Part VIII.
Acting CMO

Dr. Kamala Rosea

"Dr," she said. "Lt Flynn, we didn't get a chance to meet officially, yet."

Kamala turns to Annie, she extends her hand. "Dr. Kamala Rosea, I am pleased to meet you Lieutenant Flynn. Perhaps when things have settled down we can meet and talk over coffee."

She walks to the supplie storage and taking a bio moniter returns to Commodore Siit, placing it on his neck. "Now sir, you are free to leave, I will see you at the meeting later, do rest sir."

Counselor Annie Flynn

Having done that, Annie realized that she never got the chance to tell Kamala where she was going. She decided to just leave it be. If anyone needed her it was a matter of just asking the computer. She headed out and back to her quarters, passing the EMH as he walked towards Sickbay. She looked at him oddly for a moment, wondering why he didn't just transfer his program, but decided against asking. EMH's were notorious for their tempers and gruff beside mannerisms and counseling a program would be pointless. The personality subroutines wouldn't just change on their own. Someone would have had to go in and rewrite them.

Or something.

But Annie now realized that her mind was wandering, probably to prevent her from thinking about everything that had just happened. She shook her head. She needed a long relaxing moment to herself.

The EMH

The EMH arrived through the front door of Main Sickbay. There were considerably less patients, and they were stable and resting comfortably. One might say things were actually under control. Surveying the biobeds, he noticed that both Commodore Siit and Sgt Bronski both had to have been discharged. A medic with whom he was unfamiliar was replenishing a hypo station. He smiled.

Then, he caught sight of Dr. Rosea putting down a PADD. He walked over to the CMO, still smiling. "Reporting for duty, Doctor."

Dr. Rosea filled the holographic doctor in on Sickbay's status. Then, she pat him on the shoulder and left for the meeting.

It was the second time in a day he was acting CMO. He smiled to himself as he advanced towards the main console. This had to have been a record...

Commodore Siit's bioreadings were within normal parameters - just the slightest indication of stress. Crash the marine appeared to be stable - somewhat. The other marine - Bronski - was out with Counselor Flynn; he passed them in the hallway, the Lt. affording him a strange glance. He shrugged.

For the most part, things were under control. He keyed in to start a new entry, and worked out a draft...

Dr. Kamala Rosea

~ Observation Lounge ~

After leaving the good Doctor with her remaining patients Kamala, {thinking I know I can trust in his abilities. If possible he is who I would like as my XMO, I shall need to consider this, and speak with him about it.}

She enters the observation lounge, her eyes scanning over Commodore Siit, checking him for any ill effects from his activities. Satisfied he is able to continue, she takes a seat and looks at the others. Waiting to begin.

Ensign Jessica Grant

Finishing replenishing the hypo station Jessica looked at a padd in her hand to see if anything else needed to be restocked when an officer walked in hobbling and supported by another officer. "Can I get some help over here?" Lt. Parker (NPC) called looking at Jessica.

Rushing over with a tricorder Jessica scanned the officer and stopped at her right ankle. Looking at her she asked calmly, "Whats your name?" The officer looked at her, "Lt Leslie Davis ...can you take care of this?? It hurts like hell." Davis (NPC) asked Jessica grimacing with the pain. Jessica nodded quickly, "of course.." She grabbed a hypospray from the tray next to the bed and injected her. "Thats for the pain.."

She leaned over and grabbed the osteotractor, "Thankfully its just a mild sprain..you should be fine in a few minutes." She passed it over Davis's ankle for a few minutes and then looked at the officer. "How does it feel now?" Davis looked at her and smiled, "Much better..thanks." She got off the biobed and walked back out of sickbay with her friend.

"Well another calamity taken care of.." Jessica thought to herself and went back to her rounds of checking the stations.

The EMH

He just stood there. He had heard Lt. Parker call for help, and the new medic just shoved the him aside, then proceeded to medicate and treat the patient. He was dumbfounded.

He stopped Davis, who was told by the medic that he could leave, and had him return to a biobed. He checked with a tricorder and caught a stress fracture. He looked at the new medic, who was standing nearby. "Get me the Osteoregenerator." He glared. "NOW!"

