Medical

Posted on Sun Jun 14th, 2026 @ 8:55am by Lieutenant JG T'Chiara MD & Lieutenant Commander Maximo (Max) Vero

699 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Prologue: Joy is in the journey
Location: Sickbay

ON:

Max walked into sickbay. With all the stocking the ship with supplies and the possible murder he had been late scheduling this.

"Doctor," he nodded at the Vulcan, part Vulcan the green hue on her skin reminded him. "I am here for my appointment."

"Please come with me commander," the hybrid doctor answered, gesturing to a nearby bed. "You are actually early but I do prefer crew being early rather than late."

Max nodded. "I prefer to be punctual too." He went and sat on the bed indicated.

"Are there any medically related issues that I should be aware of, but may not yet be in your file?" She picked up a scanning wand that somewhat made an ignorant observer think it might be a saltshaker. "Anything I need to be aware of that could be a new development in your general health?"

"Si," Max said. "I think I may have injured my elbow. I'm just not sure how perhaps when I was setting up my plants in my quarters. A few are quite heavy. Would you take a look?"

"Of course." Foregoing the use of a scanner, she took his arm in her hands and gently probed the area around his elbow, carefully bending and stretching the joint while feeling for a difference in movement. She studied his face for any sign of discomfort. "It seemed you have over agitated your muscles," she said as she picked up a scanning wand to confirm her manual assessment. "I recommend wearing a brace or support bandage for a few days to allow your muscles to heal." T'Chiara moved to a cabinet and returned with a small jar filled with a potently scented salve. "Put this on twice a day and come back in three days if discomfort persists."

"Si doctor," Max said taking the offered salve. "Do I replicate the bandage?"

"No, I will apply it shortly. The only time you take it off is when you commence your sanitary routine." She went to a different cabinet and returned with a brightly coloured contraption which she wrapped around his arm. "When not on duty, rest your arm as much as possible," she ordered.

"Si doctor," Max said. "What about the rest of my usual vitals? The blood pressure, my weight?"

The doctor seemed to frown as she studied the readings. "Most of your readings are within acceptable range," she answered, "however your cholesterol values are well outside the upper range and your weight is unacceptable for someone of your proportions." She looked up, her expression a mix of stern and neutral. "I am going to prescribe a dietary and workout regimen for you."

Max looked confused. "But ... I am not "big". I am Italian. This is small for an Italian."

"I never said you were big, commander," the doctor answered neutrally, "I said your weight is unacceptable for someone of your proportions. You being of a certain Terran ethnicity has nothing to do with the outcome of my examination. I have uploaded a regimen to your personal computer, you may take this up with the overseer at the gym. Perhaps you can convince a fellow crew member to partake in this with you." She regarded him stoically as she completed the exam and stored the readings to his medical file.

"Right," Max said trying not to be insulted and reminding himself the doctor was a Vulcan. In his culture he was a prime specimen. "How much weight do I need to shed?" he asked.

"It is not so much a shedding of weight as muscle weighs more than fat," Kia answered neutrally, "but in order to improve your health, five to ten kilos of body fat is advisable."

"As long as I do not need to give up coffee and pasta doctor I shall endeavour to drop the weight," Max said reluctantly. "Is there any other issues?

"I am not restricting your food choices Commander, I am however restricting the amount of it. Choose smaller and smarter food options." She shook her head. "No, there is nothing else, you are cleared for duty."

"Grazie Doctor," the commander stated. He left sickbay aghast that apparently he was too big.

OFF:

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