Trading a Small Sickbay for a Hospital

Posted on Mon Aug 16th, 2010 @ 3:16pm by Lieutenant Commander Melissa Daniels M.D. & Captain Alexander Gunning

Mission: Welcome to Archa IV
Location: Starbase 332
Timeline: Current

Melissa was still trying to walk through the Medical Decks of the new 'Sickbay' she had been assigned to. Sickbay was an understatement on a Stardock class starbase. This was an entire hospital. This was an entirely different ballgame she wasn't the least bit prepared for. Her department had exploded exponentially. More doctors, more opinions, more procedure. She did not know if she should thank Commander Gunning or curse him.

"Doctor Daniels!! Doctor Daniels!!!" One person stated as she ran through the medical personnel. "Doctor I need to..." Melissa turned around. "Doctor Stevens, I will review your proposal with the board during our meeting, not before." She turned and made a beeline for her office. When she arrived, there were at least two dozen people waiting for her. Melissa quietly slipped away before they noticed and entered one of the labs. "Computer, one to transport to the Medical Director's Office. Medical Override One-One-Three-Ceta. Energize." Melissa beamed into her office.

Finally, a chance for peace. She locked the door and sat down at her desk. Pulling her shoes off in the process. "Computer, Moonlight Sonata." She said as she picked up the first PADD on the pile on her desk.

As the music began to fill the room, the doors opened silently. The man stepped inside with the stealth of a Tal Shiar agent. The doctor sat with her back to him, buried deep in a PADD. He approached the desk and placed his hands slowly on this device in his pocket.

With one click on the device, the music stopped dead. The room was plunged into an eerie silence.

"Doctor Daniels. I believe Lieutenant Allein has already had words with you about using your medical override to perform site-to-site transports." The man said in a calm, measured tone.

Melissa's emotions completely vanished. Her hand rested on a phaser as she noticed the man. "And I believe it is common courtesy for one to ring the doorchime before they barge into another person's office. You are well skilled in stealth. I almost didn't hear you until you walked into my office. Now then, you are familiar with operating procedure, that leads me to believe that you are starfleet. The fact that you knew of a private conversation that occurred on this base leads me to believe that you have one of us under surveillance. I must assume you know more than that about me, but I will not tell you anything you don't know." She turned around, "I am a medical doctor, there is little I can do for you if you do not have any injuries to speak of."

Gunning laughed, "Relax, Doctor. I just came to check how you're getting on."

Melissa spoke, "I've gone from running a small clinic to this behemoth. My department has eight hundred people in it, Surgeons, Specilists, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Neurologists, and all of them trying to find something they haven't argued about. And little old me in the center of the storm. I should curse you for this. But the neat thing, I got my own queen sized bed."

"Exactly. I don't think there's a better person to be responsible for a department that size." He looked around the expansive office. "Plus your office seems to be bigger than mine. I'm going to need to speak to someone about that."

Melissa smiled, "Now all I need is my own personal manicure/pedicure hologram. Maybe throw in a massage hologram. And I'll be nice and comfortable here."

"I'll speak to Lieutenant Allein and see what we can do. I wouldn't hold out too much hope. She's got a lot on her plate with the turbolifts at the moment."

Melissa spoke, "Turbolifts?!?! Please don't tell me there's a chance I might get trapped in those things. Terrifying thought."

"I wouldn't quite go that far but given that it takes about thirty minutes to get to some areas of the station, I reckon they could use a bit of maintenance. Lieutenant Allein has... something of a way with ship systems."

Melissa responded, "Too bad she does not have much of a way with people. Or maybe its the Bajoran in her. Still, I've known more social Bajorans. I'm going to have a ball with her."

"I'm sure you'll cope, Doctor. I know the Lieutenant well and I'm sure she'll warm to you... and to the rest of the crew... eventually." The Commander said as he ran his hand through his hair. It was something of a nervous tick that he had. Between being tired and worried, he would always find someway of touching his hair.

Even as an assassin, she could read the Commander's emotions. "Something's troubling you?"

"Pressure of the job, Doctor. Nothing to worry about."

Melissa spoke, "Get some rest and settle in. Doctor's orders." She then smiled. "If you don't, I'll relieve you and put Mr. Reinhart in charge." She enjoyed tormenting the XO, as only the Chief Medical Officer could.

"You got it, Doc." Alex said as he turned to leave. "If you need any more administration staff, just let me know okay?"

[OFF]

Commander Alex Gunning
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Melissa Daniels M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Starbase 332