Posted by Ensign Everett Shaw (Engineer) in Sickbay - Medical Check-In - Ensign Shaw

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Areiana “Areia” Blackford (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay - Medical Check-In - Ensign Shaw

Posted by Ensign Everett Shaw (Engineer) in Sickbay - Medical Check-In - Ensign Shaw
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The doors to Sickbay parted with a soft hiss as Ensign Everett Shaw stepped inside, immediately struck by how different it felt from Engineering. The ambient hum was still there, but muted—controlled, precise. Everything looked… cleaner and a touch brighter.

He paused just inside the entrance giving the room a quick once over before spotting the Chief Medical Officer. Younger than he expected—about his age, maybe—but the rank pips made the distinction clear enough. Shaw straightened and approached, trying to settle into something resembling formality.

“Ensign Everett Shaw, reporting for initial medical check-in, ma’am,” he said. A beat passed. “Just transferred aboard.”

He shifted his weight slightly, hands hovering for a moment before settling behind his back. “No current issues to report,” he added, then after a brief pause, felt compelled to clarify—“I mean—nothing out of the ordinary.”

On New Sydney, medical wasn’t something you reported to unless something was actively wrong and even then it had to be seriously wrong. Mining colonies weren’t exactly the epitome of good health habits. Standing here, perfectly fine, waiting to be told otherwise felt… out of place to him.

He glanced briefly at one of the diagnostic beds, then back to the CMO.

“I assume if something was wrong,” he said, a hint of dry humor slipping through, “your scanners are going to find it faster than I could explain it anyway.” He paused briefly. “…Not that I’m volunteering for surprises,” he added, almost as an afterthought.

Shaw cleared his throat quietly, refocusing. “This is my first time doing one of these as part of a transfer,” he admitted. “So—uh—just let me know what you need.”

Ensign Everett Shaw - Engineering Officer

OOC: Tagging the CMO on this. NE Goode can finally go take a break :)
Scott

Areiana stepped out of her office with an easy, welcoming smile, the kind she tried to offer every new crew member to help ease at least a little of the nerves that came with medical evaluations. She paused just long enough to take in the young ensign standing there before stepping closer.

“Welcome,” she said warmly. “You must be Ensign Shaw. My name is Areiana Blackford, Chief Medical Officer. It’s very nice to meet you.” Her tone was calm and reassuring, practiced but still genuine. “We’ll try to make this as quick and painless as possible.”

She gestured toward the exam table, waiting until he sat before reaching for her PADD. With a few taps, she pulled up his file, her green eyes scanning over the information with quiet efficiency. As she read, she absently brushed a strand of long red hair back behind her ear, a small habit she barely noticed anymore.

“So far, everything looks perfect on paper,” she continued, glancing up at him with a slight smile. “But records only tell part of the story.”

She shifted her weight slightly, her tone softening just a bit—less clinical, more personal.

“Any pain? Discomfort? Even something that seems minor?” she asked. “I know it’s tempting to keep things to yourself, especially on your first check-in. A lot of people don’t want to make a fuss or think something’s too small to matter.”

She lowered the PADD slightly, giving him her full attention now.

“But my job is to make sure you’re completely healthy and ready for duty,” she added gently. “That means I need to know everything—even the little things. Headaches, trouble sleeping, old injuries acting up… anything at all.”

A reassuring smile returned to her face.

“We’ll take care of it before it ever becomes a problem. Sound fair?”

Areiana Blackford

Lieutenant Junior Grade Chief Medical Officer USS Chimera

“Yes ma’am, that sounds totally fair.” Shaw relaxed slightly on the exam table. Being poked and prodded was never something he particularly enjoyed doing, but Starfleet medical protocols were a bit more rigid than border system clinics. To be honest, the concept of preventative care was foreign to him as his experiences with doctors back home were almost universally reactionary in nature.

At her question, he hesitated just long enough to consider whether there was anything worth mentioning.

