Insomnia

Posted on Sat Jul 26th, 2025 @ 3:11pm by Glinn Vaaet Pazon & Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida & Lieutenant JG Lyras

2,880 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 9: Across Time
Location: Sickbay

The shift from being on duty on a starship as medical chief, to being on duty in the starbase's main infirmary wasn't a big one. Lyras didn't mind at all not being in charge when the Copernicus was in dock. Especially not after last mission, which had left quite an impression on the young doctor.

When he walked into the infirmary to start his shift, Lyras was actually looking more pale and quiet than anyone was used to from the usually very inquisitive hybrid. His usually expressive blue eyes seemed to have lost their spark, and he seemed to not even hear the cheerful good morning from nearby nurses as he headed towards the CMOs office to review his morning schedule.

Sitting quietly at the only computer panel in the office area, Glinn Vaaet Pazon was reading over reports that had been forwarded to him from Starfleet Medical about a new strain of flu that had been detected in the Bajoran Sector. Looking over the information regarding the pathogenic nature of the disease, he was somewhat concerned about its spread. Fortunately, DS21 was somewhat in the middle of nowhere. He hoped that meant that no one would bring it to his doorstep.

Typing on the multicolored workstation keyboard, the Cardassian thought he heard someone entering. One of his biggest concerns about the layout of the infirmary was that his back was to the door and he hoped to get that rectified at some point in the future. For now though, he'd deal with it. Turning, he saw Lyras.

"How are you today?" He asked absently, wondering more about the virus he'd just read about.

"Exhausted," Lyras answered honestly, "I do not require much sleep, but too little will eventually break me too. I have not been able to sleep since we returned from Lethe." He shivered visibly at the surfacing memory. "It was frightening," he admitted, "like free will was about to be taken from us."

To be fair, the Cardassian Doctor was barely listening as Lyras talked as he was more focused on the medical journal that he had been reading. That was, of course, until Lyras commented their free will having been taken. He pulled away from the computer and turned toward the Lieutenant, "What did you mean by that?"

"Meaning we were lead on. We had no choice but to go where we had, there was a strong sense of compulsion in that fog." He shivered again, like he was experiencing a sense of coldness he couldn't shake. "Something resided in there, we all heard her, and saw her. It was so frightening, and I assure you I am not that easily shaken. Abrasax nearly shot me, trying to take her down. The woman in the fog..." His gaze seemed absent as he remembered. "I had only my knife... I took to protecting Alyssa, she sensed far more than I did. I do not remember if I had it with me when we returned."

Vaaet listened intently as Lyras explained what had happened, for the first time actually giving his undivided attention since having received his journal entry. While he was new to 21 and had more access than his brethren with the Cardassian contingent, he would have to see what he could read about this incident. He had many, many questions about what had happened and none of them good. From the sounds of it the away team had been significantly impacted by what had happened to them and, more directly, he was worried that there was lingering danger. It would be easy to be overlooked, so he'd have to be cautious.

The Cardassian question, "What can you tell me about the woman in the fog? How did you escape from her?"

"We were transported away. I cannot tell you much about her. She has snake-like hair, if you can call it that, and gleaming eyes. And there was just something in the air that made you want to move to her. I did not get more than a glimpse of her through the fog." Lyras shook his head as if to shake the memory. "I am not certain we actually did get away, why else would she haunt my sleep? I keep hearing her voice..."

That became concerning almost immediately. Doctor Pazon motioned toward the biobed, "Please lay down on the biobed. I'm going to conduct some scans of your paracortex to get your psilosynine levels." He began typing on the green and teal console, navigating the menus to prepare the scanning sequences for engagement.

Lyras eased himself back on the bed as indicated and stared at the ceiling. "You should calibrate for a hybrid, sir," he suggested, "contrary to appearance, I'm also half Romulan." He gasped as the patterned ceiling seemed to form into the rolling waves of a very thick mist and he wrenched his eyes shut. "There it is again," he whispered anxiously.

Pazon nodded, silently running through the potential risks that were being described to him. He had reviewed the crew records and had known of the Romulan heritage, but that had little bearing. Even though they were from different worlds, they had a common ancestral home. Their physiology wasn't all that different, at least enough that it warranted a major recalibration of the scanner system. Besides, psilosynine didn't accumulate unless telepathic contact was in progress. If it was present at all it meant that contact was present. Typing quickly, he activated the scanner matrix.

Lyras kept his eyes wrenched shut for a moment longer as he tried to focus on the blips and beeps around him. He didn't look as the results started rolling across the screen, indicating an elevated -though still barely detectable - heart rate and blood pressure, but also an elevated level of psilosynine. He knew it would show his exhaustion and right now he wished he would just fall asleep.

