Posted by Ensign Sharah Fayth (Doctor) in Sickbay/CMO Ensgin Sharah Fayth Reporting for Duty

Posted by Ensign Ashlyn Trenton (Security Officer) in Sickbay/CMO Ensgin Sharah Fayth Reporting for Duty

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Tolar Zarath (Chief Medical Officer) in Sickbay/CMO Ensgin Sharah Fayth Reporting for Duty
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(Snip)

The Andorian Doctor motioned for Ashlyn to join them at Sharah’s bio-bed. “Ensign Trenton, I presume… C’mon over, I think you can help us with a small problem.” Zarath’s gravelly voice boomed across the small sickbay.

-Zarath, CMO

This caught Ashlyn off guard, she hadn’t been cleared for duty yet so whatever she was helping with wouldn’t likely be security-related. Her knowledge of medicine wasn’t that much more than emergency care while in the field so it was doubtful that she could be of much help in that capacity either. However, as far as she was concerned, the Andorian outranked her and asked for help so she may as well see what she can do. She moved around the office back over to the pair of doctors, deciding to ignore the obvious parkour paths that were present just a moment ago to many disappointed cries from the conference. “How can I be of service, Doctor?”

• Ensign Ashlyn Trenton
  Security, USS Europa

“You can have a seat right here on this Bio-bed, and allow me to run concurrent scans on yours and Sharah’s brain wave patterns. I think we might be able to work out a better way for you two to sleep in the same room.” The Andorian smiled wryly and looked back to Fayth.

“I may not be able to help much, but we’ll see if we can’t improve matters a bit. I need my staff well rested, as I’m sure Lt. Abrams would agree.”

Tolar pulled open a drawer in the bulkhead and brought out two small diagnostic sensor nodes. He gently placed a sensor on Ashlyn’s right temple, and then likewise placed the other on Sharah’s. “Deep breaths, if you please. Don’t worry about anything, just let your minds wander a bit. We’ll get a baseline reading for both of you, and then I can start comparing the patterns.”

-Zarath, CMO

Ashlyn chuckled a bit, it’s been a long while since she let her mind ‘wander’ mostly because that would get things in her mind so chaotic it was a distraction for herself. She closed her eyes and let herself drift off to her vision of Trenton Park where some of the internal conference could run the buildings free of limitation. Others took to the more social aspects of dancing, drinking, or eating but all thirty-seven of them were present in this moment of mental freedom. It may as well be a circus for all the noise they are creating for Sharah to listen to.

The scanner would read very active brain patterns, not at all something you would find in a mind at rest. The activity is normal for any inexperienced super creative that has yet to learn how to put their mind into a rest state.

• Ensign Ashlyn Trenton
  Security, USS Europa

Sharah sat back down on the biobed and breathed slowly. She didn’t want to drag her friend into her problems, but if Zarath could help them both, she’d do it. Her brain waves were never at rest, and of course the highest area of activity, while she was ‘at rest’ was her paracortex. She tried to recreate a sense of calm in her mind, but it was such an unknown sensation she was having to create something she had no experience with.
En. Fayth, Dcotor

The scanning lasted about fifteen minutes, most of which was silent except for the occasional grunt as Zarath took the reading from the machines and entered the results in his file. “Mm uh-huh”

Finally, he removed the devices from the two junior officers and put them away. “You can sit up now, I’ve got what I need.” The Andorian took another moment or two to punch in entries in their medical files and outline his best ideas for treatment. Then he set the PaDD down and leaned on a console, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at the two.

“Well, I can assure you both that your brains are functioning at a high capacity.” He chuckled. “What I recommend for the short term is a two day course of muscle relaxers for Ensign Trenton, Benzodiasepine, this should calm your wave patterns enough so that Doctor Fayth can get to sleep. However, I’d like you to get a solid amount of physical exercise daily, going forward. If you’re tired, you’ll sleep deeply, and that should limit the particular activity that seems to cause the symptoms. As for you, Doctor… I’d like to look into some mental training. There are a number of disciplines which might help you to strengthen your telepathic defenses. Vulcan Meditation comes to mind, though I hate to admit a Vulcan could help you with anything… While I cannot personally teach you these, I am more than willing to help you find someone who will, if you wish to pursue such treatment. In the mean time, try to schedule your sleep time for about a half hour after Ensign Trenton has lost consciousness. That should alleviate the worst of the trouble, as the most potent wave patterns will be emmitted during the REM cycle ten to thirty minutes after falling asleep, and the half hour or so before waking. Which means, I’m afraid, that you’ll be getting exactly the same amount of sleep as Trenton here, who’s brain activity will probably wake you when it restarts, that is until we can find a method of controlling your sensitivity. Any questions or thoughts?”

As he finished speaking, Zarath pulled the Tricorder from his coat pocket and began to do a short physical scan of Trenton, just to finish her evaluation.

