From: Ranjani Sabarinathan (rantrek_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Jan 27 2008 - 14:47:24 PST
“Cat’s Out the Bag”
(contd from Rahul’s ‘Reassignment’)
Location: GS-2
SD: 2.80123.1323
Scene: Sickbay
TI: Before Rahul’s post ‘Reassignment’
The Scot was leaving the CMO’s office after concluding a meeting regarding casualty reports from the last two battles and was heading towards the main doors. Seeing as her duty shift would end in two hours, the Scot decided to use the free time to spend it quietly in her quarters, writing letters back home and to do some explaining to Aerdan.
Kierenna Trell swept past the tall doctor towards the CMO’s office, where Gorman was just leaving. Kate stopped, upon hearing Trell introduce herself as a FedCom reporter and requesting Jeff’s time for a short interview. The half-Nuimon’s interest peeked, when the Betazoid wanted to confirm certain rumors regarding a changeling existing amidst the command staff.
“Ms. Trell,” Gorman began, in a casual tone. “Those rumors are unfounded. I have no idea where you came up with such ridiculous notions.”
Kierenna chuckled. “Listen, Dr. Gorman. I was given a lead to what could be an explosive story and I have to check the information out to make sure it’s legit.” She shrugged. “It’s all part of the job.”
Jeff sighed. “And I am not trying to impede your work, so it would be best if you didn’t get in the way of mine.” The tall man attempted to move past the Betazoid, but Trell only followed, trying to stay in front of him.
“It’ll only take a few minutes,” Trell stated, smiling sweetly. “I was most interested in asking questions about rumors pertaining to Cmdr. Davidson.”
Kate grew alarmed, realizing what the content of those rumors Trell was referring to. The Scot turned around and approached the member of the press and inquired, sternly. “What kind of rumors are you talking about?”
Kierenna’s eyes widened at the intrusion of the Scottish doctor. “And who are you?” She questioned, studying Kate’s appearance. “I notice you’re a medical officer, judging by your uniform,” the slender woman observed, sporting a casual tone.
“Dr. Kathryn MacNeil,” Kate answered, firmly. “I’m CMO of the USS MERCY.”
“Hmm...” Trell shook her head, taking notes mentally. “And what is your connection to Cmdr. Davidson?”
The auburn haired woman replied, curtly. “I used to work with her and she’s my friend.”
“Oh.” The Betazoid reporter nodded as a sly smile graced her lips. “Well, this is interesting,” she commented. **With a little luck, I may get something out of this one. She looks so stressed out. **
Kate turned on her heel, announcing. “Actually, I have to return back to work.” The doctor quickly marched out of the room, leaving Trell and Gorman alone again.
“Dr. Gorman,” the GS-2’s aCMO called out. “We need you here.”
Jeff resisted the urge to sigh with relief as he excused himself from Trell’s presence. “Excuse me, Ms. Trell, I am called away to deal with a patient.”
“I understand,” Kierenna nodded, grinning as she watched the Canadian leave her side. **No problem, Dr. Gorman. I’ll go chase Dr. MacNeil to see if she could provide some insight into the rumors surrounding Cmdr. Davidson’s shape shifting ability.**
--------------------
Scene: Promenade
TI: Two hours later
Kate decided to take a stroll in the promenade after long and grueling double shifts, taking in the desolation caused by the last two battles with the Dominion, with great difficulty. Security officers were found patrolling the area, in case any riots occurred amongst the civilian population. So far the doctor only saw civilians who were occupied with trying to rebuild their livelihood, fully aware that they could lose it all over again. With the war going on and GS-2 the frontlines, Kate knew it was only a matter of time before the station was pulled into another battle in the near future.
She had noticed a couple of reporters from the Federation News Service scurrying around the area, asking people, Starfleet or civilian a barrage of questions. “Some of them are way too aggressive,” the Scot muttered in annoyance, referring to some members of the press. A human male reporter raced past her, nearly knocking the young doctor off the path. Kate noticed the man was chased by an angry Klingoness with a Bat’leth in her hand. “Wonder what happened there,” MacNeil pondered, her eyes moving in the direction the two came from and spotted the remnants of a Klingon restaurant, which was in the process of rebuilding. She chuckled with amusement. “Shows not everyone will tolerate aggression from the press.”
“Wow, Dr. MacNeil,” a familiar, yet unnerving feminine voice caused the Nuimon hybrid to nearly jump out of her skin. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Kate groaned at the appearance of the pesky Betazoid reporter, whom she encountered earlier in sickbay. “Are you following me?” The Scot questioned, eyeing the Betazoid woman suspiciously, her eyes changing colour from hazel to indigo.
“No offense, Kathryn,” Trell derided the doctor, producing a mocking smile. “But you’re not exactly my type.” Her smile grew even broader, when Kate glared.
