Diagnosing the medical staff...

Posted on Thu Jun 30th, 2011 @ 10:08am by Lieutenant Elena Valdez

Mission: The Fate of the Swiftsure
Location: Deck 8, Sickbay
Timeline: Current

A single step forward would take Elena through the doors to sickbay, her sickbay, and to her first experience as chief medical officer of the USS Iapetus. She hovered just outside the door's sensor range for a moment, enjoying the thrill of crossing from her old life into a new one. The memory of her small but homey clinic in Mexico almost seemed like it belonged to someone else now.

Elena took a deep breath and held it as she took the monumental step that opened the doors. The first sight to great her eager brown eyes was that of a stocky man with a severe lack of hair and condescending demeanor.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," he stated crisply.

"Oh hell no!" exclaimed Elena, letting out her breath in a gush. This just ruined the whole experience. "Who turned on baldy?"

"I beg your pardon!" The EMH snapped, his dignity tarnished. Off to the side, leaning casually against a biobed, an ensign raised his hand. His face wore a smirk like it was one of the few expressions of which he was capable.

"That would be me," said the ensign, whom Elena guessed to be one of the medical staff based on his teal collar. He was quite a looker, and the doctor had a feeling he was used to getting his way. "I heard you were a general practitioner before you were assigned here, and figured you could use the extra help."

Here we go, thought Elena. A scowl hovered briefly on her lips, but she wasn't about to let some arrogant bastard, a junior officer no less, try to diminish her role as CMO by insulting her.

"Computer, deactivate EMH." She smiled knowingly at the ensign and held out her hand for him to shake. "You must be my Assistant Chief Medical Officer. I'm Doctor Valdez."

The ensign shook her hand, trying to stare her down in the process. "That I am, Doctor. I'm Ensign Nicholas Tenebroso. I think you'll find we have more to do here than deal with a few colds and well-baby checks, so if you need my advice please don't hesitate to ask."

Elena almost laughed. He was trying so hard! It was kind of cute. She was very much tempted to play up to Tenebroso's expectations, but decided it would be neither professional nor very effective in dealing with him in the long run. Best to squash his little ego now.

"You're too kind, Ensign," she responded sweetly. "Perhaps you can give me some advice on the last 'cold' I treated. I have some files I brought from my clinic for reference, just give me a moment."

Elena turned to a computer consul and did a quick search for some of her personal files. The images she opened had nothing to do with colds, of course, and should give her new assistant something to think about. She heard a quick intake of breath behind her and had to stifle a chuckle; Tenebroso was definitely surprised. Elena glanced at his face and saw that it was slightly paler than before. Make that surprised and repulsed.

"Eduardo Rodrigez," she introduced the subject in the morbidly graphic image. "He went hiking alone in a canyon and was ambushed by a puma. I led the team that put his face back on."

Elena flipped to the next image without waiting for her assistant's reply. "Mirasol Villamar. Got her leg caught in some farming equipment. I got to her soon enough that I was able to reattach it. Last I saw her she had even lost the limp."

Several other gory and somewhat disturbing images marched across the screen, highlighting many of the injuries and illness that Elena had treated. The region of Mexico where she had worked was still quite rural, and she was the only doctor in the area. So in her case 'general practitioner' also meant 'paramedic, surgeon, gynecologist, dentist' or whatever else was needed. While she fully expected to find medical conditions new to her in the Delta Quadrant - in fact, she was looking forward to it- her assistant needed to know she was fully qualified to do the job.

By now the smirk had faded from Ensign Tenebroso's face and was replaced by a cold stare. With a sigh Elena closed the files.

"Look Ensign, I get it," she began. "You've been on the ship a while now, and were probably expecting a promotion to CMO. Maybe you even deserve it. But Star Fleet gave me the job instead, and whether you think I deserve it or not, I am your superior officer and you will treat me as such. You pull this condescending crap again and I'll have the captain reassign you to cleaning the foulest item on this ship. Understand?"

"Yes, Doctor Valdez." Tenebroso's stare was still frigid, but he knew there wasn't much more he could do to rebel without losing his position. Elena was pretty sure he'd do his duty, and hoped that he'd lighten up after getting to know her.

"Excellent. Now if you don't mind, I'd like a list of all the crew members who are overdue for check ups. Let's get them on the schedule. I'd also like to see the duty roster and set up a departmental meeting with you and the nurses. Think you can handle that?" Elena raised one eyebrow expectantly.

"I'm on it, Doctor." Tenebroso didn't look exactly meek, but he didn't look down his nose at her anymore either.

"Thank you, Ensign. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go get acquainted with my sickbay."

Lt. JG Elena Valdez
Chief Medical Officer
USS Iapetus