And the next victim is....

Posted on Fri Jul 22nd, 2011 @ 5:21am by Lieutenant Elena Valdez & Lieutenant JG Martin Cook

Mission: The Fate of the Swiftsure
Location: Deck 8, Sickbay
Timeline: MD2 0700 hrs

Despite a long night of pouring over the data gleaned from Lt. Hamson's fascinating test results, Elena reported for duty feeling surprisingly chipper. While the triple-shot espresso she drank with breakfast surely had something to do with her current level of energy, part of her enthusiasm was due to the fact that she was an irrepressible morning person.

Upon arrival at sickbay Elena found that Ensign Tenebroso had left her the requested duty roster and list of crew members needing physicals. She gave the PADD a quick glance, noting the name of the other new officer that had been transported to the Iapetus yesterday along with Emily and herself. Martin Cook was their new helmsman, and Elena decided that he would be the first victim of the day.

She tapped her commbadge. "Doctor Valdez to Lt. Cook"

Martin was sat at one of the consoles in flight control inside the shuttle bay. He had been going through the flight roster, and trying to get to grips with who has, and who has not gotten their 'short flight training' courses up to date. It was more responsibility than he was used to but he was enjoying it. He'd only gotten onto the Bravo shift's list when he heard the small chime come from his comm badge.

"Lieutenant Cook, how may I help you doctor?"

"I'd like to give you a physical and get you cleared for duty. Now would be great if you're available."

He breathed a small sigh of relief. He used to hate it when the doctors would contact him during flight school. One small problem with your health and you could lose your wings. "Yeah, I've just finished down here, I'll be up in a few minutes. Cook out."

With that said, he placed the PADD on the console in front of him and began to make his way to sickbay.

Elena greeted the pilot with a friendly smile when he arrived. "I'm glad to meet another newbie on board, Lt. Cook. I'm Dr. Elena Valdez."

Martin looked up as he walked into sickbay. He noted to himself the doctor was a significant improvement to the one at the Academy.

"Ah yes I remember your face. It's nice to meet you. I must've ran past you off the transporter pad when we first got here," he said as he walked further into the room. "So is this the part where I go through all the painful tests I've heard so much about?" He said, employing a light hearted tone.

"I promise your check up will be quick and painless. If you'll hop up on this bed here we can get started." Elena walked him over to the nearest biobed.

He hesitated for a moment, following the new doctor. "I'll take your word for it." He put himself up on the bed she walked him to and watched her, feeling a little vulnerable out of his comfort zone.

She began, as always, by taking his vitals. Elena kept one eye on the numbers appearing on the display screen, while also taking visual note of her patient's condition. By all appearances, Martin was a strapping young Star Fleet officer. However, Elena noted with interest a scar that started at his left ear and rounded down the back of his neck.

"What's this?" she asked, turning Martin's head slightly with a light touch so that she could take a better look.

Martin looked away for a moment. "Would you believe me if I said it's not as bad as it looks?" He looked at her, waiting to see if she'd take the bait, but doctors are curious people.

"No, not really," replied Elena. "But I hear that a lot, so I'm inclined to disbelieve people when they say it. I'm sure there's an interesting story behind this injury though." She gave him a knowing look that indicated he should elaborate on the details.

"Hm. Well, it involves a Klingon. I was part of one of the flight display teams that went to one of those diplomatic events. White tunic, white gloves. Very smart gear. Admirals with the gold belts and the like. Well, a long story short, a Klingon got a bit aggressive over a discussion concerning a battle in the Dominion war. He stood up and made a rush to the Bolian ambassador and I jumped in the way."

"Most people would think twice before parking themselves in front of a raging Klingon," responded Elena. From another person the story may have sounded pretentious, but Martin relayed the information in a amiable, honest way. It made Elena think he was really the type to endanger himself for the sake of a stranger.

"Yeah, I know it wasn't a great idea but he wasn't the problem. I managed to drop him but his friend drew one of those.....I forget what you call them. Anyway, he was a better fighter than his friend and gave me this as a gift to remember the evening by."

Looking over her tricorder readings, Elena thought for a moment about what to say. Most scars were easily removable with current medical technology, but many people chose to keep them for a variety of reasons. Some kept them as a cautionary reminder, others as a red badge of courage. Some people, like Elena's soon to be ex-husband, simply liked the look of them.

