JP Ens. Trovek and Amb. Zorkal: A Good Death - Decisions

[Arys Trova]

((Ihalainen Residence, Rovaniemi, Finland, Earth))

It was an odd set-up, much like an interrogation, but that had been purposefully done. What Arys needed was distance to Lukin and to the matter she wanted to discuss. She owed it to make the right decision, devoid of the influences of her emotions, and she owed it to Lukin to not blame him when a conclusion had been reached. 

Lukin lifted his gaze away from the file, closed and unyielding any secrets to him.  She was about to do that.  He placed his hands flat on the table, sat upright and gazed across at her.

Zorkal: What have you discovered?

Her voice was distant as she answered - not unfriendly, but professional. The distance however wasn’t between him and her, but between Arys and the matter that she wanted to discuss. A necessary distance to keep a cool head.

Trovek: I want to discuss the matter of Leevi Ihalainen. 

Zorkal: Your grandfather.

A man of age and wisdom, he was sure.  

Trovek: ::nodding:: Yes. I will start with the facts, the things I know to be true because they have been recorded, or logged in the medical file. 

Zorkal: Go on.

One hand lifted, fingers splaying toward the tablet that lay in front of her, waiting.  

She reached for a PADD and unlocked it, taking a few moments to gather her thoughts before she was speaking.

Trovek: Mister Ihalainen arrived at Ihalainen Fertility Clinic, as a patient, in an unconscious state. That was ten weeks ago. He had been sedated by his son, a Doctor at the same medical facility, and was brought into a ward specialised in stasis units. He has not left that room ever since, however, no treatment plan has been created and no medication has been administered. 

Lukin leaned forward a little, his hands coming together, fingers lacing as he listened.  She gave him the facts in a neutral tone, one devoid of emotion.  Impressive, considering the person she was describing.  

Arys found that this was easier than she had imagined it. Sticking to the facts. Leaving the emotion out of it. She looked at Lukin and continued.

Trovek: There are several aspects that indicate the case has not been handled correctly. Mister Ihalainen has signed a DNR-order and specified his wishes towards the end of his life. Both have been disregarded. Furthermore, the person he declared to hold power of attorney in case of his incapacitation was not informed of his condition. Instead, the decision-making went to the next of kin. 

Zorkal: Ah.  Let me see if I can deduce correctly.  The person he declared to hold power of attorney in case of his incapacitation is you.

Trovek: That is correct. Another concern ::she swallowed hard and looked back at her file instead of at Lukin:: Is the fact that the logs indicate that stasis was interrupted several times for one or two hours, but there is no indication of any kind of medication being given. Mister Ihalainen suffers from fluid build up in his lungs. Coming out of stasis without light sedative and medication to alleviate pain would have been… highly disorienting and painful. There is no apparent reason for stasis to have been interrupted. 

Now Lukin frowned.  No, he didn’t frown. He scowled.  Such treatment of the elderly was, to coin the term Arys had used, horrible.  He would suffer, and needlessly so.  What a despicable thing.  

Zorkal: Would he be lucid if awoken?  Have you gone to do the same, though with medication, and asked him what has happened?

He was making it personal, and she resented that. It meant she couldn’t distance herself, couldn’t stick to facts. This was about what she was doing to take action. 

Trovek: I have not - not yet. I am considering how much sense it makes to do so, and I am not sure how lucid he would be, or how long it would take him to become responsive. 

Zorkal: Perhaps you should do so.  Who else beyond medical personnel has access to him?

Trovek: No one… I mean technically it would be possible for someone to enter the room, but it isn’t likely. Reestablishing stasis after waking him does require someone who knows what they are doing. That, and I was told it’s only Lauer and my father visiting him.

If that were the case, either the medical personnel were doing it, Lauer, or his own kin were.  While there was a time and place for torturing, it was not warranted in that particular situation.  Another deep scowl darkened the Cardassian’s face, Lukin leaned forward, eyes meeting hers and holding them fast, his expression harder than stone.

Zorkal: Then perhaps it is time they be denied access.

Arys found herself staring into his eyes, thankful for the stability it gave her thoughts. Her mind had been in chaos over the past days, and speaking to him made it easier to sift through it. And she had asked this of him. She had asked him to be Cardassian.

Trovek: I spoke to him about it. I was thinking that, perhaps, there is some new treatment that gives him hope, and which I do not know of. ::pausing:: But he didn’t say that there was, and it isn’t logged in the medical file either.

Zorkal: Your father then.  

So the father was doing this to the father.  For what purpose?  Age brought wisdom, was that what he sought?  If so, then he was doing it in a rather cruel way.  Even Cardassians had their limits.  

