Optical illusion

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2025 @ 9:47pm by Lieutenant Ame Solis M.D. & Ensign Ezmyrae Varin & NVeid tr'Rehu

Mission: Character Development
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Pandora's Box MD02
4728 words - 9.5 OF Standard Post Measure

NVeid blinked and rubbed his thigh after yet again clipping the edge of his workspace. There were no surgeries planned this afternoon so he had secluded himself in one of the small laboratory spaces to work on his research. But it wasn't going as well as he wanted, his thigh probably sporting a nice bruise by now.

He made sure his seat was nearby before actually sitting down and pulled himself closer to the desk. He studied the vial he had placed in a holder and checked his mask and gloves a second time before proceeding. While his sample should be inert, one could never be too careful. He placed a drop of the liquid onto a petridish and placed it under the inverted microscope. Using his right hand to guide the distance, he leaned forward to study his sample. With his left he reached for a pipette and drew up a small quantity of a very brightly yellow coloured liquid. He was keen to see what results he would get and whether there would finally be some progress.

With the knowledge that the medical lab had been booked by their resident surgeon, Ame had taken the time to thoroughly review the extensive research NVeid had accumulated. His data spanned back to Icatha III, a Cardassian world affected by the mutated Metis virus. The records detailed the vaccination programme led by the former CMO, Michael Ki, with support from science officers.

What intrigued her most was the virus’s impact on telepaths among the crew, something NVeid had explored deeply. Ever an advocate for research and development, Ame appreciated seeing her colleague push the boundaries of medical science. Still, given the issues he’d previously mentioned with his ocular implant and their often conflicting schedules, she had chosen to keep an eye on the lab’s monitors while catching up on her other work. Occasionally, she glanced up from her PADD to ensure nothing had gone awry.

Hearing the distinct thud of him bumping into the workstation, she gave him a moment to steady himself before tapping the intercom. “Everything okay in there?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the feed, curious for any sign of his response.

Her thoughts briefly wandered as she waited. The concept of a sensory blocker was fascinating, especially for individuals struggling with the overwhelming nature of empathic or telepathic input. While Ame didn’t experience it herself, she’d worked with patients young and old; who described headaches and the crushing strain of being unable to shut out the mental noise. She leaned forward slightly, squinting at the monitor with a curious tilt of her head.

Startled by the sudden question, NVeid missed his mark and the liquid went over his hand instead of his sample. He hissed as he pulled his glove off and tossed it in a special container. "I'm fine," he grunted as he turned back to try again. This time, a single drop covered the specimen and he returned the dish to the incubator. Once that was done he shut down the microscope and left the lab.

"I'm fine," he tried to reassure her but the telltale rubbing of his thigh indicated otherwise, as did his nearly walking into her desk as he misjudged the distance. "Things just seem to be closer than they actually are today," he added, "especially desks."

Ame winced as she observed him discard the contaminated glove. Sorry. Her fingers tapping absently against her desk. That’s going to leave a mark. The lukewarm reassurance didn’t sit well with her, especially paired with the way he gingerly rubbed his thigh and narrowly avoided colliding with her desk on his way in. “Alright,” she said, her tone firm but not unkind. “Let’s get that recalibration sorted, and I’ll handle the contusion with the dermal regenerator. No arguments.”

She rose from her chair, gesturing toward the biobed. It had been some time since she’d done a recalibration in such a formal setting. Her prior case was much more intimate and in a potentially unethical position, but this was overdue. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret that Myra wasn’t available to take the lead, these hands-on tasks were part of the younger officer’s training. Sighing softly, Ame ruffled her hair with one hand, puffing out her cheeks in thought. At least the process itself was straightforward enough.

The Romulan hybrid merely nodded as he walked over to the indicated bed and eased himself down on it. "What's wrong doctor?" He asked as he studied her expression, "you look troubled."

“I hoped Ensign Varin would be here to take the lead for your recalibration as part of her training and review.” The Doctor’s nose scrunched, deepening her wrinkles. “She should be back, there was a minor incident in the shuttle bay.”

The swish of the Sickbay doors had no innate capacity to convey haste or impatience and yet, somehow, perhaps owing to the rather eerie sense of timing, managed just that as they parted to permit the slightly flustered arrival of the young Trill in question. "I'm sorry," the almost-predictable first words from Myra's mouth seemed genuine at least. "Apparently we're having some issues with turbolift sequencing, I ended up on Deck 5."

"Apologies are unnecessary," NVeid smiled as he turned his head to look at her, "since I'm not going anywhere, if seems, you are quite on time ensign. I appear to have perception issues with my optical implant."