MacNeil retorted, becoming irate at the FedCom reporter’s behavior. “Oh, don’t be funny with me, lassie.”
Kierenna laughed. “Lassie huh!” She took in a deep breath before scoffing at the other woman. “Do I seem like a little girl to you, Kate? You don’t mind me calling you Kate, do you?”
The Scot rolled her eyes, hoping perhaps the Klingoness would show up and chase Ms. Trell away. “Leave me alone,” she demanded, sourly, fatigue taking its toll on her. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.” The tall doctor turned her back to the Betazoid and began walking away.
Trell called out, grinning. “Perhaps another time.”
------------------------
Scene: Arboretum
Construction of the large botanical area, once covered with lovely, forests prior to the battles, was still going on. Kate found a small grassy area under one of the trees that had managed to withstand the skirmishes with the Dominion and sat down. With her eyes closed, Kate took the time to relax and tried to forget about everything. She had lain down, her back touching the cold grass.
The doctor yawned, when an irritating voice disrupted her blissful peace. Kate opened her eyes and got up, only to sigh in dismay at the sight of the slender Betazoid standing above the Scot.
“Sounds like you had a long day, Kate,” Kierenna commented, smiling. “I can sense you’re irritable at the moment and I guess it’s due to the fatigue.” The FedCom reporter sat on the grass, beside the MERCY CMO. MacNeil cringed at the strong scent of the other woman’s perfume.
Kate rose to her feet and grumbled. “Well I guess I need to find another place to relax.”
“Aww…” Trell stated, pretending to be disappointed. “And I was so looking forward to getting to know you and…” A sneaky grin formed on her lips. “Your insight into those rumors claiming Commander Davidson is in fact a shape shifter.”
MacNeil bristled. “I have to go.” The doctor left the scene, leaving a very gleeful reporter.
----------------------
Scene: Promenade
Kate could not help but remain preoccupied over Trell’s claim over hearing rumors accusing Commander Davidson of being a changeling. She wondered where the reporter heard them. Did someone see Daisy transform into a cat and misunderstand? Kate questioned, mentally. It was likely possible, despite the information on the station CO’s genetic ability to be confidential. The doctor struggled to figure out a way to dispel such accusations, especially in the middle of a war. It did not help the morale of the station if people started to doubt Davidson’s integrity.
“Kate,” Mowree Nurunyon addressed as he approached her from the side. “What brings you down here?”
The Caitian answered. “I was checking on a civilian shopkeeper who was in need of counseling earlier today.”
“Tough times,” MacNeil sighed, folding her hands.
Mowree nodded in agreement. “Indeed it is.”
“What a coincidence!”
Kate groaned, upon recognizing the same irritating voice that interrupted her conversation with Mowree.
Kierenna Trell commented, as she neared the duo. “I didn’t really expect us to meet again so soon.” She smiled sweetly, when the Nuimon hybrid scowled at her. Noticing the Caitian counselor for the first time, Trell greeted, extending her hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met, Counselor Nurunyon.”
“No I don’t believe we have,” Mowree said, peering curiously at the Betazoid. “And you are?”
Trell introduced. “Kierenna Trell, I work for FedCom.”
Mowree nodded. “Please to meet you, Ms. Trell.”
“Mowree, I would love to do an interview with you,” the Betazoid reporter stated, dismissively. “But right now, I would like some time alone with Dr. MacNeil here.”
The Caitian hesitated for a moment, glancing at MacNeil briefly before answering. “Of course.”
**Might as well get it over with, ** Kate thought, sighing before turning to Mowree. “It was nice running into you.”
“You too,” Mowree said, before leaving the doctor and the reporter alone with each other.
The half-Nuimon stated sounding bored. “Alright, Ms. Trell. Ask me whatever you want and let’s be done with it.”
“Seriously Kathryn, I’m actually quite harmless,” Kierenna chuckled before providing a mock assurance. “But this will only be a few minutes.” Kate rolled her eyes at the last remark, realizing the reporter did not mean those words. Trell took a few more minutes, just to make the doctor more nervous before starting the interview.
Dr. MacNeil,” the Betazoid posed the first question, suddenly sounding professional. “Rumors are floating around claiming there’s a changeling amongst members of the station senior staff. Can you confirm this?”
“That’s totally absurd,” the Scot began, dismissing the notion. “Security has been tight and every precaution is taken to ensure there are no Dominion spies amidst us, not to mention the regular blood tests.”
Trell questioned, pleased over the nervousness emanating from the doctor’s body language. “And how can you sure, Dr. MacNeil, when you’re not part of station personnel in the first place? Unless you’re basing your *assumption* on your friendship with Commander Davidson?”
“Because I used to be part of the staff,” Kate explained, irritably. “So I know some of the officers here and I had worked with Commander Davidson at another assignment.”
