Medical Introductions (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 08 May 2012 @ 1:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D. & Lieutenant Kiri Cho
Edited on on 10 May 2012 @ 5:37am

2,531 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Sickbay
Timeline: MD04 - 1630hours

[ON]

Engisn Kiri Cho was not really very fond of doctors. She had never been hurt growing up at least not enough to need one. When she had checkups like other students, she had to travel for hours to reach a doctor that knew about Trills. It served to remind her that she was very different from her friends, even if most of it was on the inside. The date and time had been in her mind for several days now and even with this much time to prepare she felt extremely unprepared. Overall she felt normal, there were some problems with that still. There was a slight pain in her ribcage that almost never left. From what she could work out it was just because she never slowed down, that she didn't rest. At worst it was a nuisance though, no need to stop her packed schedule of research. There was also a matter that her doctor at the academy had pestered her about, her diet of starfleet rations. Providing everything she needed for three days meant that eating and even bodily functions didn't really slow her down. Both of these matters where how she was, part of her. Doctors tried to mess with that, if they even knew about her anatomy.

Dark brown hair pulled into a low pony tail Kiri was like always dressed in her science uniform. Shoes shined, uniform without a crease or any marks. Her face plain and her stance a little tense she entered sickbay. This was her first visit and the size on this ship surprised her a little, attention wasn't drawn to anything else in the room other than the sensor system on the ceiling. Hanging above the surgery bed she look a few steps inside before stopping to take it in. Like many things on the ship it was brand new, impressive. It reminded her of thoughts the previous day about finding out more about it. Maybe she would be useful if it wasn't very much different from scanning the depths of space. People were smaller and normally had a known make up, it might be fun. The shortish barely a woman stood out of the way lost in thought.

Leaning her hip against a bio bed, Pola watched the new crewmember who had just entered during a rare moment of quietness in sickbay. Seeing the curiosity on the woman's face, the young Doctor smiled to herself, giving the woman a few moments to look around. Spotting the distinctive dots at both temples, Pola realised that the woman was one of the few trills onboard. She could rule out Rothgra, he was male and she could also rule out Dea as the young Doctor had already met her. She was getting quite an education on the trill species onboard this ship, given how rare it was to actually meet one. Clearing her throat so as not to startle the woman, Pola pushed herself away from the biobed,"Hello, I'm Doctor Pola Ni Dhuinn. Is everything ok?"

Remembering herself Kiri had a shiver shoot through her spine forcing her to focus and stand bolt upright, "I am Ensign Kiri Cho sir, reporting for my medical evaluation." From her position near the door she walked closer, holding her hands at her sides as her eyes still flitted around the room. The dark haired doctor was almost the same hight as she was, a similar build as well. It was odd but rarely did she think about things like that. This person was like her, other than the fact that Kiri wasn't human.

Watching Kiri as a warm smile met her own lips, Pola was delighted at the fascination the young woman was showing to what was around her. All people normally noticed was the fact when they walked in here it was for pain relief or a hit and run medical. "Well first and foremost it's Pola please. Secondly she really is a beaut isn't she." Pola was proud of this place. All be that this place was very small, to fit into a small ship, it was well equiped with up to date technology, only the other day the brand new EMH Mark-X had been installed. But it wasn't just that..this place was rapidally becoming home.

If she wasn't watching her manners the prospect of a first name basis would have drawn a sigh from Kiri. By itself it was fine, if it showed a small lack of respect and informality, it just that it brought her closer to other elements that she found hard. To be on first name terms brought in a host of social confluences that would muddle her. If that is what an officer above her and a person she wanted to make happy wanted though, that was what they got. Nodding her head in acceptance she replied, "Yes, it seems well equipped," She had medical training to a small extent, but couldn't use half of what was here, if she even knew what it was. There was something she might though at a guess this woman would appreciate conversation, "I was admiring your sensor equipment, the Turbin Mark Two was developed at Starfleet Medical wasn't it?" Every night before going to sleep she made sure to read for thirty minutes about different departments of the ship. To know what each system had to offer would be useful to her job. The sensor here could be cannibalised to make parts for several probes or even repair the main array if required. Her job was to know things like that.

Looking up at the sensor Kiri indicated, Pola smiled broadly."You are indeed right Kiri. She's a brand new model that we are still trying out. She's made up of a number of sophisticated biosensors which allows us to simultaneously scan the body in one go, getting us a reading much quicker then a tricorder. It's vital when we've a person with major injuries and we need to know instantly what the problems are to set about saving the persons life." pausing for a few moments, the Doctor turned her attention back to the scientist."There's also the techie stuff, it can project a force field if we need someone restrained or it can maintain a sterile environment for surgery."

Pausing for a few moments, Pola's smile dropped slight as she thought of Drusilla, had it not been for this scanner would she have ended up dead instead of in a coma? Shaking her head, Pola turned her smile back on."Anyway, we're you just looking for a tour of the facilities? Theres not really much to see. You should have been here when our EMH went AWOL, that was...fun to say the least."

The idea of ruckus didn't really appeal to her, chaos wasn't a good thing and there were constructive things that were fun for her. They were a a better way gain enjoyment, more, was wholesome the word? With another smile, hands still at her side she shook her head slightly, "That's quite all right, I've reviewed the deck plans and know where everything is, thank you though." There was something else, bugging at the back of her mind. Kiri wanted to for lack of a better word, play with the sensors here. To learn how to use it and see if it was like her own or different. Still to ask such a thing in the first place was perhaps out of place, let alone with a stranger. Even if they were on a first name basis. Maybe another time.