“Perfect timing!” Ame exclaimed with a warm smile, rubbing her hands together as though readying for action. “No need to rush. Let’s take our time and get NVeid back in top form so he won’t have to keep a dermal regenerator on hand.” Her touch on his shoulder was gentle, a reassuring gesture, before she stepped back slightly. “Oh, right! Introductions.” She gestured toward NVeid with a lighthearted flourish. “This is NVeid tr’Rehu, our resident civilian surgical specialist.” Turning to Myra, she extended her hand toward the Trill officer as if presenting her. “And this is Ensign Ezmyrae Varin, our newest recruit.”

Normally not keen on being touched in a familiar way, NVeid understood the gesture and allowed it. He smiled at the somewhat dramatic means of introduction and gave the new arrival a polite nod. "Ma'am," he answered by way of acknowledgement, "I defer to your expertise. While I have an optical replacement, I have no skill in the area of cybernetics. I am but a simple surgeon." A very skilled one, but also very modest as he never seemed to brag about it. "If you have questions, I'll be at your disposal to answer them."

Despite the flurry in which she'd arrived, Myra's disposition calmed considerably as the introduction drew her focus not so much to the individual, though she offered her new colleague a reserved half-smile, but the nature of his dilemma. Her interest piqued, the Trill turned her gaze immediately to the senior physician and raised her eyebrows. "A malfunction?" Even though it had been the Bajoran's specialisation that had drawn Myra towards the posting in the first place, the young graduate hadn't expected anything more than theoretical casework.

The Romulan hybrid nodded. "Yes ma'am," he acknowledged, "I am experiencing a malfunction in depth perception. It compromises my ability to function while on duty. I am a surgeon."

“Mhmm.” Ame’s tone carried a thoughtful note as she glanced at Myra, her hands deftly gathering a tricorder, PADD, neural monitor, and calibration tools. “How much hands-on experience do you have outside of theory and outlines, Ensign?” she asked, curiosity tinged with encouragement. While her past mentoring roles had been specialized, cybernetic work was a unique challenge, one that often required close collaboration with engineering to bridge the gaps.

The question seemed to give Myra some pause. "In terms of actual case management, minimal," was the confession she landed on, though she immediately qualified it by adding, "At least in any professional capacity. My maternal grandfather has an artificial larynx." The Trill smiled faintly at the explanation, though the personal divulgence only added to her subtle sheepishness. "Quite a deal different to visual aides but it is what guided my specialisation aspirations. I spent quite a lot of time in the biomedical labs on campus," she directed at Ame. "But that was more about the manufacture and development of the prosthetics than actual integration into an organic structure."

"So do I," NVeid answered promptly in response to having an artificial mechanism to help him speak, "but it is not mechanical. My right eye, on the other hand, is." He cast the young woman an apologetic look. "I had to relearn how to speak," as was evident in his accent, "I was mute for over twenty years."

The Bajoran extended the neural monitor toward the Ensign, holding it steady in her palm. “Then this can be a learning opportunity for all of us,” she said with a small, encouraging smile. “The neural monitor will serve as our link to the implant, allowing us to update, diagnose, reset, and calibrate. Be sure to attach it on the side closest to the implant when working with ocular cybernetics specifically,” Ame explained. “Depending on the patient and sometimes even your preference, you might have them sit or lie down for the procedure. Some people find staying still a challenge,” she added, a hint of dry humour softening her words.

"I do," the surgeon muttered under his breath, feeling very anxious all of a sudden. Someone getting near his implant did tend to bring back the terror of the torture he'd endured which caused the requirement of the replacement. He was just grateful that the people who had provided it after his rescue, had made it look near exact to his remaining eye.

There had been a moment where the temptation to pursue the unexpected connection had rendered Myra indecisive, something she moved very quickly to smother behind a veil of efficient chagrin. A singular connection did not an expert make but she couldn't shake the feeling that she ought to have been able to recognise the timbre of artificially supported vocalisation given her grandfather's situation, and though she doubted anyone was going to judge her poorly for having missed the signs, Myra made up for it by feeling plenty foolish on her own. After a brief hesitation, she accepted the device and turned her attention to NVeid's confirmation. "Would you prefer to lie down then?"

NVeid didn't hesitate and nodded. "I think that would be best," he agreed, "this procedure tends to be nauseating and I'd prefer not to fall over and undo any delicate work in the process." He eased himself down and rested his hands across his abdomen. "Please proceed."

