Check Up On Doc
Posted on Fri Aug 12th, 2022 @ 3:54pm by Lieutenant Commander Viessa Kenobi & Ensign Nala Rider
Edited on on Tue Aug 16th, 2022 @ 4:40am
1,999 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
The Hunt Begins
Location: Sickbay - Deck 9 - USS Artemis
Timeline: MD001 1400 hrs
Nala was both kinda excited, strangely, and slightly nervous about meeting the Artemis's seemingly elusive Doctor... "Really, Nala? You can't remember what else the Doctor does? Get with it girl!" Nala mentally smacked herself as she made her way to Sickbay. "Welp, here goes nothing," Nala took a breath, and rang the door chime. When she didn't get an answer, Nala hit the manual open, and walked into the middle of a concert! "Wow, I didn't know the Doc was a Finale of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major fan," Nala grinned, humming along with the music as she glanced around the Sickbay, appreciating the mood lights blinking in sync with the music.
Viessa came from behind one of the little nooks that Sickbay had, she had been setting up some of her supplies and such when she turned to see an excitable red headed woman had entered her sickbay. She paused the music at the same time the lighting stopped also. "I like the violin." She stated matter of fact. "Something about the soothing tones of the strings, it helps me think, to relax when doing work. Are you in need of medical attention, Ensign?" she asked noticing the pip on her chest.
"YIKES! Oh, sorry, Doc. I didn't see you there. Er...yes...and no. I mean...(yeash, Nala, turn pink with purple polka dots while you're at it) Ahem. I am here for a standard ship check up...and I was a little curious as to why I haven't seen much of you around the ship. Nala! You bumbling Dwarf Bear! Why can't you shut up for once!?" Nala said this last sentence in her head, wanting to hyperjump out of there...or at the very least have a hull breach suck her away.
Viessa smiled at the woman's candour and also an attempt at disarming her nerves. "I have only just came aboard." She said ushering the woman to one of the beds. "You can just pop yourself up there, don't worry I do not bite." Viessa joked. "Can I have your name?" She asked. "And if you have had any symptoms of anything you'd like checked whilst you are here?"
"Oh, I'm new too! This is only my second assignment. My name's Ensign Nala Rider, and...wait...what did you just say? Er, never mind. I'm just in for a normal...ACHO!! Sorry...I don't....ACHO!!! That is...ACHO!!! Ok, I have NO idea why I'm suddenly...ACHO!!! SORRY!!!" Nala frantically yanked a bandana she always carried out of her pocket, feeling her face go bright red with embarrassment. "Seriously, Nala! Get a grip!" Nala groaned to herself, almost falling off the bio bed with another giant sneeze.
The sneezing caught both of them off guard as Viessa took a small step back. She could see the redness of Nala's face and how it was most likely a mix of embarrassment and pressure from the many sneezes that had passed her lips in as many moments. Picking up the medical tricorder Viessa began to hover it over the Ensign. "Try to breath normally Ensign. Oddly thinking consciously about trying not to sneeze often leads to the body wanting to sneeze more." Viessa shook her head at the strangeness of the body. "It appears just to be a histamine response, must be something in the environment your body thinks is trying to attack you." Viessa laughed softly. "Let's hope you are not allergic to Doctors." she joked.
"Hahaha!! That would be SUPER bad! Especially since you're so nice," Nala finally managed, quickly wiping her nose and returning the bandana to her pocket. Nala hoped that she could figure things out about the Doctor without being caught...and without hurting the Doctor's feelings. "By the by, what other kinds of music do you like?" Nala asked, absently rubbing her left shoulder.
"Well thank you. I try to have a pleasant bedside manner no matter the circumstances. Most people find a visit to my world quite daunting and I like to like put people at ease." Viessa spoke softly. The question about music did not seem so random given the environment Nala had walked into but it wasn't privileged information so... "I like all kinds of music. As you heard, I like Terran classical. I have quite an diverse range of music I listen to. Klingon opera can be quite enjoyable if you are in the mood for it. Vulcan chanting can be quite relaxing as can Risan melodies. What about you? Seeing as how we are talking about it."
"Klingon's a little...over the top for me. Risan and Vulcan are a mixed batch for me, because they both have their good and bad qualities. Cardassian's actually pretty good, but I REALLY like Ferengi music. It gets ya pumped and makes you wanna...er...maybe I should start listening to something a little less...never mind. Again, Nala!? REALLY!?" Nala was REALLY hoping for a hull breach now!
"I can honestly say in all my years I have never listened to Ferengi music." Viessa admitted as she pressed a hypospray of antihistamine into Nala's arm. "That should abate your sneezing. Is there any other medical issues you are having?" she asked.
Nala blushed, rubbing the scars on her cheek to give the antihistamine time to take affect. "Not that I consciously know of, Viessa...er...Doc. Sorry," Nala blushed again, mentally smacking herself for getting so informal without permission.