She complied, and the holographic doctor - once the medic removed Lt. Davis' shoe - set about repairing the oversight. "I'll have to keep you here for about two hours for the bone to heal, Lieutenant. If there's anything you require - something to eat, something to read - just let the nurse or medic know." The EMH smiled.

"Thank you, doctor." Davis smiled back, and lay back to enjoy a nice rest.

The EMH turned to hand the instrument back to the medic. "We're not in the trenches, Ensign." he said. "You're on a starship, now. If you attempt to 'play doctor' on your own again, irregardless as to whether an acting medical officer is present and has ordered you into action instead of the nurse, or you medicate a patient without instruction to do so, you WILL be reassigned. I hope that's given you a clear sense of ship's protocol?"

Ensign Jessica Grant, medic

"I beg your pardon?!? I am FULLY qualified to treat a patient! I am not a damn nurse you know..I graduated Starfleet Medical Academy in the top 1%." She eyed the EMH, "...and another thing...do not yell at me. I deserve more respect than youre giving me."

Jessica sighed and looked back at the EMH, "I am sorry for the loss of temper..however I didnt pick up a fracture when I treated her. All I found was a slight sprain..maybe the tricorder needs to be checked."

The EMH

"You're not at the academy, Ensign. Neither are you assigned to treat patients on your own here. You would do well to review your duties and what is expected of your position," said the holographic doctor coolly. "As for your diagnosis and course of treatment, I suggest you review the medical database while you're at it. A sprained ankle does not involve the bone, therefore its course of treatment does not involve orthopedic equipment."

He made corrections to Davis' PADD. "Now I suggest that you get to taking the patients' readings and obtaining Lieutenant Nobiyuki's bloodwork. His chart requires constant monitoring since the transfusion he underwent yesterday."

Ensign Jessica Grant

"I realize Im not at the academy doctor, but Im not a raw cadet anymore either. I personally think I know the medical database pretty well..." She looked at the EMH, "...if I dont know it as well as you or Dr Rosea would like I'd appreciate encouragement and not belittlement like I feel Im getting from you."

She took a deep breath and walked over to the main console to call up Lieutenant Nobiyuki's chart to go over his chart. She felt a little bit uncomfortable at the moment, here she had been in the top 1% of her graduating class at the academy and she's being treated like a first year cadet. She supposed it was how things went on a new ship.

The EMH

The EMH kept half an eye on Ensign Grant. First, a nurse who kept her dog in Sickbay. Now a medical assistant with delusions of grandeur. He wondered whether there was perhaps a leak of noxious gas overlooked by the sensors.

The hologram had been composing his grievance to his superior, and thought perhaps adding this incident would be a good idea. Under normal circumstances, a medical assistant would not have dared to take on a patient, much less administered treatment, without the express order of a physician. There was no exception to this rule in an organized medical facility, and so he had to assume this incident was related.

Counselor Senoc

:Senoc while sitting in his quarters and meditating on what his futer holds and to get himself centers emotionally again for he has been to emotional these last few days or months.

His quartes is dark except for a few candles

Nurse Elzara Yin

The atmosphere in sickbay seemed to have returned to something approaching normal despite the earlier altercation between the EMH and Ensign Grant. Most of the medical staff were doing their best to stay out of the way however, and Elzara was no exception.

She was seated at the nurses station, going over several of the crew members notes and writing up the findings of some of the more recent medicals. The job was a little tedious after the first 10 or so crewmembers, but she was used to it by now and it was part of her job after all.

She frowned as she went over Crewman Tlsan's (NPC) results, noting some of the readings seemed elevated. Although she couldn't be certain if it was cause for alarm, she wasn't an expert in Bolian physiology after all, the readings did seem a bit off. Hefting the PADD she hopped off the stool and made her way over to the console where the EMH was working, wondering to herself if his mood had improved at all. There was one way to find out she decided, clearing her throat. "Excuse me, Doctor," she began "I wonder if you would mind looking at these notes for me? I'm concerned about the crewmans recent medical results. Of course it may be nothing...." she broke off realising she was babbling and handed the doctor the PADD "Thankyou Doctor."

The EMH
Nurse Elzara Yin

When Nurse Yin broke the silence, the hologram immediately saved his draft with an encryption code and looked up with a smile. He took the PADD from her hands and gave it a glance.

