A Routine Physical

Posted on Tue Dec 12th, 2023 @ 4:08am by Lieutenant JG Maxine Mckull & Commander Sthilg

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: 5 months ago
1132 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

Well. With everything taken care of- Max's checkin with the XO, her department head, unpacking into her quarters, she was starting to feel like a headless chicken. All this running around, and she hoped it would be worth it. This would be a new chapter for her, being on the move again. Able to, she hoped, start looking after her priorities. She knew what she wanted. No one else did aboard the Elysium. But for now, that suited her just fine.
Still, there were just two matters left she had to take care of. Checking in with the medical department, and... perhaps more dreadfully, checking in with a counsellor for her onboarding examination.

The latter meeting she wanted to hold off on for as long as she could, counsellors tended to be the most curious of the bunch... always trying to press further than Max wanted them to. Wanting to know what made her tick... but she could worry about that later.

After another turbolift ride, Max eventually found herself in sickbay. It seemed quiet, but she dare not draw attention to herself by speaking. Instead, she wandered further into the complex until she eventually found someone.

Even then, she seemed to wait for them to notice her.

The heavy footsteps of a creature far larger than most of the mammalian staff echoed around the ship's sizeable sickbay. Sthilg had been going about his usual ship duties that came with the roll of ships MD. Seeing the brown haired visitor he walked over her giving her the best smile his reptilian face could muster. " Hello there." he said offering his hand. " Ensign Mckull isssn't it?"

Just how many people knew she had been brought aboard, Max wondered. She regarded the figure before her and gave a simple nod, her body language tensing fractionally as she took the medical officer's hand to shake. But it wasn't the physical contact that caused her to do so.

It was her voice.

"Yes, sir."

Two very flatly produced words, for which her lips didn't move at all. Her voice sounded very much artificial as she continued. "I am here for the onboarding physical."

" Isss everything okay ensssign?" the gorn said noting her body language " If you've heard any of thossse ferengi written rubbisssh books about my people i can asssssure you there nothing but targ droppingssss."

Max was far from concerned about any kind of reputation. This was, after all, Starfleet. Everyone had a reason to be here. Some were more noble than others. Hers were more self-serving than most other people, probably.

She gave a simple nod and echoed, "I am here for the onboarding physical. I am sure you are fine."

The gorn nodded as he began to head towards one of the bio beds. " Ah there any health problems or injuries not on you file sssince your lassst ssscan?" he enquired as he patted one of the beds indicating her to sit down.

Max followed along at the gesture and hopped onto the indicated bed with ease. She knew that sitting or laying down didn't make much of a difference, so for the moment she opted for the former, giving a shake of her head. "No issues," she offered in that same flat tone. Her expression was still very much unreadable.

Not very talkative Sthilg thought to himself as he started up the computer. " Ssso how are things on deep ssspace 4? " He enquired.

"Deep Space 4 is a border station. In general the experience was," Max paused, leaning back a little and letting out a faint huff. "Uneventful. My time aboard the station was less than fulfilling."

" Wasss that why you transssferred?" Sthilg enquired.

Max gave a small shake of her head, paused, then looked around the surprisingly well equipped sickbay. "I was reassigned to this vessel after my previous posting," she responded. "While it was not my idea, it pleases me nevertheless. I was not able to accomplish anything which felt significant to me aboard the station."

" I can guarantee the Elysium will help you with that. Thisss girl looks after her people." Sthilg said in reply.

Max's face darkened just barely at the Gorn's words and she nodded slowly. "I hope so," her monotone voice droned. "I have been attempting to prepare for some time."

The lizard nodded as he looked at the screen. " Everythingsss looking good ssso far."

Max wasn't surprised, though she certainly appreciated the Gorn's thoroughness. She inclined her head and gently tapped her left knee with her hand. "I always attempt to take as much care as is possible. Despite my time in the academy, I did my best to maintain a high level of activity," she explained. What she didn't share was her trak record (literally and figuratively.)

" Well, i can't sssee anything that would caussse me to declare you unfit for duty." The gorn said with a smile as the scan ended.

If there was one thing Max was unfamiliar with, it was setting up and following through on a joke. Even still, she saw a strange opportunity here. she lifted her shoulders in a little shrug and offered in return, "Then I would advise maintaining your distance while I am sleeping, or otherwise unconscious, sir."

Would it land?

Thankfully Sthilg had master chuckling at patients' jokes a very long time ago. Which he did as he copied the scan and gave her a copy with a " I'll keep that in mind."

Huh.

In some sense, Max was surprised. She had expected the joke to fall flat faster than someone trying to go downhill while wearing only one ski. But it seemed to amuse the medical officer. That was a good sign, right?

She accepted the PADD and gave a grateful nod of her head, then frowned.

The Elysium was a large ship. Though she had examined the roster inside and out while she had waited for it to arrive, she loathed admitting that she... wasn't able to memorize everybody's names and keep them matched to faces in her head.

While it normally wouldn't have been an issue for her to do so, she did have to admit a certain level of preoccupation, and perhaps even apprehension, about this new posting. Unfamiliar circumstances were always such, weren't they?

Finally, Max tilted her head with a slightly apologetic look. "Thank you."

A small pause, then, "I must apologize. I cannot recall your name at this time."

" Sssthilg. " The gorn replied with a warm smile on his reptilian face.

Max let her head bob slowly in response as she took in the name. "Thank you, Doctor Sphilg," she responded flatly.

" Welcome to the team Max." Sthilg said with a warm smile on his face.

Max tipped her head appreciatively as she gave a little stretch. "Thank you, Doctor."