A Medical Formality

Posted on Mon Aug 7, 2017 @ 12:40pm by Lieutenant Gilah & Lieutenant Corsa Yeros

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: Deck 7, Primary Sickbay
Timeline: MDv25 10:00

The routine of today had been ingrained into Corsa since stepping on board. After a little chat with the Executive Officer to make sure that he knew what the score was or at least that's what he figured she was after. To make sure that he was competent and wasn't about to smash the ship into a celestial body in some inspired yet sloppy manoeuvre.

Corsa decided it was best to get the medical check out of the way as soon as possible. Not because he disliked sickbays or had an unusual disposition against medical advice but because the sooner he got what he needed to do out of the way he could do what he wanted to do.

After a short turbolift trip down to Deck 7 he stepped out onto the corridor and headed towards the sickbay. The short walk finished when he opened the sickbay door and stepped inside. Afterwards he clasped his hands behind him and waited since it might be prudent to silently wait in case there was a more immediate concern that required the medical staffs' attention.

Triumphant's Sickbay was only referred to as such through convention. What it actually was was a small hospital catering for any of the short and long-term medical needs of the permanent crew and their families and many thousand potential refugees or other beings that the crew might be in the process of helping. The main door Corsa had just walked through led to a large but fairly simplistic area of the complex used mostly for quick visits and checkups. Save an engineering team working on some of the systems the room was fairly quiet with only one other crew person present talking to one of the medical staff.

The large doors at the other end of the room opened and a Klingon woman in a blue Starfleet uniform walked through from the large atrium beyond, carrying a young human-looking girl on her arm. As she approached, smiling at the child whose arms were wrapped around her neck it quickly became apparent that this was no ordinary Klingon, her smile very pleasant and almost human, save perhaps her large fang-like canines that sat perpetually on her bottom lip. She stopped and the smile faded as she noticed the significant presence of the Traxian standing in front of her by the entrance.

"What can I do for you?" She asked Corsa, looking up. It was a gruff voice, loud and commanding and rather better enunciated than a typical Klingon but still sharing a tone of slight impatience that often went with her species.

"Corsa Yeros. He's here for a medical check." The girl in the woman's arms stared up at Corsa with deep black eyes that punctuated her cute but pale face which was framed by rolls of blonde hair.

"Lana, what have I told you about reading people's minds?" The woman asked, drawing the girl's attention from Corsa's face to her own.

"It's rude." Lana replied simply. The woman nodded in return.

"And what do you say?" She asked.

"Sorry Gilah."

"To him, not to me!" Gilah gestured towards the Traxian.

"Sorry... L... Luntenant Yeros." The two of them stared up at Corsa pointedly. If it weren't so apparent that they couldn't be related one could easily assume from the identical expressions that they were.

Corsa had read about Klingons before yet like with other species reading about one and actually meeting one. He didn't know what to expect but the reading material so far wasn't stacking up with the introduction. For one he hadn't received a black eye yet on the first meeting. The woman seemed to draw his attention in and not in what most would assume from a man. She seemed to demand his full focus just by standing there and Corsa figured it was just her stature.

Then came the unexpected. Telepathy was not something his people had any experience with and thus he found himself with his mouth hanging open. Any dignified pretence was soon abandoned as his head went from the small girl to Gilah and then back again. "I um." he began before his composure returned. "It is of no consquence, young miss. Merely a surprise." replied Corsa with an incline of the head.

He folded his hands behind his back and straightened himself up as he turned towards the Klingon doctor. "But she is correct. I'm the new Chief Flight Officer. I arrived earlier this morning and regulations state I've to turn myself over to your care for a full fitness and medical examination for my record to show I can start on active duty. If you have the time, that is?"

"Indeed. One moment." Gilah Placed her daughter gently down onto her feet on the ground next to her and took her hand.

"Computer, summon CAH Kelly." A Hologram of an adult human female clad in bright colours with dark hair in a kicky pony-tail and sporting a large and infectious smile blurred into being in front of her.

"Good morning Doctor Gilah, good morning Yolana." She said.

"Good morning Kelly" the two said in chorus.

"Please confirm Yolana's schedule for the day. At ten hundred Telepathy studies with Miss Viari. At twelve hundred Lunch with Doctor Gilah. At thirteen hundred preschool. At fifteen thirty preapproved games and activities at home. Should I accept play-dates for this time?"

"If she wants to." Gilah told the hologram, leading Yolana Forward and placing little girl's hand into the hologram's.

"Understood."

"Be good, Lana. I will see you later." The Klingon knelt down and kissed the four-year-old Betazoid on the forehead.

"Yes, Gilah." Lana returned with a hug.

"Have a great morning!" The hologram chimed in as Gilah stood and the pair left sickbay through the main entrance, Yolana stealing a look back to her mother before the doors closed behind them.

The Traxian simply watched the exchange with mild interest. Triumphant seemed to be more than a vessel of exploration but something akin to a small city with such a significant family and civilian presence on board.

Gilah looked up at Corsa again and with a wave of her hand beckoned him to follow.

"Why does the child-care assistant hologram have to be so… perky?" Gilah Grumbled as she led the Traxian to a bio-bed.

When Yolana and Kelly left the sickbay he followed Gilah and settled upon the bed he was led to. "Speculation? Children respond better to friendly personalities. A warm, outgoing nature often reflexes their own play-focused attitude against someone who is stern or perceived as ill tempered. I mean I'm sure your own winning smile and personality is a comfort to those that are injured."

