Sharp conversation
Posted on Thu Jun 11th, 2026 @ 1:34am by Lieutenant Commander Zuub & Lieutenant Amy Gordon
2,960 words; about a 15 minute read
Mission:
Operation Kakori
Location: Sickbay
Amy had left the meeting with Rhu and Katya. wondering if she had come into contact with something that made her suggest doing a knife throwing act.
Well now she had to ask Zuub, and see what the doctor has to offer to the Vaudeville plan. She could have picked Daynah, she realized afte the fact. A doh moment as she gave herself a facepalm. Rhu can be rather slick and maybe... he did that on purpose? Oh well, it would be good to find out just what skills Zuub has beside her.... rumored bedside manners. As sje walked down the corridor, Amy didn't know exactly where Zuub could be at.
She asked the computer to see where Zuub was located.
Zuub was located where she normally could be found: in sickbay. She had been pouring over her reserach and her many experiments to find a cure for Hlasha's Curse. So many years and still she felt no closer to a solution. She made a note or two and then said to herself, "I should test one of my eggs. After all, I should be a carrier at worst." Little did she know that she would have a visitor soon.
The doors of sickbay opened, Amy stepped inside. It wasn't difficult to find Zuub, and she moved towards Zuub. "Hello Doctor, are you busy?"
Zuub's antennae leaned backward. She had not yet found a moment to chastize Amy and Kat. However, this might be as good a time as any. "What is it that you want, Lieutenant?"
"Katya and I have come up with a cover story for when we the crew go out and about for assignments. It is called Velvet Vaudville, where we will be creating acts. And I was wondering, do you know how to throw knives or know martial arts? As we'd really like you to be involved in this." Amy having a pleasant smile.
Zuub's antennae twittered as they slid backwards. "Did you really ask such a question of me?"
"Yes I did seriously ask you that question." Amy answered. "Look, not every Andorian is the same, like not all humans are the same, or even other races. A person just can't do the all humans are alike or all Andorians are alike, so can't assume that you or anyone for that matter, is going to be the run of the mill categorized being. You have a proclivity of loving to do sexual innuendos as you are, well, someone who seems to run hot, and is very interested in just getting into rather intimate situations. With those that strike your interest."
Zuub's antennae moved further back, nearly reaching the scalp. "How are you in Starfleet being so ignorant of Andorian culture? You know not of our culture, nor of our biology. Perhaps I should educate you, but you seem not to be interested in anything but yourself, let alone the crew's wellbeing."
Amy raised an eyebrow, at Zuub's outburst, "Commander" she said sharply.
"I do know about Andorian's being a proud warrior race but, I was meaning that I don' t know much about you There is a whole other meaning as to what I said. I wasn't assuming much about you, it says you have training in fighting, I do not know just what your skill level is. And I am not meaning for it to be sounding judgemental I only know the small amount that I have seen and how you love to make innuendos. Plus I did want to see if you knew how to throw knives!"
She paused as the other thing that Zuub had said came to the forefront. "And what is this that you said that I care more about myself?" Amy crossing her arms glowering at Zuub.
"You and Lieutenant Davi did not stay in quarantine as directed." Her antennae twittered angrily near the base of her skull. "Apparently, both of you thought that your own comfort was more important than the crew's safety. Because you were so impatient, you both decided to run through the EMHs and get their approval. While they can be handy, they are meant just for that: EMERGENCIES! Their judgment cannot replace that of a trained doctor! Yes, you got clearance from them and this time you were lucky! My conclusions would have been the same as theirs. If it was not, though, we could have all been exposed and dead. Did any of that EVER occur to you?" Zuub's soft, wispy voice had slight inflections when she uttered "EMERGENCIES" and "EVER."
The Andorian doctor continued. "IF you wanted to know more about me, you could have asked. You chose not to. Only now, when, again, it was convenient for you, because for some reason you need to know if I throw knives." As if produced out of nothingness, a scalpel appeared in Zuub's hand and flew centimeters from Amy's ear and clanged off the wall behind her. "That should answer your question." She then muttered to herself, "What a lousy throw. It should have clipped her hair a little."
Amy didn't flinch when Zuub flung her scalpel towards her. Though there was the glimpse of an impressed look in her eyes.
"Zuub, there was work that needed to be done, which is why Katya and I got out of where we were at. There wasn't anything to sit on, we didn't have any food. Yes, there was an emergency dealing with the other members of the colony. Just that." she breathed out a sigh, "we were on the verge of exhaustion. Or actually way beyond that. " Amy's shoulders slumped as she drew out a stool to take a seat upon it.
