<USS Avalon> To Sickbay Again?

To Sickbay Again?
by
Doctor Alexis Cazook (AMO, /USS Avalon/)
Ensign Talea Genot Erridim (Ops, /USS Avalon/)
Sergeant Walker Ranger (Alpha Squad Lead, Security, /USS Avalon/)
As the turbolift sighed to a stop on the deck containing Sickbay, Talea distantly felt herself being lifted and carried. By whom, she was not at first certain, then their scent, both physical and mental, insinuated itself into her awareness, and she relaxed, knowing she was safe. She didn't understand much of anything past that, except that she was indeed safe. As she felt herself being lowered, she clung to the person. Even as near unconsciousness as she was, she fought being separated.
In Sickbay, the orderlies and other staffers weren't certain how to handle the situation. Handle it wrong, and the Ensign would panic, perhaps killing her. Handle it right, and they might still lose her. It was a dilemma indeed. Suddenly, the woman let go, albeit very reluctantly, and nobody around her knew why. Walker wasn't going to tell them that he'd told her to let go before she broke his neck. Although he'd stated it in a humorous way, it was no less than the truth. She was immensely strong, even as close to unconscious as she was!
Walker dared not let his shields dissipate, for fear it would mean Talea's death, so he maintained a guard-like stance beside her, despite his own energy expenditure and its cost. He was beginning to realize that he didn't want to lose Talea as a friend, but was beginning to realize there may be something deeper there. Exactly what, he wasn't certain of yet.
Walking into the main part of Sickbay after treating K'etrall, Alexis saw Talea being watched severely by Sergeant Ranger. After stopping to grab a medkit with hypo and other supplies, she approached Talea's bed. Nodding to Walker, she spoke softly, "Talea, it is me . . . Alexis. You are safe in Sickbay. I am going to run a quick scan of your vitals and see what is going on. I know your abilities have returned, which is why I assume the young sergeant is standing guard duty." She looked at Walker who looked tired and worn down. "Sergeant, perhaps I should call the Captain and perhaps Lieutenant Moreya to help shield Talea. You can't do it all without risking yourself. You are already showing some mild effects as it is."
Walker smiled slightly. "Replicate some Richartan replenishment formula 2645 and give it to me. It's a very nutritious drink for we Regellians, and gives us an energy boost like you've never experienced. The equivalent for Humans is, I believe, formula 2454; it's dark blue, rather than the green of the Regellian formula." He then mentioned, "I am also shielding her; it's critical, since she doesn't as yet have the strength to bring her own shields up yet, and relaxing mine could allow the very thing we nearly allowed to happen on the Bridge to happen." His eyes were full of his concern. "It was so incredibly close. Even with K'etrall and I shielding her, the unlock event caused her to pass out. That is a very real worry, because that should not have happened, frankly." He fell silent, but his shield boundary briefly shimmered as his concentration began to waver.
Alexis walked over to the replicator and ordered this mysterious Richartan formula 2645. Actually she ordered two glasses. Returning with the glasses, which she noticed were full of an effervescent dark-green substance, she handed one to Walker and held one out for Talea, who needed all the nourishment she could get. "Talea, I want you to drink this slowly. It is a drink that Walker here thinks is very nutritious and you need all you can get. Walker, I suggest you do the same and drink up."
Talea paled utterly and pushed the drink away. With a shudder of revulsion, she said, "I'm allergic to it. If I drank even four ounces, it'd put me in Sickbay for a goodly period. Sixteen ounces would /kill/ me."
Alexis watched as Walker drank his drink. "Exactly how can we provide the proper nourishment so that she can regain her strength? I know both the Captain and Moreya are willing to help. I also need to help Lieutenant K'etrall. This drink you say is made for humans, would it help K'etrall? Even though she is Klingon and Betazoid?"
Walker raised an eyebrow at Talea, then remembered why she'd reacted like that as she explained. "I'm not a medical expert, Doctor. I honestly don't know. Allergy to the formulas is rare, but does occur occasionally, as in Talea's case. Not sure why that fact isn't in her medical file." He looked a little perturbed as he tried to figure out what to do in this case. It hit him suddenly. "Doctor, replicate a vitamin booster for Regellian metabolism. You'll know you have the right one when the fluid is slate-blue. With her nearly in shock, it's a good bet Talea needs the nutritional supplement." He was obviously trying to figure out what could be done to boost Talea's energy levels, but his memory and knowledge was, sadly, not cooperating at all. "Perhaps you need to consult with Cialra, ma'am, in order to treat Talea?" His concern, both as a friend and a fellow member of the same species, was very apparent now.
Quickly moving over to the replicator, Alexis asked for a vitamin booster for Regellian metabolism. It took several tries before the proper one was delivered. This one was the slate blue as mentioned by Walker. Taking the booster and placing it in the hypo she pressed it against Talea's neck and waited for the familiar hiss that let her know the medication had been delivered. She made a note to herself to put in Talea's chart about her allergy to the previous formula.
