Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Sickbay- A Checkup

Posted by Lieutenant Benjamin Grey (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay- A Checkup

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Sickbay- A Checkup
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

Benjamin scratched his chin thoughtfully “Receptamine” He said the word slowly “It’s an El-Aurian neurotransmitter, or at least that’s the species we’re familiar with that produces it. Technically speaking you shouldn’t be able to produce it but it seems your brain is adapting, creating new neurons that produce new neurotransmitters.” He considered the information “Right now this isn’t a major concern to your health beyond what we’ve already discussed. I am concerned about potential future developments. We may want to consider finding a specialist institution, with this new development I’ll have to put feelers out for an El-Aurian neurologist or a similar speciality.”

Lieutenant Benjamin Grey
Chief Medical Officer

Her resistance was instant and Janna shook her head. “I won’t be some fascinating lab rat, Ben. Been there, done that, and not interested in repeating it. I don’t want to have to explain to strangers how this all happened. It’s none of their business. So if you can talk to people without giving away who your patient is, then I can be okay with needed to get more information. I just…” She shook her head again, that old hurt welling up from a place that she had thought she had dealt with ages ago. But Janna knew that some things just stuck with you and memories were complicated.

In the days after her accident, before they knew the limitations of the treatments for the acquired haemophilia and what her life would look like going forward, so had been surrounded by people doing their best to keep her alive, trying everything they could. She had appreciated their efforts, but there had been a clear point where they had stopped treating a patient and were focused on a mystery. She became nothing more than an oddity to be figured out. She had no longer been a person, and while she gave Ben more credit than that, others she couldn’t risk the same.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Benjamin frowned at the Counselor “Janna” he said after almost half a minute of silence, his jaw clenching as he considered then reconsidered what to say “If your condition progresses at this rate without being studied and diagnosed by someone with the correct expertise the decision will be out of your hands and mine” he put a hand on the head of the biobed, leaning in slightly without invading her personal space “Now I can and will protect your identity to the best of my ability but there is a limit to what I can do.” He sighed “We might not be there yet but there will come a point in the near future when you will have to make a decision on this, yours is a speciality case and I am not a specialist in this field and I don’t know if this can be handled with just consults through subspace. Might be that all you’ll need is some medication and training from some psychic guru named after a tree” He smiled slightly showing that he wasn’t trying to be malicious, also he thought that was at least a little funny. His smile faded as he continued “Or you might need major neurosurgery. In either scenario you’ll have to prepare for the potential of bringing in someone new and wors case being brought somewhere new”

Dr. Grey - CMO

She was always calm and collected around others. The times people on this ship saw her upset were few, because Janna had learned long ago to let things roll off her. She didn’t ignore her emotions, but they rarely got the best of her. This was different and she couldn’t even explain why. She ran her fingers through her chin length curls and fought back tears. “This is supposed to be a good thing, whatever is happening to me,” she said, despair slipping into her voice. “Don’t you understand, Ben? What happened to me on my Academy cruise was devastating. For the longest time they weren’t sure how to treat me.” She lifted her gaze to Grey. “And when it was clear I would live, the reality they painted for me was so bleak there was a time when I wasn’t sure I even wanted to live. I know that this isn’t dire like that, but this thing that happened in the Nexus came with something that makes me so happy. I’m happy with Orvos. I think we would have found our way to where we are eventually, but the Nexus gave us the push we needed. I just… I don’t think I could bear to have all this turned into some sort of travesty because people are afraid. I don’t want to be afraid of this,” she all but pleaded with him, as if he could change something about the situation. Janna knew he couldn’t, but she was desperate to know that someone was on her side. Orvos was, but he was biased in this case.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Ben put a hand over his friends and squeezed gently “Focus on the Good Janna, what I’m discussing, what I’m worrying about are possibilities. Don’t let it overshadow what good you’ve gotten from it. But also don’t ignore the potential risks, hope for the future but prepare in the present” He smiled, it wasn’t his usual doctors smile trained and perfected over more than a decade of practice but a genuine smile “Happiness isn’t always easy to find so hold on to it when you can.”

Dr. Grey - CMO

“That’s what I’m trying to do,” she said, her grass green eyes glimmering with tears. “I’ve spent a long time being afraid of what will happen if I’m not mindful, not careful. I’m just trying to live a little, Ben.”

The doctor didn’t give a response, space psychology was no longer standard teaching at the Academy but he knew enough that sometimes people just needed to speak.

Blowing out a breath, Janna turned her attention to biobed readings. “Be honest with me. I know I’m emotional, which I have every right to be-“she shifted her gaze back to Ben-“but do you think I’m in any actual danger from these changes?”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“I don’t know” Ben answered honestly “Look, humans gaining empathic or psychic abilities through metaphysical means is nothing new and there have been natural-born human Telepaths before but since we lack a paracortex or a similar organ it’s exceedingly rare. We don’t have enough data to suppose either way. However, I am hopeful regarding your neurological health, or I should say cautiously optimistic. As far as I can tell the abilities themselves aren’t dangerous beyond inexperience, but with training that is something you can handle” He said with a reassuring tone.

Dr. Grey - CMO

Kingston nodded slowly and after a moment drew in a resigned breath. “Okay. I mean, so far I haven’t noticed it interfering with my duties. I am sometimes aware of people’s emotions but in sessions it only provides additional information. I still have to navigate sessions with people just like I always have.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

That made sense with the data Ben had gathered so far “I don’t have any recommendations regarding training in the use of your abilities, depending on what you want to do with them you have different options. Since they seem to be related to El-Aurian telepathy perhaps the Captain can point you in the right direction, there are records of humans who can’t handle their abilities getting Vulcan training in suppressing them. The Betazoid have some training available but I have no contacts there”

Doctor Grey
CMO

“I know people,” Janna said. “The bonus of having a Doctorate and having practiced as long as I have is that I have met quite a few people. But before I turn to those off the sip, there is a Vulcan on board I have a rapport with who might be inclined to help. I’ll have to ask to know for sure though.” This was a lot to wrap her mind around and she wondered what Orvos would say when she told him. Hell, how did she tell her mothers about all this?

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Benjamin raised an eyebrow then grinned “You might have a few years on me Counselor but don’t forget that I’m a child prodigy” he said the last words with no small amount of sarcasm, going to medical school at 17 was a point of pride nearly twenty years ago, he’d since mildly regretted the decision “We were at the academy at the same time” He said as lightly as he took a seat and crossed his legs “Just keep me informed on whatever you decide.”

Doctor Grey
CMO