Limping Along

Posted on 07 Jan 2024 @ 12:27am by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Theo Winters
Edited on on 10 Jan 2024 @ 7:10pm

1,798 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 19 - Tomorrow's Galileo
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 3, Sickbay
Timeline: MD 01, 2000

[ON]

Theo had felt a little bad about insisting on separate counseling sessions. He'd known that he and Serran wouldn't be meeting together, though he had thought they might need it. But he had wanted some privacy.

So he was planning on meeting his father at Sick Bay because it was going to just be a routine check-up, so he could afford to be nice to his dad and try to make him happy.

But he'd decided it would be fun to spend some time in the holodeck, even though Serran had told him not to do so and most especially not to reduce the safety protocols. He'd known his dad was probably right, but he'd done it anyway.

He hadn't thought anything could go wrong, but it had. He'd been climbing Spider Rock an actual place that his dad had taken him, shortly after the adoption had been completed.

Only thirteen at the time he'd felt envious of Serran climbing it and frustrated because he couldn't go with him. He was going to prove Serran wrong. He was going to climb it himself, even if it was only a simulation. What did the Vulcan operations manager remember about being a teenager? He was going to prove himself. To make things interesting, he dropped the safety protocols to 80%.

He'd gotten about halfway up then missed a handhold and fell. He landed awkwardly and felt something snap. He was in a lot of pain and needed relief. Knew he needed to be treated, but the last thing in the universe he wanted was for Serran to find out what he'd done. So he'd called his father up and told him he wanted to meet with the doctor himself Then he waited for his name to be called He elevated his leg and put it on top of the seat across from him.

Having finished elsewhere, Allyndra came back into the sick bay to see a person she didn't know sprawled on one of the nurse's chairs. "Hello. Who are you and what can I help you with?"

Theo looked up a little guiltily as if he'd been caught doing something wrong. Which in a way, he had been. "My name is Theo Winters. My dad, is Soren, the new operations manager."

"I hope you have, what do you call it, doctor, patient confidentiality. I was screwing around in the holodeck, and I'd turned down the safety protocols. Just to make it exciting. I succeded alright. I did something nasty to my ankle and it hurts like hell."

"I don't know if it's twisted, or I tore some ligaments, or broke something. I just know it hurts.

"And I really, really don't want my dad to find out about this. He'd probably ground me for the next thirty years."

Allyndra nodded. She held out her arms. "Well, first off, let's take care of that ankle. Here lean on me, and we'll get you to one of the beds. As to the latter, well, it will be in the record, and as your guardian, he has the right to know. I am covered by patient confidentiality, but he is liable to ask directly. I will tell you that sickbay is tight as you can see, and you would not be the first person to have caught a foot on the nurse's station coming around the corner a little too fast."

He grinned at her while she was making her comment about the sickbay. That grin, quickly turned to a grimace as he stood up from the chair. He had to lean heavily on here as they walked toward the biobed, which fortunately was less than twenty feet away.

"I really appreciate your willingness to cover for me," he grimaced again as he took a seat and I hope he doesn't ask and just assumes everything was routine. I really fu... messed up, and like I said, I know he'd ground me and I'd lose privileges."

"But, if he asks. You know specifically, I suppose you better tell him the truth. I think there is a difference between avoiding telling him something and out and out lying."

"He's a good dad, most of the time, and I try not to keep too much from him."

"Very good." Allyndra had to use her wings to help keep balance and she hoped she didn't bat him to much as she got him settled onto a bed. "Whew! That was fun. Let's see what we have here." She started a quick scan. "I'll go ahead and do a full body, that way I can also sign you off for boarding if you don't mind."

Now that he was off his feet, she could see he visibly relaxed.
"Yeah, that's fine. I mean that is why I was supposed to come here."

"Very good. Let me get some tissue repair on that ankle." She went to fetch the proper instrument. She got started. "Well, it would appear young man that you have learned that lesson I learned as well, "The ground is a harsh mistress." She chuckled. She once more spread her wings. "Until I figured out how to use these properly I was introduced to that lesson more times than I care to remember."

"Did you also have a father who would ground you?" The teen asked. "Oh, just so you know before you run your scans I'm not Terran either.

