Editing Episode 303: Pericles Station, Part 4

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[[Episode 303: Pericles Station| '''Part 1''' ]]<br>
[[Episode 303: Pericles Station, Part 2| '''Part 2''' ]]<br>
[[Episode 303: Pericles Station, Part 3| '''Part 3''' ]]<br><br><br>

He wakes up in a hospital bed with the lovely Dr. Rava looking at him, concerned.  As he wakes she says to someone outside his field of vision.

'''Rava:''' I think he’s coming to. (back to Arden) Dr. Arden?<br>
'''Arden:''' I’m awake.  (groggy)  What happened after I passed out?<br>
'''Rava:''' Well, you were having some sort of seizure...and we decided not to try to treat it, initially, and just to observe.  It ended after a few moments and you were brought to another ward for observation. Do you have a medical record of any sort of epilepsy or…?<br>
'''Arden:''' No, I don’t have any record of ….<br>
'''Rava:''' We’ve been running the medical databases and despite having our own databases on board this station, we don’t have the Cortex.  And the ship has always relied on the Cortex for the more elaborate research but….um…we have had some unusual responses to the Chempliance but we’ve never seen one like this before.  <br>

She pauses.

'''Rava:''' We’re not sure what’s happened to you.  Your heart rate was through the roof.  As was your pulse.  Pretty much everything was past the normal…we were not sure if you were going to make it and you may have done some tissue damage to your organs. 

Meanwhile a message has been sent to Summer’s Gift that Dr. Arden has appeared to have suffered some sort of collapse.  He has been taken to observation and he appears to be past the worst of it, but if we have the time we might want to come by and look in on him.

Do we have the time?  Oh, hells yeah.

Back in the observation ward, Rava shows Arden the readouts they’d gotten of his seizure.  She hands him the datapad and keys up the pertinent information.  Arden eyeballs it and sees that his heart rate looked like someone had shot him full of adrenaline.  

'''Rava:''' Everything was off the charts almost.  You turned into a hummingbird for a few moments there. You turned into a blur for some of what you were doing there and you tried to communicate to us at one point, but we couldn’t make sense of what you were saying.  And you didn’t seem to be responding to us very well.<br>
'''Arden:''' It must have been an odd reaction to … what did you say that chemical was?<br>
'''Rava:''' It’s a standard crowd suppressant sedative Chempliance.  There have been some unusual claims about it but all the data we have from Blue Sun tells us that it should be harmless in small quantities.  Now you did get a full-on shot right to the head, so perhaps there was more stuff there—we sent a message to Blue Sun Pharma to get some more data but it’s going to be weeks before we get anything back.<br>
'''Arden:''' Well, there’s probably one thing you don’t know about Chempliance.<br>

He tells her its derived from the Paxilon family of chemicals, the same Paxilon that was used on Miranda.

'''Rava:''' What? You mean the Pax?<br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah.<br>
'''Rava:''' Well, yes. It’s a sedative.<br>
'''Arden:''' It’s the same family of chemicals.<br>

You know, the stuff that made the REAVERS.

'''Arden:''' You’re not concerned about that? I am.<br>
'''Rava:''' But it was a much smaller dose.<br>
'''Arden:''' Not straight to the face.<br>

She asks if Arden is concerned about turning violent. Should she get security to watch him?  Arden says no, but he doesn’t think it’s a good idea to use Chempliance on people.

'''Rava:''' But it’s got a history of several years of successful application.<br>
'''Arden:''' It’s got a public history of several years and a private history of several years.  Believe me, the private history is not as nice.<br>

But they’ve used it without ill effects on the ship.  Many times.  Arden allows that 999 times out of 1000 it’s fine.

'''Rava:''' Is there any reason why you think you might be different?<br>
'''Arden:''' Yes.<br>
'''Rava:''' Well, I am the doctor on record. Confidentiality applies.<br>
'''Arden:''' I’m sure. But there are reasons I think I would be different, yes.<br>
'''Rava:''' Why? What makes you different?<br>

Oops.  Looks like Arden said too much.  How is he going to tell her about his genetically engineered resistance to the Pax?

