Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in One Step at a Time

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in One Step at a Time

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in One Step at a Time
Posted by… suppressed (53) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“Relax, Dee, I’m teasing you. I’m all here, I promise.” Sisnil said and patted her hand again.

~ Zoi

“Okay.” She picked up the cloth again and wrung it out in the water before bathing his face and neck. Then she checked the infusion unit. It still had a little time left. “Is there anything you want? Anything I can do?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He shivered slightly under the touch of the cloth. “No, I’m alright. …I might be feeling well enough to play cards or something.” He said.

~ Zoi

Setting the bowl and cloth aside, Dradvia glanced around. “Do you have any? If not I can run to the mess. I think there are some there.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“In that desk,” Sisnil pointed. “They’re casino quality. Easier to shuffle.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia moved over to the desk and searched the drawers, feeling awkward about going through his things. She found them and came back. “What do you want to play?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He opened the box and shuffled the cards. “What do you know how to play?” He asked.

~ Zoi

“Solitaire,” Dradvia shook her head as she said it and shrugged self-consciously. “Ummm… Slapjack and Rummy.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Slapjack it is, then,” he said and dealt the cards. “You never played cards that much?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shook her head. “No. We had a lot of games at the orphanage, but regular cards…” Dradvia shrugged. “The other kids at school wanted to bet when we played. We didn’t have much to bet with. I was horrible at it, so,” Dradvia shrugged again. “After the first few times I stopped playing because I didn’t want to lose what I had. Lopdu was great at it. He always won. He had nothing and then he had everything from what he won.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded. “Noril and I were the same way..... Helps to be telepathic though. And count the cards.” He winked. They started playing.

~ Zoi

SlapJack was a fun, fast paced game for kids. It was also better in a group. It was still a lot of fun just playing with Sisnil. Though she was careful to keep an eye on him. He had been disoriented earlier, and he still hadn’t eaten. “I bet you and your brother hustled, didn’t you?”

He didn’t seem perfect, but he didn’t seem completely confused like before. It was difficult to tell how much he was concealing.

He was able to follow the game alright even if he was tired. Maybe she was worrying needlessly?

Sisnil grinned. “A fool and his money is quickly parted, no?” He said as he played.

Dradvia shook her head with a rueful smile. “I was usually the fool. Which is why I don’t bet.”

A few hands in she checked him again and went ahead and set up a second infusion. “How are you feeling? Tired?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Tired. Still sick to my stomach, it’s going in waves.” He shrugged. “I’m okay.” The first infusion had helped from what her scan said. His scans were otherwise similar, but his body should have an easier time fighting and recovering.

~ Zoi

At least he was stabilizing some. “Do you want another dose for your stomach?” She wished he would eat or drink on his own, but at least he was the same. The fluids would help. “Another game? Or do you want to rest?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He nodded. “Maybe it’ll make it so I can eat. I’m starting to feel the effects of hunger.” He nodded again. “The game is keeping my mind working.”

~ Zoi

She reached into the kit and loaded the hypospray. She dialed in the dosage and pressed it to his neck. “Disorientation and confusion is a symptom, rare, but it happens. Give the hypo about 10 minutes and let’s see if you can eat.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He was quite obedient, it turned out, when he trusted his doctor. There were no quips or arguments. “I’m sure I’m fine.”

~ Zoi

Yes, yes he was. Dradvia’s cheeks flamed and she looked downbat the cards, quickly flipping one over. “Just a few more hours. Come on, play.” She waved her fingers at his stack of cards.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil flipped a card himself. He didn’t notice it was a jack at first, so he was slow to slap it.

~ Zoi

Dradvia slapped her hand down in the cards and took them, flipping over the next. She breathed a sigh of relief that Sisnil hadn’t caught her thinking about how attractive he was and how much she liked it. Then she began to worry. He usually never missed anything nor an opportunity to tease her. She looked up at him, gaze intent. Maybe he wasn’t as okay as she thought he was.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He flipped a card, too. Not a jack. It was several moments before he glanced up at her, “You’re worried. I’m okay, Dee. Promise.”

~ Zoi

She flashed him a slightly sassy grin. It didn’t dispel the worry, but it lightened the moment. “Last I checked Captain Best-Pirate-in-History, I am the doctor, not you. I will decide when to worry or not.” She flipped over a card, not a Jack.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Okay, doctor, why the worry?” Sisnil said, flipping his next card.

