When the sun runs out and there is no one to save you

Posted on 29 May 2012 @ 3:48am by Commander Andreus Kohl & Lieutenant Commander Pola Ni Dhuinn M.D.
Edited on on 12 Jun 2012 @ 8:04pm

2,727 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Episode 01 - Project Sienna
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay
Timeline: MD07 - 1444 hours

[ON]

The gentle hum of the bio-sensor cluster had always been pitched to instil a sense of comfort. It meant someone was interested in you, and someone cared. An engineer once described the sound to Andreus Kohl as a matronly hug to the ears. Ever since a starship's sickbay had become his usual workplace, Kohl was more than a little familiar with the sound. And yet, today, as he stumbled through the threshold of the USS Galileo's sickbay, the hum of the overhead sensor cluster sounded to Kohl like the most alien noise he could remember.

His black boots stopped at a parade-rest stance. It was funny the way his feet remembered how to do that on their own. Kohl's boots were paired with a fitted, black Starfleet uniform. Aside from the metallic arrowhead combadge on his chest, the solid black of the uniform was only broken by grey ribbing across the jacket's broad shoulders and a teal tunic underneath, revealed at the collar and the wrists. The Argelian man's hair, the shade of toasted wheat, had been neatly side-swept in the morning, but it looked like his hand had run through it once or seven times. Andreus Kohl stared around at the sickbay from behind lightning blue eyes.

Kohl winced, though, as if it hurt him to look. Through a tempered frown, Kohl said, "It looks smaller."

"Small sickbay to go with a small ship. Unfortunately the crew numbers don't also fit into that." Smiling at the man who had just walked in, Pola stepped out of her office. Being so quite, she had taken a moment to catch up on the paperwork which just seemed to continiusly pile up on her. When she'd heard a noise in main sickbay, she'd welcomed the interruption. One of the reasons she had loved being a ACMO was because her time could be devoted to the patients and caring. The new title of CMO didn't just bring with it new responcibilities, it also seemed to bring so much paperwork.

"It's not often we have people wander into sickbay unless there is a reason. Can I help you with anything?" Pola assumed the teal colour was for science, seeing as the USS Galileo was a science vessel, you couldn't seem to walk down a corridor without running into one.

A moment earlier, Kohl had been cycling his lungs with long, slow breaths. All at once, he sucked in a short, ragged breath, and his eyes took on a hunted quality. "No," he said foggily, "No, I think I might be lost." His voice trailed off as his head turned to look back the way he came. Before he considered running for the door, he flattened a hand across his forehead, over his eyes. With his eyes closed, he spoke in a deeper timbre, when he said, "I don't know why I said that."

Kohl dropped his hands to his sides, and regarded Pola straight on. "My name is Ensign Andreus Kohl," he said, "and I'm reporting to my duty station."

Seeing the change in the man infront of her, Pola quickly stepped forward and took his arm, concerned he might be able to collapse. The change in eyes had been memorising if not a little concerning. The sapphire colour had gone from a deep rich blue to an almost midnight sky colour. Whatever had caused it, it had given the Doctor reason for concern.

Ignoring his introduction for a moment, Pola gently squeezed her hand. "Are you ok Andreus?"

Kohl narrowed his eyes at the hand she was holding. He held up his other hand beside it and stretched his fingers experimentally. "No. No, I don't think I am okay," Kohl answered. The short sentence started with a sense of honest discovery, but became disturbed by his own lack of wellness. "I feel cold. It's like I flew over here without a shuttlecraft. Could the ambient temperature be lower than it was aboard Starbase 152?"

Gently leading the man over to the nearest bio bed, Pola got him to gently lower himself into a seated position before she grabbed the nearest tricorder. "It shouldn't be. All Starfleet crafts and stations should be programmed to the same atmospheric conditions unless there is a specific reason as to why it needs to be different. You came over on the shuttle craft with myself and our Chief of Security didn't you? Can you tell me the events of what have happened between you leaving the station and coming here to sickbay?"

"Yuh-yeah, I had my face in a PADD the whole flight over. I dropped off my bag in my quarters, I used the head, and I made a tea. That's when I came here," Kohl answered. Although he was no less disturbed by his seeming illness, he let his training take over the forefront of his mind. While Pola studied the tricorder, Kohl restructured his thought into numbered lists of risk factors. What he said was, "I woke up at 1000 hours. I've been shifting my circadian rhythm to match my duty shift aboard Galileo. I ate a replicated omelet with brassica greens. I went to the gymnasium by 1030 hours. I accessed one of the medical labs to study by 1200 hours. I had a lot of tea. By 1330 hours, I stopped by an observation lounge to review my orders again, and to stare at the ship."

