Nothing's Wrong With Me, Just My Brain

Posted on Mon Jul 12th, 2010 @ 4:40am by Commander Earlond & Commander Michael Evans M.D.

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Main Sickbay
Timeline: MD15, 1130

ON: [[Main Sickbay, USS Pandora, MD15, 1130]]

The doors to Sickbay hissed open, preceding Earlond's arrival by half a second. He strode into the room and glanced quickly around.

The holographic physician, Dr. Haelen, looked up from his console. "Commander," he greeted. "What brings you to sickbay? You don't look injured this time," he commented, looking Earlond up and down.

Earlond glanced at the EMH. "Do you know where Dr. Evans is?" he asked without preamble. Some would say he was being quite rude to the EMH by being so short with him, but Earlond had somewhat of an urgency. In fact, this was one of the few holograms Earlond tolerated, mostly because of Evans' affinity for Dr. Haelen.

"I believe he said something about going for a walk with 'Toby,' whoever that is," Anthony said. "Why, do you need medical assistance? Or is there something I can help you with," he offered solicitiously.

"No medical assistance for me, this time," Earlond said, offering the barest trace of a smile. "I'm actually looking for any information on the colonists that were beamed up from the surface. They were suffering from some unknown condition, and I was wondering if any more had turned up about it."

"Not much, I'm afraid," Tony said. He gestured at the console indicating that's what he was currently working on. "I can tell you what's not wrong with them," he said half offering, half in wry jest and looking at Earlond.

Coming over to stand next to the hologram, Earlond nodded. "And what is it that isn't wrong with them?" he asked.

Haelen took a breath. "They haven't been poisoned or exposed to any toxins or other hazardous materials. They are not playing host to any bacterium, virus, or parasite that would cause this. They are anatomically correct for their species and are physically sound, aside from the dehydration and malnutrition; no significant trauma is evidenced. They are not showing any signs of being exposed to other-than-normal amounts of radiation (ulraviolet and the like). They are genetically sound; no abnormal mutations have been discovered. In short, they shouldn't be sick," he finished.

"What we have found," he continued, "are these small plaques in the brain." He pointed to an image on the screen of a brain's cross section. Some small, dense pockets were clearly discernable. "It is normal for small amounts to be formed in old age, but not in this quantity and not in the young. And it's always linked to genetics." He held his hands palm upward in a shrug.

"I see," Earlond said, eyeing the image. He was no expert on medicine, but it looked to him like those plaques were at least related to the problems, if not the cause. "Any postulations about them?"

Tony gave a long, frustrated sigh and made a grimace. "They are part of why these colonists are acting the way they are. Coupled with the extensive synaptic breakdown we've observed I'm surprised they were even conscious when Winchester first encountered them." He frowned thoughtfully, then spoke as if explaining something, "It's as if certain cells have ceased to function as nerve cells. They're still active, but no longer performing the function of nervous tissue."

"Then what function are they performing?" Earlond asked. He wondered again about Dhivael's lack of comment about the scientists in the colony.

Tony shook his head and gave a slight shrug. He would need access to the living tissue itself to determine that, and they weren't authorized to perform a biopsy to remove a bit of brain. "I wish I knew..."

"Well, thank you for your help, Doctor," Earlond said. "I'm assuming that Dr. Evans will be at the briefing later, so he can let us know if you find anything else. Unless you have anything more you know now?"

Tony shook his head. "He'll be able to fill everyone in, but I doubt we'll have much more. Unless Winchester finds something revealing on the surface..."

"Alright," Earlond said. "Thank you for your time, Doctor." Without another word, he turned and headed for the door.

OFF

A JP by:

Commander Earlond
Executive Officer
USS Pandora

and

Dr. Anthony Haelen (PNPC)
Asst. Chief Medical Officer
USS Pandora
Played by: LtCmdr Evans