Shore leave on the Callisto rarely involved setting foot on any actual shores.
While there certainly was the option to visit a nearby planet, most of the crew preferred to remain aboard. It wasn’t entirely surprising – the Callisto was a ship designed with the realities of long-term missions in mind, and offered accommodations and leisure activities that rivalled some smaller starbases and outclassed most other vessels of the same size. 

Aldris Ceix considered the mission-free time an opportunity to unwind, and sort through his thoughts. Presently, he was seated at the desk in his ready room, methodically wrapping up a few pressing tasks that couldn’t wait until tomorrow, before planning to retire to his quarters. 

One of the previous host of his symbiont had harbored an appreciation for Klingon opera and Terran wine, and Aldris found that he had developed the same fondness. 

The past days hadn’t been stressful, but now he was very much looking forward to some peace and quiet. 

He had just completed the last of his tasks and was mustering the will to get out of his comfortable chair, when the soft hiss of the door interrupted his resolve, revealing Doctor Trova.  

For a split second, Aldris regretted his open-door-policy, but the thought faded as quickly as it had come. Remembering why he had established it, he offered the Doctor a friendly nod. 

“Doctor Trova?”, he said, and gestured for her to take a seat opposite of him. 

“Captain.”, acknowledged Trova with a nod, and moved over to the offered chair. Ceix studied her for a moment. They had worked together for mere weeks, but he noticed a weariness etched into her features that hadn’t been there when she arrived. 

“I meant to speak to you as it were.” said Ceix, reaching for the cup of long-cold coffee on this desk. “Specifically, about your role in the last away team.”

In truth, he felt that her involvement had been an oversight on Brennan’s part.  If he had made the decision on this, he would have kept Trova off the Asklepios – not for a lack of trust or ability, but simply because she lacked the routine of someone attending those teams on a more frequent basis. 

“I’ve not been part of an away team in quite some time.”, admitted the Doctor, gaze dropping to the PADD she was carrying. “It’s not something a Chief Medical Officer should be doing, unless absolutely necessary. And on the Cupertino, it rarely was.” 

Ceix gave a slow, understanding nod. “That’s perfectly reasonable.”, he agreed. “At the same time, the things you have encountered there would be unsettling even for the most seasoned officers. It’s natural to need some time to process it.” 

The Doctor looked up at Ceix. “It still haunts me. Not what I saw, but the … idea of it all. The name of the ship, the sickbay that had been turned into a… into that room. I always knew these things were possible, but it was always at an abstract level. That…  that the so-called evil is out there. But I’ve never had to face it directly before.” 

“There is no shame in speaking to a Counselor. As a medical professional, you know that.”, Ceix reminded gently. 

Nichelle shook her head, and cleared her throat. “No.. I don’t need that. I need solutions. I-… actually that is why I am here. I contacted Captain Solaris McLaren of the USS Yamato. She will be arriving shortly.”

Ceix blinked. He had expected a lot, but certainly not that. It was not only a surprise, but a distinctly unpleasant one. He didn’t know McLaren, but he knew the Yamato. He kept track of it whenever time allowed. 

“You contacted the Yamato?”, he asked. His voice was measured, trying to find the reasoning behind her actions first, and judge later.

Doctor Trova nodded. “Yes.” She placed the PADD on the desk between them. “I was trying to identify my mystery patient – and I finally did. She’s a Starfleet Officer – or at least she was. Her file is classified. McLaren was the one to classify it, and I reached out for answers.” 

“Classified? What did you find out?”, he asked. He was curious.

“That woman… her name is Arys Turunen.” Trova began, her voice steady but charged with excitement. “She worked for Intel, undercover. She asked to be extracted, but by the time they tried, she was already gone. Sir, I don’t believe she did any of the things she was blamed for doing – and if she did, definitely not willingly.”

Ceix leaned back in his chair. “Or she has changed her allegiances. It is possible…”, he pondered. He didn’t like any of this, though he wasn’t entirely sure what it was he didn’t like. 

Was it that the woman they had cast into the role of villain might be a victim after all?

Was it the fact that Doctor Trova had gone over his head and contacted McLaren?

Or was it the idea of the Yamato’s impending arrival that put him on edge? 

“I don’t believe that.”, Trova interjected firmly. 

Aldris inhaled deeply, allowed himself a moment to ground himself. His voice was controlled as he spoke. 

“Thank you for informing me, Doctor.”, he began. “I wish you had discussed the matter with me – or with your department head rather than making these decisions on your own.”

“Sir, I-”

He held up a hand, cutting her off. “I understand it might be difficult to transition to a position where you are no longer Chief Medical Officer. But it is an adjustment I expect you to make.” 

The Doctor frowned. Clearly she hadn’t anticipated his reaction – perhaps she had not even considered that her initiative on this wasn’t welcome. 

“I have been with Starfleet for several years now. I have never encountered a situation where acting in the best interest of my patient is considered overstepping.”, she replied sharply. 

Ceix was too old to meet fire with fire, and instead, allowed his expression to soften. 

“I am worried about you, Doctor.”, he said. “Your genuine interest in your patients is one of the many things that make you an excellent medical officer, but this seems to become something almost obsessive. And I can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with Commander Keller.”

“What would it have to do with him?”, Trova frowned. 

“He seems convinced that your patient is guilty. You, on the other side, seem determined to prove him wrong.”

“No.”, Trova shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

Ceix studied her for a moment before he gave a slow, deliberate nod. “I would like you to discuss the matter with him. Not to change his mind, or yours, but to keep him in the loop. We will know more when Captain McLaren arrives.”

“But Sir, I-…”

“That is an order.”

Ceix flinged inwardly. He hated the need to pull rank. 

The doctor gave a curt nod and rose from her seat, leaving the PADD on his desk.

As the doors finally slid shut behind her, he exhaled. 

So much for relaxing, he thought. As if he could relax after receiving such a message.

He wearily turned to his console and pulled up the Yamato’s crew manifest. For a few moments, his fingers hovered over Captain McLaren’s service record. Then, they moved to the one belonging to Lieutenant Seta. 

Perhaps it was fate that they were to meet again.