Ethics Pt 3

Posted on Monday, 16 November 2020 - 6:27pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Siana Ilian & Lieutenant T'Lanna Vali
Edited on on Sunday, 16 May 2021 - 8:15am

Mission: Operation: Ouroboros
Timeline: MD2

Offering Dr Murray a grateful smile as he ushered her inside his office, Siana sat down behind the desk and took a deep breath. The surgeon had spent lots of time locating Lieutenant Vali and the arranging a secure channel for them to speak. As he left her alone she tapped the Starfleet logo to connect the call, having to admit it was good to see a familiar face.

“I’m so sorry to drag you away from your day, Lieutenant...” she began. “I appreciate this. I need some advice.”

T’Lanna smiled as she looked at Siana. “It’s not a problem, to be honest I’m glad for the distraction!” She grinned, she was slowly starting to regret accepting the expert witness assignment, having read up enroute she could see it was going to be anything but simple. “Please feel free to call me T’Lanna, do you mind if I call you by your first name instead of your rank?”

“Sure,” she nodded. “Did they tell you what’s happening?”

“I had a very sparse explanation, something to do with a Trill symbiont?” T’Lanna looked at Siana curiously. “I’d appreciate a little more information. I’d like to get the full picture.”

“Verod Ilian, a joined Trill, has taken Ill on the station,” she explained. “The symbiont, Ilian, needs a new host. Now. And apparently the list of suitable hosts is short. But I need to decide now.

Lieu... T’Lanna, I was never like my family and wanting to be a host. I’ve never had any kind of preparation... and Ilian has now had ten lifetimes. Ten! That’s... a lot. But equally, if I do this, the symbiont is weak. Maybe too weak to survive. But if Ilian can survive... I have to at least try. Right? I don’t think I could live with myself.”

T’Lanna gazed at Siana nodding understandingly. “I can see why you called me, this is quite the decision. A blending is something that even the most prepared minds can struggle with.” She paused. “I will agree ten lifetimes is a lot to lose, but on the other side there’s you. If the symbiont is too weak, then the symbiont will die and most likely cause your death too. Are you prepared to face death? Granted you’d be a whole new, wiser person if it works. In your mind do the bonuses outweigh the risks?”

“It is a huge risk, and that part doesn’t worry me as such. But being a host changes you. I guess what scares me is ... what if I lose myself?”

T’Lanna nodded. “From what I know of joining that is a possibility. You’ll need to have the strength to keep yourself afloat amongst all the other personalities from the symbiont. If you choose to go ahead with it, you’d be required to attend regular Counselling sessions to see how you’re coping.”

“I could stay on the ship though, right? Assuming the joining doesn’t kill me and I don’t go crazy?” The idea of being sent home to Trill had played in her mind and she wasn’t sure she could face that.

“I don’t see a problem with that” T’Lanna smiled. “I take it you’re not keen on going home?”

“Nope,” Siana confirmed with a nod.

“Fair enough” T’Lanna smiled. “So do you think you’re prepared for a joining? Could you cope with it?”

“I...” the woman paused, frowning, “no. Not prepared in the slightest. But Ilian has been a friend of our family for a long time. I can’t walk away and leave him to die. What... what would you do?”

“Put in your place ... knowing me I’d do the stubborn thing and go for the joining. Both to save a friend and to show I could do it!” T’Lanna smiled. “But that’s just me. This is your life, only you can choose what to do with it.”

Siana smiled, “thanks for listening.”

“My pleasure Siana” T’Lanna smiled warmly. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”

“And toes,” Siana added. With a final goodbye she terminated the link and sat in silence for a moment before making her way out into the corridor. “Dr Murray? I’ll do it.”

“Perfect timing, our patient is deteriorating and we need to start preparing you both. There’s some paperwork to sign, given the limited time and obviously the risks, we need to document your consent. I’d rather not be in front of an ethics committee next week. This way...”


OFF