Stop me if you heard this one: A Dokkaran meets a Gorn...

Posted on Sun Aug 3rd, 2025 @ 1:50am by Lieutenant Zuriñe Aritza M.D. & Commander Sthilg

Mission: Season 6: Echoes of the Zynari
Location: Chief Medical Officer Office
1491 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Zuriñe was ecstatic over her new assignment, the U.S.S. Elysium. Sure, this was not the original Elysium, the forbearer of this ship and that precipitated the "Elysian Encounter" and the creation of her people. The "Elysium Encounter" provided The Lady the genetic coding that allowed her to mimesis and beget the first male and female Dokkaran; based of the Lieutenant Evangeline Dell for female Dokkaran and Ensign Christian Allanzar for male Dokkaran. While it was sad these two individuals had died on Ceata, her home world, The Lady had made the best out of their deaths.

Zuriñe felt blessed that the Goddess had seen fit to place her on the Elysium a small circle within the larger circle of life in the universe. The original Elysium was a Starfleet vessel, which provided the two crewmembers her race was based upon and who had lost their lives on Ceata in the line of duty. Now this Elysium variation of a Starfleet vessel had her, a Dokkaran serving on it. She was following in the tradition of her forbearer, Lieutenant Dell. Zuriñe smiled as she thought about this; the nature of Dokkaran allowed her access to Lieutenant Dell's memories about her life, especially those of her time in Starfleet. These memories were more like a dream, and some were even aethereal to her mind. She attributed this to the many memories that all the other Dokkaran shared about their life experiences, some memories and knowledge were crystal clear and sharp, others hazy and aethereal in a dream like fashion.

Zuriñe had to shake herself out of her reverie as she walked the corridors to the medical sickbay. She was on her way to report for duty and assignment on the U.S.S. Elysium. Sure, she knew that it would be as a medical officer, more specifically as the chief epidemiologist, under the supervision of the chief medical officer. Zuriñe grit her teeth at the thought, why did so many alien species insist on deference to another; the Goddess made all equal. Yet Starfleet had such silly concept as deference to others and a chain of command, the Goddess knew she was aware of this, Zuriñe had multiple official reprimands on her official personnel file. Suddenly Zuriñe found herself at the doors leading into the Chief Medical Officer office. She inhaled sharply, ran a hand down her uniform, ensured she had the PaDD with her orders, current physical and mental health evaluations, and medical data on Dokkaran physiology and psychology. Zuriñe had to smile at that last bit of information, Dokkaran’s were extremely rare outside of their home world of Ceata, and their physiology and psychology were extremely unique. She reached up and pressed the door buzzer to announce her presence.

" Enter." Called the lizard as his claw and artificial hand typed away on the computer. His white eyes looked up as the new officer stepped through his door. He gave her the most warmest smile his reptilian-like face could muster. " Ah, you mussst be Doctor Zurine. Welcome to the Elysium," he said, offering his hand in friendship.

Zuriñe took a deep breath and entered, as the voice had commanded. She was momentarily taken aback at the sight of the Gorn, by the Goddess I need to start familiarizing myself with my fellow shipmates, especially those who are so called my superiors, a Gorn for the Goddess’s sake is the Chief Medical Officer she thought. Zuriñe quickly recovered from the shock of seeing the Gorn. “Lieutenant Zuriñe reporting aboard and ready for duty.” she replied, as she reached out to shake the Gorn's hand.

" I take it I'm the first gorn you've met? " Sthilg said in his grandfatherly tone as he gave her hand a gentle shake. " Don't worry I'm ussse to it. You don't reach two hundred without getting ussse to people being ssscared of the big giant lizard. "

Zuriñe smiled at Dr. Sthilg, “Yes sir you are the first Gorn I have seen, however, I have the collected memories of my species, some have seen Gorn and had positive experiences and others not so positive. My initial reaction would most likely come from Lieutenant Dell, the individual that The Lady used as a template to make the Dokkaran species; she had a bad experience with the Gorn about two hundred or so years ago. This left a deep primordial fear in her psyche. While few, the occurrence of seeing a Gorn in Starfleet can best be summed up as infrequent whereas one seeing a Dokkaran in Starfleet is extremely rare. I believe there are currently a total of twenty to twenty-five Dokkaran in Starfleet. So please do not take offense at my initial reaction.”

" I can asssssure you, my dear, the hegemony doesssn't even consssider thossse animalsss asss gorn." the doctor added, rubbing his head slightly. " I've never treated a Dokkaran before. Did you bring your ssspeciesss bassse template with you in cassse i need to treat you? " He asked politely in his grandfatherly tone

Zuriñe again smiled and handed over her PaDD. “All the necessary information is present on this PaDD. It includes the works and research by T'Kahr. Personally I believe you would be better off reading doctor Silviu’s papers, he is after all the leading Dokkaran medical expert. He has written the manual for Dokkaran healthcare for the Federation.”

The gorn nodded as he took the padd. " i certainly will my dear. In the meantime let'sss get you on a biobed and let'sss sssee how you compare to your lassst scan. " he said his best smile upon his lip. " Any ilnessss not on file sssince your lassst sssscan?" he added.

She laughed; “No sir, been perfectly healthy. May have overdosed a little on the sunshine I got on Risa during leave, but otherwise healthy. Ensured Starfleet shipped twelve crates of Caeta soil, two to my quarters and the rest stored for medical healing if needed.”

" That's a good idea. Ssstill let'sss get you on a bio bed, we need to do these proceduresss." The old lizard said as he lead the way to one of the biobeds.

Zuriñe followed the Gorn doctor over to a bio bed. She jumped up and laid back on the bed. "Have way, good doctor. May you find the results you're be what you expect."

" I hope ssso to my dear." the lizard said as he started up the scanner. " So, how have you been finding life in Ssstarfleet my dear?" He enquired in his grandfatherly tone.

“Difficult in some aspects, and wonderful in others. I still have an issue with this chain of command thing; I mean we Dokkaran believe in the concept, and therefore practice, that everyone is equal. This has lead to many considering that I have a ‘lack of respect’. The good parts of Starfleet is the wonderful exploration of the universe. All the new and interesting knowledge being gathered.” replied Zuriñe, as a matter of fact.

" i know the feeling my dear. I'm sure you'll ajut to the chain of command." Sthilg replied

Zuriñe smiled at the doctor as he examined her. "Been in Starfleet for a few years now, still do not understand why other species seem to need to have the need to feel like they are better than another, much less why one feels they are better at being their 'leader'. Take for instance yourself and myself, we are both equally qualified in our field, yet the captain has the right to command us, even though she has no qualifications in our field. I myself do not believe I could be the helmsman or pilot of the Elysium."

" I crassshed the sssimulator lassst time i did my pilot training. " The gorn replied with a grin. " To far ussse to flying older controlsss."

Zuriñe laughed, “Well at least I didn’t crash the shuttles or runabouts. Never did try any of the larger scale ships. I imagine they are harder to pilot.”

“Believe me, my dear, they are indeed harder to pilot. “ the gorn answered with a warm smile on his face. " Ssstill from what i can sssee here i don't sssee any reason not to deem you fit for duty."

Zuriñe smiled, "See I told you, as the humans say 'I am as fit as a fiddle'. I am anxious to get to my office and lab. May I get off the bio bed now..." there was a slight pause before Zuriñe said "...Sir?"

" Go on, don't let this old sawbones keep you." Sthilg smiled as he tapped a few commands into his computer.

Zuriñe jumped down of the bed, "Thank you doctor. Was a pleasure."