Typing quickly, the Cardassian Doctor sighed as he saw the results. He didn't care about the minutiae of the other results as they were immaterial, only one thing caught his attention: elevated level of psilosynine. He walked around to the Lieutenant, "We're going to have to notify the Captain and Security. I'm detecting evidence that you're in telepathic communication with someone, or something."

Lyras nodded, feeling very ill at ease at that news. "You may want to see all away team members," he suggested, "in the meantime, can we somehow block this other telepath? I know I can go without rest due to my constitution but I am exhausted as it is because I have not been able to decently sleep since our return to the station. And by now I fear the lack of rest may affect my judgement."

"It's not a quick process to stop telepathic contact, especially if there's a chance that the contact is active. It's possible to leave a portion of the other consciousness in you, you in them, or any combination of both. For the time being though I'm going to have to ask you to remain here in the Infirmary under observation while I investigate further. I'll need a list of everyone who was on this away mission with you, and I'll have to alert the Commander." It was a laundry list of things, but all needed.

"What about my shifts?" Lyras worried as he thought back on his away mission. "Lieutenant Abrasax was there, and Lieutenant Alessa. I do not remember anyone else being there. Our shuttle was left behind as we were transported out by the ship. I cannot remember if it was destroyed before the ship sped home." He paused. "If I am to remain here can you at least give me something to provide me with a few hours of uninterrupted sleep?" While as a Vulcan he could actually go without for days, Lyras was still feeling exhausted due to the combination of all things.

Glin Pazon walked over to the medication tray and picked a vial up as well as the hypospray delivery system. Sliding the medication into the hypo, he placed it on the patient's neck and injected. "This is Improvoline," he explained. "It's not going to knock you out, but it is going to calm you down a bit to help you relax. If you are fighting a telepathic attack, then we really need to keep you as conscious as possible." He looked at one of the orderlies, "We're going to have to request that the Commander get down here. We're going to have to talk about what's going on , and those two other officers are going to need to be brought in for a complete physical."

The orderlies nodded in compliance and moved off to fulfil the given order. Lyras didn't look too pleased at not being allowed to sleep. "I take it I am hereby relieved of duty until further notice?" He asked, feeling none too pleased at not being allowed to sleep. He felt like he could fall over any second, from sheer exhaustion. "What happens if I do fall asleep?"

The next question would probably be unexpected, but the Cardassian wasn't exactly an expected officer on a Federation station, "If I didn't relieve you of duty, what would you be doing right now? More importantly, do you think you could be doing it in your current state?"

"Vulcan's can go without sleep for days," Lyras explained, but his expression spoke volumes. There was no way he was going to pull any kind of shift. "What happens if I do fall asleep?" He asked again, avoiding to answer the question.

"Whatever is performing the telepathic incursions into your mind could gain a foothold," Vaaet answered as he adjusted settings on the computer panel. "We can be fairly certain that whatever is behind this now is aware that you've sought help. It may try to enhance its abilities to control you and that's something that we need to be on the lookout for. If you start to feel like you're losing control or falling asleep you need to get mine or one of the other medical staff's attention pretty much immediately."

Feeling miserable, Lyras settled back on the bed. "You probably should inform the command staff," he suggested, "and perhaps give me a stimulant so I will not fall asleep. Oh and alert the medical staff that I am not allowed to leave. If I do lose control I do not want to be able to harm anyone." But he still was extremely unhappy with this turn of events.

"Thank you for the suggestions, Lieutenant, but just because I haven't served in Starfleet and got my start doesn't mean I'm not familiar with quarantine protocols," the Cardassian answered with a somewhat fiery tone. "The medication I gave you already is the standard treatment in these types of situations, and I'll be speaking with the Commander shortly."

Lyras frowned. "I did not intend to remind you of protocols, sir," he apologised, "and it should not matter if you are or are not Starfleet. You are the chief medical officer, and I am still learning a great deal in this time. I do not know what is standard, it seems to vary." Surely, the Cardassian was aware of his temporally displaced status?

"We're both still learning," the Chief Medical Officer confirmed. "I suppose that it just takes some time." He glanced at the readouts, "I'm going to notify the Commander of your status and arrange for the others to come to sickbay for testing."

Lyras simply nodded, what else could he do? "I will try to rest, but not sleep," he added, "perhaps read a book..."

"Allow me to recommend a Cardassian Enigma Tale," the Doctor suggested as he walked around the Infirmary to grab a PADD. "Certainly an interesting story." He tapped on the overhead workstation, sending an announcement to Station Commander that they needed to talk.

