A first time for everything

Posted on Fri Dec 27th, 2019 @ 2:26am by Lieutenant Commander Alicia Kelea-Salik & Commander Sthilg

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD2 1140 hrs Prior to "A Little Tour"
1132 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON]

Alicia headed for Sickbay, given the amount of times she’d been in and out of medical facilities after the loss of her baby and her resulting attempt at suicide, she was feeling pretty uncomfortable about being in yet another medical facility. Typical given that being a Counsellor, she was part of the medical staff. This was going to be a first for her as she’d never interacted with a Gorn before, something that intrigued her. She did her best to smile as she walked into Sickbay.

The ship's MD was in his office feeding a few of the medical faculties animals in there small holding cages. He looked at his wrist computer as it showed that his next appointment was due. " Lieutenant Alicia Kelea." He called as he stepped out of his office. He recognized the hybrid immediately and walked over towards her.

Alicia had turned towards the doctor as soon as he’d called her. She tried not to feel intimidated by the Gorn MD but he was the first ever Gorn she’d met. “Doctor” She nodded politely.

"If you follow me we'll get your check-up over and done with. " He said politely giving her a smile as best as his species did.

Alicia nodded. “By all means Doctor.” She followed the large lizard like Gorn. “I have to admit you are the first Gorn I’ve ever met.”

" A rather common reaction. Mossst are sssurprised to find one of a race of piratesss and raidersss working on a fedration ssshipsss medicle bay, but I'm not what most would call a normal gorn." The doctor said as he lead the way into his own office/examination room. " I've read youre profile. Hasss everything been okay sssince your lassst checkup?" He asked as he started switching on the rooms bio bed.

" Yes, there's been no changes." Alicia offered a smile. "I've decided to keep my scars, other doctors recommended removing them but..." She looked at her wrists. "They remind me how precious my life is. I do still get odd aches and pains in my stomach but I'm not sure if they're just psychosematic, left over from my miscarriage. It's been two years after all."

" I'll make sssure to get a deep ssscan to make sssure everything'sss okay. " The gorn said as his artificial arm made a slight wheezing noise. " Sssorry about that it is rather old." He said with a grin as the scanner started up.

“Have you never been offered a more up-to-date replacement?” Alicia looked at Sthlig curiously as she waited for the scan to complete.

" A few doctorsss have offred, but ssshhe'ss ssseen me fine sssince i lost her to the dominion. Besssidesss they're the chance i could lossse all function of my arm if I have a new one implanted. " The gorn explained. " I hope you don't mind me asking but I've read a few of the papersss that have been written about your condition. How many of the sssymbiote'sss memoriesss do you have?"

"Strangely enough, most of them!" Alicia shrugged her shoulders. "The doctors back home on Trill seem to think that it had something to do with me being part Betazoid as to why I have shared memories from her symbiont. I just don't have the various personality changes that happen when a trill is joined. I have memories that pop up from time to time that aren't mine. It's very...wierd."

" I don't know how you manage it. I'm nearly four hundred and thirty and I can't keep track of all of my memoriesss." The lizard replied grinning.

"It takes...practice, lots of practice!" Alicia grinned. "My mother has been a god send in helping me, she taught me how to seperate my thoughts and integrate what I got from her symbiont. It's a learning curve, I'm still learning."

" Life is indeed a learning experience. You don't get five different medical degrees from the federation alone without learning a lot." The gorn responded his eyes shifting to the wall he had them pinned along with his other awards/diplomas.

Alicia followed his gaze. “Those are definitely something to be very proud of.” She smiled warmly. “I spent the last two years getting myself sorted out, I needed to get back to my career and my life.”

" I'm sssure you will. You have a good ssstaff on the ssship. I can say that from experience." The doctor responded as he looked at the incoming data from the scan. Almost done.

"So what does my scan say so far? All good I hope?" Alicia offered the doctor a smile.

" Everything'sss looking good. " The doctor said with a smile.

"So maybe my pains are psychological after all." She sighed.

The gorn began clicking the side of his mouth with his tongue as he looked through the incoming scan data. " Ah, that may be the problem." he said as his hands began to type on the console. " It appearsss there is sssome old residual tissue leftover from the damage you sssuffered during you're missscarriage. I'll ssschedule an operation to have it removed. "

"Seriously?" She shook her head. "Of course you're serious, I never expected that. It's been two years and I've carried that around all this time?" She paused. This was bringing back stressful memories, she was still carrying a small part of her child around inside her and she was going to have to face having that part removed.

The gorn swallowed as a look of sorrow spread over his face. " I know this must be a ssshock to you, but it's for the bessst that the tissssue be removed. " Slowly he walked around and knelt down so he could look at her from head level. " I know how hard this mussst have been for you. My own daughter was born ssstillborn and i ssstill think of her every day."

Alicia gave the Gorn doctor an understanding nod. "I just...need some time before the operation. To just...let this sink in."

" I underssstand. Take as long as you need. I'll give you a pressscription of sssome herbal tea that ssshould help with the pain. " The gorn said as he stood up and walked over to his office consol.

"Thank you" Alicia offered a brief smile. "I know it has to be done, I won't be avoiding it. I just never thought..." She shook her head.

" Do you have someone you can talk to?" The gorn inquired.

"I have someone I can talk to doctor, but I appreciate your concern." Alicia offered a warm smile. "I'll be in touch about the operation."

"I'll be here when you need me." The gorn said with the friendliest grin he could give.

Alicia nodded. "Thank you Doctor." She nodded politely before heading on her way.

[OFF]