Ame didn’t hover, instead stepping aside to give Myra ample space to work while she methodically arranged the remaining tools on the table beside the biobed. “Once the monitor is in place,” she advised gently, “start with a tricorder scan to rule out any physical issues. After that, we can proceed to assess the implant itself.” Her gaze flicked briefly to NVeid, and she offered a faint but reassuring smile. “If you feel anything unusual or have any concerns, don’t hesitate to speak up, alright?”

Offering a small nod in confirmation, NVeid pulled up his mental walls to protect himself against the physical touch. "I have no concerns, please proceed." He was anxious enough about being touched in an area which was severely traumatic to him, and the readings showed it.

Very briefly, Myra was aware of the thud of her heart as a pounding in her ears. It made sense, she supposed, anything she did now was classed as a professional act and as much as she was operating under the Chief's guidance, she was a graduate with certification that stipulated she was capable of at least a degree of autonomy. Prior to her own accident, the Trill had been inclined to thrive in the wake of nervous energy and had yet to adjust to the new reality of being constantly blindsided by it. Compassion, in the end, gave her focus enough to push her own concerns aside as it didn't take a medical degree to read the tension in NVeid's stance.

"How long have you been having issues?," she asked the man quietly, mostly as an attempt to focus him as she attached the monitor to rest across his brow.

Having reviewed NVeid’s medical history, including the traumatic events surrounding the installation of his implant, Ame tread carefully, aware of how precarious this moment might be for him. Though uncertain of the full extent of his telepathic abilities, she decided to take a calculated risk, trusting her instincts. Quietly, she stepped to the opposite side of the biobed and let her fingers brush lightly against his hand, forming a subtle, intentional connection. You’re safe, it’s okay.

"Approximately four weeks now, but with varying intensity. And today it seems to have gotten worse. I mostly experience depth perception issues, but also headaches and dizziness." NVeid did hear the quiet thought as Ame touched his hand, but he didn't answer it. He knew he was safe, knew he could trust them, and he did. But feelings were hard to shake. "Warn me if you need to take it out..." That was perhaps the most traumatic feeling of all, and he prayed it wouldn't be necessary.

The careful trace of a thumb ensured the monitor's contact points were secure before Myra lifted a tricorder to initialise the connection. "Has anything unusual happened that might have affected the hardware? Any bumps to the head?" Her brow furrowed for a moment as she waited for the readout to confirm a pairing and then relaxed as an affirmative beep indicated she at least hadn't messed the first part up.

"Not that I can recall. I was infected with the Methis virus, same as most hybrids but I tested the cure on myself. I didn't get as sick as some of the other hybrids aboard." He paused to think, trying to remember anything out of the ordinary. "When I wasn't in surgery, I was in my lab..." It wasn't impossible that something had happened, but surely he would remember such a thing? While most remembered their Q adventure, he actually had no recollection of such an event so he did wonder if he even had such an experience. He wasn't certain if everyone had been so... unfortunate.

Ame stepped back, allowing space for Myra to continue her work, though her gaze lingered on the surgeon. She knew his timeline wasn’t entirely truthful—something in his tone betrayed the reality of how long he had been dealing with these issues. Her lips pressed into a thin line, determination settling in her expression. If complications arose, she would ensure that the team had all the information needed to address them.

Slipping into her office, the Bajoran retrieved the data on the Metis virus and began reviewing the research and findings NVeid had compiled. The intricacies of the contagion caught her attention, her mind instinctively parsing through the genetic segments for potential applications beyond their immediate use. Leaning lightly against the doorframe, she kept one ear tuned to the activity on the biobed, ready to respond to any questions or complications that might arise.

"Has this happened before?" The questions were routine, mundane procedure that was arguably necessary but ultimately likely to be less telling than the information Myra was currently hoping her calibration would produce. Initially, her gaze swung back and forth between her tricorder and the monitor, minor adjustments that attempted to increase precision, but very quickly she switched to studying the features in front of her. The affected eye was an important consideration but watching it in tandem with the other, not to mention the muscular tension across the entire face, was more likely to reveal the entire story.

"Yes." He stared back at her, certain she was trying to see how his right eye functioned differently from his healthy left eye. "On and off, some days worse than others. Frequent maintenance helps."

Though she remained focused, Myra smiled faintly at that. "As is the case with most things, even organic organs. The connection feels stable, is there any feedback discomfort?"

He waited for several seconds before answering. "Not that I detect," he said as he also took a moment to glance around, certain she wanted to observe yet again. Of course, he couldn't be exactly certain, not without reading her and that was exactly what he wouldn't do. Not unless he had no choice or other unforseen circumstance. His mental walls were drawn up, just in case. "I don't know what keeps causing the problems, I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary. I don't engage in dangerous activities, unless swimming is considered such."

