Lieutenant Commander Talia Ohnari ~ This is why you don't self medicate

[Roxanna Dorion]

(( USS Khitomer, En Route to Sector 001 - Deck 6, Sickbay ))

For the second time in a span of not that long, Talia was all alone in Sickbay. Shoreleave was the perfect time to do the dreaded inventory tasks. At least, while they were still enroute to the actual shoreleave. Technically, she could make an underling do it, except the last time she did that, she ended up just rechecking it. Turned out it was oddly relaxing for her. Relaxing in the sense that when it needed done, and she didn't do it...it haunted her. 

So she was elbow deep in the supply closet when a muffled voice broke through the collating. 

Semara: Doctor? :: A second :: Doctor El'Heem?

oO Did El'Heem pass out business cards or something? Oo 

Ohnari: Hi there, Doctor El'Heem isn't in at the moment, but could I maybe help you out? 

While unfamiliar with the face, Talia surmised this was the newest arrival, and the one who communicated directly with the entity. The scientist in her was squealing with questions. 

Semara: Oh, hi!  Pleased to meet you.  I'm Ensign Semara, how do you do, ma'am?  :: A curtsy with a happy smile ::

Ohnari: ::smiling bemusedly:: Pleased to meet you as well, I'm Chief Medical Officer Ohnari, but I don't require such formalities upon greeting and all. 

Truth be told, it was adorable. What a lovely world would it be if everyone curtseyed and bowed in greetings? Although considered it may get tiresome quickly, especially at award ceremonies. 

Semara: Sorry! Force of habit, Commander.  :: A sudden realization and a look of horror :: I hadn't expected to meet you like this, you must forgive me - I haven't brought you anything!

Talia sensed a wash of shame and found herself a little lost at the cause. 

Ohnari: Uh, no gifts or offerings required. I promise I'll still perform my duties without bribes. ::whispering in mock secrecy:: Kinda frowned upon if I don't...

Although she had been to a few villages were her services were paid in various fruits and cheeses. She wasn't one to turn down a token of thanks via food. 

Semara: Was raised not to ask for somethin' without offerin' something.  Old manners are hard to stop I guess, ma'am.

Ohnari: ::smiling kindly:: Well you and I will have to exchange recipes, I myself enjoy gifting a baked good or two. However, I doubt that's why you've come to Sickbay...is there something I can help you with?

Semara: Well, I'd be happy to help with anythin' I can, commander.  But as for why I'm here... well...  I'm not quite sure how to put it.  :: Beat :: Best I got is "empathic tinnitus."  I had a meetin', and I couldn't feel anythin' from the other person but for some real dull, muted feelings under a telepathic... wash, I guess, for lack of a better word.  But then, the feelin' disappeared almost as soon as it showed up, and I feel fine now.  This was all just moments ago.  Real odd.  Was hopin' you'd take a look?

Her ridged forehead bunched in concerned thought. Now, as far as she was aware, this newly arrived Ensign hadn't been victim to the Sencha waves, but now two telepathic inclined crewmembers were having something "off" with their senses. 

Ohnari: If you'll please follow me, I'd like to run a few scans. Have you been experiencing any other unusual sensations...? 

Approaching the newly recently sanitized biobed, she gestured for the officer to have a seat. 

Semara: Never felt anythin' quite like it before.  It wasn't painful or physically uncomfortable so much as plain worryin'.  Eerie.  Like I was in a glitchy holodeck.  Got me to wonderin' if it might be some kinda delayed effect after chattin' up Junior for so long, but that was a couple days ago already and I haven't had any other problems...

Ah yes. The entity they had taken to calling Junior. Again, she had a thousand questions, but each would wait. 

Ohnari: Entirely possible you over extended yourself and perhaps you're experiencing a bit of fatigue. But we will still run a few scans to be sure. 

It would also check the box of the required exam. But with a higher focus on the woman's telepathic neurotransmitters and enzymes. Dialing in the commands, the readings all appeared cheerfully healthy. While it made her exhale a little that there wasn't a risk of some sort of telepathic affliction bursting through the bio-scrubbers, it still left a few unanswered questions. 

Semara: May I see? :: A moment to look. :: Can we bring up my exam history from the biological survey?  We had to get checked almost every two weeks - makin' sure we didn't carry some kind of pathogen or invasive species from one planet to another.  Pretty sure these numbers are perfectly normal for me.

Ohnari: You, are a brilliant scientist. I'm already on it, and so far, I'm not seeing anything concerning. ::flipping the screen:: See? All healthy levels accounted for. And no significant changes other than your psilosynine are just a smidge low, which, would account for the thought of exhaustion. You overworked yourself really. 

Semara: If I remember my telepathic neuroanatomy right, these psilosynine levels ain't a problem as long as they're moderated by periserine, psiloglycine, and a bunch of neuropeptides I can't remember the names of anymore.  Or at least I've never had trouble.  But if my neurotransmitters are all right in line with prior exams...  Maybe we'd best do a full workup just to be sure?  I don't love mystery symptoms.

Ohnari: Very good, you know your enzymes. Never a bad thing to know what you're supposed to have in case something ever comes back off. I am running the standard biometric panel and comparing, but so far I am not seeing anything alarming. Why don't you tell me where you were when the symptoms started?  

Semara: Response

Oh. The Captain. Talia winced. After a few strange logs, whereas the captain's override had been used, Talia had done some investigating. It seemed the Captain had bypassed her and El'Heem and was taking a mildly confusing, but yet somewhat understandable compound. She didn't love it, but it was something he was private about. And, while, eventually she was going to have to confront him, she just hadn't yet...but now....?

Glancing around the still barren sickbay, she let out a big exhale and flopped down next to the Ensign and gave a semi-apologetic shoulder shrug. 

Ohnari: First, I am going to apologize for the discomfort you experienced. And while I do believe you actually did overextend you senses and should rest a bit...there isn't anything wrong with why you had that experience. ::rubbing her forehead ridges in mild agitation.:: This won't be a new concept but some....uh...well, basically...

Semara: Response

She was attempting to be cryptic, but as someone who had faced similar discrimination when she first left Haliia, she just decided the truth was the best. 

Ohnari: Captain Shayne has an aversion to those who are telepathically inclined...it's a deep seated mistrust that is honestly generational at this point...but he's been...experimenting with a chemical compound usually received for interrogations or deep cover agents. What he's not doing...is consulting me at all, or taking the necessary peptide balancers that don't make the experience so...stark for you. 

Semara: Response

Ohnari: Our first officer is a Hybrid, and I don't know when or why he started, but I think he's afraid of giving more away than he intends to, obviously not informed of the boundaries those inclined like ourselves place within our cultures. It's not like we're open receptacles just amassing all the thought waves and emotional imprints tossed at us all day, but that's a conversation for another time. But this time....well I am going to talk to him. However, rest assured we never had this conversation. 

She gave the woman a pointed look, and hoped their shared empathic, and Semara's telepathic senses would pick up the unspoken implications. This conversation didn't leave this room, she wasn't going to name names, and no risk of rebuke. Well, unless the Captain grumped at Talia, but that was her job and he could deal. Captains for a millennia grumped and grumbled and their doctors ignored it entirely and made them do what was best for themselves. By force if necessary...

Semara: Response

TAG/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Talia Ohnari, MD
Chief Medical Officer
USS Khitomer
C239205ME0