An unintended meeting

Posted on 16 Jul 2017 @ 2:39pm by Ensign Miraj Derani & Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen M.D.

789 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: StarFleet Medical, San Franciso. Turbo Lift in Building 4
Timeline: MD03 1100

[ON]

"Hold the lift!"

Miraj entered the nuerobiology building at Starfleet Medical for her check up scan, saw a wheel chair bound woman rolling into the left and decided to run for it.

Not hearing her behind her, Tuula didn't notice, entering the lift. "Neuroimaging," she called out, less than enthused at the idea of sitting still while other people scan her brain. Maybe she would get lucky and the attendant physicians would let her look at the brain scans; she preferred to be her own second opinion on matters of brain damage and other trauma.

Miraj dashed across the bright white atrium, pink bunches swinging, skidded the last six feet and slid into the lift somewhat out of breath. "Thanks!" She took a moment to let her breathing regulate. "Neuroimaging outpatients," she told the lift, "please."

"Miraj!" exclaimed Tuula, excited to see her pink-haired colleague. "I guess we're going to the same place."

Miraj stared at the seated woman. Desperately searching her memory for things she'd be able to place. The only person she knew still in a wheel chair was, "Tuula?" she asked, uncertain.

"Yes," replied Tuula, wondering for a moment why Miraj seemed confused upon seeing her. "It's so nice to see you again; it feels like it's been forever... They told me that you had helped take care of me back in the nebula..."

Miraj nodded. She wasn't sure this was going to get them both in trouble. She hadn't realised it was another member of the crew when sh'ed run for the lift. "Mostly you thought I was Jaana. I just played along so you idn't freak out completely. You'll have to say sorry to the real Jaana for me."

"I'm sure she will understand." Tuula paused for a moment, looking up at Miraj. "So, what are you in neuroimaging for?"

"Acquired prosapagnosia," Miraj said, saying the cumbersome medical term carfully to make sure she got it right. "And damage to the spatial processing area." she added quietly.

"Oh." Tuula went quiet for a moment, allowing the awkward silence to fill the lift as it slowed to their destination. "I'm sorry..." she started as the doors opened.

"I've got a consultation later on today. They think surgery can fix me." Miraj sounded subdued, as if she didn't believe that at all.

"Brain surgery?" asked Tuula, as she began quivering with excitement. "That's my favourite! Please tell me it's going to be in an operating theatre, I would love to watch!"

It was at that moment that she noticed the two nurses on the neuroimaging ward, blankly staring at the two of them...

Miraj was uncomfortably silent. She didn't really want anyone there in case it didn't work. She had even barred her father and brother from coming. "I think you've weirded out the nurses," she gave a weak smile to show it was a joke.

"Oh." Tuula paused for a moment, glancing at the nurses then back towards Miraj. "Well, after you, I suppose..."

Miraj stepped out of the lift, into the waiting area for the neuroimaging suite. There was a reception with two white uniformed nurses, and several chairs grouped around a low coffee table. "Hello ensign," one of them said. "Its Naveen, we met yesterday."

"Hi," Miraj replied, I know I'm a bit late, sorry." She turned to indicate Tuula, maneouvering herself out of the turbo lift, "That's Tuula. You can use long words with her, she's a doctor."

Naveen laughed, it was obviously an inside joke. "Dr Voutilainen?"

"Yes, that's me," replied Tuula, turning to face the nurse. "Are we going to be using a cross-spectral tunneling microscope, or a quantum imaging scanner for this?"

Naveen and Miraj shared a look, "For you, doctor, we're doing the full monty, for verification and prevention of false positives in the algorithm." She glanced at Miraj who seemed oblivious to hearing what was privileged information . "I can tell you more, but confidentiality...."

"Of course," said Tuula nodding along. "If you don't mind, I'd like to get a copy of the scan files. It's not every day that one gets a good hard look at one's brain, now, is it?"

"I guess not." The nurse ticked a box on her screen, and indicated the seating area. "If you would wait over there, a nurse will call you through."

"All right," replied Tuula, rolling herself over next to the chairs. "See you afterwards!" she exclaimed towards Miraj as she was taken into the examination room.

"See you soon!" Miraj said. It was only when the woman was out of sight she realised it was entirely possible that she might never see her again.

[OFF]

Ensign Miraj Derani

Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

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