Getting Even

"Doctor Brisk."

Tabatha turned at the voice of Bajoran doctor Major Wrenal.  He had just finished treating Ensign Langui and prepped her for discharge.  Tabatha took the proffered PADD and looked it over.  "Doctor, if I may so, you look a little tense," Wrenal said.

Tabatha glanced over her shoulder at Eve, still conscious.  The pain medication numbed her somewhat, but she still looked uncomfortable, though at least stable.  Looking back to the PADD, Tab said, "I'm her nitamee, Kwyn.  Her adopted mother."  She thumbed her ID print on the PADD and handed it back.  "It breaks my heart to see her in that condition.  From all accounts Ringo did it and he's still on the loose.  Of course I'm tense."

"Do you believe he'll return to attempt further harm?"

Shaking her head, Tab said, "I don't know.  It makes no sense for him to do what he did.  He was her treidam."  She didn't know if Kwyn understood what that meant, being a Bajoran, but didn't stop to explain.  "She selected him personally.  He's... well, he was in love with her, I thought.  This just isn't like him."  And yet, Tab had to ask herself, if he wanted her dead, why didn't he kill her?  He had the chance, twice now.

Wrenal nodded.  "Speaking of this 'Ringo', the young woman over there would like a word with you."  He indicated Langui.

Tab asked him to check Eve and went to see Langui.  "Issa, what is it?"

"Doctor..."  Langui's thick African accent was shaky.  "About Ensign Ringo..."

"Go on," Tabatha urged gently.

"Earlier, on the holodeck..."  Langui spelled out what happened, with her finding him in a batting cage, calling out to him and accidentally distracting him... and the ball which impacted his skull, knocking him unconscious for several seconds.  "I am sorry," Langui said.  "I should have brought this forward sooner, but there was no concussion... I didn't think..."  Langui gave a helpless shrug.  "I didn't think."

Tabatha patted her hand, tried to offer a smile but couldn't.  "Don't be too hard on yourself.  We all make mistakes.  Go in my office; pull out the cot and get some rest.  I don't think you should be in the corridors right now while they're hunting Ringo."  The young African woman nodded and went into her office.

Tab walked back towards Eve, sighing and glancing at the door.  Security was posted right outside.  She needn't have worried about Ringo getting in that way.  Yet now she wanted to see Ringo, more than ever.  From what Langui told her, she had an idea on what could be affecting him.  Kwyn might take interest in that, too, being a "board-certified" neurosurgeon.  Tabatha intended to discuss it with him.

The EMH was still active, helping to prep sickbay for the potential injuries sure to result from all this.  Someone was constantly getting hurt on this ship.  Going to check on his progress and deactivate him if he was finished, Tab stopped and her jaw hit the floor.

The EMH had reverted to the form of Ensign Ringo.

He swung towards her and grabbed her by the neck.  "What did you do to me, Doc... what did you do that ruined it for me?"

Tabatha gagged and gasped, "I... don't know... what you mean..."  Her vision was getting dim; it was hard to breathe.  "Ringo... stop... let me help you..."

Kwyn and Layla barely had time to react when two more Ringos appeared, in regular uniforms, marshalling full Nelsons on them from behind, keeping them from touching their com-pins.  Nazir walked in from the lab next door, balked, then was suddenly out cold on the floor, another Ringo behind him.

"Don't lie to me!" Ringo snapped, pushing her back towards Eve's bed by the throat.  "You injected me with something... you fucked it up!  I had the perfect chance to show Eve she could love me... and you destroyed it!"  He pushed her back against the bed, glancing down as if just noticing Eve laying there.  "What am I saying... if that Bartokian slut really cared she wouldn't have thrown me out like yesterday's trash.  Did it make you feel good?" he asked Eve.  "Playing with my feelings?  Practically beg me for it then tell me to get out?  All because of one... moment... of weakness..."  He shook his head and eyed Tabatha once more.  "Did she tell you to do it?  All part of your plan to do me in and have a good laugh at my expense?  Tell me something else: Did you inject Wayne with the same stuff you shot me up with?  I might have lasted longer on my own.  I might have lasted longer if you gave me something different.  But nooooo, couldn't be slithering Simon fucking your best friend, no, could it... you just couldn't stand that thought, could you..."

"Let... her go," Eve managed, eyes on the deranged hologram.  Who knew where the real Ringo was, at that point?

Ringo did as told.  He hurled Tabatha aside and turned on Eve.  "You think I want to kill you?  You're right.  I do.  But I won't.  You have a lesson to learn, Eve.  Looks to me like you're learning it."  He leaned close, holographic lips inches from hers.  "No one else is enhanced like you.  No one's a pure, unstoppable sex machine.  What does the Wunderkind have that I didn't?  Wasn't enough for you that I worshipped you?"  He started mimicking Wayne's voice, bobbing his head back and forth.  "Oh, uh, well, I don't know Eve, I have to think about it..."  He grabbed the bed and snarled "What!"

And vanished.  One moment they were there, the next they weren't.  All of the holograms.  Gone.

Tabatha got off the floor, rubbing her throat, and tapped her com-badge.  "Brisk... to Commander Wayne...  We need to find Ringo... and soon..."