"Hm," he said, "This is a normal reaction to Inaprovalene for Bolian physiology. No need to worry. If his BP elevates much higher, I'll have a look at him."

Yin nodded, and was about to go back to her station, when a message came over the comm:

=/\= Engineering to Sickbay. We have a plasma burn victim on deck 36, Section 2! We need medical assistance! =/\=

"Acknowleged Engineering. Stand by, we're sending a team down." Elzara threw a look around the sickbay. "Ensign Grant, Ensign Davies (NPC) attend please."

The two medics advanced forward.

Elzara handed one of the emergency medical kits to Ensign Grant as she repeated the destination. "Assess the patient and do your best to stabilise them, then transport them to sickbay," she told the medics as they headed for the door. "The Doctor or myself will advise you if you need any further assistance." She watched them go, part of her wanting to go with them, but she had duties to attend to here and she was sure both of the medics were competent enough to deal with the situation themselves.

Ensign Davies grabbed a portable antigrav stretcher on the way out. The EMH sighed. Nurse Yin looked at him in askance.

"Oh," he said, "it's that new medic Ensign Grant. She was caught attempting to diagnose and treat a patient on her own. I had to put her in her place. I hope she knows it now and doesn't try to treat the victim." He was concerned for the lives of every crewman, civilian, and - yes - marine. Each member of the medical staff had their responsibility, and each one was essential for their department to function properly. He sighed again.

Elzara smiled slightly, not really wanting to be drawn into the ongoing debate between the EMH and Ensign Grant, but knowing that it was probably inevitable. "I think perhaps the Ensign was just trying to impress, or maybe just overly keen to help." she glanced at the doorway (the the medics had just left) and thought a bit more. "Try not to worry, I'm sure she didn't mean to step on your toes or cause offence. She just wants what's best for the patients, same as everyone else." she gave the doctor another, more genuine smile and waited to see it he would respond.

"Perhaps," he said with resignation. "I only hope she realizes that what's best for the patients is for her to do HER best in what she was assigned to. It can mean the difference between life or death."

Just then, they heard moaning. Someone's painkiller was wearing off. The nurse went into action, checking the patient's chart and preparing a hypospray with the designated dosage. The doctor watched and smiled.

Ensign Jessica Grant

Ensign Grant and Ensign Davies (NPC) arrived in Engineering to find several Engineers hovered around the injured crewman. Grant looked at Davies and nodded, "Lets just get him to sickbay as soon as possible."

Davies looked at Jessica, "Lets get him on the antigrav stretcher and just get him to sickbay." Jessica nodded and the two gently lifted the man onto the stretcher. "Okay..lets go." Jessica said to Davies. She nodded and carefully pushed the stretcher to sickbay. Arriving about ten minutes later, "Doctor..we have that injured officer. He has severe plasma burns and is in a lot of pain." Jessica told the EMH.

She wanted to be sure she didnt step on anyone's toes this time and just do the job she was assigned.

The EMH

It wasn't long before the medics returned with their patient. "That was unusually fast," he said. He knew a medic's job wasn't always easy. Their skills often required them to safely retrieve victims in precarious places. This time, they were lucky.

"Doctor..we have that injured officer. He has severe plasma burns and is in a lot of pain." Ensign Grant told the EMH.

"Excellent. Please move the burn victim to Biobed Two." At once, the nurse came over to start up the monitors and take initial readings to compare with those the medics had taken on the scene.

As he spoke, the nurse peeled off the uniform from the engineer's upper body.

"You did a fine job, Ensigns," said the holographic doctor as he moved towards the biobed. "There's a slightly more challenging assignment awaiting your expertise." He handed Ensign Grant a PADD. "Just before you arrived, we got received a communication from one of the cargo bays. Apparently an engineer was doing some maintenance in a Jeffries tube, when he reported dizziness and broke contact with his team. His combadge locates him in a tube accessible from this cargo bay on Deck 32, Section one. Take all necessary precautions, both for the victim and for yourselves - we don't know why he suddenly took ill. Good luck, you two. If he requires immediate attention, please contact me from there."

With the newest assignment out of the way, the doctor took a look at some stats. "This patient is suffering from second and third degree plasma burns. Dermaline gel should be fine for the most part, a dermal regenerator for the damaged areas. Prepare me a hypospray with .4cc's Letrazine."

