Doctor, Doctor

Posted on Mon Apr 26th, 2021 @ 10:05pm by Lieutenant Frederick Carlow

Mission: Heroes of the Hov'hurgh
Location: Sickbay - IKS Hov’hurgh
Timeline: 2409

Frederick Carlow did as he was ordered. Walking through the passageways of the Hov’hurgh he would often smile and wave at passers by. This of course didn’t sit well with some of the more rigid Klingons. Others either more used to dealing with alien races or just more happy go lucky than most would smile back or at least gesture.

The space man was impressed with the design of the dreadnaught. The floors alone took a far different tack than he had ever seen or heard of on an Imperial vessel. They were smooth and the lighting was far more dynamic. One could even ask for directions at any computer console along the walls given the right level of security. Even the terminals had far more races in mind when it came to displaying information in a wide range of formats.

As the long haired time traveler walked into the medical bay he saw the massive Gorn. “What the hell did she say his name was?” Frederick began muttering to himself nervously. “Shill? Still? Sthilg.That was it.” His doctor was a Gorn. He could only imagine what it was gonna look like to have certain tests run by a guy the size of a house. “Doctor Sthilg?”

The big Gorn had just finished disinfecting one of the wards when he heard his name be called. Pulling off his disposable gloves he grabbed his coat before heading to the entrance room. Stepping through the doors with a thud the big gorn noticed the human standing in his sickbay. “ Hello I’m Sssthilg can I help you?” he asked as politely as he could.

“Well quite simply my good Gorn, I was sent here by the Captain to have a physical run.” He smiled at the big reptilian humanoid. He couldn’t help but think of all the kids that would be running up to this guy for an autograph when he was kid. Heck he woulda been one of them. “I bet any moment you will receive some paperwork to that effect from the bridge. You know bureaucrats might take a bit and all right?” He said with a chuckle. Course he had no idea if the Gorn had funny bones or not.

As if the galaxy had heard the human a bleep on his wrist computer. “ Well look at that you’re right.” The Gorn replied as he indicated for the human to follow him towards one of the wards. “ Ssso I haven't ssseen you on the ssship before.” He inquired politely.

Frederick followed the Doctor. “Oh I just walk fast when I stay focused. My name is Frederick as I am sure you just found out.” Although it wasn’t a Federation Medbay it was far better than what he had feared.

“ The captain keepsss a well made sssickbay.” the gorn said noticing the look of confusion on the humans face. “ The kitchensss are three decksss above us and the only animalsss in here is the damer rainbow python.” he said knowing the reputation klingon vessels had. “ Ssstill if you’ll take a ssseat over here.” he said tapping a biobed in an empty ward. Well other than the grey box atop another biobed.

The large, long-haired man flopped down onto the bed. “A python huh? How big is it?” Stroking his gotee, he couldn’t help but ask. Carlow always did like snakes. If his parents hadn’t been both deathly afraid of them he would have had one of his own.

“ Quite big. That’sss her in the box over there. Her ownersss be concerned over her eating ssso ssshe’sss in her for a checkup. “ The gorn said pointing over to the box that sat on another biobed. “ Any medical problems that would interfere with the ssscan?” He asked as he began to fire up the scanner.

“Honestly it hasn’t come up before. Although I wouldn’t call them problems more like conditions.” It would be like a laundry list but well he was the ships doctor after all. “Do you want me to list some of the possibilities?”

“ Yesss that would be very helpful. “ Replied the MD as he pulled up a new file on his wrist computer.

“Alrighty here goes. First and foremost I my circadian rhythm may be out of phase a bit. Also I have had some genetic alterations to my DNA. Also because of where I was raised I may have heavy metals and other pollutants built up. I think those would be the main areas of concern, unless you perform mental scans as well.” He tapped the side of his head then drew a circle around his temple.

“That would be the psssychologist job I’m resssponsible for fixing the body. Though between you and me the Orion who handlesss that job isss crazy.” The Gorn said as he looked at the incoming data. Where had this man been raised? He hadn't seen heavy metals like this in blood stream in very long time and mostly from pre warp species.

