It was, in fact, the sixth car before Catrina made her way to the front of the line. Two of the engineering teams ahead of her were transporting cargo that was too awkward to carry through the Jefferies tubes. She was pressed into the rear of the car as one more security officer squeezed himself in. He was a bit too bulky to fit, and she thought of telling him so, but the doors had already begun to slide closed.
It did not improve her mood when only one person exited at the next level, leaving her to push her way through the tightly-packed group when the lift reached Deck Four, as no one seemed to have any need to get off there.
She paused in the corridor as the lift doors closed behind her. Brushing at her uniform, she was certain that someone had smudged it somewhere, but could find nothing readily apparent. With an annoyed huff, she down the corridor. On this deck, at least, the directions were clearly marked. Even though the wall panels could be used to direct her, there were obvious signs indicating the way to Sickbay. Of course, she knew, they would want the path to the ship’s infirmary to be very clear.
It was a short walk from the turbolift, making her feel somewhat confident that she had found the shorter of the two paths. Well, shorter in distance maybe, she considered with mild sullenness, wondering if the other turbolift had also had a line queued up for it. The doors parted for her and she entered Sickbay. She stopped immediately, staring around the chamber.
Seven hours is not going to be long enough . . .
#
Catrina rubbed her eyes. They felt dry and grainy, telling her that she had focused too hard for too long on screen. As far as she could tell, all of the crew’s medical records had been received and verified. Nearly all of the crew had also been physically cleared by a member of the medical staff. All, except for one.
With a determined sigh, she picked up a padd and quickly transferred the records to it. She rose, stretching the aches from her lower back, and then headed for the door. If she had her way, this ship would not leave space dock until this matter was settled.
She found her way back to the turbolift easily enough. Relieved to see no queue this time, she stepped into the waiting car, turning so she faced the doors.
“Bridge.” She ordered tightly, not bothering to hide her annoyance. The computer would not care anyway.
There was a brief pause and, for a moment, Catrina thought it might reject her command. As Chief Medical Officer, she should have access to the bridge, as well as many otherwise restricted areas of the ship. Not only did rank have its privileges, but it was bad form to keep a doctor from her patients in an emergency situation.
The doors slid closed and the lift ascended.
Moments later, the opened onto a short corridor that led onto the bridge itself. The security guard on duty there glanced at her uniform and rank and allowed her to pass without challenge. Catrina fought back a sniff of derision. The ship’s computer had probably already alerted him as to who had entered the turbolift and their destination.
She stepped onto the main bridge and paused, taking in the activity around her. The pace and tension was about what she expected this close to departure. People were moving quickly and purposefully, generally avoiding collisions as they passed one another. There was a pleasant hum of conversation, which Catrina much preferred to the shouts of a ship’s crew under fire.
Her eyes went to the seat in the approximate center of the bridge. She caught a glimpse of a blue-skinned humanoid in a uniform trimmed with command crimson discussing orders with someone in Engineering colors. There she is. The Captain. Theleth.
Catrina strode forward, stopping when she stood to one side of the command chair. The captain finished her conversation with the officer from Engineering and then turned to face her.
“Doctor,” she acknowledged Catrina evenly. “Is there something you need before we launch?”
“Captain,” Catrina responded, giving the title sharp enunciation. “I need to speak with you.”
Theleth frowned. “Can it wait until we clear space dock?”
“No,” Catrina replied firmly. “But it should only take a few moments of your time.”
Theleth studied her for a moment before nodding. She rose from the chair and headed toward what Catrina assumed was the Ready Room, clearly expecting the doctor to follow her.
Catrina followed Theleth as a slight distance, noting the graceful, almost feline manner in which she walked. Theleth entered the Ready Room, stopped just inside, and waited for the door to close behind Catrina.
“What can I help you with, Doctor?”
That Theleth remained standing told Catrina that the captain intended for this conversation to be brief as well. She was fine with that. The conversation might be. What happened afterward as a result might take a bit longer.
“I’ve received medical clearances for every member of the crew, except for one.”
“Yes?” Theleth responded with an almost Vulcan-like calm.
“That would be you, Captain.” Catrina realized that she had failed to keep a certain snide edge from her tone.
“You have my medical records,” the Theleth said flatly.
“Current as of the stardate when you returned to active duty,” Catrina stated. “Four months ago.”
She added nothing, letting the fact speak for itself. Theleth’s medical records had not been updated since she had assumed command, other than a mostly symbolic approval by a member of the staff of the head of Starfleet Medical.
“Can this wait until after we leave spacedock?” Theleth asked calmly. “We have a schedule to keep with the station. They need this berth.”
Catrina studied the Andorian woman for a long moment. It was not quite the dodge that she had expected. Second only to doctors, ship captains made the worst patients. If Theleth was hiding something, it was not something that might jeopardize her position in command of the vessel. Something personal, then?
“Sickbay,” Catrina said firmly. “Zero eight hundred.” That seemed a reasonable compromise to her. That’ll gave her an hour to get the ship out of spacedock and clear the system. Plenty of time, even if they ran into a few minor hitches.
“I’ll be there.”
Catrina nodded and left the Ready Room without waiting to be dismissed. Somehow, she knew that Theleth really would be there—and on time.
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