Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side-sim: Hugs Are Multi-function

Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side-sim: Hugs Are Multi-function

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side-sim: Hugs Are Multi-function
Posted by… suppressed (8) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Solal said, stubbornly but playfully. There was the faint hint of a grin on his face. “And can you say there are studies showing that for Vulcans? We are quite different physiologically, you know.”

~ Solal

Achilleas grinned back at Solal with a teasing expression on his face. “Well you’re a doctor, if off-duty, and I’m a scientist. What if we do our own study? I bet you we can find empirical evidence that Vulcans are likewise responsive to sympathetic nervous system stimuli. If meditation isn’t working then maybe hugs will.”

CSO Petrakos

“I bet you nothing happens.” Solal replied. His emotional control was weak, but for once instead of fits of anger, he seemed to be acting a little more human. “A sample size of two does not a study make.” He commented, “but for argument’s sake… How would we run this ‘study’?”

~ Solal

“Well…” Achilleas said slowly as he placed a hand to his chin in thought. “You said your resting heart rate has been high and you’re unable to meditate. I think the easiest test would be to monitor your heart rate and then do a series of hugs of varying durations. Will a short hug of ten seconds suffice to show a reaction or will it take a minute or maybe longer?”

CSO Petrakos

This was the most ridiculous thing Solal had ever heard. But he was pretty sure it would make Achilleas happy. “Okay, fine. Go in my drawer over there,” he pointed across the room at the desk at the leftmost drawer. “There’s a medical scanner we can use.”

~ Solal

Achilleas quickly retrieved the medical scanner with some spring to his step. Any reason to get more hugs is a great thing in his book. He returned next to Solal with a happy grin and handed over the scanner. “Alright, so how do we set this up?”

CSO Petrakos

Solal took the scanner and turned it on. “It works more or less like a science tricorder, but focused on biosigns and bodily functions. We can set it on a continual monitor like this…” He set it up and set it on the bedside table. “Like a mobile biobed, but not as good.” He set up the sensor for himself and then looked at the tricorder’s screen. The heart rate was, as Solal had said, resting high. It was a basic scan with vital signs shown. Solal set it to highlight the heart rate.

~ Solal

Achilleas nodded as he watched the process. When it was all done and ready to go he got into the official hugging position and opened his arms. “I think that you should be the one to initiate the hugs and determine the duration. That way I won’t mess up the process by holding on longer than needed. Also you can prepare yourself and initiate when you’re ready.”

CSO Petrakos

Solal made a face. “You initiate. You’re a scientist, you should have the self control not to hold on longer than necessary in order to preserve the integrity of your experiment. I am as ‘prepared’ as I will ever be.”

~ Solal

Achilleas’ grin grew wider. “Now now, I’ve got to observe impartially through the process. So tell you what, we’ll run the experiment for each duration twice with us alternating who initiates the hug. That might be an important variable to account for with this experiment.”

CSO Petrakos

“Fine, but you have to go first.” Solal countered, shaking his head. “My illness is also an important factor as the cause of the high heart rate. The cause of the high heart rate could change the results of the experiment.”

~ Solal

“Of course your illness is causing your high heart rate. What does that have to do with who starts? But fine, if my starting it off is what gets this whole thing going then so be it. We’ll start with ten seconds then check the data.” Achilleas said as he pulled Solal into a hug and counted the time. After ten seconds he reluctantly released his test subject and scooted back to make some room.

CSO Petrakos