Artemis: Seeing Sickbay
Dori
Zoe had been excited when Samantha had told her she would be able to see the ship’s sickbay. As soon as she had some free time without Christy and Aoife, she gingerly tapped the commbadge she had been provided, and contacted Dr. Matthews. She was as interested to meet the ship’s CMO as she was in seeing sickbay, and hoped the woman would be able to show her around right away.
=^=Matthews=^= came the swift reply. =^= Who’s inserted what where?=^=
“Uh, no one Doctor. I’m Doctor De-uh, Nichols. Samantha’s sister? I was told I would be able to see your sickbay and wondered if this was a good time?” she fumbled the name, still getting used to using her original surname.
=^=Aha! Of course, of course - come on down, the computer will guide you,=^= Ella said.
“Very well. I’ll see you soon.” Zoe closed the connection and left the rather large set of quarters. As soon as she was out in the hallway she asked the computer to direct her to sickbay, and headed down. Very soon, she was standing just inside one of the largest sickbays in Starfleet. Her jaw dropped.
“Welcome,” a warm voice said with a dry smile on it. A short middle aged woman stood to one side. “I’m Dr. E - Dr. Elaina Matthews. Nice to need you Dr. Nichols.”
Zoe turned to face the chief medical officer "Likewise." She replied. "I've only seen such a large facility in a hospital before. Color me impressed."
“She runs like any major hospital would,” Dr E said. “I ran the major A&E in Joburg so I know something about that.” She chuckled. “We also have excellent labs and work closely with Science to identify threats and things.”
“I suppose with a ship this large, you must have many people to tend to.” Zoe commented. “And perhaps many strange illnesses you find in the course of your travels. I have read papers on them, although I haven’t experienced any myself.”
“Yes, we do come across an astonishing array of things, I have to say. Biohazards are our biggest problem, and different bugs affect different members of the crew differently as well, given we are a host of different species,” Dr. E. said. “Then we have got the major trauma capabilities and rehabilitation suites, rooms for patients who are with us longer term. We also have psych holding areas, luckily they are very rarely used, and we have occupational therapy as well. Your sister is in charge of mental health aboard the ship so she and I work closely together for the benefit of our patients.”
“I’d love to have a walk through, if you don’t mind.” Zoe said. “I interned in the best hospital on Corlo, and I’d be interested to see how the facilities compare.”
“Please do. - Here, I’ll get you a badge allowing you to roam around the office. Just stay out the way but we are fairly… un-full…” Dr. E was avoiding saying the “Q” word. She got her a permit to wear.
“Thank you.” Zoe was acutely aware of the fact that her colleague on this Starfleet vessel was as superstitious of the “Q” word as she was. “I will do my best not to get in the way. I’m hoping to compare the equipment you have with what the people I trained with are missing, and see if I can’t help them get some of what they lack. If it’s not all for Starfleet’s use.” she added deprecatingly.
“Well you’ll have to talk to Ops about that, but we can certainly do teaching and things,” Dr. E said. “How long are you going to be with us?”
“Only a few days, I think. I don’t want to take up too much of Samantha’s time. Once I leave, I’ll see what needs to be obtained for my former hospital and see if I can get it from Earth. This is really just to see medicine at it’s finest.”
“I’m sure we can arrange something,” Dr. E said.
“That’s very kind.” Zoe rubbed her temples.
“Are you feeling okay?” Dr. E said, concerned, automatically scanning Zoe.
“Oh, just a little headache. I get them frequently these days.” Zoe said, frowning. “I should get it checked, but there hasn’t been time.”
“Well, there’s no time like the present,” the cheerful doctor informed her. “You can see the neural analysis machine in action - it’s the first one that’s on a ship, usually only Starfleet medical bases have them.” She gestured for Zoe to get on a biobed by a round machine that then came up over her head like a hood. “Now, the benefits,” she began as though talking through the machine and then paused. “Actually I just need to double check something here, hang on.” Dr. E’s face was a mask of concentration.
“Sure, no problem.” Zoe replied, unsure of whether to hold still or not. To be on the safe side, she didn’t move a muscle.
Dr E. continued to check and then removed the scanner.
“Dr. Nichols, what brain surgery have you had?” she asked.
Zoe looked over at her and frowned. “I haven’t had brain surgery. You can check with Samantha, but I think I would have been told by now if I’d had brain surgery as a child.”
“That’s not what this scan is saying - it’s barely noticeable, but there is definite surgical scarring,” Dr. E said and showed her the scans.
“I...I don’t know what to say.” Zoe stuttered. “You don’t suppose this could have something to do with my memory loss?”
