Overwhelming Changes

Posted on 24 Jan 2020 @ 7:56pm by Cadet Freshman Grade Eden Corwin & Senior Chief Petty Officer Alexander Rylan

1,170 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Sentience
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: August 2389

This ship is enormous, Eden thought as she made her way down corridor of deck six, but then to someone who had never set foot on a starship before, it would be. And, the young woman found it to be quite overwhelming. She didn't know where anything was, hadn't socialized with anyone outside of her family, and yet, when the opportunity to help with little Alison and little Jameson presented itself, she jumped at the chance. Who wouldn't want to live among the stars and see things that most civilians didn't usually get to see? She did.

Her nerves were beginning to get the better of her as she stopped in front of the doors that led into sickbay, and it was all thanks to the PADD with the map she was currently clutching against her chest. Eden could only imagine the kind of trouble she'd get in if she ended up in environmental control, or worse, on another deck completely that had nothing but things that would get her into a lot of trouble. It was then that the young woman decided the device she held would become her new best friend for the foreseeable future.

Eden took a deep, calming breath and made her way into the medical complex. Like the rest of the ship, what awaited her on the other side was extremely overwhelming, but it was something she'd get used to as time went by. Still, her blue eyes widened as she took in everything. There were people moving about and doing their duties, but she found it hard to even stop one of them for help. They all looked so busy. Maybe, she'd be able to skip her physical and lay low, but what if Joey, or worse, Harvey, checked up on it?

"Excuse me," she blurted out to a passing man in uniform. "Do you think you can help me?"

Alex stopped and smiled at the woman who'd stopped him. "Well," he said. "If you have a medical concern, probably. I'm Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Alex Rylan. How can I help you?"

The young woman took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I need a physical. This is my first time on a starship, and I have absolutely idea what I'm supposed to do... or who I'm supposed to see."

"That I can help you with," Alex said. "I'm what's called an Independent Duty Corpsman. I can do physicals, so I can take care of you. Or if you're more comfortable with a female practitioner, I can grab one of the women on staff for you."

"I... think I would rather just get it over with, but... I don't have to take my clothes off or anything, do I?" Eden found herself asking as a blush crept up her cheeks. She wished in that instant a hole would open up beneath her and swallow her.

"Not unless your scans show something I have to take a closer look at," Alex replied. "Even with all of our medical advances, it's still best to confirm certain findings with a actual visual and tactile examination. But don't panic. I'm not anticipating finding anything we need to worry about. Come with me and we'll find an unoccupied biobed."

"That makes sense," she said, following behind Alex. "How long have you been in Starfleet?" It was at that moment, Eden realized how nosy she sounded asking such a question. "I mean... you don't have to answer that. It's none of my business."

"It's fine," Alex said. "Eighteen years. I entered the enlisted academy around the beginning of the Federation-Klingon War and graduated in time to fight in the last year of the Dominion War. So, what's your name?"

Eden blinked. Surely she told him her name, but as she thought back upon her conversation, she realized she hadn't. "Eden Corwin. I'm on board to help my cousin out with her little ones."

"Ah," Alex said "You're Lieutenant Geisler's cousin. Got it." Alex stopped in front of an unoccupied biobed. "Here. Lay down on this bed and relax. This is going to be easy."

As requested, the young woman hopped up onto the unoccupied biobed and settled back. She couldn't help but look around a little more. "How long have you served aboard the Black Hawk? I haven't seen a whole lot of it, but if sickbay is any indication, the rest of the ship has to be pretty impressive."

"Not long," Alex said. "A bit over a year... Well... closer to 18 months, but most of the last six I spent on special assignment to the Trill Symbiosis Commission learning more about caring for Joined Trill patients." As he spoke, the bio bed gathered data on Eden's body and general health for Alex to interpret. "So far you seem to be very healthy. How's your mental health? Is there anything you're concerned about? Any extreme anxiety, thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or notable depression, situational or clinical? Clinical as in are you having symptoms of depression at times when you feel there's nothing to be depressed about. I'm not detecting any chemical imbalances, but the brain is a tricky thing. We have excellent counselors on board and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who can evaluate you and prescribe a course of medical treatment if she feels you're in need of that. If anything like that does come up, don't hesitate to go directly to counseling, or if that makes you uncomfortable, come to see me. I'm qualified to do an initial assessment after which I'll refer you to the proper practitioner."

"I was a bit of a daredevil child and broke a few bones, but aside from that, I don't remember ever being super sick or anything. Mentally or otherwise," she replied. "However, if anything with the changes for some reasons, I'll make sure I seek out help. I assure you that."

"Excellent," Alex said. "Well, you seem fine to me, and to the biosensors. Since we agree you're fine, you're probably fine. You're file says you're up to date on all of your vaccines, even the Gamma Quadrant specific shots, so I think you're good to go." Alex helped Eden to a sitting position and then down off of the biobed. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Eden shook her head and sat up on the biobed with his help, grateful she was healthy and wouldn't be infecting the crew with some unknown virus. "No, I think that about covers it for now. Thank you for checking me out. I suppose now I'm free to move about the ship."

"Absolutely," Alex said. "It was nice to meet you, Eden Corwin. Welcome to the Black Hawk."

"Likewise, Mister Rylan, and thank you," she beamed as she slipped from the biobed. "Enjoy the rest of your day." And with that, she made her way back out into the ship to see what it had to offer those that didn't wear the uniform.

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