'''Arden:''' Um…<br>
'''Rava:''' (quietly) Apart from your rugged good looks.<br>

Say what now?

'''Arden:''' Um…. 

She’s clearly attracted to Arden and it’s also clear she’s been holding back.  Til now.  Arden’s in something of a tight spot.  He’s amorous, a straight-shooter, and here’s a rather attractive woman willing to …Well. Yeah.

'''Rava:''' Confidentiality would apply.<br>
'''Arden:''' (slowly) Neurological scans have shown that I have some differences in brain structure that other people don’t have.<br>
'''Rava:''' (interested) That’s unusual. You’ve had an injury?<br>
'''Arden:''' No. It seems to be a mutation of somewhat natural form.<br>

He tells her about the extra pineal gland.

'''Rava:''' Are you—you’re a clone, though.  Right?<br>
'''Arden:''' Right.<br>
'''Rava:''' Do you think—<br>
'''Arden:''' Yes.<br>
'''Rava:'''…they modified you for the…ohhh, interesting.<br>
'''Arden:''' In a sick guinea pig sort of way.<br>
'''Rava:''' Well…You shouldn’t think of it that way. You’re different.  You’re special.  AND immune to Chempliance and able to do those things.<br>

Arden cautions that he’s not sure he’s immune, exactly, but he does react to it differently.  He does know he’s seen Chempliance used on people with adverse effects, especially on people with the Prion Disease.  Rava counters that she’s not sure about that.  Arden insists it’s true.  How can he be sure that it wasn’t due to a pre-existing condition?  After all, her experience with Chempliance on Prion patients shows it doesn’t cause the violent reactions, stress does.  Maybe those cases Arden saw weren’t caused by the Chempliance but by the stress of situation.

Arden admits that he didn’t test those patients, so he cannot know for certain.  Rava admits that though she doesn’t have all the data that exists, her observations are that Chempliant has the opposite effect.  Then she starts taking notes on Arden’s condition, muttering in medical jargon. Arden cuts in on her thoughts to ask for a glass of water.

'''Rava:''' Oh, yes. Of course.  I’ll be right back.

At which point, the crew from Summer’s Gift shows up: Rina, Nika, and Joshua. They get right up to his bed and look him over.  Standing close to him, Rina gets a fleeting whiff of…something.  Something pleasant but too ephemeral to pin down and there are bigger things that demand her attention.  Like Arden sitting propped up in a hospital bed with a livid spot on his forehead, looking as if he’d been hit by a pool cue.

'''Rina:''' What the hell happened to you?

Arden tells her. Prion patient got violent. He stepped in to help.  He got hit in the face with a beanbag of Chempliance.

'''Nika:''' Oh, shite!<br>
'''Rina:''' Only you, Arden. Only you. You okay?<br>
'''Nika:''' How bad was it?<br>
'''Arden:''' I’m fine. I seem to speed up in some way.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Speed up? You mean like, physically moving faster?<br>
'''Arden:''' To me, everything seemed to slow down. They say I looked like a blur. And when I talked, they couldn’t understand what I said.<br>
'''Rina:''' Oh, that’s not good.<br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah. And my doctor, the doctor who’s attending…aaahhm, some Indian woman—<br>
'''Rina:''' (lightbulb!) Woman?  Does she wear perfume?<br>

That’s what Rina detected for that one instant. Perfume.

'''Nika:''' What?<br>
'''Arden:''' Um, don’t most women?<br>
'''Rina:''' (snorts) I don’t.<br>
'''Nika:''' I don’t.<br>
'''Joshua:''' I don’t.<br>
'''Arden:''' Be that as that may.<br>

Rina leans over Arden and takes a really big sniff.  Yup. Perfume. Nika laughs as Arden gets flustered.