Ensign Jessica Grant

Ensign Grant took a look at the PADD in her hand and looked over at Ensign Davies (NPC). "Well..lets go." She nodded and the two walked out of sickbay.

"I hope the atmosphere in that tube hasnt been compromised..." Davies said looking nervously at Ensign Grant. Grant smiled, "The systems on this ship are pretty sophisticated so its highly unlikely but if it has we'll take every precaution...there are oxygen tanks and masks we can use if necessary." Davies looked at her and nodded as they approached the turbolift.

"After you.." Davies said quietly to Ensign Grant. She smiled and walked into the turbolift, followed by Ensign Davies. "Deck 32." Grant instructed the computer. The lift moved down and soon stopped at deck 32. The two medics walked out and into the cargo bay. "Okay, let's get started.." Grant said to Ensign Davies as she walked over to the jeffries tube.

Davies took Ensign Grant's medkit as she crawled into the jeffries tube. Ensign Davies soon followed her inside.

The EMH
Private Maddison

The burn victim was responding well to treatment. A little rest and he'd be fine. While the nurse and the EMH tended to him, the the communications system rang out with an anxious voice. It sounded like Private Maddison

=/\= Medical emergency, in the Marine Recruit Facility, Sgt Bronski has sustained a head injury and is having breathing difficulties, please advise=/\=

The hologram went over to the console, then tapped his combadge: "This is the Emergency Medical Hologram. By your combadge signal, the closest medical facility to your proximity is the Field Hospital on Deck 31. Bring Sgt Bronski there for treatment. I'll have the nurse transmit his recent medical history over there at once." he looked over to the nurse, who nodded and smiled.

=/\= Aye sir recieved and understood=/\=

"EMH out" The doctor was satisfied. One less pain in main sickbay to contend with, and separated from his comrade, the foolish marine might just see recovery after all.

Ensign Jessica Grant

After crawling through the jeffries tube a ways they came up on the officer who had gotten dizzy. "My name is Ensign Grant... we need to get you to sickbay so the doctor can take a look at you..can you walk?"

Ensign Parker (NPC) nodded, "I...I think so." Jessica smiled and glanced over at Ensign Davies. "Lets get him out of here to the antigrav stretcher." She nodded and they carefully assisted the officer out of the jeffries tube, reaching the stretcher a short time later. Parker looked at Jessica, "I can walk there..really."

Jessica shook her head, "Im not supposed to treat you so we have to get you to sickbay so the doctor can take a look at you." She motioned for Davies to help him onto the stretcher, she nodded and helped the officer onto the stretcher. "Let's go.." Davies nodded and slowly pushed the stretcher out.

They reached sickbay a short time later, "Doctor, we have that officer from the jeffries tube..hes out of breath and complaining of dizziness." Jessica informed the doctor..she was beginning to feel a little dizzy herself. The air mustve been a bit thin in that jeffries tube. She shook it off and motioned for the nurse to come over and help Ensign Parker onto a biobed.

The EMH

Nurse Yin sent both the ankle and burn victims on their way. The holographic doctor smiled; it was nice to be on top of the patient load again.

A short while later, Ensigns Grant and Davies brought in the engineer. He was pale and breathing heavily. He advanced with a tricorder as the two medics brought him to the biobed indicated by the nurse.

Ensign Grant spoke up: "Doctor, we have that officer from the Jeffries tube..hes out of breath and complaining of dizziness."

"Why wasn't I contacted on the site for instructions?" asked the EMH. Grant stared at him. "Did you take any readings?" he added. She blinked. It was going to be one of those days, he thought.

"This patient is suffering from inhaling a corrosive substance; his alveoli are slightly singed." He peered into Ensign Parker's eyes.

"I was repairing a coolant leak..." he rasped with a sheepish expression.

"Well, that explains it. Nurse: .4cc of Pulmozine."

With smooth efficiency, Nurse Elzara Yin handed him the hypospray. While administering it, the doctor grew distinctly aware of Ensign Davies' increased hem and hawing. After he sent Ensign Parker on his way, the sounds increased.

"Problem clearing your throat, ensign?" asked the hologram. It hadn't escaped him that Grant was holding on to a biobed display for balance as well.

"A little, sir." Davies said.