Dr. E’s eyebrows shot up.
“Okay. I’d like to hear more about that please,” she said, perching on the side of the biobed.
Zoe’s brow wrinkled as she considered where to start. “When I was ten, I nearly drowned on a family holiday away from Earth. My family thought I had drowned, but I was rescued by the people who I considered my parents until very recently. I’ve tried every recommended procedure to try and kick start my memory, if you will, but nothing’s worked. Most doctors and psychologists think it’s a reaction to the trauma I suffered in almost drowning. I don’t remember anything of my near death experience, only what I was told, or anything of my life before living with my fake parents.. I would probably still think they were my parents were it not for a chance meeting I had on Earth with someone who knows Samantha and thought I was her, and wouldn’t accept that I wasn’t related. She asked me if I would consent to a DNA test, and I did, and the rest is history.“
“I’m not an expert in this - this is too fine a level of work for me so there needs to have been someone with extreme skill that’s done this. - I’m guessing you’ve had headaches all your life? - I think you had surgery to alter your memory,” Dr. E said gently. “Would you like me to get your sister or do you need a moment?”
Zoe thought for a moment, then started shaking slightly. "I think you should call her." She replied.
“Matthews to Harkness. Meet me in sickbay please,” Dr. E said, tapping her com. “Urgently. - Okay Zoe, is it alright if I call you Zoe? - lay down - I’m just going to give you something to calm you down. Munch on this,” she said, handing her some Betazoid chocolate she pulled from a lab coat pocket.
“Yes, you can call me Zoe.” she said, still in a state of mental shock as she lay down and took the chocolate. She didn’t notice that it was somewhat different until she began to eat it, and then she didn’t really care. It kept her mind occupied, and lying down also made her feel calmer. “Thank you.” she added, waving the chocolate in a vague manner.
A few minutes later, Samantha ran into sickbay. “Dr. E?” she called, and a nurse, noticing her, took her back to where the CMO and her sister were. Samantha noticed Zoe lying down, and her eyes widened. “Zoe? Dr. E? What is going on?” she asked.
“Zoe has had a bit of a shock,” Dr. E said. “She’s just relaxing a bit with some Betazoid chocolate - Zoe do you want to update your sister or should I?”
"Samantha, Dr E thinks I've had brain surgery." Zoe said without preamble. "I didn't have any as a child, did I?"
Samantha looked from Zoe to the doctor. "Ah, no. Definitely not. Brain surgery? Are you sure?" She asked. "We need to find out who would have done this, and why, if that's the case." She frowned. "Exactly why it's not in your medical records, Zoe."
Zoe nodded. "That's true. I'm not really thinking very clearly at the moment. It should be in my medical history...unless my ex-parents did it to hide something -"
"Like who you really are." Samantha filled in, when Zoe trailed off. "Dr E, if you can figure anything out, or even reverse this, I think we would both really appreciate it." Zoe nodded fervently, her mouth too full of chocolate to voice an opinion.
“I can’t undo this. I’m good, but this level of surgery requires an expert beyond my competencies… there’s only a handful of people with this level of skill. I need to check who they are and then I can give you a recommendation. In the meantime, the least I can do is treat your headaches, now we know what’s causing them,” Dr. E said, squeezing Zoe’s shoulder.
Samantha nodded, her eyes unfocused as she stared into space. "Wait" She said. "I know someone who fixed an altered brain. She's working at a mental hospital on Warth now. Dr. Temea Opal."
Zoe blinked rapidly. "I know her. She's who thought I was you in the first place." She mumbled. Samantha turned unquestioningly to Dr. E. "A friend named Zetos Keta of a former crewmate and patient of mine had her brain altered, in very different circumstances. Dr. Opal was able to reverse the process."
“Opal… Opal… yes, I believe I heard her speak at a conference a few years back. With your permission I can send her your file and ask her advice,” Dr. E said after a moment’s thought.
“Yes, go ahead.” Zoe nodded. The two sisters exchanged a glance. Temea had been instrumental in bringing them together again. If she could help Zoe recover her memories, they would both be deep in her debt.
“Doctor E, do you think it would be all right if I took Zoe back to mine? I don’t know how long she’s going to be able to stay on board, and I’d like to spend as much time with her as I can.” Samantha requested.
“Of course. Call me if you need any more help - we’ll get you through this,” Ella said.
“We will.” the twin sisters said together. Samatha laughed. “Come on sis, let’s get you home. Thank you Dr. E, I owe you.” she said as she took Zoe’s hand.
Ella shooed them out with a smile and then went to set about contacting Dr. Opal.
End