Medical Emergencies

Posted on Mon May 12th, 2025 @ 12:39am by Ensign Roju & Senior Chief Petty Officer Sethan MD

1,548 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Sickbay, USS Saratoga
Timeline: 2401-05-04, 21:45

Ensign Roju stood inside the Turbolift car feeling like an idiot. A member of the Saratoga's Engineering team, Roju had been overseeing a maintenance cycle of the dilithium chamber when he'd been exposed to the dilithium itself. He'd been lucky though. Normally a dilithium burn was fatal, so there was that at least.

The doors slid open and let the deputy engineer into the Sickbay complex. Looking up he called to the first person he saw, "I'm going to need some help over here."

Sethan turned, his expression turning to horror as he moved to assist the engineer. "I think 'some' is a severe understatement," the Vulcan states as he helped the man over to a bed. "Your clothes are fused with your skin, I'm going to have to remove them." His expression turned to genuine apology. "This will hurt but I have to if I'm to treat you. I'll engage the privacy screen, don't worry." Some patients, in his experience, worried more about their vanity than their injury. "Can you tell me how this happened?"

Sliding onto the biobed, the Vorgon looked around the room and at his own injuries. The Ensign took a long breath before answering, "I was working on the Warp Core's maintenance cycle, preparing for this mission that we're on, when I came in contact with the dilithium articulation frame." He laid back on the cushioned diagnostic table, "I know I'm lucky to still be here. I can't believe I made such a stupid mistake."

"How did you manage to make contact?" Sethan queried as he activated the bed's scanner and prepared for the removal of clothing. "Is the warp core not protected by a force field?" Privacy screen now in place, the Vulcan set to carefully remove his patient's uniform, a delicate procedure as here and there it was fused to his skin. "I will stop if it becomes too much, but it will need to be done to avoid infection. Please continue, tell me how you perform this maintenance."

Sethan knew from experience that it was a helpful distraction if a patient kept talking while he worked.

"Normally you're right," the Vorgon answered. "The Warp Core is protected by an isolation field, actually a level 10 forcefield that can keep pretty much anything out, but it's turned off during the maintenance cycle because we actually enter the articulation chamber to make changes to the setup. I must've gotten too close to the crystals themselves because they're not meant for being touched, especially when they hold the charge from the reaction."

Working slowly and carefully, Sethan continued to peel away the remains of the man's uniform. "If there's maintenance, shouldn't it have been powered down for safety purposes, to avoid these kinds of accidents?" He didn't consider the incident stupid, perse, but he did consider it avoidable. "I'm almost done with fabric removal, how are you holding up?"

"I'm actually not feeling all that bad," the Engineer answered. "I can't believe I was so stupid though. I know this mission is important, but you're right. The core usually should be powered down in this type of situation."

"Do you remember why it wasn't powered down?" The doctor asked as he continued to work. When all fabric was removed he started to pass over the affected skin with the dermal regenerator. "Was it your responsibility to turn it off?"

"This red directive mission we're on," the Vorgon answered. "Because of what all is going on with this mission we couldn't shut it down."

"Ah..." Sethan wasn't entirely sure what this red directive was, but somehow he had the feeling he should. "I don't know what red directive means," he confessed as he continued to treat the afflicted areas of skin. "Perhaps it's better to postpone certain tasks until they can be performed safely? Certain procedures are there for a reason and this could've been far worse."

The Engineer nodded, "If only it were that easy an answer. With everything that's been happening it seems like everyone's going crazy with worrying. They've already pushed the engines past the red line once."

This time, Sethan frowned as he processed the words. "That's dangerous," he commented, "there's limits for a reason. You should log it, so it can be traced back if something goes wrong." He shifted the device to the engineer's face. "Hold still for a moment while I finish." Within seconds, all traces of injury were gone and only a slight discolouration was evidence to the injury. "How does this feel?"

"Better," the Ensign agreed after the treatment. He considered what was suggested and, while it did sound good, he knew that there were little to no options to actually follow though. "It's not a bad idea, but it wouldn't go anywhere. With everything that's happened with Starfleet over the last few weeks and the mission that we're on Starfleet can't handle having to deal with such things. They'd probably just file it away somewhere never to be looked at again." He looked at the former injuries, "Hopefully next time I'm just as lucky as now."

"Then I will log the incident," Sethan resolved, "it is a dangerous situation and it could happen again. And the next person might not be so fortunate as you were today." The young Vulcan's bright green eyes flashed briefly with reigned in anger towards the situation, not towards his unfortunate patient. He went to replicate something then came back and handed him a small jar and a tube. "Put the cream on in the morning and evening, and the salve if the regenerated skin itches or otherwise feels irritated."

The Vorgon accepted the cream that had been offered. He answered politely, "Thank you. It's worrisome how things are going. My parents had served in Starfleet, I grew up aboard a Nebula Class Starship that had been on a deep space mission before being reassigned to the core sectors, I don't even think back then was as bad as now. My parents may have tried to hide me from it, to shield me because I was a child, but I don't think it was only that. This whole galaxy feels somewhat off ever since the Borg were destroyed." He heard the words as he said them, "Not that I'm saying the Borg being gone is a bad thing, just it seems like their assimilation of so many had been a bell that can't be unrung."

"It was a traumatic event," Sethan agreed, shuddering visibly, "were you among the young that were assimilated through the transporter? My parents were very protective of me too, likely for different reasons. I was adopted when I was very young, and my parents had lost a child not long before. It feels like having an older brother I have never known."

Roju looked at his feet as he sat on the biobed for a moment before answering. He tried his best not to think about everything that had happened, but it was hard not to. He finally lost the fight with himself, "Yes. I was assimilated at Frontier Day while I served aboard the Starship Jaresh-Inyo. I try not to think much about it though. I think it's best that way."

"I disagree," the Vulcan said sympathetically, reaching out to touch the young man's sleeve to draw his attention. "Pushing a trauma away without giving it a proper place is never a good idea. I do recommend you speak with the ship's counselor as this trauma may affect your future career." He could see, and easily sense the stress that went through his patient. "Or you can come and talk to me , even though I am not a counselor. My husband tells me I'm a good listener..."

"I may take you up on that," Roju answered sincerely. He looked around the room, wondering about how things were going in Engineering. Maybe he had buried himself with work so much not to think about what all had happened to him, to the Federation, in the last few weeks. It may be good to talk to someone, but not until this mission were over.

He sighed, absently, as he thought of it all and knew he needed to get back to work. "So, am I free to go? I have to get ready for the away mission."

"Yes you're free to go but want you to come back in a few days to see if all healed up well. Do you feel ready for an away mission after your injuries?" Sethan didn't seem to agree with that idea and his expression spoke volumes to that regard.

"In many ways I don't suppose it matters if I feel ready," the Vorgon answered. "We have a mission and we still haven't made it to base to pick up our Chief."

"It does matter. If you feel unwell or otherwise inhibited, you shouldn't go. safety comes first," the Vulcan doctor protested. "Go if you feel well enough to, otherwise I recommend that you don't."

Roju nodded, "Thank you for your help, Doctor. I do appreciate it."

"It's what I'm here for sir," Sethan smiled as he waved the young man off. "Just be careful out there."

"I'll do my best," the Vorgon Acting Chief Engineer answered. "See you out there."

 

RSS Feed