From Mountain Medicine to Starfleet Medical

Posted on Fri Jun 23rd, 2023 @ 6:27pm by Lieutenant Commander Ukram Gocx & Lieutenant Rowena "Rena" Campbell & Lieutenant Commander Frasier Greene & Christine Graham & Daniel Martinez

3,181 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Good Will Tour: Mountain Home [Part Two]
Location: Triton Seabase: Sickbay
Timeline: MD26: 0738 hours

Despite being a hologram, the technology of the holoemitter needed to be transported as well, so Doctor Christine Graham arrived via a shimmer of light and sound. She placed Daniel Garcia on a biobed.

“Doctors, I have a patient for you,” Christine called, waiting for them to arrive before she could give a history.

She wasn't kept waiting long. Doctor Greene arrived shortly afterwards having hear the distinct sound of the transporter resounding through the sleek sickbay.

"What happened?" he asked the hologram before fishing a tricorder from his overcoat pocket

“He and Captain Culver received some type of neurogenic shock last night. I was too limited in my ability to further analyze the cause of the shock, but I believe it to be directly due to the Captain himself,” the hologram reported succinctly. Then she continued her statement, “El-Aurians are not known to have telepathic skills, but much of their history has been lost to the Borg invasion of their planet. I would not rule him out at the root cause, Doctor.”

The hologram then disappeared with a light buzzing sound after she returned her emitter to its place.

Frasier bit back a sigh at the scenario and shook his head slowly. If Graham was correct and the Captain had caused this to happen he'd need to hold a delicate and uncomfortable conversation shortly. For now however Frasier need to establish the injury caused to the civilian whom he perceived to be Max's close companion.

"Thank - " he glanced up at the hologram but she'd already vanished. Another arrival soon took her place.

Rena stumbled in, still bleary-eyed but ready to work. She was mostly there because of her own abilities-she could help to thwart the Captain’s damage. Hopefully. She found Dr. Greene already getting started. "Did Dr. Graham meet you? I just stopped by to let you know my opinion. I was there; it was definitely a psychic attack. Me, too, but I'll be fine," she said. "I'm more used to it." Granted, the last real attack she'd experienced had been during simulations in her training, but hey. "The Captain invaded Dan-Martinez's head. I am not sure why, exactly, but it worked to keep us safe. But I am not sure how prepared an Empath can be for an unexpected attack, let alone a mere Human," she said, quietly. She hated this for him, for THEM. That Max felt that scared. "I don't want to get anyone in trouble here, but I feel like you both need to know that. I can help you when we return from this stupid thing with the Senate; Dr. Graham won't let me assist with the recovery mission," she said. She knew this was because she wasn't on her game, but still. It stung a little bit. "I did what I could to thwart Culver's efforts, and to step in on Martinez's behalf, but...it was mostly too late by the time I got there." She sighed.

The situation was worse than Frasier had first anticipated. Culver had blind stumbling could have easily killed Martinez or cause long lasting damage. "Thanks Rena," he replied. "You're actions have have prevented things being a lot worse."

She just nodded. "I know. We'll talk more later, Doc. I will report here immediately when we return from the Senate meeting. Hopefully with good news," she said.

Dr. Gocx appeared then, the tall, menacing Klingon doctor gruff in appearance. He was dressed in his white uniform, a blue medical jacket over it, and a tricorder in his left hand. He was ready to go, having heard the transporter, too, and hearing Rena's explanation as he came in. "Dr. Greene, you're the CMO, so I will defer to you, but maybe I'll take the Captain, and you take the Civilian? Counselor, wait here, I'll get the nurse to check you over," he said. He saw the woman try to protest, but held up a hand. "There is no glory in overworking yourself, Counselor. When you can give your all, only then is there honor," he said.

Rena tapped her comms badge. ==/\==Come to medical, please==/\== she said, into Max's ear directly. It wasn't really an ask, but she wouldn't fight him on this yet. "Dr. Gocx, I don't have time, I have to go to the Senate meeting. I will report here immediately when we return, I promise," she said, scooting out of the room, and hauling herself down the hallway to find the Transporter room. Was it too late for a transfer?!