Reading through the scans showing on the tricorder, Pola frowned as Kohl listed out his morning activities. The scans where showing his BP was currently in a hypotension phase as it was low, 85/55. It wasn't dangerous at this point but it was still a concern. Moving through the rest of the readings, the Doctor also identified that the patient's pulse was current fast but when she placed her hand against the inside of his wrist it was very faint.

As she held his wrist, she also noticed that his skin was clammy and moist to touch. It still amazed her to this day how touch and feel could often tell you more then a tricorder in your hand. All of these symptoms combined with the rapid and shallow breathing from a few moments ago, seemed to have been showing an indicator for the patient being in shock. Picking up a PADD, she went through his medical history to see if there was any allergies. "It seems that your body is in shock. Is there anything at all which comes to mind as having caused this? What you've described doesn't seem to have been very strenuous or abnormal in anyway."


[Starbase 152 - Public Observation Lounge]
[MD07 - 1250 hours]

Since the sleek and angular visage of the USS Galileo was framed artfully by the viewport, Andreus Kohl struggled to pay attention to his PADD. There was no competition, really. The majestic forms of starships had always appealed to him, and they were all the more attractive when they became his home. The widescreen PADD between his hands was important, though; possibly more important than sight-seeing. His orders were spelled out on the PADD, and he could feel razor-winged butterflies in his guts for fear he had misread or misunderstood his orders somehow. He read, and re-read, his orders again, but his eyes kept drifting back to look at the ship.

His combadge chirped and a face appeared in the corner of his PADD. A petty officer in a black and gold uniform spoke to him from the display. "Ensign Kohl, I have a live communique for you. It's from Imogen Kohl."

Kohl's grip on the PADD changed. He held it so tight his right hand began to quiver, just a little. "Mother..." Kohl murmured.


[USS Galileo - Deck 4, Sickbay]
[MD07 - 1450 hours]

"It seems that your body is in shock. Is there anything at all which comes to mind as having caused this?" Pola asked. "What you've described doesn't seem to have been very strenuous or abnormal in anyway."

"I can't-- I can't-- I can't think of anything," Kohl said, sounding less and less sure of himself each time. His shook his head for emphasis, and then tilted his head to one side to look at Pola directly. "Would you mind contacting the Chief Medical Officer? I don't want her to think I never made it here."

Finding no allergies listed in the medical, Pola walked over to the replicator to grab 5cc's of inaprovaline and a hypospray. "If you don't mind, I'm going to give you some inaprovline to try stabilise your vitals. And don't worry about the CMO, given I'm her you can consider yourself checked in, but we'll deal with that once we have this sorted."

"Yes, that makes sense," Kohl said. He loosened the collar of his tunic to expose his neck. Memories of belligerent patients always convinced him to be compliant when it was his turn to his turn to sit on a biobed. He faked a smile at Pola, and said, "Thank you, doctor."

Walking back over the the bio bed, Pola filled the hypospray, placing it against the side of Kohl's neck as she reached his side. Walking around to face the patient, Pola leaned back against the bio bed behind as she used her tricorder to rescan her new Nurse. "Andreus, you have me worried here. There is no evidence as to why exactly you've had this case of shock and what your telling me isn't giving me any indicators. Has it ever happened before? Has your family got a history of it? Have you ever experienced panic attacks?"

With his arms wrapped around his midsection, Kohl maintained perfectly still posture on the biobed. He took care not to react physically, but his face visibly blanched when Pola asked about family medical history. "There was, uhm, there was a panic attack during my first days on Bactricia. The battlefield-- I didn't-- it was, but it was more respiratory in nature. I couldn't breathe. I wasn't cold like this." --He winced as ire rose in him-- "And besides, my family medical history is irrelevant. The records on my biological parents are scarce."

Setting the tricorder aside, Pola leaned forward again, making eye contact with Kohl. She had seen his face go white and was concerned it indicated he was going back into shock again. She had a feeling in her gut that there was something more he wasnt telling her but she didn't know how to help him if he wouldn't trust her enough to tell her. Moving her hand back to the Nurse's arm, the Doctor squeezed reassuringly. "It's ok. I'm certain we we figure out what the problem is from here." Trying to reassure the man, Pola squeezed her hand again, "So tell me, your my new nurse is it?"

