Stardate: 71007:2100
Title: It Never Rains
Author: CMO Ted Matthews
Time: When everyone is back on the ship
Scene: USS Horizon Sickbay


As Ted took a moment to review everything that was happening in sickbay the old saying 'it never rains but it pours' popped into his head, and it was so true. He had exhausted all the obvious tests and even the unlikely and impossible tests to find the cause of Emma's pain but still nothing had come to light.

It was then that the away team were beamed back with various injuries, although there was nothing too serious due to them being exposed to whatever was causing their pain on the planet for only a brief time.

Next, Autumn and Lily had arrived, both in critical states exhibiting similar signs of stress and pain to Emma and the away team, albeit much more severe. Autumn's vitals had been erratic and it had taken a while to find a medicated dose to get her readings near a safe level. Lily had experienced a cranial bleed due to swelling in her head and, even though Ted had relieved the pressure, he wouldn't be able to tell whether any permanent brain damage had been caused until she awoke.

Lastly, Gabriel Colón had been bought in. Ted was pleased when he heard over the commlink that the Medical Officer was being beamed straight back to Sickbay as he could really do with the help, but as he came across Gabriel in pain on a biobed he realised he was another casualty of the Rennas. Gabriel's condition, however, was different - whilst the rest of the crew had been exposed to an unknown element, Ted instantly picked up on the large injection marks on the young Ensign's arms. Running a full tox screen he had to battle to restore order and Ted had to result to injecting different drugs to counteract those all ready in the young officer's system.

Gabriel mumbled incoherently and was obviously in a lot of distress; Ted hated to leave him alone but with Gabriel out of action he was down a vital key staff member. Signalling to Nurse Bunter that she should remain by his side for the time being Ted went to check on Lily.

Autumn was standing by the future Captain's bed and even if Ted hadn't run the DNA test earlier he would have known in this moment by looking at both of them that they were mother and daughter.

"What happened down there?" Ted asked as he monitored Lily's vitals.

"Lily left the main banquet room, I can only assume in search of some proof of what the Rennas are really like. She found a room...." The Operations Chief broke off and looked puzzled.

"What is it Autumn?"

"Lily picked up a bone of some sort and bought it back. What happened to it?" At that moment Emma appeared.

"I think this is what you are talking about. The transporter chief was concerned about it and so had me check it over. I think, Doc, that this is more your area of expertise." She handed the bone over and Ted examined it.

"It's a human femur. Judging by the shape and size I would say a woman in her twenties. For the bone to be this clean and in this condition I would say they have been dead at least one to two years."

"I didn't think they had any contact with humans previously," Autumn said thoughtfully.

"I don't think we will be able to ask them; our mass evacuation has probably ruined diplomatic relations with the Rennas, even though they almost killed us," Emma said as she turned to Ted and requested to be cleared for duty.

Knowing the situation they were in Ted authorised her request, but insisted she returned if she felt unwell in anyway, asking her also to relay his findings on the bone to the Captain. The CMO looked around sickbay and wondered if he was seeing the first of the causalities to be caused by the Rennas and how many more there would be.


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Dr Ted Matthews
CMO
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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