"Perhaps you are correct, Sergeant. I need assistance in this case and Cialra may be the only one who can help." Tapping her combadge, she calmly stated, "Cialra, please report to Sickbay at once. I am in need of your knowledge and assistance. Please hurry." Now she was back to the proverbial waiting game again.
Cialra first acknowledged the request, then timed it where her appearance in Sickbay would appear to be a teleport-in, arriving precisely six seconds after the call. "Yes, Doctor Cazook?" She then noticed Talea, who was visibly shaken and, to her expert eye, weak. "I see Talea's gotten into another bit of trouble." There was no censure in her tone, merely a statement of fact. "From the fact her shields are not up at all, yet seem to be available to her," she grimaced at that, "I surmise she has had the breaking of the stasis-lock, but hasn't the energy to raise her shields yet."
Walker muttered, but didn't comment. The energy afforded by the replenishment formula he'd drunk would last another two Regellian hours at current usage, he suspected.
Cialra went over to the replicator and said something only Talea caught clearly, and her eyes widened. Was even her ship's MI against her? She recognized the drink as a variant of the replenishment formula and started trembling. Cialra noticed this, and said quietly, "Hush. I have never and will never willingly harm you. Drink this, please. Slowly, if you will." She turned to Doctor Cazook. "Monitor her. At the first sign of any breathing difficulties, use trichlortazine, five ccs, directly into her primary heart. I do not believe this variant will cause any problems, however." The fluid was an effervescent yellow-green, as opposed to the deeper green of Walker's or the deep blue of the Human formulation. "The Human formulation should work on any species that is biologically compatible, but again, watch for reaction."
Talea took an experimental sip of the drink, which she discovered was a lovely lemon-lime flavor, with what she thought was perhaps an aftertaste of mint. She was increasingly aware of energy coursing through her as well. As she drank the glass dry, Walker looked at her, worry clear on his face. Cialra's apparent experimentation on Talea bothered him greatly.
On seeing Talea drain the last of the twenty-four ounce drink, Cialra smiled. "That's Richartan replenishment formula 2655, which was only recently developed for people with her rather unusual biochemistry. I'm glad her experience echoes the clinical trials."
Talea raised her shields, wincing slightly as the shields rasped against areas that were still irritated by the lock breaking. Walker, on sensing hers going up, retracted his carefully, leaving her surrounded with a silver-blue nimbus that faded as her shields fully stabilized. She then walked calmly over to K'etrall and touched her gently on the shoulder, sharing some of her excess energy, but desisted as Walker shot her a look that clearly said, "Enough!"
Alexis looked from Walker to Talea. "Sergeant, I believe whatever look or thought you are passing is inappropriate. Not to mention the effect it could or is having on her. Talea, I appreciate what you are doing, however I wish you would save some of your energy. You need to get stronger before you can really help anyone else. Lieutenant K'etrall is stable for now. I think it would be best if you were to either return to your bed or if you think it would suit you better . . . maybe you should return to your quarters until you are stronger. I would prefer you stay here, however, I know how much you disdain Sickbay. I will understand if you wish to leave. I will however be stopping by to check on you periodically."
Talea smiled slightly, then defended Walker a little. "He basically cautioned me against overdoing, just as you just did, Doctor. And if Sickbay had a psionically-shielded room, which unfortunately, it does not, I would stay, because I trust you, ma'am. The risk is that my shields are not as firm as they appear. He also cautioned me, rightly, that they are far more fragile than they appear to be, so getting to a psionically-shielded area is wise."
Standing her ground, Alexis looked at Walker. "Sergeant, I suggest that you return to your quarters for rest until your next duty shift. I will clear it with Captain Phillips. You have done more than your share of help today, and it is appreciated. Don't make me order you to go. I know you have Talea's best interests at heart, but there is a time when you are going to have to let me take care of her. This is one of those times." She stood and watched the man, wondering what he was going to do.
Walker smiled slightly. "Understood, Doctor, and many thanks. Permission to escort Talea to her quarters?"
Looking back at Talea and then Walker, Alexis sighed. It was true there was no psionically-shielded room. Perhaps it was time to change that. For now, she had no choice but to release Talea. "Permission granted, Sergeant. Talea, just remember I will be checking in on you, and I insist that you keep me posted on how you are doing. Is that understood?"
Talea nodded. "I give you my word of honor that I will do so, Doctor. I hope we will find ourselves friends soon, for I tire of the sadness and loneliness I've endured for so long. Please, do not feel anger or sorrow for something you had no knowledge would be needed. Cialra will be more than happy to assist you, now that Captain Skyler's given her permission to be in areas of the vessel that are not secured." With that, she bowed respectfully to the doctor, and the couple walked out of Sickbay, turning toward the nearest turbolift.

Other related posts: