herself.
Bancroft: ::brightly:: Ah, well played, Lieutenant! ::beat, grinning:: So what I’m hearing is – you think I’m charming enough to lull armed assailants into complacency and irritating enough to be expendable. Honestly? I’ve been trying to thread that needle for years.
Storm: Well, better you than, Jorgenson, right? I mean he or she has kids? Think of the negative publicity if it were him or her instead of you.
He activated another scan as she lay there. While it looked like she was lying completely still, her toes were tapping out a song that happened to pop into her head a moment before.
Bancroft: ::feigned distraction:: Hm? Well, yes, I suppose that’s one way to look at it. I, on the other hand, subscribe fully to the ‘any press is good press’ school of personal branding.
Storm: I can see the headlines of the next Fleet Monthly. “Scandal: Doctor aboard the Artemis under investigation for pushing a med tech into the line of fire.” You mean press like that?
The diagnostic console chirped gently as the cranial scan initiated, casting a real-time image of the inside of Storm’s skull onto his monitor.
Bancroft: I’ve got to say, Lieutenant Storm, you are in pristine health. What’s your exercise regimen? Running? Organizing your boot collection? Emotionally bench-pressing other peoples’ intrusive thoughts?
Alex watched as he went from one scan to another with practiced ease. His collar said, “Ensign,” his manner and ability said otherwise.
Storm: Oh…well really, my exercise program is pretty typical for an officer. It consists of pushing my body to the limit with late nights, too much coffee, and running from excruciating group social engagements.
Bancroft: Response
Storm: Oh. I socialize, just not usually in big groups. Sometimes, it’s just too much effort to block out all everyone’s mental clutter that overflows, especially during large group gatherings. It’s typical of Betazoids on the whole.
The tactical officer’s toes kept tapping to the music she was playing in her head, but capable of multitasking, Alex also gave a little shrug. It was true. Betazoids often tended to choose to be by themselves more than not. Of course there were always exceptions to every rule.
Bancroft: Response
Alex could sense no worry from the doctor over her physical condition. She didn’t suspect that there would be any issues, but she knew that there could always be an unexpected surprise.
Storm: So what’s the diagnosis, Doc? Do I need to start eating more greasy fried foods? Oh….I know what it is. You’re going to prescribe chocolate, right? I mean…I might be able to do that if I tried really, really hard.
Bancroft: Response
~*~
Tags / TBC
~*~
Lt Alex Storm
Tactical Officer
USS Artemis
O240103SK2