Extra hands

Posted on Tue May 12th, 2020 @ 1:22am by Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Commander Sthilg

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: During time in the zone
1284 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

Making her way down to Sickbay Heather walked inside and looked around for the large Gorn Chief Medical Officer.

The big gorn was in sickbay finishing off another crewmembers implant as he noticed the ginger-haired hybrid come in. "I'll be right with you just take a ssseat." he said calmly indicating the free biobed next to where he currently stood.

Heather was going to object but she did need to have an implant fitted like everyone else. The doctor would find out who she was once he had time to join her.

It didn't take long before the gorn had finished and had turned his attention to Heather. " Sssorry about that. I ssstil have quite a few of the crew to do. It'sss Ssseargent Heather De La Rosa isn't it?" he asked calmly as he stepped over to her.

“Yes Sir, it is” Heather smiled. “I just received the news that I’ll be your new head nurse and marine medic. Which I’m pretty happy about.”

" It'sss nice to have you. We'll get your medical checkup done and get you your implant. Will you please roll up your sssleeve?" The gorn asked as he loaded the implantation gun.

Heather nodded and rolled up her sleeve, even though Tallia had treated her old wounds and helped her past her drug addiction her skin still showed signs of the old track marks from years of being given injections by the slavers and her owner. There were no gentle hyposprays during those years.

The gorn paused as he looked at the injections. He'd seen marks like these before. He didn't even need to look up as he knew the ghost of his mate was watching him from the corner of his vision. She and the rest of the slaves they'd found on that ship had been treated just like this some even worse. He shook his head to clear that. " Sssorry about that. Bad memoriesss." he said as he placed the injector on her skin and pulled the trigger. " It may be sssore for a few munitesss, but that'sss it done."

“Thank you Doctor” Heather smiled. “I err...I’m over my habit now thanks to Tallia, she saved my life.”

" I'm glad it worked. If you ever feel the need to talk to anyone about it my door will always be open." The lizard said as he moved to start the scan. " Any incidentsss sssince your lassst medical ssscan not on file?" he asked.

“No none.” Heather smiled. “The only place I’ve been is on my honeymoon with Fernando.”

" I'm happy for both of you. Where did you go?" He asked as the scan got under way.

Fernando took me to Wrigley’s pleasure planet, we stayed at the Wrigley Waldorf.” She grinned. “It was a honeymoon to remember!”

" Well, I'm happy you had a good time. I have sssome more good newsss asss your body isss recovering vert well. " He said looking at the incoming data from the scan.

“That’s good to hear” Heather smiled warmly. “Fernando and I would eventually like to have children, not that we're planning to rush into it.”

" Well let me know when you want to sstart. I am an expert in that matter. I have helped many lifeforms into this world." The big gorn replied.

“Oh I will, that’s good to hear. At least I know I’d be in good hands.” She grinned.

" Well looksss like everything is well within acceptable levelsss." The gorn said as the scan finished which brought a smile to his face.

Heather smiled and nodded. “That’s good news. Thank you Doctor, so that means I’m free to start my duties as head nurse.”

" Yesss. I'll add you to the rossster and get you your ssshift assssssignmentsss." The gorn said tapping the computer on his wrist.

“That would be appreciated Doctor.” Heather smiled warmly. “I will need to update my skills, I was a slave for several years so I’ve been out of circulation for a while.”

"I'm sssure you catch up sssoon enough. You're a very brave intelligent woman." The gorn responded giving her a reassuring grin.

“Thank you Doctor, it’s very kind of you to say so.” Heather smiled warmly. “Actually I owe an apology for my outburst when the other slaves and crew were brought in for treatment. I got a little...over involved due to the similar circumstances.”

" You have nothing to applogissse for. I've had worssse reactionsss from people who have sssuffered under that barbaric practice. " the gorn replied. pausing as he remembered the sharp nail raking his eyeballs.

Heather nodded. “It wasn’t pleasant and I did...things and had things done to me that I’ll never forget, but what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger.” She offered a warm smile.

The gorn was silent for a while as a single tear crept down his cheek." Sssorry." he said as he wiped his hand with his sleave. " My wife always usssed that sssaying."

Heather reached out her hand and gently touched the large Gorn’s arm. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to bring back unhappy memories for you.” A chill ran down her spine as though she was being watched by someone, but when she looked there was no one there.

" It'sss perfectly okay I know you didn't mean it. I'm jusst trying to remember the good timesss i had with her to try and not bring out the ghossst." the big lizard replied giving her hand a gentle squeeze in return.

“Ghost?” Heather looked at the Gorn Doctor in a curious manner. “Dare I ask?”

" It sssoundsss crazy, but i'm being haunted by the ghossst of my wife. Ssshe just keepsss appearing and ssstaring at me. We've takena look at my head and found nothing wrong with me ssso the only option i sssee left isss to do a ritual to contact the dead in the hunting ground." The doctor explained as best as he could.

“I’ve heard of something similar. Isn’t it a risky thing to do?” Heather looked at Sthilg curiously. “I’d be happy to volunteer to be there as medical backup incase it’s needed? That’s if you’d like me there of course.”

" According to the ledgendsss you can leave your ssspirit behind in the hunting ground if you're not careful. I'd appreciate the help. The root ssshoudn't cause any ssside effects on none gorn, but you never know what could happen." Then gorn said with a smile on his old face.

Heather nodded. “In that case you’d best fill me in about this root and it’s possible side effects just incase.” She smiled. “When the time comes I’d rather be prepared.”

" The karak root is found on are homeworld. When eaten in its raw form or as a powder it can send my people on a powerful psychoactive trip that the ssshamans use to think was the third eye-opening to the ssspirit world. Almost all other ssspecies it has a very mild effect. Sssome it doesn't even work." the gorn explained.

Heather nodded. “So as I understand it, you’ll need others with you for the ritual. Do we know whether the root will effect them?”

" I'm already running tessst to sssee what would happen. Everything looking good. " replied the doctor with a smile on his face.

Heather nodded. “That’s good. Just let me know when and where you’ll need me and what to bring and I’ll be there for you.”

The gorn gave no reply other than a smile anyone could tell was a thank you.

{OFF}