"Counsellor," Frasier called as Rena dashed away. "Dammit," he hissed lowly before touching his pin: "Lieutenant Campbell, return to sickbay."

==/\==I can't, Doc. I have bodies to recover, and mothers to explain things to. I'll see you later, I promise. Or you can send me to the Brig or something!==/\==

Max tapped his own combadge. =/\= Not gonna happen, Counselor. I’ve got Senate meeting prep and a dozen questions that need answering before I take this meeting. I’ll report after. Culver out. =/\= Max didn’t have time for medical, not now…in his state, he could be pulled from duty and he didn’t have time for that.

==/\==You owe me a LOT, you know. Campbell out. I am turning this thing off, I am at the Transporter pad and I'll wait for you.==/\== She pressed it for a three-second hold, and watched as it turned off. The act of defiance felt really uncomfortable, but she'd only feel better when she could constantly SEE Max, in her line of sight, for now.

Doctor Greene sighed again as the Counsellor evaded him and refused to return to sickbay. Though technically he could force the matter and press harder to her to return, however she knew her body and its capacity. He'll add her actions onto file and roast her afterwards - right now his main concern was to Dani and the Captain.

Of course, the latter likely be stubborn much akin to his fellow Captain's in the Fleet and avoid stepping to into medical for an assessment, secondly he'll be heading to the senate meeting with the Counsellor. The timing was far from ideal but it was necessary to ensure his wellbeing: "Greene to Culver," he called over the com. "Please report to sickbay."

=/\= Doctor, I’m five minutes shy of our first meeting with the Romulan Star Empire’s Senate. I don’t have time to run down there and back here in five minutes, let alone have a conversation.

Is this something we can do over the combadge? =/\=

As expected the Captain was less than impressed at the summons. "No," Greene replied sternly. "I understand the timing is unfortunate but I insist to see you in person."

=/\= One hour maximum, Doctor. The fate of more than one person rides of our conversation with the Senate right now. Now, damn it, I suggest you use every drug you know to do anything against this problem I’ve created until I’m available. Is that understood? =/\= There was no doubt that the conversation was over.

"Understood, one hour," Frasier nodded with agreement even though Max couldn't see him and closed the channel. He would need to conduct some swift research to ensure the maximum effectiveness in the time scale for as the Captain stated more was at stake than first anticipated.

Rena clucked at the Captain. "You could be a little nicer, he's new here AND he's going to save Dani's life," she left the unspoken "unlike YOU" to hang in the air. It wasn't like her to be this way, and she chalked it up to exhaustion. "Sorry. Let's go," she said.

Back in the Sickbay, Ukram looked at Dr. Greene. "I'll go get some hyposprays. I am thinking a norEpinephrine constant rate infusion with atropine if his heart dips below 30 beats per minute," he sighed. "Since he's human, those will at least keep his heart going." He left, quietly.

"Hmm," replied Greene thoughtfully as the Klingon set about loading the hypo's.

Doctor Christine Graham returned to the room. It appears Doctor Gocx had just exited the room. “I gave the patient medication last night and we’ve received no new medical information from the Vulcan Ministry of Medicine as of yet."

“Doctor Gocx is busy gathering dosing sheets and arranging treatment sheets for dosing, route, time, dose, medication in milligrams and aligning with any allergies.

“The least I can do is apply a neurocortical monitor and begin a full analysis of the scan run by the transporters and what differences are occurring in his brain since the captain overrode it.” Christine moved to the end of the biobed and grabbed the small gray device, placing it on Dani’s parietal lobe.” As the data strobed through, she had the requirement to do the same to her other patient.

Stopping herself, she reminded herself. “The nursing staff were short staffed this morning, so they sent me to help you two doctors. I will place the intravenous catheter. "Christine gathered her supplies and already had blood flash in her tube before she placed a t-set on and finished the taping to her satisfaction. “Now for the captain…” the hologram buzzed out with the look of an Andorian with a target and a personal best time to beat.