With a brief glance towards Ame, Myra hesitated for only a brief moment before accepting the senior officer had no intention of intervening unless necessary. Given the nature of the woman's expertise, the young doctor was slightly disappointed not to benefit from watching her work but the blinking orange light just above NVeid's eyebrow did reduce the need for in-depth investigation quite considerably. Holding the tricorder steady, Myra watched as the initial scan results sent back lines of highlighted discrepancies.

"Looks like there's a processing delay," Myra advised quietly, still poised to allow the diagnostic to finish before they could start to interpret it. "It's still trying to locate the source but that would at least explain your vertigo. Your brain is getting delayed information from the prosthetic."

"Delayed?" He arched a single eyebrow at her. "How does that happen?"

Ame was shuffling through the genetic sequencing of the virus, isolating parts in prediction of how it might affect the effects and symptoms. She listened, taking slow casual steps closer to the pair. Her eyes lifted from the PADD to see the results of the scan and processed what Myra had explained. Her brow furrowed as she studied the blinking orange light and the results in the tricorder.

"Delayed processing could mean the implant's neural interface isn't synchronising perfectly with your brain's signals," She chimed in quietly as she slipped the PADD under one arm. “It’s like an orchestra playing slightly out of tune—manageable at first, but the longer it continues, the more noticeable it becomes."

Ame gestured lightly to Myra's tricorder. "As this has been going on for over a month,” Her eyes narrowed at NVeid wondering if he hadn’t realised how long it had been since she first arrived onboard. “I would overlay his most recent maintenance logs with the implant's current behaviour. Sometimes wear and tear doesn't show up until the system's under stress.”

She crossed to the tray and selected a calibration tool, holding it up briefly before setting it down on the biobed’s surface. “Once you’ve pinpointed the loop we’ll start by recalibrating the implant to refine the signal feedback. That should reduce the delay and improve synchronization. Once we’ve confirmed that the physical and software components are in alignment, we’ll update the implant’s firmware to prevent this from happening again.”

Her gaze softened as she looked at NVeid. “We’ll take it one step at a time. Let us know if you feel uncomfortable at any point, and we’ll adjust as needed.”

Despite trusting his fellow doctors, NVeid still couldn't help but feeling anxious. He nodded minutely in understanding. "One step at the time," he breathed, "as long as it doesn't need replacing..."

As much as she tried to focus on the data stream the tricorder was collecting, it was more will-power than Myra possessed to avoid watching Ame as the Bajoran explained the situation to the understandably-hesitant surgeon. It was fortuitous, in a way that Myra had more or less come to dismiss, that a practical application of the older woman's talents had unfolded right within their own department. It wasn't the only reason the Trill had accepted the rather prestigious opportunity to serve aboard the Task Force flagship but it had definitely been a factor. Catching herself, Myra startled slightly and then closed off the scan before handing the tricorder over.

"It appears to be a software conflict in its lubricant dispersal," she hazarded quietly, a slight infliction on her statement making it sound almost like a question. Reaching over, she stretched the screen to zoom in on the comparative discrepancies between the current scans and the previous check-up.

NVeid just listened, deferring to the expertise of the two other medical officers. He hadn't been aware of any dryness, surely that would've caused additional irritation? "Why didn't I notice this?" He asked softly, "and why wasn't this a constant, the experience was on and off."

“It doesn’t need replacing NVeid. I promise.” Ame reassured him. As Myra closed the tricorder its data synced to the biobed allowing her to see both sets of records. “Dry eye comes when you’re experiencing an episode. Looking at this things have very steadily got worse. Did Doctor Ki not pick this up before?” She’d heard all kinds of things about her predecessor, not all of them good.

A small confident smile formed on her lips as she picked up the calibration tool and offered it to Myra. She moved around to get closer to the data highlighting the areas and frequencies that needed to be adjusted. “Can you adjust these two points back to their design standard before we move onto the firmware with any fine tuning we need will be done with a PADD. We can choose a drop, gel or cream for the dryness, often a gel at ‘night’ is better for people who are on the go as it works as they sleep. Usually, it’s patient preference.”

The Bajoran moved herself in line with her surgeon, “Nothing intrusive, all external. Does that sound manageable?” She asked making sure she wasn’t overstepping his boundaries.

Again, the Romulan hybrid nodded in agreement, albeit minutely so he wouldn't upset the delicate procedure. "That is acceptable," he finally said, visibly relieved at the non-intrusive part even though he would've accepted it if it had been unavoidable. "But how do I avoid this in the future? I have met with Ensign Paxton before, he did a thorough cleaning after somehow a contamination with pollen occurred. I still don't understand how that could even happen."