"Don't worry about it. Most people tend to get nervous around Doctors, and if calling me Viessa is how you feel most comfortable then I don't mind." Viessa spoke softly as she placed a hand on the woman's shoulder for reassurance. "Outside of your own medical care though, Doctor is fine. When off duty Viessa is fine too."
Nala smiled, grateful that the Doctor wasn't a stuffed shirt like some of the doctors she'd known over the years. "Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it. Sigh, It's just been a bit weird trying to settle in here...this mission, what we're going after...it's kinda scary," Nala gulped, hoping she hadn't just blabbed herself into a corner where her competence was going to be brought into question.
"Not a problem." Viessa replied removing her hand from the Ensigns shoulder as Nala spoke about her thoughts of the days ahead. She felt her anxiety, her concern and some fear. "Fear is healthy Ensign, it keeps you alert, keeps you focussed and heightens other senses... especially in Humans. I think it has to do with how your species evolved..." she went off on a minor tangent. "If anyone tells you they're not at least a little bit anxious, or worried, they are lying. I am over 400 years old and I still feel that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach sometimes. Just know when to talk about it though, bottling it up helps noone. That and I hear Lt. O'Rourke is quite nice."
Nala's ears perked up. "(She's over 400 years old!? Dang! I hope I still look THAT good when I get old!) Ha! I knew it! YOU do? Hm, I didn't think someone cool like you would be scared of anything. Wait...huh? Who's Lt. O'Rourke?" Nala scratched her head. "Great, that's what you get for NOT reading the crew manifest," Nala thought, giving herself a mental Gibb's Slap.
"Ah well, thank you." Viessa beamed. "I don't consider myself cool by any means but it's nice to hear." She replied. "Lt O'Rourke is the ships Counsellor and Profiler. She looks after all you lovely people's mental health."
Nala gulped. "Oh boy. I've had a few of those types try talking to me...and it hasn't ended well," Nala rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "What I mean is...they usually ended up thinking I was a sckitzo that wanted to kill her Mother, but in reality, I just had really bad social anxiety because of...well, no one actually figured out what happened...until like twelfth grade, then they FINALLY figured it out and I got the help I needed," Nala had to bite back tears at the memory of some of the stuff she'd been forced to go through.
"I am glad someone was able to help you, Ensign. Going through life knowing something is wrong but not having someone around to help, or even to talk to, can be difficult." Viessa spoke from a kind of experience. Her life, her old Starfleet life was something that not many people knew about and during the pre-warp flight years even more challenging because essentially she lied to everyone she met to make them think she was Human.
"I do not think you are 'sckitzo' as you put it." Viessa emphasised sckitzo as she tried to say it the same way Nala had. "You are an enthusiastic and warm person. I think you will fit in just fine on this ship, and even if you don't want to talk to Doctor O'Rourke then I am here as well. Sometimes it is easier to talk to someone you already know, now that you've met me."
Nala smiled, glad to have made a new friend so quickly. "Thank you, Viessa. (Well dagumit! Looks like I'd better just be honest with her.) Hey, Viessa? I hope you don't get mad at me, but I actually had an alternative reason for coming today. I sorta...kinda...well...I've got a bad case of curiosity and I wanted to know why you were kinda Lone Wolfing it and...DEEP BREATH...I was wondering if you were human!? (OH FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!!!)" Nala was half tempted to just run out of the room and never get near the Doctor again even if she DID get sick!
"A rather random question, don't you think?" Viessa replied avoiding the question at the moment. "Why would you want to know if I am Human or not? Would it trouble you to know that I am not Human in any way shape or form?" she continued the little pokey questions.
Nala beamed. "Nope! Not only would it explain a few things, but it would also make things that much cooler in my opinion! Plus, you kinda gave yourself away a few times. The biggest one was you saying you were over 400 years old," Nala gave her a wink. "Don't worry, if you don't want anyone to know, I won't tell. I know a thing or two about keeping secret," Nala gave Viessa a genuine smile. "As long as you're not keeping secrets that will hurt our crewmates, then all's good in the neighborhood," Nala laughed, holding out her hand to Viessa.
Viessa shook but shook her head. "Oh no, no secrets here. Being El Aurian is nothing to hide, not anymore." she said closing her tricorder. "Well Ensign you have a clean bill of health and I let you loose on the ship and crew." she added taking a step back for the woman to prepare to leave.
Nala giggled as she hopped down. "This is going to be one fun assignment, huh, Viessa? Hey, when we have time, can you tell me about El Aurians?" Nala asked as she paused at the door.
"As fun as chasing dangerously murdery evil people can be." Viessa joked. "But sure, if you want to know about my people then I am happy to share once we have some down time. Lots of things to do before we leave dock." she walked behind Nala to the door.
Nala grinned good naturedly. "Touche, Viessa. See ya later," Nala nodded her thanks, and walked out the door.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Viessa Kenobi
Chief Medical Officer/Medical Examiner, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
Ensign Nala Rider
Facial Reconstruction Specialist, USS Artemis
Starfleet Criminal Investigations Unit
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