Sighing, Kierenna pushed on. “Prior to the first battle, you were working at Starfleet Medical HQ for four months and on the USS SHAMERAN before that with Davidson as your ExO for close to a year?”
“Yes,” MacNeil nodded, not surprised the reporter had managed to quickly check her bio file.
“Moving on,” Trell decided, becoming more aggressive. “Davidson has only been CO of this station for about a month and prior to that was CMO of the SHAMERAN.” She edged closer to the taller woman and questioned, harshly. “So, tell me Kathryn, how does a person who willingly stepped down from first officer to devote time to medicine and her family suddenly decide to return to command? Doesn’t this strike you as something odd?”
“No!” The Scot bluntly answered, before posing a rhetoric question. “Just what are you inferring, Ms. Trell?”
The FedCom reporter claimed, insensitively. “That Commander Davidson could be a changeling.”
“That’s nonsense,” Kate protested, her eyes grew wide in anger. “Daisy is one of the most devoted officers in Starfleet. There’s absolutely no way she could be spying for the Dominion.”
Trell stated, taking a softer approach. “I don’t blame you for being defensive, Dr. MacNeil. It’s hard to believe your friend could be a traitor. I can empathize with how tough this must be for you.”
“She’s not a changeling,” MacNeil protested, her blood boiling.
“I know she’s your friend,” Kierenna said, gently before changing her tone to take on a tougher stance. “But we’re at war, Kate and my viewers have the right to know whether the CO of the station that makes up the defense against the enemy is really who she claims to be!”
“Making inflammatory accusations without proof does not help anyone’s morale,” Kate pointed out, icily.
The Betazoid smirked, as she whispered into the doctor’s ear. “Some petty officers claim they saw Davidson transform into a black cat.”
Kathryn took a step back, feeling stunned at the reporter’s latest accusation. She looked over at the slender woman, who still wore that awful smirk on her face. “She’s not a changeling,” the Scottish woman maintained her defense of the blond CO.
“Well how does that explain her transforming into a cat?” Trell interrogated, ruthlessly. “Unless she’s not really Daisy Davidson and is indeed a changeling.”
The half-Nuimon’s anger had reached its boiling point and suddenly snapped, her mouth suddenly running off at lightning speed. “Daisy can’t be a changeling because she’s an Associate of Gary seven hybrid. Her shape-shifting ability is limited as she can change to one form only, which is that of a black house cat. And she gives off a burst of blue light during the transformation, which is completely different from a Founder, who melts into shimmering pools of brown liquid…” Her voice trailed off towards the end, when Kate soon realized the grave error she had made in the heat of the moment. She felt her knees wobble in weakness and her breathing becoming rapid. **What have I done? ** MacNeil was horrified and then stared at the reporter with a pleading look in her eyes.
“Well,” Trell stated, smiling. “At least I am comforted to hear Commander Davidson is not a Founder and this information should put all those rumors to rest.”
“Please…” Kate begged, her voice croaking. “I’m not supposed to tell you this. Please don’t publish what I’ve told you just now”
Kierenna assured, sighing. “Relax, Kate. I won’t reveal this information to anyone.” Patting the doctor’s shoulder, the reporter promised, winking. “Your secret is safe with me.” With that said, the Betazoid walked away, sniggering at how she had duped the Scottish woman, who was visibly shaken.
Kate, despite having begged the FedCom reporter to not publish the story, felt guilty and decided to tell Daisy regarding accidentally revealing confidential medical information about the CO’s shape-shifting ability.
-------------------------------
Location: USS STONEHENGE
Scene: Medical Lounge
Time Index: Several hours later
Producing 700 vials of delta radiation serum was hardly challenging. It left scads of free time available for Arjan Jos and Cade Foster to sit and worry about what had happened to the missing away team members while each of them tried their best to pretend they weren’t worried. By the time vial 200 rolled off the line the medical technicians could produce the serum in their sleep. Now they were on bottle five hundred something, and Cade had decided to root himself in the lounge and watch the FedCom news feed.
“That stuff will rot your brain.” Arjan poked his head in through the doorway.
“Yeah, I know.” Cade took a slurp of his coffee and patted the seat beside him. “You should join me, you look like you need to rot yours a bit.”
The Andorian curled his antennae forward, and frowned slightly. “Just what makes you say that?”
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe the fact that you have checked in on the serum lines seven times in the last half hour. I mean, get real… replicate, fill, seal. Replicate, fill seal. No matter how many times you check them, it’s not going to change.” The elder human waggled his brows.
Arjan shrugged lightly, stepping in the doorway. “At least it keeps me busy.”
“Which is why you should rot your brain. Come on, sit down, stubborn.”
The civilian doctor sighed, and joined Cade on the couch, stretching his neck before he sat. “What’s the topic for the day? The ever-impending dominion war?”