'''Rina:''' Oh, yeah.  So, did she play doctor? <br>
'''Arden:''' Stop. She knows about the extra gland.<br>
'''Nika:''' They were scanning you?<br>
'''Arden:''' No, I had to tell her.<br>
'''Joshua:''' You had to tell her?<br>
'''Rina:''' You had to tell her? <br>
'''Arden:''' I didn’t have to tell her….It sorta…came out.<br>
'''Rina:''' Did she torture you?<br>
'''Arden:''' In a sense.<br>
'''Rina:''' (looks at him slyly) Ahh.  You know, I can see how.<br>
'''Nika:''' (swatting Rina) Damn, Rina.<br>
'''Rina:''' (pointing to Arden) You can’t leave him alone for ten minutes.<br>
'''Arden:''' (indignant) Two hours.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Do you want to leave now, Arden?  Because it looks like you might want to leave.<br>

At this point, Rava walks back in with Arden’s water.  She seems taken aback by our presence and Arden makes the introductions. Oh, hello. You must be Dr. Arden’s crew.  She gives him the water and as he drinks it down, Rava pulls the privacy screen around the bed. Nika asks Rava if Arden can be released.

'''Rava:''' I wouldn’t recommend it under these conditions.  He had a seizure which was quite dramatic.  I wouldn’t recommend that he be put into a ship and leapt out into space under those condition.<br>
'''Rina:''' (exasperated) It’s not like he’s going alone.<br>
'''Rava:''' Are you a physician?<br>
'''Joshua:''' I can be.  (beat)  Don’t ask.<br>
'''Nika:''' We’re not pulling out for the next several days.<br>
'''Rava:''' I want to keep here for observation until you leave. If his condition remains good and there are no more—<br>
'''Arden:''' I still have that lecture to give.<br>

Good point.

'''Joshua:''' (to Rava) You want to keep him under observation.<br>
'''Rava:''' Yes. Because it’s wise. Don’t you want—we will be paying for this, of course. He was trying to rescue someone…(turning to Arden) …who we really don’t think was affected in the conflict, just a wound from a needle. He’ll be okay.<br>
'''Nika:''' And if Arden’s still all right in the morning…?<br>
'''Arden:''' I don’t mind staying the night but I would really like to get out of here in the morning.<br>
'''Rava:''' Let’s keep you overnight. I will personally attend you.<br>
'''Arden:''' That’s really not necessary.<br>
'''Rava:''' Well if you think there’s someone else, someone more competent…or…<br>

Arden reassures her he’s fine.

'''Rava:''' Well, I admit I would like to hear more about your theories. If you’re awake and you feel up to it. But I understand you’re hurt.

We look on and realize the good doctor has a crush on and Arden is uncomfortable with it.

'''Nika:''' Do you want one of us to stick?<br>
'''Arden:''' No, I’m fine.<br>
'''Rava:''' I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here. It’s probably best that he get some rest.<br>

Rina notes how Rava specifically looks at her and Nika and internally nods: Rava is crushed out and jealous.  She rolls her eyes.  Arden calls her on it.

'''Arden:''' Oh, right. Like you’ve got something to talk about.

Nika just half-smiles at Arden and he just closes his eyes in defeat and sighs.  

Women!

'''Rava:''' (to Arden)You do look like you have a bit of a headache.

And that’s our cue to leave.  Arden calls out to make sure the vet does what he’s promised for Orbit.

'''Rina:''' Okay.<br>
'''Joshua:''' Rest.<br>
'''Nika:''' We’ll be back in the morning, okay?<br>
'''Arden:''' Okay.<br>

We leave.  And on the way back to the Gift, Rina asks the others:

'''Rina:''' Are any of you getting this weird vibe off that doctor? She was practically licking her whiskers over him.<br>
'''Joshua:''' (deadpans) Really?  (A beat)  She seems concerned for Arden’s welfare.<br>
'''Rina:''' Yeaahhh…<br>
'''Nika:''' What’s your issue with it?<br>

Rina just cringes, her distaste evident.

'''Nika:''' He’s an adult, Rina. He can make whatever choices he chooses.<br>
'''Rina:''' (mutters) Oh well. Whatever floats your boat.<br>

Moving right along!  

