Lieutenant JG Ragh- Don't Bite Off More than You Can Chew

[Ryan Augustyn]

(Medlab 2, L’Kar General Hospital, Garasi District, Argratha Capital City, Argrathi V)

Dr Telek was back, unfortunately. The good news was he was actually being more forthcoming. The bad news, well.. there were rage zombies? It was the very last thing Ragh would have been considering in regards to this drug epidemic. Now that he knew, it did make a certain type of sense, but he would need to do a lot of testing to verify anything. If there was even time for such tests.

Ragh: Thank you for finally telling us. This would have been vital information to know in our initial briefing but nonetheless.. it is much appreciated.

Nilsen: Can I infer that they have been bitten?

Telek: You may infer that. I appreciate you being able to read between the lines.

Richards: I don’t think we should have to be reading between the lines here. 

Ragh glared at the good doctor, afraid if he speaks it would lead to nothing good.

Something caught Nilsen's attention, and he started reading something on a PADD.

Nilsen: A moment.

Telek: The attention span of a teenager.

It took all his mental discipline to not strike Telek in that moment. Thankfully, Anton spoke first.

Richards: It might surprise you, but we have a tendency to look after our people.

Ragh: I am a Klingon first, a doctor second. It'd do well to remember that, doctor.

Before the moment could escalate, Nilsen turned to Telek. It seemed he received some sort of news.

Nilsen: That “unfortunate incident” has resulted in someone dying. This message said the citizen was acting under duress. I think you know now that it’s out there. So, Dr Telek, we are going to stop this, and you are going to answer each and every one of Ragh’s questions and work with him so that we can put this right for both your people and mine. Doctor. If this Ketra Omni spreads through bites, you must have a protocol. A treatment. A way to slow it down?

oO Dead? What could have possibly happened? Oo. The mood in the room immediately changed.

Richards: He means slow down the spread, not slow down your answers!

Ragh: This changes everything. The whole depth of my research, not once was this mentioned. 

Richards: Can we come up with a way to successfully track who has been infected?

Nilsen: We should be able to handle that if we have full cooperation.

Rath appreciated them for asking these questions. His mind was in a whirl; both from Telek's attitude and this new information. 

Telek: How little you know, it’s not just as simple as plugging a few names into a computer.

Nielsen sighed, Ragh just stared at Telek.

Richards: So what? We just sit here and play the “try not to get bitten game?” that doesn’t sound like a very solid option.

Nilsen: Exactly, we have to do something about it right now.

Ragh: Doctor, despite everything, we are still here to help. I don't know the details of this incident, but it seems as the situation is far worse than we were led to believe. I think we can figure out.. something. I'm not sure what, but something. But I need your full cooperation and I need it now.

Telek actually looked.. concerned? Flustered? 

Telek: Hold on, I am thinking!

Richards: No really, take your time, no rush or anything.

Nilsen: So, I ain’t a doctor.

Telek: Really?

They were losing ground again, everyone was on edge. He couldn't blame with partners for their attitude towards Telek, he felt the same, but they had to get focused.

Nilsen: But there must be some way to slow it down, even after it’s spread through a bite or whatnot? Ragh?

Ragh: I was previously looking at this all from a different angle. I was focused on stopping or counteracting the effects of Ketra Omni on the individual. But this, well we're looking at more of an antidote, for lack of a better word. 

Ragh paused, thinking about how to ask this next part.

Ragh: Those who are bit, or otherwise 'infected', are the symptoms the same? 

Telek: Well, that's the thing. It's very erratic. We've not been able to track it enough to have a clear answer. The rage from Ketra Omni is very short lived, usually, but those that have it transmitted to themselves, well, it's just a bit more harder to predict.

Telek seemed genuinely stressed about this information. Why were they keeping this from them? And how worse was this problem than they were led to believe?

Richards: Response

Nilsen: Ragh, what do you need?

Ragh: I need all they data they have this time. All of it. I need their best lab and I could use some help. Doctor, if you could oblige or have someone you recommend.. I'd appreciate it.

Telek: That can be arranged.

The attitude was gone. Maybe now that everything was out in the open, he felt more inclined to cooperate. 

Richards: Response

Nilsen: All right, you have my authority to do what you see fit, and Dr Telek, I want full openness and honesty between us from now on. Is that doable?

Telek: Yes, yes. Whatever you need, just ask. I actually am a busy man, but I can supply you with whatever staff you need.

Nilsen/Richards: Response

Ragh: Thank you, doctor. We will take a few minutes to discuss things and let you know what you need.

Telek left the room, again. Ragh turned to his companions, a look of exhaustion on his face. 

Ragh: Sir, can you tell us what happened? Was one of our people bit? Who died?

Nilsen/Richards: Response 

Ragh: Hmm. It probably wouldn't hurt to check in. Everyone needs to be warned and take proper precautions.

Tag/TBC

______________________________

Lieutenant Junior Grade Ragh

Medical Officer 

USS Octavia E. Butler 

O240212R13