Meeting the New Doctor
Posted on Thu Apr 3rd, 2025 @ 2:15am by Commander Marisa Sandoval & Lieutenant Addison Talbert
Edited on on Thu Apr 3rd, 2025 @ 5:11am
1,894 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Like Sands Through The Hourglass
Location: Various Kok Station
Timeline: MD002 0800 hrs
Kok Station, a new station she'd not been to before. Addison took time to explore it and just take in the atmosphere of it all. Addison had also acquired things for herself to have with her on this new assignment. A trip to the spa, for the whole works. Massage, pedicure, manicure even to get her hair done, a soak in a bath with bubbles. All part of her self-care routine when off ship, never hurts to pamper oneself. Feeling renewed, Addison set off to where she could report in and explore her new place of work. Before she made her way through the docking tunnel, Addison admired the science ship she was going to be on. The USS Herodotus.
"Such a beautiful ship." Addison shifting her purchase to one shoulder.
A dark-haired, half Vulcan woman happened to be walking by and noticed the woman looking at the ship. She recognized her from her personnel file and decided to answer. "It is. The inside is better."
"Oh? That sounds intriguing. Are you assigned to the ship?" Addison hadn't gone over the personnel files as of yet. She had a day to step away from any sort of work detail and that was what she did. Separating work from personal time. Only way to have balance.
"Yes. Marisa Sandoval." She smiled. "I read your personnel file. That is why I stopped. Welcome."
"Thank you. What department do you work in, Marisa? I will confess I haven't looked at the personnel files yet. I tend to separate personal time from work. And with that fact I concentrated on a mini personal shoreleave." Addison looking apologetic.
"You have no need to apologize," Marisa assured her. "We are currently on a shore leave of sorts with onboarding and supplies." At least until they had new orders. She had to admit, she was enjoying this time to learn as much as she could about her new ship. "My current position is first officer, although I have a background in science and counseling."
"Pleasure to meet you, XO." a pleasant smile, lifting the corners of her lips, and reflecting in Addison's eyes. "Perhaps you will be my first official cursory Medical checkup? That is if you've not had one as of yet. Could be a two birds one stone as in a guide to Medical, for yours truly." Making a gesture towards herself.
Marisa shrugged. "I admit that I have not had a physical in over a year, so why not?"
As they began to make their way to the entrance of the Herodotus," Science, do you have a specialty in the field of science? My grandmother Emily is a geologist." Addison's voice having a sense of fondness when she mentioned her. "She was fond of collecting rocks, which interested her immensely."
"History, archaeology, and anthropology. They all tend to overlap, so I chose all three." It seemed logical, and both her parents approved. Plus, she'd always been a bit of an overachiever. "What made you choose medicine?"
"Well, you can somewhat blame my Grandfather, also in some aspect my father as well. Both of them doctors in their own right. My father was a veterinarian, he was really good with tending to livestock, and others of the animal kingdom. My grandfather treated the other half of the animal kingdom, humanoid. I wanted to be able to be a part of keeping people healthy, treating them of their ills. I can't claim to be an expert as there is still so much to learn, but if I can help people get healed that is wonderful."
Marisa nodded. "From what I have learned so far, you will definitely have an opportunity to do that. Including temporal psychosis and other effects of time travel."
Her eyes widening, Addison drew in a breath, giving a nod, her eyes solemn. "I am hoping that I can come up with treatments for that. I've encountered one or two time anomalies. One was back home on Amazonite. And the other, was I am not quite certain but somehow the ship I was on, jumped forward in time, about a day or two. The readings from the scans that I had done, indicated such. We were all feeling ill. It did pass but, there was also left a feeling of can we try to make up the lost time. "
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "There have been treatments for mild to moderate temporal psychosis and a number of other temporal illnesses for years. They are fairly well known. Check the medical database."
"At that time, there hadn't been that data available on the ship, until it got its refit, the files were corrupt on the Apollon." Addison responded solemnly. "The Apollon was operating out in the Delta Quadrant. "
"That would explain why you did not learn of this at the time. But you do have the opportunity now. We may all need to be checked from time to time. I admit, I was unaware of it until I came here and, rare as it is, it is something I might have encountered as a counselor."
"I look forward to studying all the information available. Much for me to catch up on. When they reached the entrance to the Herodotus, she took a deep breath and held it for a few moments, her eyes closing for the time she held her breath. Her eyes opened, Addison turning towards Marisa.
