LtJG Gila Sadar - Fixing Each Other, One Mistake at a Time

[Gila Sadar]

((Sickbay, Deck 07 — USS Artemis-A))

Night phantoms were a common side effect of a number of physical maladies, ranging from the menial and ordinary, like lack of sleep - a condition that seemingly affected more than 63% of this vessel’s crew - to a range of more severe concerns that the Sickbay crew scanned their patients for. In the case of the Yellikan Lieutenant, however, Gila would deem that the night phantoms had a more concerning source, particularly given the fact that the medical logs of her current patient showed that her latest counseling appointment was… Awfully long ago.

Sadar: This recurring nightmare you say you’ve experienced. It is one you have seen prior? ::pause:: And in days not directly preceded by an encounter with a time-obsessed Q?

Yellir: ::nodding:: Yes. It started after the incursion from the other us.

Gila understood perfectly. Her encounter with the Shint-verse double of herself had certainly been nightmare inducing already...

Sadar: Hmm... Unfortunately, as I’m sure you’re aware, there’s no cure for night phantoms. If it’s a severe impediment in your sleep schedule, I can prescribe you something that will help you reach REM sleep without the interference?

Lieutenant Yellir raised her hand to reject this temporary - and altogether unsatisfactory - stopgap.

Yellir: No no— it’s manageable, for now. However, If it worsens, I would happily seek guidance on such a prescription. 

Sadar: ::nods in agreement:: Unfortunately, in terms of the nightmares themselves, it’s likely not a medical issue, but a psychological one. Your brain trying to tell you something, for instance. Have you addressed them with a counselor before?

Gila found the very concept of ‘fishing’ - as her fellow medical students had coined this particular method of diagnosing - deeply uncomfortable. The idea that patients would withhold any information that was pertinent to their current medical welfare was anxiety-inducing, particularly when working on a vessel with such a diverse crew. How could she ever be certain that she posed the necessary questions in the correct manner to elicit the answers she sought, and how would she ever be able to ensure that she didn’t violate any culturally specific codes of conduct… Much like the Lieutenant had (most certainly unintentionally) violated hers.

Yellir: No. I suppose I haven’t quite had the time for it. Although, I wouldn’t want to add to their workload— they might be busy given the recent crises we’ve endured.

‘Don’t want to be a burden’ - Gila shorthand for “I need an excuse to validate my avoidance of this particular very important task that I’ve shirked.” It suddenly struck Gila that - perhaps - Lieutenant Yellir and her weren’t so different after all.

Sadar: ::slight smile:: ‘Might be’, hmm... I would say that seeing as there’s a decent chance the recurrence of your nightmare was tied to one of these recent crises, an appointment of yours would be quite in order. Besides ::smile dims slightly:: I have on authority that they do have open slots.

oO After all, I’ve been ordered to make one such appointment myself… Oo

Yellir: In that case— would it be too much trouble to ask for a referral, Lieutenant?

oO Lieutenant Oo

In some paradoxical way, the Lieutenant’s blunder in misranking Gila had probably done more to make the anxious Mizarian accept her rank than any assurances of her worth or blind adherence to the promotion that other crewmembers had attempted in the past weeks. Gila had still - in spite of the hollow pip on her collar - still very much felt like an Ensign, and had felt like she was a bit of an imposter in her new rank.

And yet, faced with the prospect of someone who might share such an opinion, she supposed her truest feelings were laid bare. She was a Lieutenant now, and it wasn’t a matter of whether or not she felt comfortable with that position. Instead, she was to prove that she was worthy of it through her actions.

How she was supposed to do that was still a mystery to her, but at least, it gave her a sense of purpose to know that this was what she had to work on.

Sadar: ::warmer voice:: That would be no trouble at all, Sir. I’ll forward a referral to Commander Jashkaa as soon as our consultation has concluded. ::continues her scans:: Well, beyond the slight sleep deficiency that you’ve mentioned, I see no other causes to be concerned. Fit for duty.

Yellir: Response

Sadar: ::starts putting the medical equipment away:: Of course, Sir. It’s what we’re here for… And, uhh… Thank you. ::blunders:: F-For coming in, that is.

Yellir: Response

TAGS/TBC

LtJG Gila Sadar

Medical Officer

USS Artemis-A

A240006GS1