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"We have the scanner ready," Ogawa said as she led them through the halls of the starship. She immediately fell into the role of a captain proud of her ship. To the civilians, she said, "The USS Lauterbur is an Olympic-class hospital ship with the most advanced medical facilities in the galaxy—better even than that of Starfleet Command."

"Why is that?" Susan Chamberlain asked.

"A good question," Ogawa said. "The truth is that there is greater need for mobile facilities on the edge of Federation space. More importantly, this is a side of the Federation we want our potential allies to see. The Lauterbur isn't just a hospital ship. We are ambassadors."

"Well said," Bashir said with an appreciative nod.

"I had good teachers," Ogawa agreed. "And here we are."

The deep-tissue resonance scanner was comprised of a comfortable looking cot in the middle of a white-walled room. From the domed ceiling of the room hung a large inverted mushroom with a red light at the center of the inverted dome.

Diana giggled. As if sensing her thoughts, Katherine, Susan and Mary started giggling too. Bill turned red and struggled not to.

"Is there something wrong?" Captain Ogawa said. She couldn't help the defensive tone. These children were laughing at her ship.

"The scanner's extra power conversion coils give it a rather phallic appearance," Naomi managed to say with an almost straight face.

Ogawa blinked and looked at the scanner, then back at the girls.

"This isn't my fault this time," Bill said.

Diana burst out laughing. "Will you be gentle with me?" she asked the captain.

Whatever control the girls had ceased right there. Bill almost spat he laughed so hard, and the others were almost on the floor.

The Forever Mage, Chapter 10