-Zarath, CMO

Trenton was listening attentively until the mention of muscle relaxers which caused her face to pale. Her mind started racing to keep those memories contained in the box, this will be a poor topic to bring up for the counselor later. “I…uh…don’t mean to question you sir, but is there…an alternative? Muscle relaxers and I don’t exactly have a great history.” Trenton was quick to change the topic, clearly not wanting to expand further on that. Probably a traumatic experience involving such things from her earlier days. “Sharah and I usually do Parkour together, we only stopped recently due to changing ships and all the work involved with that. Otherwise, I teach her more advanced techniques of movement and I will do an extra half hour run afterward to challenge myself so I can improve. It’s a great full-body workout and can leave us both pretty wiped out.” ‘Without the need for muscle relaxers’ “We just need the chance to install the holodeck program because the onboard gymnasium isn’t big enough or well equipped enough to provide adequate space for it.”

Ashlyn is in great shape for someone of her age and history. While there are a few obvious scars like the one over her cheekbone and the missing right pinky, the rest of the scars were from surgeries gone bad or done without proper facilities as well as the reconstructive surgeries to repair damaged bones that were not healing properly. She could be an excellent display case for corrective repair work on bones and tissue, the most recent damage being signs from a dislocated shoulder. Unlike most of the other damage, this one looks to have been corrected correctly and with care. According to her records it was a fall she took while conducting Parkour, and of course, Sharah was the doctor that fixed it.

• Ensign Ashlyn Trenton
  Security, USS Europa

Sharah was not only Ashlyn’s friend, but her doctor as well. She refrained from reaching over and squeezing Ashlyn’s hand. She didn’t want to tip her friend over the edge and she could feel the turmoil she was experiencing. “Dr. Zarath, En Trenton told me, and the CMO on Challenger about her adverse reaction a to muscle relaxers. However, since she’s never been treated with one during her time with Star Fleet I was told not to put it in her file because no one had observed it. It was determined that putting in a do not use order could hamper treatment later on if she had outgrown the reaction. I never treated her with it because I didn’t want to risk it.” It wasn’t a lie. That is why medical had never included the order, and Ashlyn did have an adverse reaction, but it was mental and not physical. To Sharah, as a doctor, both were equally valid reasons to not use a medication for a patient. The information was in her psychological file. In cases where a ship had no CNS the CMO would have access to that information. However, she wasn’t sure how departmentalized that information was here on Europa. And not only her promise to Ashlyn, but doctor/patient confidentiality prevented her from saying more to Zarath with out Ashlyn’s explicit consent. But there was information in her file, that Zarath would have, “While on Challenger, En. Trenton was treated with a sleep aid: high dose melatonin and an anti-psychotic to promote dreamless sleep. She did not take that last night because we arrived so late, and she was able to sleep without it.”
En. Fayth, Doctor

The old andorian listened intently as the two explained things. As he did, he was mentally going over Trenton’s file in his mind. Sure enough adverse reactions weren’t listed.. “I see…” He began thoughtfully. “There are, of course, other options. We definitely don’t want your nervous system to react badly to any treatments. What was the drug prescribed on the Challenger? I don’t usually like using substances that effect brain chemistry so heavily, and my only reason for suggesting the Benzo was that it tends to shorten the REM cycle and encourage deeper sleep, apart from its general effects. I think it might be best to do without substances, especially in the long run. Once I study these wave patterns, I believe I can attenuate a delta wave inducer to help regulate Ensign Trenton’s REM cycles Since it would only activate for a moment or two per sleep cycle, there wouldn’t be any harmful effects in the long term. In the mean time, Doctor Fayth, if you need rest, you’re more than welcome to use the surgical suite here, or if you like we can temporarily assign other quarters.”

-Zarath, CMO

Sharah felt horrible now. She needed sleep and of course she didn’t know if Ashlyn’s interruption of her sleep cycle was a one time thing or not. She didn’t want to hurt Ashlyn by moving quarters, and a different roommate may not be any better. “I think Dr. Zarath I’d rather room with a mind that I know rather than a stranger. I know adequate rest is essential for care of my condition, but at least with En. Trenton as my roommate she’s aware of the signs of distress. I will use the surgical suite if necessary.” She looked at Ashlyn trying to encourage her to tell Zarath why she didn’t want the muscle relaxers. Zarath’s mind was quiet and controlled. She felt like she and Ashlyn could trust him. She of course couldn’t tell. It would be up to Ashlyn. She looked at Ashlyn again nodded, “I think the delta waves might actually be better for you than the medication.”

Trenton watched the expressions on the faces of both doctors, realizing her silence may be causing more trouble than she intended she sighed in frustration. There was supposed to be a separation between her psychological care and her physical care, but if she didn’t say anything it would only cause unnecessary strain on this doctor and all doctors in the future looking for evidence or some kind of report that explains her aversions to certain medications. So Trenton did what she thought was right, and trusted the doctor. “The annotation isn’t in my medical records because the issue is mostly psychological. Any medication or chemical that causes a loss of control of my body has the same effect. These chemicals were used to stop me from resisting, I was thirteen at the time when it started. It was off and on, but it never really stopped until I fled my homeworld and made it to Earth. If there is some way to annotate that into my records so we can limit those medications to emergencies only without having to…expose myself like this, I’d really appreciate it.” Trenton didn’t like to play the victim card and hated the responses these admissions gained, but if there was a way to not need to re-explain this anymore, she would prefer it over having to feel this…pathetic and upset over something she really didn’t have a lot of control over.