~ Zoi

“One because you were never innoculated against Levodian Flue, which makes it much worse. Also, because I feel like your hiding how bad you’re feeling, or it’s affecting your telepathy. I don’t know what to do for that. I would need to get Dr. Tessan and I know you’ll protest vehemently if I try.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’ll get better and be fine. Why do you think it’s affecting my telepathy?” He asked, looking at her.

~ Zoi

Dradvia squirmed slightly and then dispersed it because his well being came first. “You aren’t teasing me. You aren’t responding to my thoughts. Just my emotions. You aren’t as perceptive as usual. Maybe it is just exhaustion from the flu or maybe it is affecting your telepathy.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Hmm.” He looked at her critically, testing his own abilities. “You’re right, my telepathy is not as sensitive as normal.”

~ Zoi

Despite having been so close to Kryssa, Dradvia only knew very basics about Betazoid telepathy from a medical stand point. She picked up her tricorder and focused the scanner on his skull to take scans of his brain.

“Comouter, access Star Fleet medical database, search Levodian Flu and cross-search for cases of Betazoid patients and Levodian Flu effects on Betazoid Telepathy.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Accessing.... Analyzing.... About 20% of levodian flu cases in Betazoids result in a temporary reduction in telepathic abilities. Almost all cases recover once the patient has recovered from the illness.” The computer answered her query.

~ Zoi

What about the few cases? She could look that up later. “Are any additional treatments or protocols recommended?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Psilosynine boosters can be used at patient and doctor’s discretion.” The computer said.

~ Zoi

Dradvia looked at him, “Is that something you want? I can ask Tessan about it if you want to know more first.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil considered it. “It has a laundry list of side effects. Do you think it’s worth it?”

~ Zoi

“I don’t know. You said now that you are aware your perception is much lower. The flu runs course at 29 hours. Once you are over it, you should be back to normal. If you can stand the lowered sensitivity then I would forgo it. That is me though. It is up to you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Let’s not,” he said after a silence. “I don’t like lacking perception but the benefits don’t outweigh the potential costs.”

~ Zoi

“Then we won’t do that.” She slid the kit away. “Do you think you can try eating something now?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I can try. My stomach isn’t too bad but I’m worried eating will upset it.” Sisnil told her.

~ Zoi

Dradvia stood and made her way over to the desk. She opened a vacuumed sealed pack and brought it over. “Here, try some plain crackers.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil took the crackers and set them on the table, taking one out. He took a small bite of it. Then he started to eat slowly.

~ Zoi

Dradvia opened a sandwich and sat down in the chair to eat it. It was plain, nothing with a lot of aroma. She didn’t want the smell to upset his stomach.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He ate maybe two and a half crackers. “I don’t know what’s worse, the hunger, or how sick food makes me feel.”

~ Zoi

“I’m sorry. Just stop there. Maybe that little bit will help ease it. Do you like ginger? It’s an Earth spice. It is good for calming upset stomachs. Oh, or some lite citrus. If not that’s okay.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’ve never tried it,” Sisnil said about the ginger. “Citrus is okay.”

~ Zoi

“Sometimes if ginger doesn’t calm the stomach, a lite citrus will. It helps balance the acidity level in the stomach.” She had used the various combinations when she wasn’t allowed medicine for the other slaves. “Would you like to try it? Or do you just want to sleep some more?”
Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’ll try it,” Sisnil replied. “If I sleep anymore I might turn into sleeping beauty.” He winked at her, “Of course, then you’ll have to kiss me.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia turned red from her toes all the way to the roots of her hair. She glanced away and then stood quickly the flush fading. She reminded herself sternly that fairytales weren’t real. Sisnil was only teasing her. “Your body needs the rest,” she said as she walked over to the desk. She picked up two cups and brought them over. “Besides, you say you don’t sleep because you’re alone. Might as well catch up while I’m here.”

“This one is Ginger Ale, and this one is Lemonade.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He laughed and smiled. “I don’t, but you’re saying that now so I don’t say something else embarrassing.” He tasted the ginger ale. It was okay. He sipped on it slowly.

~ Zoi

“I am not, and yes you do. Do you know the kind of strain the Levodian Flu puts on the body?” She had to resist the urge to let her eyes follow the movement of her hand as it waved from his head to his feet. “I lot. Typical flu strains take 3 to 5 days to incubate and a week of symptoms and active illness. Your body fights the whole time. You are exhausted after. Your body is doing that in 29 hours. Rest. Lots of rest.” She sat down and pulled the the sheet up, somewhat tucking him in.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Dee,” Sisnil complained, still sipping the ginger ale, hoping it would help. “Were you trying not to check me out?” Normally it wouldn’t be a question, but with his decreased senses, he was going off emotions and having a harder time hearing her thoughts directly.

