<USS Avalon> Fwd: Most Unusual Physical
- From: CmdrSkyler@xxxxxxx
- To: avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 22:00:12 EDT
This post takes place before the ship has actually left Izar or rescued the
shuttle.
--- Begin Message ---
- From: CmdrSkyler@xxxxxxx
- To: avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 00:07:56 EDT
"Most Unusual Physical"
Captain Skyler & Ensign Scott
She had been putting off the inevitable for as long as she could.
Unfortunately, she could put it off no longer. For some unknown reason she had
been
chosen to be Ensign Scott's physician. She hadn't actually practiced medicine
per se in quite some what time, let alone under these circumstances.
In preparation for what was to come, she read and re-read the PADD that
contained the information on Ensign Scott. She still couldn't believe it when
she
read it. Perhaps that was why she had been putting off contacting her until
now. All she knew was that she had to do something and the sooner the better.
"Computer, send the following message to Ensign Delaney Scott. Ensign Scott,
please report to Captain Skyler's office as soon as possible."
With the message sent all she could so was wait and wonder what she was
going to do.
*****
Laney had just finished hauling the last of her belongings to her new
quarters on Deck 11. She decided it was time for a shower---she could always
begin unpacking tomorrow. Heading for the bathroom, stripping her uniform off
along the way, she almost missed the message light on her computer. She
stopped at the desk and switched on the monitor.
"Ensign Scott, please report to Captain Skyler's office as soon as
possible."
Laney paused, sighing. She'd known this call was coming, but had
thought she would have more time to acclimate herself to this ship. She
supposed
the captain wanted to have the business of her physical out of the way
before the launch tomorrow.
"Computer, location of Captain Skyler?"
"Captain Skyler is in her office."
Laney couldn't suppress a chuckle. The captain apparently liked to
burn the midnight oil, as it were. Picking up her uniform jacket off the arm
of the sofa, she slipped it on, then tapped her commbadge.
"Ensign Scott to Captain Skyler."
"Skyler here. Go ahead Ensign."
"Captain, I've received your message. I am willing to come see you
now, unless you'd prefer to do it tomorrow," she said.
There was a moment of silence before Skyler answered. "No, now is as
good a time as any. We'll be far too busy tomorrow prepping the ship for
launch, as it is."
"Very well. I'll be with you in just a few minutes. Scott out."
Conscious of the fact that Skyler would be evaluating her from first
sight, Laney continued into the bathroom and checked her appearance in the
mirror. Taking out the elastic band, she picked up her brush and ran it
through her hair, then re-secured it in a low ponytail. She then took another
deep
breath and headed for the bridge.
When Laney reached the bridge, there were only two crew members at
work. No more was necessary, really, since they were still docked at Izar.
Turning her attention to the matter before her, she pressed the chime for
Captain Skyler's office.
"Come in."
Laney strode into the office after the door swished open, remaining
just inside with her hands down at her sides.
Skyler looked up from the medical kit she had brought up here
earlier today, making sure everything she would need was inside---not that
she'd
really need anything more than the medical tricorder.
"Please, Ensign, come in," Skyler said.
Nodding, Laney stepped forward, coming to stand in front of the
captain's desk. She remained silent as Skyler took a medical tricorder out of
the
kit on her desk and flipped it open, then stood and came around the desk as
she removed the scanning wand and ran it over her.
Skyler's brow furrowed in consternation. "I'm reading you as 100%
Human, Ensign."
Laney reached up to remove her commbadge. Laying it on the desk she
said, "Sorry. Sometimes I forget that."
"It's alright, Miss Scott," Skyler said, as she moved the scanning
wand up and down the ensign once more. Now she was seeing what the girl's
medical profile said about her. The readings showed the genetic make-up of the
Changelings on one side of the small screen, and numerous Human genetic
markers
on the other.
"Ensign Scott, are you aware that your Changeling DNA----if that's
what you want to call it----is dominant over your Human DNA?" the captain
asked.
Laney looked at her. "To be honest, I never gave the matter any
thought. What do you mean, it's dominant?"
Skyler showed her the tricorder readings. "According to this, and
all medical scans taken since your... transformation... although you retain
the
genetic code from your mother's DNA contribution, in the grand scheme of
things it's almost as if it isn't there. You have all the shape-shifting
capabilities of the Changelings, is that correct?"
Laney nodded absently. She really hadn't given much thought to her
genetic make-up in the last six and a half years, just as she hadn't in the
twenty-two prior. She virtually never got injured or sick, so what was there
to
think about? Though now that the subject had been broached, perhaps, at
least since the Changelings had done this to her, she ought have been thinking
about it.
"It's like the Human DNA is completely superfluous," she said.