Trovek: No… Instead, he told me that his father owes him, and that reporting this matter to anyone would end my career, not his. He… said that if I want to remain his daughter, I have to turn around and walk away from this. And he isn't wrong, it would potentially drag the family reputation through the mud. 

Lukin snorted.  End her career?  What an empty threat.  They were words meant to put fear, to make her think thrice before taking action. 

Zorkal: I can understand the concern about reputation.  However, it wouldn’t be the family reputation.  It would be *his* reputation.  He’s manipulating you.

That wouldn’t be the case on Cardassia.  His people would surely look upon them as a whole and condemn them for the actions of one member. But humans were different.  Supposedly.

Arys lowered her gaze and reached for the glass of water, if only to hold onto something. She closed her eyes, and all of the sudden she wondered why she was sitting here and talking to Lukin. She had already made the decision, she just needed to justify it, or to someone sensible to tell her that it was unwise to sink her own career like this. 

Trovek: What’s it like on Cardassia? If something like this were to happen? 

Zorkal: If the man is not an enemy of the state, and I highly doubt he is, then he would be treated with utmost respect and care.  The aged have wisdom to share.  In the case of suffering, they would be asked for their wishes.  Most, if not all, would choose to die.  In one exactly like your grandfather’s - it would never be allowed to happen.  At all.  

Trovek: I understand. I am not yet sure what allowed it to happen here, but I will find out. ::sighing:: So what am I supposed to do, inform the authorities? Speak to my father again? Switch off the stasis field and let him die?

It was a difficult thing.  Lukin knew that far too well.  He’d had an experience in that vein, and it had been one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.  But it hadn’t been his choice.  It had been hers.

Zorkal: I think you know what you must do.  

Arys smiled painfully. She did. She had before she had started this conversation. The decision had been clear the moment she had found out the truth. 

Trovek: I do. 

Zorkal: I can help you if you wish.

Now she looked at him again, tilting her head, her eyes met his. Again the decision was already made. She wouldn’t accept any help in this, and yet she asked.

Trovek: Help?

Zorkal: Yes.  Help you put him out of his misery.

She shook her head. 

Trovek: No. I… enjoy your presence because you make me feel-.. ::she didn’t finish the sentence:: I do not want you to take over the difficult tasks. ::she sighed:: I would be a bad friend if I ever expected something like this from you. 

Eyeridges arched up.  The woman was often saying things that surprised him, and he was almost disappointed that she didn’t continue the thought.  

Zorkal: I would be a bad friend if I didn’t offer.  It stands, whether you wish to take advantage of it or not.

Trovek: I won’t. But thank you - I think this is a decision I need to make on my own. 

Zorkal: I can also give you something that will take care of it quickly and painlessly.  Either way, I am here and available.  

He paused, leaned forward, hands flat against the table. 

Zorkal: Whether you like it or not.

Arys sighed but smiled, and for a moment, just a brief moment, she placed her fingertips on his. Lukin blinked but there was nothing else upon his face, no other emotion that played over those grey, stony features.  

Trovek: Only you can manage to make a promise sound like a threat at the same time. I will… make a decision on this. And I will decide on how to deal with my father. There needs to be some kind of punishment. I just do not know yet what it will be. 

She shrugged to herself and got up, locking the PADD and pocketing it. For a moment she hesitated, then she tilted her head at Lukin. 

Trovek: I think I will go and burn my skin off for an hour or so. Do you want to join me? For you it would probably be… comfortably warm. 

Zorkal: Burn off your skin? 

Trovek: A finnish Sauna - not a Cardassian one. It’s humid and I won’t be able to manage anything above 80 degrees Celsius, but you might find it pleasant. It’s what I will be doing anyway, you are, as always, welcome to do as you please. 

Definitely not torture, then.  That actually sounded quite pleasant indeed.  Finland was cold, and he generally kept on thin but insulated layers beneath his clothing to prevent from freezing.  

Zorkal: Then yes, I will join you.  And do tell me what your plans for your father are.  There, again, I can aid you if you wish.

Lukin had no problem assisting in doling out any punishment Arys saw fit.  Rising, he motioned for her to lead the way.

Trovek: I do not need your aid. 

Lukin didn’t doubt that. Arys was a capable woman.  He smirked, but offered no further commentary.  She led the way past the living room and towards the back of the house, until they reached an area the size of one of the sleeping quarters, divided into an entryway with a large closet, a separate area with a shower, and then the sauna itself - a wooden construct with glass doors. 

Zorkal: I just have one question.

Trovek: And that is?

Zorkal: Why are you just now telling me that you have a sauna?

Trovek: ::smiling:: I had mentioned it. I asked when you arrived if you wanted to see the terrarium. But fine, I could have made it more clear, or you could just have indulged me. I haven’t referred to you as lizard in days. 

Zorkal: Terrarium implies a glass bowl with rocks and plants.  Next time, use the proper term.  

