Dr. Chythar Skyfire: PTSD Strikes Back

[Chythar Skyfire]

Personal Log, SD 239602.26

Another day in a hectic plague outbreak as I come to grips with the many mistakes I've made over the course of my career. Maybe the great plan for me is not to be a medical officer forever, much less be chief. I don't handle crises well. The captain saw me freeze. I am haunted by my mistakes both past and present. Go pick on someone else, Murphy.

(( Sickbay, USS Montreal ))

 

:: Chythar had scrambled to get up up here after he left the decon chamber and had been running around like a headless chicken securing sickbay for the sudden high-g ascent. He trusted the staff in the quarantine wards had everything well in hand, because he knew he wasn’t long for this position after what happened in the quarantine ward. :: 

 

(( Flashback -- Quarantine Ward A, SD 239302.12 ))

 

::Galven began visibly to shake, though whether it was due to the climate induced in the room or claustrophobia, Chythar was uncertain as to the cause. There could’ve been any number of factors at work which made it so. ::

 

Galven: ::mumbles:: It is… not only… Klingons.

 

:: As soon as the final word left his lips, Galven collapsed heavily to the ground and coughed up some blood, rather blue in color. Chythar hesitated, and hoped that it didn’t become obvious to his crew mates. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass himself in front of the captain. Solok was quicker to act than Chythar, who had scanned the Denobulan within moments after his disagreement with the deck. After a quick scan of those who remained conscious, Solok’s gaze locked onto the Trill. :: 

 

Solok: Nurse Grog, assist me in removing Lieutenant Galven's EVA suit. He has become infected with the disease, and will require treatment.

 

Solok: If there is time, Captain, I will see to it myself.

 

Galven: ::mumbles:: It is… not only… Klingons.

 

::Galven collapsed, and Solok and Grog immediately attended to the man.::

 

Solok: Nurse Grog, assist me in removing Lieutenant Galven's EVA suit. He has become infected with the disease, and will require treatment.

 

Mei’konda: How is this possible, Doctors?  He’s been weariing a suit this whole time, has he not?

 

Cattan: His vital signs are fluctuating as well, same symptoms as the Colonel. ::she frowns and walks over to assist the nurses::

 

Stennin: Captain. It is possible the EVA suit of Doctor Galven is flawed in a manner. It might also be that Denobulans have a similar reaction to the disease as Klingons.

 

Grog: I know he’s infected. Checked his pulse myself, bit fast. Would someone get me a pocket watch or at least a tricorder? 

 

::They were both possibilities worth exploring. But for the moment, more urgent matters required their attention.::

 

Solok: Nurse, on three. One, ... two, ... three.

 

:: The flashback grew a little hazy for Chythar, but clarified itself moments later. ::.

 

Solok: Understood, Captain.

 

::Solok turned to Stennin.::

 

Solok: Mister Stennin, please insure that the General is transported to Ward B for further study as soon as Doctor Skyfire has finished stabilizing him. Oversee the biomedical research as you see fit, but report your findings regularly to me.

 

Stennin: Certainly, doctor. I will take Eth'ek to a surgical room right away.  

 

::Solok nodded, then turned to Skyfire. The Vulcan’s face was expressionless, as per the usual lack of expression most Vulcans had come to master. ::

 

Solok: Doctor, I do not mean to overstep my authority. You are the Chief Medical Officer. As such, however, I believe you are the one person aboard this vessel to whom responsibility for the health of the crew and all passengers singularly falls. My expertise is as much scientific as it is clinical, and it seems to me a time for playing to our strengths. ::He paused.:: If you would, Doctor, I would have you oversee all clinical treatment of the patients here in Ward A. Ensign Stennin will oversee the scientific research in Ward B. And I will travel between the two wards, collating and comparing your findings. Is that amenable to you?

 

Skyfire: That does make a certain amount of sense, and a task I would easily follow through with. I am actually counting on your knowledge a good deal more in this scenario than what experience I possess, as you’ve been a physician longer than me. 

