Baffled Doctors

Posted on Sun Jun 13th, 2010 @ 7:23am by Vice Admiral Iluvar & Commander Michael Evans M.D. & Lieutenant JG Margaret Winchester

Mission: Episode 1.2 - "A House Divided"
Location: Main Sickbay, USS Pandora
Timeline: MD15, 0948

ON: [[Main Sickbay, USS Pandora, MD15, 0948]]

Margaret looked up at Anthony from a chair across sickbay. They had been working on trying to figure this disease out for several hours but neither the two doctors nor the computer could make heads or tails of it. "There *has* to be something that makes the disease unique." she said. "That or we're missing something."

Tony scrubbed at his forehead as he leaned over one of the medical workstations, not from fatigue but from sheer consternation. "It's only been a couple of hours," he said, "but so far the labs confirm prolonged malnutrition and a moderate level of dehydration. This was expected..." he waved a hand in a follow-through motion. "And we're still waiting on the results of some of the other tests," he continued positively.

Doctor Evans walked out from the lab. There were dark circles under his eyes and his hair was rumpled... in fact most of him looked pretty rumpled. Working the night shift always fatigued him, but when he heard about the two new patients in the sickbay he felt it important that he be there. He gave a sigh and leaned against the door frame. "Negative for any known toxins," he reported to his peers.

Margaret shook her head and sighed. "I don't know... I just don't like it."

Tony had a resigned look on his face as he returned to the workstation display.

The door to sickbay swished open, allowing Iluvar to enter. His gaze went immediately to the three doctors on the far side of the room. Based on what he was seeing, this was no time for pleasantries. "What do we have," he asked as he approached the group.

Looking up, first to Doctor Evans, then to Doctor Haelen, and then to Iluvar. "A good question, to be sure." she responded.

Evans sniggered at Winchester's remark. It really wasn't funny, but he was feeling a little giddy. He covered his mouth and tried to look appologetic.

Haelen shot a quick, disapproving glance at Evans before saying, "We have what you see, Sir," and gestured at the two unconscious Romulans. "They're both malnourished and dehydrated, but not to the point that they would experience the unusual behavior described by Doctor Winchester. We're still doing some lab work, but so far," he shrugged, "we're at a loss."

Evans straightened up and walked fully into the room. "Initial neuro scans were a little unusual," he glanced at his peers, "but nothing really to suggest anything specific. We've got more tests scheduled to wade through as we can get to them."

Michael walked to the nearest bed, the one that had the adolescent boy on it, and stood looking at his unconscious form. "Rehydration and parenteral nutrition therapies are underway, but will take some time to complete... a day or two, I expect, before I'm comfortable with them ingesting anything." He crossed his arms and looked back up at Iluvar. "Perhaps they'll be strong enough then to tell us more, but until then..." He trailed off with a shrug and a nod indicating the various diagnostic equipment about the sickbay.

"Nothing conclusive, then," Iluvar surmised, knowing how frustrated the three of them must have been. It was never enjoyable to be at a loss in any kind of assessment, particularly when it involved people's lives.

"It's still early," Evans said hopefully.

"Admiral," Margaret said, getting Iluvar's attention, "Is the away team still on the surface?"

"They have a few things they wanted to wrap up before returning to the ship," Iluvar replied, turning toward the surgeon, "Do you think whatever this is could be a danger to the away team?"

"We may want them to try to ask around about what happened to these two." she responded. "If this *is* a virus or something that can be passed from person to person, the locals might have a better idea of what's going on... or at least be able to tell us what to expect."

"We'll have to see what the team finds out," Iluvar said, pausing to think for a moment, "Based on their last message, I have a feeling that they haven't had too much time to make a full report. When you were on the surface, did they allow you to travel freely amongst the colonists?" He looked directly at Winchester. Something wasn't adding up here. There were too many pieces missing from this puzzle and without those pieces, they would be no closer to an answer.

Margaret shook her head freely. "They kept us under fairly strict guard. Except for the fact that I was going to help two of their own, I wouldn't have been surprised if they had shot me for leaving the escorts."

"Interesting," Iluvar remarked. He looked past the physicians toward where the two Romulans were laying on the biobeds. The young male looked almost the same age as Aris (NPC).

Michael shifted where he stood. "Any word yet from our 'friends'?" he asked, implying their warbird escort.

"Not yet," Iluvar replied, turning back to the doctors, "They haven't made any contact or overt motion since before we entered orbit."

Michael looked a little uncomfortable, then took a breath. "Regardless, we should probably try to coordinate with the colony... see if they have any information on what might be afflicting these two," he nodded at the unconscious patients, "and find out if there are any others like them." Michael looked at Iluvar and received a silent affirmation.

"Winchester," Michael looked at her, "your experience makes you our ideal ambassodor." He gave her a hint of a wry grin with an apollogetic twinkle in his eye. "Get the supplies you'll need and prepare them for beamdown. Feel free to take one or two of our staff if you want, too. Doc," he said, turning to Tony, "you'll be our 'point man' up here. I intend to... to..." he stifled a yawn, "aahhh.... I intend to 'hit the hay' as it were," he finished apollogetically.

"If there's nothing else you need from me, sir..." Michael addressed Admiral Iluvar.

Knowing how exhausted the young physician must have been at that point, Iluvar gave a slight nod to show both acknowledgment and approval of the request.

"I hate to 'order and run' but...," Michael said to Margaret and Tony and, once again, looked apologetic. "'Night, all," he waved through another yawn. "You know where to find me if you need me. Just don't need me," he grinned as he left the room for his quarters. He really did hate to leave his staff with all that work and worry; then again, his grandfather always did tell him he had an over-developed sense of responsibility.

Michael shook his head as the doors shut behind him... This was the last day of the ritual fast. Tomorrow... coffee!

OFF

A Joint Post by:

Rear Admiral Iluvar
Commanding Officer
USS Pandora

Lt. Commander Michael Evans
CMO / 2XO
USS Pandora

'Doc' Anthony Haelen (NPC)
Asst. CMO
USS Pandora
Played by: Michael Evans

and

Lieutenant (jg) Margaret Winchester
Chief Surgeon
USS Pandora