The Right Thing ((Chalice/t'Tamarak))

[Jaiysa t'Tamarak 0]

Jaiysa stepped back from Morran's bedside and folded her arms, letting her eyes drift around the Manticore sickbay. It had become jarringly quiet since the completion of the surgery on the Card'hassin, Faldek, and their general sedation of the returned nohtho science officer. She had general analyses running on the latter's biochemical situation and the Daise'Maenek, Mele, had had secured the former in stasis and would be performing the remainder of the operation himself. It was na exactly a period of peace, but at least it was calm, and Jaiysa took the opportunity to let herself lean against a nearby biobed and draw a deep breath for the first time in what seemed several days.

 

Her moment of introspection, however, was broken by the quick sound of footsteps in the main bay. She looked up just in time to see Vilanne, eyes red at the edges as if from tears, striding out as if something was chasing her.

 

Not like her at all. Jaiysa glanced towards Mele, who's expression showed that he too had caught Vil's movement. She raised her eyebrows slightly in a tight, questioning look, and he nodded towards the door in a tacit permission. Without saying anything, Jai disappeared into the corridor.

 

It took her only a few seconds to request Vil's location from the computer, and she followed her colleague at a good clip, reaching the appropriate deck just in time to see the doors of Vil's quarters closing behind the other woman. For a moment she stood there, as if pondering the best course of action, then shrugged to herself and walked up, tapping the door chime, folding her arms in a characteristic motion, and waiting.

 

Vilanne swept over to the replicator, retrieved her brownie surprise and milk. She had landed on the cot, and dug into her comfort food when the door chimed. She hesitated for a moment, not really wanting to be disturbed.

 

Sitting the bowl and glass down at her tableside she walked to the door, pondering how to respond as well as clearing her eyes.

 

As the door opened, she saw Jaiysa, but she didn't want to see her right now, so she only said, "Yes?"

 

Jaiysa's dark eyes quickly took in Vil's mildly disheveled and definitely wan appearance, and she waited for a moment to see if her friend was going to say anything else. Vil's behavior towards Jaiysa had always been something to the right of hyperactive, and this terse greeting was evidence enough that something was wrong. "Jolan tru, rokhinu," she said quietly, when no further conversation seemed forthcoming. "May I come in?"

 

Quickly, Vil attempted to find an excuse, but couldn't come up with a reason at that moment. "I'm tied up right now, Jaiysa," she said, trying to be kind. "Is there something I can do for you?" It was a cursory attempt to shun her friend, but something was tugging on Vilanne's emotions to pull Jaiysa inside.

 

"Somehow I do na think I am the one who needs help," Jaiysa said with a faint smile that quickly faded. "What happened? You left sickbay like a rharit keshalluri."

 

The tears just wouldn't hold back. Jaiysa knew her too well. "Oh, just come in then," and with that, Vil grabbed Jaiysa's sleeve and had the door close swiftly so the people wandering down the hall weren't privy to her emotional outburst.

 

Letting go of her friend’s sleeve Vil flung herself on the bed, grabbing her bowl of evil.

 

Jaiysa bit down on a grunt as Vil grabbed her by the arm, and stepped quickly inside the doors to prevent herself from losing her balance and toppling forwards. Then she caught Vil's eyes, which she could see were starting to well with tears, and let out a slow, somewhat tired breath as Vil collapsed on the bed. After a moment's silence, she moved to sit down next to her (having no other option but to stand, which seemed somehow overly formal for this stage in the game) and waited. It had been some time since she'd practiced any psychological or psychiatric discipline, but she knew it was better (and easier) sometimes to just listen.

 

Vil’s emotional outburst eased a bit as she took a bite, and then she exclaimed, "What in the world did you call me?" She used her sleeves to wipe her eyes, again, trying so hard to keep her composure.

 

Jaiysa chuckled. "I meant that you wanted to get out of there, na more," she said quietly. "Why?"

 

Vil kept stuffing her face, as if to bury what was bugging her, but slowly she started telling Jaiysa her true feelings. "Jai, I don't want to be marked as a career ender... I fear that my report may do just that."

 

"You put him under a psychological watch," Jaisya said; it was not a question, just a realization. She cocked her head sideways. "You have na done that before, I suppose, or you would na be so upset about it. One report does na brand a maenek one way or the other."

 

"Jaiysa, this could end his career with Starfleet. They don’t want unstable officers ordering subordinates around. Suicide watch is the worst. I mean in the academy, our studies of watches were limited to non-coms, not officers." She finally thought about Jaiysa. "Do you want a bowl?" She waved the dish and slightly shook the glass to infer the combination.

 

"Na, hann'yyo," Jaiysa said absently, shaking her head. Pushing herself to her feet, she wandered towards the other end of the room, and then turned to face Vil. "Do you believe you did the wrong thing, rokhinu?" she asked.

 

"Me? Do something wrong?" Vil thought hard on that one, savoring the flavor on her tongue, but not relishing the turn of the stomach as it went down. "I'm second-guessing my professional opinion. You tell me, why else would someone remove ALL safeties and take on whatever in the holodeck and end up almost dead?"

 

"A desire either to prove himself or escape something -- guilt, fear, responsibility..." Jaiysa said, with a faint one-shouldered shrug.

 

“As if this isn't bad enough, THIS was the guy that arrested me! I mean, internal affairs will certainly look into this,” Vil went on. “I will be questioned by every officer in the fleet before this goes away. This is how it marks your record." She picked up the bowl again, and dove into a couple spoonfuls in a row. "I think I'm more mad than worried. This guy has put me in the middle of this mess. You watch, the whole crew will take sides... I hate this stuff." She stabbed at a rather large piece of brownie and stuffed it into her mouth. The tears were gone; she was in phase two.

 

Calming a bit, Vil finally addressed the direct question with a direct answer. "I did nothing wrong. I did what I was supposed to do. That's what's going to cost me, doing the right thing." She set the bowl down and gulped the last of the milk. She looked at Jaiysa for a few moments, then said in a calmer voice, "That's what happened to you, isn't it? You did the right thing."

 

Jaiysa stared at Vil for a moment. "Ie..." she finally said slowly. "Ie. I did. And received na reward for it except what could, perhaps, be charitably termed escape."

 

Well beyond simply having my career 'tarnished.'

 

"It is na often the simple choice,” she went on after a moment. “Perhaps never. But in the end, it is na easy because you do not have a choice."

 

 

*****

Card’hassin – Cardassian

Daise’Maenek – chief doctor, CMO

Hann’yyo – Thank you.

Jolan tru – Hello, greetings, aloha, etc.

Maenek -- Doctor

Na – no, not

Nohtho – crazy, insane

Rharit keshalluri – bat out of hell (lit. “a rabbit running”)

Rokhinu – troublesome [one] (here a nickname)