Foster shook his head. “Naw, they must have that information sealed up pretty tightly. No one wants nosy reporters snooping around their war zone.”
“Doesn’t usually stop them from snooping” Arjan replied, trailing off as the newscast flared to life on the viewscreen before them.
A perky, fresh-faced Trill anchor appeared, her voice was bright and excited. {{Is the commander of Gateway Station a shapeshifter? Reporter in the field Kierenna Trell brings us this breaking news from the fringes of Federations settlement in the Gamma
Quadrant…}}
The two civilian surgeons looked at one another for a second, and suddenly a hush fell across the room. From the main offices Makena Kagiso and Sef Yelena stuck their heads out of their offices to listen.
A lovely Betazoid reporter appeared on the screen, her expression was grim, but she could barely contain her smile of achievement. {{Here on Gateway Station, designated GS2 by Starfleet, the threat of the dominion is a constant problem. Changeling infiltrators, Vorta negotiators and Jem’Hadar shock troops are common threats to this deep space outpost. The largest station of its kind, Gateway represents a critical post in the defense of Federation territories.}}
The reporter paused to catch her breath, letting the camera pan out over the struggling repairs of the station. {{This station has gone through many hardships, including the betrayal of former Captain Michael Turlough Kane, and the arrival of new commanding officer Dasiy Davidson.}}
Cade choked and nearly spat his entire mouthful of coffee across the screen. Redfaced, he spit the coffee back in the cup and double over, coughing. Sef and Makena rushed to their feet, running in to the room. “Did she say Daisy?” Makena asked, eyes wide.
“I believe she did.” Arjan replied, patting Cade firmly on the back. “Are you OK there?”
“No.” Cade muttered between coughs.
{{But for weeks now there have been rumors circulating about the ‘shapeshifting’ abilities of Commander Davidson. Why would a woman who stepped down from her executive position on the USS SHAMERAN suddenly agree to command an outpost as large as the Gateway station.}}
Cade lifted his head gesticulating wildly, splashing cold coffee over the couch, and, incidentally Arjan Jos. “That’s what I’d like to know!! What the HELL is she doing commanding Gateway station?! I thought she was on vacation with her Boy-Toy Kenta?!!”
The Andorian put up both of his hands, ready to tackle the older human if need be. “Whoah, Cade, chill!”
But it was Makena who restored order. “Shut up, guys! The report isn’t done.”
{{…and could she be a dominion spy?}} Trell continued despite being drowned out by Cade’s outburst. {{Her former Chief Medical Officer on the SHAMERAN had some unusual insights into this.}} The view of the report changed, skewed and slightly grainy, the picture obviously taken by some hidden camera. A very frazzled Kathryn MacNeil was pictured, her cheeks tinged with frustration and anger. {{Daisy can’t be a changeling because she’s an Associate of Gary seven hybrid. Her shape-shifting ability is limited as she can change to one form only, which is that of a black house cat. And she gives off a burst of blue light during the transformation, which is completely different from a Founder, who melts into shimmering pools of brown liquid…}}
The rest of the medical staff started pouring in to the tiny lounge, as silence filled the air. Even Cade’s jaw dropped. “Oh, way to go, Cheerleader.”
{{So, as you see, Commander Davidson seems to have some skeletons, or at least Cats in her closet. Will this ‘Cat Woman’ of Gateway station prove to be loyal to the Federation, or does she harbor secret empathies for the dominion? This reporter will be here bringing you up to date news as it happens!}}The newscast continued on, not that it mattered. The STONEHENGE staff was staring at one another, mouths agape.
“I can’t believe she did that.” Cade groaned.
“She was obviously badgered in to breaking confidentiality.” Sel Yelena shot back hotly.
Cade shook his head as if he was in agony. “No, not the Cheerleader, Daisy. I can’t believe she just up and left and didn’t tell us!” His voice started pained and rose in fury until he punctuated the end by slamming his fist against the table.
“That’s not good… for either Kate or Daisy…” Makena pointed out, brows creasing in worry.
Arjan shook his head. “Aerdan’s going to flip out.”
Cade shook his head at all of them, and winced, lightly shaking the hand he had just slammed on the table. “Ow, my hand…”
************************************************************************
NRPG: Well here is part 2 of the storyline :) This is a JP written by me and Jamie. Anyway, that reporter Trell is still around the station, possibly trying to badger anyone else for a story, just in case anyone here is interested in using her.
Kim: TAG! :)
~*~*~*~*~
Jamie LeBlanc
Lieutenant Aerdan Jos
Chief Medical Officer
USS STONEHENGE
And
Ranjani Sabarinathan
Speaking for...
[/\]o..
Lieutenant Commander Kathryn MacNeil, MD
Temporary Chief Medical Officer
USS MERCY
---------------------------------
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