Overdue Checkup

Posted on Mon Mar 14th, 2022 @ 4:11pm by Lieutenant Commander Diane Doctrine & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton

Mission: Free write
Location: Sick Bay

Diane walked into main sickbay. Fortunately, it was a place she didn't have to spend a lot of time. Looking around and not seeing anyone she asked out loud, "Anyone home?"

Milton came out of the Office with a tricorder in hand and Pix on his shoulder.

"You allowed me to take it." He was just saying when he glanced up. "You cannot tell me you..." Giving a smile to the New person he put the Tricorder in his clasped hands in front of him. "Hello, I am Doc Milton, this is Pix." His smile widened. "And we are definitely home... well away from home and all."

"Doctor, Pix," Diane nodded to each in greeting, "I believe we were on the away mission to Mentar together but haven't actually met yet. I'm Diane Doctrine, and in all the excitement during that mission I'm afraid I've neglected my onboarding physical. I think I should fix that."

Pix jumped off the Doctor's shoulder and took flight; the glow and some falling 'Pixie Dust' like propellant behind her as she made straight flight to Biobed One and touched the display...Nothing happened, she tapped it several times , then kicked it..

The unit activated, Milton had the tricorder discreetly in hand.

"Thank you Pix." The Doctor smiled. "Step over into our lair?" He gesture towards the now activated Biobed. "Seems Pix has put out the welcome mat."

Diane was intrigued with Pix. The little being reminded her of something from old video entertainment. "Lair?" She asked somewhat playfully, "Sounds ominous." She went over to the biobed and sat on it.

"I have a pixie ..." Milton said with a grin. "There has to be magic in the air for that to happen right?" He brought out the probe of the tricorder. "Anything I should know about or that you want to tell me before I start the exam?" He glanced up.

"Nothing I'm aware of," Diane replied while watching Pix curiously. "Have you been on the ship long?" she asked by way of making conversation.

"Not all that long." Milton said casually while he met her eyes. "Few months, nothing too much. Having too much fun to really keep track."
Activating the probe be began his scan. "Just breathe normally, I can say this is a painless process, poking and prodding went out a long time ago."

Diane smirked, "This isn't my first physical but thanks for letting me know."

"All part of the service with a smile." He took out the probe and began his initial scan. "SO how do you like it around here?" Pix was perched and just watching as normal.

"It's certainly more interesting that Jupiter Station," Diane replied, "I like that we actually go places."

"You might want to take care when we go places." He was checking more than just her vitals, he had tuned the probe for a little wider range; after the last mission his unit scanned for smaller particles of matter than the normal range just as a precaution. "You never know who will follow you home."

Pix waved from her perch, she seemed quite interested in Doctrine.

"True, I'm sure we picked up a few extra things on Mentar." Diane offered a small wave back to Pix, "Did Pix follow you home?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, she just appeared on the ship I was serving, we had just completed a survey and did not detect any other of her kind." He was looking in her eyes and brought up a stylus. "Could you follow this please. He was moving it in four directions for her to follow. "Pix showed up in Sick Bay in all her glory and after some of the Science team had done the Poking and Prodding that she did not like she was deemed harmless. When we went into orbit of the planet surveyed Pix hid so well we had to depart and it was not until the mid point of return that she poked her head out. She followed me during a transfer and then to this ship."

"She must be very attached to you then," Diane commented while her eyes followed the stylus Doctor Milton was holding.

"You have good eyes." Milton completed his test. "She is my best assistant and she really likes people, seems to be more animated when people are of strong emotion." Noting the results in his tricorder. "Truth is I would have had a hard time returning her, she helps me with the good and bad, we just really understand one another; I mean even without a Universal Translator."

Putting the probe aside he nodded.

"That is both ways, I have seen her brighten around a little girl once, a victim of a Pirate attack..." Pix's expression changed as she knew the story he was telling, her glow dimmed a bit and she clutched her hands over her heart.

"Pix hid in my field bag and came with me, this little girl was caught in some rubble from the attack, a collapsed part of the inner hull ducting and we were trying to get to her." He again looked Doctrine in the eyes. "Pix flew in through the gaps and waited with the girl; who was really scared as one might guess, that Little Pix seemed to glow brighter and we could hear the girl talking to her and ..." He smiled as he shook his head. "That jingling when Pix speaks but the girl seemed to be talking with her until we managed to get her out. Gave me a bit of a fright with the risk she took, any more collapse with her size could have been bad." He admitted. "She is My Best Friend." He glanced up as Pix's glow brightened and she blush slightly more. "So I suppose you could say we are close."

Diane's expression brightened as the story unfolded. "Having a close friend to watch your back is a good thing. Through my own observations, this crew seems to still be getting to know each other... but still, I'm confident we have each other's backs in the tough situations."

"For my time here I do agree with you, there is a potential for being a close family." Milton replied.

"Agreed," Diane said cheerfully, "It's only my first actual posting to a starship. I think I'm still getting used to it. Here's hoping the potential pans out."

"May the Sun be on your face; the wind always at your back and the Earth reach to meet your steps." He chuckled. "Old Scottish blessing, My Grandfather taught it to me. It is to help you reach your dreams and goals."

"That's very nice. Thank you Doctor..." Diane tilted her head and asked, "... Rutherford seems like a mouthful, do you have a preferred nickname?"

"RJ," He said simply, "Even 'Doc' has been bounced around while in Sick Bay."

"Very good... Doc," Diane tried out the nickname. Maybe she would try RJ in a more social setting. "So, is there any more poking or prodding that needs to be done?"

"No, the marvels of Modern Medical technology did the heavy lifting." He offered a gentlemanly hand for her to come off the Biobed. "No poking or prodding required. I did promise it to be painless afterall."

"And it was! I meant only figurative poking and prodding," Diane grinned, "Perhaps next time we can meet in a more social setting."

"Well, I have been known to be seen outside the Sick Bay upon occasion." He joked as he finalized his notes. "Because Officially you are cleared for another year."

"Great, hope so see you sooner than next year."

OFF

Lt. Rutherford Milton
Chief Medical Officer