Arys rolled her eyes and activated the sauna, letting it heat up while taking a few large towels out of the closet, tossing him two of them, before picking a lightly birch-scented essential oil to add to the water she would use. 

Zorkal: Interesting.  You add...scents to your sauna?

Trovek: We do. Inhaling essential oils is proven to communicate signals to the olfactory system and stimulate the brain to exert neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. ::she looked at him:: With other words, it smells nice and makes us happy.

Right.  It was yet another strange thing about humans. 

Trovek: Are Cardassians that different?

Zorkal: Generally we enjoy the scent of stone and metal.  But I’ll endure for your sake.

Lukin lifted the towels that he’d deftly caught when she’d tossed them in his direction.  Turning them over, he eyed first the objects, then the woman. 

Zorkal: And these are for?

Arys raised an eyebrow. Lukin was walking the fine line between being amusing and annoying. It was, of course, Arys’ fault that she found herself gravitating towards the latter in her judgement, and that was, of course, caused by what had happened in the past days. All distractions aside, she didn’t actually stop thinking about it. It put her on edge.

Trovek: One is to sit on, and the other is to cover yourself - it’s steam based heat, generally speaking you would shower and undress.  

Zorkal: Ah, I see. 

And he neither implied that he would comply with that.  Nor did he say he wouldn’t.  Instead, he arched an eyebrow, as if waiting for her, whether or not she had something else to say, or some other order to give.  Not that he would necessarily follow anything she told him to do. 

She offered him a shrug that pretty much communicated to him to do as he wished - since he would do that anyway - and vanished towards the section with the shower, returning a few minutes later wrapped in a towel. 

The sauna was heated up by now and pleasant warmth greeted her as she entered the cabin, climbing up to her usual spot on the highest of the tiered benches. 

She was there alone for a few moments before Lukin appeared,one towel wrapped around his waist, the other folded over his arm.  He did not take the higher perch, but one just below it.  Despite that, he was still almost as tall as her.  Leaning back, he used the higher tier as an armrest and tilted his head back, closed his eyes, inhaling deeply.  

Zorkal: I did not realise humans enjoyed such things - these seem a bit warmer than I generally know to be tolerated. 

Trovek: Oh this is nothing. 

She slid off her bench and got the wooden bucket of scented water, using a ladle to pour some of it over the heating element.

The water evaporated and the temperature seemed to rise immediately. For a Cardassian this was cozy. For a human this was… well. Arys seemed to decide that the water was Lukins job from now on, and returned to her spot, laying flat on her back with one hand on her stomach.

Zorkal: It is different in that it is not a dry heat.  Still quite enjoyable.  

Trovek: It is. Though traditionally, afterwards, you cool yourself off in the snow. For you I wouldn’t advise it. Physiologically speaking, extreme temperature changes are a bad idea. Then again you can tolerate this longer, humans shouldn’t do it for more than twenty minutes. 

Zorkal: You can rest assured I will not bathe in the snow.

The very idea was absurd, and he couldn't understand how the humans enjoyed such a thing, but he supposed to each his own.  Even if it was ridiculous.  Oh no, he  was staying right there.  Twenty minutes was nothing.  He had just been introduced to the only decent room in the entire house.  

She offered a shrug and closed her eyes, concentrating once more on her breathing. Speaking was difficult, but not impossible. And who doesn’t want their lungs filled with birch-scented steam.

For a moment she remained quiet, but then she asked:

Trovek: Lukin. What would you want to happen if you were in hospital and so sick you couldn’t make decisions for yourself, and if there was no hope of your condition improving?

A single eye opened halfway to allow a thin lined glance at the woman, then closed again.  The answer he gave came without hesitation.  

Zorkal:  I would want to die.  There is no point in lingering in such a state.  That is not living.

She opened her eyes and tilted her head to the side to look at him. 

Trovek: And how would you want to die? 

Zorkal: How? Quickly. Quietly.  

Some might wish to go out in a blaze of glory.  Klingons certainly preferred that, and to die in battle was the ultimate goal. Cardassians honoured those who lived to an elderly age, but even so, no one wanted to get into a state where they could not function, where their faculties were degraded, and where they were dependent solely on others - or on machines.  There was a brief moment, a breath between the words he spoke first, and the last that were uttered as almost a whisper. 

Zorkal: And with a loved one. 

Arys nodded, and after another few minutes of enjoying the head, she got up. She tilted her head from side to side, cracking her neck. She excused herself with ‘going to bed early’, wished him a good night, and left. 

END SCENE 

___________

Ensign Trovek Arys 

Counselor 

USS Juneau 

J239809TA4

&

Dalin Lukin Zorkal

Cardassian Visitor

Starbase 118 Ops

M239008AD0