We board our ship and spend the balance of the day with our regular duties.  Maintenance.  Cooking.  Taking care of the cat.  Business as usual.  Orbit is in her basket in the lounge, not really up to moving around yet.  Which is sad, contrasted how active she used to be.  But she’s alive and that’s not nothing.

'''Sunday, 20 Oct 2520'''

Arden has been a model patient and is interested in seeing the results of any test they run on him.  Rava would like to do a full holographic scan of him and Arden agrees on the condition that he receives a copy for his records. Rava then offers to bring him food from anywhere on the station, rather than have him endure hospital food.  Arden replies that after spending months in a tin can, anything would be fine.  Oh?  She’ll see what she can do, then.

The tests are done.  Arden receives his report and tries losing himself in the data.  He notices figures that don’t look too healthy but maybe they’re a strange side effect of being resistant to Chempliant.  Sometime later a nurse pokes her head into Arden’s room and asks if he feels up to a visitor.  

Sure.  

'''Nurse:''' (to someone outside) Director?

In walks a man in his early 50s, wearing a casual jumpsuit with the Pericles Station logo on it and insignia that Arden thinks makes him an officer of some kind.

'''Director Samuels:''' So, you’re the one who saved one of our nurses and apparently took down one of those Ravers?<br>
'''Arden:''' No, I just sort of stepped into the situation when it was called for.  It was just a patient was disoriented, he was nowhere near ‘Reaver’-ness.<br>

The Director politely disagrees, stating that the patient in question was a Prion patient who had obviously gone ‘Reaver’.  Arden counters with a statement of how stories tend to grow in the telling.  Well, there is that, the Director agrees.

Furthermore the man says he’s aware that Arden had originally planned to give a lecture series on his medical research and findings.  He hopes Arden will stick around long enough to do that.  The Director has instructed the staff to take good care of Arden, as best they can.  Arden thanks the man, saying he understands that sometimes things happen. Especially if one is in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Arden did what he could.

The Director says he appreciates what Arden’s done and wanted to give him his personal thanks.  If there is anything he can do to help Arden, please let him know:  Director Ryan Samuels, at his service. Arden shakes his hand. Oh, pleased to meet you.  

Is the room comfortable, Samuels wants to know. Yes, it’s fine, fine.  Arden doesn’t think he actually needs to be here but his doctor does, so….  Oh, well, Dr. Rava is one of our junior doctors. If Arden wishes, he could get one of the more senior staff to—No, no, she’s fine, says Arden.  She seems up to date on all the things she needs. 

Director Ryan admits that though they try to keep up to date on the medical stuff but it’s unfortunately very difficult to do with the Cortex down.

'''Director Samuels:'''  We’re working on something but it’s sort of a hush-hush thing. We’re developing a high-energy communications beam in Blue Sun. We’re going to see if we can increase the bandwidth of the information we can get.  If we can get that working there and get one ourselves, then we might be able to get if not the Cortex-level of the old days but at least something much faster than now.<br>
'''Arden:''' Does Blue Sun have a research facility on this station.<br>
'''Director Samuels:''' What? Oh, no I didn’t mean Blue Sun, the company.  I meant Blue Sun, the system.  Our sponsors are looking into it. They’ve got a Research and Development Team out there.<br>
'''Arden:''' If there’s anything I or Summer’s Gift, my ship, can do, please let me know.<br>
'''Director Samuels:''' Do you need a better berth or anything for them?<br>
'''Arden:''' Tell you the truth, the best thing we can ask for is maybe some fuel.<br>
'''Director Samuels:''' I’ll see what I can do. <br>
'''Arden:''' I appreciate that.  Thank you.<br>

The Director leaves. Arden considers their conversation and tries to get Rina on the comm.  Only there doesn’t appear to be a comm available.  He calls a nurse to ask for one and she says she’ll see what she can do.  

Back on Summer’s Gift, we find that our fuel charges have been reversed, neatly reimbursing our fueling costs.  