~ Zoi

Dradvia realized she could avoid his question. He didn’t know. She could save herself the embarrassment. She wouldn’t lie though. Deny it to tease him maybe, but that was when he could tell. Right now she couldn’t tease him, that wouldn’t be fair.

Her cheeks were red enough to notice in the dim light. “I would never checkout a patient.” She wouldn’t. Sisnil wasn’t exactly just a patient though. And that also didn’t mean she wasn’t trying not to do that. In fact she was trying not to do a few things. She wouldn’t though. She wouldn’t lead him on like that. Dradvia could break her own heart, but not his. Never his.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He sensed sincerity and honesty. He appreciated more than anything her not taking the chance to lie. But still he laughed. “No, never a patient. Me though?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia squirmed. How did he know? She hoped it was because he liked her enough to get to know her and not just because he was trained to use his telepathy that way. “Not while you’re a patient.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

That was somehow, of course, the thought he heard. She could see the hurt on his face as he turned to his drink. “Yeah.”

~ Zoi

“What did I do?” Was he upset because she was more concerned with caring for him than checking him out? Because she was still shy and uncertain, unconfident, and scared. Even though all she thought about for the last 16 hours was how he kissed her and cursing her own inadequacy.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

”....I heard that thought.” He said softly, “And I’m upset because you’re right, I want to think I just know you that well but the truth is I can’t tell anymore when I’m using my abilities the way I was forced to.”

~ Zoi

“I told you, I don’t mind you reading my mind. At first it upset me because it reminded me of Kryssa. I was never, and I am not, upset that you do it. I guess…” Dradvia looked down at her hands, picking away at her cuticles. “I just,” she shrugged self-consciously, “I just, I don’t care why it started, I… I guess I want to hope you kept doing it because you wanted to know me.” She tried to quiet the doubt, the self-chastisement, that said she offered nothing for him to find interesting.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil grabbed her hands gently. “Don’t pick at yourself like that.” He said softly. “I do want to know you.” He pulled her gently towards her for a hug. “I just want to know you on your terms.”

~ Zoi

She watched him take her hands and the damage to her fingers she had caused. She hugged him back, but then Dradvia quickly pulled back. Guilt swarmed her, but she couldn’t help it. It was too… well too frightening like that. She hated it, but she didn’t want to panic again.

“I don’t know what my terms are.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He let her go. “I know, Dee. But Betazoids… We have rules, about when to read the thoughts of other people who aren’t used to it, what I do is against the moral code of pretty much every Betazoid.”

~ Zoi

“I don’t mind though. I am used to it. Kryssa did it all the time. I… I like that you do.” Dradvia didn’t know how to explain it. She was sure Sisnil understood if he could sense her. “It makes things easier to not have to explain. You know. It… it makes me feel seen, accepted.” Her shoulders lifted in a self-concious shrug, her eyes averted as she began to pick at her cuticles again.

“Besides, who cares for their moral code. They live a safe life, a fantasy, protected. You do what you have to, to survive. I saw… I was there with Kryssa. I know what they are willing to do to bend a telepath to their will. She couldn’t survive it. I’m not a telepath, but I know how much it tortured me to watch her go through it.” If Dradvia had been maybe she could have saved Kryssa instead of murdering her. “I can’t imagine how it affected you and Noril. Do not feel guilt for surviving. Those other Betazoids have no idea.” She hugged herself tightly, hunched into herself. Kryssa should be here not her. Dradvia didn’t deserve it, but she would pay the cost for the rest of her life.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“We aren’t Orion, we can’t hold high ranks in the Syndicate. When we were first made to join, if we refused to do something, we forfeited our pay… But when it came time for that, to use our telepathy, the consequence was we do that, or we’d be made slaves so they could force us to.”

~ Zoi

“Without pay, you can’t feed yourselves, you can’t maintain your ship, you can’t take more jobs. Without oay you can’t pay your dues. Then there are penalties and interest until you are so far in debt,” Dradvia moved her finger in a rolling motion to indicate it just spiraled from there. “I know what they would have done to force you and Noril to comply.”

“Yes,” Sisnil said, “And that’s how they turned two freight smugglers into murderers, enforcers, even torturers.” This was the first time he’d ever opened up to her about the Syndicate.

She shook her head and shivered. She rubbed her arms and got up and began to pace. She was glad Sisnil couldn’t hear her thoughts, see the torture she had been put through to make Kryssa comply.

Dradvia suddenly felt very sick to her stomach.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil waved her towards him. He took her hand and tugged on it. “Come here, Dee.”

~ Zoi