The Meet

Posted on Wed 15th Mar, 2017 @ 6:11pm by Lieutenant Commander Lanis Dhuro MD
Edited on on Wed 15th Mar, 2017 @ 6:53pm

1,379 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night
Location: Deck 1554: River Walk
Timeline: Md-02: 1400 Hours

The concept of having a garden on a starbase or starship was not a new one - since the days of the Constitution class, arboretums had been a mainstay of any ship - providing fresh food, oxygen, a place for study and a natural environment to enjoy in an otherwise completely synthetic world. However Tivoli Gardens took the biscuit - spanning over fifty decks with it's very own river, eco-systems and countless landscapes, it was even home to thousands of people.

When Disney Inc. had originally presented the plans to Starfleet back in 2354, the plan was to create a miniature version of a Stardock class, about the size of a Regula class, and have it exclusively as an R&R destination for Starfleet... naturally making Disney Inc. a few bars of gold-pressed latinum in the process. The concept was favoured, but Starfleet were unwilling to create an exclusive environment - instead it was decided to install it on a Stardock Class due to start construction the following year.

Despite this being his third time on Vanguard, he had never explored the wonder that was Tivoli Gardens. He now found himself in a place called River Walk - a quant enough place, if it hadn't been for the hundreds of Bajorans protesting. They seemed to be circling a small village, marching in lines, with Starfleet Marines holding the external boundaries. He had obviously decided to visit at the worst possible time and started to turn back towards the turoblift when someone manning an impromptu aid station caught his eye. Dressed in the teal blue of Starfleet Sciences, his tall and thin stature was unmistakable - the uniform seemed a bit baggier, and his hair seemed a bit whiter than the last time their paths had crossed. How long ago had that been? Fifteen years? Longer?

He covered the distance between them quickly. The shrapnel scars on the Bajoran's face seemed more prominent as age and gravity had started to loosen his skin. The usual dead look on his face changed, as if with the press of a button, to a huge grin... as if seeing a friend who had been lost to him for a while.

"Lanis Dhuro, isn't it? I see you're still on Vanguard after all of these years!" He clapped a hand on his back.

Who in blazes--? Lanis wondered, startled, as he turned his head to see who was greeting him so effusively. Only the fact that the gray-haired man had spoken in a friendly manner kept Lanis from reacting with an immediate grapple, twist, and hip-throw, followed by a blade to the throat.

Anyone else might have pretended an equally pleased greeting in return while silently trying to figure out who had greeted them; Lanis felt no need for such niceties, especially for someone idiot enough to grasp him from behind while claiming to know him. "You look familiar, but I'm afraid I can't place your face. How do we know each other?"

Dobbs smiled... his first order of business had been to get out of his Starfleet uniform, he liked the anonymity it granted him. "You probably don't remember me... you were assigned to Vanguard during the first part of the Dominion War, if I remember correctly? When it was being used as a waypoint for hospital ships? I'm Adrian Dobbs, Captain in those days... I was posted here for a few weeks attached to a Marine Battalion."

Lanis' eyes widened, and he extended a hand. "Yes, I do remember you now, Admiral. You used to come in and talk surgery and warfare with me. You had quite the blinding smile then and still do. Your papers are fascinating to read, and I believe your books are required reading at Starfleet Medical now. What brings you back here?"

"Oh, required reading. Knowing that something I wrote is required reading at the Academy is just a reminder of my bloody age, Lanis! But kind words, thank you. I'm actually here for pleasure... I've had some leave building up and thought it was about time I visited a few old haunts, Vanguard was first on my list!" He took a brief look around, sweeping his hands open to encompass everything. "I see a lot has changed around here?"

Lanis snorted. "The FCDA ran this place into the ground; you should have seen how bad it was when I arrived. You'd have thought it had been through another war." Lanis didn't mention the parasites. He didn't think Dobbs would scare easily, but the idea of them was disquieting, even to him.

He glanced out at the protesters, who were still peaceful at the moment. "So you left the Marines and went back into Starfleet after the war. I always thought you enjoyed the Marines."

"I did, I had some marvelous times serving in the Corps." He raised his brow then furrowed it, as if thinking of an answer long forgotten. "But outside of war time, I had to question where my usefulness lay. I suppose some people are meant to be soldiers and others, scientists, like us." He gave his best warm smile, it was time to find out some information.

"So, what's been happening on Vanguard since Starfleet reclaimed her? Is much of the base still sealed?" he said.

"Yes, quite a bit of it is still sealed," Lanis replied. "We've been having electrical difficulties, and it makes sense to conserve power. As for what else has been happening--the last big excitement we had was when a Dopterian freighter docked here a couple of weeks ago with a dead body on board. Seems one of the crew had murdered the captain, who was what the Terrans call 'a real piece of work.' Then the ship's doctor was murdered, as well. Quite the locked-room mystery. Quite the autopsy, too." Lanis stretched out a kink in his back. "So what have you been up to, Dobbs? The last paper of yours I read was the one about scarless spinal cord regeneration with a combination of stem cells and nanites. That was a couple of years ago, though. What are you working on now?"

It felt surprisingly enjoyable to talk to Dobbs again. The conversation brought back memories. Dobbs had been considerably younger, the last time Lanis had seen him, and they'd compared the Jem'hadar and Cardassian battle tactics over supper one evening.

He audibly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the news that most of the base was still sealed - what's more, Lanis clearly knew nothing about Dobbs' real reason for being on Vanguard all those years ago... this conversation had become pointless. However, social niceties dictated a cordial end to proceedings.

"I should have another paper out in the next couple of months actually... it's going to be mainly focusing on long-term effects of cybernetic implants. In fact, all things going well, I'll be getting my hands on a cornucopia of data very soon!"

He squeezed Lanis' arm, "Now, Doctor, if you'll excuse me I must be going. Let's have dinner soon... I believe we never finished our discussion about Cardassian infantry assault tactics!"

"Or Jem'hadar ones," Lanis agreed. "I'll look forward to it, Admiral. Glad to see you again. I hope you'll enjoy your visit here."

Bit of an odd one, Lanis thought as Dobbs departed, and so surprising that he went back into research when he genuinely seemed to like front-line warfare. Now that Lanis thought about it, Dobbs' enthusiasm for infantry combat was odd. Most military and Resistance personnel he knew disliked hard-fought warfare, but merely talking of it had always seemed to invigorate Dobbs back then. Must be a danger addict who got wiser, Lanis decided as he returned his attention to the protesters.

He frowned at the rally, the longer he watched it. This isn't good. It's not so peaceful now.

Lanis tapped his combadge. "Dhuro to Sickbay."

"Sickbay here," the officer of the day replied.

"This protest in Tivoli Gardens looks like it could turn ugly. Keep a few beds clear, just in case."

OFF

Rear-Adm. Adrian Dobbs (NPC)
Visiting dignitary

Lt. Dhuro Lanis, MD (NPC)
Chief of Surgery

 

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