Wow.  

And our docking fees too.  

More wow.  

We are not going to argue.  Thank you, Pericles Station.

Back in the hospital, the nurse returns stating that she’s sorry but the local cortex in the hospital area doesn’t appear to be available right now.  Is there a message she could send to someone? Yes. If she could just send a message to Summer’s Gift to alert the crew that when they’re available, he’d like to see someone. Of course. Is there anything else he needs?  He’s fine, thank you, maybe another glass of water.

Sure enough, a message goes through to the Gift. It’s Dr. Rava.  

'''Rava:''' Hello? Can I speak to somebody on the Summer’s Gift, please?<br>
'''Nika:''' (picking up) Yeah. This is Nika Earhart.  What can I do for you?<br>
'''Rava:''' This is Dr. Rava.  I’m trying to pass on a message from your Captain, Dr. Arden…<br>

Arden?  Captain? Oh, this we gotta hear!

'''Nika:''' …Okay…?<br>
'''Rava:''' He apparently would like to speak to one of you. He said it didn’t matter.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay. We’ll send someone over.<br>
'''Rava:''' Very good.  I’ll have somebody waiting to escort you in.<br>

They end the call and Nika exits the bridge and announces to everyone:

'''Nika:''' Did you know Arden’s the new Captain? (whimsically) Yay, it’s not me anymore.

Everyone laughs.

'''Rina:''' Ooh, I told you that woman was nothing but trouble. You gonna go see him?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah.<br>
'''Rina:''' You have your comm?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah.<br>

Our hand comms won’t work far from our ship but Nika takes hers just in case.  Rina takes Nika’s place on the bridge.

Dr. Rava returns to Arden’s bedside with the insistence that he call her Ronni and she’s brought a little food cart back with her.  On it is a delicious East Indian meal and given the way she serves it to Arden, it’s probably home cooked, and likely from her own hands.  She explains the various dishes as Arden eats them, confessing that they haven’t the ovens needed for proper naan on the station.  Arden assures her that everything is very good.  She responds by saying that he shouldn’t eat it with a fork, but he should let her feed him…

Oh my.

And that’s the scene Nika walks in on.

Oh my indeed.

'''Nika:'''  Oh, that looks wonderful.<br>
'''Rava:'''  Oh look who’s here.<br>

Uh oh.  

'''Arden:''' (to Nika) It’s very tasty. You should try some.<br>
'''Nika:''' (to Rava) Hi. And how are you?<br>
'''Rava:''' Good.  And what’s your name?  I’m Dr. Rava.<br>
'''Nika:''' Nika Earhart.<br>
'''Rava:''' And you’re the…the…stewardess?  On the ship?  Is that what your job is?<br>
'''Nika:''' (smiling) I’m the pilot.<br>

She turns to Arden.

'''Nika:''' How are you feeling, Captain Arden?<br>
'''Arden:''' What?  Um….I’m feeling just fine and I wanted to let you know that the Director of the station is going to be taking care of our fuel costs, apparently.<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah, we noticed that when we got back aboard.<br>
'''Arden:''' Oh, good, good.<br>
'''Nika:''' We’ll pass along our thanks personally.<br>
'''Arden:''' He also mentioned something in passing that I apparently didn’t catch at the time he mentioned it, but it looks like that Blue Sun is working on a high energy communications system.<br>
'''Nika:''' Seriously?<br>
'''Arden:''' Yeah.<br>
'''Nika:''' (give me more) Okay.<br>
'''Arden:''' Which I thought you all would be interested in. Especially Rina.<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah.  Did he give you any kinda details? <br>
'''Arden:''' No. He just mentioned it in passing and I didn’t really realize it until he was already gone.<br>
'''Nika:''' Okay. I wonder who we can talk to about that?<br>
'''Arden:''' I don’t know.  Maybe someone whose toaster Rina’s fixed.<br>
'''Nika:''' That’s okay. I’ll go back and comm our thanks for the reversal of the charges.<br>
'''Arden:''' I just wanted to let you know.  <br>
'''Arden:''' I just wanted to let you know…about the… and… it apparently it happened but I want you to know what would happen if…but it already did, so you’d …know….already…so…that’s why.<br>

Yes.  Thank you, Arden.

