Where's the Help?

[Vilanne 0]

[[Contained within are the words and thoughts of both Jami & Vilanne's characters.]]

 

It wasn't long after the two India team entered sickbay and Vilanne's internal alarm went on red alert.

 

Vilanne had been working not only in sickbay, but in the lab where they had to set up a makeshift morgue. They did not have to do autopsies because their injuries and current situation gave away the causes of death. However they did have plenty of postmortem activities, mostly including bodies to identify before they are transported over to Starbase Nine. Bag 'em and Tag 'em. It sounded heartless when she spoke those words to Dr Silviu and the rest of the medical team, but Vilanne had to keep up a stern front in light of the incident that brought all of this about. With Mele being out of commission, the lead fell on Vilanne's thin frame.

 

Advice was sought where Vilanne felt it best to come; someone experienced and knowledgeable with the crew, one who knew medical protocol and had the grace of a counselor. In the current situation, she wasn't as much help as the doctor had hoped. It made sense though, with her husband being relieved of duty, with Captain Sovak and the Inspector General ordering the Admiral to be moved to Starbase Nine's medical facility. That bugged Vil the most. She couldn't understand why the Captain and Inspector General would be making medical decisions. Why wasn't she consulted? Dr Chalice wasn't so full of ego thinking SHE had to be consulted, but she did know that the CMO couldn't have been consulted, as he's been unconscious since his head was bashed about on the bridge. What was really going on here?

 

Commander Farrington had had several guarded conversations with Dr Chalice about the medical status of her husband. They had discussed best forms of treatment, under the current circumstances and status of sickbay. They had both been in agreement over his current treatment, but why would the Captain and this Inspector General going over the families wishes, the chart orders or not consult the medical crew on board that know the Admiral best? Vil's internal klaxon was blaring louder than ever.

 

Their conversation would have probably been more personal in nature, but after Jami's intimate relationship with the physical and spiritual universe, because of the ministrations of Vai, she seemed very distant or perhaps disconnected. The last conversation Jami had with Vil did include a light discussion mostly the struggle between the 'call to duty' (the good of the many) and family (the good of the few). The Commander insisted that up to now she has always put duty first. Vilanne had been getting to know Jami over time on the Manticore, but even Vil realized that Jami talked as if older and worn and second guessing her former footing.

 

Vilanne had heard the Captain's COMM, but she was barely getting to trust those she was learning to work with much less strangers, yet she was to afford them high level security. The India team didn't speak much; they just took orders and did whatever was necessary... for the most part.

 

Dr Silviu and Dr Chalice spoke privately, well as privately as they could while sickbay was crammed full of people, in the Admiral's private medical suite and determined that the best way to utilize the India team was to over-work them so that they could clear out sickbay of all of the folks that needed treatments and discharging. However, after the India team determined that they were going to take over the Admiral's case, they bailed on the rest of the patients! Vilanne was furious. Why come on board to "help" then drop all help to steal the Admiral?

 

Another member of the India team slipped in for a visit to set all of that up, calling his team over to discuss something that Vil could not, nor anyone else in sickbay, overhear. After they spoke, it was clear they were done helping with the other victims of the accident, they just wanted to look after the Admiral. Vilanne understood Sovak's order clearly. She had to make a quick judgment call and just go with whatever the India team wanted, including viewing the Admiral. That's what they originally said, just to "view" the Admiral. What liars!!!

 

What harm could come by them just being in the private medical suite? It seemed as if every person in sickbay entered, but the news they spoke was alarming to everyone. Commander Farrington happened to come to sickbay just as they were going into the Admiral's suite, asking what they were doing. However, their shocking news of moving him to Starbase 9's hospital to be watched by whomever… cared for by nameless, faceless medical staff… and to be treated by the more of the same? What was wrong with the Manticore? It was going to be repaired, by best estimate, within a couple days. Vilanne saw no reason to move the Admiral. She had to talk to the Chief before they moved the Admiral or get the stunned Commander to speak up and bark orders to keep her husband on board.

 

Vilanne didn't want to see another crew member, Admiral or not, leave the ship. She had seen death surround her from this incident. Dr Lowen had been moved off the Manticore for some reason no one was talking about. Some of the other staff members were also found on the roster of folks to disembark within 24 hours. Vil was getting depressed. She loved it when there was a buzz around sickbay with live patients, complaining or not, but keeping her mind busy. The silence was deafening, but there was something worse – growing.