The surgeon's interjection had gifted Myra just enough time to get her head around Ame's show of faith. It's just like the simulations, she chided herself, knowing very well that anything outside the augmented study space was dynamic and impossible to predict entirely. Her hand was steady, though, a talent her accident hadn't robbed her of, and relied only on the automated reset to verify the precision of her manual attempt.
"Almost done."

"Take your time," the surgeon breathed, remaining as immobile as he could. He tried not to blink but it was unavailable, keeping his eyes open was quite a challenge. "I trust you," he added in a whisper even though that was likely more to still his own anxiety than to encourage the young specialist.

Ame remained close enough to monitor the adjustments without encroaching on the Ensign’s space. “You can blink, NVeid … if you prefer them closed … whatever works best for you. I also have holographic cats for the most squirmy of patients.” She could see the anxiety seeping across the hybrid's features, even as he attempted to handle it.

Myra wasn't aware that she'd been holding her breath until the calibration sequence finally green-lit completion and the ensuring relief flooded her system with a fresh intake of much-needed oxygen. Drawing in another deep breath, the Trill rallied her composure and lowered the device. "The reset is complete."

The Bajoran gave a nod of approval, “Great work. How about I run through the firmware update and the last pieces so we can let NVeid get back to his feet without any more bruises?” She picked up the PADD and adjusted the neural monitor slightly to allow input and accept the update as it trickled down. “There’ll be a brief moment once the data’s completed where the implant restarts.”

The Romulan hybrid nodded minutely. "No bruising would be preferable as outcome," he commented.

Myra smiled faintly, a gesture that intended to be reassuring but came off as a little distant as the bulk of her attention was focused on the other doctor's work.

Ame’s eyes drifted down to the progress. “Just a few more seconds. Here we go.” She warned the surgeon as the update was completed. She prepared a hand to steady him if needed, even from his reclined position it could be disorientating.

NVeid just closed his eyes, his hands gripping the sheets as a wave of intense nausea washed over him.

“Just the last steps now and we’re all done,” Ame reassured him quietly preparing the final part of the update. She offered the PADD to Myra to review before she continued, “Another little bit of disorientation as everything is fine-tuned.” Another series of quick taps pushed through the last of the data. The updated implant readjusted its focus momentarily to meet its new parameters before it settled back to its natural state under the influence of his optic nerve. “All done.”

Now opening his eyes, the surgeon cast both women a look of genuine gratitude, as he still wasn't used to anyone actually being kind without wanting anything in return for it. That was a process that was going to take a long time. "Thank you," he said simply.

Still bent over the PADD she'd been given, Myra's eyes darted back and forth at a pace, the rapid consumption of text merely a product of years' worth of practise skimming and scanning research articles. She registered the thanks enough to divert attention briefly, once again offering a slight smile, but said nothing. The bulk of the remedy had been Ame's work, after all, and the Trill was equally as grateful for the opportunity to review it.

Ame offered NVeid her hand to help him upright. “Next time don’t struggle for so long to ask for help,” she chided gently, steadying him as he adjusted to the recalibration. “That’s what we’re here for.”

She kept a watchful eye on him, scanning for any lingering signs of dizziness or discomfort. “Give yourself a moment. Your brain’s still adjusting to the corrected input, but everything should be in sync now.” A slight tilt of her head accompanied the assessment. “If things still feel off—depth, sharpness, focus—we can run another pass.”

Retrieving the dermal regenerator, she activated it with a quiet hum, carefully passing it over the forming bruise on his thigh. “Since I promised,” she murmured, amusement flickering at the edges of her voice. “Let’s make sure you don’t walk out of here looking like you lost a fight with a console.”

Satisfied with the result, she powered down the tool and straightened, giving him space to test his footing. “And if I catch you mistaking biobeds for bulkheads again,” she added with a teasing glint, “I will deploy the holographic cats.”

Her gaze flicked briefly to Myra, offering the Trill a small nod of approval. “Solid work, Ensign. Log this case in your training records—I’ll sign off on the report once you’ve finished your notes.”

With that, Ame took a step back, arms crossing loosely. “Alright, NVeid. Final verdict? Seeing the world the way you should be?”

Taking a moment to adjust before he trusted himself to get to his feet, he gratefully accepted the hand up. "Yes, all seems as it should be," he reported, "I have no further plans of mistaking tables and beds, I assure you. However as this was.. exhausting... I request to be relieved for the remainder of the day."

"Of course," Ame answered quietly with a nod. "Take it easy, get some rest."