Frederick laughed. “Eh, I have been called crazy myself quite often. Most often when doing or talking about something that seems to be obvious. Once in a while I do agree with them but there are times where I feel like the ‘One Eyed Chicken In the Land of the Blind.’ If you know what I mean.” Well at least he wouldn’t have to worry about the psych scans for now anyway. In a way Carlow didn’t really want to know what those could turn up.

“You sssound like a very interesssting individual.” The gorn replied as he watched the incoming data.

“Thanks, but hey you did bring up something else that might show at some point. While I was in the company of an Orion woman for a bit, I kinda got into some of that laced spice they can get ahold of. I have been off of that for quite a while ya never know what those green succubi might put in that stuff to make it more potent.” Here they were heading back to the place he had just pissed and puked away a bit of his life.

“ If you’re going to be ssseeing any orionsss not membersss of the ssship pleassse ssstop by and get an inoculation firssst. I have far too many klingonsss in here that need a ssstomach pump and ssseveral ssshots.” The gorn said as he prepared a few hyposprays

“What's the inoculation for?” the astronaut wondered if it was a birth control pill or something akin to salt piter, and if there had been some magic pill why didn’t any of the drunken Feds he dealt with try and sell it to him back on Nimbus.

“ Ssstandard inoculationsss againssst the most common klingon dissseasssesss and illnessssesss. All crew have to have them. Thisss one ssshould flusssh out the heavy metalsss and fluoride from your bloodssstream.

Frederick had a feeling that the gorn had misheard him or had chosen not to answer his question. Not like he really cared to be pumped up with something if he ran into an orion girl. After all he for one reason or another had dodged a bullet and nothing had fallen off and he didn’t become someone’s love slave. “So how long do these things normally take. The Federation would sometimes have us run upside down during these things.”

“They ssshould only take a minute. It may sssting a little.” The gorn said as he loaded up two hypo sprays. He quickly pressed the two into the humans neck.

The doctor was right it did sting just a bit. No more than getting injections in the late twenty first century. He rubbed his neck a bit feeling the fluids run through his body. “Eh not to bad really. Course I never was afraid of needles.”

“How do you feel. It may caussse a ssslight itch, that ssshould passss in a few minutesss,” the lizard responded as he emptied the two hypo sprays.

Frederick really hoped the doctor was as accurate about the itching as he had been about the stinging. Just then his carotid artery felt like it was wiggling under his neck lick an earthworm. One thing seemed clear to him. The gorn’s work ethic seemed to make him a no nonsense kind of guy. Carlow hoped if given the chance he would loosen up a bit. His earlier remark about the snake also had been quite true for other reptiles. Quite often he would just sit and watch lizards and imitate their head movements with his finger like a snake charmer. He had even had some adopt him.

Sthilg seemed to notice the man's discomfort as he moved his head slightly to get a better look at his carotid artery. “ Everything looksss normal. It looks like it’s talking a while to bring the heavy metals down to normal levels. I’ll prepare another hypossspray in cassse it doesn't ssstart going down.”

“It’s okay. I am a fan of heavy metal you know?” Fred couldn’t help himself. “Caused many people in my day to suffer from a condition known as head banging.”
The gorns white eyes rolled in his eyes at the bad joke yet still let out a slight chuckle as he slipped another cylinder into the hypospray. “ The itching ssshould be going down by now how are you feeling.” he asked politely.

The scientist checked his arms and legs. “I feel fine, thanks.” Of course he was quite eager to be able to be put on on the duty roster. “So are the tests going okay?”

“Everything'sss looking okay. I sssee no need to not clear fit for duty. Jussst be careful. The ssship isss mossstly ssstaffed by klingonsss and they can be rather hard to work with.” The gorn said his reptilian voice showing concern in his alien voice.

‘I hear you, and I would like to avoid extra reasons for coming here.” Then he smiled at the gorn in ernest. “That said if you ever want someone to bounce around the old theoretical ball with let me know okay?”

“Of courssse. My door isss alwaysss open. “ The Gorn replied giving a warm smile as he saved and stored the humans folder for further use.