• Ensign Ashlyn Trenton
  Security, USS Europa

After they were done with Trenton, Sharah stayed to talk to Zarath. “I would very much willing to learn new techniques, but I know this is unbecoming a Star Fleet officer, but,” and her voice drops but is emphatic, “Please don’t make me work with Vulcans. Please.”

En. Fayth, Doctor

“Ensign, no one is going to force medication on you that you don’t consent to… I’ll make sure of that. We’ll find a way to treat this that works for everyone. You have my word. There’s no reason we can’t try various methods until we find one that works for both of you.” The Andorian looked from Trenton to Fayth. “And no one is going to force you to work with Vulcans… Lord knows we don’t need that if we can help it.” The Doctor looked thoughtful for a moment, frowning. “There are certain techniques used by intelligence officers… They aren’t necessarily good for the mental health of an individual, but it can allow a person to deal with certain thought processes… Or rather ignore them temporarily in order to maintain function during a mission.” Tolar sighed and crossed his arms. “That is to say… I couldn’t in good conscience recommend it, but it is an option. Especially if one wanted to avoid the use of chemicals… or Vulcans…”

-Zarath, CMO
Intelligence? Did Ashlyn catch that? Of course she did or someone in her conference did. “In good conscious as a medical professional, when all other options have been explored the less recommended treatments may be a viable option. There is only one other treatment I know of and it’s deadly. So I’d rather stay away from it.” She paused for a moment, “We have them on Betazed. They are used in the prisons; they’re called psychonic inhibitors. They turn off all psychic talent. The body becomes totally dependent within a day. They were meant to be removable, but they discovered too late, that removing them will kill the patient.” Sharah looked at Dr. Zarath directly. “So, sir, I’d rather try your non-recommended techniques. They might cause me severe distress, but it’s better than the certainty of dying.”
En Fayth, Doctor

Ashlyn had her doubts, but she was willing to try new things as long as it meant continued control of herself. “I’m willing to try whatever it’s going to take. Joining Intelligence is a life goal anyway so I see no harm in learning a few of their tricks of the trade if you’re offering to teach them.” That part at least was a little exciting for the Ensign, a chance to learn trade secrets of Starfleet Intelligence. Especially if it will help her live more at peace with Sharah.

• Ensign Ashlyn Trenton
  Security, USS Europa

(OOC: Fixing a split)

The Andorian looked from one ensign to the other, dark eyes very serious. “I understand the gravity of such a choice, but I want you to be aware that this isn’t some trick or easy technique… It’s a mental discipline. The subject is broken down and built back up. It takes several weeks to implement, even if we use a rather light version of the training, which we’d have to because you both have duty assignments. It isn’t a pleasant experience, and it isn’t meant to be.”

He tapped his cane on the deck, as if to underscore the seriousness of the idea.

-Zarath, CMO

Ashlyn stood up from the biobed, too short to be intimidating but with eyes filled with determination, her own face displaying her seriousness. “If it will help Sharah, I am more than willing. Test my resolve if you must, but I will do all I can to meet or exceed your expectations.” Ashlyn isn’t always this serious about things, even when using her ‘professional mask’ there is still an air of mischief or aloofness that settles upon her. This, on the other hand, is about as serious as she can be with what she currently has within herself. Even the Conference within her mind are quieter than usual.

• Ensign Ashlyn Trenton
  Security, USS Europa

Zarath suddenly reminded her of someone and it made her give extra pause to her already rapidly processing mind. She knew Ashlyn would do it. She wanted into intelligence more than anything else. More than she loved parkour. If Zarath meant to make her pause and scare her, he was doing a good job of it. Sharah was used to being torn apart and ‘remade’ by every counselor/therapist/doctor she’d ever been in contact with. Mental discipline as something she fought with every day, even when she was asleep. But IF it could help her, it might be worth it. “I have tried many mental discipline and training techniques. I’ve learned and mastered,” she shutters, “Vulcan mediation techniques. And none of them make a difference. I’m willing, but I think it prudent to take regular scans of my paracortex. I have no idea if this will even affect the base readings, but it would be foolish to not ensure that.” “just stay alive until I can come and get you.” “I can’t promise I won’t get hurt, but I can promise it won’t be because I wasn’t taking care of myself.” Sharah really hoped she wasn’t breaking that promise.

En. Fayth, Doctor

“Let’s not be hasty, if we can help it…” Tolar tried to smile through his concern. “It’s not like we have to decide anything right this moment. In fact, if you two can sleep on it, I’d suggest it. Solutions have a way of becoming apparent when you need them. For now, you’re both cleared for duty. Please rest if you can. The rest… we’ll figure it out together.” His antennae waved slightly as he shifted his weight and centered his cane in both hands. As he thought to himself, it might have been that his mental composure cracked just a little… He never got attached to crew members, but these two… “And get a hot meal, for goodness sakes… You both look like half starved bajoran refugees.” The gruff sarcasm, as always, was a cover for genuine care and concern.

-Zarath, CMO