Pound of Flesh

Posted on 11 Jul 2013 @ 12:13pm by Lieutenant JG Jacrux & Commander Andreus Kohl & Ensign Varek

933 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 03 - Frontier
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 09 - 1015 hours

[ON]

Jac was no stranger to Starfleet Sickbays. He had vivid if disjointed memories of the first several times waking up after the destruction of Kator, full of confusion and hostility at the unfamiliar and completely alien environment. Now he was at least accustomed to Starfleet design, and this sickbay followed the same expected organization. Of course Jac felt the same concern for this appointment that he did for any situation he walked into unknowing and unprepared. Medical exams involved questions and topics Jacrux did not readily speak of or even think about in the relative safety of his own mind. But he respected the medical officers' oath of patient confidentiality and knew he could relax somewhat once he got a feel for the staff on hand.

Speaking of hands, Jac looked around and approached the nurse with the warmest looking hands, Jac flashed an amuse smile.

"Ensign Jacrux, reporting for my initial medical exam."

Standing behind a freestanding LCARS console, Andreus Kohl looked up to consider the young man who was approaching with an easy smile. "Hello!" Kohl said in reply. He offered the man a warm smile. "Welcome to Galileo, Ensign Jacrux. I'm called Andreus Kohl" --he always forgot to mention his rank, since it was advertised on his neck anyway-- "and I can conduct that medical exam for you. I am certified as a Nurse Practitioner, and I am Galileo's Chief Medical Officer." At that, Kohl snorted half a laugh. He didn't think he would ever get used to calling himself the CMO.

Jac's gaze flicked to the other man's rank, storing it for later use. The half a laugh confused him. Did Kohl not want his rank? Did he not think himself fit? If that were so, Kohl did his superiors dishonor by questioning their judgement of his aptitude. Jac drew away slightly from the CMO.

"Where should I sit for the exam?" Jac chose to press forward as a response to the other's greeting, as he wasn't sure what else to say.

"This way," Kohl replied between a polite smile. He stepped away from the console, and lead Jac towards an empty biobed attended by a Vulcan medical officer. Kohl swept a hand towards the bed, and he said, "Ensign Varek will be assisting."

The sight of the Vulcan made Jac hesitate before taking a seat on the biobed. He regarded the other Ensign steadily. It went against his training to reveal weakness in front of anyone, especially a Vulcan, even if he was a medical officer and under the same code of conduct as Kohl.

Complaining would be dishonorable, and only extend the exam, so Jac merely nodded and said plainly, "I see."

"Ensign," Varek said, giving a nod of his head and turning back to the console he was working at, since his assistance was not immediately needed, though he stood by in anticipation of Kohl's word.

When Kohl opened his mouth to speak, another voice came from the communications grid. "Lieutenant Kohl," the voice said, "Please report to the null-gravity treatment suite."

"On my way," Kohl replied. Looking to Jacrux, as he was already backing away, Kohl said, "I'm so sorry. Varek will be able to conduct your examination. Please excuse me."

The vulcan turned to watch Kohl leave and turned his attention to the ensign. "Lie down on the biobed, Ensign," Varek instructed, getting right down to business. He initiated the biobed's diagnostic procedure and studied the readouts, comparing them to standards for Jacrux's species and his own medical records. "Have you experienced any problems or unusual symptoms you need to report?"

With great reluctance, Jac lay back in the biobed, tensed and unhappy with the vulnerable position it put him in. "No. Nothing new," he answered shortly.

"Is something bothering you," Varek asked, sounding unconcerned with the man's actual answer as he pulled out a medical tricorder and scanned the man. The Vulcan was not know for his bedside manner.

"I already answered that question," Jac pointed out. He smirked slightly. There was something uniquely satisfying about pointing out a Vulcan's mistakes.

"I meant, 'are you uncomfortable right now'," Varek explained impassively, "At this moment. You appear to be experiencing a certain level of anxiety as a result of your presence in sickbay."

Of course, Jac reminded himself, Vulcans had lost that instinct when they turned from the true path. "It is a vulnerable position I do not assume lightly," Jac said in a level tone, "There are questions I do not like to repeat." His last physical, upon boarding the Venture, had only been a few weeks before.

"If you answer all my questions sufficiently," the vulcan assured Jac, apparently unaware of any annoyance on the patient's part, "there will be no need to do so." He was silent for a few moments longer as he observed the readouts on the medical instrument display and took a few brief notes on his PADD. Then, abruptly, he declared, "You may go, Ensign."

That was... abrupt, and much, much shorter than Jac had expected. But he wasn't about to stay for longer than necessary. If Varek said he was done, it was on his head if something was left blank. Maybe Jac would stop in and 'express his concerns' at a later date.

"Thank you," Jac nodded to the Vulcan and beat a quick retreat from the medical bay.


[OFF]

Ensign Jacrux
USS Galileo
Anthropologist

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Andreus Kohl
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Varek
Medical Officer
USS Galile
played by Psylus Anon

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