"Well," began Elena after a moment, "if you ever decide you don't want to remember the incident, let me know. The scar would be easy enough to remove if needed."

Martin smiled. "I appreciate the offer, but, it acts as an effective reminder to always watch my back. Maybe I'll take you up on it later if it becomes a problem."

"I have just a few more questions for you and then your free to go, Lt. Cook. How's your sleep been lately? Your diet? Are you getting enough exercise?"

"I sleep, alright. Roughly six hours a night. I eat a high protein diet, and chef is really good at keeping it mixed. As for exercise, I do alot of of it. However, I've had less time to spend in the gym since I became chief of flight ops."

"What about family medical history? Anything I should know about?"

The lieutenant thought about it for a few seconds. "Not that I know of."

"Well then," proclaimed Elena, snapping the medical tricorder shut with a flick of her wrist, "I now pronounce you fit for duty."

"So.." The new flight control officer looked up at the doctor.

"Yes?" She raised a brow in question.

"Well, I feel you know alot about me now, yet I still know very little about you," he said in a curious tone.

Elena grinned and sat indian-style on the biobed next to Martin's. She was eager to make a few friends on this ship, and the pilot seemed very likeable.

"What would you like to know?" she asked coyly. She was curious; it wasn't often the patient wanted to know anything about the doctor.

Martin thought for a moment, resting both hands on either side of him on the biobed. "Hmm. Let's start with a little bit about yourself?"

"I'm not sure where to begin..."

The lieutenant shrugged. "Interests, where you're from. Stuff like that."

"Okay then," said Elena. "Interests...rock climbing. Latin dancing, although it's been a while. I love playing Parrises squares in the holodeck- I picked that one up at the Academy. Reading, and cooking, although my father says I'm a hopeless chef."

"I'm from Mexico," she continued with a smile, "in case you can't tell from the accent. And this is my first assignment in Starfleet, although I worked as a civilian doctor for a couple years before being admitted to the Academy. So there you are, me in a nutshell."

"Mexico? Sounds lovely. I'm surprised it's your first assignment," he said as he looked her up and down. "You carry yourself like a veteran. Confident." He smiled, "Probably a good act to make us patients feel at ease eh?"

"Something like that," she agreed. "The only thing people hate worse than going to the doctor is the dentist. I've noticed that Starfleet personnel are no different than civilian patients in that regard," Elena added dryly. Martin continued.

"Rock climbing, I did also, once or twice. It takes alot of...well... confidence. As for the dancing it's not hard to imagine you dancing away. I have no idea what Parrises is though. As for cooking, we have replicators," he said with a smirk.

Elena made a face that demonstrated just how little she enjoyed replicated food. "I'm not sure that qualifies," she returned with a chuckle. "And I'm surprised you've never played Parrises squares! I might have to recruit you if I start at team on the Iapetus."

"Ok, your turn," said Elena. "Where are you from? What sort of things do you like?"

"Ahh how long have you got? I'm from Lincoln, England. As you probably noticed I don't talk like most of the others on the ship. Blame my parents. They're both starfleet personnel, my mother was a chief medical officer like yourself, and my sister is following in her footsteps on the U.S.S Remedy. Father was a captain so, that's a long term goal for me. More specifically about me though, I love flying, hence the job. I play rugby, run, spar, play a few musical instruments and I'm not a bad cook either. However you would best me at dancing any day of the week so I guess that balances it out."

Elena laughed. "Two doctors in the family, eh? No wonder you're an easy patient! I'm surprised you're not much of a dancer, though. Most athletes actually tend to be very good if they just give it a chance. It's not unlike sparing, really, except that you don't hit the other person when you're dancing."

Martin smiled, "I'm sure there has to be some dance somewhere in this galaxy that involves hitting each other. Stranger things have happened. I'm not much of a dancer because I've never really been in the position to do much dancing."

"Well, Lieutenant, if you're done examining the doctor then you are free to go. Although let me know if you ever change your mind about learning a couple dance steps. You might decide you like it."

"You know, after this piloting assignment through the 'safe passage' thats coming up, I'll need a change of pace. So yeah, I'll give it a shot. Just give me a call when you want to try."

Martin stood up and straightened his jacket before giving a warm smile to the doctor. "It was nice chatting."

"That it was, Lt. Cook!"

_______________________

Lt. JG Martin Cook
Chief Flight Control Officer

&

Lt. JG Elena Valdez
Chief Medical Officer