Greene watched the hologram work with mixed feelings - she was efficient as one would expect but trod a thin line when it came to respecting authority. Given the situation with Dani remaining locked in his coma and the Captain accused of inadvertently causing it, Frasier wasn't in the mood to argue with the hologram as she continued on her mission. He grimaced with memory at his arrival, Culver had mentioned they'd been heavily reliant on the EMH and now he could see why. Her abilities sparked the tiny voices that questioned his purpose on the station and the larger picture.

Biting back a sigh he studied the data recorded by the neurocortical monitor before prepping a dose of analeptic to stimulate Dani's nervous system into action.

Gocx reappeared. "Here's the Norephrine," he said, handing Dr. Greene the hypospray. "Who did this?" He asked, indicating the IV. That damned meddling EMH, no doubt. "You're doing fine, Dr. Greene. The Captain is...grateful to have a real, live doctor, and not just my bumbling Surgeon self trying to play at general medicine," he said, kindly. "Neurotransmitter giving us anything?" He asked.

"Our eager holo Doctor took matters into her own hands," Frasier replied heavily before adminstainng the loaded hypo. "I'm in half mind to de-activate the dam thing, but right now we could do with the help to control this damage and prevent similar things from happened again." He tried to smile at Gocx's comment about his posting: "Feels like I'm out of depth at the moment. As expected his brainwaves have been supressed, however more alarmingly they'll rather abnormal for a human."

"Her funeral," the Klingon commented under his breath. Captain Culver was many things, but he was still the Captain and orders were to be respected unless a very few rare circumstances occurred.

"Right. I've administered the Epi shot and the adrenaline. Hopefully that will get his brainwaves more active, then we can try a medical coma to treat any damage that may have occurred. We'll need to wait a few minutes for those two medicines to kick in. In the meantime, why not go get yourself something to drink and I'll watch here?"

Having a Klingon Doctor onboard was still a strange experience for Greene, instead of the atypical blood lust and violence Gocx gentle nature often caught him unawares. "Thanks," he replied. "I'll rather wait and monitor the progress."

Arriving at the holodeck, Christine pushed up to the captain as she spoke and shoved the neurocortical monitor on his parietal lobe. Touching it, he could tell she’d used a permanent medical glue and the device would not come off without her approval.

’Shit,’ he thought with annoyance.

Whirling into Sickbay with a “shit eating grin”, a very strange Terran idiom, Christine brought up two men’s mental scans and both were identical. Almost impossible in a couple of alien men who were not neurologically compatible.

“Well, this proves they are connected. Somehow, the captain is the only one in control of two bodies!” Christine explained to Doctor Greene and Gocx as he piled in and out of the room.

Watching the patterns appear on the monitor in tandem, Greene glanced sideways at the hologram: "Did you just slap on a monitor on the Captain without authorization or approval?"

“The captain said “Do anything to help them. I’d guess he knows I'd attached it. It’s his own fault really when he gives open orders to take care of his and Mr. Martinez’s medical necessities."

"Bet he loved that," Greene breathed lowly wondering what hot water she'd just landed them in before returning to the subject at hand. "What happened on the surface, how could this have happened?" he asked Graham trying to understand what may have triggered this.

“To be honest, if I were to narrow it down to one moment, it was when that Romulan guard clanged very loudly on the door to talk about the curfew. Mr. Martinez seemed to freeze up and then he suddenly spoke much more like the captain. The Spanish accent was gone and he commanded more respect than he was getting. Daniel even seemed to hold Counselor Campbell in place, so the Romulan couldn’t see her.

“After that was when the Captain came out and Mr. Martinez collapsed. Yes, I’d say that was probably the point of the neurogenic shock. And, as an amateur, Captain Culver can’t withdraw himself from Mr. Martnez’s mind."

"I see," Frasier nodded. "I assume the Counselor was able to free herself from the binding?" he asked wishing she hadn't darted away so quickly.