'''Rava:'''  I guess this is the area where all the new innovations are going on right now.<br>
'''Nika:''' It doesn’t surprise me terribly much…that the You-Go Corporation out here is pretty big.<br>
'''Rava:''' Since you now have people on the inside, now, I can try to keep you abreast of all that information about the communications thing.<br>
'''Arden:''' Well, it’s an interesting thing since the Cortex is not around anymore.<br>
'''Nika:''' Certainly it wouldn’t hurt if you had the opportunity…<br>
'''Rava:''' We get lots of information here. Not all of it goes out on the datapads they send out.<br>
'''Nika:''' Like what?<br>
'''Rava:''' Well, some of it’s military…intelligence…that kind of stuff.<br>
'''Nika:''' I have some friends who are working out here, so…<br>
'''Rava:''' Oh, yeah? Where are they working?<br>
'''Nika:''' Some of them are in the PDF.<br>
'''Rava:''' Yeah. Hm.<br>
'''Nika:''' That bad?<br>
'''Rava:''' Well.  I’ve heard stories, but I’m sure they’re good people. But some of what I’ve heard they’re trying to make their… own little empire out there in Blue Sun.  But…<br>
'''Nika:''' Last I heard it was supposed to be a defense force. So…?<br>
'''Rava:''' You know, that’s probably what it is. And if they’re your friends, I’m sure they’re just good people.  But if that doesn’t work out, there are other people you can trust.<br>

Um…where did that come from?  Why wouldn’t it work out? What other people?

'''Arden:''' I appreciate that.  I would definitely like to keep abreast of what’s going on and any research I turn up on anything I would, of course, share.  I mean, it’s not like I kept anything back in the past. I’m not going to keep anything in the future.<br>
'''Nika:''' He always shares his research.<br>
'''Rava:''' Oh, well yes. That’s how I found out about it. (smiling) He’s quite the philanthropist.<br>
'''Arden:''' (pointing at Rava) And she’s quite the cook.<br>
'''Nika:''' I see that.<br>

Rava slides Arden’s plate a little closer to him and a little farther away from Nika.

'''Rava:''' (to Nika) Well, I don’t want to keep you away from your duties, piloting the ship and all.<br>
'''Nika:''' Actually I’m on something of a hiatus at the moment, since we can’t do much until we undock. <br>

Are we back to that again?

'''Arden:''' How is Joshua do—<br>
'''Nika:''' (at Rava) He’s fine.<br>
'''Arden:''' So he’s becoming accustomed to…everything?<br>
'''Nika:''' (smiling at Arden) Yes, sweetheart, he’s becoming accustomed to everything.<br>

Sweetheart?  

'''Arden:''' Okay.<br>
'''Rava:''' Perhaps I can come back later if you want some privacy…(to Arden) But I do have some things I need to talk to you in private.<br>
'''Arden:''' Okay.<br>

Rava puts her hand on Arden’s forehead to check his temperature, promises she’ll be back, and then leaves.  Nika watches her go and then leans out the door to make sure the woman is truly gone before going back to Arden’s bedside.  She’s grinning like a cat who’s landed in the cream.

'''Nika:''' Oh my, aren’t you in a pickle?<br>
'''Arden:''' Well….it’s not a pickle, depending on how you look at it….but it is uncomfortable.<br>
'''Nika:''' (chuckling) I’m not gonna get you out of here just because you’re being flirted with by a pretty doctor.<br>
'''Arden:''' (please don’t) …Ookaaay….<br>
'''Nika:''' Look, I’m not taking you back to the ship, just in case you have another seizure.<br>
'''Arden:''' Oh, I understand what you’re saying. I agree.  In principle.<br>
'''Nika:''' Do you want me to stay? I can stay here or I can have Joshua stay.<br>
'''Arden:''' Just for a little while. It just feels…very weird being in this bed and I’m….<br>
'''Nika:''' She’s a little odd. <br>
'''Arden:''' Aaahhmmm…she’s a little awestruck.<br>
'''Nika:''' Or she’s very young and not sure.<br>
'''Arden:''' That, too.<br>
'''Nika:'''  Let me step out, because we can’t get comms in here.  Let me call and let them know that I’m going to stick it out with you guys for a little while and have Joshua come and relieve me in a couple of hours.<br>
'''Arden:''' Okay.<br>

