Getting to Know You [2/2]
Posted on Sun Aug 9th, 2026 @ 3:11am by Lieutenant Zoren Valyus & Petty Officer 1st Class Leon Inaros & Petty Officer 3rd Class Helliun Inant
2,152 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Mission 1: Behind the Curtain
Location: Medbay
Timeline: MD 1
Continued from Part 1
Zoren reached out and gently pressed fingers to the area around her scar, gently stretching the skin.
"Deltans are similar to most other Deltanoids-" He paused, "that is, bipedal sentients who stand upright and have two arms. Please forgive the self-centric language. Even after all these years, it's hard to unlearn."
Lifting his fingers from her face, he glanced to the scanner on the bed, which automatically monitored any patients who rested upon them.
"I think humans call it 'humanoid.' Anyway, the primary external difference is reduced hair on top of the head and... elsewhere. Although there are some notable Deltan regions where hair is as prominant as it is with humans. Of non-visible differences... we have some differing body-chemistry, and a tendency to manifest empathic or telepathic abilities.
He went on, "The touch of a Deltan can have unintentional-" Or Quite Intentional, he did not say- "euphoric effects which some species find habit-forming due to dopamine release. In some cases, even close proximity is enough to engender... interest."
He did not add that the Deltan culture was renowned for its sexual openness, or that mastering pleasure was an art form all Deltans were encouraged to follow. That sort of thing only made keeping a professional distance from colleagues more awkward.
In the early days of First Contact, Deltan society as a whole had been excited to share intimacy with a new species, and had deeply indulged in exploring every possibility. It had been a disappointment to learn that not every species could enjoy the experience without consequence.
Fortunately, 'Do No Harm' was a philosophy of intimacy on Delta, not merely a philosophy of the medical establishment. With regret, most Deltans had accepted the need to use care and restraint in forming relationships with outsiders. Celibacy was maintained in most cases. Those few adventurers who could not resist the tugging strings upon their hearts endured medical monitoring and medication to mediate the dangers.
Zoren turned to Inaros, "Would you replicate be some Collagen Gel Compund B-17, please? Three ounces, with applicator."
Returning his attention to the patient, he said, "I can see you've elected to keep the scar. I saw a lot of this during the war. Some people enjoy carrying the story of their lives upon their skin. A memento upon the flesh. I respect the choice.
But scar tissue can cause puckering that tugs on adjacent tissue and reduces facial expressiveness just slightly. Your skin ductility is excellent at the moment, and there might be no cause for concern. But I recommend a daily prophylactic application of Collagen to the site of the scarring for a month to ensure there are no future issues. After that, you should be free and clear."
He removed his gloves and tossed them into one of the medical recyclers, which would sanitize and disassemble the molecules of the glove for reassembly into future replicated material. Replicators could reduce something to a pure energy state or convert from that state to make matter, but it was less energy intensive if a device kept a matter bank of useful particles in a reservoir for reassembly.
Then he picked up a PADD and brought up a standard questionnaire. "I saw that you have had children." He nodded to her jewelry. "Are they aboard ship with you?" If so, he should probably schedule a check-up with them as well.
"Also, are you currently sexually active?" He'd want to monitor any partners with more regular checkups than usual. In a way, her situation was not so different from his own. The reasons behind medical carefulness were different, but the measures which needed to be taken were strikingly similar. Except perhaps that in her case, it was an abundance of caution, not a near medical certainty that harm would come without intervention.
Leon went to the replicator to get what the doctor had asked for, carrying it over to him and offering it to him. "Collagen Gel Compund B-17, three ounces."
Hel lifted a hand, her fingers briefly touching the scar as she considered what he had said. "My people leave scars. They are part of what has happened to us and removing one is trying to remove part of your own history," she said before giving a small shrug. "So I will honour that, and that includes...rubbing things in to ease it. But if you have something that makes hands softer, I would take that. Engineering is not kind to them and rough hands are less pleasant for sexual partners." She smiled at his next question, reaching up to briefly touch the piercing in her nose. "This means I have procreated. The offspring is on Axan'na, with my clan." There was no hesitation in the answer, her head tilting slightly at the question that followed. "And no. I have not had relations with anyone on this ship. I have been busy." She paused before her eyes narrowed slightly. "If I do, they would have to come here for examinations?" Hel looked between Zoren and Leon. "This will make me...less than appealing."
"Thank you, Mister Inaros," he said, taking the replicated material and setting it down on the bed next to her.
He nodded as she spoke of her child. The literature had suggested that being raised by a clan or tribe rather than an individual was common among her people. It was an interesting culture, and he hoped he could sit with her some time and discuss it.
"Ah, certainly," he said when she discussed her hands. Then he paused, thinking. Turning to Inaros, he asked, "Do we have Deltan Pleasure Cream in the ship's database?" 'Pleasure Cream' were not two words commonly spoken together in most Starfleet Med Bays.
He explained to the patient, "It's very popular in the desert regions of Delta. Glycerine, Squaline, Dimethicone and Panthenol. Often mated to oil essences of various fruits, but you might prefer the unscented variety. Not everyone wants to go around smelling like something good to eat." Then again... she might.
