Star Trek: Erin

Part 35: Go Mellow

     Biflora III was torched. Normal procedure was a combination of firepower and radiation, designed to wipe out all flora and fauna. Charges were specifically beamed into the bulb-filled heart of the facility to ensure it.

     I don't know if my recommendations were considered—or even looked at—but a day was taken to run a multitude of scans and retrieve employee records to compare to those rescued. To the best of our knowledge, Biflora III had only the enhanced ecosystem dominated by those pale plants.

     I went down to the hidey-hole near Munitions to watch the planet burn and lifted a glass to all the plant-created-people murdered by Lata.

     Turns out the issue on Biflora IV was of a simpler nature: their comms were mostly compromised and a deadly reactor leak had downed two dozen before they sealed themselves in their command centre. So, Kirk saved the day. Of course.

     Med Bay Support was empty again, Gabriel was avoiding me, and Marple had been dissatisfied with my report. Things were returning to normal.

     Well, the Enterprise version of normal. Kirk talked a probe to death in the meantime.

     A couple weeks after the Biflora III incident, Gabriel visited my quarters. I'd just finished remotely testifying at Lata's trial and was feeling kind of sweaty after a grueling cross-examination, and Gabriel visiting me voluntarily was probably cause for alarm. "Uh, take a seat?" She glanced at the chair I'd been sitting in moments ago without much expression and didn't take it. Cool, we're standing, then. I folded my arms. "Much as I like surprise visits from the most annoying person in Starfleet, I don't appreciate the nightmare material called 'your face.'"

     That earned me a slight eyebrow raise. "Thought I'd say goodbye," she said.

     I demonstrated my truly astounding level of eloquence with a surprised grunt.

     "Starfleet thought I did good enough work on Biflora III to fast-track the practical part of my medical training. I'm being assigned as co-Chief Medical Officer on Starbase 14."

     "Damn, Gabriel, that's great." Yeah, try being nice. Captains are emotional support sometimes. A slight frown creased my forehead. I think that's why she's here. "Sorry about the face comment, you're actually very pretty." Never mind. Abort being nice. Shut up shut up shut up.

     She carried on as if she hadn't heard that last part, although a faint flush crept into her cheeks. Probably unrelated. My room was a bit too hot. I got sweaty, remember? "Just wanted to say goodbye, and if you don't mind, I thought I might keep in touch."

     "Sure," I said immediately. And grinned. "Maybe you can mellow a bit on Starbase 14. You've gotten a bit more tolerable since I've met you, that's for sure."

     "Falling for my charms, Cobos?"

     I snorted. "Get out, asshole."

     "Bye, coward."

     After she was gone, I dropped back into my chair. Huh.