The Fur Trade
Posted on 06 Aug 2026 @ 11:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Claire Dunross MD & Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD
934 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
The Doldrums
Location: CMO's office - USS Arawyn
Amberlyn and Dunross, together had just finished a busy shift. An away team to the surface of an asteroid which had the remnants of an atmosphere had returned and each member had a mild case of dermatisis on their hands and forearms. They had been properly clothed for the away mission and been decontaminated upon return. There appeared to be no residual living pathogen involved. But that had come as both doctors worked in tandem to make that determination, and allow the team members to exit decon.
They now sat in Riah's office with fresh cups of hot tea in hand.
Claire rested both hands around her cup, enjoying the warmth now that Sickbay had finally settled.
“I rather enjoyed that,” she admitted. “Not the dermatitis itself, obviously, but the puzzle of it.”
She took a small sip of tea.
“Away teams have a talent for bringing back problems no one thought to anticipate. It makes for a welcome change from routine, provided everyone returns healthy.”
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the office doors before returning to Riah.
“It was good work, though. Thorough without becoming dramatic, and no one had to spend the night under observation.”
A quiet smile touched her expression.
“I would call that a successful shift.” Claire settled a little farther into the chair. “Do you have any plans for this evening?”
"Avann and Amy are hosting a puzzle night in the conference room at 8. Thought I might grab a bite after leaving here and head that way. They really are a lot fun. Avann has the most beautiful quirky sense of humor. How about you?" asked Riah.
Claire could imagine the appeal of it, even if puzzle night was not particularly her idea of an evening well spent. There was something pleasant in the thought of everyone gathered together over a shared challenge, laughing at wrong answers and arguing over pieces.
“That sounds lovely,” she said, and meant it for Riah.
At the question, Claire let out a soft sigh and glanced down into her tea.
“I am spending the evening with Grayson.”
The words carried the mild resignation of someone who had accepted her fate, though the small curve at the corner of her mouth betrayed her.
“He has plans. I was not given the impression that my participation was optional.”
"Sounds intriguing. I won't turn it down for the world," said Riah with a grin. "Somehow that doesn't sound like an invite to dinner in the Mess Hall."
Claire gave her a dry look over the rim of her cup.
“With the skirt I picked out for tonight, it had better not be the Mess Hall.”
The sigh that followed was softer this time, touched with reluctant amusement.
“Whatever he has planned, he has been very pleased with himself about it.”
She took another sip of tea and settled back into the chair, content to let the conversation drift where it would.
"I'd like to make a small change to the Department, but only if you are in agreement. Do you have time for a little discussion here?" asked Riah.
Claire’s amusement softened at the change in Riah’s tone. She lowered her cup slightly, giving the other doctor her full attention.
“Of course.” She settled back into the chair again. “I have plenty of time.”
She rested the cup against her knee.
“What did you have in mind?”
"Well, I'd like to move all my veterinary, activities to the Zoologist clinic in Science, so we aren't using one of the decon rooms for animal care, explained Riah.
Claire nodded once. “That makes sense. If Science has the proper space for it, I see no reason to keep using decon.”
She took another sip of tea. “I’m in agreement.”
"I'd offer a couple of hours, two days out of seven, for pet appointments. In exchange, I'd also be available to the Science Department for any of their veterinary needs. But that means a bit of a shift in our arrangements for coverage here in Sickbay. I'd suggest I make those vet clinic hours at the end of a shift, so I'm headed back to my quarters to get free of cat fur by my next shift in Sickbay," Riah laughed.
Claire smiled at that. “Probably wise. I am not sure how forgiving Sickbay would be of cat fur.”
She considered the arrangement for a moment. “Two days a week, at the end of shift, should be manageable. We can work the coverage around it.”
"I have not talked to Remington about this, but did discuss it with the Captain and she said as long and you and Remington are on board, she has no objections. Thoughts?"
Claire gave a small nod. “That is part of why I am here, Riah. You should not have to carry every piece of Sickbay yourself.”
She smiled faintly. “If this gives you room to do work that matters to you, then I am happy to take more of the load here. That is what an Assistant Chief is for.”
Her expression remained easy. “You have my support.”
Claire smiled. “Given the number of animals aboard, I suspect you will have no shortage of patients. I am rather fond of Grayson’s Braso myself.”
She lifted her tea again. “You are fortunate my horses are not particularly suited to shipboard life, though. That might have required a rather larger clinic. Let me know if Remington is a go, we’ll make this happen.”
~~~
LtCmdr Riah Amberlyn, XMD
Chief Medical Officer
&
LtCmdr Claire Dunross, MD
Asst Chief Medical Officer
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