After the storm comes the quiet

Posted on Tue Sep 20th, 2022 @ 5:42am by Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D. & Captain Bethsabée Leroux

Mission: Mission 6 - Memory
Timeline: Day 301 23:00
1485 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

The ship was silent again. It had been seven hours since the events that shook the crew and knocked off several key systems as Smith had escaped and two crew members disappeared with him. Beth was exhausted she needed to check in with sickbay finally and find out what the score was there now things had calmed down now. She opened the compartment door and walked in and look around see you in the silence that followed her from the corridor inside. She saw that most beds were empty other than a few people who had been closer to Smith that most of the crew but for the most part people were recouping in quarters.

“Good evening Avira.” Beth said slipping in side the small office to keep her voice down.

The sudden voice seemed to startle the Andorian Chief Medical Officer. Avira had sat hunched over medical records and been diligently doing the paperwork to ensure everyone who had walked out of Sickbay was officially released from her care. "Good evening, Commander." She leaned back, her antennae seemed to sway back and forth a bit as she did so. "What can I help you with?"

Beth felt bad that she had had made the woman jump but it was a sign that she Ben the Andorian was at the end of her strength. “Apologises Doctor. I came to see what the score was down here after Smith’s or whoever he was actions today.” Beth said knowing it would be a slow process for the crew but she needed to know that at least the people still in sickbay were not in anymore danger.

After Avira pushed a strand of hair behind her ear she got up from her seat and looked over into the larger sickbay area. "Everyone has stabilised. Some people were more susceptible to Smith's attacks, and they may need some additional time to recover." She looked back over to the Captain. "How are your own symptoms? I guess we might not need to do those scans anymore."

“I am still tired but I have not had a nose bleed in a few hours.” Beth said squeezing into the office and took the seat. “I believe from the conversation with several crew members some are more susceptible but even he did not know why. Just that it made them less nutritious to him.” It made her sick to think about it all.

Avira nodded along, she had heard the same stories from the people recovering in her bay and from Hughes as well. In conversation about their situation on the alternate Atlantis. "That's good to hear."

“How is everyone glutamate levels in the brain?” Beth wondered letting the exhaustion show. Only Michael and Avira got to see that side of the Captain.

"As you said, some were more affected than others. Thankfully knowing what to look for and how to manage it is most of that battle already won." Avira looked back over at the sickbay, out of all the affected people only a couple needed to stay a slight bit longer. It was more for their ease of mind that that of the Andorian doctor. As far as she was concerned everyone could return to their quarters to recuperate. "I would advise adjusted work schedules to allow some more rest for those affected."

Rest was something in short supply for a lot of the crew at the moment but it would come eventually. “I will talk to the rest of department heads tomorrow about it all. William will have no long term effects from CPR?” Beth asked thinking of the man who potentially could become her executive officer at the moment. It was telling to the strength of the man that he had survived the brutal attack that he had.

"Bruises and a cracked rib. Nothing we couldn't fix," Avira stated rather flatly. As if the man had not just been on the brink of death. "There's the mental component, of course, that's not something I specialise in, however. Especially in Humans."

“I am sure a certain blonde communication ensign will be able to support him there.” She said glancing across sickbay seeing the blonde asleep in the chair next to the man in question. It was nice to talk about someone other than her own issues. “Mental health is going to be addressed at our next senior team meeting once everyone is better.” Beth hated to dwell on something as negative as that but it needed to be addressed. Things had gone on too long as this whole event had served as a deep and stark reminder they were alone and vulnerable out there.

"How are our new guests integrating?" Avira wondered about the people from the alternate universe vessel. She had Hughes in her own department of course, but there was also Benjamin and not to forget alt-Manishie. "I take it they've gone through some significant trauma as well. Doctor Hughes was able to perform his duties but was clearly under duress."

"They will need time to adjust just like ourselves," Beth admitted. "Benjamin I am sure will thrive once he has had sleep as will Ensign Hughes but it is Petter Officer Manishie I am concerned about." Beth had not had the pleasure of meeting this other version yet but was eager to do so when she was feeling well enough. "It is another unusual station that we find ourselves involved in." It felt never ending but what was she expecting out in the vest open universe.

"She was also a concern of mine," Avira admitted, "it must be weird for them to suddenly have an exact copy of themselves on the ship. It would certainly disconcert me." She then frowned for a moment, "do you think it would be wise to supervise their meeting together?"

“Without a doubt.” Beth answered easily. Beth thought to maybe add an armoury party but that was possibly overkilling the situation despite her worries. “I would like to meet her before that meeting if possible. I have been neglecting it due to my own issues and not wanting to make it seem like this place did not have ourselves together.” It might have been a facade but it offered reassurance in the face of the ships issues of the last week.

"I will leave that up to you then." Avira rubbed her eye with the back of her hand. "I'll get the official report on the incident on your desk first thing in the morning. I'll make sure to include my medical assessment of the new additions to our crew."

"Yes, the newest additions." Beth nodded thinking that they needed to have some set in stone around them. "They will be added to our systems as transfers, though you will not be getting much medical information." It was not unusual for transfers but there would be very little evidence on the new crew members.

"Perhaps there's some overlap with their records in our own universe. We'll just have to fill the gaps and start building a current medical record." Avira yawned, her antennae stretching out completely as she did so. "but first I think both of us could use some proper sleep."

Beth nodded. She could not really argue there but it was not a question for now. “Yeah. I will. I just need to check the bridge before I go to bed. Can you please go sleep in your quarters tonight Avira?” Beth requested looking around sickbay. It was manned and there was limited space to get some quietness.

The Andorian doctor nodded. "If I can remember where it is," she half-joked before getting up from her seat. The request had seemingly come out of nowhere, but rumours must've been going around of her just taking up one of the medical beds in the sickbay, "besides, Hughes volunteered to take the night shift. So it would be weird for me to be here." She looked back at the PaDDs on the desk. There was quite a bit of paperwork to be done, but she was in no condition to do it, or to clean it up. She was sure the other doctor wouldn't mind. He could just stack them up for her. "Perhaps we should get a soothing tea from the mess hall."

Beth was surprised by the invite but nodded. She could be persuaded to test out some of the new teas that had been created by science from the herbs that were rampant in hydroponics at the moment. "I guess I can be persuaded for tea before I help you find your way to your quarters." The younger woman commented lightly. The feeling of confusion and disorientation was starting to leave her and it was leaving her with a feeling of fear that they had all let fog come over them, hiding the truth of what was going.