Date: 06 Oct 2013 18:49 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Heartache brought on by the colour blue for Bethany.
Still it explains the symptoms Hank was suffering from and yet why the nurse can’t find anything wrong bar the symptoms.
Interesting Bar scene, does seem odd that fink didn’t spot it but perhaps he wasn’t looking for once.
Typical of Hank he need an Mudd to tell him what he does want to acknowledge that his heart pines for Bethany, and her telling him she going steady with someone else.
Well we know he get another chance with his favour half human, human Andorian lady.
As always a fun piece despite the character torture you inflict on Hank.
Date: 21 Aug 2011 00:17 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Hey...if you read my last review, I deleted it because I realized I ended it in a way I should not have.
This was pretty easy to guess what it was going to be, knowing Hank.
I think the part I liked best was the Mudd character; letting him become something of a caricature is in keeping with the character we heard about in TOS.
It's also very true that strong emotions can lead to psychosomatic illness; that's very plausible indeed.
The only thing that I think dragged the story down for me in places was that I felt it crossed the line into the melodramatic...the whole "blue" thing was a bit on the obvious side. (Not that DS9 wasn't guilty of that in "Afterimage"!)
That said, you should know that overall, I love Hank, and he always...well, almost always ( ;-) ) brings a cheerful presence to the story. :-)
Date: 20 Aug 2011 20:37 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Should have known it was the blues and that the blues could only have been caused by one person. Neat twist on the challenge and I felt from reading the story as though we got a whirlwind of being on the Galloway.
[Report This]Date: 20 Aug 2011 00:12 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Poor Hank! The only saving grace is we know he makes things right in the end. ;-) Loved HFM III – the original has figured into some of my work of late as well. I’m with you – I miss the bugger.
Nice spin on the topic BTW – a unique one I doubt anyone else will come up with. A sad little piece that tugs at the heartstrings – good work.
[Report This]Date: 19 Aug 2011 18:52 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Man, when Hank gets the blues, he really gets the blues. My heart goes out to the guy.
When it comes to matters of love, we all know that even the most mature, confident leader can be reduced to a whimpering, wailing puddle of tears. But rarely so with canonical Starfleet captains.
Even Benjamin Sisko, who occasionally reveals some of the emotions that swell inside him, is for the most part cut from the same cloth; tough, independent, self-assured and always ready to make the right decision. Apparently, Starfleet captains are too strong to be adversely affected by unrequited love – or so we’re led to believe.
Then along comes Hank, and how I wish the world were ready for him. I believe captains can still be as sharp as a tack, competent and as reliable as rain, but still emotionally react to the loss of a loved one, especially when she was ‘it’.
Is Hank a more evolved 24th century person than Picard, Janeway or Sisko? I’d like to think so. Certainly he is aware that donning the stereotypical mantle of behavior is a limitation; he’s not going to spend his whole life stuffing feelings away and wonder where all the years went when he retires.
Keep up the great work, Trekfan. I’d like to put a request in for a Hank Harrison story where there is some kind of inquiry aboard the USS Galloway regarding Captain Harrison’s performance under fire – possibly a civilian transport was destroyed and Captain Harrison is accused of not acting quickly to save it because he was ‘blue’. Harrison is ultimately absolved of all wrong doing, but only after wearing every inquisitor down to their wit’s end while he sits through the whole inquiry as stable as a mountain glacier.
Date: 14 Aug 2011 05:31 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
I like the Mudd descendent too...who would you cast in the role?
Author's Response:
Probably Zach Galifianakis, he's the first guy that comes to mind. Retro actor, who is sadly not with us anymore, John Candy-I think he'd do the role justice too. Thanks for the comment, Rob.
[Report This]Date: 14 Aug 2011 05:14 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Poor Hank. So lovesick. I have faith those two will work out in the end, but it's got to be painful for him to watch her with someone else. Nice little piece ... I just wish he'd take the steps to cure what ails him.
[Report This]Date: 14 Aug 2011 04:47 Title: The Greatest Disease In All The Galaxy...
Somehow, it had crossed my mind that it could be this kind of disease. I didn't have a name for it, but I felt that it might be connected with Bethany, even without me making the "blue" connection.
But this is true love--to step aside for the good of the loved one. He wants her to be happy, even if it would make him misrable. Forever at that--at least that's what he's thinking right now.
And finally...Mudd's descendant? And a human-Ferengi bartender? Wow!
Author's Response:
With almost all Hank stories, Bethany is present in some way. I'm glad you enjoyed it Gul Rejal. And yes, a human-ferengi bartender, because I could. And Mudd's decendent I've had in my head for a long time now-I miss Harry Mudd.