“I don’t think there’s anything that would affect my ability to perform my job, ma’am.” A brief pause followed. He shifted slightly, then clarified a bit further:

“I mean I have a couple of old bumps and bruises from back home,” he admitted. “Growing up in a mining household isn’t exactly forgiving. But nothing current. No pain, no limitations that I’m aware of.” He glanced at the medical scanner displaying his vitals before returning his gaze to the doctor.

“I guess if there was one thing worth mentioning, it’s that my sleep patterns are somewhat irregular and have been for the past few years. I managed to get by with sedatives from time to time, but that’s not exactly an option when you need to be ready for duty. No headaches or anything of the sort to report though.”

Ensign Everett Shaw - Engineering Officer

Areiana nodded, listening carefully. “I had the same issue when I first came onboard. I grew up on a farm in Iowa, so being on a space ship was a completely new experience for me. Everything felt unfamiliar, and it took a while to adjust.

What really helped me at first was something simple—a glass of warm milk before bed, and playing some soothing background sounds. I used things like recordings of thunderstorms or ocean waves. I know it sounds funny, especially since there aren’t any oceans in Iowa, but something about those sounds made it easier for my mind to relax and feel grounded.

If that doesn’t work for you, we can definitely explore other options. Just try it for a few days and see how you feel. If it doesn’t help, we’ll figure something else out together.

Getting good sleep is really important, especially out here. Other than the sleep issues, is anything else bothering you?”

Areiana Blackford

Lieutenant Junior Grade Chief Medical Officer USS Chimera

“Nothing major, other than the normal adjustments to deep space from being on Earth for the last four years. My left shoulder gets stiff sometimes, but I think it’s just an old strain–nothing that affects my work.”

At her mention of thunderstorms and ocean waves, his thoughts shifted to the coastline beyond San Francisco–the only ocean he had ever been around.

“I’m not familiar with Iowa,” he added, “but it sounds… quieter than where I grew up.” He hadn’t the faintest clue what Iowa was like, but anywhere with peaceful farmland seemed like something Shaw could get used to. Peaceful was not a word he would use to describe anything back home.

Shaw shifted on the examination table. “But as for the sleep issue, I will definitely try what you recommend. Growing up, I’ve always fallen asleep to an industrial hum of ore haulers and magtrains. The silence in my quarters now is definitely,” he paused “…noticeable.” Shaw had seen a few of the medical staff over the years on and off for this issue at the Academy who dismissed it as ‘just adjusting’, but Dr. Blackford was the first who appeared interested in trying to actually help solve the problem.

“I appreciate the suggestions, and you’ll be the first to know if it doesn’t improve.” He smiled and added, “I don’t think Lt. Sapeth would be particularly understanding if I nodded off in a briefing.”

OOC: Sorry for the delayed response, been slammed the past few weeks at work!

Ensign Everett Shaw - Engineering Officer

Areiana laughed, a warm, easy sound that softened the clinical edge she usually carried on duty. “Yeah, I don’t think they’d appreciate you snoring and drooling all over the briefing table,” she teased, giving a small shake of her head. “That might earn you a reputation you don’t want.”

She shifted her weight slightly, crossing her arms loosely as her tone became a touch more thoughtful. “But seriously, if that doesn’t work, let me know. There are a few other things we can try first—adjusting your schedule a bit, cutting back on stimulants, maybe some relaxation techniques before bed. Sometimes it’s just about getting your body back into a rhythm.”

Her gaze lingered on them, more attentive now, the humor still there but tempered with concern. “I can give you something to help you sleep if it comes down to it,” she added, her voice gentler, “but I’d rather try other remedies before we go straight to medication. It’s usually better to fix the root of the problem instead of just knocking you out for the night.”

She offered a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll figure it out, though. You won’t be stuck running on fumes forever.”
Areiana Blackford

Lieutenant Junior Grade Chief Medical Officer USS Chimera

ooc: i was in the same boat but i’ve been dealing with a illness