Lyras considered the offer. "If you would not mind....I would like to learn more about Cardassians and Cardassian healing methods."

"Please feel free to explore the medical database of the station," he handed off a datapad. "They have detailed files on the topic."

The doors to the infirmary hissed open with their usual efficiency, and Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida stepped inside with his characteristic calm presence. Dressed in his duty uniform, his sharp eyes immediately scanned the room before settling on Glinn Vaaet Pazon and the biobed where Lieutenant Lyras lay. There was no hesitation in his stride as he approached, his voice composed but edged with concern. “Doctor Pazon, I received your message. What’s the situation?” His gaze briefly flicked to the hybrid officer on the bed, noting the visible signs of exhaustion and unease, before returning to the Cardassian with quiet urgency. “How serious are we talking?”

Turning away from the computer terminal built into the divider between the exam room and the office area, Doctor Pazon nodded to the Commanding Officer of the station. Answering honestly, he said, "Indeed it is. Serious enough that I'd choose to interrupt the Station Commander." He picked up one of the datapads that were strewn about the room and looked though them quickly before handing one over to the Commander. "Lieutenant Lyras came in a short while ago and, during a routine investigation, I determined that the Lieutenant has been in psychic communication with another lifeform related to a prior mission."

Commander Sommers-Yoshida took the offered datapad, his expression tightening as he quickly skimmed its contents. At the mention of psychic communication, his gaze flicked back to Lyras, the memory of the Lethe mission and their encounter with the Gorgon, Euryale, surfacing with disturbing clarity. “Euryale,” he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. He lowered the pad, jaw set. “Are you saying she’s still in his mind?” His tone remained measured, but there was no mistaking the tension beneath the surface. He looked between Pazon and Lyras. “Has there been any indication that she’s exerting influence or control beyond residual trauma?”

"I have nightmares," Lyras answered, "my sleep cycle is rarely invaded by dreams, a nightmare is usually very rare. Since our return, I am constantly plagued by nightmares, and I have not experienced a single uninterrupted cycle. And now, I am not permitted to sleep for fear of her influence."

"We're going to have to check everyone who's come into contact with this being," the Doctor explained, "the sooner the better."

“Understood. Alessa, Abrasax and Mirez were down on the planet with Lyras. I’ll have them sent down immediately. Do you need anything more, Doctor?” Hiro handed the PADD back to Vaaet while asking the question. He’d hoped anything related to Euryale was a thing of the past.

Not certain if it was he who was addressed, Lyras offered an exhausted smile. "Sleep," he answered, "even a Vulcan can go only so long without. Other than that, distraction.... I believe Miss Alessa was the only other telepath on the team, she may be the most likely candidate for Euryale's interference."

"She may be the only one at risk then, but the sooner that they all get checked out here the better," the Cardassian answered quickly as he made notes. "Can you arrange for their being sent here, Commander, or should I?"

“You can issue the orders, Doctor,” Hiro said. “Let them know it’s a medical priority.” He turned briefly to Lyras, his voice lowering a notch. “We’ll try to find something to keep you occupied. I’ll check in later.” With a last glance at the biobed, he turned and left the infirmary, trusting Pazon to proceed.

The Cardassian doctor nodded and returned to Lyras, "Are Alessa, Abrasax and Mirez here on the station, or elsewhere?"

"I do not know," the young man answered uncertainly. "Miss Alessa visited earlier so she may be on the station. Where else would they go?"

"Never know on a station this size or a mission this important," Doctor Pazon answered after a long breath. "C'mon. Let's go find you a monitoring cabin so you can make yourself more comfortable while we observe. That way you don't have to deal with all this craziness out here."

"I do not mind craziness," Lyras pointed out, "and I would prefer having something to occupy myself with rather than stare at the ceiling." Still, he hoisted himself from the bed he occupied and unsteadily got to his feet. "I may require some assistance," he added uncertainly as he made a grab for the bed to keep himself from falling. "I seem to be more exhausted than I appear...I am experiencing a sense of unbalance, but I assure you, intoxication is something I never have indulged in " yet what he experienced now might come close to such a sensation, had he ever experienced it.

The Cardassian doctor helped the young doctor off the biobed, "Don't worry, it's actually a common side effect of being exhausted." He held onto the young Lieutenant's arm to help with moving around the Cardassian designed infirmary. Picking up a datapad as they walked, he handed it off, "Here, since you want to stay busy, you can look over these physicals and let me know if you see anything unusual."

 

RSS Feed