JP: Lt. Cmdr. V'Len Kel & Capt. Karrod Niac - Decision Points - Part 1

[Karrod Niac]

((Sickbay, Deck 10, USS Ronin))

It was either very late on Delta shift or early on Gamma shift.  Either way, V'Len had volunteered to watch over sickbay while much of the Ronin's activity was lower than usual.  It was quiet.  Most of the patients were sleeping, except for one.  V'Len strolled over and stood next to the biobed of Karrod Niac.  Once more rejoined, the Captain's small side table was piled with padds, it seemed like more than in his office. 

Kel:  ::scolding::  You should be resting.

With a grunt that had as much to do with his still healing muscles as it did with his frustration, Karrod gestured with a padd in one hand and shrugged slightly.  

Niac: This is resting, Doctor.  Unless you’re finally going to let me go back to my quarters?  

Kel: ::glancing down at Niac:: It took over 10 hours to put you back together.  ::sourly::  You can stay here another 12 to make sure we did our job right. 

Letting out a small huff and trying to shift into a less uncomfortable position, Karrod put down the padd and gave V’Len his full attention.  

Niac: Don’t worry Doctor, I won’t leave a bad review of your services on Fednet if something falls off in the next day or two.  

When the joke didn’t get so much as a twitch from the man's antenna Karrod shifted his tone.

Niac:  Out with it, V’Len.  I’m getting the sense you’re none too happy with me.  

V'Len was rubbish at hiding his feelings, particularly after an ordeal like their recent one and in the dead of what would normally be night. 

Kel:  Yes.  Yes I'm angry at you.   ::beat::  You know I very nearly had to kill you right? ::beat::  By the rules of the Symbiont Commission I should have been packing up Niac and giving Karrod's body a respectful heave ho. 

Karrod chuckled mirthlessly as he put the padd aside, groaning at the small stretch it required of his back.  Ever since Niac had returned to him from its brief rehoming in Lt. Jg. Syrex, it had been saying much the same thing.  Day and night.  In terms that were far less civilized and, in some cases, not even in languages Karrod knew.  

Niac:  Firstly V’Len…if things hadn’t…worked out, Niac wouldn’t have held it against you.  Nor would I…I made a choice and I stand by it.  Part of that is accepting the consequences…including the very real possibility that I wouldn’t survive Emzai’s little party favor.

He’d seen V’Len angry before.  Seen the man emotionally wrought, exhausted, overtaxed and unsure.  The frustration in his body language now was unlike anything he’d seen and when Karrod looked to him, he saw a man on the edge of his emotions and barely able to restrain himself.  Karrod wondered if he’d weather a second explosion in sickbay this week.  

Kel:  Well why would you put me in that position?  Jumping in front of an explosion and saving a terrorist.  What is that?

It was a fair question and one Niac had, in its own way, been conflicted about ever since he’d let Emzai out of the ship's brig and escorted her to the lab.  He exhaled slowly through his nose, composing his thoughts and facing more of the consequences of his choices.  

Niac: My job, V’Len.  The only way I know how.  As far as who I took the hit for…do you think that really matters?  Do you want to pretend you wouldn’t do your duty as a surgeon if it had been Emzai on that table?  

V’Len narrowed his eyes.   What a ridiculous question of course he would have treated the woman, it was his job, but it would not likely put Beck in the position of putting his pieces back together.   

Kel:  Of course I would, but wouldn’t lead to people needing to replace my organs.

Karrod offered the man a knowing look.  

Niac:  You’re saying you’d never risk your own safety for a patient?  That if it came right down to it you’d let someone…a friend…a colleague…a commanding officer…die, rather than risk yourself?  

V’Len’s arm went automatically to his chest.  He turned to the monitor and gazed at the data absently.  

Kel:  That was different.  Commodore Kells needed rescue and medical attention.  I went to help and there were ::beat::  complications.

He closed his eyes for a moment and his voice grew softer, further away.  Heavy with too many memories. 

Niac:  Was it, V’Len?  Was it really all that different?  Was going to recover your friend Kessler different?  

V’Len turned back to Karrod.

Kel:  You walked into a room with a madman and a bomb.  On purpose.

He nodded, inclining his chin towards the space that was still under repair and just a few meters away.  

Niac:  I did…and I’d do it again.  And…in this line of work, I probably will some day.  I am personally responsible for the safety of the officers and crew under my command…and for those innocents that all too often get caught in the crossfire.  If it’s a choice between them and me I’ll choose them…every single time.  It’s…it’s not really a choice as far as I’m concerned.  It’s part of wearing the uniform, V’Len.  Part of putting those pips on my collar.  It’s a promise…a promise to dedicate my life to something more than myself.  A ship.  A world.  Maybe even one broken woman.  There’s no real difference.  

V’Len softened slightly.  He placed his pads on a nearby bio bed and leaned against the wall folding his arms.

Kel:  Is that what command is then?  Jumping into whatever comes at you and hoping you’ll come out the other side?

Karrod let out a low chuckle and shook his head.  

Niac:  Not quite V’Len.  You’re right about the first part…we jump into things.  Situations.  Crises.  Full blown disasters sometimes.  We do it with limited, imperfect information and we do it with less time and fewer resources than we’d ever want.  But the second part?  Hoping you’ll come out the other side?  That’s…a little more tricky.  

Kel: ::antenna shifting:: Tricky how?

Niac:  I knew there was every chance I’d die if I walked into that room with her.  Was fairly certain of it, to be honest.  Did I hope I’d find a way out that didn’t involve getting blown across a room?  Sure.  But it wasn’t what I focused on.  I focused on the goal.  I could put myself in harm's way and protect the ship…the crew.  The people on that planet.  The people on that train.  Do you want to know what I really hoped for?  The thing I always hope for?  

V’Len’s antennas dropped in disappointment. He had a very strong sense of self preservation. While he had gone on risky missions and even covert missions. There was always a fairly good chance he’d come out alive. He was not sure he could walk into a room, knowing he might never come out.

Kel:  Yes.  What do you really hope for?  

[TBC]

–

Lt.Cmdr. V’Len Kel

Chief Surgeon

USS Ronin NCC-34523

T239811VK2

&

Captain Karrod Niac

Commanding Officer

USS Ronin - NCC-34523

V239509GT0