Doctors Tea Service.

Posted on Fri 23rd May, 2025 @ 1:51am by Lieutenant Victor Delling MD & Khellian s'Siedhri MD

1,145 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: The Phoenix Gamble
Location: Khellian's home.

The chime on the door sounded, a quiet interruption into the contemplation one Romulan was making of the amber tea in his cup. Khellian took only a moment to glance at the video feed of the person standing at his front door. A tall man, with kind eyes and the crease between his brows that came from long and concentrated study. The beard though transformed the face from boyish to trustworthy in a way that the Romulan thought was quite distinguished. Khellian decided that he liked this man, before he ever spoke to him, just from his countenance.

"Good morning Doctor."

"You do not appear to be ill" Khellian said, using the line he'd used more than once before to sus out a visiting Starfleet officer from his clinic. There was no pain in his stance, nor did he appear to be suffering from any known malady.

"No. I am not in need of care." he answered inclining his head respectfully to the older doctor. "My name is Victor Delling, I have just come aboard the station, as its new Chief Medical Officer."

"Ah, I had been wondering who was going to replace Dr. Addams."

"I have that honor, sir."

"I do not need the honorific of Sir, just Doctor will suffice. I would prefer Khellian to my close colleagues."

"Khellian then. Tell me, how is your surname pronounced? I've never been good at languages, and saw it only in print."

"s'Siedhri" he pronounced it slowly so that the male could hear how it was pronounced.

Victor, with his head cocked to the side to hear and recall the name, repeated it in his head a few times before repeating it "s'Siedhri"

"Slightly more syllabant emphasis on the second S, but yes that was very good." Khellian smiled and moved out of the way. "Please, enter in peace. Would you like tea?"

"That is kind, thank you." The good doctor would never say no to a good cup of tea. The aroma that was filling the small space was that of good tea.

Khellian poured a cup for him from the pot that was always on the hearth ready to pour, before refilling his own cup with the amber liquid.

Victor took a polite sip and regarded the cup with a surprised little smile. "Sophisticated flavor profile there."

"Mixed it myself with a little aid from my daughter." Pride colored the man's tone as he spoke.

"It's lovely." he complimented taking another sip and holding it in his mouth to get the full benefit of the flavors within the tea. A good tea was like a good wine, with subtle and sophisticated flavors and finishes. This one was rich and fruity forward with an herbal sharp finish that left a warmth behind that wasn't just from the waters heat. He liked it very much.

"Most humans don't appreciate the subtle art that is tea." Khellian smiled gently at the slight insult, to gauge the man's reaction.

Victor chuckled and shook his head "I'm not human, actually. I'm Ventaxian."

"Interesting."

"Yeah."

"I can't say that I've ever met someone from ventax II." the Romulan commented idly, more to draw out more conversation from the other man than to speak a fact into the universe.

The boyish grin appeared again, and Victor nodded. "Nor are you likely to again. My people are fairly insular."

"I am familiar with the concept"

Laughing again, Victor nodded an agreement of that statement. The Romulan would indeed be familliar with the insularity of a species such as his. He'd foregone the joys of an agrarian existence for the love of the stars and an itch to be more than what he was.

"Will you be summoning me whenever the mood strikes you as Dr. Addams indicated was possible?" There was a bitterness in Khellian's tone that made him sound sharper almost. The Romulan had not appreciated the tone in which that message had been delivered by the previous Chief, and had bristled under the implication that he was hers to command.

"That was not my intention. I was actually unaware that the civilian doctors could be conscripted in times of emergency. There's a lot about this posting I don't know yet, it seems. I am more likely to send non emergency cases to you directly instead of bringing you to work in sickbay. This works to both of our strengths and allows me to have a safe place to send people that need care without tying up the more acute beds with non-acute patients."

"That is reasonable. I don't expect that these emergencies will give us any warning, but I should appreciate as much forwarning as is possible."

"I am going to create a series of alerts in order to do just that. The station has a system of emergency codes, but I find it lacking in some areas. As soon as my assistant gets here we will be re-writing it to suit the needs of the station. " Victor ran his hands through his hair in a manner that showed his frustration with the length of time it took Vivienne to get here from Earth. He relied too much on her and her stalwart friendship.

"I shall attempt patience."

"In such an emergency, would you prefer the people be directed to this clinic or to the one in the Garden Sector, Dawnstar I believe is its name?"

"Dawnstar is its name, yes. I think I should prefer that they be sent here. I have more direct access to station services here, as well as an industrial replicator that is designed for medical supplies. The Dawnstar had much humbler origins, and while I have funding now for her upkeep, this place is more suitable for such an influx. " Khellian paused a moment and offered a broad smile "What if both are needed?"

"Let us not borrow trouble." Victor answered easily, his answering grin bright. "However, I met your daughter on my first day here, and I believe her to be quite capable of handling either side of it, should such an overfllow space be needed. I hear she is training some of the Garden Sector people in basic medical care. I've only skimmed the report of her achievements in that area."

"She is quite adept. I am very proud of her."

"You should be." Victor answered nodding, before he lifted the teacup to his lips once more. The tea was even better as the brew cooled and allowed the flavors to steep through to the water. The herbal notes turned sweeter, even as the forward flavors turned more bitter. It was like the flowers were blooming in the cup. Victor loved tea, in every iteration that he could get it. Humming his appreciation, he allowed the companiable silence to spread between them as he enjoyed the unique blend of tea.

 

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