There were probably similar hand-healing moisturizers in the database, even if the specific Deltan formula wasn't present. Many species had cause to make their skin feel smoother and more supple.
On the topic of sexual partners, he replied, "There is no regulation that requires your partners to receive more regular checkups. But there is literature suggesting it as a best practice.
Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it will be fine. But there is the chance of rapid incubation and transferal of a communicable illness between intimate partners.
It's not just actual intercourse, either. Oral interactions and fluid transfers can also communicate a burgeoning illness."
He eyed her for a moment, debating with himself on whether to share his next thought.
"It seems doubtful to me that a quick weekly checkup would put anyone off a relationship with you."
That could be easily misconstrued as flirting.
He wasn't actually flirting, though.
Certainly not.
"I'd finish within a minute."
He frowned slightly. Everything he said was suddenly beginning to feel salacious. He willfully put the concern out of his mind. He was being foolish.
"By which I mean, it would only require a quick scan of your partner. And our nurses would be equally qualified to make the scan and determination. No need for anyone to wait until a Doctor is available."
He shrugged, "As I said, it's not actually required by regulation. I'll leave the recommendation with you."
Leon looked towards the replicator again, one eyebrow raising slightly as he checked the database. "We do," he said after a moment. "Unscented and several scented versions I am not going to read out." He ordered the unscented one and took the small container when it appeared, offering it across to Hel. His eyes flicked briefly towards Zoren before a small smile touched his lips. "And it'd just be a scan. No one else needs to know why they're here or who they've been sleeping with. We can probably phrase it a little differently when the time comes, Sir."
Hel took the container, opening it and rubbing a little between her fingers before giving an approving nod. "Good. I do not want to smell like food." Her smile remained for a moment before she looked back at Zoren. "I know it is only a scan. When I first came to Earth they tested me every week. Everyone noticed. There were enough jokes about me carrying diseases without knowing it." She gave a small shrug. "I licked someone's apple once. They stopped joking. I was also told not to do that again." Her fingers tightened slightly around the container before she looked between the two men. "But telling someone I want to share a bed with that they should come to Sickbay regularly in case I give them something..." Her nose wrinkled slightly. "That sounds less like seduction and more like a warning label."
Zoren smirked slightly when Inaros said he wasn't going to read all the lotion descriptors in the system. Deltan openness about intimacy extended to evocative names for such mundane articles as skin cream.
He sobered again as the patient expressed her concerns. "I understand what it's like to turn one's intimate contact into a hazmat label. Fortunately, the likelihood of incidence in your case is low.
Low enough that Starfleet Medical hasn't made a rule about it. At this point, it's a matter for personal consideration and individual conscience."
That could change someday, but the number of representatives from her species in Starfleet were so low, it didn't seem like a change to regulation was likely to come soon.
Unless there was an incident.
"That about wraps up my concerns for today's visit. Did you have anything you wanted to address? Has anything whatsoever been troubling you, medically?"
Hel leant forward a little bit, watching him for a moment. She had listened to the words, and she would think about it. Right now she wasn't rolling in the sands with anyone anyway, she'd cross that desert when she came to it. "I'm well rested, the ship is in one piece and the replicators work well. I am worried that I have entered an alternative universe and eventually something will devour me..." she said, deadpan, before she raised an eyebrow and gave him a predator's smile. "It's unnatural for an enlisted Engineer."
Zoren chuckled. "Well, you've got the cream that doesn't smell like food, so I think you're safe from being eaten for now. Still, if it will set your mind at ease, I can take a trip down there and break something after my shift is over."
He lifted his hand in a graceful gesture she was unlikely to recognize, derived from Deltan religion. A blessing of the goddess.
Given that it was a gesture known mostly only to Deltans, and that religious expressions of the kind were inappropriate and unprofessional anyway, he chastised himself for the old habit as soon as he'd indulged in it.
Sometimes, even after years offworld, some odd random piece of his old life and its customs would resurface in an unguarded moment.
"I think we can do this again in two weeks, unless you have an away mission between now and then.
It was a pleasure to meet you, Petty Officer Inant. May all your endeavors bear fruit."
Hel slid down from the biobed, taking both containers with her before she gave Zoren a nod. "Two weeks," she agreed in a low purr, then glanced down at the cream in her hand. "And I will let you know if this improves my prospects." Her yellow eyes moved back to him and she smiled, showing just a little too much teeth. "Although perhaps I should find someone first. Thank you, Doctor." She lifted a hand towards Leon before turning and heading out of Sickbay.
Leon watched her go before looking back at Zoren, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "For what it's worth, Sir, I don't think you put her off," he said lightly. He almost wanted to warn the Doctor about the Axan'ka maybe having her sights on him, but dismissed it. The Deltan had his own code to deal with, and I was certain Inant was mostly harmless. He picked up the PADD again, glancing down at it. "Inventory?" he asked, quietly.
Zoren watched her go, and then turned to Inaros with an arched brow. Finally, he smiled and nodded.
It felt to Zoren that a keystone had been laid here that could be built up to make the Fenrir feel like home. Though he had only met a handful of the crew so far, he already liked them.
"Inventory," he agreed.
[OFF]
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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