 

Solok: Very well. If at any time you believe I am failing to fulfill my duty, or to observe the limits of my responsibilities aboard this vessel, I encourage you to bring this to my attention.

 

Skyfire: And the same goes for you. :: He paused for a moment. :: I froze for a moment when Lieutenant Galven collapsed. I had a moment of deja-vu, like I’d done this all before...

 

Solok: I am familiar with the phenomenon, although I cannot say I have experienced "deja-vu" myself. ::He paused.:: You said you froze upon Mister Galven's collapse, and I confess I observed your discomfort before, in your office, in discussions of our quarantine procedures. Your personal matters are naturally your own with which to deal. But if there is something you would like to tell me, Doctor, I am listening.

 

:: Chythar swallowed roughly. He had a difficult time admitting the truth of his circumstances, let alone to someone he’d only worked very briefly with for maybe one mission or so aboard the Veritas. Now, he was opening himself up a bit more and felt super-exposed but he had to get this off his chest in case he froze again. ::

 

Skyfire: Let’s just say my studies in this field have been more complicated than I remembered. I wish to delegate the leading of this crisis to you... because I suffer from PTSD in connection with plague outbreaks. If I melt down, or freeze again, I authorize you to remove me from duty so I don’t put anyone at risk. :: He paused for a moment. :: Mr. Stennin makes a good point about Commander Rosek sharing something in common with “patient zero” in that she is part human. It may be worth looking into.

 

Solok: It is a possibility that merits further inquiry, I agree. ::He paused.:: Will you be able to oversee clinical matters in this ward presently, or do you require some time to gather your thoughts?

 

Skyfire: I should be able to manage for the time being.

 

Solok: Understood, Doctor. I will leave you to your patients, then, and leave your patients to your expert care. If you require my assistance, do not hesitate to contact me. ::He scanned the shuttlebay, which despite its relative largeness compared to the treatment ward in sickbay, was nevertheless not a large space by most standards.:: You may trust I will not go far.

 

Skyfire: Understood, doctor.

 

:: Solok nodded curtly, turned, and strode back to the quarantine command center. As he did so, Chythar returned his attention to Dr. Cattan and the Klingon general. ::

 

(( End Flashback ))

 

(( Sickbay, USS Montreal ))

 

:: Chythar felt instantly sick to his stomach, every muscle tensing as he realized the horror of what had happened. Galven collapsed, and he froze. The last time he froze was when he accidentally put Vitor Silveira into a coma because of a drug mixture of an anti-hallucinogen that reacted badly with the nicotine in Vitor’s system. Worse -- this time his entire staff had seen him freeze, where before it was just one person: Sal Taybrim, his adopted brother.  Even worse than that: the captain saw him freeze. ::

 

(( Flashback -- Transporter Room 2, USS Za, SD 239507.06  ))

 

:: Chythar took up a position near the transporter console and began programming in the specifics for calibration of the biofilter as Mindor spoke. He needed this to work, for all their sakes. Alex, Lael, his own, and Maddie’s. His focus, or lack of focus, was shaky at best and it took him every ounce of will to keep it. He was likely going to hate himself if he couldn't get this to work before his memory failed him and he forgot how to work this thing.  ::

 

Skyfire: Almost got it…

 

:: Once the biofilters were calibrated, he slammed his hand to the button and retrieved the away team, beaming them straight into the quarantined Sickbay before treating Mr. Mindorn's injury with one of the medkits in the transporter room. After said injury was treated and their guest had departed to the surface via the transporter, Chythar beamed himself to sickbay as well. ::

 

(( End Flashback ))

 

(( Sickbay, USS Montreal ))

 

:: Even after all of that, Chythar felt mentally ill. The flashbacks 

 

(( Flashback -- Briefing Room, USS Excalibur-A, SD 239010.23 ))

 

::Folds glanced to Skyfire to explain the cure he had been the force behind. As the good doctor's gaze landed on him, he forced himself to speak in English so as not to frighten the crew, or make an *** of himself before them with his information. ::

 

Skyfire: The amphibian that Folds examined was a carrier, and the Romulans must've come into contact with it or other members of that amphibious species. The cure itself was replicated from Ms. Walker's unique DNA. Two strains of the virus were apparently injected into her, though I couldn't tell where from the cursory examination. Her human half was able to produce the necessary antibodies in order to give me a starting point. I didn't log how much time I spent on it, but I will include full notes in my report.

