Posted by Lieutenant Ilena Rox (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay: Cadet Swishman Gets (A) Physical

Posted by Cadet J. C. Swishman (Engineer) in Sickbay: Cadet Swishman Gets (A) Physical

Posted by Lieutenant Ilena Rox (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay: Cadet Swishman Gets (A) Physical

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The doctor laughed at his story, “Well there is nothing wrong with that.” Rox smiled, her black eyes looked down at the dog fondly. “This is Ril. I have a medical condition that he helps me with, but he is very friendly.” She pulled the small hand scanner from her tricorder, “May I?” she asked before beginning her scans.

“Anything in particular with your medical history you would like to go over?”

OOC: Great post and interaction! Feel free to add flavor, as much or as little, as you want to his medical history.

Lt. Rox, Chief Medical Officer

“Service dog,” J.C responded at first, with a snap of his fingers. He smiled sheepishly after a moment, realizing he’s was answering his own internal question and reflection.

“Sorry,” he continued, shaking his head. “The dog following you had reminded me of one of the electives I’d taken. It was based on Earth History, and a part of it that stuck with me was how people of the time had adapted to medical conditions before things like VISORs and motor assist bands were invented… And they talked about service animals, primarily dogs, helping people with various tasks, reminders, and the like.” J.C. glanced at Ril with a smile before looking back up at the lieutenant. “Never thought I’d see one in the flesh and fur.”

She set a hand on Ril’s head. “Medical science is wonderful and there are plenty of devices I could use, but they never seemed the right fit for me. Ril has given me more freedom and companionship,” the Betazoid doctor said, not afraid to admit it.

J.C. nodded thoughtfully. “In the end, it’s really about making a life better. My goal is to work on things that’ll be of benefit to a great number of people… Warp cores, transporters, all the essential systems of a starship, hoping to keep her crew safe and sound and coming back from every mission.” He glanced at the pupper with a grin before coming back to the doc.

“But sometimes, it really is about a less complex, more flexible solution… Someone that just needs treats and love instead a regular refresh and occasional spanner and Level 3 diagnostic.” He chuckled. “I’m betting your companion gives a lot less guff than the ship’s computer does too.”

“Oh!” J.C. finally stopped, smirked, then nodded at her as she asked his permission to start the exam, scanner in hand. “Sorry, I’m rambling. Please, don’t let me stop you from doing your thing, Doc… Ma’am…” He laughed quietly, then took a breath. “Sorry again. Guess my nerves are a little all over.”

“Ramble away, Cadet. I enjoy hearing the enthusiasm.” It reminded her of her early days of service.

“Mmm, I don’t know if you want me to do that…” J.C. replied with a laugh. “Give me full license to ramble, I might not have anything left in the tank for my visit to the Counselor after this.”

“Uhm, med history, let’s see…” He made a motion to his salt-and-pepper beard and hair. “Genetic condition that’s caused this lovely colorful existance I lead. Never had any physicians mention any other issues I could run into because of it, though… So it’s always been treated as benign.”

Rox started her scan as he spoke. She made a mental note of the genetic condition and added a note to his medical file to monitor it at regular checkups for changes.

“Let’s see… 2 scars I’ve kept… One on the left hand here…” J.C. motioned to a little scar on the back of his hand… A little half-inch one behind the knuckle of his index finger. “Caught the business end of a flux coupler on accident in my high school years. And then one between my neck and left shoulder, decently sizable…” He tapped a spot on his uniform, over his collarbone. “Engineering accident when I was a teen. All the underlying injuries and damage were fixed up, though.” He seemed quick to gloss over and bypass that one rather quickly.

“Other than those, and me being way too interested in engineering for my most formative years and the shenanigans that entailed… I think that’s it?”

Cadet J.C. Swishman, Engineer

“Well that is what those years are for. Exploring and getting into situations and learning. I just want to make a note in your file, you wish to keep the scars? That way you don’t have to be asked over and over about it.”

“Yes.” The answer was a little fast, a little too eager. J.C. smirked, somewhat embarassed judging by the sudden burst of red in his cheeks. He took a breath, closed his eyes a moment, then tried again.

“Yes, if you could note that, that’d be great.” He glanced at the doc. “See, I keep them as…” J.C. trailed off a moment, then shook his head with a rueful chuckle. “It probably sounds stupid, but I keep them as reminders. The one on the collarbone is a reminder of a loss suffered… The one on my hand, a reminder of something I got back after that. It’s…” He sighed. “It’s a little hard to explain. Or maybe just… Uncomfortable?” He sighed, then shot the doc a half-smile. “I’m sure I’ll have to get into it with the Counselor, but… Right now, I’d like to just leave it as… I don’t plan on getting rid of them anytime soon. Sorry for being a bit… Snappy? Evasive?”

Cadet J.C. Swishman, Engineer