Looking up, though not directly at Skyler, she mused, "Makes you
wonder why they left it."
Skyler took the tricorder back, and after running one more scan,
replaced the little wand in the top and closed it. "You could better answer
that
than I, Ensign.
"From what this tells me, you are in perfect health." She handed
Laney back her commbadge, and as the younger woman put it on, she added, "I'm
not entirely certain why Starfleet has requested I take on the duties of being
your physician, as our medical staff is more than qualified, and I am certain
that sensitive information would of course be kept private."
"I can only guess it's one of those 'need to know' things, Captain,"
Laney replied. "They must believe that yourself, Admiral Ketchum and the
ship's counselor are the only ones who need to know right now. The fact that I
am part Changeling alone wouldn't make very many people happy. If the
knowledge that I may as well not have any Human DNA at all were to get out,
well...
who knows? The Dominion did some terrible things to us during the war. Even
though I had absolutely nothing to do with them or their agenda, and still
don't, my sharing their genetic structure makes me a perfect target for anyone
who still has unresolved issues. I've never been remiss to that."
"I'm well aware of the security issues," said the captain, then
softened her expression. She could feel that the ensign had been troubled by
the
revelation, and was rather nervous.
"Ensign, your record isn't very flattering, as I'm sure you're
aware. But I am going to take the advice of our counselor and reserve
judgement.
As long as you do your job well and obey orders, I personally will have no
problem with you being on board."
Laney nodded. "Thank you, Captain."
Glancing out the window, she then turned back to Skyler and said,
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"
Skyler was quite surprised by the request, but nodded her consent as
she leaned against her desk.
Laney took a shallow breath and released it. "Captain, I was a good
Starfleet officer. Hell, I coulda been more than that with my quite possibly
having one of the highest IQ's in the galaxy. But I was perfectly happy and
content taking care of the shuttles on the Ireland."
"Then why did you disobey your father's order and go to the
Changeling planet?" Skyler asked.
"I needed to know for sure. My parents wouldn't tell me and I
couldn't risk going to someone else. All I wanted was to know once and for all
if
they were the other half of me, and I had a right to that knowledge."
Skyler really couldn't argue with her logic. "But even your right to
know does not supercede your captain's direct order, Ensign."
"I was willing to take leave, and as a matter of fact I tried that
tactic. Hell, I would have resigned from Starfleet if that would have made a
difference. But he wasn't going to let me go no matter what, and I felt it was
not his right to stop me."
"So you felt you had no other recourse but to disobey a direct order
and steal a shuttlecraft?" Skyler pushed.
Laney colored slightly, but held her ground. "At the time, no. I was
honestly trying to protect my parents' jobs and reputations. If my father
could only have seen that, perhaps he wouldn't have denied my request in the
first place.
"Looking back, however, I can see that there were other avenues I
could have pursued. Spending the last six and a half years locked in an 8 x 10
room for 22 hours a day gave me a lot of time to think. I don't regret what I
did. Only how I did it."
Skyler studied her for a moment. At least she shows remorse for her
actions, she thought. That's a good start.
"And what about now?" she asked finally.
Laney looked at her squarely, smiling genuinely for the first time.
"Now I want to make up for lost time. Although there was a time when I
wondered if I even wanted to come back, Starfleet really is the only job I've
ever
wanted. The only life I've ever wanted. I am truly grateful that I've been
given a second chance, and I intend to make the most of it."
Although she'd initially had reservations about this unique ensign
and the circumstances of their doctor-patient relationship, Skyler found
herself smiling, and feeling a genuine fondness for her. She had screwed up
and
she understood that, and had paid her debt to society, as the Earth saying
went. Now all she wanted was the chance to make up for it, and to prove, she
sensed, that she was still worthy to wear the uniform.
Skyler decided that she would give her that chance with no more
reservations.
With a smile, she said, "I think I have all I need, Ensign Scott.
You're free to go. I suggest getting a good night's sleep, if you still sleep,
that is. We have a big day tomorrow."
Laney felt herself relax, even though she hadn't been entirely aware
of her tension. Smiling herself, she said, "Yes, ma'am. And actually, even
though I don't need to anymore, I do still sleep. It rests me as much as ever,
and is a constant reminder that I'm still Human."
Skyler watched as Ensign Scott left her office. Sitting back down at
her desk, she looked at the medical results one more time and shook her
head. If this got out there would certainly be a major mess to deal with.
Still,
I have to think that the CMO should be included in Ensign Scott's care. I
think I will have a talk with Keith in the morning. For now the physical is
done
and Starfleet should be happy.
Taking the PADD with the medical results of Ensign Scott, Skyler locked
them up in the safe in her office. It was both manual and voice activated.
Hopefully no one would find the information and cause problems. She wanted to
give the new ensign a chance which meant putting her own beliefs and thoughts
aside.
