Ailments

Posted on Thu Feb 20th, 2020 @ 2:17pm by Lieutenant Noah Reed M.D. & Senior Chief Petty Officer Mason Malone

Mission: In the Family
Location: Deck 7 - Main Sickbay
Timeline: MD-01 0900 Hours
736 words - 1.5 OF Standard Post Measure

A new assignment. Why did that have to go with a physical? Mason stomped into the medical bay, clearly not pleased at having to submit to a physical when his file was very much up to date. "Stupid physicals," he muttered under his breath, "I'm perfectly healthy, surely he can read my file?"

Doctor Reed smirked to himself before replacing it with a polite smile as he rounded the corner of his office. He had heard rumors about this particular individual and found the disgruntled patients to be the most amusing, especially since a medical check-up was so minor that it was ridiculous to him why anyone would care to avoid it. "Ah, Sergeant Malone. Welcome to sickbay. Are you here for a social visit or business?"

"I wish it was the first sir," Mason answered, "but I'm afraid it's the latter. I assure you though, aside from an old baseball injury to my left shoulder, I'm perfectly fine." Of course, his records showed a few more healed injuries, most notably claw marks to his chest that nearly cost him his life when he was sixteen and several fractures to his left wrist for unlisted reasons.

"I assure you that we'll get this done with quickly and painlessly." Noah grabbed a medical tricorder and pulled out the handheld scanner and started wanding it around Malone. He ignored the old fractures as they had healed up long ago and just raised one eyebrow. He never understood how some officers were prone to numerous injuries. "There is some chest scarring from an old injury. The doctor who treated you didn't seem to do a very good job with the dermal regenerator." He frowned skeptically, knowing full well that there were a few lazy doctors in the universe but this was a bit much.

Automatically, Mason's hand went to his chest. "Ah... it's not bad work sir," he answered uncomfortably. "It was a life-threatening injury and I'm sure they were more concerned with keeping me alive than cosmetics sir. They've never bothered me other than to serve as a memory." He paused. "I wouldn't mind them being removed now... I've since moved on from it, and I've made amends with the individual who caused them. That chapter is now closed, sir."

Reed stared at the man and listened to his uncomfortable reaction. "I totally understand, sergeant," he said with a reassuring smile. "I've seen my fair share of scars. If you'd like them removed at your convenience, you may do so with my assistant." He resumed his medical scan and when he completed it, he replaced the scanner back into the tricorder. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"I suppose not," Mason answered, "Am I cleared for duty? What about sports? I can play right, I haven't played in months." He was, of course, referring to baseball, even though he wasn't literally saying it.

"Well, let's try not to get injured on our maiden voyage, shall we? You are fine to play sports but if you show up in my sickbay in the near future, you may expect some extended recovery time." He nodded to make sure it was understood that he was somewhat serious but still left it vaguely open to interpretation.

"Of course," Mason replied as if there was any other way. "I've no intention of getting injured sir, I just want to do what I need to do, but preferably without injury. I've had quite enough of that before." He nodded towards the computer screen as if to refer to his medical record. "I'm not a marine anymore, I guess..."

Noah knit his eyebrows in a confused look, blinking several times. "I don't see anything in the medical records that show that you're not a marine anymore." He tapped his temple with an index finger and added, "Last time I checked, a marine was all up here. It's how you carry yourself, how you solve problems, overcome adversity. That has nothing to do with scar count, sergeant." And with that, Reed turned and headed back to his office, a faint smirk on his lips.

Mason stared after him, not quite sure he'd been understood. Shaking his head, he hopped off the bed. "Thank you doctor!" he called over his shoulder before walking out.

---

Doctor Noah Reed
Chief Medical Officer
USS Athena

Sergeant/WO Mason Malone
Security Investigations Officer
Former Marine
pnpc Savin