A Quick and Painless Trip to Sickbay [Backpost]

Posted on Tue Nov 6th, 2012 @ 9:03am by Lieutenant Ophelia Lysander & Lieutenant Aniela Darvetti

Mission: Episode 1.1 - "MystiQue"
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Day 2, 1615

OFF: This is a backpost.

ON:
[[Sickbay, USS Yorktown, Mission Day 2, 1615]]

In the few days that Ophelia had been aboard the [i]Yorktown[/i], she'd had her hands full setting the main Sickbay and surrounding medical facilities to rights according to her own tastes and sense of organization. Outside of overseeing the completion of inventory alongside Dr. Haelen (PNPC), the new CMO had also begun the admittedly arduous task of scheduling mandatory medical evals for the new crew.

To her quiet dismay, and despite all of her careful planning, on this particular day Ophelia was falling a little behind schedule, and it was with some relief that she sent one crewmember away with a clean bill of health in an almost timely manner. Using the precious few moments afforded to her before the next appointment arrived, she quickly and carefully entered her notes into a PADD, hoping against hope that most of the evals still to come would be as routine as the last. The fact was that Ophelia hated those nights when she had to pick her daughter up from the ship’s daycare any later than usual. It wasn’t fair to anyone involved, but she knew all the same that it couldn’t always be helped either. Sighing softly to herself, she had just finished the last of her notes when she heard the telltale sound of the doors swishing open. Fixing a placid smile into place, she turned to great the new arrival.

Quietly Aniela moved into Sickbay, her chocolate eyes carefully searching the room for the doctor. Though she wasn't entirely comfortable with checkups, she understood their necessity and generally tried to get them finished quickly rather than avoid them. Noticing a woman in sciences teal, who she presumed was Doctor Lysander, Aniela offered a brief smile as she walked over to the other woman, "Good afternoon, I'm Lieutenant Aniela Darvetti; here for my medical evaluation."

"You're right on time," Ophelia said, her smile growing a little warmer as she greeted her fellow teal-wearing officer. "A pleasure, Lieutenant. I'm Dr. Lysander, ship's Chief Medical Officer. Why don't you seat yourself on that biobed just over there and we can begin." She gestured to the biobed set furthest from the main doors. After ensuring that she had the right PADD on her--she was never one to confuse PADDs, but today was the sort of day where anything was possible--Ophelia hurried over to join her new patient. As she tapped her way through the PADD's contents, she remarked, "So, you're our new Chief Science Officer, or so your file tells me. Welcome aboard the [i]Yorktown[/i], Lieutenant."

Nodding at the doctor's instructions, Aniela moved over to the indicated biobed and sat down. After getting settled, she folded her hands in her lap and watched quietly as the other woman looked through her information. "Yes, I am. Thank you," she smiled. "How long have you been with the ship, Doctor?"

"Not long at all, actually. I'm still settling in myself," Ophelia replied, looking up from the PADD to meet the science officer's eyes. Even if she was off schedule today, she couldn't help indulging in a little chitchat. In her experience, a calm and pleasant bedside manner often helped put patients' minds at ease, making everyone's life easier. Besides that, Aniela was a fellow senior officer, and Ophelia was genuinely interested in getting to know her a bit. "How do you like the ship so far? Are you enjoying all the technological wonders a new ship has to offer?" The doctor certainly was. As far as Sickbays went, the [i]Yorktown's[/i] was one of the most beautiful and advanced facilities she'd ever seen. Considering some of her past assignments, however, that wasn't very hard.

Aniela smiled, "Seems like there have been quite a few new additions to the crew lately." She thought back over her time on her previous assignments before replying to the doctor's question, "The Yorktown is quite different from some of the other ships I've been on. Technically I was last on a station...prior to that, though, I was mostly assigned to older ships. Part of me rather enjoys the the new technology, but I'm also fond of history which the older ships certainly have."

Chuckling quietly, Ophelia nodded. "My most recent assignment was a station as well, and I certainly know what you mean about older ships," she smiled. Looking back to the PADD once more, she quickly perused its contents. "Well, I don't see any red flags in your medical history. From some of my colleagues' reports, you're the picture of good health." Glancing up again, she asked, "Has anything changed since your last evaluation? Any illness or injury that has gone unreported?"

Considering the doctor's question for a few moments, she slowly responded, "I've not noticed any changes... And I can't say I've been ill or injured either, Doctor. There were some illnesses circulating around the station, but luckily nobody in my department was affected."

As she reached for her tricorder, Ophelia was in full doctor mode now. Popping the hand scanner free, she quickly and efficiently began to scan the science officer, observing the results as the data was filtered onto the tricorder screen. "Body temperature normal, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are good... You could use a little more vitamin C," she added with a hint of a smile. "Other than that, though, your preliminary scan looks excellent." Taking the opportunity to peruse Aniela's chart once more, she idly tapped her finger on the side of the device. "Is there any history of illness in your family or extended family that your file doesn't reflect?"

"A few of my extended family members have had high blood pressure, but other than that, I'm not aware of anything serious," the Chief Science Officer answered. Mostly that condition was limited to some of her more...high-strung family members. Thankfully she had not inherited that trait.