“I expect she has,” Christine answered. “She seemed to sense, but was not particularly affected by, the neurogenic pulse. She didn’t have. She didn’t show any signs of shock like the captain, at all."

"I have sent urgent request with Starfleet Medical for an expertise in this field, to both break this connection, or whatever it is." Greene said. "And potentially aid the Captain in controlling his growing abilities before any more episodes can happen. Fortunately these have been answered quickly and Admiral T'Val will be arriving shortly."

“It was wise to call a Vulcan, Doctor Greene. He should easily be able to break the bond between the two.”

Ukram listened carefully to the EMH. She was certifiable, but actually a genius. "I agree. The Meld seems like our best hope. The Epi/Adrenaline combo seems to have at least increased Martinez's brainwaves but he's not out of the woods just yet," the Klingon said.

"I certainly hope so," the CMO acknowledged.

Ukram spoke again. "Let's get a cortical relay on him; that will start the process of bringing him out of the deep unconsciousness. Maybe also some cortical analeptics for the body pain he HAS to be feeling? Campbell would be helpful right now, but I don't want to pile more on her plate; I think the Captain will be leaning on her more during the next few weeks, but she's currently the only other empath right now." He sighed. "What do you think, Dr. Greene? She's due back to Base anytime."

"I've already requested her presence after the senate meeting to ensure she has no lingering side effects of the assault," Frasier replied softly. "Once she's been assessed we're decided then. Proceed with the cortical relay and analeptics maybe we can rouse him before the Admiral arrivals."

Gocx nodded. "Yes, sir." He did as the other doctor requested, and then spent some time double checking the vitals while Dr. Greene requested Campbell's presence.

A bit later, a weary looking Rena hurried herself into the Medical office. "I am here. Sorry about earlier; we couldn't keep the Senate waiting. I am fine, but...what's going on?"

"Counsellor," Frasier said softly before taking her gently by the shoulders and away from Dani as he lay in his coma. "Thank you for returning as soon, please take a seat," he indicated to a vacant bio. Once settled he began the diagnostics to ensure she wasn't experiencing any linger affects. "Mr Martinez has been unresponsive since you returned to the station, he's stable but his brain function is abnormal, we've been able to identify the Captain and he are somehow connected."

She finally let out the long, suffering sigh she'd been holding in the last twelve hours. "He's...in pain, but I can't figure out where yet," she said, holding her head in her hands. She'd realized too late that it HAD been Max's influence and imprint on Dani, but her skills weren't strong enough to undo it, only mitigate the most severe damage. "I need adrenaline if I need to sit here awhile. I am too tired to be much of a help otherwise." Her brain was in shut-off mode, and she could only keep it together a bit longer before she'd snap. She'd only had one other instance this serious under her belt, and the aftermath of THAT had been two days in Medical to recover.

"I'm not asking you to do such a thing," Greene countered. "You're exhausted, this episode is just the latest leg on the ongoing marathon you've been on since Culver came into this abilities. You should rest," he said. "I know you want to help but I'm concerned doing so may cause you further distress and become another patient. You've done a remarkable job so far keeping Culver keep in line but I feel his futures needs are beyond our current abilities."

Frasier sighed a quashed down his own misgivings on the situation they found themselves in: "I've just learned that Admiral T'Val is on route to assist in breaking the connection between Misterr Martinez and Captain Culver. I hope he can also aid in mentoring the Captain to control his new found abilities before they present a larger problem. In the meantime you should rest and replenish yourself, though I want you alert me straight away should you feel anything out of the ordinary. Your scans haven't thrown up anything of concern but I prefer not to leave anything to chance."

Rena sighed, but nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. I will do that. I apologize again for this morning. I think I will be just fine after getting some good hydration, a meal, and some rest," she said. "But if I am still having after affects, I will make sure to come by so you can look at me," she said. She knew her own limits, but her loyalty to her Captain-and the crew-sometimes caused her to push those limits. She scurried out, and to her quarters to replicate herself a quick snack, some tea, and take a long nap.

 

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