Overworked

Posted on Tue Apr 16th, 2024 @ 9:48am by Lieutenant JG Maxine Mckull & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant JG Damien Blackford & Lieutenant Commander Malakai Starr [Taylor]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: Bridge, U.S.S Elysium
Timeline: MD9 (0000)
2107 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Max had continued to push herself, over the past several days. She had barely slept, and it showed. Anyone could see it in her slow movements, as she forced herself to stay awake. Tonight, she had opted to run diagnostics on the navigation systems. Which had brought her to the bridge. She leaned against the turbolift wall as it moved, and the soft sound of the lift on its own was almost enough to send her dozing off.
Almost.

The lift doors opened and Max pushed herself off the wall. Step by step she moved forward, until she exited it. In silence, she slowly looked around. She could see the helm station was occupied at the moment, so she moved to an auxiliary console. Wordlessly, she tapped at it, but rather than rerouting the controls, she simply tied the console into the navigation systems.

Malakai sat in the center seat as the lift doors hissed open and Max slowly exited. He swiveled in the seat as he watched her move in an almost zombie like fashion to an auxiliary console. "Everything alright Ensign?" He inquired.

Max was so focused on her work that for a moment, she didn't even register anyone was talking to her. A few key presses later, and the diagnostic was underway. She turned then, and saw the eyes of her superior on her. In response, she nodded slowly. Then her translator replied, in completely flat tones. "Fine, sir. I just wanted to run some diagnostics."

Mal didn't reply right away. The ensign didn't look, sound or act fine but neither had she done anything to warrant removal from the bridge. Finally, after a few more seconds o silent observation he answered. "Very well. Carry on.'

Damien stifled a yawn as he entered the Turbolift, instructing it to take him up to the Bridge. It was rare that Damien worked the Gamma Shift. He was normally assigned to Beta Shift. And even rarer that he was assigned to the Bridge. He was normally assigned to the Brig. Not that he was complaining. Life on a starship was constantly changing. Still, his sleep schedule hadn't gotten the message yet.

When the doors opened, he quickly smoothed his uniform over, before stepping onto the Bridge, heading over to his station, saluting the Officer currently sat in the Command Chair.

Mal nodded to Damien, "Welcome to the bridge Mr. Blackford." He greeted the security officer pleasantly. "If you need some coffee to keep you awake, go get some from the replicator."

Damien nodded, offering the Duty Officer a small smile. "Thank you, Sir. My body clock still hasn't quite gotten the message that now is work time, not sleep time." He said, chuckling softly.

Coffee... that may not have been a bad idea. Max had watched in silence as the security officer entered. She kept quiet, simply giving the duty officer a nod. But now, with the diagnostics running, she rose from her chair.

Her movements were slow as she made her way to the replicator, but it wasn't just from exhaustion. Instead, part of it was hesitation. She could... tolerate coffee, but she didn't exactly like it. Was there some way to sweeten it she hadn't considered?

She stared at the machine in silence, uncertainty and contemplation written on her face.

Mal's attention shifted back to Max who stood motionless in front of the replicator. "Something wrong with the replicator Ensign?" He asked curiously.

Max turned her head slowly and gave it a small shake. "No, sir," her translator responded in its typical monotone. "I am simply pondering coffee. I find the taste difficult to handle. As a result I am uncertain what additives may help."

Mal nodded in understanding, "Try some cream and sugar. It will sweeten the taste and make it easier for you to handle. You may even like it."
Max nodded slowly and turned to the machine again, stealing herself. Behind her, she heard a soft chime from the console she was using. That could mean the diagnostics were done. It wouldn't surprise her, but maybe there would be a problem she could deal with. Finally, she instructed the replicator, "Coffee. Two sugar and cream."

She didn't drink coffee often, but she did appreciate tea. When she did, she never really spiced it up. A dash of honey, or milk perhaps. But she didn't think either of those would be complementary for coffee.

As Max watched, the machine beeped and hummed, an insulated cup with a heat lining on the outside materializing. She reached out, gingerly picking up the steaming beverage. Lifting it to her face she gave her drink a small taste test by inhaling. It... certainly seemed better.

As she returned to the station she was using she took a very small sip. She could still taste the darkness of the coffee, but it seemed to have been at least somewhat muted by the cream. Turning to Mal she stated, "It is appreciated. I believe this will be manageable."

Mal nodded, a smile on his face as he watched Max first give it a tentative taste and then finally sipping it as she returned to the station she had been using. "I am glad to help. Coffee is an acquired taste. I happy you find this at least manageable."

The turbodoors slid open as out as the ship's MD stepped out. He had a very large Thermos on his belt and a medical kit slung over the others. " Okay everyone random medical checkup. I have sssoup for thossse who behave themsssleves. "

Damien approached the replicator as Max walked away, ordering himself the same thing. He was by no means an avid coffee drinker, only drinking it in situations much like this one, where if he didn't have caffeine in his system he would most likely collapse.

Making his way back to the Security Console, he looked up as the turbolift doors opened once again. "What kind of soup?" He asked, the words out of his mouth before he could even stop himself, adding a quick, "Sir." As he did.

" Chicken, vegetable and tomatoes all fresssh ingredients. " The gorn replied with a smile.