Arden eats his curry. Nika makes the call. Rina picks up.

'''Nika:''' I’m going stay here for a couple of hours with Arden because…(chuckles) …he’s having a little bit of trouble…(chuckles some more)<br>
'''Rina:''' I told you that woman was nothing but trouble.<br>
'''Nika:''' She made him dinner.<br>
'''Rina:''' Bring a doggie bag.<br>
'''Nika:''' (laughs) Tell Joshua to relieve me in a couple of hours.<br>
'''Rina:''' Will do.<br>
'''Nika:''' Listen, he had something and I wanna go ahead and have the ship send the Director of the station a personal thank you for reversing the charges.  But in addition, he came across a little tidbit of information.  Apparently someone out in the system has a research thing going on for a high-energy comm system to replace the Cortex.<br>
'''Rina:''' In Blue Sun?<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah. <br>
'''Rina:''' Replacing the Cortex?<br>

It takes a second for the implications to sink in.  Then:

'''Rina:''' Oh, ma-aaaan, that’s swe-eeeet……<br>
'''Nika:''' Well, we’re headed towards Highgate anyway and I didn’t mention it earlier but Decatur dropped a message and so hopefully we’ll be able to run into them at Highgate.  And they might have more information for us on that. In the meantime, you might be able to check on some rumor mills and see what you can come up with.<br>
'''Rina:''' (softly) Awesome news. Yeah.  Will do.<br>

Rina looks over at Joshua standing nearby.

'''Rina:''' Joshua. A few hours….High energy comm…<br>

And you can just see the wheels start spinning in her head, shooting off into her own little Rina-Land of shiny possibilities.

'''Nika:''' Focus here, darlin’.<br>
'''Rina:''' (snapping to) Yeah.<br>
'''Nika:''' Two hours.  Gimme two hours.  I’ll sit with Arden that long. If you need anything, you’re going to have to send a runner. The comm systems don’t work inside, I guess.  Or something.  I don’t know what’s going on with that.  I don’t know if she just didn’t want Arden to get on the comm or what. You know….Whatever.<br>
'''Rina:''' Uh-huh. Right.<br>
'''Nika:''' If you need anything, send a runner.  Tell Joshua I’ll see him in a couple of hours.<br>
'''Rina:''' Right. Will do.<br>

Nika ends the call.  Rina sits there, thinking.  Joshua takes the comm from her.

'''Joshua:''' Go to your workshop. Think. Cuz it looks like you already are in that process. So go think. I can stay on the bridge.<br>
'''Rina:''' (blinking) Yeah…okay….

She quits the chair and heads aft.

'''Rina:''' (over her shoulder) Bug me in two hours.

An hour later, Nika’s still sitting with Arden and Rava returns.  She sees Nika and frowns, just a little.

'''Rava:''' Oh. You’re still here. I’m sorry but I have some doctor-patient things to discuss with Arden.<br>
'''Arden:''' Nika’s my……compatriot, my crewmate, she knows pretty much everything.<br>
'''Nika:''' It’s probably better that you go ahead and let us know, just in case we run into any problems out in space.<br>
'''Rava:''' (to Arden) I’m not sure this is something that you necessarily what her to view.<br>
'''Nika:''' Isn’t that up to the patient?<br>
'''Arden:''' I guess what she’s saying is she can tell me and then I can tell you if I want.<br>
'''Nika:''' I can step outside if you want.<br>
'''Arden:''' Okay.<br>

Nika steps outside.  Rava leans in close.

