Getting to Know You [1/2]

Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 3:10am by Lieutenant Zoren Valyus & Petty Officer 1st Class Leon Inaros & Petty Officer 3rd Class Helliun Inant

1,652 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Behind the Curtain
Location: Medbay
Timeline: MD 1

ON: [Medical Bay]

Zoren exited the medical office adjacent to the Medbay main area and looked over the instrument table arranged near the bio-bed.

He hadn't had occasion to rearrange a single tool so much as a millimeter since arriving aboard ship. Random checks- done when no one was looking- had revealed ideal sterility among all articles. Even common handheld devices had been regularly submitted to a sterilization field wash.

McEntyre clearly kept a tight ship, and his staff- like the nearby Petty Officer Inaros- were at the top of their game. A patient was expected soon- Petty Officer Inant- for a checkup. Until they arrived, Zoren and Nurse Inaros shared the Medbay in anticipation.

Zoren considered Inaros, his gaze dipping briefly to the man's leg. One could not tell by looking, but the ex-marine had a biosynthetic replacement. Zoren had seen a lot of them during the war. Dominion disruptors carried bio-reactive particles in their discharges that interfered with blood clotting. This required increased restriction of blood-flow during emergency treatment in the field. And that additional blood-flow restriction resulted in a large quantity of limb-loss. If one was shot by a Dominion disruptor, and a starship medbay or field hospital was not in easy reach, things could quickly become dire.

But despite having seen many of such limbs, he hadn't actually worked with many. The installation of such prosthesis was usually left to specialists, who would then be followed by physical therapists to help the limbs integrate. Zoren itched to take a close look at the thing, but there was no current medical pretense for such.

"Good morning, Petty Officer," he said, "I see everything is in order as always. I fear I shall have very little to do on this ship, with Doctor McEntyre and his personnel being so diligent."

Nurse Leon Inaros gave a nod to the other man, back straight and his hands behind his back. There was the posture of a Marine still there, even if he now wore Starfleet blue. "Morning Doctor Valyus," he said, his voice almost gentle. "We have a few appointments and unless someone does something stupid...I was thinking inventory."

Zoren nodded. In field hospitals, inventory was a much more uncertain thing than it was on starships. Aboard ship, subspace tags and internal sensors could tell you where every tricorder and vial of medicine was located.

Of course, a good crewman or officer wouldn't trust this automated reporting. It was always possible that someone could drain a vial, replace its contents, and make off with particular medicines as part of drug-seeking behavior. It was exceedingly rare for Starfleet personnel to be involved in such, of course. But civilians and visitors were sometimes treated in the Medbay alongside crew. It was a testament to diligence that the Nurse intended to proceed with a physical count.

"Such distasteful tasks are best done early in the month. With a crew of only roughly two-hundred personnel, going through the stock shouldn't take us too long.

I have been going over the medical files of the crew. I noted six individuals with unusual blood needs that make synthesized blood replacement unsuitable. I'll be scheduling them to come in for monthly blood donations so we can build up a supply of their blood in stasis in case it is needed."

He paused, then added, "I also noted several prosthetics users in our complement. The new Chief Science Officer, and... even yourself, if I recall.

I'll be producing and fitting spare units in case they are needed, so that injury or damage to the current models don't result in undue service delays. We'll need to schedule sessions for that, as well."

He fell silent again for a moment, "Your personal experience with such cases will be valuable. It's not possible for me to truly know the impact of a prosthetic device, having never needed one. There is always danger that I will approach the topic with insufficient sensitivity and understanding."

A strange admission for an empath, perhaps.

Leon looked at him for a moment before his eyes went down to his left leg, shifting his weight slightly. "Well...first thing I'd say is don't be too sensitive about it," he said, a small smile coming to him. "People usually know they've got a prosthetic. You don't need to pretend you haven't noticed." His hand moved to rub his thigh for a moment, an old habit by now. "But everyone's different. Some people get one fitted, do the therapy and get on with it. I didn't. Took me longer and...still have days where it doesn't feel quite right." He looked back at Zoren and gave a small shrug. "A spare isn't a bad idea though, especially out here. And I'm happy to help with the fittings, if you need another pair of hands." He paused, considering him for a moment. "And if you want to ask me something about mine, Doctor, just ask. I've had enough people look at it and then very carefully not mention it. That's usually more awkward."