Corsa wasn't being ironic in his tone of voice and actually believed that a Klingon doctor, any doctor, would have some sort of bedside manner. "I will never get used to children running around or the idea of dozens of civilian shops being run. The USS Berlin was too small for them and Traxian ships, well, are strictly military vessels. No room for passengers."

Gilah's temper flared at the sarcastic comment about her bedside manner and she looked over to Corsa as he sat down on the bed but something about his manner suggested he was in earnest and instead of speaking out she simply held out a PADD for him to touch a thumb to.

"Don't think I smile like that at everyone" she told him testily. "My daughter is… a challenge at times but she is a very special girl. Were it not for Starfleet allowing civilians on board we would not be here. Their presence on Large starships is essential and epitomises everything the Federation stands for, but... our enemies rarely hesitate before shooting at a starship with civilians and children on board. They are a mixed blessing."

Corsa held his thumb against the PADD and his medical records were unlocked for the Klingon to view. They were a rather bland read but contained information provided by the Traxian Navy as well from his days in the service.

There was records of broken ribs, a disruptor burn between his shoulder blades and a large incision from a knife in his upper left thigh. All old, healed wounds but the scar tissue was present. As for the more recent Starfleet Medical examinations they were far less interesting reading.

He had contracted Levodian flu which had given him cause to be put under extreme medical treatment given that his immune system had never been exposed to the influenza before. Other doctors did remark about his irregular heartbeat and often high blood pressure but it wasn't at such a level to cause concern.

Gilah it Took a few moments to look overThe medical file.

"Is there anything that has been troubling you recently that is not on your medical file?" she enquired, not looking up from the PADD.

"Nerves, I suppose. I'm in charge of every pilot that has to fly a massive city now. Not to mention also having to fly said massive city. Other than that? I'm fine, doctor." replied Corsa.

Gilah Looked up from her PADD.

"This is an important and prestigious posting. I'm sure you would not have been given the role if you are not capable of doing a good job with it."

"Reports rarely match up to what real life reflects." stated the Traxian. "While on paper I might be qualified I've yet to go under my trial by fire, as it were. I'm sure most people feel they're qualified until they actually sit in the chair. Any chair for that matter. All I can do is my best, improve any shortcomings and go forward....anything else, Doctor?"

Gilah Replaced the PADD with a medical tricorder and ran the scanner over Corsa deftly from head to toe.

"A scan for comparison. There is no salve in a hypospray for self-belief Lieutenant. Coming from a Department Head - if you have doubt in yourself then so will your staff. Belief you can accomplish the job is half the battle and... in my opinion... is the kind of impression you want to be giving to the rest of your crew."

Corsa looked at the tricorder's scanning wand with some mild interest as it beeped and booped over him. The display on the tricoder would have shown the same high blood pressure than his first scans in the Academy and from the USS Berlin.

"I suppose that's true, Doctor. I'm not sure it's belief that is my problem exactly. I just know that until I do the job I'll know if I'm a good fit. I guess you could say I'm eager yet nervous to get started."

As he spoke Gilah closed the medical tricorder and picked up the PADD again as the scan results slotted into place.

"You will find out soon enough" she reassured him, scrolling through items of medical history. "You have completed most of the normal medical checks recently, you won't need to do so again now. However I would like to to have the ship's internal sensors passively monitor your blood pressure, based on your history. It is optional and requires your consent."

"By all means, Doctor. If you feel it wise." Corsa said with a smile as he slid from the bed and stood in front of her. "It's mere side effects of chemical stimulants we were given by our doctors during our war with the Breen. To help us fight and work longer with as little sleep or food as possible. Naturally the effects and side effects were...adverse. It ranged from person to person but the most common was high blood pressure, increased heart attack risk, seizures and so on as the doses were heightened."

Gilah listened as Corsa spoke, inwardly respecting his ability to be so calm and open about it to a stranger.

"So I see" she commented, reading some further details from the medical file. "Extended usage of such stimulants can be extremely damaging. But I do not need to tell you that. Your history suggests your body is able to cope with it well enough but we will keep an eye.

Corsa inclined his head as his tucked his hands behind him. "I'm sure if there are any complications I will be safe under your expert care, Doctor. Now. Am I signed off so I may begin to fly this massive, floating city I've seem to have found myself in?"

"You are." Gilah navigated to a different area of the PADD software and gave her own thumb print to sign off Corsa as fit to fly. She looked at him directly, something that has been a scarcity thus far.

"As a department head I would request you make sure your people are all aware of the extent of services provided by medical aboard the Triumphant. This is one of the most Advanced facilities outside of a Starbase in the whole fleet."

"I'm sure that if people have a problem they will complain loudly enough for me to urge them towards your door." the Traxian said as he gave a small incline of his head. "That being said I shall remind them to utilise any and all of your departments services should they require them. I would ask only in turn for you notify me if any of them are...abusing...your hospitality. By wasting medical resources on rather minor concerns."

Gilah gave him a surprised look, wondering if such a thing were even possible.

"Very well" she told him compliantly. "We are done here, unless there is anything else you need?"

"No Doctor. You have been fantastic company and a speedy medical professional. Good day to you." With that Corsa wandered out of the sickbay.

Gilah raised both her eyebrows in surprise.

"Thank you, welcome aboard" she said quietly to the closing doors before turning and heading back to her office.