Ophelia nodded, snapping the tricorder's hand scanner back into place. "Well, Lieutenant Darvetti, you really do seem to be the picture of good health," she smiled. Setting her tricorder down for a moment, the doctor added the information about Aniela's family history to her file for future reference. As she did so, she asked almost off-handedly, "Are you happy to be on a real starship again, or do you miss the station you were last on?"

Aniela smirked slightly, "A little of both, I think. I was working exclusively with the Taevon Expanse from the station. It was nice to be able to concentrate all my efforts on trying to understand something so complex. On the other hand, it's exciting to have the chance to discover new anomalies and face the challenges of traveling through space. What about you, Doctor?"

"Working with the Expanse must have been very exciting," Ophelia remarked. "As for me, I was born and raised on a starbase. I enjoy starships well enough, but there's something about a starbase that calls to me. A stronger feeling of permanence, I suppose," she mused, her mouth quirking into a smile as old memories momentarily resurfaced. "My daughter was born on the last starbase I served on. I think she misses that sense of community there as well."

"What's your daughter's name, and how old is she?" Aniela asked. As a scientist, she couldn't help but admire the inquisitive spirits of children. "I can certainly understand the appeal of community... Though on the right ship a sense of community can form. Is your husband aboard as well?"

Although she had already liked her before, Ophelia found that she liked Aniela all the more now. Anyone who showed an interest in children appealed to the mother in her. "Her name is Hazel, and she just turned three," she said with a fond smile as she laid her PADD on end of the biobed. As for her husband... "My husband passed away two years ago, I'm afraid, so it's just the two of us here," she explained simply, and there was no change in her calm expression. In the months after Roken's death, Ophelia had found it difficult not to inwardly flinch at the mere mention of her husband. Now, though, a little time and distance had made it much easier, though some days were still harder than others. "Our Betazoid cat is the only man in the Lysander household these days," she joked lightly, hoping to ease any discomfort Aniela might feel by inadvertently bringing up a difficult subject.

"Hazel is a lovely name," Aniela replied with a smile. Her smile faded, though, as the doctor explained about her husband, "I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, Doctor; I didn't realize...." Feeling bad for bringing up sad memories, she followed the other woman's subject change, "I'd love to meet Hazel, and your cat, sometime. I can't say that I've seen a Betazoid cat before."

"Oh, they're fairly similar to terran cats, only a tad more willful, perhaps. Not unlike a few Betazoids I've known, actually," Ophelia smiled. The fact that she was part Betazoid herself certainly didn't escape her. "You're welcome to come and visit us anytime you like, Lieutenant. Back on Starbase 339, Hazel and I were used to having friends visit our quarters often and vice versa. We'd enjoy the company," she said candidly.

"Ah," Aniela said, nodding. "Thank you for the invitation, Doctor. I'm sure I'll take you up on that sometime soon." Though she wouldn't particularly call herself a...social butterfly...she did like getting together with friends and from the sounds of things, the doctor could be a good candidate for that.

"We'll look forward to it," Ophelia said with a nod, wondering if Aniela really would take her up on it. It had been a rather spur of the moment invitation, all things considered. Noting the time, she realized that at the rate she was going she was never going to get back on schedule. Conversation fell to the wayside as the doctor completed her evaluation of Aniela, and in almost record time she was entering in her final notes. "All right then, Lieutenant Darvetti. You officially have a clean bill of health. Any last questions or concerns for me?"

Shaking her head, Aniela replied, "No, Doctor, I can't say that I do. I appreciate you making this quick and painless, though. I don't really know that I or my department would necessarily be of much help to you, but if you need something and think we can, please let me know. Thank you." She smiled as she slid off the biobed.

"I'm glad that you found it quick and painless. I do my best, but not everyone feels the same way that you do," Ophelia laughed quietly. Angling herself so that she faced Aniela, she appeared to consider the scientist's offer. "That's very kind of you, Lieutenant. If I think of anything, I'll be sure to let you know," she assured her.

Aniela offered the Doctor a brief smile and nod, "Very good, Doctor. I'm sure I'll see you around the ship. Good luck with your other patients."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Darvetti. I sincerely appreciate that," Ophelia said, returning Aniela's smile and nod. Seeing the scientist halfway across Sickbay, she remained there for a long moment after Aniela left. She realized with a pang that she missed Hazel. Chatting about her with Aniela, even briefly, had somehow triggered a feeling of longing to be with her daughter. Although she loved her work, and although she was happy with her transfer overall, it never made the time spent away from her Hazel any easier for Ophelia. Forcing herself to snap out of her momentary stupor, the doctor turned on her heel and strode towards her office. Regardless of how she felt, there was work to be done, and the fact remained that the sooner she finished her tasks and appointments for the day, the sooner she could pick up Hazel from daycare. That thought alone was enough to bring a smile to her face.


OFF: JP brought to you by:

Lieutenant Ophelia Lysander
Chief Medical Officer
USS Yorktown

and

Lieutenant Aniela Darvetti
Chief Science Officer
USS Yorktown