Watching Kiri closely, Pola noticed that even though the young woman's tone and attitude seemed to have relaxed, her body seemed to still be very tensed up. Pushing herself away from the biobed she had been leaning against, the Doctor indicated that Kiri should settle herself on it."Have you anyother questions or would you rather I started your medical?"

Not exactly comfortable with sitting on a bed of any form with other people around Kiri did as indicated. Her left hand reaching over to her right arm to comfort herself. In a paling voice she answered, "If its okay I'd like to get everything sorted first," Clearing being a little nervous as well. Perching on the edge of the bed she waited to be examined. For someone that spend almost all of her time doing it to the universe at large having someone do it to her was oddly unnerving.

Picking up a tricorder, Pola found that she was very concerned about Kiri's body language, it was becoming. Very clear that the woman was very uncomfortable. Quickly starting her scans, the Doctor concentrated on the readouts."I tell you what, seeing as you are showing such a big interest in them, how about you go have a mess about with the scanner once I've completed this scan on you? I can analyse the results and ask you questions while you play around."

Kiri looked rather shocked at the offer. She had thought that she had buried her desires in the back of her mind. Was it something she had shown? Was the doctor not a human as she assumed but a telepath of some kind? It seemed a strange offer to her to come from anywhere else. It put her guard right up and made her rather suspicious. This was a problem, the balance of what she wanted and what was polite in her image of social interaction. A doctor checking a patient was a formal event, to take it casually showed disrespect towards them and their considerable training. When interacting with people she didn't want to be pressing buttons or other things that divided her attention. However it was an offer that might be rude to refuse and it was something she wanted to do. Was it a test?

The time she was taking to consider growing longer and longer until the scan was almost over the girl answered, "If its no trouble, I would like to run a system diagnostic." That would allow her to take a general look at the operating program while doing something technically useful. Still the girl looked rather unsettled at the change in situation.

Smiling over at the young woman and nodding her head in consent, Pola turned back to the tricorder readings which had been uploaded to a monitor and read through them with some concern. First of all, at a height of 5'5, Kiri weight 118pounds which was at the absolute minimum range for someone of her age and height. There was also indicators that the iron level in her blood was low suggesting possible anaemia."Kiri do you mind me asking, how do you find your finger nails? Are they breaking alot or anything on you?" Quickly glancing up from her tricorder, Pola took a quick glance at Kiri's hair before she could notice, breathing a sigh of relief as she saw the colour was strong and not showing any signs of fading.

Having gotten up to walk over to the controls to the sensor unit Kiri came to an abrupt stop when the question was asked. Without thinking she brought her hands up in front of her and splayed them apart to look at her nails. They were fine weren't they? A clear nail plate over the soft, slightly blue tinted flesh, the white distal edge cut to match her fingers. Neat but practical for using flat screen terminals all day every day. Looking away from them she turned to face the doctor and replied, "I think they are fine, I don't let them get long enough to break." Since she had been spoken too and was unsure if there was more she waited rather than going on. At least she felt more comfortable now.

Breathing a second sigh of relief, Pola indicated for Kiri to continue with the system diganoistic she wanted to run. Turning her attention back to the tricorder, the Doctor uploading the readings to a monitor so as she could explore the findings better.

Not quite sure what that question was about Kiri did as indicated, turning her attention back towards the sensor system. Unlocking it with her command code she started it on a systems assessment diagnostic. Just to run through all the attached systems and devices and test each one was working. By watching she thought she could get a better understanding of what was involved here. Her attention was being drawn into watching the screen rather than what the doctor was doing to her right.

Sitting back on the bio bed behind her in slight shock, Pola wasn't certain what she was reading was correct. The anemia, low weight, anxiety Kiri was showing...it seemed to be indicating the early stages of malnutrition. Turning her attention back to the woman in question, the Doctor just observed her for a few minutes, watching her workings before speaking up again. "Kiri do you mind me asking, what is your diet like? Do you eat regularly? What kind of foods do you eat?"

Kiri knew this one was coming, it wasn't one she wanted to answer. There was nothing wrong with her diet, it was just unconventional. She paused the program and bit her lip as she turned around, "I eat a Starfleet ration pack every three days," With breaks only when she went home this had been going on for three years now. Though she wasn't a doctor from what she was taught that was enough food for standard humanoid for three days. It was perfectly healthy, else why would they be taught to use them?

Pola took a look at the woman and tried to believe what she was hearing."You eat one ration pack, every three days? You eat absolutely nothing in between?"

Kiri wasn't sure she was very comfortable with the doctors tone in her reply, she wasn't wrong as she understood it, "Rarely. A ration pack contains enough calories, minerals and vitamins within a slow release formula for three days. I don't need to eat more during that time." There had been documented incidences that people have lived on those rations for years, far longer than she had. It saved a lot of time having to only eat once in three days, it let her get over three hours more work done. Still she felt a little guilty about it, since everyone reacted like this when they found out.

"Kiri your showing some signs of malnutrition. Even thought your within your eight range for someone of your age and height you are at the extreme end of the low side. Ontop of that I'm seeing signs of anaemia within your body due to iron deficiency. I would hesitate to say that you are only in the extremely early stages of malnutrition but it's enough to cause me some concern." Aware the woman had been showing nervousness of being here, Pola at this point felt that she needed to cut to the chase.

[TBC]

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Lieutenant Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo


Ensign Kiri Cho
Science Officer/Sensor Specialist
USS Galileo

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