'''Rava:''' I don’t know about this friend of yours, but…someone’s been accessing your records and trying to cover their tracks.<br>
'''Arden:''' On station?  Do yoe know who?<br>
'''Rava:''' I don’t know. I don’t think it’s one of the regular medical staff.  But there’s several thousand people on board the station so it’s hard for me to know exactly how.  It’s somebody who has an inside knowledge of how these systems work. I could try to look into it if you want me to.<br>
'''Arden:''' You can but you’ll probably put yourself in danger.  I don’t think it’s a good idea. If somebody wants to look at my medical records, they can look at my medical records however they want. I’m not going to make it easy, but whatever they need to do, they can do. And if you try to stop them, you may get yourself hurt. So don’t try.<br>
'''Rava:''' I would try to find out who it is, for you.<br>
'''Arden:''' No. Don’t worry about it.<br>
'''Rava:''' (softly) Okay.  I just thought you should know.<br>
'''Arden:''' I appreciate that.<br>

So. Well.  Arden asks if they’re going to do the full medical scan tomorrow morning. Yes, they are.  Does he still want to do it?  Yes, he does.  

'''Rava:''' But if your records are compromised…<br>
'''Arden:''' Let me think on it.<br>
'''Rava:''' Okay. (a beat)  When the shake-up happened, and naval personnel had to decide whether they were staying or leaving, there were concerns about security.  We haven’t had any real incidents but there’s been some concerns.  I was a civilian personnel aboard the Pericles when it was an Alliance Navy ship, so the transformation for me wasn’t that different. But not everybody was.  And not everybody here was 100%, I don’t think.<br>
'''Arden:''' Okay.<br>
'''Rava:''' Okay….Well. (sighs)  I worry about you.<br>
'''Arden:''' Don’t.  I’m fine.<br>
'''Rava:''' It had to be somebody who knew you were here.<br>
'''Arden:''' The whole station knows I’m here.<br>
'''Rava:''' I mean, that would be interested in knowing you were here.  I just thought …do you have any reason to be suspicious of anyone?<br>
'''Arden:''' I appreciate your concern.<br>
'''Rava:''' It could be somebody close to you.<br>

Where is she going with this?

'''Arden:''' I appreciate your concern, but I think I’m fine.<br>
'''Rava:''' I’ll run some checks.<br>
'''Arden:''' Don’t put yourself out.<br>
'''Rava:''' No, no. It’s no problem.<br>

She leaves, apparently to do just that.  When Nika comes back in, Arden tells her about his records being hacked.

'''Nika:''' That’s got to be local.<br>
'''Arden:''' That’s what she said.<br>
'''Nika:''' Fabulous.  It can never be simple, can it?<br>
'''Arden:''' No. and the big thing is they were going to run a full medical work-up on me I’ve been wanting to have done for a while now.<br>
'''Nika:''' Can you get it done without it going to records?<br>
'''Arden:''' No.  I don’t think so.<br>
'''Nika:''' Your little girlfriend might run the scan and then erase it.<br>
'''Arden:''' Maybe.<br>
'''Nika:''' If you want it done, you might consider asking.  Have a copy, erase the original, keep the copy with us.<br>
'''Arden:''' It’s possible but I would prefer to defer a full medical scan, knowing someone’s been trying to get into my records.<br>
'''Nika:''' Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea.<br>
'''Arden:''' We might not be as secure here as we think we are.<br>
'''Nika:''' Then I think we should start pulling it together and get out of here.<br>

So who’s hacking Arden’s records and why?  What’s got Rava all fired up to look into it?  Is what she said about the personnel transition true?  And what did she mean that the transition wasn’t easy for some?

There’s no telling right now.  Arden’s effectively laid up for the next 24 hours, the Gift isn’t ready to leave, and we’ll have to leave off hunting down the answers.  At least for now and for all we know, the answers might come looking for us.  Whether we’re prepared to meet them is something we’ll just have discover when the time comes.
















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