"I take it you both took the proper precautions and used your tricorders to determine whether or not to utilize breathing apparati?" His tone was cool but firm.

"We... considered masks, Sir."

The EMH raised an eyebrow. "I see." He took both medics' readings. He turned to Yin. "I'll need two more hyposprays of Pulmozine. Same dosage."

After treating the two ensigns, they both appeared to breathe easier. "The next time either of you chooses convenience over precaution might be your last. As medics, you're supposed to aid the injured, not join them. You're very lucky these emissions weren't fatal." He sensed Nurse Yin move out of audible range to check the status of patients.

The EMH nonchalantly entered data into a PADD. "In the meantime, you're needed at the Civilian Hospital on Deck 71. Check in with dispatcher Ensign Weiss (NPC) for instructions. Apparently they're getting calls from many passengers back from the mall with symptoms of anxiety and a few possible coronary complications." He looked up. "Try not to kill anyone - including youselves?"

Ensign Jessica Grant

Grant nodded, "Yes Sir... " She began. "My scans of the area told me the atmosphere was breathable." Ensign Davies nodded, "Yes...that's true." The two walked out of Sickbay and out to the turbolift. Ensign Davies looks at Grant, "After you.." Jessica nods and walks inside, followed by Ensign Davies.

"Deck 71...Civilian Hospital." The computer hummed and began moving. The two officers looked at each other and exchanged smiles. Before long, the turbolift stopped and the two walked out and headed for the civilian hospital. Reaching it a while later they enter through the side entrance and approach Ensign Weiss. "We were told to report to you.

Ensign Weiss looked up at the two medics, "Ah yes.. we've been getting complaints from civilians in the mall.." She looked at the padd in her hand. "Lets see, chest pains...spasms..that sort of thing. We just got one call from a Jenny Morgan, shes the daughter of Lt. Morgan (NPC) and she called up here complaining that her leg hurt after tripping on something in one of the shops."

Both Ensign Grant and Ensign Davies nodded, Weiss smiled, "Grant, I need you to go down and assess the situation and let me know how badly she's hurt..." Ensign Weiss looked at Davies, "Davies, I need you to look at Mr. Peterson's chart and run a Resonance Tissue Scan...he's been complaining of feeling ill and I need to rule out a possible infection."

Davies nodded and picked up a tricorder and walked over to Mr Peterson. Meanwhile, Grant grabbed a medkit and walked out of sickbay and headed for a turbolift. "Deck 83.." She instructed the computer,it started humming and moved down.

Ensign Edger

Edger sees the med activity come across his screen on the Bridge. Seeing the lastest hazard in the Jeffrey's Tube on the PADD auto entry, Edger will list the area on the all hands display as "Questionable, entry into the area authorized by the Bridge only." He'll direct a containment and atmospheric monitoring team and an investigations team into the area.

To the Doctor he says, "Bridge to Holo-doctor, update me when you've determined the cause of the Ensign's condition. Bridge out."

Edger will corralate other non-emergency and routine complaint data and have that posted for his relief and review by Command Staff.

The EMH

The EMH looked up from his PADD and tapped his combadge. "This is the Emergency Medical Hologram. Ensign Parker suffered minor pulmonary injury from a coolant leak. He has been treated and released. EMH out."

The doctor smiled. Dr. Rosea will be pleased, he thought.

Counselor Senoc

Senoc entered sickbay and asked for some help for he was feeling sort out of sort. Someone came by and guided him to a bed and start asking him questions about the way he was feeling.

Senoc told the person that he was suppose to get a daily shot to cntrol his emotions but for the last few days or weeks he fell into a deep meditation and had just recently came out of it.

It was shortly after that he felt not like himself alittle out of control yet in control up to a point. Then he said, "What is going on with me? Can you all help me?"

The EMH

Nurse Elzara Yin came over to the EMH in the office. He had just completed his latest log entry as acting chief medical officer, when she handed him a PADD. He looked at it for only a moment, a single eyebrow raised. Then, his face lit up with recognition.

"Ah yes!" He said. "The Vulcan Betazoid." Then, low enough for only Yin to hear, he muttered with a mischievous smirk: "Can you imagine what THAT childhood must have been like?" She giggled.

