Snuffles and Sangria

Posted on 19 Jan 2018 @ 12:25am by Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D. & LuAnn Lovegood PhD

1,036 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Rigel II - Near Avondale Production Facility Administrative Complex
Timeline: MD 101, 14:00

ON

LuAnn was enjoying a day of warm weather and sunshine by walking in one of the parks that overlooked the ocean. She preferred moonlight walks in the woods, but park rangers tended to frown on that sort of thing. Especially when she chose to go swimming in their lakes. Holodecks were much better, when you could get them.

Still, there was nothing like walking in a real park, listening to the trees whisper to each other. Sometimes she imagined what they might be saying. She imagined they talked about the air and water, how their leaves were growing, and what the bug problem would be like that year.

But over the whisper of the trees, she heard something approaching. A loud panting, as well as the voice of a woman with a thick and distinctive accent.

"Snuffles, come back!" shouted the woman, but it was too late.

As LuAnn turned around, she was tackled by a targ, one whose leash dangled behind him.

Before she could react, LuAnn was knocked to the ground, feeling the slobbery tongue of the targ on her face. This continued for a few moments, before a sharp tug on the leash pulled the targ away.

"Snuffles! No!" shouted the woman, pulling on the energetic creature's leash, causing it to bound back onto her lap. "I'm sorry, Snuffles here got away from me," said the woman in the wheelchair, tightly gripping the leash. "Are you all right? I am a doctor..."

"I'm fine," LuAnn said, laughing. "You just wanted to say hi, didn't you?" she said to the targ.

With Snuffles calmed down a little bit, Tuula released him back onto the ground, keeping a tight grip on his leash. Slowly, he walked towards LAnn, nuzzling himself up against her leg.

"Snuffles here has been cooped up all day. My friend asked me to take her out for a walk while she focuses on paperwork; I guess the work of an Admiral is never done," explained Tuula.

"No, it isn't," LuAnn said. "Well, from what I've been told. I've never been an admiral or lived with one, so I can say definitively." She smiled at the woman and the targ. "I'm LuAnn."

"Tuula," she replied, pushing herself forward slightly. "Is that your parasol over there?" she asked, motioning towards one that was lying on the grass, presumably dropped in Snuffles' attack.

LuAnn glanced over at the parasol. "No. I don't use them." She looked back at Tuula. "Maybe it's the targ's?" She smiled at the idea of the targ carrying a parasol. "Maybe not. Not unless it can walk on its back legs and hold the umbrella with a front paw." She looked at the targ and shook her head. "Not likely. Snuffles, did you say? No, I do not believe Snuffles is the type to do anything more with a parasol than eat it." She cocked her head to one side. "Are your tattoos a decoration or a statement?"

Tuula cocked her head slightly; it was a curious wording for the question. "Some of them have deeper meanings, some of them just look cool," she explained, looking down at her exposed arms and the intricate patterns of ink on them. "This one," she said, pointing to her neck, "it means resilience. And this one," she added, turning her arm to expose the dagger and flower on the inside of her forearm, "is just awesome."

"There are many cultures that use tattoos to signify a rite of passage, or to show they've overcome something. It looks like you like to mix your meanings," LuAnn said. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. There isn't. Art comes in many forms."

"That is true," said Tuula, tugging gently on Snuffles' leash. In response, the big Targ pulled away from LuAnn and bounded back onto Tuula's lap. "I feel terrible about Snuffles messing up your clothes. I saw a little cafe just up the path; care for some sangria on me?"

LuAnn smiled. "Clothes wash, but I would love some sangria."

"Sounds great!" exclaimed Tuula, as she quickly rolled up towards the cafe.

LuAnn fell in step beside Tuula, giving her plenty of room to maneuver.

*********************
A few minutes later...

Sitting at a table on the edge of the patio, Tuula took a sip of her sangria while Snuffles, at her side, chowed down on a bone she had brought with her. "So... what brings you to Rigel? Starfleet, I presime?"

"I'm not with Starfleet anymore," LuAnn said. "I'm here because it sounded interesting. What about you?"

"Oh." Tuula reached down and pet Snuffles on the top of his head. "I'm Starfleet; I got a new assignment out in deep space. Assistant Chief Medical Officer of the USS Galileo," she said, beaming with pride. "It's so exciting; this could be my big chance to have a new disease named after me!"

LuAnn cocked her head to one side. "Why do you want a disease named after you? Wouldn't you rather name the cure?"

"I just think Voutilainen's Disease has a charming ring to it; wouldn't you agree?" replied Tuula, her voice almost overflowing with excitement.

"It is a good name," LuAnn admitted. "As long as the disease isn't terminal. You wouldn't want people to be afraid of your name, or you because you discovered the disease. But a nice little disease that has a cure wouldn't be too bad."

"Oh of course, where's the fun in epidemiology if you can't find a cure?" said Tuula before taking a long sip of her sangria.

"Good point," LuAnn said, raising her glass in a salute to Tuula. "I hope you get your wish." She took a long drink and smiled. "This is good."

"Nothing like a little mid-afternoon drink," replied Tuula. "So, what's so interesting about Rigel that it brings you out here?"

"I'm hoping to work on a starship in their counseling department," LuAnn said. "And here's where the opportunity brought me."

"You should apply for the Galileo," replied Tuula. "I heard they still have an opening for a counselor; we could be coworkers!"

LuAnn raised an eyebrow. "I should."


____
OFF

Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

LuAnn Lovegood
Counselor

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