--- End Message ---
Other related posts:
- » <USS Avalon> Fwd: Most Unusual Physical
- From: CmdrSkyler@xxxxxxx
- To: avalon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 00:07:56 EDT
"Most Unusual Physical"
Captain Skyler & Ensign Scott
She had been putting off the inevitable for as long as she could.
Unfortunately, she could put it off no longer. For some unknown reason she had
been
chosen to be Ensign Scott's physician. She hadn't actually practiced medicine
per se in quite some what time, let alone under these circumstances.
In preparation for what was to come, she read and re-read the PADD that
contained the information on Ensign Scott. She still couldn't believe it when
she
read it. Perhaps that was why she had been putting off contacting her until
now. All she knew was that she had to do something and the sooner the better.
"Computer, send the following message to Ensign Delaney Scott. Ensign Scott,
please report to Captain Skyler's office as soon as possible."
With the message sent all she could so was wait and wonder what she was
going to do.
*****
Laney had just finished hauling the last of her belongings to her new
quarters on Deck 11. She decided it was time for a shower---she could always
begin unpacking tomorrow. Heading for the bathroom, stripping her uniform off
along the way, she almost missed the message light on her computer. She
stopped at the desk and switched on the monitor.
"Ensign Scott, please report to Captain Skyler's office as soon as
possible."
Laney paused, sighing. She'd known this call was coming, but had
thought she would have more time to acclimate herself to this ship. She
supposed
the captain wanted to have the business of her physical out of the way
before the launch tomorrow.
"Computer, location of Captain Skyler?"
"Captain Skyler is in her office."
Laney couldn't suppress a chuckle. The captain apparently liked to
burn the midnight oil, as it were. Picking up her uniform jacket off the arm
of the sofa, she slipped it on, then tapped her commbadge.
"Ensign Scott to Captain Skyler."
"Skyler here. Go ahead Ensign."
"Captain, I've received your message. I am willing to come see you
now, unless you'd prefer to do it tomorrow," she said.
There was a moment of silence before Skyler answered. "No, now is as
good a time as any. We'll be far too busy tomorrow prepping the ship for
launch, as it is."
"Very well. I'll be with you in just a few minutes. Scott out."
Conscious of the fact that Skyler would be evaluating her from first
sight, Laney continued into the bathroom and checked her appearance in the
mirror. Taking out the elastic band, she picked up her brush and ran it
through her hair, then re-secured it in a low ponytail. She then took another
deep
breath and headed for the bridge.
When Laney reached the bridge, there were only two crew members at
work. No more was necessary, really, since they were still docked at Izar.
Turning her attention to the matter before her, she pressed the chime for
Captain Skyler's office.
"Come in."
Laney strode into the office after the door swished open, remaining
just inside with her hands down at her sides.
Skyler looked up from the medical kit she had brought up here
earlier today, making sure everything she would need was inside---not that
she'd
really need anything more than the medical tricorder.
"Please, Ensign, come in," Skyler said.
Nodding, Laney stepped forward, coming to stand in front of the
captain's desk. She remained silent as Skyler took a medical tricorder out of
the
kit on her desk and flipped it open, then stood and came around the desk as
she removed the scanning wand and ran it over her.
Skyler's brow furrowed in consternation. "I'm reading you as 100%
Human, Ensign."
Laney reached up to remove her commbadge. Laying it on the desk she
said, "Sorry. Sometimes I forget that."
"It's alright, Miss Scott," Skyler said, as she moved the scanning
wand up and down the ensign once more. Now she was seeing what the girl's
medical profile said about her. The readings showed the genetic make-up of the
Changelings on one side of the small screen, and numerous Human genetic
markers
on the other.
"Ensign Scott, are you aware that your Changeling DNA----if that's
what you want to call it----is dominant over your Human DNA?" the captain
asked.
Laney looked at her. "To be honest, I never gave the matter any
thought. What do you mean, it's dominant?"
Skyler showed her the tricorder readings. "According to this, and
all medical scans taken since your... transformation... although you retain
the
genetic code from your mother's DNA contribution, in the grand scheme of
things it's almost as if it isn't there. You have all the shape-shifting
capabilities of the Changelings, is that correct?"
Laney nodded absently. She really hadn't given much thought to her
genetic make-up in the last six and a half years, just as she hadn't in the
twenty-two prior. She virtually never got injured or sick, so what was there
to
think about? Though now that the subject had been broached, perhaps, at
least since the Changelings had done this to her, she ought have been thinking
about it.
"It's like the Human DNA is completely superfluous," she said.
Looking up, though not directly at Skyler, she mused, "Makes you
wonder why they left it."