"Look, I am sorry that we came up with a way to get more comfortable, and to get to our own quarters. Just that--" she raised her hands on either side. "We needed to get to where we could help. And as for my not coming to get to know you. I well..." giving an embarrassed chuckle. "I was worried about you making a move on me, what with your sexual innuendos. Can I even trust you to give me a physical examination without it possibly turning into a bedroom scene?"
"So exhausted that the cameras picked you both up dancing and singing and showering?" The Andorian shook her head, not accepting the excuse. "When a doctor tells you to stay put, you stay put! If I have to do an examination, I will do an examination. If you have concerns, you address them to me, not skirt around it and use an EMH. Do I make myself clear?" the Andorian responded, her antennae continuing to twitter furiously. "We're Starfleet officers, not primary school children."
"You do make yourself clear--" Amy remaked, "And I am bringing that to your attention, now. Katya had to put something together in order for us to get something to eat. I did pass out, from what happened. And did you even ask what happened?" Amy stopped there realizing something,
"You know, we could just keep going round and round and round trying to get each other to see things from each other's perspective. And we could get to where we are getting all heated up, my making you even more angry, and that's not something I want to do and I don't want to get even more upset either. We both have rather hot tempers." her chin raising upwards and there was fire in her eyes.
"As for my dancing around with Katya, I felt better after Katya got us something to eat. Energy level went up and can't fault us for entertaining ourselves." Amy added.
Amy drew in a breath, then continued. "The reason why I wanted to know if you have the skill of throwing knives. I wanted to approach you to be part of the Velvet Vaudeville and you will get to throw knives at me. This would be a cover that we all would have in order to gather intelligence. You and I will have to work together to plan the act and practice."
"My temper is not hot. Do not attribute your attributes to myself. If it were 'hot,' as you call it, you would not be standing right now," Zuub replied in her soft, wispy voice. "Again, you defeat your own arguments. They're just excuses for your selfishness, Lieutenant. I will be having the same chat with Lieutenant Davi. I should be seeking punishment for both of you but I cannot see that I made anything an order. You just both lacked common sense and courtesy. You got lucky. But, if someone wants me to throw knives, I can. How many times should I wound you? I would hit non-vital spots." Zuub's antennae leaned forward and twittered with a slight bounce to them, probably indicating humor. She then asked, "or is this one of those acts where I have to miss?"
Amy laughed, "Yes you have to miss but make it look very good. As for an andorian temper. Well... you are right, plus I've seen the results of an Andorian getting pretty angry. It wasn't pretty, the person receiving the punishment."
Shaking her head, Amy remarked, "Stupid man, thought he could touch a female andorian's antennae, in a drinking establishment when she was in the middle of a drinking contest. His tablemates had dared him to do so, and he wanted to collect the bet. It started a barfight, there is along standing rule don't touch the antennae!"
"Touching antennae without permission is punishable by death. It is a great offense," Zuub confirmed, her antennae shaking furiously.
'The man was very lucky that security arrived when they did, otherwise he would have been dead," Amy responded.
"Okay now, I hope our issue is somewhat cleared up between you and I, I would like to know more about you, also..." Amy gave an impish smile. "Do you want to throw knives at me for part of the performance? Just please, don't kill or skewer me with one of the blades."
"I make no proimses." Zuub's antennae leaned forward and started bobbing up and down. "However, I am still displeased with you and your irresponsibility."
"I am sorry for making you worry and upset." Amy being rather apologetic. "And I am sorry I hadn't approached you to maybe sit down and chat to get to know you."
Zuub's antennae leaned forward. "Better," she finally decided. Her antennae then started to bob up and down. "So, maybe I will limit the knives to hitting only one non-vital organ. You have no need for your appendix. That should be fine."
Amy chuckled, "I suppose I am owed that." She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "However we're going to be needing to create our costumes, and go from there."
"What's all this about, anyways? Do we have an assignment?"
"We've not gotten an assignment as of yet, but, with us portraying as being a vaudeville act, this is a really good cover for us to make our way around space stations and gather information. Plus who would suspect us if we are in that sort of guise," Amy replied with a smile.
Zuub's antennae wobbled unsteadily. Something about that question unsettled her, though she knew not what. So, for the moment, she pulled out a large bottle of blue liquid and then pulled out two glasses, handing one to Amy. "Take it unless you want me to throw it at you," Zuub instructed, her antennae returning to bobbing straight up and down.
"Ah, Andorian Ale. Not just ale but its the ale," Amy remarked accepting the glass of Andorian Ale from Zuub.