"Once I step over that threshold, I will be embracing my new path, and life." Addison said solemnly.
Marisa nodded. Although the logical part of her believed that she embraced her new path when she agreed to join the Herodotus. But she wouldn't spoil the doctor's moment. She waited patiently for Addison to take it in. She would also let her enter the ship first.
Addison stepped over the threshold, feeling her skin break out in goosebumps. She waited for Marisa to step inside as well. "I know, a little bit theatrical, it though was a tradition I've done when I get assigned to a new place. Simply put, aligning my mind to the new path."
"Many have personal rituals when joining a new ship." Marisa smiled. "For some, it's a rite of passage."
"Well, I will say that it was a streak of genius for the DTI to pluck me out of a runabout that had been hit by lightning during a major storm. In some aspect they saved my life. Yes I will be regarded as dead to my old life. And I feel that I wouldn't have survived. I may seem to be nonchalant about it, as I have left a family, my parents and my siblings as well as grandparents grieving. I will be doing my own grieving as well and that is to be expected. There is though, the fact of my being able to continue learning, to make a difference." Addison mused.
"Yes. We have all left people behind. I had a chance to see my family before coming here, but they think I am on a deep space exploration mission and out of contact. If I stay with DTI, they will eventually be told I died."
Addison gave a nod towards Marisa. "You will have a choice, there will be some of us that won't Or do I? I am not certain, but this is something that I agreed to do and I will be here until when my time is ended." that is how she viewed it, she made a conscientious choice agreeing to this. "Now, though I do wish to get some scans of you, and I will be doing the same thing with those of the crew for comparison when the crew goes on missions. Whatever or whenever they will be."
"We all have a choice. That we are here means we made the same one." Marisa shrugged. The argument was academic at this point. "A baseline scan is a good idea. Where do you want me?"
"Upon the biobed please and to forestall my asking the innumerable questions of past medical history. Do I have permission to access those files? If you have access to them? That would be helpful as well. For now, though- Computer make note of today's scan of Commander Marisa Sandoval." Addison giving the stardate "If you will stretch out upon the bio bed this shouldn't take too long, Marisa." Addison giving a gentle smile, waiting for her to lay down before continuing. "Computer make a scan of the chronal time patterns of Marisa." she adding also brain scan and energy levels of the body.
"They should be in the computer. I was in Starfleet before joining DTI and yes, you have my permission." Although Marisa figured that being on the ship gave tacit permission, she didn't mind being asked.
"Thank you. I prefer to ask before assuming." Addison utilized the medical tricorder to check on Marisa's other vitals, giving a bit of a smile" from all indications, you are in good health, and it looks like not much has changed since your last medical. Just a year older." putting away the tricorder. There was a following beep, causing Addison to look towards the view screen. "Ah looks like the scans are done as well. That didn't take much time at all."
"That should be a good sign as well--at least that the equipment is working." Marisa smiled. "Not that I doubt it, but I like having it confirmed."
A return bright smile. "That is a relief, especially with I do believe this ship to be a new one? Which means that there may end up being, some glitches or bugs to work out. Possibly." Addison giving a chuckle. "Probably has less bugs though from a refurbished Antares cargo ship. I loved that ship though. It was home."
"No, this is not a new ship. Captain Thorrin had another crew before us." Marisa wasn't going to elucidate, but it was a matter of record.
Addison's eyebrows raised at this. "Alright that isn't something I knew. Then again it would be a well-kept secret as well. I will say this is a new ship for me then." giving a nod. "Thank you for the information."
"You are most welcome." Marisa was aware of why the previous crew was disbanded, but it wasn't her story to tell. Much about DTI was a well-kept secret. She stood. "Thank you for your time. It was a pleasure meeting you."
"A pleasure for me as well. Thank you for accompanying me, and the welcome as well." Addison stepping back to allow Marisa to move from the bio bed. "I look forward to meeting the rest of the crew, and getting the necessary scans in preparation for our mission together."
Marisa walked past her and stopped before activating the door. "You will like them. We have an excellent crew." Then she gave the doctor a half bow. "And once again, welcome aboard." Then she stepped forward, activating the automatic door and left Addison to settle in.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Addison Talbert
Chief Medical Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
Commander Marisa Sandoval
Executive Officer
USS Herodotus DTI-30656
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