Giving A Little Nudge

Posted on Sunday 19 February 2023 @ 14:55 by Lieutenant Nir’anyar & Lieutenant JG Zirvell Khen

Mission: Where no one has gone before
Location: Sickbay
1067 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

The new sickbay was the same design as the previous one, similar to the Galaxy Class design but with a distinctly Sovereign Class design aesthetic. Darker and warmer tones but it was broken by plants, a touch of her own when they were setting the new equipment and fixtures in place. It brought a more organic comfortable feel to sickbay, even though this wouldn't be her only responsibility now.

The central biobed was ready along with the clamshell scanning unit locked in place over the bed. The six orbital beds along the far wall, each one sitting in near shadow as the lighting was down with no patients. It was almost peaceful, or at least it was until the hissing of the doors caught her attention. She glanced over and noticed her best officer, she watched him for a moment like a proud mother. He really had come a long way in a very short space of time.
"Lieutenant" she spoke out gently, so as not to startle him as she herself was shrouded in shadows, in the doorway to the Chief Medical Officers Office. "Do you have a moment?"

Looking up, the Cardasssian nurse spotted his boss and nodded. "Of course ma'am," he answered politely as he put a stack of clean bedsheets into a cabinet and approached the CMO's office. he was still trying to get used to his new rank, something he still felt he hadn't deserved in such a short time he'd actively served as a nurse. Admittingly it did give him some occasionally much needed leverage if he needed a patient to listen. "What can I do for you?" he asked as he got closer.

"Actually, its what I have done for you!" she was leading the way into her office, the lights coming up to full illumination as she rounded the desk and sat, motioning for Zirvell to take the seat opposite her. "I see you Zirvel and I feel in my gut that you are not being stretched in your position. You have taken to it with ease and I feel you are bored, even if you have not admitted that to yourself yet!"

"Ma'am?" he queried in surprise, "I'm hardly bored ma'am, I'm still catching up on a decade of missed updates. And I'm quite content with what I do, I just need a little more time that's all. Why do you think I'm bored?"

"You may not be now but I can see in your so much potential and this role, an assistant, you are wasted and as your Commanding Officer I would be remised if I allowed this to stand... I have enrolled you into a Doctorate. You already have more practical eyes on experience than most and you could complete within a few months!"
She pointed at the PADD on top of the small stack sitting on her desk. "All the details are in there Lieutenant... Or more accurately, Doctor!"

"You are mistaken doctor, I don't have the experience needed. Technically speaking, I am fresh from the academy and I am still catching up. How am I to complete a doctorate in months, when it's usually taking years?" Zirvell looked genuinely confused, even if he felt flattered at her vote of confidence.

"Ok, it will take longer than a few months, I lied... But I know you can do this and I need someone I can trust to take on more responsibility in sickbay that I can trust as I'll be spending more time on the bridge!"
She again pointed at the PADD she had indicated, leaning back on her chair giving the distinct impression that she wouldn't be taking no as an answer.

"So how should I do this, without giving up my post here?" the young man queried as he slid the PADD towards himself, "and how am I to balance my duties as nurse with my studies? There is still so much I don't know... and how will the rest of the staff take this?"

"You will be learning on the job. When the ships itinerary permits you will stop in at designated testing facilities and there will be a number of training events you will need to attend however, you are no longer my Chief Nurse", Anya was smiling. "Until you have passed your Doctorate you will be a medical practitioner intern!"

"And how should I be addressed?" Zirvell asked curiously, "because that sure is a mouthful. Certainly not nurse then, but not doctor either, so what then?"

"You are training to be a Doctor... You can figure it out from there!" her tone sounding even more amused than she had thought it would.

Seeing her smile, it drew a smile from the Cardassian as well. "Doctor is then, doctor," he answered, his smile widening. "I should send a message to my father...he'd be so proud!" Of course, here he did mean his human father, as he wanted nothing to do with his birth father, assuming the man was actually still alive. He'd made no effort whatsoever to try and find out, as it held no interest to him.

"In that case I shall not keep you... We launch soon so if you could ensure the final preparations have been done within the medical facilities I would appreciate it!"
The Chief Medical Officer was on her feet, pulling on her dark teal lab coat. Not necessarily something she should be wearing on the bridge but then again, pulling double duty it gave her somewhere to keep the medical reports and updates she needed to review. "If you need me, I will be on the bridge. Doctor T'Saav is on duty so if you want to shadow her for a time. I'll ensure Starfleet Medical send through your curriculum post haste!" she was calling over her shoulder as she stuffed a small stack of PADD's into the pockets of her lab coat as she existed her office leaving the young Cardassian to absorb what had just happened.

Still stunned to a degree, Zirvell nodded as he watched her leave. "Thank you!" He called after her retreating form.

OFF

●● Lieutenant Nir’anyar
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin


○● Lieutenant JG Zirvell Khen
Medical Officer
USS Merlin
PNPC Seklar