Mal grinned at the CMO. "Hiya Doc. So, you come bearing gifts in this case hot soup. You can count me in. Do your voodoo and check me over. I've been very well behaved."

Well, crap. Random physical checks. From her position by the console, Max started examining the diagnostic results. She hoped 'random' would be limited to some of the officers, her lack of sleep wasn't something she really wanted to discuss with anyone. She would open up to a point, if reluctantly, but even she wasn't quite sure why she'd been pushing herself. Nor did she want to know what fear drove her. All she wanted to do was bury it.

Even so, hiding things wasn't something she was able to excel at, on account of the very same lack of sleep. She had tensed noticeably and was seemingly even less conversational than was typical, even for her.

Mal sat in the command chair and waited for the CMO to come over, "So Doc, how many of these random physical checks do you plan on doing? This is the bridge and we're supposed to be paying attention to all the flashing lights around us. Not having soup. Just saying." He teased.

" Asss per regulations commander. I found ensssign Hivef trying to open one of the airlocksss asss he thought it wasss a turbolift." The gorn replied calmly as he checked the first bridge crew before giving him an all clear and a cup of soup. " You next commander. " He said walking over to Mel. " Pleassse assay awwwww." He said as he brought up a small light to track his eye movement.

Mal chuckled as the CMO made his rounds checking the first of the bridge crew before he came to him. Mal did as the Gorn instructed, opening his mouth and saying "awwwwwww." All while the CMO tracked his eye movement.

The gorn nodded as he finished his quick check. Malakai was fine. " What kind of sssoup would you like?" he asked before he noticed Maxine behind her consol. " I'll be with you next ensssign." he added.

"Good question Doc. I think I would like some good old fashion chicken noodle if you have it in that thermos of yours." Mal replied with a smile.

Sthilg nodded and pressed a button on the thermos which ejected a plastic cup which filled with a very nice smelling soup which the gorn handed over. " Here you go. Now for you Maxine." He said warmly as he walked over to her.

"Thanks Doc." Mal replied taking the soup and just savoring its heavenly aroma to begin with.

The closer he got, the more subtle tension (or perhaps less so) he could see in her form. She continued tapping at her console, then stopped as the doctor stood next to her. Giving a slow nod and a huff, internally Maxine reigned herself to what she was sure was coming. She just hoped she wouldn't be put through counselling.

" Maxine how much sssleep have you had over the lassst twenty four hoursss?" The gorn enquired softly. A first year medical cadet could tell something was wrong with her from the tension in her body.

In the center seat, Mal watched Sthilg approach Maxine even from his vantage point Mal could see the CMO was paying close attention to Max as she stood at the console she was using. He couldn't hear the words Sthilg asked but he doubted it was "Hi, have some soup."

Max took a quick look around the bridge. She saw Mal looking in her direction, and she was sure others were watching too. Her shoulders drooped a little. Unfortunately, she knew she was beaten. After another moment, she finally answered.

"Five minutes." She paused, closed her eyes then added, "In five days."

Sthilg voice remained the same grandfatherly tone. " Come on Maxine let'sss get you to sssickbay. Your no good to any of usss in your condition."

This caught Max off guard. She had thought she would be relieved on the spot, or worse, sent to counseling. Perhaps she still would, and the doctor was just doing her the kindness of making it less visible. She huffed and nodded slowly, clearing the diagnostics from her screen and nodding slowly. She rose from her chair with resignation, looking over at Mal

Mal had watched the interaction between Sthilg and Maxine and judging by Max's body language whatever the Gorn had told her, she had resigned herself to, He met her gaze and nodded, "It's alright Ensign go with the Doc."

" Come on my dear. We'll try and help you get sssome sssleep." The gorn said before he looked around the bridge. " Anyone elssse having sssleep deprivation thisss bad? You will not get into trouble."

Damien glanced over at the Doc, hesitating for a few seconds, before shaking his head. Sure, he’d had a few restless nights, but nothing worth bothering him with.

Max blinked, then nodded with slow uncertainty. She stepped into formation behind and to the doctor's left. Was the worst yet to come, she wondered? Or could she get sedatives to-

Her eyes went wide then and Max seemed to freeze. Would she be sleeping in sickbay? In PUBLIC?

"I would prefer privacy," she remarked, simply. She hoped the doctor would clue into why, given the conversation they had when they first met.

" You'll get sssome my dear." The gorn replied reassuringly. " I jussst need to run a quick ssscan on you first."

Max gave the doctor an ever so slight nod of acknowledgement, then dipped her head respectfully to Mal. She was far from happy about this situation, but she knew that if she didn't cooperate she could, and probably would, be relieved. Besides... maybe she was wrong. Maybe she would be able to get a decent night's sleep again... she held her coffee in one hand, looked down at it, shrugged then moved to the turbolift.

The gorn followed giving a "sickbay" to the turbolift which sped off down the ship before opening. " Come on. I found a drug that will let you sssleep but ssswitch off your brain'sss ability to dream. " He reassured her.

Max let the doctor step into the lift first, then followed. She moved to the far wall (at least what could be considered such in a tiny space) and turned around to face the doors. As the lift began to move, she wondered, dare she dream?

TBC...