He walked with her out of the office and into the treatment area. He immediately caught sight of his newest challenge, looking rather preoccupied (no doubt focusing on his symptoms, thought the doctor). "Ah, Mister Senoc," he said, "Come for your treatment?" The hologram eyed the data. "It's been awhile I see. Any unusual symptoms other than the otherwise anticipated anxiety?"

Nurse Elzara Yin

Nurse Yin laughed at the doctors joke then flushed as she realised that Senoc had probably heard her, and also the fact that he was half Betazoid probably meant he could pick up on her thoughts.

She followed the EMH as he stood and went to meet his patient, casting an eye over Senoc as she did so. If he'd 'heard' the joke he didn't seem to have noticed or he was showing no signs of it. Relaxing a little, Elzara waited patiently for Senoc to answer the Doctors questions and to see if her presence was still required.

The EMH
Counselor Senoc

Senoc answers the doctor, ignoring the joke between the nurse and doctor

"I have been feeling little out of sorts of late. It's kind of like not being in complete control of myself, I feel like I am really cold like a true Vulcan. But at the same time I feel like I really want to hurt someone, almost kill them for hurting someone I care for."

The holographic doctor looked tightlipped at the tricorder as he took readings from Senoc's cranial area.

Senoc continued. "It was then I realized that I haven't had my daily dose of meds for a very long time, and that if I didn't correct that over sight soon I *would* hurt someone."

The doctor looked at his readings, then back at Senoc, then picked up the large patient profile PADD and called up the Vulcan's pharmaceutical history. "Hm."

"Also, Doc, I have been in a very deep meditation for all this time and I don't know why I went into that deep of a meditative state of mind. Can you please help? There are alot of other people who depend on me as you may already know."

This ship, thought the EMH, had the most mentally unstable team of counselors he'd ever imagined. The trend of employing empaths for the position was advantageous but a two-way sword; was it worth compromising one's sanity for the opportunity to sneak into an ailing mind and view its contents first-hand? And Senoc here, with a strong Betazoid influence constantly pulling at his Vulcan psyche, had the added disadvantage of a chemical imbalance. The tricorder read elevated Serotonin levels in Senoc's cerebral cortex.

The EMH finally spoke. "How do you feel at the moment, Mister Senoc? Also:" The doctor leaned in closer and lowered his voice to a whisper, "we don't have on record your last Ponn Far. While I know this is a taboo subject, your physiology suggests that you are prone to them, and it would help in general to find our what role - if any - the event has on your unique chemistry."

He didn't believe Senoc was anywhere near the 'Blood Fever,' but nevertheless it didn't hurt to know. And the EMH didn't mind to venture where biological doctors feared to tread.

Senoc bowed close to the doctor's ear to whisper his response: ""I never experienced Ponn Far in my whole life. I guess my medication kept that in check. Is that a bad thing?"

The EMH pondered this. Abrupt cessation of prescription medication on its own was enough to cause Senoc's obvious agitation. That it held back several cycles of a powerful biochemical process could perhaps be a key.

Even now, Senoc was becoming more and more intense: ""No one had asked me this type of question since i first came on board. Doc, I think you should know that i am engaged to a crew member on board." Then, he paused and said: "I truly need to know why I fell into a deep meditative state for over a month and why I could not bring myself out of it."

"Most likely-"

Before the EMH could continue, Senoc grabbed a nearby tray and flung it at him. The hologram impulsively altered his magnetic containment field to allow the tray to pass through him. Nurse Yin was beyond, and sidestepped it. The doctor and nurse stared silently, while their patient closed his eyes and took deep breaths to get his blood pressure down and his moods under control. The doctor nodded to Yin, who nodded in response and stepped back a metre.

While the containment field went up around Senoc's treatment area the Vulcan spoke yet again: "Sorry about that. Like I said I had not been myself lately. Did I hurt anyone?"

Senoc was now wondering if there was more going on than simply missing a few day of medication and this was scaring him to death. His counseling instinces was sending alot of red flags but held off dianosing himself and waited to see what the doctor had to say.

"Fortunately no," said the doctor. "I've taken precautions to prevent that from occurring." The diagnostic arch was activated on Senocs's biobed. "Tell me, Counselor: Did you simply experience a surge of mood, or were you genuinely unaware of your actions as they happened?"