"Still As Small"

[Ruca NEtani 0]

"Still As Small"

Doctor Ruca N'Etani, Ensign

Stardate 0307.09

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When she had been awakened from the gassing, Ruca had opened her eyes and found herself staring into a pair of green ones. They looked genuine in concern and seemed familiar to her. She exhaled a breath and felt her skin flush, "M..Mister Mason .. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to.."

 

The eyes closed and the person shook their head, "No no, Ensign .. take a moment o clear your head.. "

 

Ensign? Clear her head? Ruca's eyes focused a little more and noted the creamy complexion of woman's face. The blue she was wearing indicated another medical officer. The Sickbay was a chaotic scene .. Doctor Telano yelling about the gassing, and Marines everywhere, "I .. I'm sorry. I must have thought I was somewhere else, " Ruca said, as she sat up and was helped to her feet. The nurse smiled and nodded.

 

"Well, that was a pretty potent gas. Doctor Telano is very much up in arms about it. You've been given a relieve from duty for a few hours .. to rest up." The nurse dusted Ruca off and began to shoo her towards the door.

 

"Relieve? Oh, okay.. I suppose that would be good. I'll be back in a few hours, Nurse ...."

 

"Nurse Peyton. Sorry we couldn't be introduced in better circumstances. Have a good rest, Doctor."

 

Ruca smiled lightly, "Yes.. thank you. Nice to meet you Miss Peyton." The nurse waved at her as she stepped out of Sickbay and the doors closed with a whoosh behind her. What a strange day it had been, she thought to herself, as she walked down the corridor towards the nearest turbolift. When she had awakened from being gassed.. those green eyes, it was like she was back on Turani VII, working hard in the kitchen.. careful not to anger her master by letting the heat get to her ....

 

"What DO you think you are doing, Ruca? Milling about like this is some sort of vacation?" Aldor Mason's green eyes could be piercing when he got irked about something. Ruca quickly got to her feet. The heat of the kitchen had been unbearable and the crisp mug of water she had helped herself to was just what the doctor ordered. In the quickness of standing up, her fingers let the mug slip from her fingers and fell to the floor in a crash. Pieces of porcelain flew everywhere and water drenched Mister Mason's shoes.

 

"Oh! Mister, I'm sorry Mister Mason! I'm sorry.. let me get a rag to wipe that up!" Ruca fell to the floor quickly, ignoring the shards of the mug piercing the skin on her knees. She grabbed the nearest rag and began wiping off the shoes.. Mason looked down at her, angry. He leaned over and pulled Ruca up by her hair.

 

"RUCA! This is what you get for fooling around when you should be getting supper ready! Mrs. Mason is hungry and the child is giving her backpain! Get this cleaned up, bring in supper and if you want to quench your thirst.. do it on your own time outside!" With that, he let her hair go, which caused her to fall back down to the floor.. the porcelain pieces slicing into her skin again.

 

"I'm.. I'm sorry, Mister. Thank you for your mercy.. thank you.."

 

He muttered, "Just get this cleaned up and supper done." He looked down at her, despite his merciful behaviour, which was unheard of with servants, he still looked at her with disgust. Seeing her as a filthy little creature. He turned on his heel and moved out of the kitchen. Ruca cleaned the mess up slowly and finished the supper .. ignoring the streams of blood trickling down her legs. She would do whatever made them happy .. ensuring that her life would be much easier that way..

 

Ruca punched in the security code of her quarters and stepped in. She immediately went to the replicator, getting herself a big mug of water. She picked it up and took a sip .. walking over to her sofa and sitting down. She ran a finger around the rim of the cup and looked at the tiny ripples in the water. How much her life had changed since then .. yet, she still felt as small.

 

Still as small in the scheme of things.