Zoren nodded, "I will remember that. One of my special interests is neurology, and there is significant overlap between that field and bionics. But I've rarely had the opportunity to work closely with prostheses. It's been a hole in my knowledge-base that I fear to tumble into if I don't fill it. Or worse, have a patient tumble into."

He considered a moment, and decided that this was a good moment to share something personal. One should not take from someone's life experience without offering a good-faith exchange.

"Not long ago, I had some difficulty after a mass-casualty event. It required psychological therapy to deal with.

I... had some initial trouble with my sessions. It took me time to accept the fact that I was not a rock upon which the waves of life could crash ineffectually. I still have follow-up sessions with a counselor to touch base from time to time."

Zoren pursed his lips slightly. "I imagine that replacing a limb crosses the intersection between physical rehabilitation and psychological rehabilitation... Do you also have continuing therapy in that regard?"

Inaros blinked, looking at the other man before he gave a small nod. "Yes, although..." there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It was more successful with my post-war PTSD than with my leg, Sir. Still going to therapy, my counsellor transferred off...just waited for seeing which one I get now."

Zoren nodded. "If you see the new ship's counselor before I do, let me know what you think. I... admit to my own degree of hesitancy in switching therapists."

He added, "Perhaps after the next appointment, I could take a look at your leg? Run a few tests to establish baseline performance. And... while I have little experience with prostheses, I am quite proficient in neurology." Did that sound conceited?

"If there is any subtle inadequacy with the interface layer, I might be able to diagnose it. I have found when reconnecting damaged nerves that the difference between ninety-nine percent right and ninety-nine-point-one percent right can feel as vast as an ocean." It was impossible to reach a hundred percent, sadly. Even current medical science had its limits.

The door to the medbay opened then, revealing the entry of Petty Officer Inant.

"Sure," Inaros said, a little hesitant, but it was not the worst idea he had heard. And it could be worth having a look. His eyes went to the Axan'ka that entered. In engineering overalls, her rust-coloured hair tied back and her yellow eyes watching them.

"New doctor..." Helliun Inant acknowledged, a smile that held a little too much teeth on her face as she walked over. The scar running down the left side of her face was still relatively new, but healed, left clearly visible where medical treatment could easily have removed it. She studied Zoren for a moment, her head tilting slightly. "Not human, I am guessing...." she smiled and looked at Inaros. "Alright there?"

"Alright," Inaros said lightly back and took a PADD, bringing up the medical file of Helliun Inant. "Sir, Petty Officer Inant is an Axan'ka. As such, she has to report to sickbay on regular intervals for screening, as her species can carry illnesses without being affected by it."

Zoren regarded the Petty Officer's arrival and listened to Inaros' briefing on the new patient. "Good morning, Petty Officer Inant. I am Doctor Valyus. It is my honor to assist Doctor McEntyre in administering patients aboard ship."

He began to put on a pair of sterile gloves. It occurred to him that doing so immediately after being informed that Inant might carry diseases could be misconstrued. The wearing of gloves was not often done for casual non-invasive medical inspections in the current age.

"This is for your benefit, not mine," he explained, "I am Deltan."

The gloves snapped into their final position, hugging the skin of his hands. The material was an advanced hypo-allergenic elastic polymer.

"I have never met an Axan'ka, though I have read about your people in the medical literature. The Galaxy teems with so many species, I often regret I shan't have the chance to meet them all. But I am glad to be meeting you."

He gestured to a medical bed. "Please, sit."

Then he peered at her as he drew nearer. "May I touch your face?"

"Yes," Hel said, watching him with interest as she she held his eyes. "Deltan. I don't know much about your species," she shifted a little but mostly remained still, her eyes unblinking as if she was trying to map what he was, and how it differentiated from humans.


To be Continued in Part 2

Lt. Zoren Valyus
Ast. Chief Medical Officer
USS Fenrir

&

PO1 Leon Inaros
Nurse
USS Fenrir
[PNPC Hanlon]

&

PO3 Helliun 'Hel' Inant
Engineer
USS Fenrir
[PNPC Hanlon]

 

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