Medical checkup
Posted on Wed Nov 24th, 2021 @ 10:20am by Commander Sthilg
Mission:
Season 5: Episode 3: CAPETOWN
Location: USS Elysium; Transporter Room Two
Timeline: MD 1 (Back Post)
1224 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure
Stepping off the transporter pad, T'las was dressed in her common robe and green faceless mask, locking eyes with a ensign in a gold trimmed uniform with what she perceived as a Federation Type-2 phaser holstered at his waist. The bright lighting and colorful carpeting of the room was almost overwhelming. 'I am in damnation,' she thought.
"Welcome aboard the Elysium. I am Ensign Fredericks," the blonde-haired human male greeted.
T'las simply stared at the officer as she recalled ensigns were the lowest ranked officers in Starfleet and thus not worthy of her acknowledgement. She pointed towards the door.
"Um, are you able to speak, Madam T'las?" Fredericks asked, confused at the lack of communication from this woman. He hadn't been informed that she was mute or deaf.
T'las stared at the man for another moment before moving past him and out the door leading to the corridor.
"Wait! Madam T'las!" Fredericks rushed after her. Madam T'las, I have been ordered to escort you to your quarters and to Sickbay!"
T'las stopped, annoyed by this human as she turned and looked at him. She gauged the man, knowing she could break every bone in his body. Humans were far too fragile and weak for her tastes. Breaking a custom she did not wish to, she spoke in a stern tone. "Then escort me, ensign," she gestured towards the corridor.
Stepping into her quarters, T'las looked at the comfortable looking furniture. 'What a waste of resources,' she thought to herself as she looked around. In the center of the quarters were her luggage that had been transported. 'At least they did not misplace my belongings,' she thought.
"I hope it's to your liking," Fredericks stated from the doorway behind her. He wished he could have quarters as big as this one and to have one to himself would be a dream come true. He hated having to share quarters and couldn't wait to get promoted and get his own quarters.
"It is not," she said simply before turning to exit the room.
"Alright," Fredericks said after a moment. "Follow me to sickbay."
Entering Sickbay, T'las looked on with some interest at the medical equipment in use. "Doc!" Fredericks called out. "Got an exchange officer due for an initial physical."
Stepping out of his office was the chief MD. The gorn gave the stranger a polite smile as he ran through what her species likely was. Watraii most likely. " Hello there. I'm doctor Ssthilg." He said offering his hand.
T'las hesitated, as she looked at the Gorn's extended hand then took in the rest of the large gorn. She had not expected to see one of his species aboard a Federation ship. From what she knew of the species, she knew he was not a young specimen--likely far older than any of her people and that alone caused her to regard him with respect. It was a fact she hoped to change one day among her own people--if they survived long enough. True, her people were powerful but their numbers were also very limited. Returning the Gorn's gesture, she also extended her hand. "It is an honor," she replied. "I had not expected to see your kind here."
" Oh there'sss a handful of usss in the fleet though I'm the only one in medical," Sthilg said leading the way to his office. " Have you a recording of any previousss medical checkupsss?" He inquired.
She reached into her robe and pulled out a PaDD, handing it to the Gorn. "I am in good health by my people's standards. Though it was true she was in good health, she still suffered from weakened genomes due to inbreeding among her people. Her parents had actually been cousins. At times, she would suffer from nerve pain due to it.
"Well, let'sss get you on a biobed and get you checked out. " He said stepping into his office. His small holocharm with the hologram of his Shassou and Gedes glowing on his desk. " Sssorry about that. " He said walking over and switching it off before sliding it back around his neck " My wife and daughter. Have you any family T'lasss." he inquired politely.
The question caused her to pause. Why did this gorn wish to know about her family? What did that knowledge have to do with getting a medical checkup? How did this Federation get so formidable by such wasteful ideals? Was this what she had heard about that other cultures participated in--small talk? 'A waste of time,' she thought. She wanted to ignore the question but recalled the Chancellor's words to her and that she would in all accounts be an ambassador for her people. "Yes. A father, mother, and a brother. May we proceed?"
" I sssee your people lack of sssmall talk is true." The gorn said as he gestured to the bio bed. " Pleassse lay down and let'sss get thisss ssstarted."
"We do not see the point in conversation without meaning," she stated as she lied back onto the biobed. "To us, everything we do has a goal. Comfort and pleasantries that you appear to value in the Federation has no meaning for my people."
" Your people mussst have sssome sssort of comfort and pleasssantriesss?" the gorn inquired as he started up the scanner.
"To what purpose?" she asked, confused by the question. "We are trained from a very young age to fight Romulans. Nothing else matters to my people." Though she spoke and heard the words, she sometimes had doubts--how could her people continue to fight a species that had superior numbers despite her people having more efficient weaponry and advanced cloaking devices than them? "However," she sighed," I have picked up painting several years back during my limited free time."
" To live my dear. If one trainsss nothing, but to hunt monssstersss than one will become a monssster." He said looking at the data coming in from the scan. " Thisss isss sssome rather bad nerve damage you have. " He said as he already began writing her a prescription.
"Yes," she spoke, sighing. "The nerve pain is in due to our limited numbers. As for becoming monsters, we are what the Romulans made us and they deserve nothing less," she said bitterly as she thought about how her people eagerly threw themselves into battle against Romulans at any chance. However, there was now a fragile peace between her people and the Romulans brokered by the Federation but that hatred was still there, a fuel waiting to be ignited by the slightest Romulan provocation.
"Well, I'm going to pressscribe you sssome medication. It ssshould help with the nerve pain." the gorn explained.
"Thank you," she replied after a moment. She was used to pain--all of her people were. "How am I otherwise according to your Federation Standards?"
"Other than sssome minor vitamin levels no I sssee no reassson not to declare you fit for duty." the gorn said as he held up a data crystal with a copy of the scan.
T'las sat up and pushed herself off of the biobed. "Thank you, Doctor Sthilg," she replied with a slight bow of her head.
Sthilg gave her a polite smile as she headed for the door. She would be an interesting one to work with.