Taking sample taste letting it settle upon her tongue, a huge smile appeared. "Oh yes; it's the real thing. Nothing artificial about this."
Zuub's antennae started to lean back and wobbled. "You would think that I would have any ale that was less than authentic?"
"Well since I don't know much about you, I wouldn't know if you had your own private stash of Andorian Ale. I may be in Intelligence but I don't know evenything." Amy blithely said.
Zuub's antennae warbled awkwardly. "I do not know how you made it this far in intelligence. Maybe I should reconsider the placement of the blades." Her antennae bobbed up and down again, humored.
Giving a chuckle of disbelief in Zuub's assumption, Amy took a drink of the ale, before she answered. "I am good at what I do, Zuub. However, with this crew, I wanted to just get to know the people I work with. Allowing myself to read the book as it were, turning one page at a time."
Having a wry twist to her lips. "It has been awhile since I've been a part of a crew, working as a team and once again, I didn't want to assume that you have actual Andorian Ale, even if, of course, you do have it. I have come across a couple of Andorians who didn't have a flask of Andorian Ale on them or even had a stash," Amy said with a great amount of truth.
Another sip, Amy gave a shrug. She did notice the way Zuub's antennae moved when she was annoyed or for that matter, amused by her remark as to placement of blades. "As for the placement of blades, do try not to draw blood, as when you use me as a target so to speak, I wouldn't want the audience to think you inept, as you aren't." Amy then drained the rest of her glass, setting it down.
"My aim is only a little rusty," Zuub answered. "After all, I did not give you an appropriately close shave with my scalpel. My antennae and arms are going to have a little chat about that. Then there's that pesky Hippocratic Oath that I took.... Couldn't harm you if I wanted."
"I am quite glad that you didn't cut my hair, thank you for that." Amy responded, "Now, then, there will be the proverbial search of a costume and there are videos you can watch for you to get an idea as to a vaudeville show."
Zuub heaved a great sigh and her antennae wilted. "You're a Lieutenant and I'm a Commander. Isn't there a way I can just get you to do that for me?"
Taking notice of Zuub's antennae, Amy gave a nod. "I can work out the costumes, but you and I will need to work on the routine, and you do need to have a discussion with your arms and your antennae. Especially when you, as part of the act, have your eyes blindfolded but not your antennae to throw a knife at me."
Zuub blinked once, for a long moment, before opening them again and said, "Do people not understand that my antennae have greater senses than my eyes?"
"Oh I know that, and but would anyone truly think of that? It makes for some sheer drama, and something dangerous which will be considered exciting to watch. Especially if I am being strapped to a wheel spinning while you throw knives at me." Amy giving a laugh.
Zuub's antennae started to twitter. "How fast will the wheel be turning? Can we incrementally increase the speed with each knife?" Something about the way Zuub asked these questions, along with the twittering of her antennae could make Amy feel like she was amused and/or excited.
There is a physics to throwing knive and my dear doctor, timing and actually trusting someone to throw knives at them."
Amy put down her cup and looked directly at Zuub.
"I am trusting you to throw those knives and not poke me full of holes. In essence, my head strapped in place and so are the limbs. The strap to the head is to keep me from flinching, throwing your timing off. Granted you can make quite a few jokes about that. An insane amount of them. And you probably have a few going through your head right now."
Amy's eyes had an impish gleam to them.
Then the mirth faded away, as Amy's eyes took on a more serious gaze. "With you being a doctor, there is that oath that you have taken quite seriously."
"Yes, but accidents do happen," Zuub answered, while her antennae twittered while rising up and down on her head.
"Of which there is more of practicing with a mannequin until you can trust yourself as well." Amy responded, she looked at the now empty glass, rotated it just slightly as she thought for a moment.
She mad a move to get up from the chair. "Now that I've brought up this suggestion, and you seem to be interested, we can leave things here for now. Thank you for the drink Doctor Zuub, and I should be on my way to do more research as to what I can bring to the table of the Valiant's Vaudville show."
"What talents do you have besides being a pink skinned pin cushion?" Zuub inquired.
Amy laughed. "Well I do know how to use knives, and definitely know how to throw them."
She paused for a moment then Amy added, with an impish smile "I know how to disappear as well."
With a snap of her fingers and a slide towards the sick bay doors, Amy said, "Abracadabra, now you see me, and now, you don't." She stepped through the door and out of Medical.
"What an odd pink skin!" Zuub exhaled as she turned to get back to her work.
Lieutenant Commander Zuub
Chief Medical Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Amy Gordon
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Valiant
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