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Posted on Fri Nov 8, 2019 @ 1:46pm by Lieutenant Nicole Anderson

1,607 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Nibiru
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Some time some where some how

Nicole stalked down the corridor, black bag in hand. She was working her way through the new crew, but several were avoiding Sickbay. She had reviewed their files and was hunting them down, one by one. The next one, she'd let the computer help track him down to the ship's cafe.

She reached the end of Deck 8 and stepped inside the cafe. The room was still coming into its own, being a lower priority section it hadn't had much manpower yet for customization, but the replicators functioned as did the kitchen, and the occupant there was drinking a large cup of coffee and looking out the viewport.

"Good afternoon, Ensign," Anderson said. "You're overdue for your boarding exam."

Eric took a moment to enjoy his coffee before looking towards the source of the voice. He had hoped that he could postpone going to sickbay for a while longer; he had spent enough time near doctors and laying on biobeds recently, but first glance of this person told him that it would be in his best interest not to antagonize her. “Damnit. Prolly best to just apologize and get this over with,” he sighed through his teeth.

“Sorry about that,” he answered “It's a new ship and I got a bit lost, thought a cup of coffee would help while I orientated myself.” He added with a smile and raised his cup towards her.

"I can appreciate being lost," she said, "but the computer can direct you, so that only holds so much water." She gestured to the door. "Shall we?"

Eric shook his head, “Yeah, that was a pretty poor excuse, wasn’t it?” He replied sheepishly.

He quickly downed the rest of his coffee, ignoring the burning sensation in this throat, “Alright.” He added hoarsely. A quick cough cleared up his voice, “After you . . . “ he paused to look for her rank. “Lieutenant.” Eric finished.

Nicole watched him carefully for a minute, then stepped into the corridor, listening for his footfalls behind her. "We won't be long," she said. "Just a routine checkup in Sickbay."

Eric sat his coffee mug down on the nearest table before he followed the Lt out into the corridor. “Sorry if it seemed like I was avoiding Sick-Bay, but thats because I was.” Eric stated after catching up. “Nothing against anyone, I'm just not overly fond of the place.” he added while looking around, getting a lay of the current Deck and his mind off of past events.

“Sickbay should be one deck above.” he thought to himself, a quick recall to the deck listings he had looked over when had first gotten on.

Nicole watched him carefully in the lift, albeit for a short time, and a deck later, she led him through the doors into her domain, and into an exam room. "Up onto the biobed, please," she said, taking a tricorder off the counter.

Eric complied and hopped on to the bed before lying down, it took him a moment to calm his breathing; “Just get it done and over with.” he thought to himself

She flipped her tricorder open and scanned him slowly, watching the display above the bed. "How do you feel, right now?" she said.

“A bit tired and slightly anxious.” Eric replied honestly as he stared at the ceiling; “Other than that, just periods of time where there's a ringing in my ear where they put in my hearing aid in. I was told that it was psychosomatic and that there was nothing wrong with the implant.” he added.

"Well, if you're hearing something, then there's either something wrong with the implant, or something wrong with you," Nicole said. "if it's not the implant, then we need to take care of you." She picked up a blank padd and began making notes. "Are you thirsty? Hungry? Or would you prefer a nap?"

Eric shook his head,"No I'm good on all three. I ate recently, and I keep myself hydrated to balance out my love of coffee, and ..." he paused for a moment to try and remember when had last slept. "I got some sleep last night." he added before looking towards her. "Like I said, I'm not fond of medical facilities, spent too much time in them." Eric moved his focus back to the ceiling.

"And I'm not fond of people trying to cover up," Nicole said, her voice hardening. "You haven't gotten some sleep, you've gotten almost none. Your serotonin levels are dangerously low, your vitamin absorption rate is abysmal, your 'love of coffee' has your skin looking rather dry, and I could pack everything in the cargo bays in the bags under your eyes."

