Missed Opportunity

Posted on Sat Nov 27th, 2021 @ 5:39pm by Lieutenant Commander Shoniara T’ghann-Travis Dr & Lieutenant Aiko Kato

Mission: Sinister Intentions
Location: Sickbay

Aiko entered Main Sickbay and was instantly greeted by a hub of activity that was diligently coordinated and structured, which was perhaps a refreshing break from the state of affairs for her lately.

In truth, this was the last place she wanted to be, but she also could not shake the nagging worry about the children that they had rescued from the Breen planet. Since they had returned from the planet, Aiko had been too preoccupied with her own mental health to even spare time to check in on the children.

It was only lately, with the help of Callie, that Aiko was starting to get out of her own head.

She walked to one of the orderly desk not quite sure how to find Dex or the children. "Hi there, could you tell me where I can find Dex...huh...hmm, actually I'm not even sure if that's her first or last name. I think it's Doctor Shoniara Dex?"

“Aiko!” Dex had seen her and made her way to her. “It is good to see you, what can I do for you?”

"You as well," Aiko said smiling at the approaching Doctor. "I came by to check in on the children. I've been...preoccupied since we returned from the surface which has delayed my ability to visit. How are they doing?"

Dex noted that Aiko had dark circles round her eyes. “The children are doing well. Medically they are all stable. Little Harry has gone to stay with Callie and Commander Grayson. I think she would like to adopt him. I have been looking after the little Andorian/Aenar hybrid and I have managed to remove nearly all of the radioactive material that was placed inside her cells.

Trevix is also fine but is wondering about her parents. And the little Vulcan girl has also checked out as well. We are trying to find her parents.” She put a hand on Aiko’s sleeve. “You did a good job down there you know, under difficult circumstances.”

Aiko paused before she responded, allowing herself the time to forcefully command the retreat of the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She was not even particularly sure why she was about to cry.

She suspected it was a cross between hearing that the children were doing reasonably well (including one of them potentially getting adopted by Callie- which despite only just recently making the acquaintance of the Counselor, Aiko knew without a doubt would be good for the child) and hearing Dex acknowledge how difficult it was back down there on that planet.

Feeling that she had more control of her emotions, Aiko smiled. "I could say the same for you Dex. I'm sure it could not have been easy finding out about all the atrocious medical experiments the Breen were up to down there."

Dex smiled and put her hand on Aiko’s knee and left it there to keep the connection between them. “We do not know the extent of the pain that was inflicted on those and probably many other children. All we can do is what we did and I know that we saved lives that day. I too am having trouble with what we saw. You also have had dealings with the Breen on a very personal level and I am sure that will mesh with your feelings and what you encountered on the planet.”

"It definitely has," Aiko replied. "But I'm working through it with the help of Callie," she added. She thought back to Callie's comment about others on the Away Team coping with what they had seen on the planet and briefly wondered if Dex was among them. Regardless, Aiko surmised it was good to at least have someone who could truly empathize.

“I know a little bit of what you are going through, I too am having trouble with what we saw down on the planet. Since we returned I cannot get certain scenes out of my head. I have not slept since returning and I am unable to meditate. Even though I am only half Vulcan meditation is very important to me, it allows me to be, shall we say selective in what my brain processes with the Risan part of my brain.”

Dex realised that she should have been listening to Aiko, but there was something inside of her that was not right. She had tried to talk to Callie about it but little Harry took over.

"Anyway the children are all doing well, I believe their parents are being sought so we may be able to reunite them. The Breen base is destroyed so there will be no more horror from there. You did a good job you know?”

"And so did you Dex," Aiko replied. She caught the doctor's momentary lapse in concentration that made it seem like she were thousands of miles away for a few seconds before returning to the present. "Are you okay?" Aiko asked with concern.

For the first time she took time to study Dex and noticed that there were small lapses in what was typically an immaculate presentation from the doctor. She noticed a few stray hair strands, some wrinkle in her uniform, the beginning of bags underneath her eyes. They were all small deviations from the typical appearance of the doctor...so small that they had been imperceptible to Aiko until now.

Dex smiled a strained smile, she became the doctor again. “Of course Aiko, absolutely fine, You know you can find me any time either in sickbay or in my quarters if you need a friend.”

Aiko nodded. "And I hope you know the feeling is mutual," she replied. "I should get going but we should catch up some other time, if you're not too busy."

"I would love to, maybe we could do something together on the Holodeck? Take care Aiko.” Dex looked away into the distance as though she had seen something that was not quite there.

"Sounds like a plan," Aiko said with a smile and paused.

There it was again...the momentary consciousness drift, where it appeared as if Dex was deep in thought and far away but it passed almost as quickly as Aiko noticed it. For the longest second or two, Aiko thought she should press again to ask if Dex was okay, but before she could decide her combadge went off.

"Lieutenant Kato, please report to the Bridge."

Aiko smiled at Dex rubbing her back reassuringly. "Looks like that's my cue, but I'll be in touch to set something up. Take care of yourself doc. Don't work too hard okay."

Dex nodded and wandered off not really sure where she was going.