 

:: It was at this point he stopped talking and took another sip of his coffee, feeling like he'd just told an entire book in 20 seconds. It was probably a bit more than 20 seconds, but he didn't care. He needed his caffeine. He'd been up for several hours, caught a less than an hour nap, and still felt exhausted but was hoping it didn't show. ::

 

Folds: Medical staff is currently replicating the cure for transfer to the Romulans and preparing the data so that they will, ideally, be able to produce it on their own.  The production of enough doses should be completed shortly.

 

Skyfire: If needed, I can accompany Brek down to the surface for its distribution. Otherwise I intend to remain here and work with Folds on the synthesizing of doses. 

 

(( End Flashback ))

 

(( Sickbay, USS Montreal ))

 

:: The more he thought about the various incidents, the worse he felt. While he didn’t want to think about them at all, it was as though the hits just kept coming -- to remind him of his mortally stupid decisions, to remind him of his stupid moments. To remind him of his bumbling incompetence back when he was a lieutenant. ::

 

(( Flashback -- Medbay, Deep Space 10, 239111.13 ))

 

Skyfire: It seems that Dr. Gilaars has created a work-around to prevent it getting to that level, so I am going to leave the injections to her and you, Dr. Gilora. Dr. Fergus can make the necessary modifications to 

the atmospheric filters and begin the aerial disbursement throughout the 

station. I will get in touch with Commander Calderan and deliver the 

update and treat the radiation patients myself. Understood? 

 

Fergus: Aye, sir. 

 

Gilaars: Aye, doctor.

 

:: Becky nodded, then set about gathering the hyposprays, loaded with her antigen. She gave several to Dr Gilora, so she could administer it to some of the patients, while she did so with the others. She then began scans to monitor the hopeful progress. ::

 

::Doctor Skyfire tapped his badge as he injected the other radiation-stricken patient and set down the two empty hyposprays. :: 

 

Skyfire: =/\= Dr. Skyfire to Commander Calderan.=/\= 

 

:: The Byzallian drawl of Commander Calderan filled the air.:: 

 

Calderan: =/\=  Calderan here Doc, hit me.=/\= 

 

Skyfire: =/\= We've managed to synthesize the antigen in two forms, injectable and airborne. I have someone working on getting it into the environmental filters throughout the station. Do you know anything about a radiation leak anywhere?=/\= 

 

Calderan: =/\= No.. that doesn’t sound good. Why do you ask? =/\= 

 

Skyfire: =/\= Just wondered. Treated a couple patients for exposure.=/\= 

 

Calderan: =/\= I see, well, we will run a diagnostic when we get to the 

dome. Hopefully it’s nothing… keep me posted. =/\= 

 

Skyfire: =/\= Aye aye, Commander. Skyfire out. =/\= 

 

:: As the line closed, Doctor Skyfire closed his eyes and ran his right hand over his face. ::

 

Douglas: You ok Doctor? 

 

Skyfire: :: in a low voice to the other medics:: Normally right handed. As I sat up, I felt bones grinding together in my left wrist. You may also want to check my fingers for nerve damage left over from a previous break. Once you've finished treating the others, that is. 

 

(( End Flashback ))

 

(( Sickbay, USS Montreal ))

 

:: Even though they were getting ready for a high-gravity acceleration, he was drafting out a letter in his head. He didn’t quite know how it’d start, but he did know for a fact he couldn’t do this forever. Maybe his Lazarus license was about to expire, and he knew damn well he would not be the CMO after this. At least sickbay was secured for ascent. ::

oO The captain saw me freeze. Oo

===
Lieutenant Commander Chythar Skyfire, MD
Chief Medical Officer

USS Montreal NCC-64927

O239002CS0