"No. We are a matrilineal society. The mothers, though, would find chores that were not pleasant, along with an occasional rap on the knuckles. If you haven't guessed, I'm not Terran either." Allyndra laughed and started the scan. "Here we go, just relax."

With a slight chuckle, Theo laid down on the biobed. "Yeah, I figured that one out all by myself. But I don't understand one thing. I have heard the term matriarchal, but not matrilineal. What does that mean, what is the difference?"

"One traces one lineage via the mother, not the father's side. In my society, a male is married into a different Guild, House as we call them, than he was born into. The females stay within the the House they were born into." Allyndra made a couple of notes on a PaDD to take a look at since the physiology was not one she was as familiar with, but nothing appeared to jump at her. "As an aside, we have three sexes. Females, fertile males, and infertile males. For the latter, working in what we call an Irsemia House is the most prestigious position that they can aspire to. Now then, let me guess, you are adopted."

The question caused the teen to smirk. He tried, mostly successfully to stifle a snicker. "Serran and I are from two different species and he is gay. So, yes, I was adopted. He didn't adopt me under the best of circumstances, but he cares for me. It's been three years, but sometimes I still call him Sorren instead of Dad, but I do think of him as my father now. I mean, after all, he chose to do what he did. He didn't have to."

"Family is not always who is those related by blood, but those whom we feel closest to." She tapped the housing of the scanner and then pushed it away. "I see nothing that causes me concern. I will have to brush up, but it would appear, other than a tiny residual swelling in the ankle, that you are fit, and I can sign you off. Now, then, let's see how I did. Put some pressure on that ankle."

The teen gingerly tested his foot and then smiled. It's still a little sore, but I'm sure that will fade."

He took a few steps tentative at first then with more confidence. "Yeah, this will work, I'm not even limping."

"Thanks, doctor, I'll try not to become a regular patient, though I might stop by from time to time just to visit if that's okay."

"You are most welcome." Allyndra paused a moment. "Think at some point I could entice you to try some of my cooking?"

Theo had been halfway out the door, once the doctor said he could leave. Not out of disrespect, but simply because he thought they were done. But when she mentioned her cooking he stopped mid-stride then turned back to her.

"You cook?" he asked, "that's amazing. So do I, I love it. It's almost like therapy for me. What kind of things do you cook?"

Allyndra managed not to chuckle at the young man's enthusiasm. "Earth dishes, specifically French haute cuisine."

"I've made some Earth food; mostly Indian and Mexican food, but anything spicy. "We were on Risa once, me and dad, we ate at one place that was supposed to be Terran French food. It wasn't that great. But it was probably because of who was cooking it, and is no reflection of the good kind."

"I see. I have had others tell me that mine is not bad. I am always constantly trying to improve. You see, I can't eat any of it, just a bit of taste."

"Wait, you can't eat any of the food, well Earth food? Then why not cook something you can eat?"

Allyndra laughed. "Actually, other than a few soft fruits, no, I can't have anything. My digestive system won't handle it." She came a little closer. "My kind are hematophages. That is, we exist on blood. Beautiful, dark, and rich..." She teased him slightly.

The teen had taken a half-step back before he realized she wasn't being serious. "So, do you get it from a replicator?"

"I am allowed to use stored blood. Since this ship is small, it is mostly, as you have surmised, replicated blood. As for cooking, I consider it a challenge, something to do other than dancing for a pastime." She chuckled. "Unlike you, if I fall off a cliff, I just fly. Thus, it isn't much challenge. Now then, let's not make the challenges too bad next time, shall we?"

"Yes ma'am. I agree, Theo said. "I wouldn't want to get into trouble with you and my dad."

"Not to worry too much. Technically, I outrank him." She chuckled. "Very good, now then, even you need to get a mental check-up. While it appears you are well-adjusted, it is another one of those mandatory things that need to get done.
I see we have an excellent counselor that I've worked with before, Doctor Carlisle. Other than that, we are all done
here."

"Yes ma'am," the teen replied. "I am headed there next."

[OFF]

--

Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical and Second Officer
USS Galileo-A

&

Theo Williams
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Serran]

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