“Go sit down, Ensign. I will come to you as soon as I can.” A nurse directed a young ensign to a biobed. The sickbay was buzzing with activity as partly daily duties and, on the other side, preparing for whatever they might be facing at DQ. DEI was helping out where it was possible in providing the medical equipment to deal with Borg victims. But in the more quiet area, Towalr was lying on the bed sleeping. From behind the glass at the office that viewed the reserved area, Ko stood there with her hands crossed over. “How bad is it?”

“Aside from his stubbornness, physically he is recovering” Viamame replied from her desk, reading through some papers that needed her signature. She stopped reading and looked up from her writings. “I am, however, concerned about his emotional state” 

Ko’s focus on Towalr didn’t stop as she tried to think this over calmly. “Meaning..” 

Turning her head in the direction of her Captain, “Meaning that his body is reacting to his emotional distress. He is denying it because of his pride and honor. Refusing to see the ways of his errors is truly a Towalr feature, but this is a whole new level.” 

“Meaning he has suffered a great deal of traumatic experience….let me guess the Lost Fleet?” Ko looked over her shoulder in the direction of Viamame.

“Potentially, I am not a counselor, and honestly, we do not have one on the ship either. I suspect that he got his traumatic experience between the Lost Fleet battles or the Frontier Day crisis.” Viamame shrugged and looked back at her papers. “He requires counseling because physically he will be ready for duty, mentally….I can’t stamp disapproval of it.” 

Giving a hum in response as Ko looked back at Towalr, “I thought the Chief Medical Officer can place a person off their duty if they are in medical distress?” 

She slightly nodded to that. “That might be true, but in the case of an emotional trauma, I can only redirect him to a counselor. Best to enforce it, Captain.” Viamame shrugged, knowing exactly how it sounded. “If he wants to be on the mission or even on this ship, that clearance must happen.”

A shrug came from Ko, yet she didn’t turn back to her doctor but faced Towalr. A man that she experienced as a spineless guy willing to sacrifice anyone to save his skin. Now, it all leads to this moment of weakness that he is actually experiencing trauma. Taking a deep breath, she nods to herself. “Alright, I will get the paperwork done on my side. Towalr will be evaluated. But we will launch with or without him.” Ko finally turned around and took a step in the direction of her doctor.

“Good, send it to me, and I will sign it off once he can stand without puking my floor. I will send him to the SB38 counseling department. They will have a field day with this man.” Viamame knew they would have their hands full with Towalr. She tapped her finger on the table, thinking about it.

Ko narrowed her eyes a bit. “How is the medical delegation coming along?” She wanted to ask about it, but her own paperwork got in the way.

“We will be leaving tomorrow morning, a delegation of four nurses, two medical specialists, and me. DEI Medical team will be giving us the instructions on how to deal with Borgfication, as you said.” Viamame smiled in her direction “I just don’t understand why we are putting the risk so high to retrieve a sample that is a gamble on itself.” She had done little reading about the pathogen.

Many answers were given to why they should be doing it, but one was sticking with her “Because of the rising danger, we need that gamble, that wild card to be certain we tried everything. If we do not do it, no one will blame us” Ko explained, looking into the sickbay and seeing the ensign being treated. “But someone else will be sent into the depths of that hell. Then again, there is that nagging feeling of … what if?”  

“What if Captain?” Viamame looked at her, puzzling and confused.

Ko turned back at the doctor. “What if we do not get the sample that Starfleet required? The Borg do invade us, and that sample could have been the key to stop them. That is a heavy burden to carry” Ko explained as it kept her awake. Her first command was already going into the monster’s cave. “We have to try. We have to do it for the sake of trying” 

She might be a counselor, but Viamame could recognize the struggle of the mind. Leaning back in her chair, she took a deep breath. “Then try we shall, but Captain, heed my warning that you use the Starfleet bail-out card if things go south. Tough calls will be made on the battlefield, be prepared for it.” Viamame shrugged. “Maybe I should schedule you also for a counseling session.” 

A short laugh came from Ko as she smiled at Viamame. “Oh no, thanks. Right now, I need to focus on the mission, but I will keep myself in check, doctor. Feel free to relieve me of my duties if I show remarks unfit for duty.” Ko walked to the door to resume her duties. “Good luck tomorrow, doctor. Keep me posted on what you learn and the Commander’s health.” With that, Ko left the office.

Leaving the doctor behind, Viamame looked at Towalr. “Why do I have to deal with stubborn command staff? Is this a jinx I played too many times?” She rubbed her forehead and looked back at her work. “Bloody hell..”