Doc Talk

Posted on Wed Aug 5th, 2020 @ 11:24am by Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym & Lieutenant Zuub

1,143 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Caverns of the mind
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD02

ON

When Kym learned there was a new CMO, she headed over to sickbay to say hello and welcome the doctor aboard. She didn't have any patients at the moment, so it was a good time to make a visit.

Zuub was looking at her new sickbay and casually inspecting all of the tools at her disposal. Every once in awhile her antennae would writhe in delight, imagining how she might use them for some playful activities. The moment that the doors to sickbay opened, she turned and faced the newcomer.

Looking at the presumably Bajoran woman, Zuub greeted her in a soft wispy voice. "Can I help you?" she offered the nearly foot smaller woman.

"I'm the counselor. Welcome to the Aurora, doctor," she said, giving the woman a friendly smile.

Zuub's face, typical to all Andorians showed no emotion. However, her antennae were quite expressive. They leaned in, sensing the Bajoran, a slight writing of her antennae expressing desire being controlled after a short moment. "Ah! You are too late. The Captain already handled my psychological check up."

"He did? I need to remind him that he's not the counselor here any more. He was, before he was promoted. He keeps doing my job. I may have to start doing his." She gave the Andorian a smile. ""I didn't come to do your evaluation, merely to say hi."

"Oh," Zuub replied more interested. Wilfully, she kept her antennae from writhing again. However, they did lean more towards the counselor. "I am Chief Medical Officer Zuub and you are who?"

"Ronen Kym." She smiled again. "I'm currently the other counselor on the ship--if you count the captain."

If Zuub could physically smile, she would have. Instead, her antennae twittered with amusement. "The Captain does not micromanage, does he?" Zuub asked. "Or is he just a busy body, I believe you would call it."

"Neither, actually. He keeps forgetting I'm here and thinks he has to be both captain and counselor."

"I imagine that would make you feel rather superfluous and upset. Have you advised him of that? I've often noticed that Pink Skins refuse to express things to other people. The Counselor on Zealous. She wanted to be intimate with another crew member but refused to tell him and that crew member wanted to be intimate with her but refused to tell him. Do you know what it was like for me, knowing all this? I told both of them to express their desire but they insisted that things were not done that way. Very confusing."

"He knows I'm here, but he keeps slipping into counselor mode. I figure it won't be long before he finally realizes he doesn't have the time to do two jobs, especially if one involves commanding a starship," she said.

"Is this ship normally busy?" Zuub asked, her antennae swaying slightly to the sides, to and fro. "I also am curious how a counselor could become a Captain. It seems rather unusual but makes him rather interesting."

"He'd taken command courses, so when the captain left the ship and the first officer refused the promotion, he was the logical choice. Well, after they decided it was better in this instance to promote from within rather than bring in a new captain. So far it's been a good choice." She paused. "We've managed to keep busy."

"Busy is not always better. I do have research that I need to perform and I have other leisure activities that I rather enjoy pursuing." Her antennae writhed in anticipation.

"The first officer is a scientist. She still manages to keep involved in her field, so you should be fine," Kym said. "What sort of research are you working on?"

"I am trying to cure Hlasha's Curse." Her antennae drooped. "If you are not familiar with it is the premature infertility of Andorian women. It is extremely rare, as we are a rather fertile breed. Of course, we used to have a great deal of Andorians die in border wars with our neighbors over fertile land. But Picard changed all that. Even so, Andorian wives have several litters of children. Myself, I am one of my mother's second litter. I was one of eight of that litter. My mother had seven children in the first litter."

"That's quite the challenge," Kym said. "I hope you can eventually find a cure. I'm sure the captain will let you set up a dedicated lab for your research."

"I will make do with whatever resources that I have. The Curse is not well researched. Most who have it are embarrassed to discuss it and commit suicide."

"I didn't know that last part, but then, I am not well-versed in Andorian culture," Kym said.

Zuub's antennae writhed as she approached Kym and replied, "I would be pleased if you wished to learn more about it. Perhaps over dinner and some Andorian ale?"

"Sure. I'm free until the away team returns," she said. "I'd love to hear more about your research."

The Andorian's antennae twittered happily. She had found her first new playmate. "I would be happy to tell you anything that you wish to know. It is so rare that anyone is interested in this area of research."

Kym smiled. "I don't know how deep I'll get into it, but I am interested. I hope you find others on the ship who will want to help with the research, too. Maybe Remy will be interested. He's the Chief Science Officer. He's currently down on the planet with the away team."

"I probably should join them soon on the planet," Zuub replied. "The entire concept of these scientists giving up everything to live with the natives is rather fascinating."

"I'm sure they'd welcome you," Kym said.

"I will be looking forward to going down but I think there are matters to study first. I did not get wholly satisfactory answers from the Captain about what happened there."

"Science can answer best, but from what I understand, there was a research facility on the planet. From what the first team discovered, the scientists have devolved and are living in some caves with the natives."

"Yes, I understood that," Zuub replied, her antennae drooping. "But there's so much more. I have so many more questions. And, I do need to check all of the current medical records of everyone on the planet. I suspect I will need to make comparisons."

"That would be helpful to make sure the away team is healthy. They still don't know what caused the problems with the scientists." She smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure you'll get more answers when the current team returns."

"I suspect I will," Zuub responded. "I just hope that they are answers that are helpful."


____
OFF

Lieutenant JG Ronen Kym
Counselor
USS Aurora

and

Lieutenant Zuub
Chief Medical Officer
USS Aurora

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