Skyler took the tricorder back, and after running one more scan,
replaced the little wand in the top and closed it. "You could better answer
that
than I, Ensign.
"From what this tells me, you are in perfect health." She handed
Laney back her commbadge, and as the younger woman put it on, she added, "I'm
not entirely certain why Starfleet has requested I take on the duties of being
your physician, as our medical staff is more than qualified, and I am certain
that sensitive information would of course be kept private."
"I can only guess it's one of those 'need to know' things, Captain,"
Laney replied. "They must believe that yourself, Admiral Ketchum and the
ship's counselor are the only ones who need to know right now. The fact that I
am part Changeling alone wouldn't make very many people happy. If the
knowledge that I may as well not have any Human DNA at all were to get out,
well...
who knows? The Dominion did some terrible things to us during the war. Even
though I had absolutely nothing to do with them or their agenda, and still
don't, my sharing their genetic structure makes me a perfect target for anyone
who still has unresolved issues. I've never been remiss to that."
"I'm well aware of the security issues," said the captain, then
softened her expression. She could feel that the ensign had been troubled by
the
revelation, and was rather nervous.
"Ensign, your record isn't very flattering, as I'm sure you're
aware. But I am going to take the advice of our counselor and reserve
judgement.
As long as you do your job well and obey orders, I personally will have no
problem with you being on board."
Laney nodded. "Thank you, Captain."
Glancing out the window, she then turned back to Skyler and said,
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?"
Skyler was quite surprised by the request, but nodded her consent as
she leaned against her desk.
Laney took a shallow breath and released it. "Captain, I was a good
Starfleet officer. Hell, I coulda been more than that with my quite possibly
having one of the highest IQ's in the galaxy. But I was perfectly happy and
content taking care of the shuttles on the Ireland."
"Then why did you disobey your father's order and go to the
Changeling planet?" Skyler asked.
"I needed to know for sure. My parents wouldn't tell me and I
couldn't risk going to someone else. All I wanted was to know once and for all
if
they were the other half of me, and I had a right to that knowledge."
Skyler really couldn't argue with her logic. "But even your right to
know does not supercede your captain's direct order, Ensign."
"I was willing to take leave, and as a matter of fact I tried that
tactic. Hell, I would have resigned from Starfleet if that would have made a
difference. But he wasn't going to let me go no matter what, and I felt it was
not his right to stop me."
"So you felt you had no other recourse but to disobey a direct order
and steal a shuttlecraft?" Skyler pushed.
Laney colored slightly, but held her ground. "At the time, no. I was
honestly trying to protect my parents' jobs and reputations. If my father
could only have seen that, perhaps he wouldn't have denied my request in the
first place.
"Looking back, however, I can see that there were other avenues I
could have pursued. Spending the last six and a half years locked in an 8 x 10
room for 22 hours a day gave me a lot of time to think. I don't regret what I
did. Only how I did it."
Skyler studied her for a moment. At least she shows remorse for her
actions, she thought. That's a good start.
"And what about now?" she asked finally.
Laney looked at her squarely, smiling genuinely for the first time.
"Now I want to make up for lost time. Although there was a time when I
wondered if I even wanted to come back, Starfleet really is the only job I've
ever
wanted. The only life I've ever wanted. I am truly grateful that I've been
given a second chance, and I intend to make the most of it."
Although she'd initially had reservations about this unique ensign
and the circumstances of their doctor-patient relationship, Skyler found
herself smiling, and feeling a genuine fondness for her. She had screwed up
and
she understood that, and had paid her debt to society, as the Earth saying
went. Now all she wanted was the chance to make up for it, and to prove, she
sensed, that she was still worthy to wear the uniform.
Skyler decided that she would give her that chance with no more
reservations.
With a smile, she said, "I think I have all I need, Ensign Scott.
You're free to go. I suggest getting a good night's sleep, if you still sleep,
that is. We have a big day tomorrow."
Laney felt herself relax, even though she hadn't been entirely aware
of her tension. Smiling herself, she said, "Yes, ma'am. And actually, even
though I don't need to anymore, I do still sleep. It rests me as much as ever,
and is a constant reminder that I'm still Human."
Skyler watched as Ensign Scott left her office. Sitting back down at
her desk, she looked at the medical results one more time and shook her
head. If this got out there would certainly be a major mess to deal with.
Still,
I have to think that the CMO should be included in Ensign Scott's care. I
think I will have a talk with Keith in the morning. For now the physical is
done
and Starfleet should be happy.
Taking the PADD with the medical results of Ensign Scott, Skyler locked
them up in the safe in her office. It was both manual and voice activated.
Hopefully no one would find the information and cause problems. She wanted to
give the new ensign a chance which meant putting her own beliefs and thoughts
aside.
--- End Message ---