Distraction

Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 3:02pm by Lieutenant Muffy Harrington

656 words; about a 3 minute read

Distractions
Joint Log
Doctor Toulaine
Lieutenant Muffy Harrington
USSChurchill



=/\= Open Log =/\=


Lieutenant Mikihal Ivanovich took what Doctor Toulaine suggested and went to the replicator and got a square of lasagna on a plate with garlic bread and glass of red wine. He put it on the counter next to Muffy and closed the door, hoping that it would distract her enough to get her to take care of herself.

Muffy didn’t even glance at it. It smelled plastic to her so didn’t tempt her away from the research. She had just hit upon the right pathogen to create a male version of the infertility cure. She concentrated on it and manipulated it to bind to the male testicles to increase the fertility and make the sperm viable.

Behind her, her door opened and Toulaine was there. She took a look at the lasagna and garlic bread and sighed. Well, they had tried. “Muffy, how many days have you been here without moving?”

“I don’t know, Toulaine. But I promised an answer in a week for Starfleet Science and Starfleet Medical. They need a male cure for infertility like they have for the females. I’ve hit on the answer, I just need to find the most viable way to get the crew where it needs to be.” Muffy said, without looking up, putting another slide in the microscope.

Toulaine nodded understanding. “May I see what you have done? Maybe I can help.”

Muffy nodded her head to point at the second microscope. Muffy had joined the two so that whatever she was working on, someone else could look at it and make suggestions.

Knowing Muffy’s body language, Toluene went to the second station and turned it on. She was able to scroll through the different slides that Muffy had been working on. It always amazed Toulaine how single minded Muffy could be when working on a project.
“This is…I wonder why we haven’t looked for this before.”

“I would think because when a couple can’t have children they always look at the woman to find the fault. I’m just glad that someone realized it wasn’t always the woman who was infertile.” Muffy said softly as she worked.

Nodding, Toulaine stepped away from the secondary station. “Muffy, I will give you one hour. Then I expect to see you in my quarters for dinner and a nap. When you wake up, you can come back to work. Starfleet Medical can wait an extra day to make sure you are healthy and I know that Starfleet Science has told you more than once to take time to care for yourself. Am I clear on this Muffy?”

Muffy sat back in her chair and looked at Toulaine. “What’s for dinner?”

Toulaine laughed. “I have either Lasagna from Ian or Chili from Alice. The lasagna comes with garlic bread and a vegetable salad and the chili comes with cheesy jalapeno cornbread with raw carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, daikon, and sunchokes.”

It took a minute for Muffy to weigh both meals and then grinned. “Chili, please. I could use some spice.” She then turned to her station and hit the save sequence and then stood up. “I will go shower and be at her quarters in an hour. Let’s go.”

As the two women left science, Lieutenant Ivanovich shook his head. Now he understood why he was warned that his new department head was a bit odd. However, she had a brilliant mind and a dedication that was rarely seen outside of Starfleet Science or private science think tanks. He also had to admit that she was probably the best looking woman he had ever seen, even if she didn’t know it or wanted to know it. He wondered what it would take to catch her eye.




=/\= To Be Continued =/\=



Lieutenant Commander Toulaine
Lieutenant Muffy Hararington
USS Churchill

 

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