"Yes, I'm licensed as a nurse practitioner," Kohl said. His manner was guarded, but he still met Pola's eyes, at first. "It's been some time since I served aboard a starship. It may take me some time to acclimate again. What is it you expect most of all from your nurses?"

Maintaining the light contact on Kohl's arm, Pola found herself more worried now as he avoided her eye contact. He wasn't just her patient now but he was also now part of her team, a person who she was in charge of which intensified her worry. Keeping with his questions, she hoped that maybe it would help keep him grounded.

"Honestly...I was ACMO up until a number of days ago to I'm still readjusting myself. I expect of my nurses the same I expect of my doctors and medical officers. To do your absolute best. To not be afraid to ask questions or to take me to the side if you have any concerns. A nurse's job is just as important as a Doctor, if not more so. A Doctor repairs and treats, a nurse cares and looks after. One can't work without the other."

Briefly, Kohl patted Pola's hand on his arm. Speaking slowly, as if he were only coming to the decision as the words came out of him, Kohl said, "I would have to say I agree with that sentiment."

"Tell me Andreus, what do you expect of me?" Realising that she was getting a reaction from him and he seemed more comfortable, Pola decided to keep on this line of questioning.

After letting her question tumble around in his head, Kohl replied, "I expect you to be clear and measurable in your expectations, and I expect you to motivate me when I'm not. Motivated." He studied her face as he spoke, watching for her reactions. Then he made an uncertain non sequitur: "I think I'm-- I'm starting to feel a little stronger."

Smiling gently, Pola found herself impressed with his responce. It showed her he had a want to do his job and wasn't afraid of pressure where needed. "Well lets have a look..." Picking up the tricorder, Pola found Kohl's BP was still slightly on the high side but his pulse rate was nearly back down to a normal rate. His breathing also seemed to be more even, his face regaining some of its natural colour. "Well your BP is still slightly high but I feel it doesn't warrant anymore medication, rest would help you better. How are you feeling?"

"Better," Kohl said, meaning an improvement from before, rather than anything resembling feeling well. He shifted his weight on the biobed to improve his comfort. "I'm feeling warmer, certainly, and more coherent. Hungry too."

"I've just the prescription for hunger! You should try see if you can find our chef Ansen down in the mess hall. That man works miracles with food..absolute miracles. " Pola debated on trying to push further on why Kohl had had gone into shock but part of her realised that he was still delicate and if she pushed it may end up bad. There would be any amount of time for this once he was settled.

"I'll tell you what. As your boss, I'll give you two options. If you want to jump straight into work, I can put you on the beta with this this evening, or even gamma if you like your late hours. Alternatively, if your willing to rest and wait, I'll give you today off."

"Put me to work, Lieutenant," Kohl said. This time, he didn't take any time to think before he answered. He pushed himself off from the biobed and found his footing. After his declarative movement, though, he didn't move anywhere. Didn't want to push it, or risk the ire of a protective physician. "I've been resting all day after all."

Looking at the time in the corner of the monitor, Pola nodded her head, at least if he was working, she could keep a closer eye on him given she was on the Beta shift herself. She had had a long day but the shift still needed to be covered by a Doctor and she had to set an example for her team. "It's 1515hours now. Go get some food, settle into your quarters and meet me here at 1700hours. Beta begins at 1600 but you need to eat and get rid of your bags first. I don't want you here a minute before 1700hours. Deal?"

Pushing herself up to stand as she smiled accross at Kohl, she rubbed the back of her neck to try relax the muscles. "In the meantime, I'll gather up work to assign you once your back."

"Deal," said Kohl in agreement. He was already stepping away from the biobed, and picking up speed as he raced to the door. "Save me a fascinating patient or two while I'm gone."

Watching as Kohl let sickbay, Pola found herself curious as to what it was her new nurse was exactly hiding. Whatever it might be, she knew there was a good support structure on this ship, they would get him through it but he'd have to let them in first. Sighing lightly, she headed off to check on Drusilla. The counsellor was still in a coma and causing a concern at this point.

[OFF]

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Lieutenant JG Pola Ni Dhuinn
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

Ensign Andreus Kohl
Nurse
USS Galileo

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