She grabbed a hypospray, preparing it with a large dose of nutrients and pressed it to his neck, taking care of some of his physical requirements. "So why aren't you sleeping?"

Eric winced as he felt the hypo spray pinch at his neck. A small grin appeared on his face; “cargo bay, that’s not one I’ve heard before.” He joked before the grin faded and he became more somber.

“Nightmares,” Eric replied softly, “ I have recurring nightmares, though until recently I had gotten them under control.” He added.

*Cass, where are you when I need you,* Nicole thought.

"Tell me about them," she said, pulling up a stool.

Eric sighed, “About a year ago on my last assignment aboard the Akagi, the Security team I was on had been assigned to clear cargo that was to be brought on board; we checked it, cleared it and as we were leaving the cargo bay, one of the crates exploded.” Eric answered before pausing to sit up, “Sorry I don’t want to lay down.” He added gripping the side of the biobed. “I remember regaining conscious and opening my eyes to see my best friend bleeding out in front of me.”

"Have you seen a counselor about it?" Nicole said, scanning him subtly. "Or for your back, for that matter?"

"Yeah, I saw one while I was recovering." Eric answered. "And what about my back?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Well you may not have noticed, but you have a scar or two," Nicole said, dryly. She snapped her fingers. "Off with the shirt."

Eric hesitated for a moment; he sighed slightly annoyed at her demand. He hated having his back exposed. He unzipped his overcoat and set it next to him shortly followed by his undershirt. He rolled his shoulders to stretch out the patchwork of scar tissue that ran down his back.

She looked him over and clucked her tongue. "Why haven't you had the skin repaired? It's a simple procedure and it could save you quite a bit of discomfort."

Eric closed his eyes a small chuckle escaped from him. He recalled how Lieutenant Mireya back on the Akagi had asked him the same thing. “Never had a desire to remove them.” He answered. “They’ve been with me pretty much my whole life, and kind of serve as a reminder.” He added.

"Of what?" Nicole said.

“In a morbid way, my biological parents.” Eric answered as he looked over his shoulder towards her. “I lost both of them in a fire when I was five, I don’t have any family pictures left of them, so these,” he paused to rub his right shoulder, “are a way for me to remember them.” He finished with a sad smile.

She glanced at his back, then at him. "You could consider looking up photos in the Federation archives," she said. "And while touching..it doesn't detract from the discomfort you must feel. Consider having at least some of them lessened."

“Okay.” Eric responded before motioning to his shirt, “Am I good to put my uniform back on?” he asked.

"Yes," Nicole said, picking up an extractor. She pressed it to his neck, taking a sample of blood. "I'm going to give you a hypospray. Use it thirty minutes before you plan on going to bed, and when you do, keep the lights off, no distractions. Allow your mind time to wash away the day. Understand?"

“Gah.” Eric hissed at the pinch from the extractor. “Yeah, understood.” He answered as he put his shirt and coat back on.

“Any side effects I should know about?” He asked as hopped down from the bed and waited for the hypospray.

Nicole picked up a programmable hypo and a padd, putting instructions down. "Make sure you have time for a full night's sleep so you aren't late for a duty shift. You may get a little dry mouth but just keep hydrated. If you feel anything else, let me know," she said, handing it to him.

“Got it.” He answered as he started to read through the information she had given him. “Do you need anything else from me?” He asked as he looked from the padd and back to her.

"Not at the moment, but come back in a week, and let's see how you feel," Nicole said.

“Alright.” Eric responded shifting his focus back to the pads, as headed towards the exit. He stopped in front of the door and turned around, “ I just wanted to say thank you and I’m sorry for being a bit of a pain by avoiding this place, it wasn’t professional or right and I’m sorry for that.” He stated wanting to make sure he hadn’t completely fubared this person’s opinion of him.

"Apology accepted," she said. "See you in a week."

"Take care." Eric responded as he walked out Sick bay.

 

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